Coming Soon: More Graphic Adventure Goodness?
After pretty much dissapearing 8 years ago, the "Graphic Adventure" genre seems to be staging a cautious comeback.

First off, there's American McGee's Grimm. Loose Lips Sink Ships - or slip ship-dates. Or something. Apparently American McGee goofed and announced something he wasn't supposed to announce, and quickly retracted it. But the upshot is - it sounds like another episodic graphic adventure game! Specifically, a 24-episode (well, maybe) graphic adventure with American's own twisted version of Grimm's fairy tales. As if they weren't already twisted enough. Released through GameTap, which apparently has enjoyed enough success with the episodic adventures of Sam & Max - Season 1 to go for yet more punishment (besides a much-anticipated, much-desired Sam & Max - Season 2).

So, we have Sam & Max, Penny Arcade Adventures, and American McGee's "Grimm" on the episodic graphic adventure game side, plus some lesser-known graphic adventures still chugging along (like Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened, which I've talked about before).

Next up - there's a wonderful interview at Gamasutra with Jane Jenson, co-designer of the sixth King's Quest adventure game, and designer of the Gabriel Knight series (and, apparently, co-founder of Oberon Media). Apparently she's kept in games as well, and has been designing some casual games (such as Agatha Christie's Death on the Nile). She's also working on an adventure game, entitled, "Gray Matter".

Quoth Jenson in the interview: “I really would like to see adventure games in the casual gaming space. We should be able to sell a million units of a good adventure game - not just mine but any good adventure. That’s what I’d like to see.”

Amen Could we see something by way of return to the glory days of LucasArts and Sierra adventures, new and updated and re-envisioned and downloadable and released on a monthly basis to whet our adventuring appetites? Are we to the point yet where LucasArts is kicking themselves over cancelling Sam & Max?

The answer to all of the above is still probably "no," but it does look like something is catching on, here. But it looks like the genre may be enjoying some growth again after a long period in hibernation.


(Vaguely) related wanderings through mazes of twisty little passages:
* Ron Gilbert Back Into Making Adventure Games
* Adventure Game Revival on the Nintendo Wii?
* The Top Ten Graphic Adventure Games of All Time
* Sherlock Holmes: The Awakened First Impressions

COMMENTS?

Labels: Adventure Games

- posted by The Rampant Coyote @ 6:00 AM (Permalink)