Telltale Q&A

YVG: Do you expect other developers to look more closely at the episodic model now that you've made it work?

BF: Yes! It's awfully difficult, expensive, and risky to make epic games with three-year production schedules. An episodic model gives developers a chance to try more new things with less risk, which means more variety for everyone. Huzzah!

YVG: Do you have plans for a retail release of Season 1?

BF: Yes! Those who bought the season pass from telltalegames.com can get a DVD of the entire season for the cost of shipping. We're also working with The Adventure Company on a retail release that will be in stores in August. So if you're looking for Sam & Max at your favorite retailer, peel those eyes and keep 'em that way.

YVG: Telltale made headlines when it hired Xbox 360 and Wii programmers earlier this year. What stage are you at with your console projects?

BF: Personally, I'm at stage 7-3 of my console project, namely Super Paper Mario. But the more responsible people in our company are at the stage of getting our game engine running on the consoles and investigating the best way to control our games with those far-out controllers. Translation: they stink at Super Paper Mario.

YVG: Which episode is your favorite?

BF: I love all the episodes, but story-wise I think Episode 4 is my favorite. I love outrageous story developments and larger-than-life situations, and that's what Episode 4 is all about. Although, when you figure out how to change reality itself in Episode 5, that's just the best. Except of course for that part in Episode 6 that I can't mention because it would totally spoil the whole season. That's easily my favorite.

YVG: Can you tell us a little about the process of composing the games' scores? Where did the idea for Episode 4's song and dance number come from?

BF: The process for creating the scores is actually quite simple. We say, "Hey Jared Emerson-Johnson, could you write some incredible music?" and he does. I have no idea how he does it, but he does. It's like a Jared cult here at Telltale, we're so in awe of his work.

As for the Episode 4 song and dance number, we knew it was only fitting that the declaration of war be the happiest moment ever at the White House, so we wanted something suitably celebratory. And who doesn't love a musical! The thought of a secret service chorus line was just too tempting to pass up. Add a dash of inspiration from Busby Berkeley and friends, and we had the recipe for a deliciously over-the-top number.

YVG: If you could choose any adventure game franchise to revisit, from any company, which would it be?

BF: My own interest lies not in revisiting franchises, per se, but rather in letting players explore interesting new worlds and stories. One reason I love Sam & Max is that they get mixed up in many very different kinds of situations. Sign me up for any gig where we can do things that no one's ever been foolish enough to attempt before.