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Link below to a Gamespot developer’s diary on Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude.
I have to say this doesn’t instill any confidence. But I’ll reserve my comments for the moment… Ken, I was wondering if you had any reactions to what they’re doing, the way the idea was conceived, whether you think they’ll pull it off… Is this a typical method for coming up with a game? Do you think it’s a good idea for them to try to make it into a Larry game, when it’s so clearly NOT a Larry game?
Just curious…
-emily
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(re: Larry 8 update – Ken, any opinons?)
Al Lowe has also just updated his website with Larry 8 news.
http://www.allowe.com/Larry/8news.htm (at the end)
If he gets involved, I have faith that the game will include all of the true Larry elements that we’ve come to know and love.
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(re: Larry 8 update – Ken, any opinons?)
“Magna Cum Laude will pass the torch to his nephew, Larry Lovage”
Sounds like the mistake Kings Quest 8 made 🙁
It looks almost certain that Al lowe will get on board, so thats a good thing.
I’ll buy this game wheather it is good or bad because I want to support Al lowe and the adventure game comeback.
I just wish they would evolve the graphics and leave the plot alone.
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(re: Larry 8 update – Ken, any opinons?)
Actually, this latest designer diary has reinstated my confidence in the game. I totally agree on the point they make concerning the boring standard dialogue tree. Especially LSL7 managed to bore me pretty quickly with continuously exhausting the dialogue tree. This new system is bound to make it a little more interesting.
I’m still not entirely sure on how to feel about the many mini games though. Still, LSL often had a mini game or two.
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(re: re: Larry 8 update – Ken, any opinons?)
Since Ken hasn’t chimed in and I’m impatient, I’ll say what I was going to say.
In reading this article, there was a very noticeable absence of any type of story. To me (and to a lot of other people), the story is the most important part of an adventure game. The fact that they started with a Sims idea (there’s no story in the Sims!), then scrapped that for a bunch of mini-games, is very daunting to me. All we’re hearing about is the mini-games… what’s the actual GAME about? Something tells me there is no unifying game. If there were, we would have heard a little bit about what that would be about. And, it would have been a big part of the initial conversations… “Let’s make a game about X where Y happens so we can end up with Z” vs. “Let’s make a game where people talk.”
Or to be more specific, “Let’s make a game where Alexander goes looking for Cassima, who’s been locked in a tower by the evil vizier, and saves her so they can get married” vs. “Let’s make a game where Alexander talks.”
It may be a fun game, but I don’t see what it has to do with Larry. They didn’t even want Larry to be the protagonist initially, and then they decided to have him (for some unclear reason) but also decided the game would be set in college, so they changed the protagonist to Larry’s nephew. Okay… why not just come up with a NEW character? To me this stinks of them capitalizing on an old franchise for the sole purpose of selling games… which leaves me feeling very unhappy with Sierra (although it’s not too different from what I’ve come to expect from them).
I think “getting Al involved” is a token on their part. The game seems too far in development for him to have any impact. I’d love to know his reaction to this article…
-emily
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(re: re: re: Larry 8 update – Ken, any opinons?) I’ve been struggling NOT to comment….
Al is in the process of negotiating his involvement in this game, and I worry that if I say anything, and it’s the wrong thing, it could mess up his deal — which would be bad for EVERYONE …so, I’m trying to stay completely out of it.
I will say this..
Al Lowe was a key ingredient in the success of the Leisure-Suit Larry series. It may be possible to build a great game without Al, but I wouldn’t personally try it.
I’m superstitious…
I believe that if someone’s last game was a hit, their next game will be a hit. I believe that if someone ships a turkey, and has really good excuses — their next game will be a turkey, but, they’ll have really good excuses. The single biggest predictor of future success is past success.
Al and I worked together for over 15 years, on many projects. During that time, he consistently produced products that sold above their sales forecasts, and came in below their projected cost. I personally would not have the courage to undertake a Leisure-Suit Larry game without Al’s involvement.
Perhaps there is a way to build a great game without Al — but, call me superstitious: I wouldn’t want to try it. I’d go with the proven track record. If I want to gamble, I go to Vegas .
Hopefully Sierra will see it the same way, and will give Al not just input, but the real ability to build them a winner (meaning the power to make changes, if changes need making).
-Ken W -
(re: Larry 8 update – Ken, any opinons?)
Thanks. At some point, when it’s not going to jeopardize anyone or anything (like after the game is released), I’d love to hear what else you have to say about this. But I understand not wanting to say those things right now.
If this game isn’t going to be what I want it to be, at least I have the new Jane Jensen game to look forward to!
🙂 emily
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(re: Larry 8 update – Ken, any opinons?)
Emily – Ofcourse, and adventure game SHOULD have some kind of story, but it’s unfair to use a game like KQ6 as an example. The latter LSL games (especially 6 and 7) didn’t have much of a story at all. Sure, there was a REASON for Larry being in the hotel/on the ship, but that’s not really a story at all. Nothing HAPPENS during the game that furthers the story, except for Larry scoring a girl once again.
On a side note, this is also why I think LSL2 and 3 were the best in the series. They DID have stories where things were actually happening.
This designer diary doesn’t mention it, but there is a story about MCL, which is just as ‘valid’ as that of LSL6 and 7. A reason is given for Larry to be at that location (winning a television show in LSL6, finding a cruise ticket in LSL7, and being in college in MCL) and there just happen to be many hot girls there.
MCL goes even further; it gives a reason for Larry to start chasing girls! He’s fed up with his live as a loser, and decides to change things. My, that’s already more character development than in LSL6 and 7 together! 🙂
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