Gabriel Knight: 20th Anniversary Edition - remake by Jane Jensen

[Abelian]

What would be really interesting is a GK2 remake in this style, with no FMV. That's worth the money.

I don't know about that: to me the hammy acting was part of the entertainment. Right now, GK2 has the distinction of being probably the best of the FMV video game fad. It would be like a a movie that's so bad, it's good will get a remake and become so okay, it's average (not that I'm implying GK2 is a bad game, just that the acting gives it part of its charm).

Also, it would need to be redesigned in order to add more interactivity and puzzles. From wikipedia:

The Beast Within has a much more involved plot than its predecessor, Sins of the Fathers. Jane Jensen said that this was because the FMV graphics "limited the interactivity we could do. I specifically tried to put a lot more intrigue in the plot, so even though the interactivity was easier, there would still be enough meat going on to keep people engaged."

 

[suejak]

No, I like GK2 as-is, just as I like most classic adventure games as-is. It's a question of what would be an interesting experiment. Redoing a beautiful 2D point-and-click as a 3D point-and-click feels pointless because it changes so little. Redoing FMV GK2 to look like GK1 would be an interesting exploration of the game.

It's like if someone made a first-person QfG remake. I'm not saying that would be better, but I'd love for it to be attempted. It's like John Coltrane playing Greensleeves.

 

[m_s0]

GDC trailer, shows a couple of scenes.

Looks cheap, pretty much as I expected it to look. The 3D models are ugly as sin.

The 3d... I'll bet that in 10, 20 years the old VGA/VESA graphics will have aged better than this.

Those old VGA graphics already look better than this.

The only cool thing would be if they had the original recordings before they had to compress them for release and could include those. No more pops and skips!

Otherwise, I don't see the point of this remake.

I seem to recall reading on their forums around the time this project got revealed that they'll need to re-record everything due to the shitty quality of those original recordings. The point of this remake is most likely to squeeze some money out of a dead franchise and possibly/hopefully to gauge interest for another sequel.

Also, this:

So now we can finally reveal what "Mystery Game X" is on your website! Fans will be thrilled to hear you are finally reunited with Gabriel Knight. How did this deal come about with Activision

There were some people at Activision who were passionate about the old Sierra titles and one of them contacted me during our Moebius Kickstarter last year. There was more visibility of adventure games at that time with the various Kickstarter campaigns and the success of some big titles, so it looked like a good moment for them to get a project like this rolling at Activision. Those supporters inside Activision are really to thank for getting the project off the ground and for helping me get the license to do this game.

http://www.gametrailers.com/news-post/63162/gabriel-knight-returns-interview-with-jane-jensen

It's sad that a GK4 may depend on the success of a crappy (not to mention pointless) port, but it sure looks this way. On the plus side, the soundtrack alone might justify the purchase.

 

[jfrisby]

http://tap-repeatedly.com/2014/03/adventure-games-phoenix-online-gdc/

The underlying game isn’t changed much from the classic, but there are some upgrades. All of the original dialog is present, and, as Jensen put it, “Gabriel is still Gabriel.” But for those players who are less interested in dialog and who just want to get to the point, important conversations that make the plot move along are highlighted in the menu. It’s a careful balance between old and new design sensibilities, which will include an in-game hint system along the lines of the one used for Cognition. Some puzzles have also been updated: nothing was removed, but for example an early-game puzzle where Gabriel uses tweezers to pick up a snake scale now also involves a little additional searching for the player to track down the snake and find the right place to click.

 

[Aeschylus]

Well, a few of the puzzles could have used minor tweaks, but anybody who's skipping the optional dialogue shouldn't even bother playing the game.

 

[DeepOcean]

But for those players who are less interested in dialog and who just want to get to the point, important conversations that make the plot move along are highlighted in the menu.

If someone isn't playing a Jane Jensen for the story, he is doing something wrong. It is like playing a FPS and don't like shooting.

 

[Abelian]

now also involves a little additional searching for the player to [. . .] find the right place to click.

I can't believe it: pixel hunting is now actually being touted as a feature.

 

[suejak]

Jane Jensen seems to suffer from a disease I've noticed in Ron Gilbert: obviously the new way is better than the old way, which is why their new games have been so much more successful than their old games.

 

[DalekFlay]

What would be really interesting is a GK2 remake in this style, with no FMV. That's worth the money.

I agree, and said something similar before either on here or on GOG. Remaking the original just means better graphics. Remaking the second or third game would mean an actual difference worth experiencing.

 

[madrigal]

I've tried several times to get into GK3 but everything about it turns me off, from the puke-enducing 3D engine and awful graphics, to Gabriel's glacial walking speed coupled with massive areas,.

It was not necessary to walk through massive areas as the walking part could be skipped in transitioning between screens and the uncontrollable camera could be managed quite well, if I remember correctly by holding the right mouse button.

 

[Boleskine]

GK3's navigation was mostly about using the camera. Move the camera to whatever you want to interact with, and as long as the camera is not facing the direction of where Gabriel or Grace is standing, they will appear right behind the camera. You could also press Esc to skip the walking animation, IIRC.

I really liked GK3's interface. Great balance of pointing and clicking along with the fluid camera movement. It took a few moments to get used to but after that it was great. I'm really not sure why people dislike it so much.

 

[Magic User]

http://www.adventuregamers.com/screenshots/view/25448/

I actually don't mind the background but the character models look really crappy. Anyone excited for this? The extra content that Jensen says she will add is the only reason why I will buy it.

EDIT: (Actually, screw that, I have already bought this when I pledged to Moebius.)

 

[Humanity has risen!]

It looks even more like total garbage.

 

[Western]

Atleast they can't fuck up the story and game play.

 

[Humanity has risen!]

Looking at Moebius, you'd be surprised.

 

[iqzulk]

The only thing that interests me in this remake is its soundtrack. A.k.a. the new remixes of GK's tracks by Robert Holmes himself. Couldn't care less about the rest.

 

[Whisky]

Ehhhhhhhhh...

The original still really holds up. The remake doesn't look that good.

I could see some people buying it out of impulse as kind of an incentive for new GK games, but really...?

Though I think I already got it from my Moebius pledge.

 

[Boleskine]

Based on the last kickstarter update, the beta for backers might be coming soon.

 

[Curious_Tongue]

Do NOT fuck this up. Especially the music.

I remember the joy of having my first sound card. I think this game was one of the first I got to test it on.

I remember getting my first video card as well, all the way back in... 2009.

 

[Infinitron]

I'm pretty sure you always had a video card.

http://www.rpgcodex.net/forums/inde...ards-in-the-90s-before-3d-acceleration.78777/

 

[Taxnomore]

Not if he was using laptops ! A-ha !

 

[m_s0]

http://www.adventuregamers.com/screenshots/view/25448/

I actually don't mind the background but the character models look really crappy. Anyone excited for this? The extra content that Jensen says she will add is the only reason why I will buy it.

EDIT: (Actually, screw that, I have already bought this when I pledged to Moebius.)

It pains me to say it, but from what they've released so far this remake looks absolutely fucking revolting. And I do mean that: it's genuinely tough to look at those screens. Strong cheapo hidden object vibe here, terrible sterile backgrounds, shitty stiff doll-like models... It looks as if no one with any aesthetic sense was involved in making this thing.

 

[Darth Roxor]

It pains me to say it, but from what they've released so far this remake looks absolutely fucking revolting. And I do mean that: it's genuinely tough to look at those screens. Strong cheapo hidden object vibe here, terrible sterile backgrounds, shitty stiff doll-like models... It looks as if no one with any aesthetic sense was involved in making this thing.

Yeah, it looks terrible. Those screens completely lack the mood of the original, especially the bookstore

 

[Jaesun]

At least they are trying to keep it looking like the original

I really like the changes to the windows in the new one, having been to New Orleans, that's is very fitting.

 

[Curious_Tongue]

I'm pretty sure you always had a video card.

http://www.rpgcodex.net/forums/inde...ards-in-the-90s-before-3d-acceleration.78777/

I remember something about VGA and SVGA in those days.

Anyway, 2009 was the first time I could play games that needed a 3d accelerator.