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The Longest Journey Remastered now exploring additional App Stores
Following last month's soft launch in Australia and New Zealand, The Longest Journey Remastered is now available for devices running iOS 7.0 or later. The game's store description notes that Remastered has been "optimized" for iPhone 5, iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, but compatible iPad and iPod Touch models serve as additional options. For $8.99, fans can venture through a remastered take of Funcom's classic point-and-click adventure, which features a new intro and outro by Ragnar Tørnquist, creator of The Longest Journey and founder of Dreamfall Chapters developer Red Thread Games. [Image: Funcom]
The Longest Journey gets tested down under, global launch 'soon'
Despite recent reports, iOS adventure The Longest Journey is not currently available on the iOS App Store. Instead, publisher Funcom has decided to keep the game exclusive to Australia and New Zealand for an initial testing period. "We're using Australia and New Zealand as test markets for an initial release, and if all goes well we hope to release it in more markets very soon," Funcom told Pocket Gamer. Unfortunately, there's no word on how well things are going, or when The Longest Journey might become available in other regions. We can, however, say that once it is launched outside of the South Pacific, The Longest Journey will feature a $7 price tag. [Image: Funcom]
The Longest Journey completes its trip to iOS tonight
An upgraded iOS port of Funcom's classic point-and-click adventure game The Longest Journey will premiere in the App Store later tonight, Pocket Gamer reports. The Longest Journey Remastered features a redesigned interface suited for touch screens, and takes players on a dimension-hopping adventure across parallel worlds. The app has already soft-launched in New Zealand, and will make its North American debut at midnight tonight. The mobile release follows up on the recent launch of the episodic follow-up adventure Dreamfall Chapters: The Longest Journey, which hit PC platforms last week. A PlayStation 4 port of Chapters is also in the works. [Image: Funcom]
Longest Journey voice actor seeking help for medical bills
Sarah Hamilton, the voice of The Longest Journey protagonist April Ryan, is currently raising funds via GoFundMe to help pay for medical bills. Hamilton, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2002 and Stage 2 parotic gland cancer 18 months later, recently had part of her spine fused - unfortunately, the cost of the procedure has caused an uptick in stress, which in turn caused Hamilton to experience a relapse of MS symptoms. "So what is my opportunity here?" Hamilton wrote on her GoFundMe page. "It's to acknowledge that I need help. Help with my bills. Once I am given the go ahead to go back to work it will be part time, and in conjunction with all my regular bills I won't be able to pay my previous doctors bills let alone my new ones. I also acknowledge how so very grateful I am for being allowed the time to get well and for having those around me who love me. Yet I need help. And if you are able to do so I would be so grateful to all of you for the rest of my healthy life." Hamilton is seeking $13,800. As of this writing, she has raised $2,916. [Image: Sarah Hamilton]
Chaos Theory: An adventure game is you!
I grew up on adventure games before I even knew they were called "adventure games." One of my earliest memories of a friend's computer was playing Adventure. Following that, I was hooked. Maniac Mansion. King's Quest. Zork. Planetfall. Leisure Suit Larry. Space Quest. The Secret of Monkey Island. Sam and Max Hit the Road. Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis. Myst. Gabriel Knight. Syberia. The Longest Journey. Back to the Future. The Walking Dead. I've never stopped loving the fun of exploring these worlds, "earning" the next page of the story, and finding out all of the bizarre ways I could die. However, at some point in the '90s, games journalists apparently decided that "adventure games were dead." It's something we started hearing a lot of, especially in comparison to all of the fancy new graphics, gameplay features, and fast-paced shooters. Adventure games were seen as a relic of a time when computers couldn't process heavy graphic loads and players were a lot more patient. I never bought into the "adventure games are dead" mindset. I see them coming back like crazy these days, especially on tablets and mobile devices. And lo and behold, Funcom did something that I would have never thought possible: The studio made an MMO out of an adventure game. That's The Secret World, if you weren't following along.
Dreamfall Chapters stretch goals to be Mac, Linux releases, possibly Ouya, Steam Box
The Kickstarter campaign for Dreamfall Chapters: The Longest Journey is getting initial stretch goals for Mac and Linux versions in addition to PC, and potentially ones for Steam Box and Ouya too. Speaking in yesterday's Reddit AMA, series creator Ragnar Tørnquist confirmed Mac and Linux are to be the first additional platforms unlocked by achieving stretch goals, with iOS and Android stretch goals "definitely" in line beyond that. Tørnquist said he'd also love to bring the adventure game to Steam Box and Ouya, but only listed them as possibilities, while next-gen consoles would come after all of the other platforms, and even then wouldn't be a "focus area" for his team.When pushed about other stretch goals, Tørnquist indicated they'd be based around additional content like side stories and returning characters. He also hinted at "a pretty huge stretch goal" by cough-dropping the acronym 'TLJH.' Tørnquist mentioned TLJH earlier in the AMA when asked about the different challenges in making a 3D game as opposed to a 2D one, saying cryptically, "2D is easier, in a lot of ways. I'd like to go back to 2D again. We have had discussions. There are ideas. TLJH." Stretch goals are likely to play a big part for Dreamfall Chapters, given that the fundraiser sits at just over $600,000 of its $850,000 target at the time of writing, with 26 days left to go. An update on the Kickstarter page says developer Red Thread Games will divulge more on the stretch goals once it's in "battling range" of the $850K finish line, so expect them to be revealed shortly.
The Longest Journey creator Ragnar Tørnquist opens up in Reddit AMA
Ragnar Tørnquist, the creator of The Longest Journey adventure game saga and founder of Red Thread Games, is answering all the leftover questions from his mind-numbing puzzles with an Ask Me Anything thread on Reddit, right now. Tørnquist and Red Thread have a live Kickstarter for Dreamfall Chapters: The Longest Journey, a continuation of the Dreamfall tale that's been rooting around development for six years. If all goes as planned and the Kickstarter raises $850,000, Dreamfall Chapters is scheduled to launch on PC in November 2014.If you have a question for Tørnquist, check out the AMA thread on Reddit, but be warned, hackmed already asked the most important question: "How the hell did you guys come up with that rubber ducky puzzle?"
Ragnar Tørnquist returning to his roots with Dreamfall Chapters
In September Funcom announced that Joel Bylos was taking over Ragnar Tørnquist's position of game director for The Secret World, leaving many of us wondering what the mastermind behind the renowned The Longest Journey series was getting up to. Well, now we finally know, and fans of TLJ will certainly be pleased to discover that Tørnquist is returning to his roots. Today, Ragnar announced that his new studio, Red Thread Games, is commencing development of Dreamfall Chapters, which will continue the story that began with The Longest Journey over a decade ago. Rock, Paper, Shotgun has posted a new interview with Tørnquist detailing what lies ahead for the world of Dreamfall and how Ragnar's new gig will affect his work on The Secret World (spoiler alert: He's remaining on the TSW team as Creative Director), so whether you're an avid adventure gamer or a die-hard fan of TSW, it's certainly worth a read. For all the juicy details, just click on through the link below to get to the full interview.
Dreamfall Chapters completes The Longest Journey to pre-production
Dreamfall Chapters is finally in pre-production, five years after first being announced by Funcom as a sequel to Dreamfall: The Longest Journey. The long-hoped-for Chapters is being developed by series creator Ragnar Tørnquist at new studio Red Thread Games. Tørnquist is maintaininig an "advisory role" as creative director on Funcom MMO The Secret World, with Joel Bylos stepping up as game director.Funding and production are being handled by Red Thread, with Funcom licensing out the IP with an agreement to share revenue. Tørnquist revealed today The Norwegian Film Institute has provided $175,000 to assist Red Thread with pre-production.In 2008, Tørnquist admitted Chapters was far from Funcom's highest priority, but hadn't been abandoned. Four years on and with The Secret World now released into the wild, Tørnquist has kept his word.
Jukebox Heroes: The Secret World's soundtrack
As a video game music collector and lover, I am frustrated by how very few MMO soundtracks ever make it to a proper release. Sure, I know it's a niche interest within a niche hobby, but it's still maddening to think of how many great games have no soundtracks out there whatsoever. Considering how going digital with sales makes it so much more easy (and cheap) these days, I say there's no excuse. So good on Funcom for getting The Secret World's soundtrack out there. Marc Canham (Far Cry 2) and Simon Poole (The Longest Journey) split the composer duty on this one, and it's probably a good thing that there are multiple perspectives on what is a game that marches to the beat of its own drummer. Contemporary, horror, and conspiracy together beg for a much different sound than grandiose fantasy fanfares. I actually ended up liking this more than Age of Conan's score (blasphemy among some of you, I know). There's still too many atmospheric dread pieces that don't lend themselves to listening on their own, but fortunately, there are enough notable tracks to make up for the rest.
Much smaller journey: The Longest Journey coming to iPhone
Funcom's Ragnar Tørnquist has confirmed to VideoGamer that classic point-and-click adventure The Longest Journey is heading to the iOS. Tørnquist evidently didn't offer up any further details about the port, including when it will actually be released. We can only hope our sausage-like meat-hooks are up to pixel-hunting on the iPhone's diminutive screen. Oh and, Mr. Tørnquist, we realize you're busy with The Secret World (and now this newly announced port), but iOS would be a great platform for those Dreamfall Chapters. You know, the ones you promised? Just saying.
GOG adds Stranger's Wrath, discounts The Longest Journey
GOG is pointing a double-barreled crossbow of delight at us, with a deep discount on The Longest Journey and the addition of Oddworld: Stranger's Wrath. Departing from the regular Oddworld expectations, Stranger's Wrath is a hybrid of third-person action and first-person shooter, seasoned with elements of the Spaghetti Western and Oddworld touches like the "live" critter ammo. The game is available now on GOG for $9.99. If you'd prefer a sweeping adventure, The Longest Journey is on sale for $3.99. Much like The Neverending Story, we can't vouch for the accuracy of game's title, but it does involve a very long journey, so you'll definitely get your money's worth in this classic point-and-click adventure.
New Longest Journey 'absolutely possible,' says Tornquist
While Funcom's Ragnar Tørnquist is currently banging away on upcoming MMO The Secret World, he recently told Eurogamer that he'd like to return to beloved adventure series The Longest Journey. "I always have other ideas for the future," said Tørnquist, adding that a sequel to Dreamfall: The Longest Journey is something he "tinkers" with and is "absolutely possible." Of course, Tørnquist said the same thing back in 2008, so we're not holding our breath. Now, if we can just find a suitable guide for the first Longest Journey, we might actually be able to finish it before the new sequel arrives. These puzzles are hard!
GoG discounts Longest Journey, other adventure games this weekend
Look, we love Monkey Island, The Dig and all those other classic 2D adventure games just as much as the next guys -- but isn't it time we move into the third dimension? GoG's offering a cheap primer into this brave new world this weekend, halving the cost of four (very depth-filled) adventure games.
The Game Archaeologist and the Girdle of Anarchy: The history
"The future in your hands," Funcom promised gamers in the early days of the new decade. As the MMORPG genre slowly took shape and grew in popularity, game studios were still babes in the woods, feeling out this brave and complex new world without a standard handbook to guide them to success. EverQuest focused on large group content and raids, Dark Age of Camelot featured Realm vs. Realm conflict, and RuneScape brought the MMO to the browser. Everyone desperately hoped he had the next big hook that would reel in gamers by the thousands, especially Norwegian developer Funcom, which made headlines in 1999 with its highly acclaimed adventure The Longest Journey. Funcom took one look at the small but expanding MMO market, got together in a group huddle, and said, "You know what guys? This fantasy thing, it's everywhere. Let's do something different. Let's drill for sci-fi gold. And let's throw in robots, cuddly rodents, randomly generated missions and a bitter rivalry between factions. Geronimo!"* (*Quote fabricated by author.) And thus, almost a decade ago, Anarchy Online hit the industry like a sack of broken features. It wasn't the stellar debut Funcom desired, but the game endured and went on to carve itself out a workable plot of land. This month, The Game Archaeologist trades in his rugged leather attire for space armor and a high-powered laser rifle. The year is 29475, and the place is Babylon 5. Er, Rubi-Ka.
Adventure classic The Longest Journey arrives at GOG.com
Funcom's The Longest Journey is widely regarded as one of the best point-and-click adventures ever made -- it has an impressive metascore of 91 -- and can now be obtained by making the very short journey to the website of retro-ware purveyor GOG.com. $9.99 is the cost of embarking on the Journey, which, unfortunately, is only available for Windows XP / Vista (this is strong incentive to use Boot Camp, Mac users).We're not sure what exactly is behind the recent resurgence of classic adventure games -- what with many from LucasArts' catalog appearing on Steam and Telltale's salvaging of Monkey Island (not to mention the excellent, multiplatform remake of the first game) -- but if there were a floating dialog tree in front of us right now, we'd click "Why yes, we quite like the trend. Please continue."
Dreamfall Chapters still coming, 'on the back burner' for now
It's been over a year since Funcom announced Dreamfall Chapters, an episodic and digitally distributed continuation of Dreamfall: The Longest Journey, and even longer since players were left digging their fingernails into the dirt and hanging on for dear life at the edge of a narrative cliff. Is April Ryan still alive? What's happening to Arcadia? Is Zoë coming back? Find out ... eventually!"Dreamfall Chapters - and, by proxy, The Longest Journey - isn't Funcom's highest priority at this point," writes series author and designer, Ragnar Tørnquist, on his latest blog entry. With Funcom staff frantically working on the newly launched Age of Conan, upcoming MMO, The Secret World, and "other games in various stages of development," it seems Dreamfall's continuation has been given the finger. No no, not that one -- the one you show when you're on the phone and need someone in the room to just hold on for a second, okay?Tørnquist goes on to explicitly state that Chapters "is currently on the back burner - but it hasn't been abandoned." He should be relieved to know that while people hanging from cliffs probably aren't the most patient types, their predicament prevents them from angrily tossing things at him.
Dreamfall now available as an Xbox Original
Super duper exciting news for Xbox Originals fanboys (if there are any out there), Microsoft just released Dreamfall: The Longest Journey (GOTY edition, of course) to the XBLM, their first Xbox Originals addition since way back in February. Funcom's Dreamfall will join the other half dozen or so titles that are available on the Marketplace all costing a hefty 1200 Microsoft points and a solid chunk of your 360's hard drive. Anyway, Dreamfall ... now released as an Xbox Original ... no achievements ... does anyone really care?
Dreamfall headed to Xbox Originals next Mon.
Everyone's favorite Xbox Originals program will be one game title richer next week, with the release of Dreamfall: Game of the Year Edition to the Xbox Live Marketplace. Dreamfall will release on Monday, March 24th for a cool 1200 Microsoft points and feature all the problems backwards compatibility causes including getting caught in geometry after loading level 8 and seeing blurry lines at VGA resolution 848x480. Oh joy! Sorry, our negativity stems from the fact that we aren't huge fans of the Xbox Originals program. But we'll swallow our annoyance this once, put on a smile and move on ...
Age of Conan Product Developer interview, with gameplay video
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/pc_games/Age_of_Conan_interview_and_video'; On December 5th, I was invited to the Eidos/Funcom Age of Conan press event, where I was privileged enough to be granted access to both the game itself and the development team. I was able to play the opening area, leading into the first town. I sussed out the combat and the conversation interface. I spoke with Jørgen Tharaldsen, the Product Developer, and he let drop a metric ton of knowledge upon my fevered noggin. I reprint here our conversation, interspersed with my handheld-shot video pieces, the first of which is shown above, which is where the game starts, with you as a survivor of a shipwrecked slaver ship. I'd like to thank Jørgen and the entire Eidos/Funcom team, all of whom I found to be gracious, witty, and enthusiastic about their game, which is refreshing to see. My take? The game looks incredible, and it's extremely immersive from the get-go. They say they're on schedule for an early 2008 release, so this is something to anticipate indeed. More videos and the interview after the jump!
