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Buy Sam & Max on Steam, get items in Team Fortress 2
Celebrating the release of the first episode of Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse, Valve has announced an interesting promoti onal tie-in with Team Fortress 2. Starting today, anyone who pre-ordered The Devil's Playhouse or purchases it within the first week on Steam will get a special batch of items for Team Fortress 2. The three items, pictured above, were crafted by Telltale and include Max's pistol, Sam's revolver and -- bizarrely -- Max's severed head. The hat is purely cosmetic, and we have no idea what the stats are for the pistols, but who cares? Just look at them. If you like Team Fortress 2 and you like Sam & Max, it's pretty much a no-brainer.
PSN Thursday: Final Fight Double Impact, Sam and Max, Skate 3 demo
Final Fight: Double Impact is the highlight of this week's PSN update -- especially if you're a Magic Sword fanboy. Those interested in test drives can take the Skate 3 demo out for an ollie, while the latest Sam & Max adventure game is also available to try. As has become normal, there's an impressive new helping of comics for the PSP. This latest update adds the first eight issues of Kick-Ass, which has, as they stamp on the covers of those rectangular objects known as books nowadays, become "a major motion picture." Check out the full update after the break. Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list: (Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)
European PSN releases for April 15
This week's European PSN update caters to a wide variety of interests. Fan of humorous adventure games? Check out the first episode of Sam & Max - The Devil's Playhouse. Looking to revisit an timeless classic? You should pick up Oddworld: Abe's Oddysee. Wanna know what this Kick-Ass business is all about? You can grab the entire comic series on the PSP's Digital Comics Reader. Can't get enough of Britney Spear's impossibly catchy "Toxic?" Guess what -- it's on Karaoke Revolution now. You're welcome! Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list: (Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)
Sam & Max: The Penal Zone gameplay video is very Stinky
The trailers haven't done anything for you. Our words of praise and adulation leave you unaffected. So what, then, will it take to get you interested in Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse? If your answer was two minutes and seventeen seconds of unadulterated PS3 gameplay footage, then we've got you covered. Telltale has released a gameplay trailer featuring Max's newfound psychic powers and everyone's favorite diner operator, Stinky. It also teaches a valuable lesson: Don't ever call Max by the name "Harvey." The first episode of The Devil's Playhouse, entitled The Penal Zone, premieres on PC, Mac and PlayStation Network this Thursday, April 15.
New Sam & Max: The Penal Zone trailer, iPad version on sale
Telltale has released a new trailer for the latest season of Sam & Max, entitled The Devil's Playhouse. While the trailer is specifically tailored to the iPad version -- which is already available -- we're sure that all the Mac, PC and PS3 holdouts will enjoy it just the same (while they wait until next week). Just to make that pain a little more poignant, Telltale has also announced that iPad version of the first episode, The Penal Zone, is now on sale in the App Store. Usually going for $9.99, the season opener can be gotten at $6.99 for "a limited time." Sam & Max Episode 1: The Penal Zone for iPad ($6.99) %Gallery-90029%
PSN Thursday: Sam & Max pre-order, Heavy Rain soundtrack
Max: Lissssten to my voice, you will pre-order Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse for $30. We will pre-order Sam & Max Max: You will also watch the next episode of The Tester. We will also ... wait, do we have to? Check out the full PSN update after the break. Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list: (Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)
Impressions: Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse - The Penal Zone (PS3)
You wouldn't expect to find "We've tightened up the graphics on Episode Three" among the usual list of noted improvements between Telltale's episodic releases. After all, with endearing, demented characters like Sam and Max taking up quite a bit of the screen, who cares how many polygons are left for that potted plant in the corner? "We wanted to bump everything up presentation-wise for this season," said designer Chuck Jordan, drawing attention to the Telltale engine's impressive -- nay, tight -- visual enhancements. The Penal Zone, the first of five monthly episodes comprising Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse, features noticeably improved lighting, real-time shadows and more expressive facial animation. As Jordan pointed out, "an expression can sell a joke for the first time." Based on the demo I saw at the Game Developers Conference, it's also apparent that the improved graphics do make a difference to that potted plant. Because you transform into one. "When you finally get to control Max," Jordan said, "it's really weird." Like, really really weird. %Gallery-88038%
GDC 2010: Hands-on with Sam and Max: The Devil's Playhouse
Last month at Macworld, Telltale Games announced that they'll be releasing their games day-and-date on both Mac and PC at the same time. Last week at GDC 2010, they announced a brand new season of Sam and Max, and also the news that, on April 15th, the first episode of The Devil's Playhouse will be available on both Mac and PC (as well as the PSN, if you're into that sort of thing). I got a chance to see the game at GDC, and while the version I saw was running on the Playstation 3, I can promise you that they said we'd get Sam and Max, and that's exactly what we're getting. Like the other games in the series (which aren't on the Mac quite yet, but are coming soon), The Devil's Playhouse (the first episode is called "The Penal Zone") is a cartoony point-and-click adventure game featuring the legendary Freelance Police duo. We played through an initial sequence that had the two going up against the evil General Skunkape and his spaceship, armed only with Max's ability to travel through phonelines, some silly putty that will let him change into a potted plant (or a bazooka), and the help of an alien brain in a jar. Just like the rest of the series, Sam and Max features item-based puzzles with plenty of absurdity and humor.
Sam & Max PSN pre-orders start March 18; other console versions a 'definite possibility'
Sam and Max will bring their off-kilter humor to PlayStation 3 for the first time in The Devil's Playhouse: The Penal Zone, the first episode in a new season of Telltale's episodic adventure series. In a first for the PlayStation Store, the full season -- consisting of five monthly episodes -- will become available for pre-order on March 18, nearly a month before The Penal Zone launches on April 15. While PC and Mac owners will receive substantial benefits for pre-ordering the full season, including a free game episode, access to developer chats and extra downloadable goodies, Telltale noted that it also has a deal in store (you know, actually in the store) for console players. According to Telltale PR manager Chris Schmidt, pre-ordering the full pack will reduce the cost to $29.99, a minor but not unwelcome discount from the regular price of $34.95. Speaking to Joystiq at a meeting during the Game Developers Conference on Friday, Schmidt also addressed the obvious question: Will this season of Sam & Max come to Xbox 360 or Wii? He called it a "definite possibility" a few months down the line, and noted that it's in Telltale's best interest to work with more partners and deliver its games to as wide an audience as possible. Designer Chuck Jordan jokingly added that Telltale would ultimately like "to get the games on everything that has a chip in it." Forget the 360 -- what could be better than getting Sam & Max in a tube of Pringles?
Sam and Max voted as next Telltale franchise on the Mac
When Telltale Games kicked off their Mac revolution at Macworld a few weeks ago, they also set up a poll on their website where players could vote on the next franchise in their company to get a full release on the Mac. The vote is now over, and the Sam and Max franchise was chosen as the next group of games to see a full Mac release. The original characters were created by Steve Purcell a few decades ago, but since then, the franchise has created a storied gaming history, starting at LucasArts and moving on to Telltale's classic titles. The series of point-and-click adventures is known for its stories and humor, and it's definitely a worthwhile choice by fans. Rumor has it that there's a brand new Sam and Max season (the games are released in "seasons" of smaller episodes) around the corner -- we're hoping to see Telltale at GDC 2010 next week, so we'll let you know if we get to see anything new from them there.
Sam & Max voted as next Telltale series for Macs
[GinnyN] With Guybrush Threepwood fans taken care of, Telltale's adventure game-lovin' enthusiasts have voted Sam & Max as the next title to get Mac-ified. The Telltale blog confirmed the choice yesterday, saying that the other two titles up for porting (Wallace & Gromit and Strong Bad) will be playable on OS X "within the course of this year." Alongside the announcement (which didn't include a release date), the site posted a handful of "propaganda" created by voters to sway others to their side. We've posted one of our faves above, but we suggest checking out the whole lot.
ESRB rates 'Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse' for PS3 [update]
The bunny was already out of the velvet hat regarding Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse - Episode 1: The Penal Zone, but here's a twist: it's coming to the PS3, according to the ESRB. If true, this would be the first time Sam & Max bring their special style of police work to Sony's console. Oddly, no ratings for other consoles (nor PC) have been published on the ESRB's online database. We're currently following up with developer Telltale and the ESRB for clarification on platforms. After all, nobody should be left out when it comes to the Sam & Max adventure games. Update 2: The ESRB rating has been pulled. According to the ESRB, "The platforms listed on our site are those that have been identified to us by game publishers. As it turns out, this title has been removed from our website today at the request of the publisher, but will be reposted at a later date. Any question related to this title and what platforms it will be available on should go to its publisher." Update: A Telltale rep tells us, "It's fine to say multi-platform, including PC and a selected console platform. And one might speculate on Mac too for this series, given our announcements at Macworld earlier this month. Real official news is expected very soon."
Macworld 2010: Telltale Games and their Mac revolution
Well, there you go. After consistent rumors that the whole catalog would be coming over to the Mac, Telltale Games announced at Macworld last week that that's exactly what was going to happen. Starting with the Tales of Monkey Island series (based on the Lucasarts games, where many Telltale developers formerly hung their hats), the company will co-release Mac and PC versions, giving customers versions for both platforms at the same time. Telltale is hosting a vote on its website right now as to the next game set to be released, but as we learned directly from co-founders Dan Connors and Kevin Bruner, eventually the whole platform, including Monkey Island, Sam and Max, Wallace and Gromit, and Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People, is coming over. And it's probably not long until the iPhone and the iPad follow suit. Kevin Bruner spoke with us on the livestream during the show, and Dan Connors sat down for a longer interview about Telltale's past, the decision to join the Mac gaming community, and what both founders think of Apple's newest platforms and the Mac community at large. Read on to see the full text of the interview.
Telltale games headed to Mac, Tales of Monkey Island out now
Hey, remember that "totally unconfirmed" report that stated Telltale would be bringing its whole catalog to the Mac and, furthermore, would be showing off Mac versions of its games at Macworld? You can slide that over to "totally confirmed" now, as Telltale has officially announced that it is indeed bringing its titles to Mac OS. The first game to hit the platform will be Tales of Monkey Island, which is actually available for the Mac right now. Telltale is currently asking fans to decide which game it releases next: Strong Bad, Sam & Max or Wallace and Gromit. Perhaps the best part about it all: Telltale also announced that the Mac versions of its games will be free to anyone who already purchased the PC version. Presumably, that also means that those who buy the Mac version will have access to PC versions. Either way, it means a whole new audience for Telltale's games. The company will be at Macworld this week, showcasing Tales of Monkey Island. Speaking of which, curious Mac gamers out there can grab the demo for Tales of Monkey Island at the Telltale website (and we suggest you do).
'Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse' outed by OFLC
Like good burlesque, Telltale had been teasing a new season of Sam & Max ... meanwhile, like good porn, Australia's OFLC went ahead and just exposed the goods. Unless a dramatic change occurs, it appears the title of the next installment in the comedic adventure series is titled Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse - Episode 1: The Penal Zone. The premature ratings announcement obviously doesn't contain much aside from a title -- there's no telling whether the game might eventually come to Mac or iPhone as recently rumored -- but at this point, we'll take whatever glimpse we can get. [Thanks, 5abanja]
More rumored Telltale plans for the Mac
We posted a little while back about Telltale possibly bringing its games over to the Mac, and now there's even more rumblings to be interested in. Rumor has it that since most of their games use the same platform, one port is the same as all of them, which means we may see the whole catalog released in one fell swoop on OS X, and sold right alongside their PC brethren. Additionally, Telltale hints that we may even see iPhone and/or iPad versions of their games, including Sam and Max, the Monkey Island franchise, and all the rest (with the exceptions of the Bone series and Texas Hold 'Em). They are saying that we'll hear more at Macworld next month, and since TUAW plans to be there en masse, we'll definitely keep our eyes open for anything they're showing off. Good to hear that one of the more interesting and quality developers out there is planning to come over to the Mac in a big way. [via IMG]
Sam & Max Season 1 on sale for $5
We're not big fans of teaser pages, but we do wish there were a few more like the one hinting at more Sam & Max in 2010. The site has now evolved beyond rambling about "a power-mad space gorilla" to ... well, there's still some rambling, but there's also a real deal: The whole first season of Telltale's Sam & Max for just $4.99. If you haven't touched the series or just like buying things really, really cheap, now would be the time to act. Here's to hoping future teasers follow Telltale's lead and lump some utility in with the titillation. [Update: If that price still isn't low enough for you, Telltale's offering one of any episode from any series for free to those who complete this survey. Hop to it!] [Thanks, Dao Jones]
Report: Telltale porting its games to Mac, hints at iPad
According to Mac|Life, Telltale will begin supporting the Mac platform starting on Febrary 8 with Tales of Monkey Island -- and, as what can only be described as a great idea, gamers will be able to download both the Mac and PC versions of Telltale's games for one price. In other words, you won't have to worry about which version you buy, because you'll be getting both. Tales of Monkey Island is to be the first title to receive Mac support, with Sam & Max, Wallace & Gromit and Strong Bad to follow (supposedly in that order, by the way). Both seasons of Sam & Max should arrive within "several weeks" of Tales of Monkey Island, with the others arriving in the following months, the site writes. The report also mentions that Telltale plans to convert its entire catalog -- with the exception of Bone and Texas Hold 'Em -- according to Mac|Life. Its Telltale source declined to confirm if ports are on their way to the iPhone or iPad as well, though he did reiterate Telltale's desire to expand to as many platforms as possible. When reached for comment by Joystiq, a Telltale representative called the report "totally unconfirmed," adding that potential iPhone or iPad support is "total speculation" at this point. According to the Mac|Life report, Telltale will be showing off its Mac titles at the Macworld Expo on February 11, so you can bet we'll be stopping by to find out.
Telltale Games may be releasing all games for Mac
Telltale Games has been rocking the retro lately, doing great things like bringing Secret of Monkey Island and Sam & Max back in new forms, and releasing new episodic classics like Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People. Now they might be doing so on the Mac: rumor has it that they'll be releasing their whole catalog on the Mac as soon as next month, just in time for an appearance at Macworld Expo. Apparently there are many Mac fans both on the team and in the customer base, and they're just figuring out a way to do it. Sounds awesome to us -- Telltale's stuff is already available on a few other platforms (both PC and consoles), but they have a history of putting fans first, so we might even expect some goodies to come with a Mac release. We'll have to wait and see what they've got planned. [Via IMG]
Telltale teases new Sam and Max in 2010
click to Maximize imagesEveryone's favorite episodic adventure game series about anthropomorphic detectives (we assume!) is returning in 2010! Telltale Games just put up a teaser site for something Sam and Max-related happening in 2010, featuring concept art hidden within the Sam and Max constellations (which we've placed in our gallery for your convenience). The reference in the audio narration to "a power-mad space gorilla pitted against a canine detective and a sociopathic bunny with psychic powers," along with the starry-sky imagery and (most definitively) the Max spaceship suggest that Sam and Max will be in space. Impressive -- it took the Leprechaun movie series four installments to make it off the Earth. The narration also mentions that "This story will be different. You will be in control." This could be a reference to a new control scheme Telltale planned to use in Season 3. %Gallery-79930%
