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It's time for Back to the Future episode three on iPad
Telltale has set loose the third episode of Back to the Future: The Game on the App Store, giving iPad owners looking for their next fix of Marty McFly adventures a $6.99 bit of relief. In this latest episode, Marty finds himself stranded in an alternate version of the '80s. The biggest change: the apparent lord of all, "First Citizen Brown," pictured above. He looks like he's never taken guff in his entire life.
Back to the Future Episode 4 unlocking today
If you've been waiting for the promised release of the fourth installment in Telltale's episodic Back to the Future games, you can officially put your DeLorean into park -- time travel's no longer required to arrive at a launch date. Episode 4, subtitled Double Visions, is set to unlock today on PC and Mac for folks who've pre-purchased the five-part series. This time around, Marty will be responsible for fixing the altered timeline he created in the last episode, Citizen Brown. We're not sure exactly how he's going to go about doing so, but we're willing to bet that anachronistic hijinks will be involved. Also, there's an outside chance for some monkeyshines.
Back to the Future Episode 4 coming next week
If you've been waiting with bated breath on the next installment in the continuing adventures of Digital Marty and Digital Doc Brown, you'll be pleased to learn that you'll be able to exhale fairly soon. Telltale Games announced today on its Twitter account that Back to the Future's fourth episode, titled "Double Vision," will be released next week on PC and Mac. In this installment, Marty must team up with Episode 3's First Citizen Brown to create "an epic invention so that he can prevent young Emmett Brown from making the worst mistake of his life." We're not really sure what that means, but we've certainly got our fingers crossed for a cameo by Foreigner.
RC car runs on soda can rings, Doc Brown approves (video)
Many a future engineer was inspired by Back to the Future's Dr. Emmett "Doc" Brown, and not just because he proved that unkempt eccentrics could truly change the world. No, he also pioneered Mr. Fusion, the coffee maker/cold fusion reactor that turned garbage into energy. And while we're still waiting for cold fusion and time travel to become a reality, today we're all one step closer to waste-powered cars. A pair of Spanish engineers have recently unveiled the dAlH2Orean (see what they did there?), a R/C car that runs on aluminum. Dropping a few soda can tabs into a tank of sodium hydroxide produces enough hydrogen to power the little speedster for 40 minutes – at almost 20mph. Hit the video above to see it in action, along with your daily helping of the Chemical Brothers. Fitting.
Back to the Future Episode 1 now free on Mac and PC
Good news, you won't have to travel to a future where money is meaningless for a free chance to try out the PC or Mac versions of Back to the Future for free. Telltale has released the first episode of the series for the universe-defying price of zero dollars. All you need to do is visit Telltale's Back to the Future site, click the offer on the bottom of the page and create a Telltale account. Those who already have an account just have to sign in and, bam, instant Back to the Future. And though you still have to pay for the full season after the free episode, it's on sale for $22.99 right now. Despite Telltale's previous promises to the contrary, episode one of The Adventures and Squirfle and Momo remains full price.
Back to the Future Episode 3 out now on Mac and PC
The plight of young Martin McFly continues today, with the PC and Mac launch of the third chapter in Telltale's Back to the Future adventure games, subtitled Citizen Brown. This time around, Marty finds himself in an alternate universe-version of 1986 Hill Valley, where he'll have run-ins with darker versions of the Doc and Jennifer -- the latter of which is voiced by the film's Claudia Wells. The release of this third chapter provides some compelling evidence as to why these games are better than the films themselves: See, if these were the movies, the third chapter would be the last one we get. Telltale's got two more installments in the chamber, because that's how they roll.
Back to the Future's third episode snags Claudia Wells as Jennifer
As if A.J. LoCascio's eerily accurate impression of Marty McFly wasn't haunting enough in-game, how about some live-action joshin' between LoCascio and the original actress who played Marty's love interest, Jennifer? That's just what Telltale has delivered in the latest trailer for the third episode of Back to the Future: The Game, starring multiple versions of Jennifer (played by original Back to the Future actress Claudia Wells, who was replaced by Elisabeth Shue in the sequels). For her part, Wells says she was "thrilled" when LoCascio asked her to reprise her role from the film. "I said, 'I wanna be Jennifer!'" she explains in the latest clip. And that's when things get ... strange. Head past the break and see for yourself.
Back to the Future's third episode 'Citizen Brown' available next week
Back to the Future returns to our relatively recent past (the protagonist's present) in "Citizen Brown," the third episode in the series, available next week for PC and Mac. In the latest episode, Marty and Doc Brown get back to 1986 to find they've mucked up the timeline again ... and not in the fun "Biff washing dad's car" kinda way. Now they must deal with a powerful version of Doc Brown, but will he be friend or foe? BttF Episode 2: "Get Tannen!" will also be available next Tuesday on PSN. An email newsletter sent out by Telltale states that information about the European PSN and iPad launch dates for the second episode is "coming soon."
Back to the Future Episode 2 travels to PSN on March 29
Time is finally catching up for the PlayStation Network installments of Telltale's Back to the Future games. While the first episode arrived eight weeks after its PC- and Mac-based counterpart, the second episode -- dubbed "Get Tannen!" -- is due for digi-release on March 29, just under six weeks later. If this pattern keeps up, we expect to see each subsequent PSN-bound installment arrive two weeks closer to the initial computer release; with five episodes, that means the fifth release should be simultaneous. Right?%Gallery-119282%
Back to the Future is Telltale's 'most successful' franchise
At a recent press event, Telltale Games' Steve Allison boasted that Back to the Future has been a real boon for the developer. "It's certainly our most successful franchise to date," the SVP of marketing revealed, without offering exact sales figures. Telltale credits the game's early success to a variety of factors, including a strong license and excellent voice talent. (We certainly weren't the only ones amazed by AJ LoCascio's Michael J. Fox impersonation.) The first episode in the Back to the Future adventure series launched in December on the PC. Just this week, the second episode launched, along with an iPad and PSN release of the first episode. "We're pushing it out to as many people as we can," Allison concluded. You can check out the first episode for free: Just head to telltalegames.com/bttfoffer and use that 121GIGAWATTS code.
Back to the Future's second episode 'Get Tannen!' available now
Telltale's Back to the Future adventure game series has aligned with our timeline to deliver its second episode, "Get Tannen!" for PC and Mac. While mucking about in Hill Valley during Prohibition, Doc and Marty may have caused -- what time travelers universally consider -- an "oopsie," which prompts the duo to go back in time to fix what went wrong. Isn't this why your mother warned you about time travel? If you're curious about the series, make like a tree and check out our review of episode one ... unless you're chicken. Update: The availability of Episode 2 means that the free copies of Episode 1 are now available! Go here and enter the code 121GIGAWATTS.
PSN Tuesday: Back to the Future, Yakuza 4 demo
Nani kore? Great scott! This week's PSN update adds the Yakuza 4 demo for PlayStation Plus subscribers, while the plebs can grab it next week. Telltale also adds the first episode of its Back to the Future adventure game. Speed on past the break at 88 MPH to see what you'll be downloading in ... the future. Choose your platform to view the corresponding release list: (Note: Continue past the break to view both release lists.)
Back to the Future monthly episodes begin Feb. 15 on PS3, later this month on iPad
Is the first episode of Telltale's Back to the Future game arriving two months late on PS3, or are we writing this post two weeks early? The monthly Back to the Future journey begins on PlayStation Network on February 15, which, last we checked, isn't now. (An iPad release is also planned for "later this month.") You can purchase the entire five-episode season on the PlayStation Store for $20, a discount of 20 percent off the PC price. PS3 players, it seems Telltale loves spoiling you guys.
Back to the Future: The Game review: It's about time
Maybe it's the charming performances by the leads, the blend of comedy and adventure that never hits any one note too hard, or plain old nostalgia – honestly, it's probably a little bit of all those – but there's something special about the Back to the Future series. This is perhaps the best compliment I can pay to Back to the Future: The Game: Episode 1. Whatever that specialness is, whatever the source of the magic that's made the series a cultural touchstone for so many, Telltale's got it to spare. %Gallery-111944%
Free Back to the Future episode punitively dated February; paid version this week
TANSTAAFL. Those of you who snagged the recently re-released Back to the Future set on Blu-ray were no doubt thrilled to learn that you'd also been gifted a "complimentary first episode" of Telltale's upcoming episodic series based on the classic series. Those of you who didn't pick up the videos but instead read the one-size-fits-all '121GIGAWATTS' code here on Joystiq were probably also thrilled because, hey – who doesn't want something for nothing? Once again we learn There Ain't No Such Thing as a Free Lunch. If you pre-registered for that free episode on Telltale's site, you've probably already received an email that looks something like the one found after the break. In short: While the first episode – "It's About Time" – premieres on Mac and PC this Wednesday for "full season purchasers," the freeloaders will have to wait until "February, just in time for the series' second episode." And by then you'll miss the pre-order bonuses. Curse you, inevitable march of time! [Thanks, Nick]
Back to the Future peels out Dec. 22 on PC and Mac
The ball begins to drop. It's December 31, 2010, 11:59:50 and Devon and Samantha are breathless. All night long, Grandpa Steve has promised to display a long-dormant ability for time travel. More over, at precisely midnight, he has promised to take them into the future. "Five!" the room shouts. "Four! Three! Two! One!" Devon and Samantha close their eyes, brace for it. ... Nothing. "Ta-da!" Grandpa Steve looks very pleased with himself. "I took us all into 2011!" The kids take the awkward three seconds, when all the couples kiss and the single people stare, to process this new information. "... Bee Ess!" Devon shouts, just quietly enough that his mom won't hear over the champagne-soaked rendition of "Auld Lang Syne" on which the guests conspire. "Yeah, bee ess!" says Sam at the same volume. "I thought this was going to be time travel like in Telltale's Back to the Future, released on Mac and PC on December 22!" Devon piles on, "Yeah, and your stupid trick didn't even come with a collector's DVD which Telltale Store shoppers got!" Grandpa Steve shrugs with an impish smile and slinks to the kitchen, leaving Devon and Sam to reflect on how 2011 has nowhere to go but up.
Telltale reveals a familiar foe for Back to the Future adventure games
Marty McFly's eternal nemesis, Biff Tannen, will indeed rear his ugly, manure-covered head in the five-part Back to the Future: The Game series, as revealed by an update to the game's official site. Tannen, who's voiced by part-time electro-rock musician and part-time voice actor Kid Beyond (best name ever?), will play lead antagonist to Marty and Co. during their adventures. For a better idea of his role, check out the official site's recently added, slightly spoilery guide to the series' five episodes. Wait, did we say "lead antagonist?" No, that's not right -- we imagine the real foe in Telltale's adaptation is, as ever, the very real threat that Marty will create a time paradox, sundering our reality into infinite, unsustainable sub-realities, jettisoning our very existence into the realm of oblivion. Compared to that, some jumpsuit-wearing thug isn't all that intimidating.
Go Back to the Future in five, chronological episodes
GameTrailers has the debut moving-picture preview for Telltale's episodic Back to the Future game and, if you ignore the animation and lip-synching, it's looking pretty ... um -- hey, how awesome are those movies? They're on Blu-ray now, you know. Maybe we'll forget all about this awkward teaser when the first episode of the point-n-click adventure is made available for free sometime soon. Revealed as a five-episode series, Back to the Future begins this month, before taking a winter break until February, when it'll pick back up with a new episode each month until the finale: December: "It's About Time" (Episode 1) February: "Get Tannen!" (Episode 2) March: "Citizen Brown" (Episode 3) April: "Double Visions" (Episode 4) TBD: "OUTATIME" (Finale) Back to the Future will be available for PC, Mac, PS3 (via PSN) and iPad. Previously, Telltale announced plans to launch the PC and Mac versions first. Check out the trailer after the break, or don't ... if you're chicken.
Flash Rods' DeLorean hard drive: $250, 500 jigabytes!
Is a full-size DeLorean (time machine or otherwise) a bit out of your budget? Then you might want to consider Flash Rods' latest 1:18 scale replica, which not only faithfully reproduces the DeLorean Time Machine (complete with Mr. Fusion reactor from Back to the Future II), but actually packs a 500GB Seagate hard drive inside to give you some justification for actually having it on your desk. Of course, it will cost a considerable premium over a regular 500GB hard drive, but we can certainly think of plenty of worse ways to spend $250.
Telltale shares first Back to the Future: The Game screens
Great Scott, Marty, it's the very first screenshot of Telltale's much-anticipated Back to the Future episodic game. The company has shared a few shots of the title in action for the first time and, as you can see above, the look is more stylistic than realistic. That's certainly Marty and the Doc, but visualized with a little more flair than their real-life counterparts. Only Marty will be playable and, as an adventure game, most of the gameplay will revolve around collecting and using objects (which you can see a glimpse of in the corner up above). The game also has an extensive dialog system, and the story is a full sequel to the three movies. It starts out "set several months after the events of the third movie from Marty's perspective," but of course with time travel, the game could revisit any of the previous three movies or head off to anywhere else. Heavy. There will be some familiar locations -- you can see the 1955 billboard from the end of the second movie in another screenshot below, and you'll visit both Doc's lab and the Hill Valley town center (with clock tower, of course) as well. And you'll "see them in ways you haven't experienced before," promises Telltale. %Gallery-108311%
