"50,000,000 Miles to Graceland"I don't usually post looong e-mails from readers (because, hey, need the space!), but Dimitris wrote to argue passionately for a point-and-click interface in
The Longest Journey 2, and I'm a sucker for well-articulated views, so here's most of it.
(Keep one thing in mind, guys: Nothing's been decided when it comes to TLJ 2. The game might not even happen. When I write something about a sequel in my journal, it doesn't mean it's a done deal. I post my thoughts - and my thoughts change, all the time. I'm inspired by games I play, books I read, movies I see, music I hear, and discussions I have. Nor does the fact that I'm posting Dimitri's mail mean that TLJ 2
will be point-and-click. I'm not sure if that's the right direction for this genre to head in, to stay rooted in the past, simply because That's How It's Always Been. I don't necessarily believe that it's impossible to improve on something that's "good enough". I'm not sure what the adventure community thinks of
Broken Sword 3, but they're carving a new path, and that's good. I know one thing for sure: It doesn't have to be point-and-click to be an adventure game. But nor does it
have to be different. The game - if there is ever going to be one - will be designed around its story, puzzles, and characters. If we can do more interesting gameplay using direct control, and still stay true to the spirit of adventures, we'll do that. If point-and-click turns out to be the best, and only, option, we'll stick with that. I'm flexible. If and when I have to sit down and design this thing, I'll definitely run through the pluses and minuses of each option. That's my job.)
Phew. Anyways. Here's Dimitris:
A couple of weeks ago I made a poll in the Divide, in the TLJ forums, the Gameboomers forums and in JA forums. I asked people wether they would like the PC version of TLJ2 to have a point and click interface or a direct control interface. About a hundred replied that they want point and click and 5 replied they want direct control. I know that 105 people is not a large enough percentage to make conclusions and that forum polls are not scientific, but we are talking about a hell of a difference here (100-5). And these forums are where a lot of TLJ fans 'hang out' on the net.
If you think that this does not mean anything and what you say about caring what your core audience really wants, then please do a scientific research and learn what your fans want. I am 200% sure that the results would be the same. I'm also quite sure that the reason why most people bought TLJ was that it was the first 3rd person point and click adventure that had great graphics and got good reviews, in years.
Now my personal opinion towards direct control and from what I've read in forums and reviews probably the opinion of the majority of PC gamers. Direct control might work perfect in a console, but not in the PC. BS3 is not the first one that tries direct control as you probably know. We have had many games like Largo Winch, and Monkey Island 4 that used direct control and were crap.
Using your keyboard for an adventure is cumbersome, and looks bad also, because you have to lead your character through every wall and table end, and tell me please, how realistic is that? What does a real person do? Does he/she go around all the walls and the tables to find something of interest or do they stand in some middle point of the room, look around and then go where they saw something of interest? Direct controls leads us from pixel-hunting to wall/table-hunting.
Consoles don't have mouses, so it is quite obvious why all 'adventures' in consoles have direct control. But why transfer an incapability of the console to the PC, when the PC gives you the ability to scan your whole screen area, remotely-without having to move your character by using only one hand. What is simpler than that? In my opinion TLJ's interface was the best interface ever created in adventure games. And I'm sure you have heard the sentence...if it ain't broken, don't try to fix it.
What I am suggesting is this: Why don't you make TLJ2 with direct control for the console versions, and with point and click interface for the PC version. By this way you will focus each version on each platform's capabilities and indiosyncracies. And then those that prefer direct control can play it on consoles and those that prefer point and click can play it on their PCs. Variety is the spice of life.
And if you want to use a new 3D world, please go ahead. But stick with the point n click interface please (in PC version). Gabriel Knight 3 is the only adventure that tried it and it worked perfect. If the cameras would move automatically, it would be even better. I am sure that different controls can be implemented for different platforms and then everybody would be happy.
I hope you take what I said into consideration. This is from someone who loves adventures, loved TLJ (bought it twice actually, one in English and one in Swedish) so I hope you understand that I wouldn't want anything more than TLJ2 to become a success.I definitely agree with a lot of what Dimitris says here, and I think that direct keyboard-control on the PC is certainly not the best option. Players ought to be able to use to mouse to play the game. And that's always been my intention.
See, here's the thing. When I say "direct control", people automatically assume one thing, when I might be thinking of something completely different. Just because it's been done badly before - and again, not saying that this is the way we want to go, but it's an
option - doesn't mean it will always be done badly. And the games mentioned above that featured direct control over the protagonist, and were "crap", didn't really offer anything other than a console control method translated, perhaps badly, to the PC.
If a game's on the PC, it needs controls tailored to the PC. Which means, use the mouse intelligently. It can't work as a joypad, but it can work as a
mouse. Hence the name 'mouse'.
I won't get into the specifics of what I have in mind, because it'll take too long, and everyone will steal my brilliant ideas, and then I'll be left with nothing. (That, by the way, was a Funny. I don't believe in brilliant ideas, especially when they come from me. Brilliant ideas usually mean that something's about to explode. Loudly.) But rest assured that I definitely do
not want the sort of control scheme that Dimitris worries about above. It should never be hard work navigating around a game-world. It should be intuitive, fun, and easy. Does it have to be point-and-click? Absolutely not. Does it have to be
not point-and-click? Big Nope. We'll do whatever's best for the game. I want people to be able to sit down in front of the PC, and start playing within seconds, without worrying about which key to press, or how to get around that table. In other words, with a mouse. Which means that, technically, yes, you'll be pointing-and-clicking. But
exactly how it's been done before? Not necessarily. Because, as every other genre out there, adventure games should evolve. That's the path to survival.
One last thing: If a potential TLJ 2 is ever Xbox-bound, then of course, the control method will be different. Joypad does not equal mouse. You have to build the interface and controls from the ground up, for each and every system. The gameplay will, would, be the same (for the most part), but the way the player interacts with the world will be radically different.
Tomorrow: TLJ 2 as a racing game. Or, alternatively, a beach volleyball game, featuring a nearly nude April Ryan. Woohoo!
