Progress Update on The Journey Down Chapter 2

If you're like me, you might be wondering how chapter 2 of The Journey Down is coming along. Luckily, the Chapter 2 Work in Progress thread at Desura has just been updated with news and new screenshots.

They've got an internal preliminary playable-to-the-end build of the game up and running, but there's a lot of things missing yet and most of the movies are still animated storyboards. There are still some puzzles that need inside knowledge to solve, but they hope to have an internal beta version of the game ready by February that will allow the game to be completed by people who don't know the solutions to all the puzzles.

It's good to know that chapter two is coming along nicely, as The Journey Down Chapter One was one of my favorite adventure games of last year.

Gemini Rue Available For Android, Mac, and Linux

Gemini Rue, the sci-fi dystopian adventure game by Joshua Nuernberger and published by Wadjet Eye Games, is now available for Mac and Linux (as well as Windows) from Steam and on Android devices on Google Play.  It's also available on iTunes in a universal app for iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad.

Escape From The Mansion

Escape From The Mansion is an excellent free point-and-click adventure game that was made with the Wintermute engine.  It has just been updated with an extended end cut-scene.

In the game, you play a young man who goes to explore an abandoned mansion, but the ceiling collapses in front of the door, trapping him inside.  As a result, he has to find another way out.

The Cave Is Now Available For Android

After releasing for the Android based Ouya game console earlier this month, The Cave has now arrived on the Google Play store for other Android devices. Even better, the Android port has 1080p resolution and other enhancements that weren't possible on other mobile platforms.

The Walking Dead: Season Two Release Dates

Telltale just made a post on Twitter announcing the release dates for The Walking Dead: Season Two Episode 1: All That Remains.

It will release later today for PC and Mac (through the Telltale Store and Steam) and for PlayStation 3 in North America. It will then release tomorrow worldwide for Xbox 360. The iOS version will be coming later this week. The European PlayStation 3 release date, as well as the release dates for the Vita and Ouya versions have not yet been set.

Interview With Gene Mocsy About 1954: Alcatraz

While we're on the subject of Gene Mocsy, you might remember that he started a company called Irresponsible Games, whose first game will be a point-and-click adventure game called Alcatraz: 1954, which, unsurprisingly is about escaping from Alcatraz prison in 1954. Gene originally designed the game himself using the Panda3D-based engine that MunkyFun designed for Autumn Moon's adventure games A Vampyre Story and Ghost Pirates of Vooju Island. However, the game soon was picked up by the German adventure developer Daedalic, and it was converted to their Unity-based engine.

GamingLives has an interview with Mr. Mocsy which details that event, and gives many more details about his company's first game. One of the most interesting details in the interview is about the wide choice the player has in solving the puzzles, and the consequences some of those choices might have:

"Multiple solutions are something I always want when I play games – that and an overhead map. I made sure those were in my game. It was a bit of a hassle, but I scripted the original game myself, so it was just a matter of my time. When Daedalic bought the game and re-ported it to their engine, they created an enormous flowchart of all the possibilities – that was when I realised the headache I’d caused everyone! It’s all for the player. I want you to keep moving ahead and not waste time guessing what the designer intended."

"Certain quest-lines get even more exciting and tension-filled [depending on your earlier actions], I’ll put it that way. Don’t worry about making wrong choices – you’re escaping from Alcatraz, there’s no time to second-guess yourself. Just go."

The game will be coming soon to PC. Daedalic had announced that it would be released this year, however, as no concrete release date has yet been set, it probably won't make that release window.

The Perils of Man Delayed To Early 2014

You may be wondering what is going on with the upcoming free iOS adventure game The Perils of Man, which is being developed by IF Games and designed by Bill Tiller and Gene Mocsy of Autumn Moon.

Its previous release date of October 2013 came and went, and the official Facebook page has been surprisingly quiet about the situation.

The game's FAQ has recently been updated, indicating that the game has been delayed to early 2014. However, there's no word on whether they still plan on releasing the game in two episodes as originally planned.

Al Lowe and Josh Mandel Quit Replay Games

Leisure Suit Larry creator Al Lowe and co-writer Josh Mandel have left Replay Games due to the abusive and destructive behavior of Replay founder and CEO Paul Trowe.

As you know, last year he sabotaged fellow Kickstarter campaigns with false press releases and hurtful and deceitful comments (both under his own name and possibly under an assumed name).

Unfortunately, that behavior hasn't stopped, as he posted some hurtful words and unfounded claims at the SpaceVenture Kickstarter page in October. That behavior caused several Replay volunteers to criticize Paul's behavior publicly, leading Paul to fire them and ban them from the Replay forums. Worse, he insulted and publicly outed one volunteer as a transsexual woman (her name has been omitted from the twitter post to save her from any more emotional duress).

Additionally, Kotaku has posted an article that details Paul Trowe's arrest in October 2012 for showing a sex video to an underage teenage girl.

Al Lowe has stated that his leaving the company had to do with these and other reasons. Replay Games still owns the rights to make Leisure Suit Larry games for now, but if they do decide to make more, it will be without Al Lowe or Josh Mandel.

I would like to wish Al and Josh (as well as the Replay volunteers and employees who were affected by this) the best of luck in the future.

Jason The Greek on Kickstarter

Jason The Greek is a Kickstarter campaign for a 2D animated point-and-click adventure game inspired by Monkey Island, Sam and Max Hit the Road, Discworld and the Hector Badge of Carnage series, set in Ancient Greece. If the Kickstarter is successful, the tentative release date for the game is the summer of 2014 with a DRM-free release for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

The campaign is seeking £10,000, and they are nearly there with only about £2,000 and 61 hours to go.  A DRM free version of the game, and a thank-you in the credits, is available for Windows, Mac, or Linux for only £5 for the next 80 pledgers (and £8 after that).  In addition, you can get an early alpha test version of the game at the £10 tier, an alpha and a beta test version at the £15 tier, a DVD copy of the game and poster at the £20 tier, an in-game statue bust of yourself at the £30 tier, and many more goodies at the higher tiers.  So, if you're interested in a classic style point-and-click adventure with an Ancient Greek twist, then choose a tier and support the Jason The Greek Kickstarter.

Game of Thrones and Borderlands Series By Telltale

At the Spike TV VGX awards, Telltale has announced two new episodic series.  The first is based on the HBO series (which itself is based on a series of novels) called Game of Thrones.  The teaser trailer can be viewed here.

The second series is based on Gearbox's Borderlands series, and is titled Tales From The Borderlands.  The teaser trailer for this one shows a bit more, including some new characters, and some dialog by Handsome Jack.

No release date for either title has been set yet, but IGN is reporting that both Game of Thrones and Tales From The Borderlands are set for release in 2014.

Al Emmo Enhanced Is Out Now

Himalaya Studios, the commercial game label of AGDI Interactive, the team behind many well received free Sierra fan remakes, has released an enhanced version of their first commercial game, Al Emmo and the Lost Dutchman's Mine.

The enhanced version includes a new voice actor for Al Emmo, improved 2D cutscenes, a new scoring and achievement system, and more. 

It's available now for $10 USD from the Himalaya Store and Desura. It's also up on Steam Greenlight, if you wish to vote for it to be included on the Steam marketplace.

Broken Sword: The Serpent's Curse Part I is Out Now

Part I of Broken Sword: The Serpent's Curse, the fifth installment in the Broken Sword series, is now out for PC, Mac, and Linux, and will be arriving soon on Android, iOS, and PlayStation Vita.

For those who don't know, this installment, which was funded by crowdfunding through Kickstarter, returns the series to it's roots, in that it is presented in a 2D style with hand drawn backgrounds (although the characters are animated in a 3D style).

The entire game (including Part I now and Part II when it's released) can be purchased now from GOG or Steam. Part II, which will conclude the game, is scheduled to be released early next year.