Gamespot Interview: Jane Jensen on Gray Matter - Page 2

Kolzig · 03-03-2007, 05:12 AM

Hehh, excellent point Dasilva.

The game is looking good, or more so the artwork is looking very good.

Crapstorm · 03-03-2007, 06:11 AM

And yet, Gabriel Knight seemed to attract a good following.

Kolzig · 03-03-2007, 07:03 AM

So? The point of that sentence is what?

Gabriel Knight has never had cartoon graphics, the first one had the most realistic 2d graphics at the time, GK2 is FMV, you can't get much more realistic than that and GK3 is realistic graphic done in 3D, not cartoon.

GarageGothic · 03-03-2007, 07:15 AM

I think Crapstorm was suggesting that the style of GK1 was inspired by graphic novels. Perhaps "hand drawn" had been a better choice of word than "cartoon". I never understood why game companies always make lovely, hand drawn concept art for games and then insist on turning it into dull, pre-rendered backgrounds. I would love to play a game where the graphics looked exactly like the new concept sketches for Gray Matter.

Owskie · 03-03-2007, 01:27 PM

Thank you, yes.. that summed up what I was trying to say, very nicely.

Crapstorm · 03-03-2007, 07:50 PM

I concur as well. More hand-drawn adventure games, please.

D.C. · 03-03-2007, 07:54 PM

I don't mind the pre-rendered backdrop as long as it's done well. The Longest Journey maintained its atmosphere while using this method. I think Jane's team will be able to as well. I'm looking forward to exploring the grounds of Dread Hill mansion!

makini · 03-04-2007, 01:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by D.C.

I don't mind the pre-rendered backdrop as long as it's done well.

Me neither, actually I love that kind of background. I think that is actually what makes old games like the BS series special.

Owskie · 03-04-2007, 11:34 AM

I havent played Broken Sword in awhile, but i believe they were hand drawn...
does anyone else notice how longest journey looks like crap now, while gabriel knight 1 still looks amazing.... hahaha... im so biased its not even funny

makini · 03-04-2007, 11:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Owskie

I havent played Broken Sword in awhile, but i believe they were hand drawn...

Oh yes, of course they were handdrawn in BS, sorry - I mixed up the expressions!

Owskie · 03-04-2007, 12:10 PM

The great thing is, when you go and play these hand drawn ones, they hardly feel as old as the ones they made with graphics do.

D.C. · 03-04-2007, 04:40 PM

I disagree. The only thing that has let The Longest Journey down slightly is its resolution (which hand drawn games usually share) and the 3D character models. Otherwise it has aged extremely well.

Owskie · 03-04-2007, 10:31 PM

Well, it looks like we are going to have to disagree on that, because TLJ looks like crap now.

D.C. · 03-04-2007, 10:51 PM

That's a huge call. Okay, we'll agree to disagree.

Owskie · 03-04-2007, 11:36 PM

i appreciate your arguement with your screenshots, haha
but i know what the game looks like, i just beat it for the first time a few months back here. While its not crappy looking as Gabriel Knight 3 or what ever, it still lacks the warmth and feeling of a good hand drawn game.

D.C. · 03-04-2007, 11:38 PM

Awww man. You just dissed GK3. My all-time favourite game. This means war.

Despite graphics aging I still think both games have kept their atmosphere and appeal. But I thought we agreed to disagree!

Texas · 03-05-2007, 03:07 PM

Forgive my blinding ignorance but what games besides the GK series has Jan Jensen done?

*Melanie68* · 03-05-2007, 03:11 PM

IMDB profile

Intrepid Homoludens · 03-05-2007, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Owskie

i appreciate your arguement with your screenshots, haha
but i know what the game looks like, i just beat it for the first time a few months back here. While its not crappy looking as Gabriel Knight 3 or what ever, it still lacks the warmth and feeling of a good hand drawn game.

Ooh, bad comment, you. You seem to place the entire value of a game solely on the visual aesthetics when you (and we) know for a fact that the graphics is merely part of the sum - an important part, but still merely a part.

You need to assess the game's concepts, guts, and execution, given what slice of technology was chosen and why. What do you mean by 'warmth and feeling of a good hand drawn game'? Does hand drawn necessarily equate a more involving game for the player? What about games that eschew that kind of graphics in favour of highly stylized, yet humanistically developed chracters and sense of time and place as emphatic narrative features?

Owskie · 03-05-2007, 03:39 PM

Oh no, no, no... dont get me wrong. I love TLJ, really I do. I was commenting on the backgrounds soley. I much prefer the warmth of a hand drawn background to what TLJ however. To me, the backgrounds of TLJ feel "plastic" now, while TLJ was an amazing game.

03-03-2007, 05:12 AM	#21
Kolzig The Reggienator Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Vaasa, Finland Posts: 5,519	Hehh, excellent point Dasilva. The game is looking good, or more so the artwork is looking very good. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ "The old standby, that never got old in the first place. We come back to them weekly, nightly, for hours at a time--and they always deliver. They are pure, timeless, and often taken for granted." - Nick Breckon - Shacknews My gamesale list updated 26.8.2007 Hey, dear people please buy my games, I need money to conquer Europe! Or do something similar.

03-03-2007, 06:11 AM	#22
Crapstorm Ronin Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 429	And yet, Gabriel Knight seemed to attract a good following. Share Share this post on Twitter

03-03-2007, 07:03 AM	#23
Kolzig The Reggienator Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Vaasa, Finland Posts: 5,519	So? The point of that sentence is what? Gabriel Knight has never had cartoon graphics, the first one had the most realistic 2d graphics at the time, GK2 is FMV, you can't get much more realistic than that and GK3 is realistic graphic done in 3D, not cartoon. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ "The old standby, that never got old in the first place. We come back to them weekly, nightly, for hours at a time--and they always deliver. They are pure, timeless, and often taken for granted." - Nick Breckon - Shacknews My gamesale list updated 26.8.2007 Hey, dear people please buy my games, I need money to conquer Europe! Or do something similar.

03-03-2007, 07:15 AM	#24
GarageGothic Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Denmark Posts: 168	I think Crapstorm was suggesting that the style of GK1 was inspired by graphic novels. Perhaps "hand drawn" had been a better choice of word than "cartoon". I never understood why game companies always make lovely, hand drawn concept art for games and then insist on turning it into dull, pre-rendered backgrounds. I would love to play a game where the graphics looked exactly like the new concept sketches for Gray Matter. Share Share this post on Twitter

03-03-2007, 01:27 PM	#25
Owskie Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 305	Thank you, yes.. that summed up what I was trying to say, very nicely. Share Share this post on Twitter

03-03-2007, 07:50 PM	#26
Crapstorm Ronin Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 429	I concur as well. More hand-drawn adventure games, please. Share Share this post on Twitter

03-03-2007, 07:54 PM	#27
D.C. Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,773	I don't mind the pre-rendered backdrop as long as it's done well. The Longest Journey maintained its atmosphere while using this method. I think Jane's team will be able to as well. I'm looking forward to exploring the grounds of Dread Hill mansion! Share Share this post on Twitter

03-04-2007, 11:34 AM	#29
Owskie Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 305	I havent played Broken Sword in awhile, but i believe they were hand drawn... does anyone else notice how longest journey looks like crap now, while gabriel knight 1 still looks amazing.... hahaha... im so biased its not even funny Share Share this post on Twitter

03-04-2007, 12:10 PM	#31
Owskie Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 305	The great thing is, when you go and play these hand drawn ones, they hardly feel as old as the ones they made with graphics do. Share Share this post on Twitter

03-04-2007, 04:40 PM	#32
D.C. Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,773	I disagree. The only thing that has let The Longest Journey down slightly is its resolution (which hand drawn games usually share) and the 3D character models. Otherwise it has aged extremely well. Share Share this post on Twitter

03-04-2007, 10:31 PM	#33
Owskie Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 305	Well, it looks like we are going to have to disagree on that, because TLJ looks like crap now. Share Share this post on Twitter

03-04-2007, 10:51 PM	#34
D.C. Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,773	That's a huge call. Okay, we'll agree to disagree. Share Share this post on Twitter Last edited by D.C.; 03-04-2007 at 10:57 PM.

03-04-2007, 11:36 PM	#35
Owskie Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 305	i appreciate your arguement with your screenshots, haha but i know what the game looks like, i just beat it for the first time a few months back here. While its not crappy looking as Gabriel Knight 3 or what ever, it still lacks the warmth and feeling of a good hand drawn game. Share Share this post on Twitter

03-04-2007, 11:38 PM	#36
D.C. Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,773	Awww man. You just dissed GK3. My all-time favourite game. This means war. Despite graphics aging I still think both games have kept their atmosphere and appeal. But I thought we agreed to disagree! Share Share this post on Twitter

03-05-2007, 03:07 PM	#37
Texas Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 62	Forgive my blinding ignorance but what games besides the GK series has Jan Jensen done? Share Share this post on Twitter

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03-05-2007, 03:11 PM	#38
Melanie68 Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,907	IMDB profile Share Share this post on Twitter

03-05-2007, 03:39 PM	#40
Owskie Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 305	Oh no, no, no... dont get me wrong. I love TLJ, really I do. I was commenting on the backgrounds soley. I much prefer the warmth of a hand drawn background to what TLJ however. To me, the backgrounds of TLJ feel "plastic" now, while TLJ was an amazing game. Share Share this post on Twitter