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For the Geeks Game Reviews

Sam & Max Episode 6 – Bright Side Of The Moon (End Of Season 1)

How time flies. Back in December last year I chanced upon a new hilarious game called Sam & Max and till today, set aside the fact that I have fun with all the 6 episodes, I still find the business model pretty intriguing.

Traditionally, gaming companies spend months if not years to develop a title and yet even if the title has become a hit, there are still people out there playing the pirated version not willing pay the full price. Online gaming subscription model works well for a particular gaming genre but not for all. What Telltale Games does is to break down this adventure game Sam & Max into monthly installments and to apply a subscription model in order to bring in revenue as the game is developed. Hence, for the end users, instead of getting the entire season 1 that is worth 20 to 30 gaming hours in one go, monthly episodes are downloaded into the users’ computers. Because there is a need to authenticate the electronic copy with the Telltale Games’s server, piracy is minimized. This model makes the cash flow statement looks good too. And meanwhile, game developers can gather the incremental feedback from the public to fine tune the game. That’s why I feel that this business model is intriguing.

As for this episode, I think it is a good round up of the entire season. The 5th episode scores high on originality; the 4th episode scores high on humor; while the 3rd episode scores high on dialogues, the 2nd episode scores high on fun factor. This last episode reminds me of the very 1st episode when I was first exposed to the game (come to think of it, Max did have his body “separated” in both the first and last episode). At one point while playing this last episode I was dead stuck. But I guess perseverance did pay off.

For those who have bought the entire season upfront, we will be receiving the DVD version of the game plus the extras for free (excluding shipping charge). I know at least 3 of my friends have bought the 1st episode after reading my blog. Good news is you will be able to download the entire season for USD 26.

To round up this blog, I would like to quote one of the random conversations between Sam and Max. The humor does seems to come directly from the development team.

Sam: What do you feel like doing once we wrap up this case?
Max: Take a vocation! Seems like we’ve been working for the past seven months straight!

Related Links and Blogs: Official Site of Telltale Games, Sam & Max Episode 6 – Bright Side Of The Moon (End Of Season 1), Sam & Max Episode 5 – Reality 2.0, Sam & Max Episode 4 – Abe Lincoln Must Die!, My 3rd Contribution to YouTube for Sam & Max Episode 3 – The Mole, The Mob, And The Meatball, Sam & Max: Episode 2 – Situation Comedy, Sam & Max: Episode 1 – Culture Shock, Sam & Max at Wikipedia

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For the Geeks Game Reviews

Sam & Max Episode 5 – Reality 2.0

Okay, let’s recall what we have so far. We have Sam and Max solved the case of hypnosis in episode 1. We have Sam and Max on reality TV (episode 2) and then acted as undercover mobs in episode 3. We have Max running as the president of the United State of America in episode 4 and in the fifth installment of season 1, Sam and Max have to battle the Internet.

This episode, I have to admit, is pretty hard. At times I really wanted to give up and search the Internet for clues to proceed. Proud to say, I have survived the 1st season so far without relying on the Internet and have solved all the puzzles on my own. This episode resembled so much like some of the massively multiplayer online role playing games that it put a smile on my face. A +2 sword? Potions for +1 meat tastiness? Loots? Lightning bolts? What has the world of Sam and Max become?

I certainly find Reality 2.0 entertaining. The entire familiar street that Sam and Max have walked for the previous four episode has given a totally new face lift with a click of a button. Wear that virtual reality goggles and you suddenly find Sam and Max in a totally new dimension. To solve the puzzles you will need to traverse across the different realities. There is a big surprise when Reality 1.5 booted up and I am not going to spoil your fun. In Reality 2.0, they have advertisements for two websites – Nauseatinglycute.com and bancolavadero.com. Go click on the links and I bet you would love that nauseatingly cute little creature.

I can’t wait for the last episode – The Bright Side of the Moon – to arrive.

Related Links and Blogs: Official Site of Telltale Games, Sam & Max Episode 6 – Bright Side Of The Moon (End Of Season 1), Sam & Max Episode 5 – Reality 2.0, Sam & Max Episode 4 – Abe Lincoln Must Die!, My 3rd Contribution to YouTube for Sam & Max Episode 3 – The Mole, The Mob, And The Meatball, Sam & Max: Episode 2 – Situation Comedy, Sam & Max: Episode 1 – Culture Shock, Sam & Max at Wikipedia

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For the Geeks Game Reviews

Sam & Max Episode 4 – Abe Lincoln Must Die!

Stay frosty, America!

“People of Earth! Your day of reckoning is at hand!” – believe it or not, this is one of the many speeches our beloved rabbit Max made when he was running for American presidency side-by-side with his freelance police partner – Sam, the dog. This 4th monthly installment of a favourably rated point-and-click Adventure game has many surprises. First, it was pre-released to loyal customers like myself one week before the actual launch. I think that is very nice of Telltale Games. Second, this episode is longer and more challenging than the previous episodes. There is even a mini-musical within the plot of the game. To anticipate that gamers indeed get smarter as they learn the game mechanism through the episodes, the puzzles are relatively more subtle and there are a few parallel plots to the game that the linkages are not at all obvious. Third, Telltale Games has made several subtle changes to how they used to layout the plots. It disorients and confuses seasoned players like me and I found myself exploring the plot rather than following the plot. That, I love.

In “Abe Lincoln Must Die!”, Sam and Max is entering into politics. It is hilarious, they are adorable. I can hardly find anything to complain about except perhaps … it will be a month long wait till the final episode is out.

Telltales Games has even made a dummy website www.MaxForPresident.org for episode 4. I spotted it at the end credits (yes, I love their episodes so much that I read all the credits).

Related Links and Blogs: Official Site of Telltale Games, Sam & Max Episode 6 – Bright Side Of The Moon (End Of Season 1), Sam & Max Episode 5 – Reality 2.0, Sam & Max Episode 4 – Abe Lincoln Must Die!, My 3rd Contribution to YouTube for Sam & Max Episode 3 – The Mole, The Mob, And The Meatball, Sam & Max: Episode 2 – Situation Comedy, Sam & Max: Episode 1 – Culture Shock, Sam & Max at Wikipedia

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For the Geeks Game Reviews My YouTube

My 3rd Contribution to YouTube for Sam & Max Episode 3 – The Mole, The Mob, And The Meatball

Image taken from actual game play

Click onto the video below contributed to YouTube by me and you won’t regret it!

The 3rd monthly installment of this point-and-click adventure game Sam & Max based on two hilarious comic book characters is out and I took no time in completing this episode (for more introduction on this PC game, please visit my previous blogs as linked below). There is one particular cut-scene that is the most hilarious clip I have seen so far. I have made it into a video clip and uploaded it to YouTube for sharing.

Humours aside, this 3rd episode suffers from mid-episode-syndrome. The 1st episode is new to all and the puzzles took a while to solve. For the 2nd episode, most of the tricks are already made known by 1st episode and the main entertainment value comes from the extra contents generated from various reality TV studios that Sam and Max have to go through. As for the 3rd episode, it is the shortest installment so far and lots of contents are recycled from the 1st episode. Most of the puzzles are straightforward and intuitive, which is not necessary a bad thing because I found myself sat back and chuckled through the scenes. Extra effort has been put into the scripting and it shows. It took me about 3 hours to complete the entire episode and I am looking forward to what the last 2 episodes will look like.

Related Links and Blogs: Official Site of Telltale Games, Sam & Max Episode 6 – Bright Side Of The Moon (End Of Season 1), Sam & Max Episode 5 – Reality 2.0, Sam & Max Episode 4 – Abe Lincoln Must Die!, My 3rd Contribution to YouTube for Sam & Max Episode 3 – The Mole, The Mob, And The Meatball, Sam & Max: Episode 2 – Situation Comedy, Sam & Max: Episode 1 – Culture Shock, Sam & Max at Wikipedia

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For the Geeks Game Reviews

Sam & Max: Episode 2 – Situation Comedy

Hot from the oven! Don’t miss Sam and Max, our freelance police, going through their 15 minutes of fame, the reality show style, in this new installment!

For those of you who have missed my previous writeup on this adventure game Sam & Max, it is a fun and hilarious game based on a comic book title. Each month, there is a new episode of the game to be downloaded and there are 6 episodes to make up the Sam & Max Season #1. Do try out the demo version from the official site of Telltale Games. It is free!

I have just finished the 2nd episode on my own and it is definitely more entertaining than the previous one. Some reviewers mentioned that the puzzles are easier. I guess after grinding through the 1st episode, people more or less know some of the ways to solve related puzzles. To me, some of the puzzles are still as hard. At times I took half an hour to solve one. In total, I think I have put in 8 to 10 hours for the 2nd episode and I definitely look forward to the next one.

PS. I wish to take this opportunity to praise the Telltale Games support. After my OS was crashed, I needed to download the 1st episode again and their website had difficulties in recognising my order number. I dropped a line in their forum as well as an email and I got an instant friendly response. The issue was resolved on the same night. The download speed of 75MB worth of data was fast as compares to any other games I have. Truly impressed by their support and the quality of work.

Related Links and Blogs: Official Site of Telltale Games, Sam & Max Episode 6 – Bright Side Of The Moon (End Of Season 1), Sam & Max Episode 5 – Reality 2.0, Sam & Max Episode 4 – Abe Lincoln Must Die!, My 3rd Contribution to YouTube for Sam & Max Episode 3 – The Mole, The Mob, And The Meatball, Sam & Max: Episode 2 – Situation Comedy, Sam & Max: Episode 1 – Culture Shock, Sam & Max at Wikipedia

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For the Geeks Game Reviews

Sam & Max: Episode 1 – Culture Shock

I chanced upon this really cute and hilarious adventure game and after playing the free demo, I just want to have more. What so special about this game is that it is divided into 6 (affordable) episodes that are released monthly from Dec 2006. You can buy each episode at US$8.65 each or get the whole package at US$34.95. Each episode is estimated to have a 4 hours play time. For short attention span folks like me, Sam & Max is just perfect.

The game is full of hilarious dialogs and puzzle solving. I couldn’t stop laughing when Sam and Max took turn to threaten a rat playing the good and bad guys. For those who are new to adventure games, basically you solve puzzles by interacting with the environment. Very user-friendly and very entertaining. This game has received favourable rating by numerous sources. Do download the demo and see for yourself.

PS. I just did a purchase via the Internet. It was a breeze!

PPS. Just received an email from the developers and it said: We love you. Why? You bought some stuff! Not that we wouldn’t love you just as much if you hadn’t bought 6 whole things from our store. But now you’re our favorite. Don’t tell the others.

Related Links and Blogs: Official Site of Telltale Games, Sam & Max Episode 6 – Bright Side Of The Moon (End Of Season 1), Sam & Max Episode 5 – Reality 2.0, Sam & Max Episode 4 – Abe Lincoln Must Die!, My 3rd Contribution to YouTube for Sam & Max Episode 3 – The Mole, The Mob, And The Meatball, Sam & Max: Episode 2 – Situation Comedy, Sam & Max: Episode 1 – Culture Shock, Sam & Max at Wikipedia