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Double Fine Adventure will likely be "old school" 2D

By Fred Dutton Published 24 February, 2012

Tim Schafer and Ron Gilbert mull over Kickstarter project.

Double Fine's forthcoming crowd-funded adventure title will likely be a traditional 2D affair, according to the game's co-creators.

Studio boss Tim Schafer and adventure game veteran Ron Gilbert sat down to talk through the finer points of the project in a new video Q&A posted on the game's Kickstarter page.

"One of the reasons I was excited about making an adventure game was working with Nathan Stapley who's an artist who has a great painting style," explained Schafer.

"One of the things I missed about the 2D graphic adventures is that you would be able to have a great artist expressing themselves directly on the screen; not having to go through 3D shaders or any other complicated technology that might change or alter their vision.

"So I do like the idea of hand-painted backgrounds. Then it's just a question of whether the characters should also be hand painted and animated."

Gilbert immediately agreed with Schafer.

"I think it should be all 2D. Old school," he replied.

"I just think it's a lot more interesting than 3D. 3D does buy you a lot but for a project like this, just doing something that really emphasises the art of the artist - I think 2D would really give us that."

The clip, filmed before the fund-raising campaign went live earlier this month, is light on concrete details but does throw up plenty of fascinating insight on the past, present and future of the adventure game genre.

You'll need to set aside 35 minutes, but it's well worth it. Take a look below.

Double Fine has also announced some new reward tiers for any prospective contributors. Pledge $30 or more and you'll get the game documentary's soundtrack. $100 will get you a special edition box set containing both the game and a DVD or Blu-Ray of the documentary. $60 will get you a digital copy of the game's art book, while $500 is enough to secure a physical copy.

The Psychonauts developer has now raised a whopping $2,111,425 - well beyond the $400,000 it was originally asking for.

Picture of Fred.

About Fred Dutton

Fred Dutton is Eurogamer's US news editor, based in Washington DC.

Read more articles from Fred by visiting the Fred Dutton archive page.

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  • ShiroBen #1 1 day ago

    Yessssss.

  • Markusdragon #2 1 day ago

    Well, I know what 35 minute video I'm going to be watching in it's entirety first thing in the morning...

  • Glück #3 1 day ago

    I would love to get one of these art books but 500$ are way far from me. :cry:
    Edited by 1 at 25/02/12 @ 00:11

  • CrispyXUK #4 1 day ago

    old+2d+funny = win

  • barchetta #5 1 day ago

    2d adventures, in HD or greater, able to compare with Indy Atlantis et al, from the comfort of my armchair? Even better, carry on in the same family friendly vein as Costume Quest, Stacking and Happy Action Theatre. Hell, yes!

  • Golgo #6 1 day ago

    Schafer + Gilbert + superb 2D artistry + tons of money to make a point-n-click for the fans = ...

    Sorry, my brain just died.

  • KimboDice #7 1 day ago

    @liliang get lost spammer edit: ok he's gone
    Edited by 1 at 25/02/12 @ 20:05

  • number3son #8 1 day ago

    Man, I want that special edition box so badly, I just don't know if I can afford a $100 game right now. Curses.

  • ShiroBen #9 1 day ago

    This is all like some wonderful dream. Schafer & Gilbert working together! Kickstarter raises two million dollars! Old school 2D adventure game!

    My only fear is that we're nearing the end of Act One and the first Disastrous Event is about to happen.

  • DrStrangelove #10 1 day ago

    Oh yes. After over 2 million $ I'm just afraid the whole game and all characters will be made of gold.

  • CrispyXUK #11 1 day ago

    How will they beat ghost pirates, mutant tentacles or lungfishopolis?

  • Rack #12 1 day ago

    Oh man if they can make something new to the standard of Monkey Island 2 HD.

    Excited!

  • lucky_jim #13 1 day ago

    I don't know much about modern game development, but this seems a pretty hefty budget for a 2D game. I'm expecting a lot (and why not?).

  • mukki #14 1 day ago

    Great!
    October can't come soon enough!

    I am all for 'old school' but let's hope they also don't forget to remove the problems that 'old school' point

  • levitate #15 1 day ago

    Watching that film last night brought a sincere tear to my eye. Ron Gilbert is the one burning torch in this sea of games darkness. What a legend he his. Everything he said in that film rang so true with me and I'm so happy I could back these guys with some cash to see another excellent adventure game coming to life!

  • RGeefe #16 1 day ago

    on one hand - yay for Schafer going back to what he does best but I can't help but feel like he could be doing more. he's essentially just been handed $2 million and, considering just how brilliant he is, a part of me wishes he'd try to REALLY push himself and try something totally different.

    yes, I'll probably get negged for this but I've played enough 2D schafer adventure games already. there's a point where "old school", "retro", "classic" all become meaningless rhetoric.

    why not an FPS where your only gun is a rubber chicken with a pulley in the middle?

  • RGeefe #17 1 day ago

    @lucky_jim which is why I feel like he could be doing a bit more with it. Limbo was made on, what, a few grand?

    unless he's not thinking about just making ONE game with the money...

  • carbonic #18 1 day ago

    Monkey Island 3 by far had the best art style and execution of it. I'm sorry to say, but nomatter how awesome Nathan Stapley's style is in single situations, I wouldn't want to play an entire game of it. It is simple not clear and humorous enough - it's kinda "emo" tbh.

  • Subdominator #19 1 day ago

    @RGeefe WTF are you talking about, the only reason he got those 2 million is because he pitched an old school adventure. Taking the money and doing something different would be fraud.

  • Der_tolle_Emil #20 24 hours ago

    I always thought that a classic 2d style was a given - maybe because I really want it to be that way. I don't even need HD graphics, their pixel work was always very fascinating and charming.

  • Kanselier #21 23 hours ago

    Well that is my breakfast sorted. Toast, tea and this 35 minute talk. Good start of a Saturday.

  • SpartanGR #22 23 hours ago

    EPIC DISCUSSION
    Edited by 2 at 25/02/12 @ 12:00

  • TarickStonefire #23 22 hours ago

    @RGeefe Seriously?

    We were pitched a 2D old school adventure game. We want a 2D old school adventure game. So he's taking our money and making a 2D old school adventure game.

    If you get negged it'll be because you've fundamentally mistaken 'what you personally want' for 'what he offered and thousands of people took him up on'.
    Edited by 1 at 25/02/12 @ 13:38

  • TarickStonefire #24 22 hours ago

    @RGeefe Limbo is not a 2D old school adventure game. It's a fairly basic platformer with the barest of bones in the graphics department, that lasts not much more than a couple of hours.

    As it happens, the developers are highly skilled and made those bare bones and basic platformer rules into something elegant and entertaining, that burned brightly throughout the few hours it took to finish and was worth the few quid it cost.

    Do you really not see the difference in the two types of game? And did you miss the bit where he said they're going to spend a lot longer on the game than they had originally envisaged being able to afford?

    Sheesh.
    Edited by 1 at 25/02/12 @ 13:39

  • RGeefe #25 20 hours ago

    @TarickStonefire of course I see the difference but I was giving and example of how 2D is still able to succeed. call me boring but I like culture to evolve and change. Grim Fandango is my all time favourite game and I recognise that many people want him to do another Day of the Tentacle.

    the problem is, with games like Ben There Dan That, the genre has effectively become a parody of an in-joke that mocks itself. it would be like Christopher Guest playing himself in a mockumentary about the making of Spinal Tap.

    yes it's brilliant he's made $2 million (and will possibly reach $3 million) but I just feel like he's fanboy pandering.

  • Devange #26 20 hours ago

    2D is a BIG plus!
    Yes please!

  • Headless_Monkey_Boy #27 20 hours ago

    that art style looked awsome, cant wait.

  • Lemming81 #28 18 hours ago

    Definitely the correct move:

    1. 2D artwork doesn't age badly.

    2. It doesn't put off the casual market like alot of 3D games can with methods of control.

    3. Easier to port, especially to mobile.


    I realise the above is the cynical approach as we all want DF to do well out of this regardless, but it's good to know they've got their marketing hat on as well in this.

  • levitate #29 18 hours ago

    @RGeefe: The point is, he asked for money to create an adventure game and that's what he got. He will no doubt challenge himself and the talented developers but within the borders of an adventure game. If he was going to make a 2D FPS (!) it would be pretty challenging, but not nearly as interesting from my POV.

  • HeNiCiDe1988 #30 17 hours ago

    hehe like the sound of it, hopefully it will sell!!!

  • morriss #31 17 hours ago

    This is awesome. two of my heroes.

  • Jahno #32 17 hours ago

    So your telling me this guy wanted people to donate $400,000 to make a 2d game. And so far he and his company has made over $2,000,000 so that's enough to fund 20 2d games. See here's the problem I have is why didn't they stop accepting donations at 400k? Why did they need to go 5 times beyond that and what are they doing with the remainder of the money? I hope it goes to a charity. Not in there pockets

  • levitate #33 16 hours ago

    @Jahno: Why would they stop at 400k? That was just the minimum they asked for and I'm glad they're getting more than that. You're giving them money for the game, not to ask questions what they do with it. They didn't have to give out as many rewards as they are but they do because they're awesome. Nobody is forcing you to donate, so I don't see why you have a "problem" with it.

    Edit: Tim Schafer and Ron Gilbert aren't just "some guys". They're living adventure game gods, legends among mortals, it's not just any Average Joe asking for some cash.
    Edited by 1 at 25/02/12 @ 19:26

  • Jahno #34 15 hours ago

    @levitate yeah because it really costs 2 mil to make a 2d game. and yeah they are just "some guys" what you think if I saw any of them in the street I would get all excited and start *** HAVING MY COMMENTS MODERATED BECAUSE OF THE STUPID THINGS I WRITE! ***
    Edited by 1 at 25/02/12 @ 20:34

  • benfresh76 #35 15 hours ago

    @Jahno wow, what a stupid thing to say.

  • agparrot #36 15 hours ago

    It's perfectly acceptable to admit that you don't understand the concept of this Kickstarter deal, @Jahno.

    There's no need to behave offensively just because other people do, so knock it off!

    Thanks!

  • FireMonkey #37 13 hours ago

    @Jahno - "$400,000 to make a 2d game. And so far he and his company has made over $2,000,000 so that's enough to fund 20 2d games"

    20 2d games? Um... Basic math failure there I think.

    "because it really costs 2 mil to make a 2d game."

    It could easily cost that amount, it all depends what they do with it. After all BF3 spent $100 million on advertising alone.

  • superdelphinus #38 10 hours ago

    @Jahno they've already said what they will do with the extra money in previous videos. Things like expanding the platform versions, adding languages etc. I'm sure you could spend a billion on a pinball simulator if you really wanted too

  • superdelphinus #39 10 hours ago

    Right I've managed to ignore my own comments (trying to edit a grammatical error, the buttons don't always show up on iPads, hit ignore rather than edit. How do I unignore?

  • InsoFox #40 9 hours ago

    @Jahno

    1) Kickstarter rules say you CAN'T end funding early, even if you want to. So if you get over-funded, you need a plan for that.

    2) The last 2D graphic adventure Tim Schafer made was Full Throttle. It cost about 2 million dollars. In 1995. And they had to cut about a third of the game because it was going over-budget.

    I don't think having 'too much' money is going to be a problem.

  • ucankurbaga #41 5 hours ago

    @InsoFox Yes Full Throttle 2 pls!