Telltale Games - End of an Era?

By now you'll have heard the sad news that Telltale Games looks to be closing down.

It's always sad to hear of any game studio closing, but this one does feel a bit like the "end of an era" as everyone's saying. That said, I don't think it's the end of a genre. Telltale revived the adventure game in a clever way that hearkened back to the roots of their founders from LucasArts. An amazing development studio itself which innovated and created all manner of iconic, unforgettable games like Monkey Island, Full Throttle, Sam & Max (Telltale made their own sequel, Sam & Max Save the World)

 

 Monkey Island mug hiding in the 4th floor kitchen

 

Slightly damaged tandee of Full Throttle gracing the 

wall that was salvaged from a dumpster at Lucas

The first games I ever worked on way back at Core Design (Tomb Raider) were point-and-click adventures. We were basically trying to copy our favourite classics like the King Quest and Space Quest games, Monkey Island, Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis, and so on. Ours were Curse of Enchantia and Universe.
So after many years working in the industry from small indies to giant AAA multi-studio projects it was exciting for me to return to the genre.  And despite some of the negative press that has emerged recently, I found the team generally to be extremely warm and welcoming, with 'flat management' and relatively little politics and so on. I'm sure this is partly due to the particular department I was in (Art departments are always the most civilized ;) ) but also the company had already been making efforts to sort things about by the time I joined. I worked on both Batman series and a bit on Guardians of the Galaxy, and I have to say it was a fun experience all round!


 

Sam & Max Telltale t-shirt  

It's real shame they just couldn't quite sustain the business model long enough to turn it around eventually. But now that Telltale has come to an end, others are doing great things in a similar vein, with Life Is Strange and some notable others.

It was a privilege to have worked albeit briefly alongside some of the most talented people I have ever known who would easily hold their own in "Triple A" development - and no doubt will do so in the near future.

Onwards and Upwards!

 A poster of Nixon in the bathroom. 

Never quite got to the bottom of this, suffice 

to say Lebowskifest.com at the bottom.

https://www.artstation.com/rmohr

 

 

My Patreon is now live!

https://www.patreon.com/Heionarch

I will be creating a sci-fi fantasy space opera graphic novel called "HEIONARCH".

The project will feature the kind of stuff I enjoy designing as a concept artist: Sprawling, far-flung imaginary worlds and cities, weird outlandish characters, robots, creatures, war machines, and of course... huge spaceships! The story will deal with some of my favourite themes - science fiction (of course), forbidden technologies, mysterious and possibly mystical occurrences, political intrigue and ideological conflict.... Initially I plan to do a digital online version, then when I have completed the first few episodes or an entire book I'll be looking to get a printed version published. I will also be posting behind the scenes work as I go, such as concept art, storyboards, and art demos. More details to come in future posts and videos.

 

 

You can "Follow" a Patreon page even if you don't want to sponsor it. It'd be useful for me to see who's interested and you'll get e-mail updates in your inbox without having to commit to anything.So click on the link and have a gander:

https://www.patreon.com/Heionarch

ILM Art Department Challenge - Storyboards

I've always felt a fascination about the untold stories of Biggs and Wedge, what was their role before Luke got involved, etc. And they have the coolest names!

Since there was apparently an imperial garrison right in the middle of Mos Eisley,  I imagined what might happen if Biggs had an inside rebel contact there... He arranges to meet him perhaps to exchange information or discuss recruitment for the rebellion, but it turns out to be a trap. Biggs is escorted as a prisoner into the garrison but breaks free by jumping into a passing landspeeder as he is marched down a street, then is pursued through the narrow winding streets by speeder bikes, over roof tops, etc...

I started these storyboards but got too busy to finish the challenge.

https://www.artstation.com/artwork/XEN43

Rear cover for R Talsorian's "Cyberpunk UK" rpg.
Acrylic / airbrush.
1994

Mutant Chronicles

While I was working at Sony back in '95 in London I briefly visited Bill Pearson's model shop at Shepperton Studios, he was model supervisor on Alien, Outland, Moon, etc. They were working on early development of a Mutant Chronicles film to be directed by Steve Norrington (who popped into the studio briefly, all grungy with dreads). I did a few sketches for an escape shuttle and a flagship galleon.

Universe - the second game I worked on

After Curse of Enchantia I pitched Core Design my own idea based on a film script I'd been working on, they generously approved me to adapt it into a space opera point-and-click adventure game. So I designed and co-wrote the second game I worked on, which was a pretty lucky break so early in my career. As well as doing all the backgrounds and cover art.

                                   Poster:

                                   Box cover:

                                 Some backgrounds:

Dragonstone

The second cover illustration I did for Core Design.

                                Original:

 

                                Box cover:

                                  Alternative cover sketch: