How to design a classic adventure game

by Ludwig Kietzmann { Nov 6th 2008 at 4:00PM }

Tim Schafer is a man who needs no introduction.

So, anyway, in celebration of adventure classic Grim Fandango's tenth birthday, he's magnanimously released the game's puzzle design document to the teeming TL;DR masses online. Not only is it a fascinating and often amusing read (be wary of nonlinearity's "repulsive, yet fascinating head"), but it's full of valuable guidance for those fledgling adventure designers still struggling to solve the classic "talking walrus in a trench coat" dilemma. We struggled with that one for weeks.

And in case you're one of the sad types currently shrugging their shoulders and asking, "Grim Fanwhatnow?," know that it's one awesome adventure pie rhinoceros the meaning of life neo-classical breakfast cereal did I turn the stove off this morning blathering typhoon wrench flinging submarine spectacular.
neato.

pirate pastiche omnivore non-stick pan umbrella deleterious consternation savage clown groin kicking bats-in-your-brother's-belfry sugar mama extra special super

Tags: Double-Fine, Grim-Fandango, Theres-No-Ring-On-My-Finger, Theres-No-Skin-On-It-Either, Tim-Schafer

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

DVersion @ Nov 6th 2008 4:05PM

I like to keep this PDF document close to where my heart used to be.

Mark @ Nov 6th 2008 4:14PM

Truth.

FraGNeM @ Nov 6th 2008 4:54PM

Grim Fanwhatsit?

Titanium_Orchid @ Nov 6th 2008 4:10PM

awesome!

Markez @ Nov 7th 2008 12:54AM

Mmmmmm... Non stick pan... You treat my bacon so nice...

joeybeast @ Nov 6th 2008 4:12PM

I'd love to see the one for Pychonauts.

Kamizar @ Nov 6th 2008 4:23PM

I was going to ask WTF is up with the text, and then I saw "Kietzmann."

Chase @ Nov 6th 2008 4:55PM

Ludwig = awesome

dark_inchworm @ Nov 6th 2008 4:27PM

I'd like to give a few savage clowns a groin kicking.

Goddamn you, John Wayne Gacy.

heypaul @ Nov 6th 2008 4:49PM

I'm going to get beat up and my lunch money stolen for this, but Full Throttle was better!

*runs away*

Dracula Jones @ Nov 6th 2008 6:21PM

There was a distinct lack of Glottis in Full Throttle. Therefore it was an inferior experience.

Top Cat @ Nov 6th 2008 4:52PM

i freaking loved this game. But i got right to the end of it and the whole thing crashed on me and corrupted my savegame...which incidently was my only save game.

I couldn't bring myself to go back and play through it all to the end!

jsutcliffe @ Nov 6th 2008 5:03PM

I never finished the game before (my PC back them couldn't really do it justice). However, last night I installed the final piece of the "connecting the PC to the 'uge TV in the living room" puzzle. My wife and I will be Grim Fandanging all weekend!

If it works with Vista.

If I can find the CD.

Crap.