[clip]

http://www.funcom.com/news/pre_produ...t_journey_saga

rad

Durham, USA – November 1st, 2012 – Funcom is excited to announce that 'Dreamfall Chapters', the long-awaited sequel to the award-winning adventure title 'Dreamfall: The Longest Journey', has gone into pre-production at Red Thread Games, a new studio founded by Ragnar Tørnquist, creator of 'The Longest Journey' saga. Red Thread Games has licensed the rights to 'The Longest Journey' universe from Funcom, and Mr. Tørnquist will spearhead development of 'Dreamfall Chapters', while continuing in an advisory role as Creative Director on Funcom’s recently launched modern-day massively multiplayer online game ‘The Secret World’. Last month Joel Bylos stepped into the position as Game Director on the myths, legends and conspiracy themed online game, allowing Mr. Tørnquist to devote more of his time to 'Dreamfall Chapters', which recently entered pre-production. Red Thread Games will independently fund and produce the sequel to 'Dreamfall', and has entered into a revenue sharing agreement with Funcom as part of the licensing deal. Funcom owns the intellectual property rights for 'The Longest Journey', but due to the company’s focus on and commitment to the development of online games, the decision was made to license the rights to Mr. Tørnquist and his new development studio. The close working relationship between Funcom and Mr. Tørnquist will allow him to continue on as Creative Director of Funcom’s ‘The Secret World’, in parallel with putting together a team to develop 'Dreamfall Chapters'. “I'm very excited to finally have the opportunity to continue the 'The Longest Journey' saga,” says Ragnar Tørnquist. “Ever since we ended 'Dreamfall' on a nail-biting cliffhanger, players have been rightfully demanding a sequel, and my deal with Funcom will finally make that possible. I'm extremely grateful to Funcom for this unique and exciting opportunity, and I can't wait to dive back into the universe I helped create more than a decade ago, and continue the story players have been waiting for these past six years." Red Thread Games will release more details about 'Dreamfall Chapters' in the coming months. ‘The Secret World’ is developed by Funcom and co-published by EA Partners, a division of Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: EA). For more information about the game please visit www.thesecretworld.com. Media assets can be found at ftp.funcom.com/press. 'Dreamfall Chapters' will be developed by Red Thread Games, under license from Funcom.

[ElectricBlue187]

yessssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

[kami_sama]

With the bomba that was their last mmo, this was expected.

[Nirolak]

Yay.

[Jucksalbe]

I believe it, when they release it. I will have to replay the prequels again, don't remember much of them, it's been too long.

[Cjdamon042]

Finally!

[Miker]

Wow. I was worried they wouldn't have the money for this after the Secret World, but I guess they do. Happy to see them moving forward with the franchise (despite not having played either game).

[JordanKZ]

About time!! Super excited about this one!

[LiK]

FINALLY. Took them long enough.

[V_Ben]

Yay! Finally time to finish that ending.

[Sotha Sil]

I really thought this day would never come.

[Foliorum Viridum]

Wow, awesome.

Can it go back to being as good as the first though, please? I liked Dreamfall but it's not a patch on the original, which is by far one of the best adventure games ever.

I'll be happy to have it either way as long as it doesn't suck, regardless.

[Shiloa]

I absolutely hated Dreamfall but will keep an eye out on this if it can capture TLJ vibes.

[Kimaka]

Yes! Finally! I've been waiting on this for ages.

[GhaleonQ]

and Mr. Tørnquist will spearhead development of 'Dreamfall Chapters', while continuing in an advisory role as Creative Director on Funcom’s recently launched modern-day massively multiplayer online game ‘The Secret World’.

As happy as I am to see this happen, he explicitly said that he wouldn't do this. I don't want him compelled to finish something for financial reasons. At least, I hope it doesn't affect the product.

Also, any who haven't should play The Secret World. It's no more flawed than the The Longest Journey series, and it is way more innovative.

[Waaghals]

What?!

They better not be trolling, I had given up hope after TSW bombed....

[injurai]

Wow, I thought this series was dead...

[wrowa]

With the bomba that was their last mmo, this was expected.

Hm? they licensed the franchise to another developer, it's not like this is a shift in focus of the company.

[Lime]

[Lime]

With the bomba that was their last mmo, this was expected.

This seems to be developed by "Red Thread Games", a new Norwegian studio.

[Necrovex]

There is a god.

When I see a release date, I'll begin my replay of TLJ and Dreamfall.

[StuBurns]

I feel like the Episode Three is going to be a really long wait with this one.

[Globox_82]

What so good about it and can you compare it to some other game? quantic dream games?

[jb1234]

YES!!!!!! Hoping it'll be more like TLJ than Dreamfall.

I've been dying to know what happened to April for years now.

[Berto]

[ShaneB]

YAY! TLJ is a timeless p'n'c. I didn't like Dreamfall a whole lot and only played a couple hours, but if this actually happens, I'll play through it all.

[Acosta]

Holy fuck, Ragnar has funded a new studio?, when this happened?

I can't believe we re going to get Chapters after all these years. So exciting!

[CecilRousso]

So will it be an FPS game?

[walking fiend]

Don't believe his lies

[Waaghals]

What so good about it and can you compare it to some other game? quantic dream games?

Dreamfall is similar in the sense that it is very story driven, with relatively weak action gameplay.

It is different in the sense that there are no QTE's and that the writing and story is actually good.

The original The Longest Journey is a point and click adventure with a great story and impossible puzzles.

[Why would you do that?]

I played Dreamfall about half way and loved it to pieces. I played a little bit of TLJ 1, and I loved it, too. Adventure games aren't necessarily my favorite genre, but there's something special about the TLJ series.

I would very much enjoy a sequel... though I do need to finish the original games first. lol

[Aeana]

TLJ is one of my favorite games of all time, but I didn't manage to finish Dreamfall. I'll have to give it another go soon.

[Lime]

I wonder if this news coincides with the announcement of the Norwegian government increasing their grant with 5 million NKR. towards the development of digital games, so it amounts to 20 mio. in total:

http://www.statsbudsjettet.no/Statsb...l-A/Dataspill/

Dataspill Regjeringen foreslår å øke bevilgningen til dataspill med 5 millioner kroner i 2013. Med den foreslåtte bevilgningsøkningen er de samlede utgiftene til utvikling av dataspill på 20 millioner kroner. Dataspill gir arbeids- og utviklingsmuligheter til en rekke yrkesgrupper innen teknologi, kunst og kultur, og er i tillegg et selvstendig kulturuttrykk. Det er viktig å sikre at særlig barn og unge får tilgang til spill av høy kvalitet basert på norsk språk og kultur

[Famassu]

Omg. The Longest Journey is amazing & I just bought Dreamfall from GOG, looking forward to playing that. I'll have to get to it at some point soon, now that the sequel is finally in development.

[Zeona]

At last. I was worried that we would end up with a book / graphic novel to finish the story.

jack.gif

[Lime]

As happy as I am to see this happen, he explicitly said that he wouldn't do this. I don't want him compelled to finish something for financial reasons. At least, I hope it doesn't affect the product.

Do you have a quote of this reluctance to develop Dreamfall chapters? I remember that he stated on his blog that he would finish the story no matter the outcome - if not through a game, then a book or something along those lines.

Also, any who haven't should play The Secret World. It's no more flawed than the The Longest Journey series, and it is way more innovative.

I would have loved to play it, the Neil Gaiman-like style seems incredibly enticing, but unfortunately it's a MMO. And it's a sub-based one published by EA.

[Syphon Filter]

just got into these last year,great titles.

[TheExodu5]

YES!!!!!! Hoping it'll be more like TLJ than Dreamfall.

I'm hoping for the opposite. D:

Always preferred Dreamfall to TLJ. Just drop the action bits.

[subversus]

yaaaaaaaaaaaaaay

[lightchris]

I wish they would forget about the whole episodic nature. I'd rather play a "complete" game. And I hope they don't go digital only..

Still, good news. TLJ is one of my favorite adventure series.

[WoodenLung]

Finally, but I agree with lightchris, really not liking episodes of games like this, would much rather just wait 6 months more and play through it all.

[jb1234]

I'm hoping for the opposite. D: Always preferred Dreamfall to TLJ. Just drop the action bits.

I wouldn't mind a melding of the two. Obviously, the action bits were the weakest part of Dreamfall but I missed the challenging puzzles (and length) of TLJ.

[LiquidMetal14]

I really thought this day would never come.

Seriously. Very excited for this.

[epmode]

I never thought this day would come.

[Syphon Filter]

had no idea they made secret world. if EA published then how come its on steam?

[Teppic]

TLJ was great, and Dreamfall pretty good. Looking forward to this one.

[Midou]

I wouldn't mind a melding of the two. Obviously, the action bits were the weakest part of Dreamfall but I missed the challenging puzzles (and length) of TLJ.

Yep, a nice in-between would be perfect. At the very least, no action, and I'm happy.

This is awesome, please don't capcpom my hopes away though, I remember last time I got this excited.

I love adventure games, and TLJ left a lasting impression on me, I beat it for the first time like 6 or 7 years ago and I still vividly remember certain parts of the game. Dreamfall was pretty awesome too, I remember it was the first time I ever stopped to look at an environment in a game from how blown away I was. It was not quite as good overall, but it was the right direction, I have faith.

[TheExodu5]

I wouldn't mind a melding of the two. Obviously, the action bits were the weakest part of Dreamfall but I missed the challenging puzzles (and length) of TLJ.

I'm probably partially influenced by the fact that I played Dreamfall near release, and only played TLJ last year. I'm not a fan of convoluted adventure game puzzles...the ones in TLJ were particularly non-intuitive.

[LastNac]

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jay Shadow]

had no idea they made secret world. if EA published then how come its on steam?

Because all they did was publish it, it's not an EA made game. Left 4 Dead is as much an EA game as Secret Word is.