Talk:The Longest Journey

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and lack of real character development In what sense do you mean? story wise I believe the characters did develope, but in the RPG sense you did not actually develop skills and powers.

Contents 1 Simple Puzzles? 2 Criticized for dialouge? 3 Translations 4 Heavy POV 5 Rewrite 6 Story? 7 Characters section 8 4 or 2 CD-ROMs 9 Sales figures 10 Blade Runner reference? 11 Setting section 12 Decline of Adventure Genre

[edit] Simple Puzzles?

I know that Dreamfall was criticized for it's simple puzzles, but i don't recall this one being criticized. I've played the game myself (obviously if I were to write all that story), and I can't say the puzzles are simple. True the puzzles were more logical than most other adventure games, and because of that a bit simpler. But I had still spent hours on end on just some puzzles, and ended up looking up a walkthrough on some. --Nerox 02:27, 24 January 2007 (UTC)

It is indeed a rather unfounded statement and I suggest that it is removed unless the contributor, Finduilas 09 (talk • contribs), finds some sources to support it ASAP. --Koveras ^☭ 08:36, 24 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Criticized for dialouge?

In the first paragraph it says TLJ was criticized for it's extensive cast and amount of dialouge. I don't remember hearing this anywhere, in fact, I had heard praise of that. Is there a reference to this, or was someone just talking their opinion?

I've seen this mentioned in quite a few on-line and magazine reviews of the game. It is also reflected in the user reviews on MobyGames.com. I'll try and find a definate instance to cite. Jay Firestorm 23:44, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Translations

translation from Norwegian to English: Although developed in Norway, English is the original language that TLJ was developed in. All other languages (Norwegian, Swedish, French, Spanish, Polish, Czech, Dutch, German) are based on the English version. This is particularly apparent in the games' outtakes, which are from the New York recording sessions. Enno

• Feel free to make the appropriate changes. Antrophica 02:15, 3 November 2005 (UTC)

I replaced that bit. Several reviewers in different languages have praised the game for going to the effort of making a localized release, so I just put that instead and added some more information to the complaints about lengthy dialog (I counted the sound files. The number isn't the same for each release).

In case anyone cares, the ten localizations that I can remember were: French, English, Norwegian, Swedish, Dutch, German, Italian, Czech, Polish, Spanish. Did I miss one?

Enno 21:35, 10 December 2005 (UTC)

• Excellent job. --Antrophica 12:06, 27 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Heavy POV

This paragraph is just full of POV comments:

The long and complex plot, a cast of memorable NPCs, simple yet effective interface and stunning graphics all got wide critical acclaim. Even with some reviewers pointing out the low difficulty level, slow pacing - the feeling empowered by the huge amount of the in-game dialogue - and lack of real character development, it was one of the few almost unanimously praised adventure games in recent history (and one that attracted many mainstream gamers' attention as well).

For an example, I don't recal praise of TLJ's graphics ever got as far as calling them "stunning". I think a full rewrite of this part is needed. - The Merciful 10:01, 10 July 2005 (UTC)

First four reviews that turn up after Googling The Longest Journey say as follows:

Two things that will almost immediately strike you about The Longest Journey are the absolutely gorgeous cutscenes and the sumptuously rendered backgrounds. Both are truly a wonder to behold, and represent some of the finest examples of visual excellence that can be seen on the market today. - Adrenaline Vault

The worlds are brought to life with rich, detailed graphics. - Gamespot

The graphics, video cut scenes, voice acting, music, and SFX, are all absolutely top-notch ... and more! - Quandary

The pre-rendered backgrounds, character designs, and CG movies are incredible, driving the story as successfully as the writing. - IGN

So there. You didn't even care to check it out, did you?

-- by user:62.179.48.184

That's all besides the point. Wikipedia has an official policy of using neutral point of view. For comparison, articles about Quake and Unreal don't mention how great the graphics of the said games were, while there undoubteldy is hundreds of reviews praising them as "stunning", "amazing" or "revolutionary". As for you snide comment, the talk pages are for discussing articles in order to improve them. I suggest you read these official policies too: no personal attacks, civility and avoid personal remarks. --The Merciful 14:17, 31 July 2005 (UTC)

Unfortunately, I don't see your point. You explicitly said that you don't recall reviewers praising TLJ graphics to that extent, so I brought up (easily found) examples that they did. To which your response is that "that's all besides the point"? I find articles you cite, especially the Quake one, hardly informative. How is the following passage more neutral?

Many believe that it kick-started the independent 3D graphics card revolution, "GLQuake" being the first application to truly demonstrate the capabilities of the 3DFX "Voodoo" chipset at the time. The impact of the Quake engine is still being felt to this day.

As for the "snide" comment, point taken. I'm genuinely sorry that you felt offended. -- by user:62.179.48.184

Apology accepted. I suppose my first comment wasn't well expressed, but that was because I was annoyed about what I saw, and still see, as marketing talk. Since Wikipedia is supposed to be factual encyclopedia, I think that is a discredit to both The Longest Journey and Wikipedia. It is better to descripe the plot, the gameplay, the character and the graphics, and perhaps upload a screenshot or two, than to just refer to reviews, even from prestigious sites or magazines. My graphics comment was mostly to point out that text of assertious nature doesn't belong in an encyclopedic article.

As for the Quake quote... Well, as I recall, it really was a "killer aplication" for 3D hardware at the time, and the quote doesn't make assertions about greatness or stunningness of the graphics. So the quote seems factual to me. Of course everything could be improved, and the Quake article in particular. --The Merciful 19:41, 31 July 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Rewrite

• Rewrote the article (the previous one read more like a review than a encyclopedia article) and added new information about the characters. --Antrophica

• I don't want to sound like all talk and no action, but, well, I'm suffering from laziness, and this article could use the expansion. --Antrophica 12:11, 27 December 2005 (UTC)

[edit] Story?

There's detailed info on all the characters...but virtually nothing about the story and plotline! Burns flipper 07:34, 6 April 2006 (UTC)

If you can summarize the entire story of TLJ, you are welcome to try. %) No offence, but I wouldn't dare it because the game is HUGE. --Koveras 10:06, 6 April 2006 (UTC)

I have added all the story information. I have placed the Balance, Factions, and Locations before the Plot, as I feel it is helpful if the reader knows about the story universe first before reading about the Plot--Nerox 06:56, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

Wow, respect, Nerox! That's a lot of text to write at once. %) Do you mind me copyediting your contribs a bit later today or would you rather do it yourself? --Koveras ^☭ 10:16, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

Go ahead. I have already proof read it twice. And there's not much else i can really add or change--Nerox 10:33, 27 November 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Characters section

I just removed the following as speculation from Lady Alvane: "Possibly, Lady Alvane actually is April from the future who has found means to travel in time."

There is no mention of time travel in TLJ, other than Brian Westhouse getting trapped in a Shift for 300 years - which isn't actually time travel. I propose to replace it with: "There are hints throughout her dialogue that suggest she may be April as an old woman, recounting the tale of her adventure."

Thoughts? Burns flipper 07:42, 6 April 2006 (UTC)

Personally, I do not believe that Lady Alvane is April, since IMO it goes against the continuity of TLJ. But many of those who played the game consider this a serious possibility - may be they would like to comment your proposal. --Koveras 10:08, 6 April 2006 (UTC)

Why do you think it goes against the continuity? See Ragnar's thoughts here, and other gamer thoughts here. Burns flipper 11:25, 6 April 2006 (UTC)

Well, I'd say I trust Tornquist on this topic. Therefore I'd just leave Lady Alvane out of speculations, since until he himself fulfils his promise and tells us just who on Earth she is. :) Until then, however, I'd mention the speculations but not deal with them explicitely in the article. Though a link to that TLJ-wiki article could be useful, too. --Koveras 15:02, 6 April 2006 (UTC)

Okay, good plan. I've added in the details and the links. Burns flipper 07:32, 7 April 2006 (UTC)

[edit] 4 or 2 CD-ROMs

It is for sure that this game also exists on only two cd roms? My copy has the normal four. Garion96 ^(talk) 15:08, 11 May 2006 (UTC)

My version has 4 cds. Tartan 15:28, 11 May 2006 (UTC)

2CD version has been released a couple of years after the 4CD one AFAIK. It contains an edition of the game that is better optimized for modern operating systems and hardware but the content is essentially the same. Some bugs are fixed, too. --Koveras 16:57, 11 May 2006 (UTC)

It seems to be incredibly impossible to pack 4 CDs into 2 without loosing anything... I am very interested in what the differences are. Sb knows? (BTW: is there really a DVD version? I haven't seen that one) - m_gol 23:38, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

I don't know about a 2CD version, but I know that in the UK, Xplosiv [1] have released a 'budget' DVD version - I am playing it now. Unlike the 4CD version, it is XP compatible. 217.134.115.179 23:28, 5 February 2007 (UTC)

There is a 2-CD version for sure. Check out the official store: https://funcom.asknet.com/cgi-bin/show/P13386 I don't know what's different though. Mamen 07:52, 19 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Sales figures

longestjourney.com said in July 2002 that there had been sales of 450,000. Anyone got any more recent sales figures? Also, there's not many references... better watch out or some wikinazi will AFD it... --Amaccormack 13:45, 20 December 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Blade Runner reference?

Looking through the screenshots at MobyGames, I noticed that the one labeled "Hope Street" looks like straight out of Blade Runner. If someone who has actually played the game can verify this, it might make an interesting addition to the trivia. Not having played the game myself, I didn't want to add it just based on one screenshot. -- 213.47.127.75 21:53, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Setting section

The setting section is getting a bit out of hand. We might wanna consider moving its contents to corresponding Stark and Arcadia articles. --Koveras ^☭ 12:49, 3 April 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Decline of Adventure Genre

Misleading - adventure genre did not decline, more that there was significant mass-market growth in other genres. Edited accordingly! —The preceding unsigned comment was added by Scarybot (talk • contribs) 15:58, 4 April 2007 (UTC).