For some time now I have been having an internal argument with myself about whether soundtracks should go the way of the dinosaurs. The side of me that thinks they are a pointless waste of time, money, and effort seems to be winning. This probably isn’t a surprise to some of our readers. I seem to have accumulated a bit of a reputation for grading games hard on their music. Some were even mortified that I was ‘meh’ about the soundtrack for Grim Fandango. But considering that more often than not a game’s soundtrack appears little more than an afterthought, and a poorly constructed one at that, I just can’t help questioning whether a game needs one.

Now, I am not saying every game gets it wrong. In fact, a number of games over the years have gotten it right. Riven is an excellent example of what a soundtrack should and can be. It had music worthy of being played just on its own. But it’s not just the quality of game soundtracks that has got me thinking about their future, it is the state of the adventure game industry itself. Right now adventure games make up a small portion of the industry. Compare the resources that companies behind first-person shooters or RPGs have with what most adventure game companies do and adventure budgets are downright diminutive. This lack of interest by larger publishers has increasingly led to adventure games being independently produced, usually constructed by small teams. Games like RHEM don’t even have a team; they have a staff of one. One person to lay out, design, and program a game. That is a lot of work by any standard. Add in time and budget constraints and it is not surprising that soundtracks tend to take a back seat in the design process.

If a company doesn’t have someone on the team with some knowledge, experience, or even an interest in sound design, bigger issues that directly affect gameplay are going to win a competition for attention every time. Knowing this, I just can’t help but wonder why designers don’t just opt out of a soundtrack altogether. Why not just focus on ambient sounds? The creaking door, the thudding footsteps, rushing water. These sounds are what create an immersive feeling, not endlessly-looped music, most of which seems to be of a tone or style that is almost wholly unrelated to what is happening in the game. And especially in situations where the sound ends up being intrusive, rather than engaging.

One of my all time favourite games, Amber, is an excellent example of how less sound can create more impact. The designers decided against including a soundtrack. As an independently produced game, this decision was probably monetarily motivated; however, it had the effect of improving the overall quality of the game experience. When a spectral finger writes on a mirror in the game, the streaking sound it made was far more frightening then hearing someone play a Yamaha over and over again. The lack of music made the impact of the sound far greater. This tells me that dropping the soundtrack and just including ambient sounds can create a more immersive environment for a player. If so, why do we still bother to create them? Why not just drop soundtracks altogether and just focus on creating the best palette of background noises you can? Not only would it be less work, it would decrease the cost of creating a game. Do gamers really care enough about a soundtrack to miss it if it isn’t there?

Advertising in games is nothing new. As early as the 1980s, Sega racing games included trackside banners. As technology has moved on, games have become a more vital area for advertisers seeking to reach those who are turning from television as their main source of entertainment. Later games have introduced billboards and even branded equipment used by game characters.

But Google seem determined to take it one step further. Already having a strong hold on online advertising, they are now rumoured to be making a push into the in-game advertising market. Utilising an extension of their existing AdSense program (which uses their search technology to attach ads to webpage content) the potential exists to insert video adverts into games introduced by game characters.

Whilst this is maybe an inevitable advancement of technology, I can’t help seeing this as a worrying development. After all, in the past adventures have used fake TV adverts to provide subtle (or occasionally blatant) clues to puzzles. Maniac Mansion had the “3 Guys Who Will Publish Anything” and Journeyman Project 2 had this delightfully cheesy example. With genuine advertising content, it will be harder to tell what is meant to inform and what is meant to just sell.

Okay, so that isn’t really the main concern. Far more disturbing is the idea that game characters will be introducing these videos. With the plan being that content will be constantly updated via internet connections, what sort of products will they be called upon to endorse? A quick glance at my Inbox would indicate Larry Laffer’s likely options are already well covered by other means. But what if products aren’t matched to the character presenting them? A Larry promoting chastity belts is going to lose all credibility.

But I suspect that most gamers will be put off by having video adverts appearing in games at all. Extended cut-scenes already attract a lot of criticism for breaking up the flow of a game. A similar disruption that doesn’t even serve the purpose of moving the story along isn’t likely to be popular. Length will probably be the key factor in whether these are seen as minor nuisances or game killers.

Of course, I shouldn’t forget that game making is an expensive business and a new income stream could help fill budgetary holes. Maybe a more optimistic view would be to hope that this will bring new and innovative games into being (though the pessimist in me still worries that advertising pressure will cut the innovative part). Only time will tell where this will take us. Until then, should any lurid shirt manufacturers out there want to help fund future blog production, drop me a line.

That scrubbing sound you might have heard was just us cleaning house on the Hype-o-Meter. The inventory had started getting a little old, a little stale. And even after blowing off a layer of dust, we realized it was in need of radical overhaul. And what better time than to coincide with that annual adventure extravanganza at the Games Convention in Leipzig? For that glorious few days each year, new games are announced, old games updated and proudly displayed, and every game promises that elusive five-star potential. It never turns out that way, of course, but the excitement is palpable in the month of GC, and this year was no exception.

And so, today we unveil a GC-centric Hype-o-Meter update. Even moreso than usual, this particular list is meant to be a single snapshot of what's bright and shiny right at this moment, which means that some old standbys have fallen by the wayside, through no fault of their own. The current novelty will wear off in time, the glow will dim, and you'll almost certainly see changes sooner rather than later. So if all your favourites are gone, I'll simply remind you of the immortal words of the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: "Don't panic!" This too shall pass.

#1) A Vampyre Story: If there's such a thing as a sure bet, Autumn Moon's comic vampire adventure is certainly it. Not sure to be great — it could, uhh.... suck for all we know — but it's sure to be a game that captures both adventure niche and mainstream interest. Old school that it is, even the most jaded gamer has a soft spot for games that promise to remind people of the glory days of LucasArts. Whether or not it succeeds remains to be seen, but for sure everyone will be watching. With a new trailer showing off its jaw-dropping graphics, and better yet: a fast-approaching release date(!), AVS managed to hold off all contenders for top spot.

#2) Heavy Rain: Dare I say that we can expect of deluge of both praise AND complaints about listing Quantic Dream's new PlayStation 3 exclusive, and at #2 to boot? Like its predecessor, Indigo Prophecy/Fahrenheit, we're not actually sure what Heavy Rain is (and neither is anyone else, possibly including Quantic) from a gameplay perspective; its integral Quick Time Events definitely challenging if not totally overstepping traditional adventure game standards. What we do know is that the game looks to once again push all visible boundaries of interactive, player-driven storytelling, with a degree of graphic realism as yet unequalled in any game. We also know that Heavy Rain is THE talk of GC, even in mainstream media, so if nothing else, it's adventure-like and it's red hot with hype. But hey, it's only #2, just so no one calls us sell-outs. Much.

#3) Three Cards to Midnight: Technically not a GC announcement, as it was announced a few days prior, but this is big, big, BIG news for adventure fans. Why? Because it's the new adventure from Chris Jones and Aaron Conners, creators of the Tex Murphy series. With a teaser released and the official website now active, players now have the first significant details about the new game. It's not a Tex game, alas, but Jones and Conners are the kind of forward-thinking developers the genre sorely lacks on the whole, and manage to tell a great story without sacrificing gameplay. Throw in the likes of branching paths, choices that matter, alternate endings, multiple difficulties, etc., and it's instantly clear that these guys get it. Better yet, it's almost done! Expect this game to linger right near the top of the HoM until its November release.

#4) Wallace & Gromit's Grand Adventures: Also a pre-GC announcement, Telltale Games had long been promising that a popular franchise was forthcoming, and they weren't whistling Dixie! The popularity of Nick Park's beloved claymation characters belies their surprisingly understated exposure since first appearing in a series of stop-motion short films more than fifteen years ago. The lovably goofy inventor and his silently faithful, long-suffering dog will soon be getting the same kind of seasonal episodic release as Sam & Max and Strong Bad, and while we know little about the series at this point, we do know the appeal of the license extends far beyond the adventure community or even the gaming community as a whole. When first news of your game is broken by the Associated Press, you know the world is paying attention. Telltale, get cracking!

#5) Gray Matter: Yes, that's right. Despite remaining right at the top of many people's wish list, Jane Jensen's much-anticipated new adventure has taken a Hype-o-Meter hit. We still have total confidence the game will happen, but it's clear the mid-stream change of developers has impacted the game's progress more than even (or perhaps especially) hardcore fans can accept. With no significant GC presence and no relevant updates in many long months, the natives are getting restless. When even your fan-based unofficial website closes shop from inactivity, you know the delays are getting out of hand. Nothing a few solid new game assets can't cure, but until then, #5 it is!

#6) The Whispered World: Some games look just so darn good, we couldn't even wait for GC. Our preview of Daedalic's stunning fantasy adventure was one of those times. Although still in early alpha state, the game looks to be coming along nicely, with its simply breathtaking visuals — gasp — and gameplay-adaptable sidekick leading the way. Everyone knows that graphics don't make a game, but they sure make it fun to watch come together.

#7) Black Mirror 2: You'll soon be hearing plenty more about the sequel to the popular supernatural mystery as we begin our post-GC preview coverage. Now in the hands of a new developer, there were concerns at first for the future of this franchise, particularly with its announcement of a shift to 3D. A return to the 2.5D presentation of its predecessor and a strong showing at GC, however, should go a long way to quelling those fears. I'd say more, but anticipation is half the fun. Stay tuned!

#8) Secret Files 2: While traditional almost to a fault, the original Secret Files: Tunguska won many over with is globe-hopping epic(ish) storyline and lovely visuals and an at-the-time rather obscure hotspot highlight feature that has since become a virtual staple of the genre (thank you, SFT!). The sequel promises more of the same, and while there's no word as yet on an English release, we suspect that's only a matter of time (preferably less than more), as a favourable review of the German version by our pals at Adventure-Treff indicates there's plenty of Secret Files goodness left in the tank.

#9: Still Life 2: Another casualty of post-GC fallout, we're still as psyched as most fans for the next adventure of Victoria McPherson, but disappointed not to have any kind of substantial look at the game by now. We (the royal AG "we", that is) were big fans of the first one, and we'd love nothing better than to hail the coming of its sequel, but so far its publicity has been pretty dead... and not in the good way of grisly murder body count, either. We can wait patiently. The Hype-o-Meter is a much more demanding task master, however.

#10) So Blonde: Rounding out the main list is a new kind of a conglomerate known as So Blonde. It's actually getting rather dull waiting for English-language PC updates, but So Blonde this week made a totally NOT dumb move in announcing an alternate Wii and DS version. Neither a simple port nor a full-fledged sequel, the "Nintendo version" (as we're so eloquently calling it for now) reuses many resources of the original while offering an all-new storyline and new playable character, among other things which you can read about in our recent news story. It's a great idea, really. It's brilliant, it's bold, it... means we need to buy the game twice now. D'oh! I KNEW there must be a downside somewhere. Still, it keeps So Blonde on the front burner even if the PC trail has gone cold.

Honorable Mentions: Quickly on a philosophical note, does making the Honorable Mention list count as being "on" the Hype-o-Meter? Feel free to discuss amongst yourselves. There's no correct answer, since I'm not sure either.

And now the games!

In keeping with the GC-centricity of the main list, not to mention a rather obvious but unintentional trend of sequels and follow-ups, we've selected five of the more notable games to make a splash either at or shortly before Leipzig. In no particular order, they are: Fenimore Fillmore: Revenge (long awaited western sequel to 3 Skulls of the Toltecs and Wanted), Time Hollow (new DS time-altering adventure by the creator of Shadow of Destiny, Alter Ego (the "successor" of Black Mirror according to the original developers), Culpa Innata II (a direct continuation of last year's futuristic utopian murder mystery), and The Book of Unwritten Tales (an as-yet-unheralded upstart that blew socks off at GC).

For better or worse (better for the genre, worse for the games), we've had to leave off a lengthy list of equally deserving titles both new and old, from newly-announced adventures like Deck13's Haunted and the next Art of Murder: Hand of the Puppeteer, to old faves like Rhiannon, A New Beginning, and Machinarium. But that's what a little healthy competition and a great big convention will do for ya'!



So there you have the latest and the gre... well, the latest Hype-o-Meter, anyway. Agree completely, object to the order, or wondering what we're smoking and where you can get some? All or none of the above? As always, we welcome feedback in the comments section below, and keep an eye open for an upcoming forum poll for your chance to help shape the next update yourself.