Post by: Pryopizm on June 26, 2006, 06:03:32 PM
Last updated: 06/26/2006 by Stan Ferguson
It’s a little known legend that in Los Angeles circa 1979 there was a hotel room with the ability to grant wishes. Nintendo will be documenting this obscure little tale in Hotel Dusk: Room 215, a new title by Trace Memory developer Cing. Adding to the verisimilitude, players will take the role of significant historical figure Kyle Hyde, a former cop who moved on to the glamorous world of salesmanship. When a close friend of his goes missing at Hotel Dusk, Kyle must use his police background to solve the case.
Cing seems intent on keeping the old PC adventure games alive and well on the Nintendo DS. First with Trace Memory and now with the recently announced Hotel Dusk: Room 215, Cing is providing mystery games that are heavy with story and atmosphere. Hotel Dusk takes the Trace Memory formula and stands it on its side—literally. Like Brain Age, when playing Hotel Dusk the player will hold the DS like a book to solve puzzles. You’ll also question characters about the goings-on in the hotel. Whether or not the game allows players to order take-out rather than room service has not been divulged.
One of the more interesting aspects of Hotel Dusk is the use of rotoscoping—an animation technique where animators trace over filmed actors frame by frame. This technique was used to great effect in several of the classic Disney films, Ah-Ha’s "Take On Me" music video, and box office success Titan A.E. Based on the trailer and screen shots, the black and white color scheme and character animations will add a film noir aspect to the game.
Hotel Dusk: Room 215 is set to arrive sometime after October. If Trace Memory is any indication of quality, then Hotel Dusk could be a quirky addition to any PC-style adventure fan’s collection. That’s assuming, of course, that games like Space Quest weren’t quirky enough already.
Post by: UncleBob on June 26, 2006, 06:21:32 PM
Post by: Bloodworth on June 26, 2006, 06:52:26 PM
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box office success Titan A.E.
box office success LOL
Post by: ShyGuy on June 26, 2006, 07:18:06 PM
Post by: Jonnyboy117 on June 26, 2006, 09:28:38 PM
Post by: Kairon on June 26, 2006, 10:47:42 PM
Wow...I thought that they really just drew like that...awesome...
~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com
Post by: ruby_onix on June 26, 2006, 11:07:17 PM
Rotoscope sucks heiny from everything that I've seen, but hopefully the game will be good in spite of it (I was able to enjoy Titan AE).
Post by: Kairon on June 26, 2006, 11:42:54 PM
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Originally posted by: ruby_onix
Rotoscope sucks heiny from everything that I've seen, but hopefully the game will be good in spite of it (I was able to enjoy Titan AE).
Yeah, that's why I was surprised that this actually uses Rotoscope. I expect Rotoscope to look UGLY, like, uncanny valley ugly.
But Hotel Dusk: Room 215 doesn't look ugly at all. They almost cut down the frames to make the characters move in an almost comic-book manner. It really looks nice, and probably because it's a little surreal it doesn't enter into uncanny valley territory.
Seriously, if this is Rotoscope, then this is AWESOME rotoscope.
~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com
P.S. It makes me sad to see the person responsible for American Tail, Land Before Time, All Dogs go to Heaven and The Secret of N.I.M.H. reduced to this sort of ridicule... but yeah, Titan A.E., while enjoyable, was mind-blowingly vapid.
Post by: wandering on June 27, 2006, 03:17:25 AM
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This technique was used to great effect in several of the classic Disney films, Ah-Ha’s "Take On Me" music video, and box office success Titan A.E.
Don't forget the Lord of ther Rings cartoon!
edit: looking at the video, it does look really good. Actually, it looks just like the animation for another adventure game....what was the name of it? The Last Express, I think.
Post by: NinGurl69 *huggles on June 27, 2006, 06:12:24 AM
*TAKE*
*ON*
*!ME!*
TAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAKE MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE OOOOOOOOOOOOOOON
Post by: Kairon on June 27, 2006, 01:12:08 PM
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Ah-Ha’s "Take On Me" music video
OMG! I ...I ove the 80's....*swoon*
~Carmine M. Red
Kairon@aol.com
Post by: Pryopizm on June 27, 2006, 04:21:26 PM
Post by: Bloodworth on June 27, 2006, 05:18:39 PM
Post by: Bill Aurion on June 27, 2006, 05:21:44 PM
Post by: KnowsNothing on June 27, 2006, 05:34:15 PM
