Anyone who has visited Sierra's message forums or comp.sys.ibm.pc.games.adventure recently will have read about the latest developments taking place in the creation of the latest installment of the GK sequel, with even more disturbing news on how "radically different" the newer version of the game might be in comparison to the previous two titles.
You will also have been suffering from near shock after reading some of the sometimes rabid comments made by some people in response to these revelations. To summarise, here are some of the features that will affect the creation of Gabriel Knight 3:
* Sources obtained via newsgroups, Sierra's message forums and personal correspondance with fellow GK fans
Ardent fans of Gabriel Knight in general should be interested in the near identical parallels that can be drawn from the transition of "Gabriel Knight 2 - The Beast Within" to "Gabriel Knight 3 - [Insert cool name here]", from that witnessed when "Gabriel Knight - Sins of the Fathers" begat GK2. I for one remember the huge outcry from respected games reviewers, players and the general public opinion of that fateful decision, and depression set in on many people expecting the worst...
But behold! All wasn't bad at all. When GK2 came out, it was discovered that the puzzles and interface had been downgraded for a more simplistic approach to interacting with the game, but this was compensated for by a storyline of such depth (considering it was for a mere game) that hadn't been seen since...let me see now...ah yes! Gabriel Knight 1. For once in the history of games, the marriage between FMV and computer games had finally lasted longer than a week!
A tidal wave of response about the news that GK3 was to be a "3D" game was generated on the message forums and newsgroups. The general consensus seemed to be divided into two camps; "We don't want it!/[Sob]/[Slashed mouse cables]" and "Don't care, as long as the story is just as cool/brilliant/great". It wasn't until more information filtered through stating the "revelation" that 3D games don't all have to be "Quake/Duke Nukem" look-alikes.
Instead, what is rumoured to be appearing in the next installment is a return to the original (and sometimes infuriatingly difficult, object based) interface that was used so successfully in the first GK. Discussions are apparently taking place to hammer out some form of contract/agreement on how to proceed, but it is promised that GK3 will remain true to the storyline, characters and gameplay that fans of the titles expect, nay DEMAND!
Speaking of rumours, here are a few, which may give an indication of the eventual storyline:
A few objections were voiced by various fans over this approach of abandoning the two main characters established in both GK and GK2, for a completely new character, but only time will tell if this course of action is the correct one.
Whatever the outcome of the storyline, Jane Jensen will probably be working hard over the coming months to ensure that it satisfies the legion of fans the GK series have generated, and its unlikely that the game will be completed anytime soon. So hold out for 1998!
Any who has recently visited Sierra's Gabriel Knight page can't have failed to have noticed the innocuous link which takes you to a nice surprise... An entry form to win one of 100 signed copies of Jane Jensen's forthcoming novel based on her original story of Schattenjagers, "Sins of the Fathers".
The novel is apparently due for publication in February 1997, with no word as yet on when it will appear in countries outside of the US.
With Ken Williams being rumoured to prefer "3D" styled games, which "imerse" the player into their gaming environment, Jane Jensen will be trying to convince him that GK3 will be worthy enough to continue development.
This could be the reason why all this "3D Fall-Out" has occured. The explanation why it might be made in 3D at all (the definition of which could be anybody's guess, though not necessarily first-person perspective style) is so that GK3 gets made at all, with Jane Jensen confident that she can create an ambitious and gripping enough storyline which will rise over any radical changes to the game environment.
New information will be posted (and credited) as and when I can get it. If you have some news related to anything Schattenjagery, contact me at raymond.chitolie@tesco.net. And that goes double for anyone called Jane Jensen!