Former LucasArts developers refused to let adventures die. Telltale’s episodic model—releasing games in chapters like TV seasons—revived the genre. Sam & Max returned, The Walking Dead became a phenomenon, and licensed properties from Batman to Game of Thrones found interactive life. Then success bred overextension, and the original company collapsed before being reborn.
Fast facts
- Founded: 2004 (original).
- Founders: Ex-LucasArts staff.
- Innovation: Episodic release model.
- Closure: 2018 (revived 2019).
Founding team
| Name |
LucasArts role |
| Dan Connors |
Producer |
| Kevin Bruner |
Programmer |
| Troy Molander |
Business |
Early releases
| Title |
Year |
| Telltale Texas Hold’em |
2005 |
| Bone |
2005-2006 |
| Sam & Max seasons |
2006-2010 |
| Tales of Monkey Island |
2009 |
| Achievement |
Impact |
| Sales |
Massive success |
| Awards |
Game of the Year |
| Emotional impact |
Made players cry |
| Industry attention |
Adventure revival |
Choice-driven narrative
| Feature |
Implementation |
| Dialogue choices |
Character relationships |
| “They will remember” |
Consequence tracking |
| Branching scenes |
Story variation |
| Illusion of choice |
Manageable scope |
Licensed properties
| Property |
Years |
| The Walking Dead |
2012-2019 |
| The Wolf Among Us |
2013-2014 |
| Batman |
2016-2018 |
| Game of Thrones |
2014-2015 |
Closure and rebirth
| Year |
Event |
| 2018 |
Original studio closes |
| 2019 |
LCG Entertainment acquires |
| 2019+ |
Continues operations |
See also