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Chance, Trance and Polarity ....

Posted: July 25, 2005 • 3:15 am
by Kivanc Avci
Ok Guys,

Maybe i sound like a complete moron, but can someone explain me what Chance, Trance and Polarity is. I think i read somewhere in the forum that they were novels about Tex. Does the novels continue where Overseer ended. Are they written by AC? and if a new tex game is going to be made, will the novels be used for the new game?

-Kivanc

re: Chance, Trance and Polarity ....

Posted: July 25, 2005 • 3:23 am
by dkbtf
- The "Trilogy" consists (in theory) of three connected stories:
"Chance", "Polarity", and "Trance", all of which revolve around Tex Murphy, as well as his past, present and future. Part I ("Chance") begins a few weeks after the cliffhanger at the end of Overseer, which happened (in Tex's timeline) a month or two after the conclusion of the Pandora Directive case. (For those who haven't played all the games, Overseer was a retelling of Tex's first case ("Mean Streets" -- from years earlier, which Tex related to Chelsee over dinner at the Golden Pagoda.)

Contrary to some rumors, the Trilogy stories exist only in "outline form", accompanied by many, many pages of notes, drawings, conversations, etc. It's possible that they could be written in novel format, or perhaps as movie screenplays, but ideally they would become fully developed, multi-pathed, interactive computer games.

- Right now, a list of actors for "Chance" is pretty much LITERALLY the last thing on my mind. If we get the opportunity, however, there are several characters (in addition to the "regulars" on Chandler Ave.) that I anticipate seeing again. As for Big Jim Slade, he's safely locked away in some high security prison and I can't imagine how he could possibly get out..

- As I said in an earlier response, the Trilogy of Chance, Polarity, and Trance have all been outlined. Chance has been broken down in two different ways: In CHAPTERS (in anticipation of writing the story in novel form); and in DAYS (the design for the interactive game). I would guess the story is 80% laid out. Polarity is only about 40% developed; All details relevant to the other two stories are set, but (since the story has its own unique plot) the "gameplay" details are still generalized. Trance, which was originally intended to be the sequel to The Pandora Directive, is nearly as developed as Chance, but will undoubtedly have to evolve as the two earlier stories are written/created.

As for writing the stories as novels and publishing them, Chris Jones has encouraged me to do so, but I'm not sure what route to take. I could write them and approach a "major" publisher, but then I'd have to work out an arrangement with MS for the rights. Secondly, I could start by going to MS and try to negotiate a nominal royalty agreement, and then publish them myself (or through MS Press). Or, I could wait and see if we'll ever get to do another Tex Murphy game and, if not, keep the stories for myself, change the characters, and try to get the stories published without having to pay royalties.

Also, prior to writing the story for the Pandora Directive, I presented two OTHER story ideas to Chris. They were both quite good, but we were digging on the whole Mayan/UFO storyline back in 1995. So, there are two other plots that could appear as interactive fiction, radio shows, flash movie/games, etc. I'll be sure to let you and all the other Tex

---> This is what Ac said in the "ask aaron" part of the board... we surely will know more with the answers of the new questions...

I don't know if somebody has already asked a question about this.. If not, it would be a good idea

re: Chance, Trance and Polarity ....

Posted: July 25, 2005 • 11:41 am
by Andy
But now that he's no longer with M$ and he has the rights to Tex back, how much of this is still relevant?

re: Chance, Trance and Polarity ....

Posted: July 25, 2005 • 12:42 pm
by Ender
You know, this is really good that M$ doesn't own the rights to Tex.
As so many stuff is already written, we could be sure to get something new :)

Maybe not a game, but a book would be also great.

re: Chance, Trance and Polarity ....

Posted: July 25, 2005 • 10:38 pm
by Jen
WOW! dkbtf, great post. I'm glad you were able to find that. Well, that pretty much toasts my question, unless there have been new developments. Awesome. I had forgotten about that stuff.

Thanks much! Jen

re: Chance, Trance and Polarity ....

Posted: July 26, 2005 • 11:30 am
by Andy
This seems like one of the most promising time periods for Tex since 1998.

Wow, I can't believe it's been that long.

Re: Chance, Trance and Polarity ....

Posted: July 24, 2010 • 3:26 pm
by Bjyman
Try 5 more years!

Re: Chance, Trance and Polarity ....

Posted: July 24, 2010 • 4:17 pm
by jcarnby
EEEK! Dang!

Re: Chance, Trance and Polarity ....

Posted: July 24, 2010 • 6:37 pm
by freepizza
By 2020 the anticipation will be about to pay off.

Re: Chance, Trance and Polarity ....

Posted: July 25, 2010 • 12:47 am
by Bjyman
At least they'll have the benefit of knowing how to make 2043 more realistic.

Re: Chance, Trance and Polarity ....

Posted: July 25, 2010 • 12:07 pm
by Bafitis
Bjyman wrote:At least they'll have the benefit of knowing how to make 2043 more realistic.
I wouldn't want them to change the atmosphere of the game for anything...

Re: Chance, Trance and Polarity ....

Posted: July 25, 2010 • 8:00 pm
by Jerry Dan
Bafitis wrote:
Bjyman wrote:At least they'll have the benefit of knowing how to make 2043 more realistic.
I wouldn't want them to change the atmosphere of the game for anything...
Funny comment, Bjyman. And on the serious side, I agree with Baf, as well.

Re: Chance, Trance and Polarity ....

Posted: July 26, 2010 • 4:37 am
by Alexander
Kivanc Avci wrote:Ok Guys,

Maybe i sound like a complete moron, but can someone explain me what Chance, Trance and Polarity is. I think i read somewhere in the forum that they were novels about Tex. Does the novels continue where Overseer ended. Are they written by AC? and if a new tex game is going to be made, will the novels be used for the new game?

-Kivanc
Оставь надежды, Киванк. Текс больше не вернётся.