For me, this is the best news I’ve heard all year. For those of you that don’t know, Wallace and Gromit in an English TV animated series spanning four 1/2 hour episodes and one feature length movie. The two title characters are of course;
Wallace:
An endearing and affable inventor. Ever enthusiastic, Wallace’s hair-brained, over-ambitious, yet well intentioned ideas consistently get him and his faithful hound into trouble. A definite penchant for cheese and crackers, not to mention fashionable knitwear.
and Gromit:
Wallace’s long-suffering loyal pooch. Gromit cares greatly for Wallace even though he’s often railroaded into his master’s mad-cap plans. Though cultured and sensitive, preferring order and the quiet life, Gromit displays amazing courage and heroism when it comes to getting his master out of self-made scrapes. Always showing astonishing initiative, Gromit is definitely the intelligent one of the pair. He can also drive vans, planes, cook breakfast, bake bread and knit.
Back to gaming! Tell Tale announced an Xbox LIVE exclusive episodic series to be released this Spring. The game will look much like the TV series claymation design. Seriously, find a way to watch ‘The Wrong Trousers’ and ‘A Close Shave’ and then buy ‘The Curse of the Were-Rabbit’ movie. You won’t regret it.
Here is what Telltale had to say about the whole thing:
Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Adventures will deliver all of the humour and charm of the duo’s popular animated films, with a monthly series of brand new interactive stories in Telltale’s unique episodic format. Alternating between the roles of quirky inventor Wallace and his faithful canine companion Gromit, players embark on their own style of entrepreneurial business ventures, tinker with creative contraptions, and interact with an ever-expanding cast of fun and endearing characters in each episode.
“Our episodic series focus on story, character, humour, and cinematic presentation—very much like a television or film production. This all makes for a great living room experience through the gaming console,” says Telltale CEO Dan Connors. “We’re looking forward to expanding our catalogue onto Xbox LIVE Arcade.”
The series’ launch follows the record-setting Christmas Day premiere of Aardman’s new Wallace & Gromit short film, “A Matter of Loaf and Death,” the most watched TV program in the United Kingdom on Christmas Day with 14.3 million viewers. The film also recently won an Annie Award for Best Animated Short and secured a BAFTA Award nomination in the same category.
Showcasing visuals modelled closely after franchise originator Aardman Animations’ clay creations, Wallace & Gromit’s Grand Adventures is Telltale’s most cinematic series to date, immersing fans in the stories and interactions with the colourful personalities of West Wallaby Street. The game also features a new direct control scheme for gamepads, designed specifically for Xbox.
I really cannot wait for these games.
