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''"Telltale has been rejecting my ideas for green text adventures for years..." — Strong Bad [1]''
''Telltale Games logo (2004⁠–⁠2018)''


The original '''[[Telltale Games]]''' was a video game company that partnered with [[Videlectrix]] to produce [[Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People]], a game in five episodes, or "actionsodes" in [[Strong Bad]]'s term, for PC and WiiWare. According to Strong Bad, "Telltale has been rejecting my ideas for green text adventures for years, but we finally reached a compromise with this puffy 3D point-and-click-em-up adventure. They claim all the coding was done with green text, so I guess that's pretty cool."[#endnote_1 [1]]
'''[[Telltale Games]]''', in its original incarnation, was a video game company that partnered with [[The Brothers Chaps]] (via [[Videlectrix]]) to produce ''[[Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People]]'', a game in five episodes (or "[[Portmanteaus|actionsodes]]" in [[Strong Bad]]'s term). This partnership extended to unique promotional media, merchandise, and a supporting appearance from Strong Bad in Telltale's ''[[Poker Night at the Inventory]]''. The Telltale offices were seen in the promotional video series [[Behind The Bad|Behind the Bad]], which featured Strong Bad interacting with staff as they produced his game.


The Telltale offices can be seen in the series [[Behind The Bad|Behind the Bad]], featuring Strong Bad.
Telltale Games closed in 2018. Though the "Telltale Games" brand has since [[Telltale Games (2018–present)|been revived]], their [[Homestar Runner (body of work)|Homestar Runner]] games are currently unavailable for purchase on modern platforms.


On November 19, 2008, Videlectrix expressed jealousy of Telltale Games and announced that they plan to "strike back". Attempts included releasing [[Dangeresque Roomisode 1: Behind the Dangerdesque]] to cash in on [[Dangeresque 3: The Criminal Projective]] and creating an alternate SBCG4AP box (which later became the reverse artwork for the [[SBCG4AP Collector's DVD]]).
== History ==


On September 2, 2010, Telltale Games announced [[Poker Night at the Inventory]] featuring Strong Bad as part of the cast. The game was released on November 22, 2010.
https://web.archive.org/web/20211001000000im_/http://www.hrwiki.org/w/images/thumb/a/ac/sbatdesk.jpg/180px-sbatdesk.jpg


Telltale Games abruptly closed in 2018, going into [[General assignment|bankruptcy assignment]] in October of that year. As a result, its games were delisted from digital storefronts Steam and GOG in the following months. LCG Entertainment, Inc. acquired the rights to much of the Telltale back catalog and [[Telltale Games (2018–present)|revived the brand]] on August 28, 2019 with plans of republishing much of the back catalog. SBCG4AP was relisted on December 07, 2020; Poker Night at the Inventory remains unavailable for purchase.
''Hard at work''


== Rivalry with Videlectrix ==
Telltale Games was founded in 2004 by former [[LucasArts]] employees; they had worked on the company's [[LucasArts adventure games|adventure games]], and struck out on their own as LucasArts had ceased producing adventure games. "Telltale" was so named as their adventure games focused more on storytelling than puzzle solving. The company's games were typically released in an [[Episodic video game|episodic format]], themed around licensed niche IPs with strong fanbases — an early game was ''[[Sam & Max]]'' (which previously had been licensed to LucasArts).


Telltale's fictional relationship with Videlectrix was often humorously portrayed as combatative, with Videlectrix's [[Good Graphics|relatively low-tech]] output clashing with the 3D graphics used by Telltale. The rivalry came to a head with Videlectrix's release of [[Dangeresque Roomisode 1: Behind the Dangerdesque]], which prompted a press release from Telltale Games:[#endnote_3 [3]]
=== Partnership with the Brothers Chaps ===
 
Although the Brothers Chaps had previously received video game licensing offers from companies like [[Sega]], they had rejected such partnerships due to concerns that the games would not capture the spirit of Homestar Runner.[#endnote_1 [1]]
 
Telltale Games reached out in mid-2007,[#endnote_2 [2]] simply sending a message to the [[Email|general contact email]] indicating an interest in working together. Already playing through ''[[Sam & Max Save the World|Sam & Max: Season One]]'', and familiar with the developers' LucasArts pedigree, the brothers felt that Telltale would be "a perfect pairing."[#endnote_3 [3]] Additionally, multiple short episodic games would be closer to the format of the website's [[toons]] compared to a single game with a large and complex narrative.[#endnote_1 [1]] The simpler style of Homestar Runner made a solid match for the small file sizes used by the [[Wii|WiiWare]] game format.[#endnote_4 [4]]
 
This partnership with Telltale would be [[Firsts|the first time]] The Brothers Chaps had licensed out their work.[#endnote_3 [3]]
 
==== Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People ====
 
''See main article: [[Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People]]''
 
<blockquote>
>Telltale has been rejecting [[Strong Bad's Technology|my ideas for green text adventures]] for years, but we finally reached a compromise with this puffy 3D [[X 'em up|point-and-click-em-up]] adventure. They claim all the coding was done with green text, so I guess that's pretty cool.
</blockquote>
 
—Strong Bad[#endnote_5 [5]]
 
On [[www.homestarrunner.com|the website]], the first hint of a larger-scale retail game was the short [[Strong Bad Gameways]] released (via an Easter egg in [[shapeshifter]]) on April 1, 2008.
 
''Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People'' was officially announced via a press release on April 10, 2008.[#endnote_5 [5]] The game's [[Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People|five episodes]] were released on a monthly basis, from August 11, 2008 to December 15, 2008:
 
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[[Homestar Ruiner]]
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[[Strong Badia the Free]]
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[[Baddest of the Bands]]
|
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[[Dangeresque 3: The Criminal Projective|Dangeresque 3:<br />The Criminal Projective]]
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[[8-Bit is Enough]]
|}
 
Originally released for [[Microsoft Windows|PC]] and [[WiiWare]], the games were later made available for [[PlayStation 3]] and [[OS X]]. Later releases typically bundled all episodes together as a single "Season 1" purchase.
 
The writing process was collaborative: the general storyline and puzzles would be discussed during conference calls, then a script would be sent to the Brothers Chaps to revise and approve. Later, when recording dialog, there was still freedom to rewrite and improvise to maintain the feeling of the cartoons.[#endnote_6 [6]]
 
===== Partnership with Videlectrix =====
 
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''"Vid'rix looks forward to working with Telltale Games and finding out just exactly what it is they do."''
 
In keeping with many of the games on the website, ''Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People'' was presented as being produced "in partnership with [[Videlectrix]]".[#endnote_5 [5]] The fictional company's mention in the initial press release led to humorous confusion from a shareholder, who did not recognize the [[Inside Jokes|inside joke]].[#endnote_1 [1]]
 
Videlectrix's fictional relationship with Telltale was often humorously portrayed as combative, with their [[Good Graphics|lower-tech output]] clashing with the 3D graphics used by Telltale. [[videlectrix.com|On November 19, 2008]], Videlectrix expressed jealousy of "graphical oppressors" Telltale Games and announced plans to "strike back". Attempts included releasing [[Dangeresque Roomisode 1: Behind the Dangerdesque]] to cash in on ''[[Dangeresque 3: The Criminal Projective]]'' and creating alternate ''SBCG4AP'' box art (which later became the reverse artwork for the [[SBCG4AP Collector's DVD]]). The release of Roomisode 1 prompted a press release from Telltale Games:


<blockquote>
<blockquote>
>"I'd also like to take a moment to address a serious issue that has recently come to our attention. Unhappy with our Strong Bad games, Videlectrix has taken it upon themselves to release a Strong Bad game of their own from [http://www.videlectrix.com www.videlectrix.com]. "[http://www.homestarrunner.com/dangeresque.html Roomisode 1: Behind the Dangerdesque]" is completely unauthorized and it's unfortunate that they've resorted to this. In spite of our creative differences and some weird late night phone calls from the irate Videlectrix CEO, Telltale has successfully completed production on the Strong Bad season finale and many of us think it's the best episode of the season. We only wish Videlectrix could have been a bit more grown-up about the whole situation."
>"Unhappy with our Strong Bad games, Videlectrix has taken it upon themselves to release a Strong Bad game of their own from [http://www.videlectrix.com www.videlectrix.com]. "[http://www.homestarrunner.com/dangeresque.html Roomisode 1: Behind the Dangerdesque]" is completely unauthorized and it's unfortunate that they've resorted to this. In spite of our creative differences and some weird late night phone calls from the irate Videlectrix CEO, Telltale has successfully completed production on the Strong Bad season finale and many of us think it's the best episode of the season. We only wish Videlectrix could have been a bit more grown-up about the whole situation."[#endnote_7 [7]]
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
The 'trix would later assert that, though the companies' difference were not irreconcilable, a second season would be on hold until Telltale agreed to "get rid of that ridiculous THIRD dimension".[#endnote_8 [8]]
==== Later Collaborations ====
https://web.archive.org/web/20211001000000im_/http://www.hrwiki.org/w/images/thumb/3/39/strongbadmax.jpg/180px-strongbadmax.jpg
''"Back in the mid 2000s, Strong Bad licensed away his handsome and cool likeness for a point-and-click adventure game, and he’s been stuck doing promotional guest appearances ever since."''
The main menu animation of [[strongbad email.exe Disc Six]] utilized the CG models from SBCG4AP, and the intro was choreographed by Telltale employees Jake Rodkin and Nick Herman. Telltale Games is thanked in the credits of the DVD.
Although the Brothers Chaps would share ideas[#endnote_4 [4]] or make jokes about[#endnote_8 [8]] a potential second season of SBCG4AP, no concrete plans were ever brought forth by them or Telltale. The Brothers emphasized that the game had been "a huge time sink" for them and that Telltale had a full slate of upcoming games,[#endnote_4 [4]] further reflecting that the game's production would likely be the biggest undertaking they'd ever do for Homestar Runner due to the amount of work and hours-long runtime of the games compared to typical [[Toons By Length|minutes-long toons]].[#endnote_9 [9]] Additionally, Homestar Runner went on [[Hiatuses|an extended hiatus]] about a year after the release of the final chapter of SBCG4AP.
On September 2, 2010, Telltale Games announced ''[[Poker Night at the Inventory]]''; the game was released on November 22, 2010. A [[Spiritual successor|spiritual sequel]] to ''[[Telltale Texas Hold'em]]'' (the company's first game), ''Poker Night'' pitted the player against several characters from various video games; Strong Bad appeared as one of the opponents, and the game featured several musical and visual elements from Homestar Runner.
=== Closure and Relaunch ===
Telltale Games abruptly closed in 2018, going into [[General assignment|bankruptcy assignment]] in October of that year. As a result, its games were delisted from digital storefronts Steam and GOG in the following months.
==== LCG Entertainment, Inc. ====
LCG Entertainment, Inc. [[Telltale Games (2018–present)|acquired and revived the "Telltale Games" brand]] on August 28, 2019 with plans of republishing much of the back catalog. ''SBCG4AP'' was relisted on December 7, 2020;[#endnote_10 [10]] although [[@StrongBadActual Tweets 2020|differences in licensing deals]] meant that the Brothers Chaps did not receive income from this relisting, [[@StrongBadActual]] still [[@StrongBadActual Tweets 2020|reacted positively to the news that people could play the game again]].
When Telltale no longer had the rights to the IP,[#endnote_11 [11]] the game was delisted again on May 30, 2023. As of 2024, the Brothers Chaps have not indicated any plans to relicense, rerelease, or remaster the game.[#endnote_12 [12]]
==== Skunkape Games ====
Skunkape Games is a small team of ex-Telltale employees, unaffiliated with LCG Entertainment's modern incarnation of Telltale, that obtained the rights to the studio's ''Sam & Max'' games after its 2018 closure.[#endnote_14 [14]]
The original release of ''Poker Night at the Inventory'' has remained unavailable for purchase since 2019.[#endnote_15 [15]] On February 4, 2026, Skunkape announced a remastered version of ''Poker Night'', to be released on March 5.[#endnote_16 [16]]
== Store ==
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; clear:right; margin:0 0 1em 1em; width:16em; font-size:90%; text-align:left;"
|-
| https://web.archive.org/web/20211001000000im_/http://www.hrwiki.org/w/images/thumb/7/7a/Strongbad_seasondisc_boxart.png/145px-Strongbad_seasondisc_boxart.png "No, you can't..."
| https://web.archive.org/web/20211001000000im_/http://www.hrwiki.org/w/images/thumb/d/d7/SBCG4AP_Box.png/143px-SBCG4AP_Box.png "...handle my style!"
|}
Alongside digital and [[SBCG4AP Collector's DVD|physical versions]] of SBCG4AP, the Telltale Games store also sold Homestar Runner merchandise:
* [[Strong Bad Sings and Other Type Hits|Strong Bad Sings CD]]
* [[strongbad email.exe|Strong Bad Emails DVD Set]]
* [[strongbad email.exe Disc Six|Strong Bad Emails DVD #6]]
* [[Sbemails' 50 Greatest Hits DVD|SBEmails' 50 Greatest Hits DVD]]
* [[Trogdor Poster]]
* [[Shopify Store Clothing|Strong Bad T-Shirt]]
* [[Store T-Shirts|Teen Girl Squad T-Shirt]] (babydoll version)
* [[Store Hooded Sweatshirts|Strong Bad Hoodie]]
* [[Store Accessories|Strong Bad Beanie Cap]]
* [[Homestar Runner Figurines]] Series #1 and #2


== Fun Facts ==
== Fun Facts ==


* Emily Morganti from the Telltale team once interviewed [[The Brothers Chaps]] for [[Adventure Gamers Interview - 2 Sept 2004|Adventure Gamers]][#endnote_2 [2]].
* Emily Morganti, a Telltale employee during the production of ''SBCG4AP'', had previously interviewed [[The Brothers Chaps]] for ''[[Adventure Gamers Interview - 2 Sept 2004|Adventure Gamers]]'' in 2004.[#endnote_13 [13]]
* [[Homestar Runner]] makes a [[Sam & Max Season Two Alternate Ending 101|cameo]] in one of the "alternate reveals" for "[[Sam & Max]] Episode 205: What's New Beelzebub" featured on the ''Sam & Max: Season Two'' DVD.
* [[Homestar Runner]] makes a [[Sam & Max Season Two Alternate Ending 101|cameo appearance]] in one of the "alternate reveals" for the finale of ''[[Sam & Max]] [[Sam & Max Beyond Time and Space|Beyond Time and Space]]'', featured on the ''Sam & Max: Season Two'' DVD.
* Several former Telltale employees are thanked in the credits of ''[[Dangeresque: The Roomisode Triungulate]]''.


== Sources ==
== Sources ==


# [#ref_1 '''^'''] [http://www.telltalegames.com/company/pressreleases/id-65 Strong Bad's Cool Game For Attractive People press release (archived)]
# [#ref_1 '''^'''] [https://kotaku.com/lunchtime-with-the-brothers-chap-strong-bads-creators-5016138 "Lunchtime With The Brothers Chap: Strong Bad's Creators Speak And Eat"], [[Kotaku Interview - 13 Jun 2008|''Kotaku'', 13 Jun 2008]]
# [#ref_2 '''^'''] [https://community.telltale.com/discussion/comment/75922 Telltale Games forum thread]
# [#ref_2 '''^'''] In a 2008 interview, [[Matt Chapman]] indicates that Telltale emailed "right before I had my daughter",[#endnote_3 [3]] she was born [[H*R.com updates 2007|in July 2007]]; in 2009, he reiterated that Telltale had made contact "two summers ago".[#endnote_4 [4]] However, in [[Zoinks! Magazine Interview|an October 2006 interview with ''Zoinks'' magazine]] he had already hinted at a "large scale game in the works that involves the main characters," suggesting that Telltale could have been in contact as early as 2006.
# [#ref_3 '''^'''] [https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/telltale-and-videlectrix "Telltale And Videlectrix Come To Blows", ''Rock Paper Shotgun'']
# [#ref_3 '''^'''] [https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/04/14/interview-with-the-brothers-chaps "Interview With the Brothers Chaps"], [[IGN Interview - 14 Apr 2008|''IGN'', 14 Apr 2008]]
# [#ref_4 '''^'''] [[OMG Nintendo Interview - 12 May 2009|"One year of WiiWare: Matt and Mike Chapman on Strong Bad's Cool Game For Attractive People", ''OMG Nintendo'', 12 May 2009]]
# [#ref_5 '''^'''] [http://www.telltalegames.com/company/pressreleases/id-65 " Announcing Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People for WiiWare" press release (archived)]
# [#ref_6 '''^'''] [https://adventuregamers.com/articles/view/18236 "Strong Bad’s the Brothers Chaps",] [[Adventure Gamers Interview - 12 Dec 2008|''Adventure Gamers'', 12 Dec 2008]]
# [#ref_7 '''^'''] [https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/telltale-and-videlectrix "Telltale And Videlectrix Come To Blows", ''Rock Paper Shotgun'']
# [#ref_8 '''^'''] [https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/rps-speaks-exclusively-to-videlectrix "RPS Speaks Exclusively To Videlectrix*"], [[RPS Interview - 17 Dec 2008|''Rock Paper Shotgun'']]
# [#ref_9 '''^'''] [[Ron & Fez Show Interview - 19 Dec 2008|''The Ron and Fez Show'', XM 202 / Sirius 197, 19 Dec 2008]]
# [#ref_10 '''^'''] [https://www.gog.com/news/three_telltale_games_arrive_on_gogcom "Three Telltale Games arrive on GOG.COM!"], GOG.com, 7 Dec 2020
# [#ref_11 '''^'''] [https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/8340/view/3674419898842965390 "Important Information for Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People", The Telltale Team], 30 May 2023
# [#ref_12 '''^'''] [https://www.destructoid.com/the-brothers-chaps-of-homestar-runner-fame-talk-about-videlectrix-and-the-future-of-good-graphics/ "The Brothers Chaps of Homestar Runner fame talk about Videlectrix and the future of good graphics"], [[Destructoid Interview - 16 Jan 2024|''Destructoid'', 16 Jan 2024]]
# [#ref_13 '''^'''] [https://community.telltale.com/discussion/comment/75922 "How did you first find out about HSR?"], Telltale community thread, original post 28 July 2008
# [#ref_14 '''^'''] [https://skunkapegames.com/samandmax/faq/ "Sam & Max Remasters - FAQ"], ''Skunkape Games''.
# [#ref_15 '''^'''] [https://steamdb.info/app/31280/history/ "Poker Night at the Inventory History"], ''SteamDB''.
# [#ref_16 '''^'''] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoXKhwb18MY "Poker Night at the Inventory: Reopening March 5th"], Skunkape, ''YouTube'', 4 Feb 2026


== See Also ==
== See Also ==


* [[Videlectrix]]
*
* [[LucasArts]]
* [[LucasArts]]
* [[Sam & Max]]
* [[Sam & Max]]
Line 42: Line 167:
== External Links ==
== External Links ==


* [http://www.telltale.com/ Official site]
* [http://www.telltale.com/ Telltale Games] official site
* [https://www.telltale.com/strong-bads-cool-game-for-attractive-people/ Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People at Telltale Games]
* [telltalegames.com/strongbad ''Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People'' at Telltale Games] (archive link)
** [https://store.steampowered.com/app/8340/Strong_Bads_Cool_Game_for_Attractive_People_Season_1/ Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People on Steam]
** [https://store.steampowered.com/app/8340/Strong_Bads_Cool_Game_for_Attractive_People_Season_1/ ''Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People'' on Steam] (no longer for sale)
* [https://telltale.com/series/poker-night/ Poker Night at the Inventory at Telltale Games] (archived)
* [https://telltale.com/series/poker-night/ ''Poker Night at the Inventory'' at Telltale Games] (archive link)
** [https://store.steampowered.com/app/31280/Poker_Night_at_the_Inventory/ Poker Night at the Inventory on Steam] (no longer for sale)
** [https://store.steampowered.com/app/31280/Poker_Night_at_the_Inventory/ ''Poker Night at the Inventory''] on Steam (no longer for sale)
** [https://store.steampowered.com/app/3897800/Poker_Night_at_the_Inventory/ ''Poker Night at the Inventory''] (2026) on Steam
* [https://skunkapegames.com/ Skunkape Games] official site
 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="text-align:center;background-color:#564C99" | ''[[Poker Night at the Inventory]]''
|-
| style="background-color:#C4BFE3;text-align:center;" | Produced by '''Telltale Games'''
|-
| [[Strong Bad's Responses in Poker Night at the Inventory|Responses]] · [[Poker Night at the Inventory Teaser|Teaser]] · [[Poker Night at the Inventory Trailer|Trailer]] · [[Make a Scene with Telltale at PAX 2010]]
|}
 
<br />
 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="2" style="background-color:#564C99;text-align:center;" | ''[[Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People]]''
|-
| colspan="2" style="background-color:#C4BFE3;text-align:center;" | Produced by '''Telltale Games''' and [[Videlectrix]]
|-
| style="background-color:#C4BFE3;text-align:center;" | '''Promotional Media'''
| [[Strong Bad Gameways]], [[SBCG4AP Advertisement|Advertisement]], [[SBCG4AP Gameplay Trailer|Gameplay Trailer]], [[SBCG4AP Tech Demo|Tech Demo]], [[SBCG4AP Dev Blog|Dev Blog]], [[Workin' on the Game]],<br />[[Behind The Bad]] ([[Behind The Bad Chapter 1: The New Hire|1]], [[Behind The Bad Chapter 2: The Heist|2]], [[Behind The Bad Chapter 3: The Last Straw|3]]), [[Make a Scene with Telltale: Strong Bad Edition]], [[SBCG4AP Collector's DVD|Collector's DVD]],
|-
| style="background-color:#C4BFE3;text-align:center;" | '''All Episodes'''
| [[SBCG4AP Tutorial|Tutorial]], [[SBCG4AP Intros|WiiWare Intros]]
|-
| style="background-color:#C4BFE3;text-align:center;" | '''Episode 1:<br />[[Homestar Ruiner]]'''
|
'''''Gameplay:''''' [[Homestar Ruiner Walkthrough|Walkthrough]], [[Snake Boxer 5]], [[Homestar Ruiner Teen Girl Squad|Teen Girl Squad]]<br />
'''''[[Homestar Ruiner Responses|Responses]]:''''' [[Homestar Ruiner Responses (House of Strong)|House of Strong]], [[Homestar Ruiner Responses (Marzipan's)|Marzipan's]], [[Homestar Ruiner Responses (K.o.T. Castle)|K.o.T. Castle]], [[Homestar Ruiner Responses (The Track)|The Track]], [[Homestar Ruiner Responses (The Field)|The Field]]<br />
'''''Promotional Media:''''' [[Homestar at the Track]], [[Around the Field]], [[Behind The Bad Chapter 1: The New Hire]]<br />
'''''Songs:''''' [[Handle My Style]], [[Fluffy Puff Translucent Dessert Related Substance|Fluffy Puff Jela-ton]], [[Showdown]]<br />
|-
| style="background-color:#C4BFE3;text-align:center;" | '''Episode 2:<br />[[Strong Badia the Free]]'''
|
'''''Gameplay:''''' [[Strong Badia the Free Walkthrough|Walkthrough]], [[Math Kickers]], [[Strong Badia the Free Cave Girl Squad|Cave Girl Squad]], [[Maps and Minions]]<br />
'''''Various:''''' [[Countries in Strong Badia the Free|Countries]], [[Homsartifacts]]<br />
'''''[[Strong Badia the Free Responses|Responses]]:''''' [[Strong Badia the Free Responses (Bleak House)|Bleak House]], [[Strong Badia the Free Responses (The Field)|The Field]], [[Strong Badia the Free Responses (Homsar Reservation)|Homsar Reservation]], [[Strong Badia the Free Responses (Pompomerania)|Pompomerania]], [[Strong Badia the Free Responses (Country)|Country]], [[Strong Badia the Free Responses (Marzistar)|Marzistar]], [[Strong Badia the Free Responses (The Castle)|The Castle]]<br />
'''''Promotional Media:''''' [[Strong Badia the Free Gameplay Trailer|Gameplay Trailer]]<br />
'''''Songs:''''' [[Justice Combo Meal]]
|-
| style="background-color:#C4BFE3;text-align:center;" | '''Episode 3:<br />[[Baddest of the Bands]]'''
|
'''''Gameplay:''''' [[Baddest of the Bands Walkthrough|Walkthrough]], [[Limozeen's Hot Babelien Odyssey]], [[Baddest of the Bands Teen Girl Squad Meets Limozeen|Teen Girl Squad Meets Limozeen]]<br />
'''''Various:''''' [[Bands in Baddest of the Bands|Bands]]<br />
'''''[[Baddest of the Bands Responses|Responses]]:''''' [[Baddest of the Bands Responses (House of Strong)|House of Strong]], [[Baddest of the Bands Responses (The Field)|The Field]], [[Baddest of the Bands Responses (Marzipan's)|Marzipan's]], [[Baddest of the Bands Responses (Club Technochocolate)|Club Technochocolate]], [[Baddest of the Bands Responses (The Track)|The Track]], [[Baddest of the Bands Responses (Battle of the Bands stages)|Battle of the Bands stages]]<br />
'''''Promotional Media:''''' [[Baddest of the Bands Gameplay Trailer|Gameplay Trailer]], [[Behind The Bad Chapter 2: The Heist]], [[Baddest of the Bands Promo|Promo]], [[Baddestofthebands.com|baddestofthebands.com]]<br />
'''''Songs:''''' [[Food-Related Love]], [[Cool Tapes songs]], [[Songs from Baddest of the Bands|Other songs]]
|-
| style="background-color:#C4BFE3;text-align:center;" | '''Episode 4:<br />[[Dangeresque 3: The Criminal Projective|Dangeresque 3:<br />The Criminal Projective]]'''
|
'''''Gameplay:''''' [[Dangeresque 3: The Criminal Projective Walkthrough|Walkthrough]], [[Space Circus Catastrophe]]<br />
'''''[[Dangeresque 3: The Criminal Projective Responses|Responses]]:''''' [[Dangeresque 3: The Criminal Projective Responses (Smoky Office)|Smoky Office]], [[Dangeresque 3: The Criminal Projective Responses (Brainblow City)|Brainblow City]], [[Dangeresque 3: The Criminal Projective Responses (Strongborneo)|Strongborneo]], [[Dangeresque 3: The Criminal Projective Responses (Secret Lab)|Secret Lab]], [[Dangeresque 3: The Criminal Projective Responses (Catacombs)|Catacombs]], [[Dangeresque 3: The Criminal Projective Responses (Old Club)|Old Club]], [[Dangeresque 3: The Criminal Projective Responses (Cutesy's House)|Cutesy's House]], [[Dangeresque 3: The Criminal Projective Responses (World Locations)|World Locations]], [[Dangeresque 3: The Criminal Projective Responses (The Sun)|The Sun]]<br />
'''''Promotional Media:''''' [[Dangeresque: Puppet Squad]], [[Dangeresque 3 Gameplay Clips|Gameplay Clips]], [[Dangeresque 3 Mini-Site|Mini-Site]]<br />
'''''Songs:''''' [[Today is Alright 4 2Nite]]
|-
| style="background-color:#C4BFE3;text-align:center;" | '''Episode 5:<br />[[8-Bit is Enough]]'''
|
'''''Gameplay:''''' [[8-Bit is Enough Walkthrough|Walkthrough]], [[Gel-Arshie's Pro Fruitboarder]], [[Redcoat Ghost Patrol]], [[Trogdor's 3D-Ungeon]]<br />
'''''Various:''''' [[8-Bit is Enough Character Variations|Character Variations]], [[Spirits of '76]], [[Halfathlon]]<br />
'''''[[8-Bit is Enough Responses|Responses]]:''''' [[8-Bit is Enough Responses (House of Strong)|House of Strong]], [[8-Bit is Enough Responses (The Field)|The Field]], [[8-Bit is Enough Responses (Crates)|Crates]], [[8-Bit is Enough Responses (Videlectrix Mainframe)|Videlectrix Mainframe]], [[8-Bit is Enough Responses (Halfathlon)|Halfathlon]], [[8-Bit is Enough Responses (Gel-Arshie's Backstage)|Gel-Arshie's Backstage]], [[8-Bit is Enough Responses (Stinkoman 20X6)|Stinkoman 20X6]], [[8-Bit is Enough Responses (Peasantry)|Peasantry]]<br />
'''''Promotional Media:''''' [[Behind The Bad Chapter 3: The Last Straw]]
|}
 
[[Category:SBCG4AP Interviews]]
[[Category:Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People]]
[[Category:Real Companies]]
[[Category:Real Companies]]
[[Category:Store]]
[[Category:Store]]


Revision as of 17:00, 18 July 2026

180px-Telltale_Games_logo.png

Telltale Games logo (2004⁠–⁠2018)

Telltale Games, in its original incarnation, was a video game company that partnered with The Brothers Chaps (via Videlectrix) to produce Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People, a game in five episodes (or "actionsodes" in Strong Bad's term). This partnership extended to unique promotional media, merchandise, and a supporting appearance from Strong Bad in Telltale's Poker Night at the Inventory. The Telltale offices were seen in the promotional video series Behind the Bad, which featured Strong Bad interacting with staff as they produced his game.

Telltale Games closed in 2018. Though the "Telltale Games" brand has since been revived, their Homestar Runner games are currently unavailable for purchase on modern platforms.

History

180px-sbatdesk.jpg

Hard at work

Telltale Games was founded in 2004 by former LucasArts employees; they had worked on the company's adventure games, and struck out on their own as LucasArts had ceased producing adventure games. "Telltale" was so named as their adventure games focused more on storytelling than puzzle solving. The company's games were typically released in an episodic format, themed around licensed niche IPs with strong fanbases — an early game was Sam & Max (which previously had been licensed to LucasArts).

Partnership with the Brothers Chaps

Although the Brothers Chaps had previously received video game licensing offers from companies like Sega, they had rejected such partnerships due to concerns that the games would not capture the spirit of Homestar Runner.[#endnote_1 [1]]

Telltale Games reached out in mid-2007,[#endnote_2 [2]] simply sending a message to the general contact email indicating an interest in working together. Already playing through Sam & Max: Season One, and familiar with the developers' LucasArts pedigree, the brothers felt that Telltale would be "a perfect pairing."[#endnote_3 [3]] Additionally, multiple short episodic games would be closer to the format of the website's toons compared to a single game with a large and complex narrative.[#endnote_1 [1]] The simpler style of Homestar Runner made a solid match for the small file sizes used by the WiiWare game format.[#endnote_4 [4]]

This partnership with Telltale would be the first time The Brothers Chaps had licensed out their work.[#endnote_3 [3]]

Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People

See main article: Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People

>Telltale has been rejecting my ideas for green text adventures for years, but we finally reached a compromise with this puffy 3D point-and-click-em-up adventure. They claim all the coding was done with green text, so I guess that's pretty cool.

—Strong Bad[#endnote_5 [5]]

On the website, the first hint of a larger-scale retail game was the short Strong Bad Gameways released (via an Easter egg in shapeshifter) on April 1, 2008.

Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People was officially announced via a press release on April 10, 2008.[#endnote_5 [5]] The game's five episodes were released on a monthly basis, from August 11, 2008 to December 15, 2008:

120px-HomestarRuinerIcon.png

Homestar Ruiner

120px-StrongBadiaTheFreeIcon.png

Strong Badia the Free

120px-BaddestOfTheBandsIcon.png

Baddest of the Bands

120px-Sbcg4ap104_235x225.png

Dangeresque 3:
The Criminal Projective

120px-Sbcg4ap105_235x225.png

8-Bit is Enough

Originally released for PC and WiiWare, the games were later made available for PlayStation 3 and OS X. Later releases typically bundled all episodes together as a single "Season 1" purchase.

The writing process was collaborative: the general storyline and puzzles would be discussed during conference calls, then a script would be sent to the Brothers Chaps to revise and approve. Later, when recording dialog, there was still freedom to rewrite and improvise to maintain the feeling of the cartoons.[#endnote_6 [6]]

Partnership with Videlectrix

180px-Videlectrixlogo.png

"Vid'rix looks forward to working with Telltale Games and finding out just exactly what it is they do."

In keeping with many of the games on the website, Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People was presented as being produced "in partnership with Videlectrix".[#endnote_5 [5]] The fictional company's mention in the initial press release led to humorous confusion from a shareholder, who did not recognize the inside joke.[#endnote_1 [1]]

Videlectrix's fictional relationship with Telltale was often humorously portrayed as combative, with their lower-tech output clashing with the 3D graphics used by Telltale. On November 19, 2008, Videlectrix expressed jealousy of "graphical oppressors" Telltale Games and announced plans to "strike back". Attempts included releasing Dangeresque Roomisode 1: Behind the Dangerdesque to cash in on Dangeresque 3: The Criminal Projective and creating alternate SBCG4AP box art (which later became the reverse artwork for the SBCG4AP Collector's DVD). The release of Roomisode 1 prompted a press release from Telltale Games:

>"Unhappy with our Strong Bad games, Videlectrix has taken it upon themselves to release a Strong Bad game of their own from www.videlectrix.com. "Roomisode 1: Behind the Dangerdesque" is completely unauthorized and it's unfortunate that they've resorted to this. In spite of our creative differences and some weird late night phone calls from the irate Videlectrix CEO, Telltale has successfully completed production on the Strong Bad season finale and many of us think it's the best episode of the season. We only wish Videlectrix could have been a bit more grown-up about the whole situation."[#endnote_7 [7]]

The 'trix would later assert that, though the companies' difference were not irreconcilable, a second season would be on hold until Telltale agreed to "get rid of that ridiculous THIRD dimension".[#endnote_8 [8]]

Later Collaborations

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"Back in the mid 2000s, Strong Bad licensed away his handsome and cool likeness for a point-and-click adventure game, and he’s been stuck doing promotional guest appearances ever since."

The main menu animation of strongbad email.exe Disc Six utilized the CG models from SBCG4AP, and the intro was choreographed by Telltale employees Jake Rodkin and Nick Herman. Telltale Games is thanked in the credits of the DVD.

Although the Brothers Chaps would share ideas[#endnote_4 [4]] or make jokes about[#endnote_8 [8]] a potential second season of SBCG4AP, no concrete plans were ever brought forth by them or Telltale. The Brothers emphasized that the game had been "a huge time sink" for them and that Telltale had a full slate of upcoming games,[#endnote_4 [4]] further reflecting that the game's production would likely be the biggest undertaking they'd ever do for Homestar Runner due to the amount of work and hours-long runtime of the games compared to typical minutes-long toons.[#endnote_9 [9]] Additionally, Homestar Runner went on an extended hiatus about a year after the release of the final chapter of SBCG4AP.

On September 2, 2010, Telltale Games announced Poker Night at the Inventory; the game was released on November 22, 2010. A spiritual sequel to Telltale Texas Hold'em (the company's first game), Poker Night pitted the player against several characters from various video games; Strong Bad appeared as one of the opponents, and the game featured several musical and visual elements from Homestar Runner.

Closure and Relaunch

Telltale Games abruptly closed in 2018, going into bankruptcy assignment in October of that year. As a result, its games were delisted from digital storefronts Steam and GOG in the following months.

LCG Entertainment, Inc.

LCG Entertainment, Inc. acquired and revived the "Telltale Games" brand on August 28, 2019 with plans of republishing much of the back catalog. SBCG4AP was relisted on December 7, 2020;[#endnote_10 [10]] although differences in licensing deals meant that the Brothers Chaps did not receive income from this relisting, @StrongBadActual still reacted positively to the news that people could play the game again.

When Telltale no longer had the rights to the IP,[#endnote_11 [11]] the game was delisted again on May 30, 2023. As of 2024, the Brothers Chaps have not indicated any plans to relicense, rerelease, or remaster the game.[#endnote_12 [12]]

Skunkape Games

Skunkape Games is a small team of ex-Telltale employees, unaffiliated with LCG Entertainment's modern incarnation of Telltale, that obtained the rights to the studio's Sam & Max games after its 2018 closure.[#endnote_14 [14]]

The original release of Poker Night at the Inventory has remained unavailable for purchase since 2019.[#endnote_15 [15]] On February 4, 2026, Skunkape announced a remastered version of Poker Night, to be released on March 5.[#endnote_16 [16]]

Store

145px-Strongbad_seasondisc_boxart.png "No, you can't..." 143px-SBCG4AP_Box.png "...handle my style!"

Alongside digital and physical versions of SBCG4AP, the Telltale Games store also sold Homestar Runner merchandise:

Fun Facts

Sources

  1. [#ref_1 ^] "Lunchtime With The Brothers Chap: Strong Bad's Creators Speak And Eat", Kotaku, 13 Jun 2008
  2. [#ref_2 ^] In a 2008 interview, Matt Chapman indicates that Telltale emailed "right before I had my daughter",[#endnote_3 [3]] she was born in July 2007; in 2009, he reiterated that Telltale had made contact "two summers ago".[#endnote_4 [4]] However, in an October 2006 interview with Zoinks magazine he had already hinted at a "large scale game in the works that involves the main characters," suggesting that Telltale could have been in contact as early as 2006.
  3. [#ref_3 ^] "Interview With the Brothers Chaps", IGN, 14 Apr 2008
  4. [#ref_4 ^] "One year of WiiWare: Matt and Mike Chapman on Strong Bad's Cool Game For Attractive People", OMG Nintendo, 12 May 2009
  5. [#ref_5 ^] " Announcing Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People for WiiWare" press release (archived)
  6. [#ref_6 ^] "Strong Bad’s the Brothers Chaps", Adventure Gamers, 12 Dec 2008
  7. [#ref_7 ^] "Telltale And Videlectrix Come To Blows", Rock Paper Shotgun
  8. [#ref_8 ^] "RPS Speaks Exclusively To Videlectrix*", Rock Paper Shotgun
  9. [#ref_9 ^] The Ron and Fez Show, XM 202 / Sirius 197, 19 Dec 2008
  10. [#ref_10 ^] "Three Telltale Games arrive on GOG.COM!", GOG.com, 7 Dec 2020
  11. [#ref_11 ^] "Important Information for Strong Bad’s Cool Game for Attractive People", The Telltale Team, 30 May 2023
  12. [#ref_12 ^] "The Brothers Chaps of Homestar Runner fame talk about Videlectrix and the future of good graphics", Destructoid, 16 Jan 2024
  13. [#ref_13 ^] "How did you first find out about HSR?", Telltale community thread, original post 28 July 2008
  14. [#ref_14 ^] "Sam & Max Remasters - FAQ", Skunkape Games.
  15. [#ref_15 ^] "Poker Night at the Inventory History", SteamDB.
  16. [#ref_16 ^] "Poker Night at the Inventory: Reopening March 5th", Skunkape, YouTube, 4 Feb 2026

See Also

Poker Night at the Inventory
Produced by Telltale Games
Responses · Teaser · Trailer · Make a Scene with Telltale at PAX 2010


Strong Bad's Cool Game for Attractive People
Produced by Telltale Games and Videlectrix
Promotional Media Strong Bad Gameways, Advertisement, Gameplay Trailer, Tech Demo, Dev Blog, Workin' on the Game,
Behind The Bad (1, 2, 3), Make a Scene with Telltale: Strong Bad Edition, Collector's DVD,
All Episodes Tutorial, WiiWare Intros
Episode 1:
Homestar Ruiner

Gameplay: Walkthrough, Snake Boxer 5, Teen Girl Squad
Responses: House of Strong, Marzipan's, K.o.T. Castle, The Track, The Field
Promotional Media: Homestar at the Track, Around the Field, Behind The Bad Chapter 1: The New Hire
Songs: Handle My Style, Fluffy Puff Jela-ton, Showdown

Episode 2:
Strong Badia the Free

Gameplay: Walkthrough, Math Kickers, Cave Girl Squad, Maps and Minions
Various: Countries, Homsartifacts
Responses: Bleak House, The Field, Homsar Reservation, Pompomerania, Country, Marzistar, The Castle
Promotional Media: Gameplay Trailer
Songs: Justice Combo Meal

Episode 3:
Baddest of the Bands

Gameplay: Walkthrough, Limozeen's Hot Babelien Odyssey, Teen Girl Squad Meets Limozeen
Various: Bands
Responses: House of Strong, The Field, Marzipan's, Club Technochocolate, The Track, Battle of the Bands stages
Promotional Media: Gameplay Trailer, Behind The Bad Chapter 2: The Heist, Promo, baddestofthebands.com
Songs: Food-Related Love, Cool Tapes songs, Other songs

Episode 4:
Dangeresque 3:
The Criminal Projective

Gameplay: Walkthrough, Space Circus Catastrophe
Responses: Smoky Office, Brainblow City, Strongborneo, Secret Lab, Catacombs, Old Club, Cutesy's House, World Locations, The Sun
Promotional Media: Dangeresque: Puppet Squad, Gameplay Clips, Mini-Site
Songs: Today is Alright 4 2Nite

Episode 5:
8-Bit is Enough

Gameplay: Walkthrough, Gel-Arshie's Pro Fruitboarder, Redcoat Ghost Patrol, Trogdor's 3D-Ungeon
Various: Character Variations, Spirits of '76, Halfathlon
Responses: House of Strong, The Field, Crates, Videlectrix Mainframe, Halfathlon, Gel-Arshie's Backstage, Stinkoman 20X6, Peasantry
Promotional Media: Behind The Bad Chapter 3: The Last Straw

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