FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 

Q - What is The Filmmaker?
A - The Filmmaker is a first person interactive puzzle adventure game by Christopher M. Brendel.

Q - What kind of game is The Filmmaker?
A - At its core, The Filmmaker is a puzzle-based game that resembles the classic Hollywood B-Movie.

Q - Is The Filmmaker a "story-centric" game like your other works?
A - No.  While my previous games were cinematic in nature, The Filmmaker is puzzle-based.  That does not mean that there is no story, of course.  What it means, instead, is that the story is not presented in the same way as my previous games.  Instead of progressing through the story via cinematic movie-like sequences, it is up to players to discover the storyline of The Filmmaker for themselves, through a combination of exploration, document reading, dialog, and puzzle solving.  In The Filmmaker, the puzzles take center stage.  There are many more puzzles in The Filmmaker than there are in all my previous games combined!  The Filmmaker is best compared to classic adventures such as Myst, Shivers, and The 7th Guest.  In terms of story, The Filmmaker represents my attempt at creating a game that contains all the themes of a good "B-movie".  That is, the plot is overtly-cliché, overly-dramatic, and, at times, a bit nonsensical.  Nonetheless, it's a lot of fun!!!

Q - Is The Filmmaker my kind of game?
A - If you enjoy adventure games with lots of challenging logic-based puzzles, in the style of Myst, Shivers, and The 7th Guest, then yes!  If, on the other hand, you prefer games that are presented as interactive stories focusing on characters and plot, with puzzles merely carrying the story from point A to B, then you might want to wait for my next game, Stonewall Penitentiary.

Q - How hard are the puzzles in The Filmmaker?
A - Hard.  The Filmmaker’s puzzles are more challenging and time consuming than the puzzles in many modern games, which require the player only to pick up an item and use it elsewhere in the game.  In The Filmmaker, each puzzle is unique, and many puzzles require a good deal of time to solve–some may even require the use of pen and paper!  Rest assured, however, that none of the puzzles in the game require any outside knowledge or research to solve, and all of the puzzle solutions are completely logical.  The puzzles in The Filmmaker are similar to the puzzles found in the classic games Myst, Shivers, and The 7th Guest.  To help players, clues to each puzzle are scattered throughout the game.  For those who need additional hints, a fortune teller machine inside the game can provide additional clues.  As a last resort, players are welcome to purchase the game’s 52-page Companion Guide, which features step-by-step solutions to each puzzle in the game.

Q - How will I control the game?
A - The game is played using only the mouse. Controls are identical to my first two games, Lifestream and Shady Brook.  In addition, one portion of the game requires the player to type in a few words.

Q - Is there character interaction in The Filmmaker?
A - Character interaction is minimal but does exist.

Q - Can I die in The Filmmaker?
A - There are sequences in which you can get a "Game Over" in the game.  However, players are able to restart the game from where they left off should this happen, in a method similar to the Nancy Drew games' "Second Chance" feature.

Q - Are there timed sequences/mazes/slider puzzles?
A - There are a few timed sequences in the game.  However, none of these should be difficult to complete for those who struggle with timed sequences.  The goal of these sequences is to figure out what to do/where to click, not to race against the clock.  There appears to be a maze, although it is actually a puzzle; not a maze.  There is also one slider puzzle, although it can be bypassed, once the player figures out what to do.

Q - Is there a demo?
A - Yes!  A demo has been released and is available on the Downloads page.  Please note that, although the full game will be compatible with Windows 7, the demo is not.  There are no plans to re-release a Windows 7-compatible demo at this time.

Q - What age group is appropriate for The Filmmaker?
A - The Filmmaker will be geared toward audiences 13 and up and will likely earn a "Teen" rating or the equivalent.

Q - What computer specs will I need to play The Filmmaker?
A - IBM PC or compatible computer, Pentium 733 MHz, Windows XP, Vista, or 7*, 64 MB RAM, 2 GB hard drive space, 1024x768 resolution, 24-Bit Color display, 4x or faster CD-ROM drive, and a Windows-compatible sound card and mouse.

* IMPORTANT NOTE TO WINDOWS 7 USERS:  The Filmmaker features limited compatibility with Windows 7.  The game will run without any issues or problems, but certain limitations apply as a result of the game engine used in developing the game.  These limitations include:

• Audio doesn’t fade in/out or cross-fade.  Sometimes music overlaps when one track changes to another.
• Once in a while, dialog may cut out prematurely, so I recommend playing the game with captions set to “on”.
• Black boxes may flash over the screen when video sequences are first loaded/unloaded.
• An error message may pop up when you quit the game.  This will not affect gameplay in any way, nor will it harm your computer.  (This error may appear on Vista, as well.)

These issues are, sadly, out of my control, as the game engine I used is closed-source.  If the author of the game engine updates it to full compatibility at any time in the future, I will happily release a patch fixing these issues.

Q - How non-linear is The Filmmaker?
A - The gameplay of The Filmmaker is split into three acts.  These acts, while invisible to the player, create a form of linearity within the game, as the plot develops.  Within Acts 1 and 2, actions can be taken and puzzles can be solved in any order.  The Filmmaker is the most non-linear of my games to date.  Of course, certain puzzles and areas may be inaccessible until other actions have been taken, as is the standard in adventure games.  In Act 3, the game becomes linear as the player approaches its conclusion.

Q - Are there multiple endings?
A - There is only one ending to The Filmmaker.  As the game is not story-centric, the ending acts more as a resolution to the back-story than as a climax to the piece.  In other words, don't expect any jaw-dropping twists or highly emotional drama. ;-)  What matters in The Filmmaker is the journey, not the destination!

Q - As what character do I play?
A - Unlike in my previous games, in The Filmmaker the protagonist has no name or persona.  You play, in effect, yourself.  The protagonist does not have any influence on the game's storyline.

Q - My question is not listed here. What should I do?
A - Contact me!