In less than a year, the Prologue Games indie development team has released a complete episodic adventure with a distinctive look - the shadowy environs of Cypress Knee sprawl across the world’s biggest theatrical stage.
Reviewers mention Telltale Games in comparison to the work we’ve done on Knee Deep, but that tends to set some unrealistic expectations. We didn’t have the team size or budget of Telltale.
The Prologue team, working in a pod of desks at Durham’s American Tobacco Campus, includes:
2 programmers
2 artists
1 writer/social media monster
1 animator
1 scene designer
We contracted out for some writing work, user interface design, concept art, music, and voiceover talent (although at least one full-time member of the Prologue team also pulled extra duty as a voice in the game).
Much of the work of building the game was done by the core seven people in North Carolina. Our CEO and director, Colin Dwan, burned the midnight oil snipping dialogue files. Our animator, Emanuel Siu, used motion capture and frame-by-frame to create character movements.
“It’s amazing any time a video game makes it from concept to execution, but it feels especially miraculous when a small but ambitious team can pull it off,” said Wes Platt, lead writer for Prologue.
Knee Deep in narrative Easter eggs
The strange tale of Knee Deep doesn’t spawn from a vacuum. It’s drawn inspiration from theatrical performances, music, movies, books, and also the memories of the swamp noir adventure’s lead writer/designer, Wes Platt.
Here’s a pretty comprehensive list of narrative Easter eggs you’re liable to find in the three-act story:
Jack Bellet got his last name from former Tampa Tribune photographer Fred Bellet.
Romana Teague’s first name is an homage to Roman Polanski, director of Chinatown, a favorite noir film.
K.C. Gaddis got his last name from Carter Gaddis, a writer who also attended Wes Platt’s alma mater, the University of South Florida.
Petal, Petal, Petal - A Fragrance for Men by Don “Cat” Smiley. That’s a double homage to the writer’s mother and younger brother. She always yelled “Pedal, pedal, pedal!” at Don’s BMX races. As a child, Don once wrote a report for class about teaching the cat to smile. The report, in full, stated: “Cats don’t smile.”
"Ya Cactus Stuck Me" by Fistpunch Roth and the Lowe-Blows. That’s an homage to Greg Roth and James Owen Lowe, developers on The Elder Scrolls Online who once worked with Wes on a post-apocalyptic MMORPG called Fallen Earth. A Fallen Earth player once submitted a bug report that claimed “Ya cactus stuck me.”
Rich the Swamp Yeti (Plush Sasquatch) is an homage to Red Storm writer and novelist Richard Dansky, whose quest for Bigfoot marches on.
Mostly Maule’s Lilac-Scented Hand Lotion got its name from Allan Maule, playwright behind a show called Everscape and another former Fallen Earth developer.
Hammock’s Sanitary Handi-Wipes got their name from lead Fallen Earth developer Lee Hammock.
Shovelhead was a real pit bull during Wes Platt’s early days as a journalist with the St. Petersburg Times. Pasco County deputies shot and killed the dog during a drug raid, before seizing a refrigerator full of marijuana.
Red Eclipse Studios got its name from a player-run mercenary organization on OtherSpace, an online sci-fi storytelling game that’s been evolving since 1998.
Wilber’s Waggin’ Doggie Treats, Monroe’s favorite snack, got their name from writer and former USF Oracle newspaper adviser Rick Wilber.
Red Eclipse director Donovan Miller got his last name from former USF journalism professor Randy Miller, who taught Wes the critical differences between “more than” and “over,” as well as the fluidity of details in breaking news events.
The “Opto Test” that Romana Teague and Jack Bellet can take during Act 1 is a cross between Scientology’s Thetan meter and Blade Runner’s Voight-Kampff test. One of the test questions is blatantly inspired by Blade Runner when it refers to a lost smartphone on its back in the desert, screen baking in the sun.
Morgue workers Carl Rosen and Gil Stern are inspired by Shakespeare’s Rosencrantz and Gildenstern in Hamlet.
Monroe was the first name Wes’s mom suggested for his late, great dog - a retriever/Pyrenees mix named Huckleberry.
Newspaper editor Ross Stevens is a combination homage to former St. Petersburg Times colleagues Jim Ross and Bill Stevens.
WCKN-AM radio disc jockey Billy Ray Gronberg is an homage to Ray Gronberg, a reporter at the Herald-Sun newspaper in Durham, NC.
Larry Lammers, an exotic shark thief mentioned in Knee Deep DLC, got his name from no-hitter expert and USF alum Dirk Lammers.
The Silloway brothers, Rutledge and Doyle, got their last name from Rocket League developer Thomas Silloway. He used to work on Fallen Earth with Wes and other Knee Deep devs.
Dee Dee Lynn Moscardini, caught stealing sweaters in a Cypress Knee arrest report, is an homage to former St. Petersburg Times editor Mike Moscardini and his fondness for cardigans.
ANONYMAUS isn't a typo. "Maus" is German for "mouse," and Wes worked for several years at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom in his youth.
The Aunt Mom and Uncle Dad story is a true Florida tale (more or less), with names changed to protect the guilty. It happened in Pasco County.
Irish “Travellers” settling in Cypress Knee is a nod to the faction of merchants, thieves, and assassins that Wes managed during the development of Fallen Earth.
Ozzie Clendening got his last name from the late Keith Clendening, a former colleague at the St. Petersburg Times.
Hunt for these - and more - when the final act of Knee Deep launches on March 8!
Stop the presses: Meet Dan Osborne
Dan Osborne of Indianapolis, Ind., provides the voice of cranky newspaper reporter Jack Bellet in the swamp noir adventure Knee Deep. He shared with us some answers to questions about his career and his experiences working on the project.
Getting started in voice acting.
I was in radio for over 20 years and decided to take coaching/acting lessons and expand my knowledge of the business.
Favorite VO project, aside from Knee Deep?
Character voices of some old games like the hunter on Deer Hunter 5 and Outback Jack on Alaska Outback. Walmart grapes commercial, the voice of the 2015 Aruba tourism campaign, and Colts and Jets narration projects. I also narrated a documentary on the Whiskey Runners of Templeton, Iowa.
Most important thing for an aspiring voice actor to remember?
Stay current, accept advice, get a coach. Leave your ego at the studio door.
What made Knee Deep different?
It’s always tough doing characters when you are unaware of the reaction of the characters you are interacting with in the game, but that’s how a lot of games get done. You have to rely heavily on the director to understand the other parts and trust that he/she knows exactly how you want your character to respond to that particular moment.
What appealed to you about Jack Bellet?
The acting was not a stretch. It called for a smart ass with sardonic wit and attitude - ME ME ME!
Find out what happens to Bellet when the final act of Knee Deep launches on March 8.
Songs that helped inspire Knee Deep's narrative
Before the amazing soundtrack from SkewSound, some other classic tunes helped inspire the dark, swampy narrative that unfolds in the three-act stage play known as Knee Deep:
Demolition Angel by Pam Tillis
https://youtu.be/NLqACilLt5g
Frank and Lola by Jimmy Buffett
https://youtu.be/sXZ8uM7kvz4
Green Grass and High Tides by The Outlaws
https://youtu.be/R82OM5tzcrk
Somewhere in the Rain by The Generators
https://youtu.be/JoxqMJy39Vo
Necessary Evil by Debbie Harry
https://youtu.be/5BYQ-hJb2f4
Ghost of a Good Thing by Dashboard Confessional
https://youtu.be/UfyKV3Jo9r8
Could I Be You by Matchbox Twenty
https://youtu.be/SwaAa9yeaH0
After the Pain by Betty Wright
https://youtu.be/N7qwLn7l3-E
Gator Country by Molly Hatchet
https://youtu.be/gPt9qQ77eAU
Hole in the Universe by Linda Hargrove
https://youtu.be/CE22YK4hJzg
Odd woman out: Meet Arielle DeLisle
Arielle DeLisle of Phoenix, Az., provides the voice of quirky blogger Romana Teague in the swamp noir adventure Knee Deep. She shared with us some answers to questions about her career and her experiences working on the project.
Getting started in voice acting.
I'd always enjoyed doing voices and performing to make people laugh when I was younger, and by the time I was 18 I had found my way into radio broadcasting. I was a radio DJ through college and ultimately found my happy place in the production studio, where all the creative magic happens. After working in the industry for 13 years, I left commercial production to run my voiceover business full time about 4 and a half years ago.
Favorite VO project, aside from Knee Deep?
In general, I'd have to say some of the work I'm most proud of is my long-form work in audiobook narration. I've narrated about 80 titles and each presents a unique set of characters and interactions to manage, like directing and performing all the roles in a play. It's the marathon work of voice over and I love the challenge of bringing the author's intention in print to life in audio. My favorite project I was part of was an audiobook I recorded last year, "Restless Waters" by Jessica Park, the sequel to another of my favorite projects, "Left Drowning." I collaborated with a fantastic singer-songwriter, Troy, whose lyrics were used in the book, and produced a unique experience for listeners. The collaboration between author, musician and narrator was very special to me; it was such a pleasure to work on that project!
Most important thing for an aspiring voice actor to remember?
I always stress the importance of being mindful of the business aspects of being a voice actor. If you're coming into voiceover and want this to work as a career, you need to be organized, reliable, thorough, customer-focused, consistent, clear in your communication and thoughtful. You should underpromise and overdeliver and strive to be a valuable member of your client's team by making the voiceover part of their projects headache-free. Work to build relationships with clients with long-term potential rather than putting all your energy into lining up a few one-time projects. The reward for managing all the business aspects of your voiceover endeavor is being able to get into the booth to record every day! If you set yourself up well in the beginning and keep a long-term view, a career with longevity is possible.
What made Knee Deep different?
I felt like I was part of the Prologue Games team from day one. Knee Deep wasn't just some project they were producing, it was their baby, and I felt like my work was very personal to them, which raised the stakes for me.
What appealed to you about Romana Teague?
Oh, how I loved Romana Teague and the quirky things she'd say! More often than not, I found myself cracking up when looking through her lines. I embraced Romana's attitude and posturing. She was written to have this smack-talking online persona, but below the surface she had a lot of complex emotions she was dealing with, especially with new information revealed to her over the course of the game.
Find out what happens to Romana when the final act of Knee Deep launches on March 8.
Detective on the edge: Meet George Washington III
George Washington III of Charlotte, N.C., provides the voice of world-weary private investigator K.C. Gaddis in the swamp noir adventure Knee Deep. He shared with us some answers to questions about his career and his experiences working on the project.
Getting started in voice acting.
I was an IT manager for one of the large banks in the Southeast when I was tapped to host an in house video project. As part of the project, I had to go to a local studio to do some voiceover tracks. I asked the people at the studio, Concentrix Music and Sound Design, how I could get into doing more voiceover work? They encouraged me to look up resources and scripts, and to practice, practice, practice. I returned six months later to make my demo with them. I still work with the folks at Concentrix to this day, 13 years later.
Favorite VO project, aside from Knee Deep?
Without a doubt, my favorite project was a video game, DC Universe Online. As a long time comic book fan, it was so exciting to get the audition script, marked CONFIDENTIAL, and to read the words of John Stewart, one of the legendary Green Lanterns. I ultimately won the gig, and got to say the Green Lantern oath in studio, complete with my replica power ring! "In brightest day, in blackest night..."
Most important thing for an aspiring voice actor to remember?
That instant success takes time. It is exceedingly rare that your first job, your 10th job, your 100th job is going to be a big deal. Stay at it, keep working, practicing and accepting that this is a selection business, not a rejection business.
What made Knee Deep different?
I would have to say the difference is the engagement with Prologue outside of the project. Being connected with Wes over social media, being able to see the real efforts made to push Knee Deep forward in a crowded field of video games is a great feeling, and I am so excited to be a part of a very interesting and entertaining project. Also, many of my friends were also voices in Knee Deep, so it brings a smile to my face to know I was "working" with them, even though it was never in real-time.
What appealed to you about K.C. Gaddis?
K.C. Gaddis is carrying an enormous weight of personal and professional failure. Just coming back to Cypress Knee is an indication of how he feels that his life has turned almost entirely against him. Monroe, and to a lesser extent, his mom, is all he has left. That intrigued me, as it felt that during the course of the game, he had to find a new focus and target for his will to live. For people who have never recorded a game, it would surprise them to know how difficult it can be to maintain that kind of characterization across the many takes you do line by line. That challenge really made a difference for me. I can't wait to get the chance to work with Prologue again with a character as interesting as K.C.
Find out what happens to Gaddis when the final act of Knee Deep launches on March 8.
Knee Deep in our favorite Oscar winning movies
Hollywood celebrates some of the best cinema of 2015 this weekend with the Academy Awards, so we decided to share some past Oscar favorites from the team behind Knee Deep.
No Country For Old Men
Cory Farris (Lead Environmental Artist): “I’ve got to go with No Country For Old Men. The Cormac McCarthy novel was fantastic, and the Coen brothers did a great job of adapting it to film. Brilliant cast, spot on ambiance, and pacing without peer. Among a pantheon of genius in cinema, No Country for Old Men really stands above the rest for its unsettling characterizations and true-to-its-roots respect for the original narrative on which it was based.”
A Beautiful Mind
Sharon Hackney (Designer): “A Beautiful Mind! The intensity of the psychological battle throughout the movie is spooky and eye opening. Watching how it impacts his life, relationships, and career. Also the way his schizophrenia and hallucinations are presented to the viewer are personally really well done.”
Amadeus
Chris Wall (Lead Programmer): “I’m going with Amadeus. It is a beautifully filmed, rowdy, moving and sometimes funny movie. It opened my ears to classical music and made me realize that not all composers are dry stuffy old men. The scenes where they are describing and composing the music brings me goosebumps even now.”
The Departed
Emanuel Siu (Animator): “I'm going to have to go with The Departed. Not only was it a great film that keeps the suspense high and keeps you guessing, but from my personal artistic preferences it was my favorite in how it was shot. Timing of cuts, composition, timing, lighting and the use subtle symbolism (sometimes blatant) throughout the movie. When it was over I was speechless.”
Unforgiven
Wes Platt (Lead Writer/Designer): ”Unforgiven is a beautiful film, a dark western that turns heroic cowboy tropes on their heads. I keep wondering if I could be a hard-as-nails engine of vengeance like William Munny, but mostly I know with a certainty that I’ll always be the curious but cowardly W.W. Beauchamp.”
Knee Deep: Back to the UK for EGX Rezzed!
From the American Tobacco Campus to the London Tobacco Docks, the Prologue Games team is taking the swamp noir adventure Knee Deep to EGX Rezzed April 7-9.
We’re so excited for the chance to celebrate the release of the game’s final act on Steam, which is just weeks away from now on March 8. It’s especially momentous to share this accomplishment in London because it was at EGX Rezzed 2015 that we got our first hands-on testing from fans as they were introduced to Knee Deep before the launch of Act 1.
That’s the trip where we heard memorable comments such as:
“Love the art style!”
“Great theatrical presentation! Haven’t seen that before!”
“It’s nothing like Call of Duty!”
Back then, we just had a few scenes to share - and no voiceover acting! Knee Deep’s come such a long way since then, thanks in large part to critical feedback that started with the folks we meet in London.
We can’t wait to take a bow back where it really all began.
"Gone to Carolina" with misinformation
While gearing up for the first-ever [URL="http://www.playthroughgc.com/"]Playthrough Gaming Convention[/URL] in Raleigh, Knee Deep's lead writer/designer Wes Platt decided once again to show off his "wealth" of knowledge about local lore via Twitter.
It is, perhaps unsurprisingly, often wildly inaccurate.
Knee Deep invites Playthrough visitors to "play local"
The Prologue Games team really enjoyed the first Playthrough Gaming Convention, held this weekend at the Raleigh Convention Center - just down Interstate 40 from our little pod of desks in Durham.
On Saturday and Sunday, we finally got the chance to let local folks take our demos of Knee Deep (Acts 1-3) for a spin. The first two full acts are available on Steam. The third and final act launches on March 8.
It was a lot of fun to share our nearly finished episodic stage play with visitors, who sometimes seemed surprised to hear we're a hometown development team. We're hoping they all pick up Knee Deep, play it, review it, and spread the word to all friends and family who might enjoy a swamp noir theatrical narrative experience.
We got to participate in a "Tales from the Indie Crypt" discussion panel with other independent game designers - including more local talent, such as Sam Kushner from Perfect Square Studios and the Rowe brothers from Red Blue Games.
And on Sunday, Knee Deep's lead writer/designer Wes Platt got to share behind-the-scenes information about how the game came into being and why the team opted for the stage play approach. No one snored too loudly.
Thanks to the Playthrough team for inviting us to this first-ever event!
