Why Dispatch dropped classic adventure trappings to avoid Telltale comparisons

AdHoc Studios co-founder Dennis Lenart told Game Informer that Dispatch was styled like 'a premium animated television show' and that the team removed some of the more traditional adventure-game elements because they worried players would reject it the way some did Telltale's Walking Dead.

Lenart said the concern came from early reactions when they pitched past projects: 'We'd say, 'hey, you might really like this Walking Dead game or this Wolf Among Us game we're making,' and they would check it out and go 'Ah, it kind of looks like a video game'.'

As a result, Dispatch 'stripped away all those pieces that slowed down the pacing,' Lenart explained, aiming for a tighter, more show-like flow rather than the stops and starts of traditional adventure mechanics.

Lenart contrasted the approach with television storytelling, saying, 'In a television show, someone doesn't get up from the desk and go, 'All right, I gotta go make a cup of coffee. Walk over. Where's the cup? I should talk to everybody'.'

The Game Informer interview outlines the studio's rationale for the stylistic shift, but it does not say how players will respond or whether the change will affect the game's reception.

adhoc studios, dennis lenart, dispatch game, premium animated television show, adventure game elements, adventure mechanics, telltale comparisons, walking dead game, wolf among us, game informer interview, dispatch reception, television storytelling