I’m a HUGE sucker for classic LucasArts games. I’ve still got Secret of Monkey Island, Grim Fandango and a few others in my collection (btw is there a Vista version of the ScummVM, or a way to run these games?). Couple that with a serious character flaw when it comes to buying video game collectibles and I’ve got a serious problem when I start browsing eBay.

But this copy of LOOM proves to me that I have some limits. Of course if your limit is over $700 bucks for a PC game, maybe I don’t have any room to talk.

But I’m not passing judgement on whoever ends up buying this. I’ll prove it by admitting the following; I plan to one day own a Nintendo World Championship cart. Don’t ask me how, and I realize it will cost me dearly… but I’m gonna make it happen.

Till then, if you’re interested in LucasArts gaming at it’s most classic, take a peek.

(Oh, in case you’re wondering… that pic above was a little in-joke in the 1st Monkey Island. A pirate at the bar was wearing that button.)

First thing I’m going to say is that this looks AMAZING. Unfortunately, a lot of Star Wars games could have had that said about their trailers, so I’m not holding my breath on this one until I can get some actual game time in.

The premise is solid — the story bridges the gap between episodes 3 and 4 and sees you as Vader’s right hand man purging the galaxy of the remaining Jedi. I like the idea of a story that bridges two films — if anyone has read the SW novel Shadows of the Empire (which covers the time between Empire and Jedi) you’ll know it’s a formula that has worked out pretty well for them in the past. Needless to say I’m excited for the games potential, it’s just the franchises spotty record that still makes me a little leary.

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And on a side note, does anyone else find it a little surprising that in a post-9/11 world LucasArts would feature a trailer in which a Sith Lord uses the Force to crash a Star Destroyer into a city? Not that I have an issue with it, I just find it to be a surprising decision on their part. Considering that this trailer has been out for 12 hours or so, I’m equally surprised that I seem to be the first blogger out there to comment on it.

Man I wish I had some way to confirm this now, but sadly until we hear more this’ll have to stay in rumor-ville. But it certainly looks like another Monkey Island game might be headed our way!

2 very different pieces of news from 2 different places seem to be stoking the rumor fire right now.

First we have a quote from The Guardian quoting an unnamed source inside Lucasarts:

“…the fifth Monkey Island is coming. I know some of the guys who worked on the music compositions for the original PC classics, and they say that it is currently being planned amidst rumors. However, LucasArts has so many things on its belt right now, including a Wii title that has yet to be named. Don’t expect any revitalizations of its classic graphic adventures until 2008 at the earliest.”

Second is an email from Monkey Island illustrator Steve Purcell to Monkey Island fansite worldofmi.com including some concept art that is “in no way connected to any existing or canceled piratey project..”.

With the resurgance of pirate popularity, coupled with their status as the chosen ones (at least to believers of the Flying Spaghetti Monster) it’s not out of the realm of possibility to see a new Monkey Island. It doesn’t hurt that people are beggin for one and Ron Gilbert is back in the spotlight with his work on the Penny Arcade game.

Please let this be true.
[The Guardian Via Kotaku]

(big picture of the Captain above after the jump.) Continue Reading »

I don’t make it much of a secret that I have a soft spot in my heart for LucasArts adventure games from the early 90’s. The Dig, Secret of Monkey Island, Maniac Mansion, Sam & Max, the list goes on and on. Of course Grim Fandango lands high on that list as well.

So imagine the smile that crossed my face when this picture landed in my inbox.

Being a big fan of the gamer tattoo, this picture is pretty much tailored for me. I love me some Zelda but it’s getting a tad tiring seeing all the Triforce tats out there. This is most likely the only Grim Fandango out there, at the absolute minimum it’s in the extreme minority.

While I was watching a promo trailer for The Fracture from LucasArts you can’t help but be impressed with the environments. It seems like for the 1st time really you’ll have full control over the ground underneath you feet (and the feel of your enemy). Being able to blast away the dirt and change the playfield in real-time has always been a bit of a brass ring for developers, can LucasArts make it a reality?

Sadly we’re going to have to wait until next summer to find out if they can actually deliver on the promise of true destructable environments. For now we’ll just have to make due with these screenshots. Click to get a better look.

Set in 2161, Fracture tells the potentially prescient tale of a world torn apart by global warming. As Atlantic Alliance demolitions expert Mason Briggs, you’re armed to the teeth with an array of brutal weaponry capable of dishing out pain to both man and soil.

Video trailer after the break. Continue Reading »