Big LucasArts News Coming on Monday

[MusicallyInspired]

On Twitter

Amazing news coming Monday! Super excited! You have no idea how tough it is not to start yelling about it! But it's secret! Until Monday!

Okay, we will do hints. It is awesome news for our old school fans. (anything more direct might get me in trouble)

I hope I don't disappoint. I know this is something I was asking for since before I worked at LucasArts.

It doesn't have to do with any specific intellectual property...

Interesting. I wonder what it is? Older adventures being re-released? Older adventures getting special editions? A new department dedicated to brand new adventure games? I guess we'll find out. My bet is on older adventures being re-released.

[Collector]

We shall see.

[Rudy]

Something tells me this big news is not going to be very good news. Did you know that at the Activision forums, there is currently a new forum, titled "Indiana Jones Staff of Kings"? See which direction i'm thinking?

[Datadog]

I'm not sure how that would please the old school fans, though. But it depends on which old school fans they're talking about. At this point, late 90's might count as old school.

[Qbix]

http://www.lucasarts.com/company/vip/ca ... g_2009.pdf

Seems some oldies are coming to steam

[Jules]

*curses censorship of "gaming" sites at work!*

What does it say?

[The Giggles]

In this first round of releases, ten fan-favorite LucasArts PC games will be made
available Wednesday, July 8 on Steam®, Valve Corporation's delivery and management
platform for the PC. Scheduled for release are classic adventure titles like LOOM and
The Dig and hit action games including Star Wars Battlefront II and Star Wars Republic
Commando.

The complete list of games to be released on July 8 via Steam includes:

• Armed and Dangerous
• Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis
• Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure
• LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventure
• Loom
• Star Wars Battlefront II
• Star Wars Republic Commando
• Star Wars Starfighter
• The Dig
• Thrillville: Off the Rails

This really wasn't worth the hype they were trying to build up.

[DeadPoolX]

In this first round of releases, ten fan-favorite LucasArts PC games will be made
available Wednesday, July 8 on Steam®, Valve Corporation's delivery and management
platform for the PC. Scheduled for release are classic adventure titles like LOOM and
The Dig and hit action games including Star Wars Battlefront II and Star Wars Republic
Commando.

The complete list of games to be released on July 8 via Steam includes:

• Armed and Dangerous
• Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis
• Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure
• LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventure
• Loom
• Star Wars Battlefront II
• Star Wars Republic Commando
• Star Wars Starfighter
• The Dig
• Thrillville: Off the Rails

This really wasn't worth the hype they were trying to build up.

Only four of those are Adventure Games, but in all fairness, LucasArts never said what type of "old school fan" they were aiming to please. I'm actually surprised by some of the Adventures getting released on Steam. I can understand the two Indiana Jones games, but The Dig and Loom? I liked both, but neither sold well when originally released and are quite obscure titles, even to many Adventure Game fans.

I'm a bit confused as to how or why LEGO Indiana Jones is considered an "old school" game. It came out in 2008, so I wouldn't exactly classify it as an "older title."

Star Wars Battlefront II is an interesting game to release. That's an online multiplayer game. As far as I know, there is no single player component. That wouldn't be a problem, except that it was released in 2005. Online multiplayer combat games have a relatively short lifespan. Some exist longer (believe it or not, there's still an active community playing Battlefield: 1942 and that came out in 2002), but SWB2 was never given very high reviews, whereas BF1942 was rated well.

[The Giggles]

I can understand the two Indiana Jones games, but The Dig and Loom? I liked both, but neither sold well when originally released and are quite obscure titles, even to many Adventure Game fans.

Actually, according to LucasArts the Dig was one of their best selling games.

Star Wars Battlefront II is an interesting game to release. That's an online multiplayer game. As far as I know, there is no single player component.

There is a single player component, but it's pretty bad. Actually, the whole game is pretty bad.

[DeadPoolX]

I can understand the two Indiana Jones games, but The Dig and Loom? I liked both, but neither sold well when originally released and are quite obscure titles, even to many Adventure Game fans.

Actually, according to LucasArts the Dig was one of their best selling games.

That's surprising. I guess it sold better in some areas than others. I remember it remaining on store shelves for a very short period of time (and not because it was sold out, but due to stores no longer wanting to carry it because it didn't sell).

Star Wars Battlefront II is an interesting game to release. That's an online multiplayer game. As far as I know, there is no single player component.

There is a single player component, but it's pretty bad. Actually, the whole game is pretty bad.

Didn't know about the single player component. I'd never heard anything about it, but maybe that's because it sucked (like you said).

[Jules]

I wonder if Vivendi's releases helped spark the LusasArts re-releases.

[MusicallyInspired]

Not terribly exciting news, but it is very very good news! I've been hoping that LEC would acknowledge its past again and rerelease the greats and perhaps give the genre another chance if they do well. They also confirmed the release date of SMI:SE to be July 15th and will also be released on Steam. My only problem is you can't pay with PayPal on Steam, only credit card, which I don't have. They did mention "other digital distribution software," though. That's hopeful. Wiiware, Live Arcade, PSN come to mind.

Also, a friend of mine spotted on the new LECSteam Twitter (created a a result of the new releases) that MI2 is getting the special edition treatment and is slated for Aug 25th. But they removed it! Premature news release? Hopefully it's true and the sales of these new Steam releases will keep the interest in making it alive. So we should all be supporting the Steam releases as much as possible by buying them! I would be if I had a credit card...

[DeadPoolX]

You don't have a credit card? How do you pay for large purchases or gain a credit rating?

[Jules]

*chimes in*

I was issued a credit card from my bank but never use it. I didn't use it to purchase my car. I believe as long as you've worked a full time job for X many years and have insurance, you're able to get a loan.

But then, that was when practically anyone was able to get a loan.

The biggest purchase I make is for food. Other than that, I can't see myself purchasing something that is worth more than what's currently in my checking account.

But then, it does help when there's two incomes in the household...

*chimes out*

[DeadPoolX]

Well, I think it's beneficial to have a credit card: you get protection on what's charged (i.e. if someone steals your number and spends a lot, you're not held liable) and you can get benefits.

I have one credit card that awards me miles that I can use on anything I want. I have enough for a return-trip plane ticket. Sure, I had to spend money to earn those miles, but if I'm buying stuff already (such as groceries), I might as well get something out of it.

I still don't get how you pay for items without a credit card. Writing checks is annoying and time consuming when in a line (plus you need to keep your checkbook with you) and the level of security on debit cards is atrocious.

Debit cards in the U.S. use an "offline system." That means you can pay using your PIN or you can hit "cancel" and then swipe-and-sign like a credit card. In fact, many banks suggest you use it as a credit card since you'll avoid extra fees.

Canada uses an "online system" for debit cards. That means you can ONLY pay using your PIN. Debit cards are also more important here since they double as "access cards." You need it to log into your bank (when on the Internet) and to deposit or withdraw money at an ATM.

The "offline system" (which is used in the U.S.) is far less secure since anyone could potentially steal your debit card and use it without needing a PIN. There's no charge protection on debit cards either since they're linked to your bank and immediately withdraw funds from your checking account.