An EXPLOSION of LucasArts announcements

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Last week we reported of LucasArts teasing at major announcements. Speculation ranged from new IPs to more of their adventure games coming down the pipes. Well news on the announcements has broke.

What LucasArts announced includes nothing of new IPs, but largely an overwhelming support over their past games. Lucasarts is opening a flood gate of games, starting with the first episode of Tales of Monkey Island tomorrow for the Nintendo Wii Via WiiWare and the PC.

Most notably of the announcements was the announcement focused on ten of their old games re-released on Steam. Four of the ten titles are adventure games, one apparently a previously unreleased version.

The Music focused fantasy adventure game Loom, the Steven Spielberg written adventure game The Dig, Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure are among the first to be re-released in the first batch of their classics on steam.

Both Loom and The Dig will be the CD rom editions which included a voice track for the game, most notably with The Dig featuring the voice talents of Robert Patrick and Steve Blum. The copy of The Last Crusade is notable as it is a previously unreleased version with “even more bug fixes” and a sound engine not used in the original release.

The rest of the list is a mixed bag of non-graphical adventure games. Armed and Dangerous, LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventure, Star Wars Battlefront II, Star Wars Republic Commando, Star Wars Starfighter, and Thrillville: Off the Rails. All of the titles are expected to be released on Steam July 8th.

Of all of these LucasArts has “hinted” at a possibility of release on the iPhone and iPod Touch. To quote, “On iPhone, you know Apple’s policy that we can’t talk about a release until it’s ready to release. But it would make sense that we would do something like that if we were to go in that direction … wink wink, nod nod.” Nudge nudge wink wink say no more eh?

A release date for Escape from Monkey Island: Special Edition was announced as well. Coming out on July 15th the game will be released on the Xbox 360 via the Xbox Live Arcade and on the PC via Steam and other direct to download services. The game features both the new special edition remastered version and the original CD-rom version for those feeling extra nostalgic.

I find myself with mixed reactions. On one hand we’re seeing delightful support for some of their most famous and critically praised games coming back into the main stream. On the other hand the first batch is absent of their comedy adventures, and there isn’t any mention of new games. Either way, I can’t wait to get back to Monkey Island and I find myself frustrated at having only a Mac with no boot camp to play the rest of their great Adventure games.

Joystiq’s numerous articles on the upcoming LucasArts releases
LucasArts: “Amazing news coming monday”
More Teasing from LucasArts

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