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LucasArts' priority "is to create high quality Star Wars games.” 02 Jun, 2011 / 22 comments

Before we begin, just take a deep breath.

The LucasArts president for this year, Paul Meegan, hasn't been very vocal since he took over. Then again, the whole of LucasArts has been pretty much under lockdown. Now MCV have finally got some details out of the man and... well... sigh.

LucasArts is a company with tremendous potential. I think people look at it and wonder why it hasn’t done better in recent years.

Lucasfilm has some of the most beloved and powerful brands in entertainment, we have a loyal community of fans, and talented people in every discipline. We’re surrounded by staggeringly bright and creative people at the top of their games.

In recent years, LucasArts hasn’t always done a good job of making games. We should be making games that define our medium, that are competitive with the best of our industry, but we’re not. That has to change.

Hmm, not as bad as I'd been expecting really. A few quibbling points to be raised, such as the need to cull those "bright and creative people" every couple of years, the fact that he's ignoring the want for re-releases, and that he's pretty much saying everything Jim Ward did and look where that got him. Still, not bad, don't know what the fuss is about rea-

“Our priority is to create authentic, immersive, high quality Star Wars games.”

Oh dear.

Source: MCV

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22 Comments

  • Avatar
    stanislav on 07 Jun, 2011, 17:03…
    I'm just sad to hear that news. When Darrell Rodriguez initiated those remakes of Monkey Island and Lucidity it was like christmas for me. I was getting back into old days when I played the games for the first time and it was a pleasure to dive into its worlds full of mistery but humour as well. I also bought them games to support LucasArts. Suddenly there was hope that LucasArts will find back to its roots and to start developing new adventures like they did in old days.
    I'm not against new technology - not at all! LucasArts published a short trailer with Guybrush and LeChuck that was beautifully rendered! I really can imagine LucasArts making new Adventure Games with that brilliant technology they use for making StarWars Games (-> but for a kinda 2.5D Adventure). On the other side I would also enjoy new 2D Adventures. But DO SOMETHING please and don't handle adventure games stepmotherly. :(
    Anyways thank you Darrell for the great time you offered through remaking old game titles and the wish to make LucasArts more innovative!
    P.S.: Keep on making Star Wars games. It's perfect if people like them and buy them. But do never forget about adventures and how important they have been in LA's history!
  • Avatar
    Snugglecakes on 05 Jun, 2011, 15:32…

    Shmargin

    That was like my last paragraph! See, if they go Star Wars Inc., we wont have to worry about it!



    Yes! Or... Lightsaber Games Ltd. Skywalker Software... Darth Digital... Anything. Just stop using "LucasArts"!
  • Avatar
    Shmargin on 04 Jun, 2011, 05:19…

    Snugglecakes

    I see LucasArts as the company that fed my imagination and passion for adventure games in the 90s. After Grim Fandango, LucasArts died. There is no LucasArts today people. We visit this site to hear about Telltale and Bill Tiller and Ron Gilbert. The fact that some little company that has produced nothing but drivel for over a decade now wants to make more Star Wars games has no relevance to my love of gaming and of 90s LucasArts anymore. I've finally completely given up. Only a company as bad as modern LucasArts could take two classic games made by 90s LucasArts (their one big, EASY opportunity to save face) and still stuff them completely.



    That was like my last paragraph! See, if they go Star Wars Inc., we wont have to worry about it!
  • Avatar
    Snugglecakes on 03 Jun, 2011, 21:16…
    I see LucasArts as the company that fed my imagination and passion for adventure games in the 90s. After Grim Fandango, LucasArts died. There is no LucasArts today people. We visit this site to hear about Telltale and Bill Tiller and Ron Gilbert. The fact that some little company that has produced nothing but drivel for over a decade now wants to make more Star Wars games has no relevance to my love of gaming and of 90s LucasArts anymore. I've finally completely given up. Only a company as bad as modern LucasArts could take two classic games made by 90s LucasArts (their one big, EASY opportunity to save face) and still stuff them completely.
  • Avatar
    MrHarper on 03 Jun, 2011, 17:16…
    It seems the market place reality checking team were amongst those laid off.
  • Avatar
    Lewis on 03 Jun, 2011, 08:10…
    How much more the Star Wars Cow can be milked? How much more can the SW title can be explored? Some day it will be the stories about the son of the son of the grandson of Luke Skywalker...
    I agree with Shmargin comment about Lucas change their name to StarWars Inc!

    I know it´s all about the dollar but isn't the people tired about Starwars??? I AM!
  • Avatar
    The Tingler on 02 Jun, 2011, 23:47…

    Gabez

    Actually, he used the word 'priority'. As in 'emphasis' or 'most important'. Not 'only'.

    Good point, enough to give me some hope (at least for another Indy game), but to be honest... I don't think he knows that distinction.
  • Avatar
    Jason on 02 Jun, 2011, 21:32…

    Gabez

    As in 'emphasis' or 'most important'. Not 'only'.



    Still, if the most positive thing that can be taken away from this is that making Star Wars games is what Meehan sees as "most important," that kinda sucks.
  • Avatar
    Scummbuddy on 02 Jun, 2011, 21:03…
    By strong brands does he mean each episode of Star Wars? That doesn't count.
  • Avatar
    Kroms on 02 Jun, 2011, 20:33…

    Gabez

    Actually, he used the word 'priority'. As in 'emphasis' or 'most important'. Not 'only'.


    I'm still cautiously optimistic, but "priority" strikes me as doublespeak for "exclusive" (or "near-exclusive"). I hope I'm wrong.
  • Avatar
    Diduz on 02 Jun, 2011, 19:57…
    They're stuck in a loop.
    Jim Ward said the same things 6-7 years ago.
    They're always struggling to be "decent" and to improve the company's reputation.

    DARRELL RODRIGUEZ WAS TRYING TO DO JUST THAT, FOR GOD'S SAKE!

    On second thought, no need to worry. They'll probably fire this Meegan in a year or two anyway.
  • Avatar
    bony on 02 Jun, 2011, 19:25…

    Shmargin


    I wrote another paragraph here then erased it. Lucas Arts should just change their name to Star Wars Inc., then I couldnt complain about their dumb decisions.



    I was actually typing my comment before you posted this, good show!
    I don't believe they have the creative workforce to make something new. Monkey Island and Sam & Max are over at Telltale, a Grim Fandango sequel would just ruin everything, weren't they making a Full Throttle 2 at some point? Wonder what happened to that... oh... nevermind. I believe the only thing that would make lucas arts stand on their own again might be a film adaptation of something like... i dunno... THE DIG?
  • Avatar
    bony on 02 Jun, 2011, 19:17…
    still milking that old cash cow i see, good show star wars... uh... i mean lucas arts.
  • Avatar
    Shmargin on 02 Jun, 2011, 18:42…

    The Tingler

    clone2727

    @Shmargin: You're just wiping out the possibility of a Star Wars game being good just because it's a Star Wars game? That's very disappointing. If the game is good, then it's good. Don't just blast it because of the engine or the content before it has even been announced! If they redo the Battle of Hoth and it's freakin' amazing, I would not be complaining at all.



    Just to make clear: I am not complaining so much about great Star Wars games, I'll be there on day one if Imperial Commando, Jedi Knight 4 or KOTOR3 turn up. But to have LucasArts ONLY on Star Wars games? That's something we've always feared would happen, now it is. They don't even mention Indy.



    Yeah, I get it, if they made a really good one it could be forgiven. I mean, I'm not gonna lie, the one that got canned, being developed by Rebellion I belive, that one looked good. But, in classic LucasArts fashion, they fucked it all up.

    I guess what annoys me is still the blatent lack attention they pay to their other IPs, or the lack of willingness to, GASP, come up with something new themselves. I mean, Star Wars, yahoo, we get it, its a cool series. But to say that NOW Lucas is going to focus on Star Wars, as if thats not all theyve done since 3D graphics made it big, seems laughable to me.

    I wrote another paragraph here then erased it. Lucas Arts should just change their name to Star Wars Inc., then I couldnt complain about their dumb decisions.
  • Avatar
    Bloody_Eugene on 02 Jun, 2011, 17:50…
    I should have expected this since there's no MI2:SE on Telltale's store.
    I think we're back at the starting point.
    :(
  • Avatar
    Gabez on 02 Jun, 2011, 17:42…

    The Tingler

    But to have LucasArts ONLY on Star Wars games? That's something we've always feared would happen, now it is.


    Actually, he used the word 'priority'. As in 'emphasis' or 'most important'. Not 'only'.
  • Avatar
    The Tingler on 02 Jun, 2011, 17:17…

    clone2727

    @Shmargin: You're just wiping out the possibility of a Star Wars game being good just because it's a Star Wars game? That's very disappointing. If the game is good, then it's good. Don't just blast it because of the engine or the content before it has even been announced! If they redo the Battle of Hoth and it's freakin' amazing, I would not be complaining at all.



    Just to make clear: I am not complaining so much about great Star Wars games, I'll be there on day one if Imperial Commando, Jedi Knight 4 or KOTOR3 turn up. But to have LucasArts ONLY on Star Wars games? That's something we've always feared would happen, now it is. They don't even mention Indy.
  • Avatar
    clone2727 on 02 Jun, 2011, 16:29…

    LucasArts Head Honcho

    In recent years, LucasArts hasn’t always done a good job of making games.

    Well, that's a bit of an understatement. Unless "recent" is "this century so far". At least positive sentiment is there, whatever that counts for.

    @Shmargin: You're just wiping out the possibility of a Star Wars game being good just because it's a Star Wars game? That's very disappointing. If the game is good, then it's good. Don't just blast it because of the engine or the content before it has even been announced! If they redo the Battle of Hoth and it's freakin' amazing, I would not be complaining at all.
  • Avatar
    Ascovel on 02 Jun, 2011, 15:48…
    At this point LucasArts making any new game on their own will be impressive. Even a Star (buergh!) Wars one.
  • Avatar
    Shmargin on 02 Jun, 2011, 15:42…
    Sigh, I knew thats why they got that unreal engine deal. I can't wait to see the battle of hoth rendered in 3d graphics. I dont think thats ever been done before...EVER.

    Good job lucas arts, you rekindled my hate for you.
  • Avatar
    Rum Rogers on 02 Jun, 2011, 15:33…
    I have a bad feeling about this...
  • Avatar
    Pinchpenny on 02 Jun, 2011, 15:33…
    He's aware of the "beloved and powerful brands" that Lucasfilm have, yet then says the priority is purely on Star Wars. Baffling.

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