LucasArts may be announcing nothing, but they're certainly committing something to that nothing. They've just announced via press release that they have signed the popular (some might say "ridiculously overused") Unreal Engine 3 from Epic Games, as used in such titles as Gears of War, Batman: Arkham Asylum, Bioshock and a fair few others, for use in the long term in whatever games they're not telling us about.
Zak Phelps, technology director at LucasArts, had this to say:
"Unreal Engine 3 is a forward-looking solution that shortens the path between inspiration and execution on a wide variety of gaming platforms. We are thrilled to add another exceptional tool to our technology mix."
"LucasArts is now primed to capitalize on Unreal Engine 3's ability to scale across platforms, from mobile, through PC and console all the way up to the next generation of games. We can't wait to see what happens when LucasArts combines their talented workforce and amazing intellectual properties with Unreal Engine 3."
Laserschwert
An Indy game along the lines of the "Uncharted" series... THAT would be something! (also: something LucasArts could never pull off)
Yeah, Uncharted is probably my favorite modern videogame series, to see Indy done so right, might make me cry tears of joy. Maybe Lucas should outsource it to Naughty Dog so they cant fuck it up themaelves.
mish87
"If it's an Indiana Jones game, that'll do me. "
You mean like if they made up for how they were making a big deal about developing the BEST INDIANA JONES GAME YET and showed a lot of cool footage and stuff and even travelled to promote the game in media-driven colleges only to piss on it and release it as a PS2 exclusive?
Yeah, a compensation for that would be cool. Oh, and get Harrison Ford to voice Indy.
You mean like if they made up for how they were making a big deal about developing the BEST INDIANA JONES GAME YET and showed a lot of cool footage and stuff and even travelled to promote the game in media-driven colleges only to piss on it and release it as a PS2 exclusive?
Yeah, a compensation for that would be cool. Oh, and get Harrison Ford to voice Indy.
The Tingler
LucasArts signs long-term use of the Unreal Engine 3, but on what?
I emailed LucasArts about this, and it was definitely a paper contract. Mystery solved!
;-)
Ascovel
They could license Indiana to the Batman Arkham Asylum guys.
I doubt they have any better ideas what to do anyway.
At first I thought this wouldn't happen as Rocksteady did such a great job with Arkham Asylum Warner Bros (who also own DC Comics) straight bought them out, but as Warner Bros also own Traveller's Tales and obviously have such a great relationship with LucasArts that they allow them to use both Indy and Star Wars - it's entirely possible!
I doubt they have any better ideas what to do anyway.
combines their talented workforce and amazing intellectual properties
Also known as the non-existent workforce and star wars.