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Updated SCUMM classics - lying in a closet for seven years? 05 Aug, 2009 / Comments: 8


If you were to right-click on the minimized frame of one of the new, Windows-compatible versions of the SCUMM re-releases from Steam and click "About," you'd know that these updates were based on the work done by Aaron Giles, a former LEC programmer who was recruited to handle the Windows XP compatible ports of Sam & Max Hit the Road and Full Throttle for the Entertainment Pack in the UK back in 2002. (The updated Sam & Max also made its way, in audio corrupted form, to an Armed and Dangerous pre-order bonus disc in late 2003, no doubt to raise excitement for a then upcoming sequel that proved to be not all that upcoming.)

Being a rabid fan of the SCUMM games apart from his employment, Giles reveals in his latest blog post that at the time he actually went ahead and updated some other SCUMM games while he was at it despite LEC only being interested in Hit the Road and Full Throttle:
But why stop there? Being a bit of a completist, you can imagine that I was compelled to get more than just those two games up and running. But LEC decided to focus on the two original games they requested, and they were eventually released in a limited fashion, which was in the end a pretty big disappointment for me, as I had envisioned something much more mainstream. And maybe even involving some of those other games I had ported — even though nobody had asked me to.
Aaron goes on to hope that a second batch of SCUMM games gets re-released (a prospect all but confirmed by LEC), and suggests that the unreleased work he did all those years ago would represent a head start for the coders at LEC. Apparently, some of the four games you see already on Steam are the fruit of his labors, with some additional bugfixes. Well done, Mr. Giles!
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8 Comments

  • TheJoe on 10 Aug, 2009, 22:33…
    Errr am I the only one thinking "coughscummvmcough"?
  • Rob Dangerous on 08 Aug, 2009, 01:32…
    Aaron did more than just the WinXP-versions. He was LucasArts Mac guy for some years, see http://aarongiles.com/history/ and of course http://aarongiles.com/samnmax.html
  • Bad Asp! on 06 Aug, 2009, 14:14…
    And uncancel Freelance Police, while you're at it, Aaron!

    Sorry, but I just had to go there.
  • ThunderPeel2001 on 06 Aug, 2009, 10:41…
    Mr. Giles rocks!
  • jp-30 on 06 Aug, 2009, 02:33…
    Was Giles work used in the UK/Aus/NZ Activision re-releases of the last few years? That range had Sam & Max and Full Throttle but also included The Dig, CMI and DOTT (UK only) and the non-Scumm Grim Fandango.
  • QueZTone on 06 Aug, 2009, 09:50…
    (and non-Scumm Outlaws)
  • syntheticgerbil on 06 Aug, 2009, 02:11…
    He's pretty much our best friend.
  • black_sheep on 06 Aug, 2009, 00:47…
    nice find !