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In its usual Friday evening updates, LucasArts.com has posted quite a few new screenshots. First, you can view screenshots for the Gamecube port of Jedi Outcast on its official website. But wait, it gets better. The Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic site has posted some very impressive new shots from this upcoming RPG. And in this screenshot from Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb, it looks like Indy is about to pull the ol' casually-shoot-the-impressive-swordsman gag.

Oh, the main page also contains a new poll asking, "If you had to choose, which character from Sam & Max would you be?" Let the good times commence.
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Our friends at Adventure Developers have published Adventure Game Tip #2, written by Bill Tiller with Larry Ahern. The duo, in case you don't know, were responsible for The Curse of Monkey Island's art direction and design. Click here if you want some suggestions on how to make an entertaining and non-frustrating adventure game.
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The LucasArts 20th Anniversary Website has been updated with a few interesting things. You can check out this piece of concept art from Mike Stemmle's Afterlife, a game I haven't played myself but a lot of people enjoyed. There's also a new trivia questions asking, "In what game did the line 'I'm selling these fine leather jackets' first appear?" If any LucasArts fans ranging from casual to hardcore answer this question incorrectly, the Fat Skeleton Dude will come to your house and kick you!
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Just in case people never caught these pictures at Adventure Gamers, and didn't see them in the E3 Video Trailer Mix at LucasArts.com, I've uploaded a couple older screenshots from Full Throttle II to Mojo for your viewing pleasure. Figured it was a good idea after reading the comments in the last FTII screenshot post.
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There's a new version of the popular software, LEC Quick and Easy available with several new features, including support for the CD version of Loom. For those who haven't heard of LEC Q+E, This program was written by bgbennyboy, and helps people running on NT-based OSes (Windows NT, Windows 2000, and Windows XP) play classic LEC adventures with full audio and music. Grab it!

Update: There's also a new version of ScummVM Quick & Easy available for those of us with Windows 98/Me.

Source: SCUMM Bar :)

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In case you missed this one, our own LucasTones has posted an article concerning the upcoming film based on the Disney theme park ride, Pirates of the Caribbean. The article discusses the connections between the ride and Monkey Island as well as providing an overview of what we know about the movie thus far. Also, for those of you who haven't been on the ride, you can find a lot of Pirates of the Caribbean pictures, video, music, and more. Check it out. It's more fun than gettin' drunk with pigs. Yarrrr!
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In addition to our previous report of the PC Gamer feature concerning Full Throttle 2 and Larry Holland's upcoming game, we have obtained two scans from the article. First, you'll find a nice shot of Ben standing in what seems to be a 3D rendered environment. Secondly, you can see this somewhat crude scan of Larry Holland's new World War II flight action game. Be sure to buy the new PC Gamer issue to read the full interviews and gaze at two more teaser images.

Update: Laceyware adds this:
This is also in PCGamer UK edition, and the picture you show of Ben in a 3d world is slightly larger with more to the right. Unfortunatley, though, this has another picture in front of it, so the bottom right is covered by another picture. There is still more detail than in the US version pic, though.
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On Friday, LucasArts.com published a new official site for the upcoming Star Wars: The Clone Wars, featuring all kinds of new stuff. You can now find wallpaper, an FAQ, vehicle information, and more.

However, if Star Wars games aren't your thing, you can also check out this new screenshot from Hal Barwood's upcoming RTX Red Rock action/adventure game. It shows E.Z. Wheeler exploring the Mars surface, perhaps looking for the legendary race of broom aliens, eh?
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The current (October 2002) issue of PC Gamer U.S. Edition has two short articles with screenshots about both the upcoming Full Throttle II and the new WWII flight/action game from Larry Holland (creator of the XWing series, Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe and others). Sean Clark, director of FTII says the following about the game's story:
Sean Clark: Ben, the leader of a biker gang, gets himself entangled in a greedy plan to destroy a town and, more importantly to Ben, all the roads. In the process of preserving this dingy corner of the world he meets, greets, and beats up a menagerie of tough and gritty characters, and goes toe-to-toe with a variety of other gangs. Oh yeah, and he gets to blow up a lot of stuff, too.
And in response to the adventure game genre being dead:
Sean Clark: FT2 is an adventure game at its core but we're using action elements as a means to create more immersion. [...] The first game tried to address this desire, but was limited by the technology available at the time. If that leads people to call the newer game a hybrid, or bemoan that it isn't a "pure adventure," so be it. Regardless of how you classify it, FT2 will be fun and unique.
One slight eyebrow raiser (not really an eyebrow raiser according to Remi) in the FTII article was the caption reading "Yeah, it's an adventure game. But what would a Full Throttle game be without some old-fashioned ass-whomping? And with a big grin, too." Did Ben really smile all that much the first time around?

As for the untitled Larry Holland WWII game he says that, like his previous air-combat games at LucasArts, it will focus on action more than true-sim instrumentation and whatnot, and be based around a "compelling story-driven single-player experience." For the full interviews and colorful screenshots, drive to the nearest book store and pick up the current issue of PC Gamer.
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LucasArts has just issued a press release, announcing that they are working on an adventure game sequel to Sam and Max Hit The Road. The game, which was being developed by Infinite Machines before they allegedly kicked the bucket, will be co-directed by Mike Stemmle and should be released for Windows PC's in the first quarter of 2004. No word on the actual plot of the game, so we must wonder if it the setting still revolves around space. Here is the press release in full, and also... woohoo!
SAM & MAX TO HIT THE ROAD (AND OTHERS) IN LONG AWAITED CLASSIC ADVENTURE SEQUEL FROM LUCASARTS

Popular Madcap Dog and Rabbity Thing to Return for More Hilariously Skewed Adventures First Quarter 2004 on Windows PC

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. -- August 27, 2002 -- Sam & Max, interactive entertainment's most beloved canine and rabbit combo, hit the road again first quarter 2004 in a long awaited adventure comedy sequel for Windows PC from LucasArts Entertainment Company LLC. The follow up to the critically acclaimed 1993 adventure classic Sam & Max Hit the Road will dispatch the Freelance Police into a wild world of screwy and vaguely quixotic missions. Each one will be jam packed with nerve-jangling action, brain-busting puzzles, and the kind of easygoing banter one might expect from a talking dog and a naked, hyperkinetic bunny.
<:MORENEWS:>
Sam & Max are based upon the "Sam & Max Freelance Police" comic book series created by Steve Purcell. LucasArts' Michael Stemmle, co-director of the award-winning original game, will direct the sequel.

"Sam & Max Hit the Road is a classic and as close to being a signature game as any LucasArts has ever done," says Simon Jeffery, president of LucasArts "The Sam & Max sequel, much like the recently announced Full Throttle II, perfectly complements LucasArts' renowned adventure game legacy and lends further support to the company's commitment to investing in and developing more of our original properties.

About LucasArts
LucasArts Entertainment Company LLC is a leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software worldwide. Based in San Rafael, Calif., as well as on the Internet at www.lucasarts.com, LucasArts is one of five companies in the Lucas group which include Lucasfilm Ltd., Lucas Digital Ltd. LLC, Lucas Licensing Ltd., and Lucas Online. Lucasfilm is one of the leading film and entertainment companies in the world. Lucasfilm's businesses include George Lucas' film and television production and distribution activities. Lucas Digital, which consists of Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and Skywalker Sound, provides visual effects and audio post-production services to the entertainment industry. Lucas Licensing is responsible for the merchandising of all Lucasfilm's film and television properties. Lucas Online is a digital destination for entertainment, education, reference and e-commerce for Lucasfilm's intellectual properties and business units.
# # #
Update:(Spaff)

The game will have no connection to the one being worked on by Infinite Machine. It will be completley re-written.
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FilmForce.com has published a great article about Disney's upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean movie. The film, which is based on the Disney theme park ride of the same name, served as the main inspiration for Ron Gilbert's Monkey Island series.

Neither LucasArts nor LucasFilm appear to be involved in the movie, but due to the source material, it seems that the film will encompass many of the elements that we love about Monkey Island. This includes dastardly pirates, ship battles, a governor's mansion, and the living dead.

Be sure to read the full article for information on who is in the movie and a long plot description. Thankfully, it seems the elements of time travel have completely been removed from the movie. Let's hope that it still manages to be much better than Country Bears. Arrrrg!
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Oh ho! UGO is also running a for their feature: "The Top Eleven Upcoming RPG/Adventure Games." Psychonauts hit the number two spot(!), and the writer had this to say about it:
Tim Schafer knows how to do character-driven adventure games. The veracity of this statement has been well established by his work on classic titles like Full Throttle and Grim Fandango. Unfortunately, that genre is on the verge of extinction. So what's a designer to do? How about applying the principles that made his past games so great to a format that fits perfectly with the current next-gen console craze: The platform adventure? That's pretty much what Psychonauts is: The illegitimate love child of Mario and Manny Calavera.
Disgusting! But definitely more interesting...give it a read!
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Our own World of Monkey Island has recently posted the 16th page of their Monkey Island 1 Comic. The comic, if you don't know, is drawn by community artist Paco Vink (who incidentally also drew the Robox vs Fat Skeleton Guy poll illustration) and looks very, very sweet... well, in my opinion at least. Click here to view the goodness.
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The LucasArts 20th Anniversary website has been updated with more good stuff. First, you can check out this awesome piece of concept art from Grim Fandango. After that, stop by the LucasArts Theatre for a higher quality QuickTime trailer for the game Outlaws. The Flashbacks section now has some more crazy memories from LucasArts employees, including a milk incident with Simon Jeffery over Monkey Island 2. There's also an Interactive Timeline, featuring the elusive game Night Shift.

What is probably the most interesting update is this profile and interview with Sean Clark, who has directed such games as Sam and Max Hit The Road, The Dig, and Escape From Monkey Island. In his interview, Sean gives us an update about the upcoming Full Throttle 2. Here's the quote:
At this point, we've got a complete design, a fairly complete game level, and we can run Ben around, pick fights, and engage other characters in discussions about such pressing topics as "I need a beer," and "Where's the bathroom?" The next several months of development will mostly revolve around content creation, feature implementation, and dialog writing.
Interesting note: Sean is credited on Full Throttle 2 as Director and Co-Designer. I wonder who else is designing the game...
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LucasArts.com has updated its screenshot of the week. This time, the screenshot is from Gladius featuring a cameo from Blue Man Group. Oh, the fun! Gladius will be released for the PS2, Xbox, and Gamecube this spring.
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LucasArts has updated their 20th Anniversary page with another scan of some original background artwork from Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge. What's the locale? This time it's the Voodoo Lady's house, AKA The International House of Mojo. Booyah!

Take a look at it here, or click the image at the bottom of this post. This is the second Monkey 2 image LucasArts has put on the site. The first one, Captain Dread's map, is here. Fun times!
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Point your cursors towards Adventure Developer(s), the oft-overlooked Mojo network site, as it is BACK. Aye, it has returned, and is featuring lots of features and a brand new design. All of the old features, such as the first Tiller Techniques by Bill Tiller, and the entire Eye on Amateur Adventure series by Yahtzee, have returned at long last. There are several new featured articles as well, including the long-awaited second installment of Tiller Techniques.

Taxicab and Courthold have done a great job bringing together version two-point-oh, so be sure to pay the site repeated visits(!!!). Also there are forums.
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In additional to the recent announcement concerning Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, it's possible that other upcoming titles may be delayed as well. HomeLAN is reporting that Indiana Jones and the Emporer's Tomb may have had its release date moved from Fall 2002 back into January 2003. The site also mentions that Galaxies may appear in February 2003, which we recently reported here. LucasArts hasn't commented on this yet, so we'll just have to wait and see. Thanks to Marek for the tip!
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A friend pointed me to this article on music4games.net, which talks about a recording session recently held by LucasArts with the Northwest Sinfonia orchestra in Seattle, Washington.

They recorded hours of all-original (with some familiar themes) score for the upcoming Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb, scored by ex-LucasArts in-house composer Clint Bajakian and his small team at CB Studios. Here's a snip from the story:
Clint Bajakian from The Sound Department (Outlaws, Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine, Escape from Monkey Island), who composed the score, explained why they went with a live orchestra:

"LucasArts recognized that it was time to bring the magic that only a live orchestra can produce, into something as important as an Indiana Jones game. We recognized that the Indiana Jones film scores were great, not only due to the brilliant writing of John Williams, but on the dazzling quality of 80 world-class musicians playing their hearts out in an orchestral ensemble."
We're trying to scrape together our own report on this LucasArts first. But right now you should read theirs!

Update: Also, I've put up a smaller version of the picture music4games.net ran with their story (see, our version can actually fit on a screen) at the bottom of this post.
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Never thought you'd live to read the phrase "ScummVM - Quick and Easy"? Well, unless you've died and are somehow still reading this...nevermind. The point is that bgbennyboy, the ultra-stylish programmer and mojo forum moderator, has written a frontend to the popular program ScummVM.

This program, as many of you already know, is a virtual machine used to run many classic LEC adventures on newer machines. However, many people found it to be a bit...well, user-unfriendly. ScummVM Q+E works to make the original program easier to use, with a number of options explained in greater detail the readme file.

You can download ScummVM Q+E here!

Source: The SCUMM Bar, yo.

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