The International House of Mojo

LucasArts Recently announced that over the next few weeks they would be unveiling some new titles and new parterships. The first of these was brought to us on Tuesday.

The Collective, the company responsible for developing the anticipated-by-one-and-all Buffy the Vampire Slayer for Xbox, have been chosen by LEC to create the next in a long line of fine Indy games.

The game, expected to release fall 2002, will be available on a variety of next generation console platforms and PC.

The upcoming title follows in the epic tradition of LucasArts' rich Indiana Jones action-adventure legacy. It will feature an all-new intriguing and historically relevant story set amidst the world's most exotic locales. The game will utilize The Collective's proprietary engine technology, bringing to the series a dynamic new level of fighting action and challenging puzzle elements.

You can read all about it in the Press Release, and remember to keep your eyes peeled for any other announcements!

I know its a couple days old but IGN XBox ran a second "story" about the alleged sequel to everyone's favorite dog and rabbit duo. It seems to actually contain less information than the Adventure Gamers report (way to go AG) but if you're following the sequel news as closely as I obviously am, you'll want to catch every article.

Because everyone reads console news I thought I'd post this little in-joke found in Gran Turismo 3 by my friend Ted. Here's a picture of some Rebel pilots on their way to visit the Neimoidians... Ooor they're an in-joke planted in the crowd in the Tokyo level. Look for them!

IGN have posted a review of the Playstation version of EMI. I would post my own review, but not having a playstation2 makes it harder. From what i've seen of it, it was the same as the PC version with less intuitive controls. Anyway:

Escape from Monkey Island is a very funny game. More than that, it represents a breed of humor that you have to actively seek out these days: good clean wit, without any reliance on bad taste as a crutch to make up for lack of creativity. Now that comedy has gotten so relentlessly blue on TV and in the movies, it's marvelously refreshing to find something you can laugh at without feeling ashamed afterwards. Monkey Island does head below the belt on the odd occasion, but always in a light, chuckling sort of way, as an accent to what's fundamentally an all-ages affair.

There are some new addittions to the game for the console port, including a new sub game featuring Murray! whoop!

LucasLearning put out a press release today containing the following:

Lucas Learning Ltd. today announced they will cease production of Star Wars Super Bombad Racing for Windows and Macintosh. This decision reflects the new direction that will shift the company's focus away from consumer entertainment products to direct-to-school educational products. Lucas Learning will create, produce and market a suite of curriculum-based products targeted directly to schools, grades K-12.

I guess that pretty much says it all. I was looking forward to playing Bombad on my Mac, as the PS2 version was really fun, but I guess thats how it goes. Full press release on Theforce.net. Look for less entertaining more educating games from LucasLearning in the near future.

... Wednesday! LEC has updated their site announcing that Monkey Island 4 will hit the shelves tomorrow, Wednesday, in US stores. Those of you with PS2's will be treated to (theoretically) more detailed models, slightly-less-impossible Monkey Kombat, and some more functional mini-games (Murray Ball and Monkey Invaders). You can order it here from LucasArts.

According to the LucasArts official newsletter, Escape From Monkey Island has been given a release date for the Play Station 2... and the winner is... June 20th! So if you own a PS2, go rush out and buy this game because the monkeys want you to.

IGN have posted a Preview of the Game Boy Advance version of Jedi Power Battles. This is possibly the only episode 1 game, which i have played and actually enjoyed (Racer was a good laugh for 10 minutes) And im hoping that the GBA version will be as good a version as the DC one. More about the GBA JPB in our E3 report .. soon(ish).

Some more info regarding the rumoured Playstation 2 port of Escape From Monkey Island. According to this story on FGN Online, Next Generation Magazine have reported that the PS2 version of EMI is currently in testing and slated for release later this year.

Source: Adventure Gamer

LucasArts have uploaded a new flash site for Starfighter. This has a lot of features, but unfortunately takes a long time to load on a 56k Modem.

Head over to LucasArts.com

This is my very first official Star Wars news post.

Lucasarts are hosting another chat session, this time its a chat with members of the Starfighter Development Team.

This chat takes place on Tuesday, Febuary 13th at 6pm (PST) which is sometime in the early ours for us brits. Acording to Spaff it is at 2am in the morning (Thats Wednesday 14th).

Source: LucasArts

This from the LucasArts mailing list:

"LucasArts Entertainment Company LLC is pleased to announce that STAR WARS STARFIGHTER has been approved for manufacturing. Developed for the Sony PlayStation 2, the flight action/adventure STARFIGHTER is expected to be on store shelves in the U.S. and Canada February 21, 2001."

If you're in the US and you order it from the LucasArts Company store, you'll get a free mini-strategy guide and free shipping and handling. Enjoy!

Source: LucasArts

Those of you in the US with a PlayStation 2 (heh) can now pre-order your copy of Starfighter the new Star Wars action-flight game. The game is $49.95 and includes a mini-strategy guide. Here's a bit of marketing spiel on Starfighter:

Prove your battle skills against more than 50 vehicles including all-new, never-before-seen craft. Take part in an exhilarating story-driven flight adventure that places you alternately in the roles of three mismatched starfighter pilots, each with personal vendettas against the Trade Federation who must learn to work together to repel the invasion of the Naboo system. To succeed, you must prevail in thrilling dogfights using your piloting skills to outwit opponents.

According to ign.com Lucasarts has cancelled the Dreamcast version on Super Bombad Racing. heres a quote:

Dreamcast owners who have been waiting for some kart racing action, Star Wars-style, may become angry with this tidbit... and we know where anger leads don't we? Star Wars: Super Bombad Racing has been canned for the Dreamcast, though Lucasarts is still planning to release the game on the PC and PS2 for a Spring/Summer release this year.

Source: ign.com

IGN 64 reports that Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine 64 is out, as well as the game not scheduled to come out till next week, Battle for Naboo, are now available. Check out the article here There'll be a review of Indy there tommorrow there too, so you'll want to take a look if you're interested in it.

IGN reports that Indiana Jones is coming to Game Boy color sometime soon. Take a look at this article if you're interested.

Demolition has now officially arrived for Dreamcast. Some important things to note are that the Dreamcast version sports improved graphics, and up to 4 players, where the Playstation version only supports 2.

In its quest to apply the "Star Wars" license to as many genres as possible (where's my Amidala Puzzle Pack?), Lucasarts has shipped the PlayStation and Dreamcast versions of Star Wars: Demolition to retail. The catch? It's not too shabby, at all.

Seems like the general consensus on Demolition is fairly good.

Source: Gamefan

Demolition for Playstation has been out in stores several days now, and to go along with its release, here is a review from psx.ign.com.

Star Wars: Demolition is actually a pretty good car combat game... it actually corrects some of the serious problems I had with Vigilante 8: Second Offense. It's not perfect, but there's never been a perfect vehicular combat game, and Demolition does more things right than it gets wrong.

They seemed to like it!

LucasArts have struck a very interesting deal with Blockbuster Video (US). It's basically an exclusive rental/sale agreement for the N64 version of Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine. I'll let part of the press release explain:

Indiana Jones' Debut On Nintendo 64 to be Available For Purchase or Rental Through Participating Blockbuster Stores Nationwide This December

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. -- October 30, 2000 -- LucasArts Entertainment Company LLC today announced that Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine for Nintendo 64 will be distributed in December 2000 as a retail exclusive with Blockbuster stores nationwide. The action-packed game can be rented at participating Blockbuster store locations, as well as purchased on each company's Web site, www.blockbuster.com or companystore.lucasarts.com.

Nintendo 64 titles have consistently been one of the most popular video game rentals at Blockbuster, and the retailer will employ their "Guaranteed To Be There" program at participating store locations for Indy's Nintendo 64 debut. Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine also will be available as a previously played game (PPG) in Blockbuster stores following its new release period.

"This distribution arrangement represents a unique retail opportunity for LucasArts and Blockbuster and will greatly benefit Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine," says Mary Bihr, vice president, worldwide sales and marketing for LucasArts.

Read the full press release here

Today we launch the second of our exclusive Super Bombad Racing screenshots, courtesy of LucasLearning. In this shot we can see Darth Maul losing in 5th place in his Sith Interceptor, whilst little cute Battle droids wander about the track! More next week!

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