The International House of Mojo

Some might have seen Trunks' comment about this in an earlier news post, and we can now confirm it: one of the news tickers in a Mercenaries cut-scene reads "Omaha, NE: Cancellation of 'Sam & Max' causes prison riot; National Guard called in to quell uprising."

Mercenaries was of course announced just after the cancellation of Sam & Max: Freelance Police, much to the wrath of Mojo and its readers. Still, seems like kind of a strange thing to put in a cut-scene, seeing that LucasArts has quietly removed the press release regarding the cancellation.

It's well known that Norwegians are both sexy and people of good taste, something which is proven in today's edition of the online version of VG, Norway's largest news paper.

In the list of the 50 most anticipate games of 2005, Psychonauts is ranked as number eight:

The legendary and extremely funny game designer Tim Schafer returns with his first game since the 1998 classic Grim Fandango. Schafer has only created classics, and the expectations for this game are automatically sky-high.

You can read the whole list over at VG's website, at least if you're familiar with the language. More importantly it's good to see that Psychonauts is getting more mainstream attention.

In a press release sent out today it was revealed that Ubisoft has signed a licensing deal with LucasArts to develop games based on the Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith movie. The title will be available on the Sony's PSP, Nintendo DS, and Game Boy Advance - and will launch in conjunction with the movie in Spring 2005.

"Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith will be the video game that every handheld gaming fan on the planet will enjoy playing - including those of the epic Star Wars series," said Alain Corre, Ubisoft's managing director for Europe, Middle East and Asia. "This ultimate Jedi action game will astound gamers using the new handheld technology from Sony's PSP and the Nintendo DS. As always, it's a pleasure to pursue our partnership with LucasArts, particularly with such a hot license."

Source: Company News Group

Actually, this post isn't about the title of Star Wars Episode III at all; in fact, it might be about something interesting! See, I used an exclamation point. Anyway, teh LucasArts updated its Republic Commando info page with a new, long video walkthrough of a level set on the wookiee planet Kashyyyyy??yyyk.

Though you can't make out too much of the scenery (let's just say it's a bit dark), it's a great look at how the game is played and the clip is surprisingly generous in that respect. Though I'm unsure what to think of the game concept right now (I liked Halo but wasn't crazy about Brute Force), I was impressed by the inside-the-helmet HUD design, as shown in all its shaky glory in this video. Judge for yourself here. Yeah, I know you hate Star Wars games, you told me.

Posted yesterday at starwars.com is news of a new cell-shaded Star Wars game based on the original Star Wars movies for the GameBoy Advance. The game is a collaboration with Ubi-Soft & LucasArts - usual GBA partner THQ is nowhere to be seen.

Star Wars Trilogy: Apprentice of the Force will challenge gamers to adventure through the most exciting and memorable scenes from the classic Star Wars movies. Gamers can control Luke Skywalker as he becomes a Jedi Knight, fight Darth Vader and Boba Fett, escape from the fearsome rancor beast, and destroy the Death Star. The game allows gamers to take part in unique co-operative single-player and competitive multiplayer modes, and participate in other memorable Star Wars-based tests.

There are several in-game screenshots and a character montage on the info-page. It's due for release on the same day as the Star Wars DVDs and the LucasArts game 'Battlefront', so if you still have money to spare on that day, and still have a Star Wars fix to sort out, and own a GBA, maybe this game'll be for you.

Source: Star Wars official site

Planet Moon, the notoriously crazy development studio behind Giants and the excellent Armed & Dangerous have recently revealed that they'll be moving their focus to Sony's upcoming PSP portable system.

It seems the idea is, with the PSP being a fresh system, publishers might finally buck the current trend of being retarded, and actually pay brilliant folks like Planet Moon to do what they do best: make games that don't blow. Mojo wishes them the best of luck on the new plan, though these days being in Mojo's good graces seems to be more of a curse...

LucasArts has put the video trailer for Mercenaries up on the official site. The game's official name is apparently Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction, but it should secretly be Mercenaries: Blow everything the hell up, because that's what you do.

Is the dialogue really forced sounding? Yes. Is the military setting overused? Yes. But... did the game look really awesome, fun, and possibly a tiny bit unique in person at E3? Well, yeah actually. As has been said elsewhere, nobody's head was exploding due to awesomeness overload, but it at least looks like the good folks at Pandemic are trying with Mercenaries, and they're a talented bunch.

You're probably aware that Grim Fandango was defeated by both Chrono Trigger and Knights of the Old Republic in the title fight thing over at GameSpy. In retrospect, it's a bit of an odd matchup to say the least, but hey, GF managed to get slightly more than a quarter of the votes. However, congratulations are in order for KOTOR as it advances to the final round of the Hyrule bracket, also known as "the contest to see who loses to Zelda: OoT by a lot."

Naturally, there's a new and highly amusing update at Double Fine Action News in response to these results. In addition, you ought to check out the new ACTION comic, because you love doing that.

PS: Someone stole my car. God damn.

Double Fine brings us something a little different in its most recent update. What, you may ask? Well, it?s issue #1 of Double Fine Action Comics!, drawn by Art Director Scott Campbell. You may call it Pokey-esque. We call it delicious!

The Globe and Mail has posted an interview with LucasArts senior technical art director Scot Brew, regarding the recently released console RPG Gladius.

It's a unique game in a lot of ways. It's branching off a little bit from the traditional role-playing game, throwing a little more tactics, throwing in a little more interaction. But it also allows people to build up their [gladiator] school and really customize their characters, and play through a great story line that has some amazing pictures and a lot of amazing art that went into it.

Also look for a heads up that the current (secret) game he's working on is "very neat." Read the whole interview at The Globe and Mail.

Today marks the day that Wrath: Unleashed arrives in stores for the Xbox and PlayStation2. You can now also read various reviews for the game over at Game Rankings, where the Xbox port currently has an average ratio of 69.0%...

... unleashed!

Does IGN know something we don't? Well, most likely yes, but what about all things concerning LucasArts? In its "Most Anticipated Games of 2004" article, IGN lists Knights of the Old Republic 2 (though not from Bioware), Rebel X (a compilation of Nintendo Star Wars games), and a mystery Episode III game in which you play as Darth Vader.

Additionally, we at Mojo have heard a few rumors of this Darth Vader game as well, and that it may or may not be the pet project of Jon Knoles. In case you're unaware, Knoles previously wrote and directed Bounty Hunter, which was another game developed concurrently with the production of a Star Wars film.

According to this Gamespot report, you Xbox Livers have new stuff for your fantasical Secret Weapons Over Normandy. Let's Plagiarize:

"LucasArts has today released its third Secret Weapons Over Normandy content package via Xbox Live. The free download offers players an alternative camouflage scheme for the Ju-87 Stuka, a new fighter craft in the form of the Italian Macchi 202, and a new single-player mission entitled 'Escape from Tripoli'.

Disappointingly, this level appears to contain no sign of Kurt Russell. Shame.

IGN has released its Best of 2003 Awards with LucasArts earning some recognition. (Too bad it's all Star Wars)

Star Wars Galaxies was named "Best Persistent World Game", Rebel Strike won "Best Sound (Gamecube)", and Knights of the Old Republic walked away with "Best RPG", "Best Story", "Best Sound (Xbox)", and yes, "Overall Game of the Year." Congrats.

The Wrath Unleashed website has just been updated with a whole slew of multimedia goodies, including desktop wallpaper and screensavers. Also included are two mp3 files of the intro and main theme of the game. Definitely worth a look, if I do say so myself.

LucasArts has officially announced Star Wars Battlefront for the PS2, Xbox and PC. Described as an "intense open-ended multiplayer action game," the game will take place in both the classic and prequel era of the Star Wars universe. Twelve highly impressive screenshots can be viewed here.
<:MORENEWS:>

SAN RAFAEL, Calif. - January 13, 2004 - LucasArts officially announced today the exciting details regarding Star Wars Battlefront, an intense open-ended multiplayer action game set in the Star Wars? universe due out this fall for the PlayStation?2 computer entertainment system, Xbox? video game system from Microsoft and the PC. Star Wars Battlefront will put fans and gamers in the heat of the action as they re-live all of the epic battles from the classic and prequel eras of the Star Wars universe.

Both console and PC players will be able to participate in the most memorable Star Wars battles set in over 15 environments across 10 diverse planets including Hoth, Geonosis, Yavin, Tatooine and Naboo. Players will be able to select one of over 20 different soldier types from four factions: Rebel Alliance, Imperial Army, Clone Army and Droid Army. Each soldier will have specialized abilities and the freedom to use ground-based turrets found on the battlefront as well as over 15 diverse ground and air vehicles including the AT-ST, X-wing and speeder bike.

Star Wars Battlefront will be optimized for PS2 online, Xbox Live and PC online. Console gamers will be able to battle against 16 players over the Internet or 32 players connected via LAN. PC gamers will be able to battle against 32 players over the Internet or 64 via a LAN. The game will also support voice chat through compatible headsets for the PS2 and Xbox console systems as well as PC.

In addition to the single-player and various multiplayer modes offered in Star Wars Battlefront, a unique "Conquest" mode adds an innovative and strategic gameplay element to the action. After each battle is completed and the planet is conquered, the winning team will be rewarded with a special "bonus" ability that can be deployed in future battles in an attempt to take over the Star Wars galaxy planet-by-planet.

Star Wars Battlefront is published by LucasArts and developed by Pandemic Studios. For more information, please visit the official product website at www.starwarsbattlefront.com

LucasArts has released the first bonus level for Armed and Dangerous for the XBOX. No word yet on when or if the level will be available for PC gamers.

"The very first Armed and Dangerous bonus mission has been officially released and is now available for download on Xbox Live. In the all-new mission titled "Summer Home", the King's troops are looking for payback and are determined to destroy Lily's lovely Summer Home sitting high upon a hill. It is your mission to prevent the ogres from destroying her idyllic house. If they succeed, Lily would have nowhere to summer and would wind up living on the streets. Keep her relaxing abode safe from harm! Log into Xbox Live and download today!"

We just got word from LucasArts that Wrath Unleashed has gone gold for XBOX and PlayStation 2. The game won't actually come out until February 10, but now it's officially okay to wait expectantly. For more info on the game, check out the official site. It's Flash-tastic.

For all of you who have been waiting to see some actual screenshots from Star Wars: Republic Commando you now have the chance thanks to Computer and Video Games. Allegedly the game is a "dramatic military-style action experience featuring brutally realistic Star Wars combat". Word. Read and view it all here.

Adventure Gamers has published a Q&A with various game industry designers, discussing the past and future of the adventure game genre. One of the people interviewed was Planet Moon?s Aaron Loeb, producer of Armed & Dangerous. In his portion of the article, Aaron discusses his game's similarities with a typical graphic adventure.

With Armed & Dangerous, we sought to make characters you really cared about, to make you laugh at the story in a way that action games usually don?t, and to give you a sense of being in a crazy, different world. I think the design lessons of adventure games will continue to appear in games for years to come, and may actually appear more and more. I think it?s the way we, as an industry, will be able to make games that people remember for years to come.

Check out Adventure Gamers to read the full quote as well as the rest of the fantabulous article.