The International House of Mojo

No, this isn't game news, but it's a pretty big deal. I'm not sure how many of you have been keeping up with the crazy fifteen year development history of a fourth Indiana Jones movie, how production was almost going to happen like 5 billion times under five billion different screenplays before something insane always happened to throw a wrench into everything (like when George Lucas, the guy who gave us the sterling dialogue of Phantom Menace, rejected a screenplay by the Shawshank Redemption guy), etc.

But Indy finally seems to have gotten a script that the Big Three (Spielberg, Lucas, and Ford) can agree on and Lucasfilm has announced that filming will take place next year for a 2008 release. Lucas' thoughts on the project are excitingly immodest: "It's going to be fantastic. It's going to be the best one yet." Awesome!

There is of course the whole thing about whether the movie will be utter rubbish or not, but don't think about that right now, we've got a new Indiana Jones movie to look forward to. It's probably a huge relief for the marketing folks over at LucasArts, as the fact that the movie will actually come out will certainly benefit the new game, due out next summer. Get out your whip and fedora and get excited.

Update: ?? Sounds like we may hear something about it directly from the horse's mouth next week though, "hopefully."

Phew! Everything's cool. Go back to celebrating. And here's the Lucasfilm press release to allay any remaining doubts.

Well, practically. Of course, there is no Monkey Island 5 in production, but there are no good games in production either. This has been on the cards for some time, but today it gets just that bit closer. What does this really mean for our once-favourite company?

Well, it can't be good. Games based on movies are almost as bad as movies based on games, and in my opinion this is ILM's way of saying to movie distributors: choose us instead of WETA and we'll make you a game too!

Which of course, makes their simply dynamite marketing department's life a lot easier.

Source: IGN

Once upon a time the dudes over at The SCUMM Bar posted some info about an animated Monkey Island movie that was under development (and later canceled.) And it was good. As it turns out, Tony Stacchi, the artist behind the concept art, has posted some more movie art in his portfolio. Like Guybrush. And The SCUMM Bar. (Apparently Stacchi doesn't like direct links to his images, so either go to his folio for more, or copy and paste the links in your browser to access those images directly.)

Little is known about the movie, other than that it was supposed to combine the three first games into one new original story. Judging by the art, it also looks like Guybrush would have a (no doubt wise-cracking) sidekick in a monkey also. Head over to Stacchi's site for some more Monkey Island movie art.

There used to be a department, somewhere within Industrial Light and Magic, that was tasked with writing screenplays for animated films, based on Lucasfilm's intellectual property from other media.

One such screenplay was a Monkey Island movie, titled The Curse of Monkey Island, likely loosely based on the game of the same name.

Unfortunately, in the big reorganization of Lucasfilm that occurred a couple of years ago, the department was killed, and the MI movie (still in preproduction) with it.

Recently a few images from the project have surfaced, courtesy of a former ILM scriptwriter named Tony Stacchi (who worked on the project alongside Steve Purcell). Check them out:

• Captain LeChuck and crew (drawing by Stacchi, color by Purcell)
• Skull Island
• Elaine and her crew

Also, be sure to check out the other art on Mr. Stacchi's website. It's quite good.

It's times like these I'm reminded of that quote about the saddest words of tongue or pen...

Source: The Monkey Island SCUMM Bar

George Lucas film THX 1138 from 1971 has been completely digitally restorated and remastered, in a collaboration between Warner Home Video, Lucasfilm and Lowry Digital Images. It is now being released on September 14th on a two-disc special edition: THX 1138 The George Lucas Director's Cut.

For months, the restoration team removed decades' worth of dirt and scratches that had accumulated on the film's negative and meticulously restored the film?s sleek, striking images to be as clear and stunning as George Lucas intended.

What is important to know is that they did not just restore and enhance the original quality. They enhanced the film, by for example adding completely new computer-generated environments, and made CG frame recompositions. Take a look at the images that compare the Director's Cut and original THX 1138.

More info at the official site.

Theforce.net reports on forthcoming plans to shop a gaming concept to LucasFilm whereby the game input is controlled via brainwaves.

Steven Barnes: "there is a project that I am working on that would... control the video game with your feelings, instead of with a joystick, literally use the force to control the game ... you would attach sensors to your body and use your feelings to control the game ... I'm part of a project to work with this right now I can't tell you anymore about it but we hopefully will be presenting this to Lucasfilm within a month or so and if this happens we'll probably be announcing it at the Indiana meeting next year [Celebration?] But I don't know if this will happen but I have been telling these people that with their technology with what I know about storytelling that it could be done and that the Star Wars fan would support it if it works"

For all the details, the original source, audio of the interview and info on Steven Barnes, visit the links provided at theforce.net. Further info on the state of harnessing neural waves to control applications can be read here.

Am I the only person envisaging implant chips in gamer's skulls, and Star Wars: Yoda's Force Lift Challenge at the next E3?

Source: TheForce.net

A news item on TheForce.net yesterday reveals LucasArts may no longer be the the exclusive publisher of Star Wars video games

JAKKS Pacific Signs TV Games License With Lucasfilm Ltd. For The Action-Adventure Epic Star Wars

MALIBU, Calif., May 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (Nasdaq: JAKK) announced today that the Company has signed a worldwide license with Lucasfilm Ltd. to produce TV Games(TM) products based on the blockbuster, Star Wars saga.

TV Games(TM) products are slated to be developed based on all films in the Star Wars saga -- A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and the upcoming Star Wars: Episode III.

Hit the full JAKKS TV GAMES press release for the rest of the info. Interestingly there's no mention of the "LucasArts" division in the press release at all. For more products in the JAKKS TV GAMES range, check their website.

Source: JAKKS Pacific

Okay this may have happened a while ago and we missed it, but reader spaceship789 just pointed out that Lucasfilm's website got redesigned at some point. Why am I telling you this? Well, for one, the opening collage artwork is almost cool enough to melt the jaded heart of any fanboy.

LucasArts is even represented in the collage by characters from original titles like Armed & Dangerous and... Sam & Max? Yes oddly enough, Max appears at the bottom of the image, looking far happier than he's looked in his life. Maybe George is a Sam and Max fan or something, who knows? More likely than not, the artwork for the site was done long before Sam and Max got cancelled and it was too late to change it, but its funny how they keep showing up at the least appropriate times.

At long last! According to DVDFile.com, we should see the original Star Wars trilogy on DVD no later than this September 21st. Of course, it's going to be the 1997 'special' edition, but it's better than nothing. Check out the article here!

A side note for all those interested. Forbes Magazine has published their list of the World's Richest People of 2003. This year, it seems that George Lucas is the 113th richest person in the world with a net worth of $3 billion.

Gee, with that kind of loot, you'd think he might spring for an original graphic adventure every now and then! Oh well, such is business.

For some reason, my local newspaper in Dallas, Texas ran an article on the recent groundbreaking for the new Presidio complex in San Francisco.

This new complex, as you probably know, will house the recent merger of LucasArts, Skywalker Sound, ILM, and more. The article also seems to state that the venture will be called Letterman Digital Arts Ltd.. Does that mean that this will be the new name for LucasArts?

Here is the picture that ran for the article, in case you are at all interested.

According to The San Francisco Chronicle, George Lucas broke ground yesterday during a ceremony for the building of the Letterman Digital Arts facility.

The new campus, as you may have seen us mention before, will be the future offices for the newly merged Lucas companies. This includes ILM, Skywalker Sound, and LucasArts. The 850,000-square-foot project will house 2,500 workers and should be completed in 2005. Here's a quote from George at the ceremony:

"San Francisco's always had a quality of filmmaking that most people haven't been able to recognize, we always get shoved under the title 'Hollywood,"' Lucas said. "I think this will begin to put a stake in the ground for San Francisco as a filmmaking community, as a creator of world cinema."

You may have already seen these, but Mixnmojo took pictures last July of the future LucasArts home following a press event. Woohoo for extensive journalistic coverage.

Source: TheForce.net

A very important news scoop here. Apparently the fat skeleton dude from that one cutscene in CMI is not content with his CMI cameo alone, or even with his numerous appearances in our polls, and is kicking off a film career with a bit part in the upcoming Pirates of the Carribean movie. You can see him and his taller, slightly thinner pal, in the concept art recently put up on the POTC website, or in the screenshots below.

Source: World of MI

Yesterday, we reported on the announcement that all of the Lucas companies would merge into one single organization. Today, the San Francisco Chronicle has published an article giving us new insight into the corporate merger.

Interestingly enough, the article includes a quote by Tim Schafer concerning the recent announcment. Here's what he had to say about all that:

"We used to wish there was more cooperation between Industrial Light & Magic and games, and now maybe there will be," Schafer said. "We used to gripe in the old days that we really could use some of ILM's resources."

Hopefully this will turn out to be a good thing, although anyone familiar with corporate antics usually panics at the word "reorganization." Read the complete article for more information.

A press release has been issued today, stating that all of the Lucas companies are going to combine into one huge... thingy. Here's a quote:

Lucas stated, "During the past ten years, my companies have functioned relatively independent of each other. As we look to the future, we have decided to bring these entities together into a unified, cohesive group to create a dynamic entertainment company that builds upon their mutual strengths. We have a unique array of talent in the areas of special effects, sound design, interactive games, licensing, distribution, and marketing. This new structure will make it easier for our diverse talents to work as a team."

So what exactly does this mean? Well, I'm not sure, but it's likely that you can expect more collaboration between LucasArts, Skywalker Sound, and maybe ILM. But does this mean that LucasArts is no longer going to be called "LucasArts"? I guess time will tell.

Source: Business Wire

Fangoria.com has published a small interview with Jerry Bruckheimer, producer of the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean film. If you don't know why this is indirectly related to LucasArts, read our previous report. Here's what Bruckheimer had to say about the movie so far:

"The pirates ? what happens is they stole this cursed treasure and unless they put the treasure back, they never die, they can't enjoy life," Bruckheimer continues. "They can't enjoy food or sex. All they want to do is plunder and get more and more and more gold. And in the moonlight, they turn into skeletons. So, you can just imagine the effects. ILM is doing the effects. [Director] Gore Verbinski, who did The Ring, is very imaginative and is working with ILM. I've never seen skeletons like this. They have actual features and pieces of flesh and their costumes still on, so it's fascinating."

No skeleton sex, eh? I wonder if they can't get drunk either. At least Manny had that going for him. Anyway, read the full interview for more info. Arr.

Source: TheForce.net

Again, this isn't directly related to LucasArts, but you may find it interesting regardless. A really excellent teaser poster has been released for the upcoming Pirates of the Caribbean film, which is based on the Disneyland ride of the same name.

As we've mentioned many times, this theme park ride served as the main inspiration for the Monkey Island series, so the film will hopefully convey the same kind of atmosphere found in those games. This would be reinforced by the poster, which shows an undead skeleton pirate manning the wheel of a pirate ship. Cool!

Ain't it Cool News has received word from trusted spies working for LucasFilm that the company has been negotiating with Cartoon Network about an animated series based on the Clone Wars, or, what we can only assume are the events that take place between Episodes II and III of the Star Wars saga. Although this isn't anywhere near an official confirmation, you can still read the "details" here.

A Very Personal Update by mercatfat: It's been confirmed, but damn, AICN sure is ugly, isn't it? On a more personal note, while an AOTC series might be a lame cash-in on the already lame movie, it beats Courage the Cowardly Dog by default. YODA DA MAN.

Just a quick update to let you all know that if you ever see Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, or ever see it again, you should definitely see the IMAX print that is currently showing across America, at least.

Not only is the print fantastic (IMAX's 70mm instead of standard 35mm) and the sound awesome, but they cut what seems like 30 or so minutes from the film!

What does this mean? Well, since most of the cutting seems to have been done in the middle, a lot of the unnecessary (and painful) "love" "scenes" between Anakin and Amidala are gone. Calling Anakin "Annie?" Gone. Half of the "I hate sand" monologue? Gone. The scene where Anakin rides around on the annoying upside-down-gourd-shaped sount beast? Gone! Amazing!

I enjoyed myself thoroughly. And, please, like you wanted to buy yet another IMAX ticket just to watch one more volcano/space shuttle documentary. IMAX theater listings.

The theatrical poster for the IMAX version of Star Wars: Episode II was released on wednesday, and unfortunatly proves to be appropriate to the film's name. The sick joke poster shows everybody's favourite muppet ready to kick some serious landmark arse. Or as StarWars.com describes it:

"The biggest tiny Jedi Master looms large over several North American landmarks in artwork that recalls classic event posters of years past."

To view the abomination poster, click on the picture below or visit StarWars.com.