The International House of Mojo

GameSpy has compiled its own list of the 30 Most Influential People in Gaming. Ron Gilbert, creator of SCUMM and Monkey Island, makes the list at #29 for basically changing the way we play adventure games. Interestingly enough, George Lucas makes the list at #17 for starting LucasArts. Here's a quote:

But beyond the Star Wars franchise is where LucasArts has really shined, with the Monkey Island series and Grim Fandango, unique adventure games with truckloads of humor and surprises. I mean, when was the last time you saw a Sam Spade-esque detective story set against the backdrop of a Mexican "Dia de los Muertos" mythology?

When indeed.

It seems that LucasArts may be working on a new original game entitled Gladius, according to observant readers of TheForce.net. On October of 2001, LucasArts filed to protect the trademark name of "Gladius" as a software title. The trademark information, which can be viewed at this page, includes such keywords as "science fiction games", "films", "music", "CD-ROMs", "DVD-ROMs", and more.

The use of both CD-ROM and DVD-ROM technology suggest that this might be a PC and console title. Also, the lack of any Star Wars references in the trademark suggests that it may be an original title. TheForce.net thinks this could be the new original title from Planet Moon that was recently announced. Hopefully, if this game is indeed in production, we will hear more about it in the coming months.

Source: TheForce.net

Hal Barwood is working on a brand new game at LucasArts, according to a recently published biography from the 2002 Game Developers Conference. Let the vagueness begin:

Hal Barwood is a project leader at LucasArts, where he was designer, writer, and team leader on Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis, a PC adventure game; Big Sky Trooper, a Super Nintendo role-playing game; Indy's Desktop Adventures and Yoda Stories, a pair of PC desktop diversions; and Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine, a real-time 3D action-adventure. In addition, Barwood directed the live-action video for Rebel Assault II, a Star Wars combat game. He is currently working on a new slam-bang tale.

Slam-bang tale, eh? Call me old fashioned, but I'll always love bang-slam tales better. Time will tell, however, whether or not this is tied to the new Indiana Jones game that was recently announced.

Update: According to this thread [English Translation] on a German gaming forum, Barwood isn't working on the Indy game. Who knows then? (thanks Norimaki)

I just got back from a crazy long day at LucasArts. Fellow LFN members Chris (ChrisC3po), Don (Aristotle) and Michael (ZeroXcape) went in for some business-y (but exciting) meetings, and then got subjected to the grand circle tour and then some.

If you were wondering (which you probably are not, thank you very much) we played a couple upcoming games, including a venerable upcoming FPS, and it has definitely lived up to the hype.

Also saw some new super-duper secret stuff coming down the pipe that might actually excite this jaded pack of fans that we call Mojo. Thanks to Tom Sarris for taking us around, we're eternally greatful. You could even say it made us glad.

Fernandes Guitars and LucasArts Entertainment Company have teamed up to bring you several limited-edition Star Wars electric guitars, as well as picks, straps, and other extras! Check out the release information here. They're looking really nice; I must say that the red Darth Vader guitar is my favorite :), but they're all well-designed. Be sure to check out the mini-gallery below!

Source: Forest Wilson

The official Star Wars: Knights of the Old Repbulic site launched today, featuring first-ever screenshots, interviews, and more details for this role playing game. Here's a snippet of information:

Engage in this saga set in the Golden Age of the Republic - over 4,000 years before the first Star Wars film, when both Jedi and Sith number in the thousands. With the Galaxy reeling from a recent conflict with the Dark Lords, the ongoing battle between the Jedi and the Sith rages on. Your actions determine the outcome of this colossal galactic war - and your destiny as a Jedi.

Unfortunately for us PC gamers, KOR will make its debut on the XBox in the Fall of 2002 while it won't come out for PC's until the spring of 2003. Still, this looks to be one very different Star Wars game.

There is an intervew on Homelan Fed with Gary Gaber, the project lead from SW Galactic Battlegrounds. In it he talks about Expansion packs that will fit in with Episode 2 upon it's release this Summer (amongst other things).

What has the response been to the included map editor in Star Wars Galactic Battlegrounds and have you checked out any of the third party maps that have been released?

The response has been great! I've seen quite a few fan-created scenarios and screenshots popping up across the web. They really seem to like the toybox full of units in the scenario editor. We are not going to let them down either with the expansion pack: we are filling out some more cool toybox units, including the much requested Jabba and some of his minions.

I wonder if he approved of our Special Ultimate Star Wars Smackdow Section?

In what can be described as an effort from the marketing department, the Official LucasArts Website has posted a few icons relating to Jedi Outcast. These icons can be used for avatars and things of the like. Check them out if you've got some extra free time.

Today I was sent a translation from this months Swedish edition of PC Gamer. I has an article about future games from LucasArts, I'll just let you read it.

... Maybe the most exciting news for us nostalgic folk here at the editorial office is that they [LEC] are planning sequals to "on-hold[?]" Sam & Max, Day Of The Tentacle and Indiana Jones-series, yes, maybe even Full Throttle. Although, not nececcery in the same genres as the first games were.

Apparently the translations might not be that great, but you get the idea!

Of course, Sam and Max 2 isn't being developed by them, and they announced Indiana Jones a few weeks ago (unless it's another one). The other 2 are rumours we have heard a few times before... Could they know anything more than we do? I hope so.

Well, for those in the market for second opinions about some recently-discussed releases, your day has come! GameSpy has put up reviews for both LucasArts' Obi-Wan and Infinite Machine's New Legends.

Both of these reviews reflect much what we've heard already. Obi-Wan gets panned and New Legends gets mediocre marks overall. The reviews are well worth reading though, so check them out!

Source: JackTheGaffer

LucasArts has posted the smallest site possible for Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. KOR is an RPG co-produced by LucasArts and BioWare, the makers of Baldur's Gate. It takes place thousands of years before the films, so there are packs of Jedi roaming about doing good deeds and whatnot.

Out of all the games LucasArts was previewing at E3 2001, this one was the most impressive in my mind. Here's the original press release from when the game was first announced, for more info.

GalacticBattles.com, thanks to LucasArts, has an exclusive video going "behind the scenes" of Galactic Battlegrounds. They've only published the first part, dealing with the thinking behind the art of the game, but apparently more will follow.

Those not interested in Battlegrounds or Star Wars at a whole should watch it for the exclusive LEC content: a sneak peek at a LucasArts cubicle, computer screen, and art binder!

The Formulaic Friday Fun continues with LucasArts.com announcing that its new PlayStation 2 title, Jedi Starfighter, has gone gold. There is also an exlusive and very cinematic trailer for this new title over at the official product page. Jedi Starfighter should be in stores the week of March 11th.

The Official LucasArts Website has established a new contest that is sure to wet the appetite of you wanna-be (oops, we mean "aspiring") game makers. Simply create a mission for the game Star Wars? Galactic Battlegrounds? with the scenario editing tools and then submit it to LucasArts by April 3rd.

If you win, your level will be included on the upcoming expansion disc Clone Campaigns?. Plus, you'll get $50 worth of credit at the LucasArts store. There will be four grand prize winners as well as four runners-up. For the details, please visit this page here.

To continue the promotional media frenzy of Jedi Outcast, the official LucasArts website has updated its Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast product spotlight with a new Jedi Knote exploring the art of the game as well as ten new screenshots.

So you spent Valentine's Day alone and now you find yourself home on a Friday night. What do you do? Why, go to LucasArts.com of course! In today's update, you'll find a new PC demo for Starfighter, some concept art for the recently announced Galactic Battleground: Clone Campaigns, new screenshots for Jedi Starfigher, and an online intro video to Racer Revenge. Are you thinking what I'm thinking? Yep... time to go hit the local clubs.

For Valentine's Day, the official LucasArts website has issued a press release, announcing an expansion pack for Galactic Battlegrounds entitled Clone Campaigns. The expansion pack, "inspired by the large-scale battles in Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones," will be released in May and will require that you own the original Galactic Battlegrounds game. In other news, how many italicized titles can I possibly include in one news update? Also, Star Wars? Racer Revenge? is now in stores.

CNNMoney, a business news website, has posted an article about LucasArts and its use of the Star Wars license. The article includes some of the sales figures for Episode I games. However, the tight deadlines of these games and their critical reaction were also explored. Here's a quote from the article:

"What we learned from 'The Phantom Menace' was that we didn't want to be in that position again," said Twist Phillips. "We, as well as everyone else, wanted to explore more, rather than be tied in with the narrative. ... We're looking at the universe in a much broader way -- not just limiting it to Episode One or Episode Two and so on."

The article goes on to drop hints about some new titles to be announced in the coming months, although sadly, there is no mention of an original title.

Source: TheForce.net

Are you a successful college student who is eager to get involved in the gaming industry? If so, you may want to check out the LucasArts Summer 2002 Internship Program! Since late December, LucasArts has been accepting internship applications for such majors as computer science, fine arts, marketing, accounting, coffee-making, and more. However, in order to be accepted, you must first pass... THE THREE TRIALS! Well not really, but only the best and most talented students are considered for the program.

LucasArts has updated the official Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast page with some new weapons and some very nice character models. Give it a look-see.

Update: One of the most noteworthy updates to the site is the addition of Jan Ors to the character profiles page! - Metallus