The International House of Mojo

Have questions about the Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition? Well, join up and become a fan of the game on Facebook, and you can post questions for an official Q&A. The answers will start appearing at 3pm PST today, so hurry up!

Update by Thrik: All over now. Check out Thunderpeel's transcript on the Mixmojo forum.

You'll be pleased to hear that Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis has been released on Wii for the first time today. As a bonus, it comes bundled with Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings, Indy's first new gaming adventure in six years.

To celebrate, the latest edition of LucasArts Insider (yes, it's still going) has been mailed out. I only presume LucasArts are mocking us, as this was the picture they used.

Unfortunately I promised not to mock LucasArts ever again after last Monday, so I'll stop for now.

A review of Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings has already appeared online. Reviewed by the most trusted of gaming critics, The Alabama Local News, the game gets an A+ rating. The excessive praise in this rather odd article makes the reviewer hard to take seriously:

I'll go out on a limb and declare the following: This is the best Wii release of the year so far, and certainly the best game I personally have played on this system. It's entertaining, it's dynamic and it mixes Wii technology with a fantastic storyline. In the words of Indiana Jones, there is "fortune and glory" in this game.

I'm sure the game is good, but, the best Wii game of all time? Possible hyperbole going on here. Staff of Kings hits American stores in two days, on June 6th. Look for Mojo's own, non-paid-off review not long after that.

Adventuregamers has posted a lovely preview of the Monkey Island remake.

A release date hasn’t been confirmed yet, but they’re aiming for this summer, as close as possible to Tales of Monkey Island’s debut on July 7th. Despite my begging and pleading and deft use of “Maniac-Mansion-Special-Edition-Coming-Soon-Says-What?”, LucasArts wouldn’t confirm or deny any future updates of their key adventure franchises. On the other hand, they made it clear they love the old adventures as much as the rest of us, even going so far as to say they went to work for LucasArts because of games like Monkey Island, so if this first new revival proves to be financially and critically successful, they’d be happy to bring back even more.

Off you go, then...

Update: Our own preview is now up!

Source: Adventuregamers

This is probably the most exciting e3 event ever, and Mojo has a man at the front-line, Jeff Moeller, to report on everything that's going on! Booyah!

Jeff met up with David Grossman and Emily Morganti to ask all the pressing questions about Telltale Texas Hold'em Tales of Monkey Island. Check it out.

Look out for more hot e3 coverage coming soon!

(Note: it wouldn't be "Classic Mojo" without some technical errors at the same time as important news, and so, naturally, the gallery thumbnails have failed. Dan Pettit is thought to be the cause.)

Update: Jeff has written up his first impressions of the game, which you can now read in the article.

Jump over to Spudvision and you will not only see a sketch of the original Secret of Monkey Island cover, but also learn that Purcell will document the creation of the brand new Tales of Monkey Island cover on the same blog. Which is really quite cool.

So ever since LucasArts flashed the Monkey card and sent us down on our knees, and smiled as we proclaimed/begged forgiveness for almost every atrocity of the last nine years, and now that the make-up sex has happened, you may be wondering what the future may be holding for you. Well, developmag have nailed an interview with Darrell Rodriguez, current President of LucasArts, which should clear things up a little.

Knock yourself out.

Source: Developmag

That most excellent of websites, Adventure Gamers, has previewed the first episode of The Tales of Monkey Island (although those of you who do not want to know any plot details should probably avoid going in). A snippet, to make the wait that much more unbearable:

Though I only saw a fraction of the first episode, I can confirm without hesitation that this is a Monkey Island game. The jokes are Monkey Island jokes. The situations are Monkey Island situations. I laughed more during this demo than I have in any single adventure game (or episode) I’ve played in the last few years.

Update: Gamespot preview, with obligatory (somewhat minor) spoiler warning.

Update: Dave Grossman is interviewed about Monkey Island 6 (that's what they're calling it). On a personal level, I do hope they make the (mentioned-in-passing) a Monkey Island 5 in the Curse of Monkey Island/Vampyre Story vein, but adjust the art style accordingly. I love Telltale's work, and am very excited for Monkey Island, but personally am not sure if the Telltale Engine is right for this particular franchise.

Just quickly, a new trailer that debuted at E3 has gone up for the forthcoming LucasArts / Bioware Star Wars MMO 'The Old Republic'.

It's pretty good, and now that we all love LucasArts again, you might like to take a look.

Source: Gametrailers

So, Mixnmojo was actually able to report the announcement of Monkey Island 5, and not as a brilliant April Fool's joke. Clearly, LEC has to be applauded. But is their recent respect for their back catalog a one-time thing, or a sign of things to come?

The answer can probably be found in LEC's Monkey Island press release, a document you should read if for no other reason than that you actually exist in a world where you can read a Monkey Island 5 press release. A paragraph of particular note:

These efforts are just the start of LucasArts' new mission to revitalize its deep portfolio of beloved gaming franchises. In addition to these Monkey Island projects, LucasArts recently revealed that the classic adventure game Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis (originally released in 1992) is included as an unlockable bonus in the Wii version of Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings, set to be released on June 9. Additional announcements are forthcoming.

I know I should know better than to so quickly let LucasArts back into my life after all those betrayals, but damn if she isn't looking smoking hot in that lingerie.

So we're all excited about the new Monkey Island game as well as the Special Edition, enough so that LucasArts wants to cash in on it.

T-shirts, a poster, and buttons... Did somebody fast forward to 2015?

Go buy!

Source: Laserschwert

On the game's official site, LucasArts has uploaded a new video about Staff of Kings (the last clickable one on the right), this one about the game's co-op mode. As if you couldn't have already guessed it (and who knows, maybe it was already announced for all I can remember), the second playable character is none other than Henry Jones, Sr.

Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings comes out in North America on June 9th, JUNIOR!

The worst-kept Indiana Jones computer game-related secret this year since Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings has now appeared: Lego Indiana Jones II: The Adventure Continues has now been announced at last.

Confirmed for all major platforms (yes, even PC) and obviously based on, at least, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, as well as giving players a level editor at last to add the longevity missing from all the other titles so far.

LucasArts boss Darrell Rodriguez had this to say:

"LEGO Indiana Jones 2 delivers something a little different for everyone. Parents will enjoy the humorous take on the classic moments from their favorite movies, and their kids have an opportunity to experience the most authentic LEGO experience by building their own fun levels brick by brick."

So "everyone" translates as "parents or kids" does it?

Still, at least it's not 'The Complete Adventures' as many suspected. But will Indy IV be enough for a whole Lego game? And how exactly are LucasArts getting developers owned by other publishers to make games for them?

UPDATE: Teach me to read CVG. According to LucasArts' own press release, it is going to be "The Complete Adventures" as feared.

UPDATE 2: We have a cover.

UPDATE 3: And screenshots, too. There's even a pic of the... very basic level editor.

Source: CVG

LucasArts have posted a new video at the Indy Staff of Kings site, looking at the Hot Set environments and using objects and areas to Indy's advantage. There's also a nice reference to the famous shooting-the-sword-guy moment in Raiders.

Frankly though, as fun as it's looking that's not the good part for me. The good part is that the video clearly shows that we'll be able to turn off those annoying health bars on enemies. Phew!

Source: Staffofkings.com

According to the German ratings board USK, a Special Edition version of The Secret of Monkey Island may be on its way to (of all things) Xbox 360. Presumably this will be downloadable via Xbox Live rather than boxed.

While obviously this must be counted as rumour (not least of which because it raises many questions), let's not forget that just last year USK were the ones that first alerted the adventure gaming community to the existence of Broken Sword on DS and Wii.

Whatever happens, let's hope it's true and that it's coming out on PC and Wii too. Until then, let your imaginations run riot over the tantalising phrase "Special Edition"...

(Additional thanks to Diduz for spotting this first!)

Source: Eurogamer

For no good reason I can fathom (other than it required no new character model) Han Solo is an unlockable character in Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings. But with Indy's weapons, not his own trademark blaster.

View the trailer here.

Now, I'm waiting with bated breath for the announcement that Bob Falfa from American Graffiti is the 2nd bonus character.

Source: starwars.com

If there's one thing you can count on even more than annual Mojo downtime or regularly scheduled mass firings at LEC, it's Monkey Island 5 rumors. The latest comes from Destructoid, which has the following to say:

A source recently revealed to us that LucasArts is planning to resurrect a classic franchise at E3. The million dollar question -- what series is it -- is unknown to our source. However, we do know that titles like Grim Fandango and Monkey Island were uttered within earshot as examples of a LucasArts' golden oldie.

Hopefully we don't have to tell you that this is rumor material to the extreme, but there you go.

After months (years?) of nothing but a bare product page, LucasArts has finally posted their official site for Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings. Poke around to check out some new screenshots, concept art the, promise of new upcoming videos, and a whole bunch of Flash-enabled time wasters.

Update: I should also point out this in-depth interview with LEC voice director David Collins about the game.

http://www.google.com/trends?q=lucasarts:



You guys had better step it up with the LucasArts Google searches. No one else can do it for you.

Incredibly exciting news comes today as LucasArts has announced the foreshadowed Star Wars The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes, an action/adventure game based on the animated series of the same name and developed by Krome Studios, who were responsible for Lightsaber Duels and the low-end ports of The Force Unleashed.

You can check out the riveting press release here. (It couldn't kill you to check out the official site either, I guess.) The game releases this September for all platforms (yes, even PC), assuming you don't succumb fatally to your anticipation first.