indiana jones
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LEGO Indiana Jones to feature a lot of playable characters
No, we didn't mix up Indiana Jones with a Mortal Kombat game; the latest LEGO title, LEGO Indiana Jones. will feature more characters than you could possibly ever need. 60, to be exact.When thinking back on the three films that will form the basis for the upcoming game, we're wondering if there are even 60 characters. Sure, there's the bald Nazi guy who gets greased by the plane propeller and John Rhys-Davies, but what else? We guess you'll be playing as non-human characters too, like that little monkey and 40 different species of snake.%Gallery-15539%[Via Joystiq]
Lego Indy to have more than 60 playable characters
Pop quiz time, hot shot: Name 60 characters from the Indiana Jones movies. Having trouble? We got to about a dozen before we had to start stretching the definition of "character" with things like "Nazi guard No. 2" and "Train Car Full of Snakes." Despite this, Activision is somehow promising to squeeze 60 playable characters into the upcoming Lego Indiana Jones, according to a fact sheet reprinted by VideoGaming247.com. Of course it's easy to have a boatload of characters when creating a new one is just a matter of putting a new jacket and hat on a Lego Minifigure, but the info. sheet also promises "character specific abilities" such as "excavation by Satipo, an umbrella slide by Marcus Brody, and monkey access by Marion Ravenwood." That's all well and good, but we're really looking forward to "Nazi Guard No. 2's" special ability, which we hear involves melting and exploding. Fun for the whole family.
Don't whip past these LEGO Indiana Jones screens
For those of you looking forward to the upcoming LEGO Indiana Jones, know that CVG has put up a whole bunch of new screens (along with some old ones) from the Wii version of the game. Sorry, they didn't include any kind of diagrams or anything that could explain the controls, but hey, a little eye candy never hurt anyone, right?So, pick your hat up off the ground, dust it off and then head on over and give the new screens a look. And, if you have yet to check out anything on the game, hit up our gallery below.%Gallery-15539%
Open this treasure chest full of new LEGO Indiana Jones screens
Those of us in North America aren't the only ones looking forward to this summer, as our friends across the pond in Europe will be getting the game only a few short days after we do. Even without the 4-player co-op, LEGO Indiana Jones still looks incredibly promising.Thankfully, some new screens for the game have made their way onto the net. We've tucked them under the brim of our gallery below, so whip through them and tell us what you think! %Gallery-15539%
LEGO Indy turning up unfashionably early in Europe
PAL gamers won't be left hanging to get their mitts on LEGO Indiana Jones this summer, with just three days dividing the game's release in the U.S. and Europe.That's according to a press release from Jersey-based retailer Play.com, which inadvertently revealed the game would be hitting the continent on June 6th. Eurogamer got on the blower to its mole at Activision, who confirmed the date. Pretty much makes up for the months we'll have to wait for Brawl, amirite? No? Hello? Anyone here?%Gallery-15539%[Via Joystiq]
Eurogamer: Lego Indiana Jones dated for Europe June 6
A press release for Play.com's Live event revealed that Lego Indiana Jones, slated to be playable at the event, is coming to retail channels on June 6. Eurogamer has confirmed the date with the ever-reliable "Top Secret Games Industry Source" and, frankly, we're happy for our European readers who don't have to wait for the usual long delay between North American release (coming June 3). The June 6 date reportedly applies to all platforms: PC, PlayStation 3, PS2, PSP, Xbox 360, Wii and DS. Eurogamer's source also noted that Lego Batman is coming later this year.
All the World's a Stage: Inspiration
All the World's a Stage is a source for roleplaying ideas, suggestions, and discussions. It is published every Sunday evening.You've probably heard that no story is completely original, that everything is copied from somewhere, and nothing anyone ever thinks or says is really unique. It's an awfully pessimistic way of looking at the creative endeavor, but there's a degree of truth in it.Any time you make up a new character, you are sure to be inspired by something you observed somewhere else. Perhaps you wondered, "What if there were a dwarven rogue, whose personality was a mix between Sherlock Holmes and Jack Sparrow?" or "My undead warrior is a lot like Frankenstein's monster, not evil so much as tragically neglected and rejected. He also likes to play with dolls." All this is fine and good for roleplaying, as long as you recognize the essential differences between your character and his or her inspirational anscestors. After all, every creative endeavor basically consists of mix-and-matching pre-existing knowledge in new and useful ways. In the same way a painter doesn't need to invent new colors, color palettes, or even new color matching techniques to make an beautiful, a storyteller doesn't need to create entirely new characteristics for each character in his or her story, only mix-and-match qualities real people already have in order to create someone compelling and interesting for other characters to interact with. Jump on in to find some great inspirations for WoW characters.
Lego Indiana Jones to feature two-player co-op, not four
An earlier report that LEGO Indiana Jones will feature four-player cooperative play has proven to be false. The game will instead feature the same two-player drop-in, drop-out gameplay as seen in the LEGO Star Wars titles, as well as the upcoming LEGO Batman. The confusion stems from MTV's recent sit-down with developer Traveller's Tales, who discussed the game's features, including the ability to have up to four characters on-screen at any time. Understandibly, MTV misconstrued this to mean that four players could play simultaneously, when in fact Traveller's Tales was merely highlighting that players could switch between multiple on-screen characters -- a feature that should be familiar to fans of TT's other LEGO games. Apologies to our readers for the erroneous information. We cool?
Well, that sucks: 4-player co-op a no-go in LEGO Indiana Jones
One of the big things revealed about LEGO Indiana Jones was a four-player co-op mode. Turns out, that's not something that's going to be available to those eager to whip a blocky, LEGO version of Indiana Jones' whip. Nope, no 4-player.Shawn Storc was the one to crush the dreams of those with more than one friend to play with, commenting "Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures will feature the user friendly drop-in/drop-out two-player cooperative feature that players have come to know and love." Storc also added "However, we are not expanding this feature to a higher player count."Big bummer to those that were looking forward to this being the next big party game. Looks like you're going to be restricted to more of a soirée and less of a party.%Gallery-15539%
LEGO Indy dated, exclusive DS features revealed
Concealed deep within Stephen Totilo's impressions of LEGO Indiana Jones, positioned on a platform beyond a series of deadly, dart-based traps, we came across a rare, precious treasure of inestimable value: details of the DS version, and a release date! Trembling with anticipation, our eyes lit by nearby torches, we grabbed the loot, and rolled beneath the rapidly closing exit, stylishly snatching our hat on the way.Once outside, we examined our haul, and found that Traveler's Tales' whip-crackin', boulder-fleein' game would ship on June 3rd. Totilo -- sorry, the treasure -- also revealed that the DS version would feature stylus control for Indy's whip, will have microphone support (to blow out torches, natch), and will allow us to control the monkey from Raiders of the Lost Ark.Monkeys can only make anything better, really.
GDC08: X-play gets a look at Lego Indiana Jones
With the game's recent announcement of four-player co-op, this game has more potential customers excited than it ever had before, and with the media for the game slowly being released, that doesn't seem likely to change. The X-play guys seem just as excited about the game, and recently released their interview with the game's producer at GDC. The topics range from the gameplay evolution, to the character selection (60 different choices), to the game's design philosophy. With a release scheduled for this June, summer is starting to look rather full.
Fresh deets for LEGO Indiana Jones
MTV's Stephen Totilo managed to get a sneak peak at the upcoming Indiana Jones-based LEGO title from developer Traveler's Tales. Sure, he played the Xbox 360 version of the game, but that doesn't mean there isn't information on the Wii port on offer.First of all, up to four players will be able to take part in the fun, however the majority of the game's puzzles are designed to incorporate two players. Also, Indy's whip will be handled through motion-based controls much like the lightsaber handled in LEGO Star Wars. The expected release date for the game is June 3, 2008.%Gallery-15539%
Lego Indy resurfaces with News, Release Date
Previously hinted at by Travelers Tales, (the developers of this and all the Lego games) and then announced last July, the Lego Indiana Jones game has shown itself again. This time with some details and the game's full name: Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures. Lego Indy will be similar to the Lego Star Wars games, in that the game story will end up spanning a total of three feature films, in this case the original eighties trilogy. The game will have three chapters (likely one per film), eighteen levels, and the traditional Indy equipment like the whip and gun. Oh, and that trademark Travelers Tales humor is supposed to be present in full force as well. With a target release date of June, this is great news for fans of the Lego games, though it does make one wonder about the status and release date of Lego Batman ....
Checking in with the good Dr. Jones
Back when it was revealed to be hitting the Wii later on this year, LEGO: Indiana Jones was the kind of thing dreams are made of. Taking another one of the best movie trilogies ever made and adapting it to the hilarious and fun LEGO approach that the LEGO: Star Wars games made so famous, we were sure this was going to be an amazing game. Let's not forget about the upcoming LEGO Batman game, either!Now, it would seem we finally have some details on the upcoming game. CVG reports (by way of Edge magazine) that the game will be called Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures, and will parody the three original films directed by Spielberg, being comprised of 3 chapters and 18 different levels. That much, we could've figured out on our own. But, here is where it gets interesting. As one would expect, Indy's whip will be a primary tool for the player, allowing them to have Indy interact with the environment in a couple different ways. He can swing (natch), but he can also use it to climb up onto ledges. Also, Indy will have a shovel, which he can use to dig up more weapons and other things.The other characters in the game come into play when Indy encounters Snakes. Just like in the movies, the game version of Indy will be ineffective against the slithering reptiles, tasking the second character to come into the spotlight and sort things out. Overall, the piece highlights LEGO: Indiana Jones as being a much more grand and hilarious experience than LEGO: Star Wars ever provided. And we don't have to tell you we're dying to find out when the game releases this spring.%Gallery-15539%
The Soloist: Why I do it
After this post, I had it in mind to think through why I prefer to solo, and whether the reasons why are valid ones, given that I'm playing in a genre meant to provide a social experience. I'm going to try to list as many reasons as I can think of in favor of grouping and playing with buddies, and provide a counter-argument if I can. Bear in mind, this is not me telling you that you should go solo; this is just me trying to 1) explain why I do it, and 2) understand for myself whether my reasons hold water.Enough said; excelsior!
Indiana Jones and the Curse of the Ten Unsung Games
Everyone knows about the good Indiana Jones games (because there have only been a couple), but do you remember the unsung games of Indy's yesteryear? Gnomeslair has compiled a list of the ten best unsung Indiana Jones games, and there's a few on there that really bring back memories. Although we'd have to argue and say that the Atari 2600 Raiders of the Lost Ark game wasn't really unsung ... people loved that game. Mostly because it was about the best you could do in 1982, and thankfully it wasn't the E.T. game.Likewise with the Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom arcade game that came out in 1985. That was a game that used a voice synthesizer ("Soon Kali Ma will rule the world!") and had that really fun mine cart sequence in it. Sure it got ridiculous, with Indy having to whip flaming hearts out of the air, but so what. It ate our quarters faster than anything.Check out the list and let us know if these should be sung or unsung. It's really made us want to boot up ScummVM and play Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine all over again. Plus we might have to start bugging Nintendo and asking if Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures will be coming over to the Wii via the Virtual Console. And Lucasarts, when is your Indiana Jones game coming out, eh?[Thanks, Konstantinos]
Robotic Indiana Jones set to explore Pyramid of Cheops
Proving once again that Harrison Ford was an idiot to risk death by snake bite, blow dart, and Nazi in order to collect a few historical trinkets, archaeologists in Egypt are preparing to perform their next exploration of the Pyramid of Cheops at Giza from the comfort of an air-conditioned tent. Instead of trying to squeeze volunteer grad students or small children down the pyramid's narrow passageways, researchers from Egypt, Singapore, Britain, and Hong Kong will be using a camera-equipped robot to navigate the country's largest ancient structure when they attempt to unlock its secrets next February. A bulkier bot was employed for this same task during a similar expedition in 2002, and though it was able to drill through walls and identify a previously unknown chamber, multiple impediments prevented it from actually discovering what, if anything, lay within. It's still not clear how the newer robot will succeed where its predecessor failed -- after all, chances are slim that the pharaohs had robotic doggy doors built into their innermost sanctums -- but apparently the international team is confident that the upcoming mission has a better shot at solving this mystery. Experts are still torn over what will likely be found in the supposed resting place of Cheops himself, but after having watched a documentary on this very subject featuring Brendan Fraser, it seems pretty clear that our tomb raiding bot can expect numerous encounters with The Rock and/or killer mummies.[Via The Raw Feed]
Indiana Jones Das Spiel
This German language Indiana Jones GC 06 trailer (showcasing ILM's "Euphoria" physics) is so charmingly retro it makes me want to spend 7 years shooting a shot for shot remake of Raiders of the Lost Ark in my backyard. Oh right, some kid already did that.
Joyswag: Be crafty, win DS and GBA games
Free games. You want them. There's no point in deluging you with our usual witty banter, remarkable observations or faultless modesty this time. Know only that this is an easy competition and that your prize is one of the following games: Sudoku Gridmaster (DS) Magnetica (DS) Tales of Phantasia (GBA) Drilldozer (GBA) Four of you will become winners by following our simple instructions and dazzling us with humor and visual mockery: Take the above image (click on it for a slightly larger version), shove it through some sort of picture alteration software and create something astonishing. Send the legends to a dimension made of nothing but congealed cheese, replace arms with spaghetti or have them recite Monty Python quotes -- let inspiration and the desire to triumph over the other pathetic entries guide you.Send the images in .jpeg format to joyswag [dot] submissions [at] gmail [dot] com. If you manage to send us into a state of hysterical laughter or stunned awe, we'll randomly select one of the four games and send it to you via an obsolete, physical delivery system. Oh, and you have until today, 11:59PM EST. Go![Original image here.]
Lucasfilm combines animation, movie and game assets
To say that the Lucasfilm group has a finger in every pie completely fails to capture how entrenched they are in several key areas in the entertainment industry. Revising the expression to include a ravenous ball of thumbs rolling through a quaint bakery might be more effective, if somewhat indicative of a strange and broken imagination. With film, game, animation and special effects divisions (amongst others) to keep track of, George Lucas and friends have decided to implement a single, software-driven database to manage all of their digital assets, essentially linking together the imaginations of the 2,000 or so people currently employed across the world. Lori Gianino, director of information systems at Lucasfilm, completely fails to make any of this sound even vaguely interesting by saying it lets them "eliminate data entry by pulling information from other systems."What she really should be saying is something along the lines of, "This universal database will give those working on our next-gen games a considerable advantage, as they'll have direct access to all the assets from our various productions. That's really awesome and stuff." Once the system is fully implemented, it is expected to house just about every piece of every puzzle, including live-action frames, motion capture data and even in-progress special effects shots. The forthcoming Indiana Jones game, for instance, can only hope to gain from an increased synergy with those involved with the fourth movie in the action archeology series. Even original titles that aim to be cinematic in nature can look to benefit from sharing assets with Lucasfilm's stable of, err, films.The unified data management system also provides scheduling and reporting tools which could certainly prove to be useful in an industry where game release dates often get pushed back and development costs get pushed higher and higher. Better management of time and budget will become all the more important in the next-generation of gaming, perhaps even skipping right past "important" and going straight to "essential." Large companies like EA and Microsoft are sure to have investigated or already implemented similar sharing strategies amongst their many developers.
