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The Secret of Monkey Island: SE released for iPhone
As was winked and nodded at by LucasArts CEO Darrell Rodriguez just over two weeks ago, The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition has sailed onto iPhone and iPod Touch [App Store link]. It'll set you back $7.99 (plus 351MB of space on your device) and sports the same fully voice-acted dialog and ability to swap between ye olde school and SE visuals on the fly as the PC and 360 versions. We're downloading it right now to put it through its paces. Have you grabbed it? If so, post your impressions in comments! [Thanks, Kevin!]
Secret of Monkey Island has strong start on Steam
The popularity of one Mr. Threepwood and his pirating ways remain strong, as sister site Big Download reports the The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition remake has managed to be the top seller (based on revenue) on Steam last week. Guybrush and his gallivanting managed to best the likes of recently released Street Fighter IV, as well as Steam favorite Left 4 Dead. Steam isn't the only platform the game has been a success on, though. After debuting on Xbox 360 last week, the game has managed to brighten the lives of at least 38,693 individuals (based on game leaderboard data at the time of this post). So, how about that LeChuck's Revenge remake, eh LucasArts?
LucasArts games also going Direct2Drive starting with Monkey Island SE
If, for some reason, you should find yourself in need of an alternative to Steam but don't want to miss out on LucasArts's recent reissuing of back catalog titles, you're in luck. IGN has sealed a deal to distribute the publisher's titles via its Direct2Drive service, beginning today with The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition for $9.95. Unfortunately, the announcement makes no mention of what other LucasArts games will be offered, saying only that there will be others. At some point. We've contacted IGN to find out if its lineup will mirror Steam's, or if there'll be any notable additions (or omissions).
This Wednesday: Monkey Island and MadBalls hit XBLA
Technically, that second one is actually Madballs in Babo Invasion. Lest you've already forgotten the game (and perhaps its spheroid protagonists), it's a top-down shooter supporting up to 16 players. Oh, and it has MadBalls in it. Remember those? You'll have to roll out 800 ($10) for the full game. Meanwhile, players can also return to Melee Island™ and relive the LucasArts classic in The Secret of Monkey Island Special Edition. The remake of the point-and-click sports newly redrawn, high definition graphics and new spoken dialogue to boot. If you'd rather play it old-school, the original, pixelicious graphics are also available. It will set you back 800 ($10 / 478 Pieces of Eight). %Gallery-64664% %Gallery-64401%
Look, an iPhone-sized Monkey Island: Special Edition wallpaper ('Wink wink nod nod')
You can say a lot of things about LucasArts CEO Darrell Rodriguez (he's managed to get the Lucas Empire to acknowledge its adventure game heritage, for starters!) but you probably can't call him slick. When he told us that it "would make sense" for LucasArts games to come to the iPhone, "wink wink, nod nod" (he actually said that, out loud), we caught what he was throwing ... which was a boulder. On fire. Neon fire. So now, when the 'droids responsible for maintaining the @lucasartsgames Twitter account dropped a curiously iPhone-sized Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition wallpaper with another "wink wink nod nod" we barely raised a boulder-singed eyebrow. Instead, we're wondering what the plan is for the iPhone market: "Special Edition" remakes only (ala Xbox Live Arcade), or another marketplace for the classics (see: Steam). Like most of the unanswered questions in LucasArt's journey into the vaults, we imagine it all depends on the success of this first foray. %Gallery-67743% [Via @lucasartgames]
Discover The Secret of Monkey Island (again) on July 15
Mighty pirates and lowly flooring inspectors alike are encouraged to sign up for a return trip to the shores of Monkey Island on July 15th, when a remastered version of the adventure classic arrives on Xbox Live Arcade and PC (via Steam and other online distribution channels). The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition sees that lovable display of ineptitude, Guybrush Threepwood, rendered in splendid HD graphics, surrounded by newly recorded voices and ... fired out of a cannon with a pot on his head. That part's still the same. LucasArts has yet to announce a price for the point-and-clicker, but if there's anything our encounters with the dreaded ghost pirate LeChuck have taught us, it's that you should never pay more than $20 for a computer game. %Gallery-64659%
LucasArts classics coming to Steam this Wednesday, July 8
digg_url = 'http://www.joystiq.com/2009/07/06/breaking-lucasarts-classics-coming-to-steam-this-wednesday/'; LucasArts is poised to deliver a one-two ... err, three punch for classic gaming fans, beginning with tomorrow's PC release of the first chapter of Tales of Monkey Island, titled "Launch of the Screaming Narwhal." Today, LucasArts announced not only the release date for Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition – it's next week, on July 15th – but also the availability of ten LucasArts classics from the back-catalog, to be made available on Steam this Wednesday, July 8! We spoke with LucasArts CEO Darrell Rodriguez, who told us that this is "a passion project" for him as well as his team. "This is the first time these titles have ever been on digital distribution, and it's something we're all very excited about," he told us this morning. "And this is just the beginning." That "beginning" includes ten titles from the LucasArts vaults, including adventure gaming classics like Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis, Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure, LOOM, and The Dig. Also included in this first batch of games are Armed and Dangerous, LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventure, Star Wars Battlefront II, Star Wars Republic Commando, Star Wars Starfighter, and Thrillville: Off the Rails. The press release calls this the "first round of releases" and Rodriguez promises us they've got more in store, including "some bundles that offer some extra value." Those bundles are Steam-only for now, though; a retail package is "something to definitely consider" Rodriguez tells us, though LucasArts has "no plans for them right now." %Gallery-64659%
Monkey Island SE might go to WiiWare, PSN, Monkey Island 2 a possibility
Speaking to the Guardian, Craig Derrick, producer of The Secret of Monkey Island Special Edition, said that the game may make the jump from XBLA and PC to another platform as well. When asked about why LucasArts chose Xbox Live Arcade as the launch platform and not Wiiware or PSN, Derrick responded, "Well, we never said we wouldn't be on Wiiware or PSN now did we?" He added, "We may have another platform announcement to make very, very soon," though he failed to elaborate any further on the matter. Derrick also seemed to share the sentiments of some other folks involved with both the Special Edition and the upcoming Tales of Monkey Island from Telltale, saying that he'd like to see a redone version of Monkey Island 2. He noted that Monkey Island Special Edition is an "experiment to see what interest there is for these types of games and if people are interested in playing them on a console." In other words, whether or not we see another revamped LucasArts adventure game depends on how well the Monkey Island sells. We're sure the Joystiq staff will buy at least one copy, if that helps ....
Taking a stroll back through The Secret of Monkey Island
With an HD remix of The Secret of Monkey Island and a full-on episodic assault in Tales of Monkey Island on the way, many might find themselves wondering what all of the fuss is about. Those individuals have likely been stomping around the Earth for no more than 12 years or so, and thankfully GameSetWatch has come to the rescue with an incredibly lengthy retrospective (like, 5,000 words long) on the series. We must warn you that the piece is filled with various spoilers, so if you've never played any of these games before, don't say we didn't warn you. But, for the rest of us, it's a great primer for the bounty of content ahead. %Gallery-64659%
LucasArts developers play Monkey Island on Justin.tv tomorrow, June 19, at 3PM
Be ye ready for a ... sorry, we can do better pirate than that! Noy jitat, arrrrrrrrre ye ready to watch some LucasArts developers play Monkey Island and answer your barnacle infested questions? Then head on over to Justin.tv/lucasartsgames tomorrow at 3PM Pacific. LucasArts devs will play through the early part of the game for approximately an hour and answer viewer questions. The event will not be recorded, so you'll have to make a date if the event interests you. Or, you know, someone out there in the stormy seas of the internets can record the event and then maybe slide a link where people can watch it later. You know, in the comments here or something. Too right, now ye be thinkin' like pirates!
LucasArts wants to re-release classic adventure games (if you want to buy them)
If the words Day of the Tentacle, Grim Fandango and Full Throttle bring pangs of joy to your heart of hearts, you'll want to hear this -- several LucasArts higher-ups have stated the desire to bring more of their catalog of classic adventure titles back to life, provided that people show interest in purchasing them. For starters, you could drop a few bucks on the upcoming XBLA and PC remake of The Secret of Monkey Island as a good faith offering. This sentiment was mentioned to Australian news outlet WAToday by LucasArts community manager Brooks Brown, who said, "if this sells, there's no one at this company who doesn't want to do these games." One fan of the company's beloved point-and-clickers is LucasArts CEO Darrell Rodriguez, who spoke with Joystiq on the possibility of more classic revamps just before E3, and explained that he "couldn't do anything but release more of these titles" if sales for Monkey Island and desire from the gaming populous were strong. Long story short, if you don't buy Monkey Island, and they don't re-release Grim Fandango because of your non-purchase, we're going to find you and punch you repeatedly in your most delicate places. %Gallery-64659%
Monkey Island won't hold any secrets after these videos
If you're new to adventure games and have yet to see The Secret of Monkey Island, check the videos after the break for a pretty good idea of what the game's like. If you love Monkey Island, check the videos for a look at the beautiful HD upgrade that has been lavished upon it. There's really something here for everyone. And by "something" we mean "eight videos." Is it cool for us to say that one of the best new games of E3 is an old game? Because it totally is. Along with the actually new Monkey Island game.
The Secret of Monkey Island Special Edition coming to XBLA, PC
digg_url = 'http://digg.com/gaming_news/Special_Edition_Secret_of_Monkey_Island_coming_to_XBLA_PC'; Remember that XBLA version of Secret of Monkey Island that was rumored a few weeks ago? Brush up on your insult swordfighting, because it's totally happening. LucasArts is bringing Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition to XBLA and PC. When don't know when it's happening, but LucasArts will revitalize the series in-house along with its Singapore studio with high-def graphics, full voiceover, a remastered score and a new in-depth hint system. You can check out comparison shots of the old version and the new one (pretty!) in the gallery below. %Gallery-64659%
Rumor: Secret of Monkey Island coming to XBLA
Listen, we know you want to freak out after reading that headline, we do too. But let's work through this together, OK? GamerBytes says it spotted Secret of Monkey Island, the first in Ron Gilbert's revered adventure series, listed for Xbox 360 (likely XBLA) on the website of the German USK ratings board. The listing -- which actually called the game a "Special Edition" -- shows Activision as having some involvement, but likely because it handles European publishing duties for LucasArts. However, the only evidence we have of the game now is GamerBytes' screengrab, as the listing's apparently been pulled. We're hoping against hope it was removed not because the listing was in error, but because it popped up a bit earlier than the companies behind it would have liked. You may now commence the freakout.
