LucasArts announcement later today

By Oli Welsh Published 6 July, 2009

"Awesome news for our old school fans."

LucasArts has spent a happy Fourth of July weekend teasing its fans on Twitter with the promise of "amazing news" on Monday. Which is today.

"Amazing news coming Monday! Super excited! You have no idea how tough it is not to start yelling about it! But it's secret! Until Monday!" frothed the company's official Twitter feed.

After giving in to pressure to give hints, the LucasArts staffer posted: "It is awesome news for our old school fans. (Anything more direct might get me in trouble.)"

It was also confirmed that the announcement would not involve new intellectual property, confirming suspicions that this would be a remake, re-release or sequel in one of Lucas' much-loved classic franchises.

With Monkey Island taken care of already via an XBLA remake of the original and a new Telltale series for PC and Wii, that leaves... Full Throttle? Day of the Tentacle? Grim Fandango? X-Wing vs Tie Fighter? An official SCUMM remake series for iPhone?

Your guess is as good as ours. Expect an announcement some time this evening, after the west coast of the US wakes up.

Picture of Oli.

About Oli Welsh

Oli is Eurogamer's acting deputy editor and reviews editor and likes to take things one word at a time. He is among the best dressed people in South London.

Read more articles from Oli by visiting the Oli Welsh archive page.

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Comments (79) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • LazyDan #1 3 years ago

    Day of the Tentacle.

  • Ninja_Tino #2 3 years ago

    A year and a half ago I spent a bomb buying all the olde school LucasArts adventures. Regardless, I'll still be pleased with re-releases. Better not be a Grim Fandango sequel. Without Tim that's blasphemy!

  • MikkyX #3 3 years ago

    If this isn't an XBLA or PC remake of Grim Fandango then..... then..... it'll have to be something else really good to compensate!

  • wayn3h #4 3 years ago

    LazyDan; I bleddy hope so. That would be all kinds of awesome.

  • paul_haine #5 3 years ago

    Loom?

  • curtlikesmeat #6 3 years ago

    I don't think it'll be Grim Fandango based on Tim's comments last week (he'd know if anything was going down with that). I don't think it'll be more Star Wars as there's enough in development at the mo.

    My bet is Day of the Tentacle.

  • Bitkari #7 3 years ago

    It had better be a Star Wars point-and-click adventure.

  • CallousB #8 3 years ago

    Maybe they have finally decided to release all their SNES/N64 games on the Wii virtual console.

  • bad09 #9 3 years ago

    BATTLEFRONT 3!!!!

    Probably not "old school" though so I wonder what it is?


  • AphoticCosmos #10 3 years ago

    The Old School stuff is good, but . . .

    WHERE THE HELL IS IMPERIAL COMMANDO!? :<

    Pure idiocy for not making a sequel to Republic Commando. Absolutely mental. I have no idea why they wouldn't take one of LA's only good in-house games of the last few years and not make another mint off of it's back.

  • flaming.carrot #11 3 years ago

    Maniac Mansion III (as Day of the Tentacle was actually Manic Mansion II)?

  • AgentCool #12 3 years ago

    Please, PLEASE be Grim Fandango 'remastered' on LIVE Arcade.

  • Spindle #13 3 years ago

    I'd love a new Tie Fighter or Dark Forces 3, but reckon it'll be a DotT remake.

  • eoghan12 #14 3 years ago

    What about the whole old catalogue on Steam. Possible?

  • pauleyc #15 3 years ago

    @disc: A remade version of Tie Fighter would be pure bliss. But I'm rather leaning towards HD remakes of MI2, DOTT and the Indy adventures.

  • space_ace #16 3 years ago

    they hinted at maniac mansion

  • asphaltcowboy #17 3 years ago

    Day of the Tentacle, Fate of Atlantis, Monkey Island II and Grim Fandango please!

  • Vordred #18 3 years ago

    @Spindle

    there is already a Dark Forces 3 and 4.

  • Britesparc Verified Creative, ITV #19 3 years ago

    I think it'll be a new X-Wing/TIE Fighter. The only adventures they'd make a fuss like this about would be Monkey Island (or maybe Sam & Max) and they're both accounted for.

    Either that, or Heaven & Hell 2.

  • Triggerhappytel #20 3 years ago

    Dark Forces 3? Please?!

    Or a HD TIE Fighter for about ten quid would be luvverly.


    @ Vordred - Jedi Knight 2 & 3 aren't really Dark Forces games though; they have very little in common with the original game and don't even share the same title, and I think a lot of fans don't consider them to be on the same level.
    Edited by Triggerhappytel at 06/07/09 @ 09:57

  • Redeye #21 3 years ago

    Rescue on Fractalus, Koronis Rift, Eidolon, X-Wing/TIE Fighter, DOTT...I'll have the lot, please. :D

  • UncleLou #22 3 years ago

    "they hinted at maniac mansion"

    Makes sense. I don't see them doing anything with DoTT before MM.

  • matrim83 #23 3 years ago

    I know its not old school but I would have loved this to be a Republic commando sequel.

  • kangarootoo #24 3 years ago

    Could it finally be?

    That day comes that Lucasarts realise they are sitting on top of a stockpile of quality IP?

    IP that gamers young and old would queue up to buy?

    That they realise they can actually release games of quality based on said IP instead of cynically shoehorning posh technology into yet another otherwise sub-par game based on their Star Wars dairy farm?


    .... fingers, cross and wait for further instructions.

  • homerramone #25 3 years ago

    please be grim... please be grim... please be grim... please be grim... please be grim...

  • systems #26 3 years ago

    They mention it's for old school fans, by which I take to mean the DOS days (so no Grim Fandango). So that leaves us only a few things fans would care about:

    Full Throttle
    Day of the Tentacle
    The Dig
    Monkey Island series stuff
    X-Wing series stuff
    Dark Forces

    We already know they're doing Monkey Island stuff so it's not that. We also know it's likely to be something they can flog on Live marketplace or PSN so it won't be X-Wing stuff as there are too many keys. The Dig wasn't all that good, so my money's on DoTT or Dark Forces in HD.
    Edited by systems at 06/07/09 @ 10:13

  • kangarootoo #27 3 years ago

    @systems

    "They mention it's for old school fans, by which I take to mean the DOS days"

    You are showing your age there man (I'm as old probably). Old school these days probably means Windows 98 :)

  • Monkey_Puncher #28 3 years ago

    Outlaws HD
    Day of the Tentacle HD
    Monkey Island 2+3 HD

  • bioreit #29 3 years ago

    X-Wing vs Tie-Fighter for XBLA and PSN.

    DOTT or Sam and Max for that also.

    Or Grim Fandango.

    Or Full Throttle.

    Aaaaargh! Too many old Lucasarts games I want them to re-release on XBLA and PSN! Nothing else for it - they're just going to have to do the entire back catalogue.

  • Buztafen #30 3 years ago

    Defo TIE FIGHTER ftw!

  • spekkeh #31 3 years ago

    The Dig wasn't all that good

    RAGE

  • schnide #32 3 years ago

    X-Wing, and Tie Fighter, were miles better than X-Wing Vs Tie Fighter imho. The first two games had you as a nameless pilot allowing your imagination to fill in the gaps outside of the excellent flight mechanics. The last one tacked on some shit story calling you Ace Azzameen with a very annoying droid.

    So Tie Fighter on PSN and XBLA for me, please!

  • UncleLou #33 3 years ago

    "The Dig wasn't all that good

    RAGE "

    Agreed, I loved it. Definitely amongst my favourite Lucasarts games. Probably their most atmospheric one, and walking a fine line between being funny (without going over the top) and more serious than their other games. Great, great game.

  • Rosswell #34 3 years ago

    Anything other than Star Wars and I'll be happy with this "surprise" (unless it's Tie Fighter). Give that damn franchise a break its been done to death.

  • [TR] #35 3 years ago

    I'd like them to go back to making adventure games. New ones.

  • Domovoi #36 3 years ago

    Labyrinth 2.

  • Lutz #37 3 years ago

    If this isn't TIE Fighter I'm going to be *very* upset.

  • WrongShui #38 3 years ago

    If it's old school I can't think of anything I wouldn't want.

  • Darren #39 3 years ago

    A Zak McKraken and the Alien Mindbenders redux is coming to the PS3, Xbox 360, PC and Wii via download?

  • MikkyX #40 3 years ago

    Their entire back catalogue converted for modern machines and available via gog.com or Steam?

  • kestral #41 3 years ago

    might not even be a game

  • makeamazing #42 3 years ago

    About time we had either a Outlaws or Dark Forces game please.

  • beastmaster #43 3 years ago

    All of the above!

  • crazyhorse174 #44 3 years ago

    It could be Full Throttle - werent they supposedly doing a sequel a while back that got canned? Maybe they're going to dust that off and finish it for release?

  • tripitaka #45 3 years ago

    Didn't the latest Indy game on the Wii contain Fate of Atlantis fully playable, and using a Lucasarts internally developed SCUMM interpreter?
    I wouldn't be surprised to see them bringing some more of the old games to Wii somehow...

  • trooperdx3117 #46 3 years ago

    Damn I want either Battlefront 3 or better yet Republic Commando 2 but I suppose those aren't old school enough

  • the_mtfr #47 3 years ago

    Unbelievable how huge is the crowd of people who desperately want a 15 year old game re-packaged for their new console, for which they are willing to pay again even if they have the 15 year old one at home. And then they'd be grateful for this and praise Lucas Arts, while none of this new money is going to go to the original developers.

    Why the hell willing to pay again for DOTT or Full Throttle repackaged for XBLA or such? When you can get the latest SCUMMVM and perfectly run your old copies on everything even the PSP.

    Don't get me wrong, I think DOTT, Full Throttle, Sam & Max are amazing but I'm not buying the same thing twice if the money's not going to Tim Schafer and the others.

    Forgot to add, I hope for a sequel to The Dig :p But whatever they do, if it's a point&click adventure, I really hope they do it in 2D.
    Edited by the_mtfr at 06/07/09 @ 14:12

  • raion #48 3 years ago

    "It had better be a Star Wars point-and-click adventure."

    oh. my. god.

    that'd be SO awesome. I can already picture a little pixellated lightsaber being used in the most unthinkable of ways.
    yeeeeeah, good suff.

    ....... who am I kidding? whatever will it be it certainly won't be in 256 colors 2D. and so, true old school fans will be underwhelmed. *sigh*

    edit: also, totally agree with the_mtfr.
    edit2: you know why people want them for xbox? achievments! I'm sure! "achievment unlocked: succefully ruined wally's life"
    Edited by raion at 06/07/09 @ 14:57

  • Domovoi #49 3 years ago

    Yeah, because you're only a true fan if you want 256 colors and 2D. True fans wouldn't realise that graphics don't make a game, and that making a game 2D doesn't automatically make it good.

  • MaxiSleep #50 3 years ago

    Tie Fighter is all I want from you Lucasarts. Do not disapoint.

  • WinterSnowblind #51 3 years ago

    @the_mtfr

    I think the problem is most of us DON'T already own old versions of those games, and the only way to play them is illegally on emulators. If they re-release the Monkey Island games, Sam & Max, Day of the Tentacle, etc on Steam or XBLA or whatever, I'll gladly pay for them.

    If you already own them, true, there's little point, but the games are extremely rare these days, and there's a lot of people out there who haven't even played them at all!

  • raion #52 3 years ago

    adventure games belong in 2D, it's as simple as that.
    grim fandago was one of the most amazing games I've ever played, but the controls for the 3D character made me cringe all the way through (and whatever possessed them to use the same engine again for mi4?!), when they could as easily made it control like the longest journey (as a 2D game).

    oh, by the way, for the monkey island fans, read http://grumpygamer.com/8280380 , ron gilbert's take on his own game as he plays through it again. as well as some quick behind the scenes.

  • Kingofnothin #53 3 years ago

    TiefighterFullthrottleLoom Megapack on XBL/PSN/PC?

  • Mockerre #54 3 years ago

    Zak McCracken ;)

  • TOOTR #55 3 years ago

    oh man hope its Xwing or tie fighter for xbla or even full HD versions

    could you map most of the keys to the 360 controller? Discuss. :)

  • wellzy4eva #56 3 years ago

    This is totally stupid, it's like waiting for E3, they are going to announce something like their own 'steam' based system for downloading their old games and playing them via a officially integrated ScummVM or it's going to be a load of point and click games going to XBLA.

    I wish the idiot who is writing the twitter had said "There will be no new X Wing or Tie Fighter game, nor will they be revamped"
    Edited by wellzy4eva at 06/07/09 @ 16:36

  • bioreit #57 3 years ago

    @TOOTR

    Yes, yes you could.

    I recall working out how to map Freespace 1 and 2 controls to the 360 pad after playing through...crap...what was that rubbishy space combat sim called......Project Sylpheed! That's the one! Anyways, I remember getting cheesed off with the controls and the game and wondered if you could do it. I can't say exactly what I worked out, but you could easily do it with radial menus (like in 360 Red Alert 3), so it should be transferrable to X-Wing and TIE Fighter.

  • stephen #58 3 years ago

    From twitter:

    1 hour left. Now I must go through my email and sort out the 2600 emails from Twitter, then draft the perfect Tweet for you guys.

  • DADHAT #59 3 years ago

    probably just going to be the rumoured iphone monkey island ports... hopefully something more interesting though...

  • MikkyX #60 3 years ago

    It's a partnership with Steam: "So lets see who will be happy: LucasArts has partnered with Steam. Digital adventurey goodness."

  • MikkyX #61 3 years ago

    WARNING - PDF: http://www.lucasarts.com/company/vip/cat...

  • Malek86 #62 3 years ago

    "So lets see who will be happy: LucasArts has partnered with Steam. Digital adventurey goodness."

    Uhm... ok, I guess? This is pretty good if you want to have the original games, I guess. Will they be using a ScummVM of sort?

    Anyway, I'm getting Loom. I honestly hope it's the 256-colors, voiced version. It better be.

    Oh yeah, and now I also have confirmation that Monkey Island SE will be coming on 07/15. Lots of adventures in such few days.
    Edited by Malek86 at 06/07/09 @ 18:37

  • wellzy4eva #63 3 years ago

    yay, called it! (Well almost, didn't think they'd actually get buddy buddy with steam)

    *Waits for mega pack in a few months time with all the games half price
    Edited by wellzy4eva at 06/07/09 @ 18:41

  • AphoticCosmos #64 3 years ago

    Sigh.

    Still no RC love.

    Idiocy.

  • bad09 #65 3 years ago

    OK so the "awesome" news I've been waiting for all sodding day is.....I will be able to buy the exact same old classics I already have or played, but now via download? Erm...thanks LA...I guess..

    After the new Monkey Island I was hoping they got some people with brains in and we would hear of something...well....awesome!

    / dreams just like EVERYONE BLOODY ELSE about the games LA could (and should) be making.

  • eoghan12 #66 3 years ago

    Well I am very happy that Lucasarts have decided to release their games on Steam. Show a bit of optimism.

  • Redeye #67 3 years ago

    Massive anti-climax FTL.

  • Ninja_Tino #68 3 years ago

    It's been so adventurous recently. Time, Gentlemen, Please has just been released and now this. Loving it. Never got Loom or The Dig so will pick those up! Wonder what the pricing will be?

  • Farfarer #69 3 years ago

    Sorry LucasArts, you're not claiming me back. You've made your bed with your Star Wars cash cow now go lie in it.

  • Feanor #70 3 years ago

    Fate of Atlantis on Steam ftw.

  • Monkey_Puncher #71 3 years ago

    Looks like Monkey Island will be on XBLA on the 15th, w00t!

  • bad09 #72 3 years ago

    "You've made your bed with your Star Wars cash cow now go lie in it. "

    But they haven't milked that cow though. Instead they've forced that cow into giving sour milk with constant poor quality tat. Many of us are SCREAMING for LA to dip into it's SW games more but they just won't for some reason, I guess giving customers what they want isn't their mission statement. Hell they couldn't even get KOTOR3 right the muppets!

  • Syrette #73 3 years ago

    Meh.

  • MuppetThumper #74 3 years ago

    you all seem to have forgotten an absolute CLASSIC!

    Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe FOR THE WIN!

  • MuTaunt #75 3 years ago

    Bit underwhelmed by the initial selection. They best be planning to add Grim Fandango and the X-Wing series to steam.

  • MaxiSleep #76 3 years ago

    10 pc fan favorites my wrinkled fleshy arse.

    Star Wars Starfighter?

    You misreable abominations. I hope that satan feasts on your eyeballs!

  • Merefield #77 3 years ago

    From Steam:

    The complete list of games to be released on July 8 via Steam includes:

    Armed and Dangerous™
    Indiana Jones® and the Fate of Atlantis
    Indiana Jones® and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure
    LEGO® Indiana Jones: The Original Adventure
    LOOM™
    Star Wars Battlefront® II
    Star Wars Republic Commando®
    Star Wars Starfighter™
    The Dig®
    Thrillville®: Off the Rails™

  • Oceadge #78 3 years ago

    "Dear Loyal Fans, we know that many of you have bought our games on the Commodore 64 and then again on the Amiga/ST with better music and graphics and some of you even bought them again on the PC. Well, we have some very exciting news for you - soon you'll be able to buy them again!"

    The sad thing is, I, like many of you, probably will buy some of these again on Steam!

    It's a funny ol' world we live in!

  • X201 #79 3 years ago

    "Released on Steam"
    Is that Worldwide or just in the US?