The Monkey Island SCUMM Bar

MI:SE costumes for your PlayStation Home avatar

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:25:00 PST

It pales in comparison to our previous announcements, but at some point in last night’s exciting press conference, LucasArts announced that the clothing of various Monkey Island characters would soon be available for your PlayStation Home avatar to wear.

This Joystiq article includes a photo. It appears that most of the costumes are taken from the Secret of Monkey Island Special Edition.

Sadly, it would seem that Stan’s coat features a realistic plaid pattern! Shocking, we know.

LeChuck's Worst Kept Secret Confirmed

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:48:00 PST

“LeChucks Revenge: Special Edition is official! New puzzles, new enemies, new hair!”

New Puzzles? What?

And… is there an announcement Three?

Update by Jason: While clarification of the features will no doubt come in the morning in the form of a press release and an official site launch, it’s been confirmed that, like with Monkey Island 1, there will be full voice acting, and the original game will be included. “Developer commentary” has bizarrely been alluded to as a bonus feature – who knows what that means, but Tim Schafer and Ron Gilbert were on-site for the announcement. Also, here’s the cover art.

Further Update by ATMachine: According to LucasArts’ Twitter feed, MI2:SE will feature voice acting both in the high-resolution updated-graphics mode and in the low-res, original-graphics mode. Plus, Guybrush’s hairstyle has been changed, so hopefully there will be fewer complaints about that this time round.

Update 3: According to LucasArts, MI2:SE will be available for PSN, XBLA, Mac, iPhone, and PC.

Update 4: This Joystiq article suggests that the game will be released “this summer.” Also, there will be a new direct control scheme implemented in addition to the previously used point-and-click method.

Finally, it notes this about the extra content:

“They’ve also added never-before-seen art from Peter Chan and Steve Purcell and developer commentary (!) for you Monkey Island fanboys out there (that’s you).”

Update 5 by Jason: Official site launched and here’s the press release.

Secret of Monkey Island heading to PSN and Mac (UPDATE: And Telltale's online store!)

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 21:46:00 PST

LucasArts has revealed via its Twitter account that The Secret of Monkey Island (Special Edition) is heading to the Playstation Network and to Mac. That’s “Announcement One”, apparently.

Expect more details in the coming hours from the Game Developer’s Conference in San Francisco.

And bring on “Announcement Two”!

Update by ATMachine: Reports trickling out from the LucasArts press conference suggest that SOMI:SE will soon become available for purchase from Telltale’s website. ~~However, this has not been confirmed yet.~~

Update 2: In addition to the earlier Twitter report, Kotaku has now picked up the news of Telltale selling SOMI:SE in their online store, so it seems pretty official.

Bay Area Sound interview

Sun, 07 Mar 2010 11:01:00 PST

It’s actually somewhat shameful that it’s only now that we’re posting an interview with BA Sound, the guys who handle the audio for the titles of LEC as well as Telltale and the other spinoffs.

Depending on the project, their services range from a game’s sound design, music composition, and voice direction, and given the particular importance those things have in a story game, and considering that the studio’s resume of them is longer than a Double Fine development cycle, it’s clear that they’re owed a lot for what makes some of our favorite titles so awesome. And that you owe it to yourself to read the interview.

The indiscretion of voice actors

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 12:34:00 PST

Turns out that following someone’s twitter feed benefits more than serial killers. For example, the twitter page of Alexandra Boyd, voice of Elaine Marley, reveals the following February 21st tweet:

Alexandras ep of New Tricks on BBC1 mon 9pm. FROM PARIS WITH LOVE opens fri & new series of Monkey Island starts recording on Tuesday!!

Which would certainly gel with the existence of the all-but-announced Monkey Island 2 special edition. (She probably means “series” of recording sessions – it seems a wee early for this to be Telltale-related.)

Of course, Boyd isn’t the only one sharing things best kept behind closed doors. Take David Boyll, voice of Hugh Bliss and Philo Pennyworth (not to mention D’oro ~~the Explorer~~ in Tales), who reveals a disquieting openness about the frequency of his bathroom visits in the latest interview snagged by samandmax.co.uk.

Spankin' that Monkey at GDC

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 04:28:00 PST

The first word on Monkey Island 2: The Special Edition has emerged from the muddy swamps. We don’t usually report rumors, but we can report reporting on rumors. From Kotaku:

We’ve heard from sources that the game is due to be announced very soon, perhaps even next week at the Game Developer’s Conference, and that like the first game’s special edition, will contain all-new graphics and audio.

Unlike the first game, however, this one will be reaching a few more consumers, with versions planned for not just the Xbox 360, PC ad iPhone (like Monkey Island), but the PlayStation Network as well.

(Highlights by me.)

There’s a lot to look forward to this GDC: Tim Schafer and Sean Vanaman will banter about the funny, Telltale will be there with “big news” (regarding Sam and Max 03? There’s no Mr. Featherly in that, by the way), and finally there’s the GDC awards that Brutal Legend got nominated in.

Lastly, there was a lot of clamoring yesterday after EA announced the list of consoles they’d be bringing Deathspank to – a list that excluded “PC”. This does not mean a PC version is not coming. As EA’s Jeff Green said yesterday: “DeathSpank: If you’re freaking out about no PC version announce yet, stop freaking out. EA wants as many people as possible to play it…”

Steve Purcell selling unused Monkey 2 cover

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 04:53:00 PST

Sam and Max creator Steve Purcell has decided to sell a piece of unused concept for the Monkey Island 2 cover off eBay (or, as pirates call it, “YeBay”). Description:

The painting is 7” X 10” was done in gouache (an opaque watercolor) on heavy illustration board and has been covered with acetate since it was created in 1991.

Purcell was also responsible for the final cover, The Secret of Monkey Island cover, and the Tales of Monkey Island pre-order cover. In the words of my inner pirate, this painting “is fab-u-lous.” The starting bid is a healthy $795.00.

Purcell’s also selling this rare Full Throttle promo poster. In the words of my inner biker, “It’s le fantastique.”

Shipping to Europe is still being looked into.

If you’re in a piratey mood, by the way, you should check out Mixnmojo’s latest contest. The prize is a copy of Tim Power’s novel On Stranger Tides, the main inspiration of Monkey Island. Check it.

Blood Island ElGrande Reopens

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:17:00 PST

You may remember a web-site called “Blood Island El Grande” from the days of Internet yore. This was a site that recreated the locations from Blood Island (from The Curse of Monkey Island) in stunning and exciting 3D.

Well, it’s back!

Not only has it got everything it had before, but now it also has new images from Blood Island locations, and the promise of further art to come.

I can also recommend the 2D art and the music, which has been brought to you (along with the rest of the site) by Goblin, the creator of our winning podcast jingle.

LucasArts Secret History XIV

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:26:00 PST

It’s finally here: our Escape from Monkey Island mega-look-back.

Enjoy! And don’t forget to tell all your friends!

Thanks a lot to Dan Lee for the superb 3D header art. Take that, Avatar.

Ghost Pirates of Vooju Island reviewed

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 04:37:00 PST

Ghost Pirates of Vooju Island, the latest game from Bill Tiller’s Autumn Moon Entertainment, has been played and reviewed, by firm but loving website Adventure Gamers.

They have given the game a respectable three-and-a-half stars, which you may recall being the same score they bestowed upon Tales of Monkey Island chapters one and two. That’s a good thing.

However, if that doesn’t seem like much to you, then keep in mind Autumn Moon is still a young, struggling studio. Both Telltale and LucasArts had their share of misfires before hitting their stride. Ghost Pirates is relatively cheap at 17.59; it’s even cheaper at 13.41 from Amazon marketplace sellers. I think that’s worth the beautiful backgrounds, at least; and you’re supporting a company with the potential to make great adventure games.

Update by Jason: Additional reviews: Electronic Theater, GameBoomers.