LucasArts announces Sam & Max sequel 276
Altima(BoB) writes "LucasArts announced today a sequel to their 1993 cult classic adventure game Sam & Max Hit the Road. This follows a recent announcement of Full Throttle II. The press release explains:
It's due first quarter 2004 for Windows PCs, no other operating systems or platforms mentioned, but it looks promising. Personally, I think that LucasArts' adventure games have been long overdue a comeback, anyone who's played them can attest to their top-notch writing and humor."
.. and then there was one (Score:1)
They're not as funny anymore... Forget this "I need more action" society who demand more FPS games. Bring back the adventure games I say.
The million $ question... (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:The million $ question... (Score:1)
Re:The million $ question... (Score:5, Insightful)
If the average gamer went out and bought games based on pure gameplay, we'd get a 2D Sam and Max (which is the way it should be, the same applies to Metroid Prime [nintendo.com], which looks nice, but just isn't Metroid).
Re:The million $ question... (Score:2)
Not only would those be better than 3d, it would be SO MUCH better, it could make or break the game.
Cartoon effects translated into 3d suck royal ass. Trust me, I've seen too many attempts to believe otherwise. 2d is 2d. It's the reason cartoons are still on TV, despite the fact that 3d rendered TV shows are possible. 2d Graphics at that resolution would stand the test of time just as the original "Sam and Max hit the road" have, only much better. Now; install a 3d shooter from the same time period, and tell me if it looks half as good under the all-jading eyes of time and advancing technology.
Re:The million $ question... (Score:2)
They're natively scalable to any resolution then, plus you can include extra, or drop surplus frames.
I agree that 3D pretending it's 2D isn't right. It's got it's own style, no one's fooled into thinking a cel shaded 3D model is an actual cartoon cel. Not saying that it doesn't look cool, but I think the old cel shading is being really overdone at the moment.
Every man and his game development studio is hoping on the cel shaded band wagon, it's the lens flare of the new millenium.
Re:The million $ question... (Score:2)
Now... (Score:1)
Re:Now... (Score:1)
Re:Now... (Score:1)
That's what ScummVM [sourceforge.net] is for. Using this VM, you can even run it on Linux and Macintosh.
You can. I have. It rules! (Score:5, Informative)
Basically, it's something along the lines of an emulator that allows the original LucasArts point and click games to run under modern Windows. I've played Sam n Max and Day of the Tentacle for hours, and compared to the 486 sitting next to me, it's identical. Support for other games is in the works.
The absolute coolest part is, it uses your (presumedly) modern sound card's MIDI - the intro to Sam n Max is AMAZING on my SBLive compared to the old SB16 - and it also offers anti-aliased graphics if you so choose. Sure, the jaggies are nice for a nostalgic feel, but these games look simply amazing with the AA effects turned on.
I really can't recommend this enough for anyone who wants to play the old LucasArts games on anything approaching a modern system.
Re:You can. I have. It rules! (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:You can. I have. It rules! (Score:2)
Re:You can. I have. It rules! (Score:2)
For me, though, the killer app is using ScummVM to run them on my Sharp Zaurus (the resolution is perfect for the old DOS games, too: 320x240 pixels when held sideways.) There are also ports for PocketPC and iPaq's Linux.
There's also a Dreamcast port, but I haven't tried that (yet!)
Re:You can. I have. It rules! (Score:2)
Re:You can. I have. It rules! (Score:2)
I don't know if it works with Famliar, but as long as you have SDL you're in business.
- Ian
Re:You can. I have. It rules! (Score:2)
http://www.lucasarts.com/companystore/archives1
I see no reason why these games wouldn't play in Classic mode on Mac OS X - however, i'll have to update you later..
actually.. what's really funny is that these are the perfect games for a Blue Box window, instead of a full screen implimentation Classic.. that way, i could play the games in the corner of the screen and still see if i got email.
or.. maybe i'll just buy the PC versions and play them in a VirtPC window.. hmm... now i have no idea what to do. crap.
Best of luck (Score:2)
Re:Best of luck (Score:5, Funny)
I really wish my family'd loosen up and watch FOX more often. I really shouldn't be that shocking to anybody.
Re:Best of luck (Score:3, Informative)
Isn't it obvious? The n became an s.
MY PILLS, GET ME MY PILLS (Score:4, Funny)
Full throttle was the best damn Lucararts game ever made, bar none. Maybe even the best adventure game period, and that's if I include Grim Fandago.
That better not be a polecat on the wall.
Re:MY PILLS, GET ME MY PILLS (Score:3, Informative)
"Heh. Bunnies"
Re:MY PILLS, GET ME MY PILLS (Score:2)
Re:MY PILLS, GET ME MY PILLS (Score:2)
Re:MY PILLS, GET ME MY PILLS (Score:2)
If it had worked, maybe. (Score:2)
As it was, the action scenes flat out didn't work, and eventually I got to a spot where I couldn't go any further.
LucasArts' games were not exactly the most reliable, or maybe it was just the state of the OS they were running on.
Jon Acheson
Re:MY PILLS, GET ME MY PILLS (Score:2)
If the "action" is anything like the road combat of the original (a pain in the ass), then no thanks. It would be a shame to ruin yet another adventure game series with action bits. Look at what a disaster King's Quest 8 was (aside from the fact that it ran like shit).
day of the tentacle... (Score:1)
imagine it in 3d cell shading...
Slashdot Readers Contain Cures for Diseases (Score:2)
"no other operating systems or platforms mentioned (Score:2, Funny)
That seems fair enough. Who would want it running on Linux anyway?
eep (Score:1)
What about the really good ones? (Score:1)
Re:What about the really good ones? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:What about the really good ones? (Score:2)
I still chuckle about the multimedia intro - that come on an audio cassette tape. How far we come... but I guess that makes it more of an effective demonstration that the technology of the game isn't the most important thing.
(BTW... I remember that supposedly if you beat the game on the hardest mode (without notes on the distaff and without the distaff lighting up) you got a special ending or something... tried it but it didn't seem to work for me, was that just a rumor>)
Best Comedy/Adventure Game EVER (Score:3, Funny)
Can't wait for the sequel.
A happily-phrased "Hell Yes" (Score:3, Interesting)
I can't even bring myself to count the number of awful Star Wars Games I had to disdain and refute in order to hook my wife (successfully) on Lucasarts' fine adventure games -- thanks to the great character design on Grim Fandango.
Lucasarts has really good innovators and well done art (Steve Purcell rocks), and it's more than high-time that a decent adventure game came to for.
I for one am sick of the endless parade of "free form" games (i.e. the Sims), the neverending re-release of the "yet-anotherFPS" engine games, and the D&D based games that have more bugs than characters (NWN). <\RANT>
So, back to slashdot thinking... this gonna run on Linux?
Re:A happily-phrased "Hell Yes" (Score:2)
Playing Homeworld with the SW mod, though, gives me shivers.
Re:A happily-phrased "Hell Yes" (Score:2)
I was just wondering, though -- a Star Wars game in the style of the Indy 3 & 4 adventure games could be quite fun... however it would need to be skewed slightly for comedic value, as the Indy games were compared to the films, and this is probably anathema to LucasArts. Oh well.
Great news about the Sam & Max sequel, though -- I even have a comic book Sam & Max that I found somewhere, and have held on to for all these years. Hearing this really made my day.
Jedi Outcast one of the best Star Wars games ever. (Score:2)
My opinion is they dumbed down their games too much. Instead of simulators like XWing they came out with a bunch of dumb arcade crap. I feel like puking every time I see those Star Wars Mortal Kombat ripoffs.
However one exception is the reciently released Jedi Outcast. It is incredible! The lightsaber control and force powers all make you feel like you are a Jedi in the movies. Nothing like running into a room filled with Stormtroopers, defecting their shots, and cutting them all down.
The problem for Lucasarts is that adventures don't sell nowadays. Even the best ones. Grim Fandango was a financial failure. But I guess with all the money Lucas is making from Episode 3 he can afford a loss here or there.
Brian Ellenberger
Re:Jedi Outcast one of the best Star Wars games ev (Score:2)
The Secret of Monkey Island, of course.
Rescue On Fractalus! (Score:1)
Star Wars Movies (Score:2)
Personally, I think that LucasArts' adventure games have been long overdue a comeback, anyone who's played them can attest to their top-notch writing and humor.
If only the same could be said for their movies...
GMD
I'm glad I got the scoop... (Score:1)
3D or 2D? (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:3D or 2D? (Score:2)
I think if they use the same cell-shading a few new games are using(Robotech, and the new Zelda) then it could come out very different, and very beautiful.
Re:3D or 2D? (Score:2)
Re:3D or 2D? (Score:2)
Re:3D or 2D? (Score:2)
Give us another DoTT! (Score:2)
Personally, I'd pay premium for a new MM/Day of The Tentacle or a new Zak McKracken (yes I know about the inofficial one).
Sam'n'Max II and Full Throttle II? Not so much.
Current Systems (Score:1)
Just came across my old copy (Score:2)
LucasArts (Score:1)
where's my monkey island 5??!!!
full throttle 2 looks great...
Day Of The Tentacle... (Score:2, Funny)
So a sequel to Sam and Max is good news, but I'll be much happier if they can do a sequel to Day Of The Tentacle...
Berrrnaaard... float over here soo I can puunch yoouuu.
Just be careful what wine you buy, 'cos you'll never know how long it'll take to turn to vinegar.
Re:Day Of The Tentacle... (Score:2)
Re:Day Of The Tentacle... (Score:2)
Just been to the site, your shameless self-promotion is what should feature more in this LucasArts thread...
I like the site a lot, and it sure as hell beats waiting for LucasArts and sequels, and is harmless fun (i.e. Please don't sue me.) to boot.
Lets just hope it doesn't become too popular, the /. effect alone would be enough to knock off any fake barf off the side of the computer case (if there was one).
Anyone trying to get other old games running... (Score:2, Informative)
* WINE users are known to have
I enjoy it more through Multibabel. (Score:2)
"LucasArts written of Altima(BoB) that has announced today, of him & follows 1993, that is traditional of the SAM of the game of the adventure of the Anbetung; The maximum repaired the way. This follows a new warning of the publicity of complete control II of the energy. The Pressekommuniqué is aqui ': the trimester 2004 of http://www.lucasarts.com/press/releases/61.html first one is he was adaptou for GCV von Windows, aucuns indicate others to him the softwares or the platforms of the operation, but it looks like promising. Personally that was the games of the adventure of LucasArts delay to much period to him a return, he thinks for the confirmation indifferently, of that, that is played they, with the relative letter of the lateral jump and latta advanced one of humor."
Hope they re-release the original (Score:2)
It's like if Lucas were to release his next installment of Star Wars in the year 2050, when nobody has the equipment to view the originals anymore.
Re:Hope they re-release the original (Score:2, Informative)
Not to rant but.. (Score:5, Interesting)
Sam and Max was a great game. I'm looking foward to the sequel. Sam and Max, in fact, was a great game, orgininal, funny, and just overall fun to play.
And it wasn't a sequel to anything.
Which makes me wonder; Are there any new games that are orgininal, funny, unique, that are worth playing? To read sites like Slashdot (or others), one would assume not, that the only games of note being realased are either
a: A sequel to a popular game
b: A new game based on a popular graphics engine
c: A new game being released on linux.
Don't get me wrong, it's always nice to hear about a release based on the above three things. But what about a new game that nobody's heard of before that's really, really good?
Do they not exist, or are most popular websites either uninformed of them or decide not to publish them. As it stands, the only ways you can find out of there is a good new game that you've never heard of is to:
a: Be impressed at the software store by the shiney box, plunk down $50 for something that may end up sucking
b: Read the game review websites and magizines, which seem to be staffed by, and cater too 12 year old boys
c: Hopefully hear from a freind through word of mouth about a game.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking slashdot. It's not really in their scope (or in my expectation) that they tell me about the next new, hot thing in gaming. But does anyone out there know of a place to find this out? I mean, a place smart enough to distinguish the next Sam and Max from the crap?
Re:Not to rant but.. (Score:2)
I suggest you go look a game called "Arx Fatailis" and download the demo. It has an Ultima Underworld kind of feel and it is a breath of fresh air.
As to the lack of 'new stuff' I blame that on the demise of Looking Glass Studios [3dactionplanet.com]. The people from LGS were always injecting something unexpected and original into the gaming market. All the way back to the Ultima Underworlds and System shock to Thief: The Dark Project and the very original System Shock 2, LGS always danced to their own beat. Too bad they had a bunch of financial problems appear at the same time. They were truly a giant among giants.
Re:Not to rant but.. (Score:2, Informative)
What I think is one of the biggest problems facing our computer games originality is the fact that the companies don't want to get an original game, they just want one that will sell a ton of copies. They play it safe in the market instead of taking risks and we wind up with the same crap over and over again. This is the way the system always winds up working. Heads of companies want to be greedy and instead of taking a risk that could net them a crap load of cash, they take the safe road that keeps their head in but nets them a smaller amount of cash. If the companies who pay the studios would take more risks we would have a better market for computer games, but they don't so we get stuck with repeats of the same games. This has been going on in most of the other industries for years, and the computer world is catching up with them. Same trend goes on with movies, music, tv shows, and even in camera lenses.
What we need are companies who are willing to take risks and try to create new and creative products instead of the drek that we are force fed regularly. If we could get that to happen then we might get out of this billion and one Quake clones, or the extremely repetative Dune clones. We need companies who aren't afraid of change and who are willing to take the bull by the horns and get something new and different out there. Companies shouldn't be afraid to make mistakes and screw up a few times, that is what the market is really there for. Unfortunately all these companies care about is money, and that is a shame. If they cared about the customer (not consumer) they could have a much more respected business image.
Re:Not to rant but.. (Score:2)
Given his complaint of sequilitis, I don't think that's going to make him feel any better at all.
Re:Not to rant but.. (Score:2)
d. a game made by one of the "Game Gods" of old: Black and White by Molyneux, Sim games by Wright, new Id games, etc.
Re:Not to rant but.. (Score:2)
Ambrodia ports to Windows (Score:2)
The unique thing about Ambrosia is that they've managed to survive for so long despite being a Mac-only shareware company. The quality of their games is better the a lot of standard offerings out there, and the openness of their architeture encourages fan-created mods and add-on scenarios. I just wish there were more companies like them out there.
Re:Not to rant but.. (Score:2)
As a game, true enough. But technically, Sam and Max were a comic book first (and a very funny one).
My fave quote from the Comic Book: "I'm Buck Nekkid, Texas Ranger!"
Re:Not to rant but.. (Score:3, Insightful)
It's not a traditional gaming magazine that covers everything new, rather they talk about which games interest them at the moment. I've a feeling that very few games of interest slip by them. The game "rez" that is mentioned in this thread as an example of a great original game is also a favorite of the PA guys.
As an example of their kind of humor, everyone on slashdot who spells Microsoft as Micro$oft should take a look at this penny-arcade comic [penny-arcade.com] and briefly consider if whether Gabe has a point!
Re:Not to rant but.. (Score:2)
Really, really worth a shot.
Download has an (original) demo (Score:2, Informative)
http://download.com.com/3000-2099-857427.html?tag= lst-0-1 [com.com]
**** Dr. Bellows ****
Funk/Soul/Jazz
drbellows.net [slashdot.org]
for gigs, music & more
What about the OTHER new Sam & Max game... (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:What about the OTHER new Sam & Max game... (Score:3, Informative)
Re:What about the OTHER new Sam & Max game... (Score:2, Informative)
Max (Score:4, Funny)
I can only hope I still feel the same way Harvey and Bugs!
Full Throttle 2 huh? (Score:2)
damn (Score:3, Funny)
Re:damn (Score:2)
You should look for "The Lucasarts Archives Volume III" which sometimes still appears in retail stores. It comes with a bunch of LEC games including MI1 and MI2. But there's no way in heck I'm gonna sell you my original boxed Monkey Island 2 with original code wheel on 5.25" floppies ;-)
Slightly Off-Topic: Grim Fandango (Score:2, Funny)
It's one of the most well-designed games of all time. The puzzles are very inventive and the characters are actually engaging.
It's the only video game that I've played that has an any emotional depth in the traditional sense. Granted "wow, I just carjacked a cop, that's so cool" is an emotional response, but Grim Fandango is different.
Re:Slightly Off-Topic: Grim Fandango (Score:2)
Well I have played the GrimFD demo ... do you know if there's any way to turn off that silly console-style joystick type navigation? That is also the reason I did not get Monkey Island 4.
Re:Slightly Off-Topic: Grim Fandango (Score:2)
The noticeable film noir style makes this game a truly unique masterpiece that no fan of any of LucasArts adventure games should miss.
Too bad the genre LucasArts are putting the least effort at is adventure games - the genre I think they do the best job at. There's litterally no competition in the area and I'd like to see this genre reinvented like what happened to CRPG's.
Sig says it all... (Score:2)
When?? (Score:4, Funny)
This is the Video Game Industry's way of saying, "We haven't actually started yet."
Mini-reviews DoT, S&M and the Dig (Score:5, Informative)
Day of the Tentacle
Sam & Max Hit the Road
The Dig
Full Throttle
Both "Day of the Tentacle" and "Sam & Max Hit the Road" first came out in floppies (yes floppies kids!) with CD-ROM versions with full voices a few years later.
DoT features characters from the original Maniac Mansion game from the 80s (which also spawned a short-lived TV show in the 90s, one of the joke in the game is about the characters not getting royalties from the show
S&M probably got the strangest story line in any game, EVER. It got a talking dog and rabbit, bigfoots and giraffe-neck girl, circuit freaks and country-singer. And it all make senses in the end!
S&M also features some cool mini-games like the "whack-a-mole" (or rabbit
Both "Full Throttle" and "The Dig" came out in CD only version.
The Dig is probably one of the most overlooked game from the company. While not as good as the others (slower pacing, may hard logical-type puzzles that are not very well integrated into the story), it is unique in that it has a serious storyline with a lot less jokes and gigs than the others. The art direction is a lot more realistic than even darker game like Full Throttle.
The game is about a big asteroid that is going to hit Earth and a team of astronauts is going to set off a bomb to "deflect" it. And that was back in 1995 before films like "Armageddon"! It got some amazing (for the time) pre-rendered 3d cut scenes and probably the first LucasArts game to have a "celebrity" voice actor - Robert Patrick from T2 and later X-Files. He did a good job.
Full Throttle features the now familiar "full screen" game mode. No more list of verbs or icons on screen. When you right click on the objects/persons a context sensitive menu (in the form of a coin) popup. This provides a very cinematic feel of a good action movie.
The game also features a rock theme song (music & lyrics), a mix of 3d objects (vehicles, rotating signs, etc) and 2d backgrounds. FT is also the first LucasArts game to have action sequence (that highway game in S&M doesn't count
=-=-=
Oh yeah, as joked about in Curse of the Monkey Island, you can't die in a LucasArts Adventure game!
=-=-=
Ahh the memories. Until I start typing this, I didn't even know that I still remember so much about all these games. It is a sure sign that these are classics, are will remain so in my mind forever. Thanks LucasArts, and here is to more good adventures games in the future.
Re:Mini-reviews DoT, S&M and the Dig (Score:2)
I can't figure out whether you are talking about a game or an "alternative lifestyle".
Re:Mini-reviews DoT, S&M and the Dig (Score:3, Informative)
For those who don't know (Score:3, Informative)
I was (un)lucky enough to find a color issue of Sam & Max in the bargain bin of a comic book store while looking for back issues of Grendel, The Elementals, and Groo the Wanderer. I think I paid $4. It's the most dangerously funny posession I own. I keep it safely packed away out of sight, because I can't read the damn thing without laughing so hard it brings tears to my eyes.
The comic was drawn pictures first, and then the dialog was made up after the fact. Kind of like Mad-Libs, or the heckling on MST3K. If you like the Simpsons, you might like Sam and Max. Groo the Wanderer is good too, but it's funny the way Mad magazine or Cracked is funny (or isn't) -- mostly corny jokes.
Compare for yourselves:
---
Groo: "I'm hungy. Aha! Groo smells smoke! Where there's smoke, there's fire. Or a village! Or a village on fire!!"
---
Grateful Stewardess: "Thank you for saving our plane! How can we ever repay you?"
Max: "JUST GIMME ALL THE NAKED WOMEN MY POOR EYES CAN STAND!!"
Sam: "Easy, Max. You don't even like girls."
---
Luckless Villager: "Who be you?"
Groo: "I be Groo."
LV: (aside) "We are doomed..."
---
Max: (a naked, yet fuzzy Max produces a 9mm pistol from thin air)
Sam: "Where'd you get that gun, little buddy?"
Max: (grinning) "None of your god-damned business, Sam. Tee-hee."
---
So if you liked the game, you might be able to scare up a copy of the comic book and see where it all came from. I don't there were ever many issues released, maybe less than ten. I get the impression they're fairly rare, unless they've gone into reprints since then.
Trade Paperback Available (Score:2)
Yes, Sam and Max is Back... (Score:2)
I'm excited! (Score:2)
Sequal? What about the originals? (Score:3, Interesting)
While I look forward to these releases, the sad fact is this is a long time comming. It's just further evidence to me that someone making decisions at LucasArts just 'doesn't get it'. This seems like a move by a company struggling to release a good product. I'm sure they have no shortage of money with all their star wars releases, but they've been really letting their fans down in the last 5 or 6 years with BOATLOADS of crappy games all based on Star Wars, and nothing original at all.
I hope this move begins a new day at LucasArts, where they diversify their game line a bit, perhaps stop being so sue-happy, and maybe even write their own emulator to run their games in windows operating systems, so new gamers can learn why we all liked LucasArts so much in the past. I feel bad for anyone who hasn't had the chance to play The Dig, DOTT, Sam & Max, or Full Throttle, or any of the Monkey Island games.
Tim Schafer will be missed on this one i think.. (Score:2, Interesting)
Tim Schafer was the gamedesigner who was behind most of Lucasarts adventure games, sadly he left Lucasarts after making "Grim Fandango"(best game ever btw, no contest) to create his own company(Which havent created anything yet).
Anyone ever seen Tim and or read/hear him interviewed, know without a doubt that "Tim" is a nutty charecter.
The latest monkey island certainly was good, but it lacked the distinct nuttyness of Tim. Most of the funny-stuff in the last monkey, was actually "recycled" from the older games.
Tim came up with stuff like insult swordfighting, for the first title. In the second title, it was spitting contests and more. Plus he created a shiteload of memorable charecters.
In the newest one(who lacked tim), we have insult armwrestling. And most of the charecters are just taken from the first three titles.
With that said, Monkey 4 was great. "Moooonkey cooooombat" still cracks me up (the look like complete idiots when fighting/dancing with eachother), and certainly they still have alot of creative people @ lucasarts.
But, i played ALL lucasarts Adventures. From Tentacle and up, and Monkey4 defently lacked alot in the wackyness department.
I fear that Sam and Max without Tim is like Monty Phyton with out John Cleese. Which just wouldnt be right.
Re:Tim Schafer will be missed on this one i think. (Score:2)
Uh, you do know that John Cleese left Monty Python, right? He didn't appear in the 4th series at all.
Where you can get the old games (Score:2)
Anyone know how to install this from Floppy?? (Score:2)
Re:1993? (Score:2)
Re:Monkey IV (Score:2)
I believe you are looking for this [sourceforge.net].
Re:Monkey IV (Score:2)
How about linux on my Sharp Zaurus, does that count? I have sound, save games and all the treasure of Melee Island(TM) in the Palm of my hand.
More Info [killefiz.de]
Ciao!
Re:To quote comic book guy... (Score:2, Informative)
It's by the Gone Jackals (Score:2, Informative)
Re:quest for glory (Score:2)
Quest for Glory 3: Finest. Adventure. Ever.