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LucasArts/Telltale partner on new Monkey Island series

New episodic series and special edition of original game planned this summer

News by David Jenkins Contributor
Published on

A new downloadable, episodic series named Tales of Monkey Island will debut this summer, following a partnership between IP holder LucsasArts and Telltale Games.

Due to be released "in just a few short weeks" the first episode of the five-part series will be released on both PC and WiiWare. Although both companies have produced Sam & Max graphic adventures in the past, each was licensed separately from the original comic book and so this represents the first time the two companies have worked together.

Announced at the same time, and due for release later in the summer, is LucasArts' internally developed The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition for Xbox Live Arcade and PC. Although still based on the original game, the special edition will include high definition graphics, a re-mastered musical score and full voiceovers.

"The Monkey Island series set the standard for storytelling and character development in games," said Telltale CEO Dan Connors. "The next several months should be filled with all kinds of surprises as we continue the dramatic stories of Guybrush, Elaine and LeChuck. We are happy to be working with LucasArts to make this happen."

2000's Escape from Monkey Island (the only entry in the tetralogy not to receive universal critical acclaim) was not only the last in the series but also the last graphic adventure to be published by LucasArts.

After development of sequels to Sam & Max and Full Throttle were both cancelled, several LucasArts employees left the company and formed Telltale Games. Telltale has since enjoyed considerable success with licensed graphic adventures sold as downloadable episodic content, including Bone, Sam & Max, Strong Bad and Wallace & Gromit.

With much of the rest of LucasArts' E3 focus being on BioWare's Star Wars: The Old Republic massively multiplayer online game (which will be the first MMO to feature full voice-overs), the only other new title so far confirmed is Lego Indiana Jones 2. Once again developed by UK studio Traveller's Tales, the sequel will adapt Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull for the first time and includes a fully-featured level editor.