E3 euphoric over Indiana Jones 2007
by Alan Rose 
{ May 22nd 2006 at 1:26PM }
"Man...merman!" That's what Indy's been waiting 18 years for. The fourth installment in the big screen Indiana Jones series will find Harrison Ford on the hunt for the Opal of the Merman Prince (working movie title). Whether or not this will be the plot of the tentatively-titled Indiana Jones 2007 is anybody's guess. While at E3, LucasArts wasn't forthcoming about storylines for their next gen adventure, but they did take home a GameSpy Best Tech Demo award for showcasing the new Euphoria technology. Developed by Industrial Light and Magic, Pixelux, and NaturalMotion, Euphoria enables characters to react convincingly to their surrounding environments.Now, if only George Lucas and Steven Spielberg can convince us that the film will ever get made.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Edmund @ May 22nd 2006 1:45PM
"the hunt for the Opal of the Merman Prince"??????? WTF?????
Since when was Indiana Jones a student of Hogwarts? That's the kind of child-like fantasy name a Harry Potter book would have.
Actually the more than I think of it the more it makes perfect sense...
Raiders of the Lost Ark = Indiana Jones and the Chamber of Secrets
Temple of Doom = Indiana Jones and the Sorcerer's Stones
Last Crusade = Indiana Jones and the Goblet of Fire
James @ May 22nd 2006 1:56PM
After seeing this demo I was impressed, then LucasArts took me back to see the DMM demo in the Star Wars 2007 game. Wow, combine this AI with environments that fall apart realistically and you'll see some pretty cool stuff.
Plus seeing Jar Jar frozen in carbonite AND ice was fun, as was breaking him.
e. @ May 22nd 2006 1:59PM
The idea itself is brilliant, this kind of animation is exactly what the "next generation" needs, but I guess it will take some time for them to figure out a way to make the characters not move like puppets, because right now the game doesn't look like Indiana Jones, it looks like Special Olympics.
ClintEastman @ May 22nd 2006 2:12PM
Yeah the endorphin show reel was really impressive, it would be great in the article.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae3fgj2x1aI
MthdDirector @ May 22nd 2006 2:18PM
I'm so glad LucasArts got some exposure for this. Unfortunately their booth was closed (as it always is), and I was denied entrance, so I didn't get to blog about it. But if there was one technology to look out for at E3, it's Euphoria. Dynamic motion synthesis is the future of realism in gaming. It also has the potential to significantly change gameplay mechanics (in addition to looking cool). And it presents a few challenges to the developer to structure gameplay events and interactivity without the predictability of scripted animations.
Maximilian Lockwood @ May 22nd 2006 2:46PM
The euphoria engine seems to have amazing potential, I have been following the news about the next Indy game for a while now.
As for the title, well it could be fun. From sceenshots I've seen from various gaming sites (including links from Joystiq itself) the storyline will take place in or around Japan. Makes sense too, because Temple of Doom was in Japan in its opening, and the Japanese were among the Axis powers in WWII, a central theme of the Indiana Jones series.
Besides, as Jones is an archaeologist, the search for some treasure seems to be right up his alley. Hell, if the adventure is half as exciting as Raiders or Last Crusade, then we're all in for a treat.
Anyone know about some release dates? Maybe IMDb data?
unimental @ May 22nd 2006 2:55PM
This entry made me nostalgic for my old 386 and the point/click Indiana Jones adventure games. (anyone remember getting the big boxer guy in the Grunwald castle drunk with beer from a trophy, then fighting him? C'mon!)
Games I never would have played if the word "Merman" was in the title. That's my WTF moment of the week, for sure. Even if the videos look awesome.
croz @ May 22nd 2006 3:12PM
Opal of the Merman Prince? Why not just call the new Indy film "Fate of Atlantis" and have done with it?
Chimpy @ May 22nd 2006 3:37PM
Actually, the movie plot hasn't been confirmed anywhere yet. The "Opal of the Merman Prince" script has been online for awhile and was disregarded by Lucas and Spielberg at some point. Basically, the plot of the movie is still unknown.
Stephen King @ May 22nd 2006 3:38PM
If you guys want a really nice quality video head over to http://www.clubskill.com/Game_News/3460/ Its about a 40mb file but well worth the few minutes wait. especially considering the bad visual of youTube
Dave Franklin @ May 22nd 2006 5:19PM
"Opal of the Merman Prince" was a JOKE! Harrison Ford, tired of being asked the same questions over and over, gave this joke answer. OF COURSE that wont be the title!
Adam Campbell @ May 22nd 2006 7:01PM
Re 6.
Temple of Doom started in China, not Japan. China was an Allied nation in World War II and fought against the Axis. The screenshots shown of this game show scenes of Chinatown in SF, not Japan.
I'm very excited about this game myself, Indy has been waiting to be done right since Fate of Atlantis, let's hope this game nails it.
yujie @ May 22nd 2006 9:09PM
What is this? A center for ants? How can we be expected to teach children to learn how to read... if they can't even fit inside the building?
I don't wanna hear your excuses! The building has to be at least... three times bigger than this!
Ryan @ Aug 1st 2006 9:18PM
First of all the game looks amazing!!! if anyone was smart they would go reserve it before it comes out. Second Harry Potter is a WIZARD NOT AN ARCHEOLOGIST!!! There is no comparison between Indiana Jones and Harry Potter, plus thats probably not even the title of the movie. The fact is Indiana Jones came first!!! and Potter came later!!!