Episodic Tales of Monkey Island coming to WiiWare, PC

by Mike Schramm { Jun 1st 2009 at 12:01PM }

The tale of Guybrush Threepwood and his ascent through the pirate ranks is one of the most-loved stories from the adventure games of yesteryear, and now you can get ready for a whole lot more of it. LucasArts has announced to us at E3 that they're working with Telltale Games on Tales of Monkey Island, a five-part episodic series to be released monthly on both PC and WiiWare. LucasArts says that there's no shortage of demand among both developers and gamers to make and play as much Monkey Island as possible, so they're giving what they call "one of the forefathers of adventure gaming and the precusor to the RPG genre" the Sam and Max treatment.

There aren't any other platforms scheduled for release -- while the Monkey Island special edition is being released on Xbox Live, LucasArts CEO Darrell Rodriguez was tight-lipped when it came to getting the episodic content on consoles or even a platform like the iPhone. But he did tell us that their plan is to take us back to the "halcyon days" of the company, "when people couldn't wait for a LucasArts game to come out." Considering that the last Monkey Island release was almost nine years ago, it'll be nice to have the wait for a trip to the Tri-Island Area reduced to just 30 days.

Gallery: Tales of Monkey Island: Concept Art

Tags: Darrell-Rodriguez, e3-2009, episodic-content, guybrush-threepwood, lucasarts, monkey-island, pc, release, rpg, tales-of-monkey-island, wiiware

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Nexas @ Jun 1st 2009 12:05PM

Never played the originals, but this sounds very cool. Will definitely pick these up for the PC.

dark_inchworm (on Steam!) dark inchworm (on XBL!) @ Jun 1st 2009 12:06PM

BREAKING!!!!23421B45OI34186

dark_inchworm (on Steam!) dark inchworm (on XBL!) @ Jun 1st 2009 12:09PM

Not sarcasm, by the way. Pure, unbridled excitement. Even though I prefer the franchises, I wasn't even this excited when Diablo III and Starcraft II were announced, though that's because I was much more confident in those happening.

Please don't fuck this up. Please.

Drew -- PS360: uphillbothways @ Jun 1st 2009 12:45PM

I second that:

Please please please don't fuck this up.

bm @ Jun 1st 2009 1:04PM

They already did fuck it up: they made it 3D. Again. :(

Look at the concept art pieces and imagine what could have been. Instead we're getting yet another plastic pixar style piece of shit. Great.

Drew -- PS360: uphillbothways @ Jun 1st 2009 1:09PM

Grim Fandango is 3d. It is also teh awesome.

bm @ Jun 1st 2009 4:09PM

Grim Fandango is Grim Fandango. You don't see me knocking Halo for being 3D. Monkey Island with high res painted backgrounds could have recaptured that piratey Monkey Island atmosphere in the best way imaginable. Instead we're getting fucking plastic Barbieland.

Drew -- PS360: uphillbothways @ Jun 1st 2009 4:37PM

I mentioned Grim Fandango because it was released by LucasArts and because it is an adventure game and because it is 3d. See, that makes it relevant.

Halo is not relevant.

All I'm trying to say is that 3d in itself is not a mark of failure. It's been done successfully with this type of game, and it can happen again.

bm @ Jun 1st 2009 4:56PM

Look, I don't think you get my point. 3D is great and all, but we have ALL these other franchises with the 3D poly look now, and just one more time I'd like to see ONE p&c adventure that plays to the strengths of literally having your painted concept art in the game, on-screen. But oh no, if you make it 2D all the kids will equate it with a flash game! Or some bullshit.

I mean come on, seriously. Compare 3D Guybrush to handdrawn Guybrush in those images up there, and tell me honestly which one looks better, more alive.

This is one of the few game genres left whose gameplay doesn't need 3D graphics. So, why? Whyyyyyyyyyyyyy?

bm @ Jun 1st 2009 5:26PM

Oh god, I just saw the trailer... it looks so awful I could cry. Watch it and compare it to this: http://ui15.gamespot.com/1326/miyellowbeardsrestaurant_2.jpg

Imagine THAT in high definition. And then remember the fact that we're never going to get it, EVER.

Drew -- PS360: uphillbothways @ Jun 1st 2009 5:46PM

You don't have to remind me what the Monkey Island used to look like. I LOVE Monkey Island. The humor, the gameplay, _and_ the artstyle. I'm tempted to let my inner fanboi take over and decry this revamped Guybrush, but I'd only be doing it for nostalgia's sake.

I'm willing to give this new Monkey Island a chance to prove itself, and only after it fails to live up my expectations will I bitch and moan for what could have been.

Drew -- PS360: uphillbothways @ Jun 1st 2009 5:46PM

Oh, and could you please link that trailer? Thx.

bm @ Jun 2nd 2009 4:32AM

Well I didn't even complain about revamped Guybrush himself, I was looking at the difference between his drawn and rendered incarnations in the joystiq gallery up there.

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHojfwdLucI

Raoulthejewel @ Jun 2nd 2009 8:25AM

I agree with bm. Somethings are better when they are kept simple. Some games are best kept the way they were originally. Can you imagine Pac Man, Galaga, or Space Invaders being any better than how they were originally designed?

Raoulthejewel @ Jun 2nd 2009 8:53AM

But it still looks pretty cool. ha

bm @ Jun 2nd 2009 2:57PM

No, you're getting me wrong, it doesn't have to be kept simple. Polygons are simple! I would LOVE intricate hand painted backgrounds at super high def, with complicated high budget cinema quality drawn animation. The thing is, 2D animation is actually more expensive and complicated than 3D, that's why nobody does it anymore. It's also the reason 3D looks so dead in comparison. It's way too computer-assisted.

Raoulthejewel @ Jun 6th 2009 9:03PM

I believe that I did get your point, bm. I guess that I didn't do a very good job elaborating my thoughts on the subject. I don't believe that there is anyone that loves 3D or CGI any more than I do. I love it when the 3D / CGI of a game or movie can just blow me away and take make breath from fascination. What I guess that I should have said, is, it's the game ( or storyline of a movie, for that matter ) that counts. The graphics are almost secondary, and should be use appropriately to enhance the quality of the game / movie ( which ever one suits it best, whether 3D or 2D ). Always remember: Form follows function ( a term that I learned while trying to study art in college, ha ). I could go on for hours on my thoughts about this subject, but, with my grammar and my inability to concentrate on a single subject at a time, I will not bother to bore you or put you through the painful task of trying to interpret the jibberish of my thoughts. ha I do think that you sound pretty intelligent, and have the right opinion ( especially since it isn't that far from mine, ha ). Keep up the good work bm.

Snowblind @ Jun 1st 2009 12:06PM

Fun DMC @ Jun 1st 2009 12:08PM

YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

xera077 @ Jun 1st 2009 12:11PM

Will this be like Zack and Wiki?

Because if it is.

OMG.

Ffffff.

AwesomeTown @ Jun 1st 2009 12:12PM

I just crapped my pants.

Haon @ Jun 1st 2009 12:33PM

Needs more Full Throttle. I want my mahfuggin polecats.

MrTyzik @ Jun 1st 2009 12:14PM

OMG! Best news to come out of E3 in EVER (well, for me anyway). If they have Dominic Armato do the voice of Guybrush for these I'd be even happier. Joystiq, see if you can sneak that info for me!

dark_inchworm (on Steam!) dark inchworm (on XBL!) @ Jun 1st 2009 12:16PM

http://www.mixnmojo.com/features/read.php?article=thecurseofmonkeyisland&page=5

This article was posted within the last few days, so it's safe to assume the interview was conducted somewhat recently. Either LucasArts waited 'til the last minute to inform him, or he's not in... which would be a serious letdown.

dark_inchworm (on Steam!) dark inchworm (on XBL!) @ Jun 1st 2009 12:40PM

Wait, come back! I've been proven wrong, it seems.

http://www.lucasarts.com/games/monkeyisland/

Watch the video. Dominic AND Ron Gilbert are involved, it seems. It's... beautiful.

preciousdeath @ Jun 1st 2009 12:18PM

Better be on Mac.

xera077 @ Jun 1st 2009 12:21PM

Why?

I know Mac is a PC..even though Apple are douche bags but why?

If you have a Wii it'll be fine. It'll be like the Strongbad games.

Damian @ Jun 1st 2009 12:27PM

Why would you be interested in Games if you have a mac?

preciousdeath @ Jun 1st 2009 12:32PM

@xera077

See my reply below.

Guillermo @ Jun 2nd 2009 12:44AM

AHH!! OMG. I hope it's on the Mac too but I doubt it. I can't believe they are doing this. I'm so excited for the new version. It brings back so many memories. I was like 6 years old when I played the game and I didn't understood some stuff.

headkicker @ Jun 1st 2009 12:21PM

Is it point and click or like Escape from Monkey Island?

Marmot @ Jun 1st 2009 12:21PM

I'm looking forward to it but am apprehensive.

Matt @ Jun 1st 2009 12:23PM

The big question on my mind is whether Ron Gilbert is involved at all with this one. My money's on "No" though. Lucasarts probably isn't smart enough to do that.

Shadow Hog @ Jun 1st 2009 12:38PM

I dunno about Ron Gilbert, but this is apparently being developed by Telltale Games, where one of the Monkey Island trio (Ron Gilbert, Tim Schafer, Dave Grossman - in this case, IIRC, Dave Grossman) is working. i.e.: that's good.

http://www.telltalegames.com/