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I didn't have a font problem, but I've just played through the first little bit, walking around San Francisco picking stuff up, and there doesn't seem to be any music? Are my settings wrong or is there no music?

To an extent, I think that adventure games are a pretty valid art medium and perhaps should be able to deal with real issues like that if the creator feels like doing so, but there's a problem when it comes to what other people perceive.

It's true that 'computer game' and 'Holocaust' are things that don't appear to gel particularly. It'd certainly be extremely hard to represent the most horrific crime of the twentieth century in a way that doesn't offend or trivialise the whole thing.  

It's not something I would want to attempt, or even feel any motivation to try and do, but if you really think you can do it right then go ahead. Personally I'd take Goldmund's advice because it's a very very serious thing, and even with your best efforts you may offend someone.

This looks really cool. It's great to see you seem to have virtually the whole game's story and puzzles set out and you've got a good idea of all your characters. I reckon that a lot of games are abandoned because of lack of planning, but you've cleverly done all that first. I love the characters and I look forward to puzzling my way through it, the locations and story sound a lot of fun.

Edit: By the way, that's my favourite GUI, the classic SCUMM verb box. I was using it for my first game but that's sidelined now...for my new game I'll probably be using a full-screen one of some sort, but only because of programming ease. SCUMM rules!

Well they called it SCUMM over several incarnations of it. When people here refer to SCUMM, they're usually referring to that great verb box GUI of Monkey Island 2 and Indy Fate Of Atlantis.

I believe that they ditched the 'SCUMM' tag for Grim and EMI though, wasn't it called GRIME or something?

Is that Hoagie? Pretty cool sprite.

I realise mine isn't really within the rules but I started it then realised I couldn't really make it work vertically, but decided to submit it anyway as I'd spent 10 minutes on it. They're pretty tough rules to stick to though.

Here's my attempt - Super Monkey Kart! (that's supposed to be Guybrush, MI2-era)



This is my first ever sprite jam entry...took about ten minutes, 19 colours. I didn't make a tile image, but it tiles horizontally, although not vertically (as you can probably see).

Not a bad idea for a game actually, if anyone from LucasArts is reading this. Would probably be a huge hit on the consoles...

I'm on CMI. I have reached the part when the monkeys are at the theatre, but don't have the faintest idea what to do!

Do you have some kind of grease in your inventory? Look around in that back room.

1+2 were awesome movies. 1 was needed to just get used to new actors/characters. if they were movies on them selves without the previous 3, i would think lots of people would enjoy them, but because people don't like change, they are happy to put down the newer movies.

Well I don't hate 1 and 2 like a lot of SW fans do, but I think they aren't the standard of the original trilogy. They still have good acting and good direction (and some even better action scenes, the Ep1 finale duel is brilliant). But the story isn't as interesting...sure we want to know how Anakin became Vader, but it's not really fleshed out so well, it's like a framework with awesome action scenes thrown in.

I guess it must be realised that these films are a spin-off of the originals. If this trilogy had been the more interesting and captivating story, he'd had filmed this one first, instead of Eps 4, 5, and 6. He's just filling out the story for us all to see what went before, which is a great thing to do.

Yep, it's an exciting time for LucasArts adventure fans...

Although it does worry me that they're talking about 'levels' in Full Throttle, like its being turned into an action game. I have an inkling it'll be like Streets Of Rage or something, with lots and lots of fighting and not much else. The original had bits of action that fit in fairly well, but it'd be a shame if they dropped the puzzley aspect. I suppose we just have to wait and see though.

E3 coming up, hopefully we'll get some screenshots of this new Sam 'N' Max, or at least some more FT 2 stuff.

And the main door to a big bank would probably have a door frame around it. I think it'd look more natural if you had a frame a few pixels wide around it.

Also, the 'bank' sign is just kind of painted on to the wall, which looks a bit unusual. Usually signs for buildings are on wooden or metal boards, or done in 3D lettering stuck to the wall above the door (that would work well, shadowed against the side of the building).

To the point that you want feedback on though: this camera angle works a lot better, I like it.

Downloaded and played it through, wonderful game. I loved the humour in it and the puzzles were the right kind of challenge. Brilliant finale section too. One of the best RON games I've played, if not the best. Obviously a lot of work went into it and it shows.

Er, wouldn't this be of more concern to LucasFilm than LucasArts? Which might actually be safer, since LucasFilm are probably further away from their community than LucasArts.

Yeah, that's why I put Lucasfilm in my original post. I think it's less likely that Lucasfilm will get wind of it but I don't know their history of shutting down things like this.

Fingers crossed anyway.

Wow, that looks great. Misja's done an awesome job there.

Just out of curiosity, how can you be sure Lucasfilm won't shut this down? They've issued 'cease and desist' to various different projects that intrude on their intellectual properties or whatever before. I sure hope you're not gonna have that problem, because the game looks fantastic.

The Indy trilogy are probably still my favourite films ever since I first got into them, and another Indy game can only be a good thing. Provided it isn't Desktop Adventures 2, which I wouldn't be too chuffed about.

Edit: Not that I think there should be any competition, let alone animosity, between the projects, hats off to you for making an original Indy game and not continuing the Atlantis story. I just feel that Fate Of Atlantis capped off the entire Atlantis thing so finally that a direct sequel seems just a bit awkward. It's good that people are making these games though.

Well, I genuinely laughed out loud at a lot of the first two games, to me they were really funny. It's kind of crucial to the game working, so much of it is built on humour. Guybrush is fundamentally ridiculous, from the very start his name gets a little smile.

There was equal strength in those other things though you're right. I think that atmosphere was lacking a bit in the last two games as well though. I do feel that EMI had some really excellent puzzles though. I reckon that the diving competition is probably one of the best puzzles in the series.

Whilst I think CMI and EMI are pretty good games, and it was great to see LucasArts keeping their adventure game output going, I have to admit, after much denial, that they don't really live up to the originals.

For a start, the gags aren't as funny. If Ron Gilbert and co. had written a film together, it'd probably be hailed as the most hilarious film ever, by everyone. (Unfortunately the average person on the street has no idea what a point and click adventure is so their awesome comedy talent is appreciated by relatively few). A game without the same team doesn't stand a chance. I think Dominic Armato does a pretty good job delivering Guybrush's lines, but most of the lines aren't as laugh-out-loud funny (with some exceptions).

Then there's the graphics, the magic of the old 256-colour SCUMM games has been lost and somehow, even the most splendiferous 3D graphics can't better that for me. Call me an over-nostalgic pig-headed buffoon, but there's something in me that loves the way the first two games looked. I loved the background art in CMI but I felt Guybrush looked very little like I would imagine an updated Guybrush. He didn't seemed based on the early character at all, he had different hair colour for a start. I just find watching the pixelly Guybrush walking around Melée in SMI so much more enthralling than watching the 3D Guybrush walking around EMI's Melée. Not sure why.

Then there's the unoriginality. Look at SMI -> MI2, they were hugely different in story and structure. But the structure and puzzles within CMI and EMI seemed to 'borrow' from the first two games (mainly SMI) on occasion. Also, EMI has these ridiculous un-piratey things like the coffee bar - sure they were there early on with the Grog Machine, the (TM) etc, but never to such excess. It felt more like Sam 'N' Max or something at points, not the Carribean.

I still feel The Dig is a worse game than either of the two recent Monkey sequels though. I was really, really excited about it when it came out but I never enjoyed it a lot, it felt a bit bland. That was LEC's big adventure game mistake if they have one.

Holy mackeral, this looks great! I really like the art style, the clean and crisp look comes off really well. The premise sounds very good...I'm sure the idea has been touched on before (there have been so many books and comics) but it would just complicate it, so you're right - best to only take the movies as your cue.

Looking forward to it.

Cheers RickJ, looking forward to test-driving Squink's game.

Thats right, your debt to me is paid. And now for my final wish I shall free you from your lamp prison...
er...heh...

Thanks again man....I'll try this stuff out and get another beta up soon, this time I'll let the others beta too...
which I think was:
Snake
Trapezoid
quickstrike
Gonzo, if he's not busy with school...
and...I think Rickj?

If only I didn't have to work till next sunday! Blargh!

Count me in Squinks, the pressure's off a little at school for the moment, so I should be able help with the beta testing...if you were planning on feedback through the IRC chat, I'll have to do it through forum PMs or e-mail instead, as my IRC has mysteriously stopped being able to connect. Don't know what you had in my mind, but I'd love to help out in any case...

That GUI looks wonderful, you even went to the trouble of having the little man look like a cute little mini-Fry! You guys are teasing us now, my anticipation of the game just goes up and up, dunno if I can take much more of this!

Yes, Allie knows she's hot goddamnet, she likes them shorts (she also likes it when Hirum gives it to her rough.....har har j/k)

hardily hoo

What do you mean 'har har j/k'? You mean that took that mini-game out? I was looking forward to that!