LucasArts is Dead

[Memnir]

Today, Disney shut down LucasArts... the studio that made some of the best games I can remember playing. Monkey Island, StarWars: Dark Forces, Knights of the Old Republic, X-Wing/TIE-Fighter, Grim Fandango (I still love Grim fandango). They've also cancelled all work on Star Wars: 1313 - which has looked amazing since day-1, and I was really looking forward to getting my grubby paws on.


Wow does this make me a sad little gamer.


And I have to say that if this, along with the cancellation of Clone Wars, is how the Disney stewardship of Star Wars is starting out... I have a bad feeling about this.



Sad day for games.

[Missing_Minds]

http://kotaku.com/disney-shuts-down-lucasarts-468473749

Is it me.. Or does it sound like Disney just turned LA into Atari?

[Systern]

How dare you forget the best game of all time.... Sam n Max hit the Road!!!!


If only turbine would add a Lagomorph cosmetic pet...

[LeslieWest_GuitarGod]

Now that sucks.

I'll take you back to the Commodore Amiga days:

Maniac Mansion.

Here's a cover of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure.

Here's a video of Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge.

And of course, a great World War II sim, Battlehawks 1942 .

[GeneralDiomedes]

Their eighties and nineties output was great, but I haven't cared about LucasArts in a long, long time.

[fco-karatekid]

Their eighties and nineties output was great, but I haven't cared about LucasArts in a long, long time.

That was what my first thought was, as well. and OMG, LWGG and Maniac Mansion!!! I wasted WEEKS of my life with that game!

[LeslieWest_GuitarGod]

That was what my first thought was, as well. and OMG, LWGG and Maniac Mansion!!! I wasted WEEKS of my life with that game!

Same. Those were some of my favorite games. Maniac Mansion in particular I thought was great. I poured months into it. It was a great time to be into computers...

Today, we watch companies evolve the video game industry (or fail to). Back then, we got to watch them INVENT IT.

[JayDubya]

Ugh.. I was a serious consumer of their stuff - Battlefront, Dark Forces, Grim Fandango (one of the best games ever!!!!), Full Throttle, X-Wing, Tie Fighter, Monkey Island... etc.

Bleh

[Dandonk]

That is sad

[diamabel]

Sounds like some corporate suite hasn't got the balls to finish the started projects. OK, it's always a gamble and you can't be sure how the games would do with their audiences.

How are chances that Lucas will buy his own company back in a few years? I see that sometimes. Owner selling their small company to a big company. The big company being too cautious and not having a clue how to keep things going with their new aquisition...

If the big deal was to just get the IP and the rights to the movies, then why didn't they spin off the gaming department?

[LeslieWest_GuitarGod]

If the big deal was to just get the IP and the rights to the movies, then why didn't they spin off the gaming department?

“After evaluating our position in the games market, we’ve decided to shift LucasArts from an internal development to a licensing model, minimizing the company’s risk while achieving a broader portfolio of quality Star Wars games,” read a statement issued by Lucasfilm. “As a result of this change, we’ve had layoffs across the organization.”

A disgraceful move by Disney. All that talent and history, down the drain.

It's business, as cold-hearted as it is. By not selling off the gaming dept, they have 100% full control of the Lucasarts brand. They wont have to share any profits, and they'll make millions from licensing fees in the future. It looks great from an accountant's perspective.

From a gamer's perspective however, it sucks.

[bhgiant]

“After evaluating our position in the games market, we’ve decided to shift LucasArts from an internal development to a licensing model, minimizing the company’s risk while achieving a broader portfolio of quality Star Wars games,” read a statement issued by Lucasfilm. “As a result of this change, we’ve had layoffs across the organization.”

Wow... that is the coldest statement from a business I think I've ever read. Basically, "We're going to turn this company into a shell. We get to fire tons of people, save lots of money, and with our team of lawyers, make tons more with absolutely no risk." I don't this is what George had in mind when he sold his company....

[Krelar]

Wow... that is the coldest statement from a business I think I've ever read. Basically, "We're going to turn this company into a shell. We get to fire tons of people, save lots of money, and with our team of lawyers, make tons more with absolutely no risk." I don't this is what George had in mind when he sold his company....

I think making tons of money with absolutely no risk is exactly what George had in mind when he sold the company.

[bhgiant]

I think making tons of money with absolutely no risk is exactly what George had in mind when he sold the company.

touche

[Bolo_Grubb]

X-wing vs Tie fighter is still one of my all time favorite games. And one of the most expensive games I ever bought. Because of that game I had to upgrade my computer and bought a joystick/throttle control combo.

My wife still gives me a bit of grief for all the money I spent just so I could play that game.

I had always hoped it would get updated.

[Jay203]

i think we should all go and do a playthru of grim fandango because of thi

[Ganolyn]

At least they are allowing the Clone Wars guys to finish up two of the story lines from season 6, but no word yet as to when or how it will be distributed.

[CheeseMilk]

“...we’ve decided to shift LucasArts from an internal development to a licensing model...”

I see the future...

HALO: Tatooine

Call of Duty: Death Star Ops

Grand Theft Star Destroyer

Maybe this means we'll finally see a Full Throttle sequel!

[zarthak]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAMccLyxBSo ( NSFW)

[AZgreentea]

I have never been able to get into Star Wars, partly because of SWG and partly because most older fans insist that the original three movies stand up to the test of time (while I still think Luke is one of the worst characters ever conceived). Still though, I really enjoyed The Clone Wars. They honestly seemed a little more gritty than your average kids cartoon.