LucasArts Closed

Disney has shut down seminal computer game developer LucasArts, reports Kotaku, saying over 150 jobs have been lost amid the cancellation of Star Wars: First Assault and Star Wars 1313. They attribute this to a reliable source, and a confirmation can be found on GameInformer, where they have a comment from a representative from LucasFilm saying the cancellation of Star Wars 1313 is not absolute, as they will be looking to license games like that planned action/adventure in the future. "It is worth noting that we are looking for proven external partners who can help us provide video games to our fans. We still believe in the video game industry, we still will provide Star Wars games, we're just looking at different models rather than internal production... They're evaluating everything. There's always a possibility that it [Star Wars 1313] can still come out via licensing," the rep told them. "It's super sad. It's a terrible day. I want to make sure everyone realizes that there still will be Star Wars games out there."
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77.
 
Re: LucasArts Closed
Apr 4, 2013, 14:47
77.
Re: LucasArts Closed Apr 4, 2013, 14:47
Apr 4, 2013, 14:47
 
Hi my name's George Lucas and I'm going to prove once and for all that I have no fucks left to give.
Avatar 13202
76.
 
Re: LucasArts Closed
Apr 4, 2013, 05:47
76.
Re: LucasArts Closed Apr 4, 2013, 05:47
Apr 4, 2013, 05:47
 
Prez wrote on Apr 3, 2013, 18:49:
While it's true the classic Lucasarts has been long gone for years, this just feels so... final. And that makes it kinda sad.

I dont know, the fact that they will actually be licencing out games for you know actual production gives me hope. This is the first bit of news that actually makes me believe that we will at some point see a new Tie Fighter game.
I have a nifty blue line!
Avatar 46994
75.
 
Re: LucasArts Closed
Apr 4, 2013, 00:49
75.
Re: LucasArts Closed Apr 4, 2013, 00:49
Apr 4, 2013, 00:49
 
There's a nice video obituary up on Gametrailers.
Avatar 57352
74.
 
Re: LucasArts Closed
Apr 3, 2013, 23:05
74.
Re: LucasArts Closed Apr 3, 2013, 23:05
Apr 3, 2013, 23:05
 
SM0k3 wrote on Apr 3, 2013, 19:52:
Verno wrote on Apr 3, 2013, 14:45:
Jesus, some of my favorite games were made by LucasArts. They haven't been that same company for a long time now but this still sucks

TIE Fighter, Grim Fandango, Dark Forces, Maniac Mansion, Monkey Island, Full Throttle, The Dig, etc. So many great games

Brings back memories, there needs to be a Classic LucasArts Adventure pack released asap!

Here's an incomplete one: http://store.steampowered.com/sub/2102/

edit: And after some searching, here's the one that got me into adventure games as a kid: http://www.amazon.com/Lucas-Archives-Volume-1-Pc/dp/B00000K50T

I'm sure some relative must've picked it up because "Hey 6 games for the price of one!" one was Star Wars screensavers though. But holee shit Day of the Tentacle (includes original Maniac Mansion too), Fate of Atlantis, and Sam and Max... That was enough games to last for years before the days of internet walkthroughs.

This comment was edited on Apr 3, 2013, 23:13.
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73.
 
Re: More Big Picture Details
Apr 3, 2013, 23:05
73.
Re: More Big Picture Details Apr 3, 2013, 23:05
Apr 3, 2013, 23:05
 
Julio wrote on Apr 3, 2013, 18:21:
George got his, and the rest get screwed. Not looking good for the future of the Star Wars IP.

What are you talking about? As if the Star Wars IP was in good shape? The way I look at it, it was in the ground, even if Hello Kitty got a hold of it, it would have a better chance just because someone else will have a shot at it. L.A. failed the franchise in the end, big time.
Avatar 17232
72.
 
Re: LucasArts Closed
Apr 3, 2013, 19:52
72.
Re: LucasArts Closed Apr 3, 2013, 19:52
Apr 3, 2013, 19:52
 
Verno wrote on Apr 3, 2013, 14:45:
Jesus, some of my favorite games were made by LucasArts. They haven't been that same company for a long time now but this still sucks

TIE Fighter, Grim Fandango, Dark Forces, Maniac Mansion, Monkey Island, Full Throttle, The Dig, etc. So many great games

Brings back memories, there needs to be a Classic LucasArts Adventure pack released asap!
Avatar 8514
71.
 
Re: LucasArts Closed
Apr 3, 2013, 19:46
71.
Re: LucasArts Closed Apr 3, 2013, 19:46
Apr 3, 2013, 19:46
 
The zombie analogy was spot on. LucasArts has been dead in every which way for a long time, this just closed the coffin lid. Hopefully they can license out the games and something decent will come along. End of an era, but sadly one that was probably forseen for quite some time.
70.
 
Re: LucasArts Closed
Apr 3, 2013, 19:20
KTR
70.
Re: LucasArts Closed Apr 3, 2013, 19:20
Apr 3, 2013, 19:20
KTR
 
Face it people, LucasArts of recent have handled LucasFilm's IPs very poorly. Disney is doing the smart thing and shutting down internal studio so that it can license the IPs to capable hands.
Avatar 56965
69.
 
Re: LucasArts Closed
Apr 3, 2013, 19:15
69.
Re: LucasArts Closed Apr 3, 2013, 19:15
Apr 3, 2013, 19:15
 
shit, vader and the emperor have nothing on the real Dark Lord of the Sith mickey mouse. quick, someone do an Emperor Mickey meme!
68.
 
Re: LucasArts Closed
Apr 3, 2013, 19:10
68.
Re: LucasArts Closed Apr 3, 2013, 19:10
Apr 3, 2013, 19:10
 
Fantaz wrote on Apr 3, 2013, 18:40:
Orogogus wrote on Apr 3, 2013, 17:11:
Rattlehead wrote on Apr 3, 2013, 16:34:
Beamer wrote on Apr 3, 2013, 16:20:
Rattlehead wrote on Apr 3, 2013, 16:19:
Welp, there goes any hopes of a proper kotor sequel. Thanks Disney.

Uh... how so?

LucasArts didn't make them.
Because Disney is a shit company that like all the other swine of the industry sees no profit in traditional games anymore and believes all the money is in micro transactions, F2P and mobile games. I highly doubt they will give EA, Bioware or Obsidian the rights to another large production AAA game, especially on a scale of something like KoToR or ToR.

I truly believe the future of Star Wars games are the lego series, upcoming movie tie ins, and shit facebook games. You can kiss goodbye high production Star Wars games, because Disney doesn't believe in that kind of shit. Hell I don't even think we will SEE another Star Wars game until the next Abrahms movie is out.


What do you even know about Disney as a gaming company? I mean, what is any of this based on?

I'd say he based it off very good observations... so good that I'd definitely say there is some truth there. It's also becoming a trend, and I do notice Disney loves their mobile gaming division a lot more and just say fuck off to any triple 'A' titles probably also partly due to the rising costs of next-gen PS4/720. I just think that they could've handled this better instead of cutting 150 jobs like that... kind of heartless when you'd think they'd have a shitload of money to fund a company like that for at least another few decades.

Would it kill you to post independently verifiable facts? Disney has never been a particularly strong force in gaming. Outside of Kingdom Hearts and inevitable movie tie-ins they don't have any strong mark in the field, because generally speaking their properties aren't a great fit. What AAA titles have they blown off? Marvel and Star Wars on the other hand are good fits, and they haven't crushed this year's upcoming Marvel games (although that MMORPG is obviously on the standard road to failure), and they say they want to license out Star Wars. What's the evidence to the contrary?

Jerykk wrote on Apr 3, 2013, 17:57:
If this were the 90's, this would be terrible news. However, LucasArts has been a hollow shell of itself for the past decade. The only good games they've been involved with are the ones they licensed to third-party developers like Bioware and Raven.

Starwars 1313 looked like a really promising upcoming game that was being developed, so that's disappointing...


I thought 1313 looked like more crap coasting on the popularity of the license, personally. From the previews: "the game will feature a combination of cover-based combat, platforming, and 'playable cinematic gameplay.'" Swell.

I really do agree with the sentiment that those 150 people had been producing nothing of value since... I guess Republic Commando in 2005 was decent. 150 jobs is sad and all, but the fact remains that they've been paid to produce nothing particularly good for the past 7+ years. I don't feel like it's Disney's job to effectively pension them for freaking decades just because they can.
67.
 
Re: LucasArts Closed
Apr 3, 2013, 18:55
67.
Re: LucasArts Closed Apr 3, 2013, 18:55
Apr 3, 2013, 18:55
 
In the long run, maybe this will work out best for the actual games.

It's not like they won't be making games based on the property.

66.
 
Re: LucasArts Closed
Apr 3, 2013, 18:54
66.
Re: LucasArts Closed Apr 3, 2013, 18:54
Apr 3, 2013, 18:54
 
It's easy to be sympathetic to anyone losing their job. It's harder to be sympathetic to a company that released supposedly triple-A titles that were bug-ridden messes.

In truth I don't think this will be any big-whoop for those who liked the earlier LucasArts games. Disney still holds the licensing, and would probably be hard pressed to give them to a company who could screw them up as badly as LA did.
65.
 
Re: LucasArts Closed
Apr 3, 2013, 18:49
Prez
 
65.
Re: LucasArts Closed Apr 3, 2013, 18:49
Apr 3, 2013, 18:49
 Prez
 
While it's true the classic Lucasarts has been long gone for years, this just feels so... final. And that makes it kinda sad.
“The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated.”
- Mahatma Gandhi
Avatar 17185
64.
 
Re: LucasArts Closed
Apr 3, 2013, 18:40
64.
Re: LucasArts Closed Apr 3, 2013, 18:40
Apr 3, 2013, 18:40
 
Orogogus wrote on Apr 3, 2013, 17:11:
Rattlehead wrote on Apr 3, 2013, 16:34:
Beamer wrote on Apr 3, 2013, 16:20:
Rattlehead wrote on Apr 3, 2013, 16:19:
Welp, there goes any hopes of a proper kotor sequel. Thanks Disney.

Uh... how so?

LucasArts didn't make them.
Because Disney is a shit company that like all the other swine of the industry sees no profit in traditional games anymore and believes all the money is in micro transactions, F2P and mobile games. I highly doubt they will give EA, Bioware or Obsidian the rights to another large production AAA game, especially on a scale of something like KoToR or ToR.

I truly believe the future of Star Wars games are the lego series, upcoming movie tie ins, and shit facebook games. You can kiss goodbye high production Star Wars games, because Disney doesn't believe in that kind of shit. Hell I don't even think we will SEE another Star Wars game until the next Abrahms movie is out.


What do you even know about Disney as a gaming company? I mean, what is any of this based on?

I'd say he based it off very good observations... so good that I'd definitely say there is some truth there. It's also becoming a trend, and I do notice Disney loves their mobile gaming division a lot more and just say fuck off to any triple 'A' titles probably also partly due to the rising costs of next-gen PS4/720. I just think that they could've handled this better instead of cutting 150 jobs like that... kind of heartless when you'd think they'd have a shitload of money to fund a company like that for at least another few decades.

Jerykk wrote on Apr 3, 2013, 17:57:
If this were the 90's, this would be terrible news. However, LucasArts has been a hollow shell of itself for the past decade. The only good games they've been involved with are the ones they licensed to third-party developers like Bioware and Raven.

Starwars 1313 looked like a really promising upcoming game that was being developed, so that's disappointing...


Avatar 571
63.
 
Re: LucasArts Closed
Apr 3, 2013, 18:37
63.
Re: LucasArts Closed Apr 3, 2013, 18:37
Apr 3, 2013, 18:37
 
wtf_man wrote on Apr 3, 2013, 15:27:
Maybe Double Fine can finally buy the Grim Fandango license, now, and do an enhanced edition, reboot, or something.
Oh mah gawd...

THIS
62.
 
Re: LucasArts Closed
Apr 3, 2013, 18:21
62.
Re: LucasArts Closed Apr 3, 2013, 18:21
Apr 3, 2013, 18:21
 
George got his, and the rest get screwed. Not looking good for the future of the Star Wars IP.
61.
 
Re: LucasArts Closed
Apr 3, 2013, 18:16
61.
Re: LucasArts Closed Apr 3, 2013, 18:16
Apr 3, 2013, 18:16
 
Someone, somewhere muttered "these aren't the games you are looking for"

LucasArts hasn't been relevant for years.
60.
 
Re: LucasArts Closed
Apr 3, 2013, 17:58
60.
Re: LucasArts Closed Apr 3, 2013, 17:58
Apr 3, 2013, 17:58
 
Next gen Battlefront shut down, 1313 shut down, no new next gen X-Wing space simulator, no new Kyle Katarn games...

I'm depressed now. Damn.
59.
 
Re: More Big Picture Details
Apr 3, 2013, 17:57
59.
Re: More Big Picture Details Apr 3, 2013, 17:57
Apr 3, 2013, 17:57
 
If this were the 90's, this would be terrible news. However, LucasArts has been a hollow shell of itself for the past decade. The only good games they've been involved with are the ones they licensed to third-party developers like Bioware and Raven.
Avatar 20715
58.
 
Re: More Big Picture Details
Apr 3, 2013, 17:45
58.
Re: More Big Picture Details Apr 3, 2013, 17:45
Apr 3, 2013, 17:45
 
Mixed, as said they haven't done crap lately. But then the corporate side of it... We don't want our guys doing it, we want cheaper, no beni contractors doing it. In fact in the end we only want the top 3 execs at Disney to be employees, the rest of you contractors with no rights/bennis at all. Pharaoh wins!
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