[UPDATE] Publisher launches digital distribution effort this week with Loom, The Dig, Star Wars: Battlefront II, and more in first wave of retro releases.
One by one, the list of publishers conspicuously absent from Steam is dwindling. The latest casualty from the list is LucasArts. The publisher today announced plans to make a portion of its back catalog available to the digital distribution game store later this week.
Starting Wednesday, July 8, Steam users will be able to download 10 of the publisher's PC games, ranging from long-out-of-print adventure games like Loom and The Dig to more recent fare like Thrillville: Off the Rails. Naturally, LucasArts' twin titans are represented, with multiple Star Wars and Indiana Jones titles in the mix.
The full list of LucasArts back-catalog games to arrive on Steam this week follows below:
Armed and Dangerous
Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure
Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures
Loom
Star Wars Battlefront II
Star Wars Republic Commando
Star Wars Starfighter
The Dig
Thrillville: Off the Rails
Nostalgic gamers disappointed that their favorites aren't on the list can hold out some hope for the future. LucasArts said this first volley of releases is just part of its "new mission to revitalize its deep portfolio of beloved gaming franchises."
Other parts of that mission include the recent revival of the Secret of Monkey Island franchise, which sees a new episodic adventure from Telltale Games begin this Tuesday on the PC. A special edition of the original Secret of Monkey Island--complete with an optional graphics overhaul--is set for release July 15.
[UPDATE] Via a subsequent Twitter post, Lucasarts promised that more back-catalog hits are on the way. "For those who want more games, this list is part one," read the tweet. "It's just a few guys who have to remake these for modern systems."
Brendan Sinclair has been a games journalist since 1999. His tastes are eclectic, though he has a definite affinity for games with arcade roots. He's Canadian, but has also been at home in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, and San Francisco.
Now I can experience Fate of Atlantis! But we NEED X-Wing and TIE Fighter! I wouldn't mind an option for updated graphics a la monkey Island, but they just HAVE to keep the Collector's CD ROM dynamic music system. Also would there be any chance at all of a PC release of Mercenaries: Playground of Destruction? Pretty please, Lucasarts?
I know it's not a PC game but I can't be the only person hoping Herc's Adventures pops up.
I'm hoping they bring back DroidWorks so that it'll work & run on more modern systems as well.
Ahhhh just reading this makes me wanna go back and reinstall TF, XW, Rebellion, and a host of other games I used to geek out on back in the day.
wow lego indiana jones i can hardly wait. /sarcasm i got an idea - how about making a space combat sim like the one that everyone and their mother have been clamoring for - for years since XWA! heard of xbox? theres no excuse man what is going on with you guys.
I'd be interested if Gamespot went back and gave a quick re-review of these games when they come out to Steam. I'd like to know how they hold up over time and if they play well on modern systems.
Making classic games available seems straightfoward. So what took LucasArts (and other publishers and developers) so long? People say games are works of art... do novels, operas, paintings, sculptures disappear from public view a few months after one Christmas sales period? The fact that publishers ruthlessly expunge from existence back catalog titles shows that games are considered by their own patrons and sponsors to be expendable products, not art. For example, I just noticed the first Godfather game from Electronic "Arts" has vanished from both Steam and Direct2Drive. What the hell? I can buy The Godfather books and movies anywhere, any time, but the game is gone.
I own original disc's for a lot classic's, but I'm really happy that Steam and Good Old Games are bringing these titles back. I don't have to root around Ebay for those other gems, build a retro box or resort to abandon'ware sites. Plus I'm crap at setting up Dosbox. I hope to see X-Wing, Tie Fighter, Day of the Tentacle and a few others in the future. Now if only MS would do something similar for the old Mech Warrior games. Well, I can dream can't I?
This and the return of Monkey Island may be signs that LucasArts may be returning their roots. That would be a good thing. An awesome thing. A hell of thing.
"One by one, the list of publishers conspicuously absent from Steam is dwindling. The latest casualty from the list is LucasArts." Oh no. Brendan Sinclair wants to drive to the store at $3 a gallon gas and buy a box with discs in it. The future is downloads, bro.
I hope that don't mean retail packaging is out, the service level for running Steam is costly with no possibility of recoup to say the least, many of us are against it.
Wow, I am really glad LucasArts has finally seen the light :D People have been begging them to do this for some time. I think it is great that old favorites will be able to re-play and for newer gamers to try for a first time. I really hope that Grim Fandango makes an upcoming release on Steam. I remember all my friends playing it and loving it, but I never got a chance :(
Why don't the Jedi Outcast games get on Steam right now? Can you hear me begging and screaming?
wow hopefully the new steam version of republic commmando will work on my new computer... can't seem to get it to work i've tried both the game disc and a demo for it and it both doesn't work..... and i got a good enough system to run it maxed out and everything so i rrly want to see it like that cause it is one of my favorite games of all time
About freaking time! XD Thank you Lucasarts, thank you for finally wising up and deciding to make money off your old titles. Rather than holding those titles hostage as you've been doing for years. Now they just need to put Tie Fighter and KOTOR up on steam, and we'll be good.
I know it's not for the PC but zombies ate my neighbors should get in there too, with revamped graphics and online co-op. But the music should stay intact.
This is the best thing LA could possibly have done. I'm hoping to see ALL Lucas-developed titles on Steam in the near future.
I still have a copy of X-Wing Alliance, but I have to patch it with fonts nowadays. Still, it's the only reason I have a joystick. Can't wait for BF2, and JK2. Rep Commando and JK2 are both in the Best of Lucasarts PC pack, so if Steam charges higher than like $20 a title, I recommend visiting Amazon and getting it there. :) Wee, can't wait for these games though!
I was kinda hoping for Full Throttle, Day of the Tentacle, or even some of the X-Wing/Tie Fighter games. But this is a decent start. I'm all over The Dig when it launches.
FATE OF ATLANTIS! I have two copies for the Mac, one for PC, and I'll probably buy it again. One of my all-time favorite games.
Really cool move Lucas Arts, you have some great classics, glad to see em back in rotation, especially for the ones that are harder to find. I'm stoked to see The Dig because it gives hope for some other great adventure games as well!
haha, i still got Republic Commando, CD works well and runs well with Vista and everything, no errors whatsoever! ;D now THAT'S quality work!
YES! NOW I WILL BE ABLE TO PLAY TIE FIGHTER AGAIN! AND JEDI KNIGHT AND DARK FORCES AND SO MANY OTHERS! THANK YOU LUCASARTS!
I remember playing "The Dig" on my Pentium Overdrive 83Mhz Dos/Windows 3.1 PC when it was new. It was a very fun adventure game.
Funny, I sent an email to LucasArts about a year ago suggesting that they do exactly this (even specifying that they do it on Steam). Here's hoping that Full Throttle and Dark Forces (and, hell, Jedi Knight) make appearances soon.
Kevin VanOrd takes a look back at the classic LucasArts adventure game Loom.
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