Sam & Max cancelled!

[Dauphin]

Originally posted by Skanky Burns
I'm not too upset. I stopped playing them after LA started making their adventure games more like an interactive cartoon as opposed to a computer game. Which basically covers anything post Monkey Island 2.

Monkey Island 3 is the pinnacle for me, it had good graphics, good humour and the puzzles were fun. Whilst the 4th was just as good in terms of puzzles and humour the graphics grated me. Going back to MI1 is a tough thing to do now for the same reason, but at the time we didn't expect better.

/me awaits the wrath of DrSpike.

[Dauphin]

Actually, now that I have a decent graphics card maybe I should revisit MI4.

[DrSpike]

Bah, until they get a decent leader figure back LucasArts seem devoid of direction. I *know* Sam and Max2 would sell enough to be a good choice for them. LJ and Syberia had no pedigree whatsoever, but any good game in a genre with no real competition sells well, this is what the experiences of the last 3 or 4 years tells us. My little finger seemingly knows more about gaming than the entire LucasArts staff.

Skanky, I hear you about the sequels. But reality dictates that they sell better for many reasons, and the genre is so fragile I'd take a sequel to any of the major games, since it could potentially give a much needed boost to the industry, especially when its a high profile game like Sam and Max from the darling of 90s adventure games.

TLJ and Syberia fanned the flames, ffs all it takes now is ONE game to be in the right place at the right time. Sam and Max 2 could have been that game. It would be so fitting for it to be a LucasArts game.

Damn their lack of vision.

[DrSpike]

And yeah BC, play MI4, it's really a decent game.

As far as pinnacles go it's near impossible to objectively compare. However ( ) I would plump for MI1 as the best on a scale comparing the games with their competitors of the time. MI1 was a breath of fresh air, a truly original and funny game, with a tight pace and good puzzles. Even ignoring the sequel argument MI2 is not quite as good, since it lagged in the middle too much. 3 and 4 were welcome late additions, both with their merits.

[Buck Birdseed]

Purcell has written a comment in which he states the game was coming along well.

[DrSpike]

Nice avatar.

[Skanky Burns]

Maybe I should try MI3 then.

[Guynemer]

I haven't tried MI4 yet... I imagine I could find it for cheap, but I refuse to give LucasArts any more of my money until they give a full account of their decision. This "market place realities" stuff just doesn't wash. Sam & Max was going to sell quite well.

[Hueij]

Originally posted by Urban Ranger
You're making one, Hueij? Does it have anything to do with Ancient Egypt?

You read the AGS forums? The ancient Egypt game is being made by a Scottish guy, I just commented on the character's clothing

[Urban Ranger]

Oh

[The Mad Monk]

I take it that this is a bad thing?

[Buck Birdseed]

Most looked-forward-to game of the past couple of years for me, together with Psychonauts.

[Case]

Originally posted by Guynemer
This "market place realities" stuff just doesn't wash. Sam & Max was going to sell quite well.

Unless it sucked In which case, it may also have hurt the company's reputation [not that there's much left of that these days], thereby harming future sales.

...not that that means that I'm happy with this. Sam and Max Hit the Road is one of my favourite games of all time, and a sequel should have been released, oh, about a decade ago

[Guynemer]

As Buck said earlier, Sam & Max's creator was very pleased with the game's progress:

LucasArts' sudden decision to stop production on Sam & Max is mystifying. Sam & Max was on schedule and coming together beautifully.

I couldn't have been more pleased with the quality of the writing, gameplay, hilarious animation and the gorgeous 3D world that Mike Stemmle's team has created. The rug has been pulled out from under this brilliant team who've so expertly retooled Sam & Max for the 21st century.

I'm extremely frustrated and disappointed especially for the team who have devoted so much effort and creativity to Sam & Max. It's a shame to think that their accomplishments, as well as the goodwill that has been growing in the gaming press toward this project, will all go to waste due to this shortsighted decision.

Thanks everyone, for continuing to make your feelings known.

--Steve Purcell

[DrSpike]

It's painful to read. Let's hope they are big enough to admit they were wrong and change their minds.