Watch the trailer at Eurogamer here.
Facts:
Our first new Fact in ages comes from the unlikely source of Indiana Jones: The Ultimate Guide. The small piece of info about the new game states that "Indy is searching for his former college professor, Charles Kingston".
Set in 1939. That’s the start the World War II, in case you didn’t know. It means Nazis.
Features a completely original story written under the “direction” of George Lucas.
Will involve “ancient artefacts from around the globe”, a la Infernal Machine.
Locations will include San Francisco’s Chinatown, and “the world’s most sacred ground” (any ideas what that might be?)
Will use some nifty looking technology, making people and the environment move realistically and uniquely, using something called “Euphoria” and “Hotset”. These physics systems will be utilised first by LucasArts' in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, however due to the extreme lateness of both games Grand Theft Auto IV ended up being the first game released to use them.
The environment will be interactive and you’ll be able to use it as a weapon (think Emperor's Tomb but better!). There will also be quite a few obligatory chase sequences.
It will be made by LucasArts themselves, not a third party, and will be available for the PS3 and Xbox 360. No idea if it’ll come out on the PC, but we hope so as there hasn't been a proper Indy game that hasn't.
It's coming out in 2007 2008. Hopefully.
Rumours:
According to Eurogamer, Indiana Jones 2007 either was postponed and started again with a new team (this fits with Surfer Girl's rumour below), or never existed in game form at all. Either way, LucasArts are supposed to have only just started production on the game, after spending all their time on Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (which itself is extremely late). It's also likely that Indiana Jones 2008 will become Indiana Jones 2009 shortly.
Internet insider/gossip columnist Surfer Girl has mentioned Indy 2008 on several occasions. She's suggested that the game had some massive trouble a while back, that the original development team were axed and that there is "a brand new development team on board" and the game's "back on track." She also says that "A2M is working on Indiana Jones for people who cannot stand to play consoles with the number three in the name- DS/Wii/PS2/PSP". While the troubled development makes sense, Surfer Girl also recently said that Indy 2008 was coming out the same time as Indy IV and Lego Indy (which is clearly wrong), so take her opinions with a pillar of salt.
Another Surfer Girl rumour is that the A2M "lesser" Indy 2008 game is actually on target and may be released alongside the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull DVD. Bear in mind that so far LucasArts haven't announced anything about this non-LucasArts Indy game.
The whip probably won’t be used that much, unlike in Emperor's Tomb and Infernal Machine when Indy used it for changing channels on his TV. Presumably this just means that there won’t be loads of conveniently placed posts hanging around, causing Indy to muse “that thing looks whippable!”
The adventure will be of “biblical proportions”, so expect Judeo-Christian stuff. Not sure what the MacGuffin (eg Holy Grail, Atlantis etc) could be this time though. Excalibur? Lara Croft did it recently. Staff of Aaron? Last Bible artifact, caused a few Plagues, otherwise dull. Crystal Skulls? Um, probably not. The Tingler is betting on the Spear of Destiny (yes, the one that was going to be in a game until LucasArts cancelled it.
Indy will meet a “devious longtime rival”. Who could this be? Answers on a postcard please. In a number of screenshots of the game (see Images), there can be seen a sign in the background reading 'Lao Che Cocktails'. Could Lao Che be the "devious longtime rival"? Considering all the enemies so far seen have been Chinese and that, out of both the films and games, he is the only surviving enemy of Dr. Jones (apart from Infernal Machine's Dr. Volodnikov, but he doesn't meet Indy until after the war), this is a very strong possibility.
Indy is also supposed to "meet old friends". Who exactly? Keeping with the Chinese theme, maybe Wu Han or Mei Ying? Would suggest Sophia Hapgood again, except LucasArts seem determined to forget their past as quickly as possible. Dear god, please not Short Round...
Stuff we don't know and can't even guess:
What it's called
If it'll be any good
Whether The Tingler will win his bet with Gabez and the whole game will be scrapped or postponed and the engine used to make an official Kingdom of the Crystal Skull tie-in game.
From LucasArts:
Official web-site (keep checking for updates)
Game info:
Indiana Jones returns for his most incredible interactive expedition ever. Set in 1939, this epic, original story -- written for the first time under the direction of George Lucas -- puts you in the fedora of the legendary adventure hero as he unravels the clues found in ancient artifacts spanning the globe. From San Francisco's Chinatown to the world's most sacred ground, Indy must use his fists, whip and trusty revolver to fight through ruthless opposition and piece together a mystery of biblical proportions. Indiana Jones is LucasArts' first internally developed project for PlayStation®3 and Xbox 360™ video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, and it also represents the first collaboration of talents and technology between LucasArts and Industrial Light & Magic, two companies now finally under one roof at the new Letterman Digital Arts Center in San Francisco's Presidio district.
Indiana Jones debuts the revolutionary new euphoria technology from NaturalMotion, which delivers never-before-seen lifelike action and awareness to every character in real time -- so you'll never see the same thing twice. For the first time ever, euphoria enables interactive characters to move, act and even think like actual human beings, adapting their behavior on the fly and resulting in a different payoff every single time. This next-gen technology imbues Indy and his opponents with unparalleled environmental awareness and survival instincts. They'll stumble, then attempt to maintain their balance; brace themselves for falls, then get back up; and reach for nearby ledges when falling. Each action results in an authentic, varied performance every time.
Complementing euphoria will be Pixelux Entertainment's Digital Molecular Matter (DMM) technology, which brings a level of realism to next-gen games never seen before by making completely interactive environments that react as they would in real life. From crumbling walls to shattering glass and even swaying organic plant life, in-game objects have material properties that behave realistically all in real time.
Indiana Jones also features completely interactive Hot Set™ environments, where every setting is open-ended and completely destructible in a way that only next-generation consoles can deliver. Use your wits and daring to make each spring-loaded environment a weapon as you dispense of foes in clever and unexpected ways. Also, embark upon thrilling chase sequences that remain true to the spirit established in scenes such as Indy's pursuit of the motorcade in Raiders of the Lost Ark, the mine-cart scene in The Temple of Doom, and the free-for-all aboard the tank in The Last Crusade. Face Indy off against a devious longtime rival, reunite him with old friends, and meet more of his most trusted allies throughout the world.
