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Companies in the Computer Game Industry: LucasArts

© Sean Weiser

LucasArts, a company of great storytellers

The computer gaming industry isn't just one gigantic assembly line in a factory where the same people make products over and over. The industry is made up of many individual companies, with original ideas and new games every so often. I believe it's important to know where the games you're buying are coming from. From time to time I'll be writing about a specific gaming company that you may or may not recognize.

LucasArts

Just the name brings up memories of a galaxy far, far away, where good and evil battle. LucasArts may be best known for the Star Wars franchise, but that's not their only accomplishment. LucasArts was founded in 1982 by filmmaker George Lucas to provide an interactive link to the public, mainly video and computer games. Their games branch off to many platforms, not just the PC, each game following LucasArts' strict philosophy of design - "Each title combines vital film elements - compelling storytelling, painstaking character development and vivid settings - with the most sophisticated technology available to game makers today" (LucasArts web site). LucasArts attempts to include the most recent technology in all of theirs games from sound and sound effects to graphics and video. The audio and visual euphoria brings consumers to games, but solid story telling, a telltale mark of LucasArts, immerses people fully in the game, and they're hooked forever. Everything from Star Wars and Indiana Jones to a dog and rabbit on a quest for a Bigfoot (Sam and Max Hit the Road) have been made into classic games enjoyed by all groups of people.

Recent News

Early 1998 was a great time for LucasArts. After their most successful fall quarter ever, the company was given several awards by numerous sources for a few of their 1997 games. Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II was presented the Best Game of 1997 by PC Gamer, Computer Gaming World, PC Games, Ultra Game Players, GameSpot, and c/net Gamecenter. The Curse of Monkey Island, the third in the Monkey Island series, was awarded top Adventure Game by PC Gamer, Computer Gaming World, and Computer Games Strategy Plus. In other end of the year honors, Outlaws was given the Best Music award by Computer Gaming World, and Best Story from PC Games.

Lucas Arts recently released their real-time strategy game Star Wars Rebellion. Other games to be released this year are Grim Fandagno, a dark graphic-adventure game that takes place in the Land of the Dead, and Force Commander, another real-time strategy game in the Star Wars universe. Grim Fandango is expected to be released the first half of this year, while Force Commander should hit stores this fall.