Issue #88: For Your Eyeballs
Sometimes, videos flow in our direction.
It has been a video-centric week, but let’s kick off with the biggest piece of news: Double Fine has announced its next game, Kiln. This is a multiplayer party brawler, starring… pots. Yes, it’s weird, which is what we like to see from Double Fine. Here’s the trailer:
And if the game looks familiar, it’s because it is an Amnesia Fortnight graduate. (Amnesia Fortnight being Double Fine’s annual two-week-long game jams.)
Want to give the game a go before the proletariat? Go sign up for beta access – and, for more Kiln, check out the official announcement.
Over to those videos…
First, a 1998 episode of the Swedish tech show Sajber has resurfaced on YouTube. Notably, it features five minutes of LucasArts, specifically Grim Fandango, Star Wars: Rogue Squadron, and Star Wars: Behind the Magic. Go watch some vintage LEC goodness:
Meanwhile, YouTube channel TechJesse has posted two Mojo-related videos:
Peter Langston might not be an instantly recognizable name, but he was, for all intents and purposes, Lucasfilm Games’ employee number one. Rescue on Fractalus! and Ballblazer – Langston oversaw both of ‘em.
And, just yesterday, TechJesse sat down with David Fox, who… well, you know who David Fox is and that he is always a gentleman.
There are a bunch more TechJesse interviews to peruse through, and Sierra is well represented for the depraved amongst you. We can only assume Jason ran and watched Al Lowe’s Larry video multiple times.
Grickle Hits Substack
You know and love Graham Annable from LucasArts, Telltale, LAIKA, and more, and we’re happy to see that he has moved1 his Grickle series to a daily newsletter. I was going to say he joined Substack because of us, but… actually, seeing there isn’t really any proof of the opposite, we’ll just take that credit.
Last week, we asked, “Which LEC game would you like to see get the SE treatment next?” 55% of you picked The Curse of Monkey Island, while 19% wanted to see a new version of The Dig. Maniac Mansion hit 13% and Loom 6%. Zak, too, limped in to 6%, which can only mean this newsletter is doing poorly in Germany.
Today’s question – are you excited for Kiln?
This Week in Mojo History
12 years ago this week, Tim returns to adventure gaming with Broken Age.
Only the best! Mojo has a web store for all your apparel and decoration needs! Don the original LucasArts logo, Manny Calavera’s face, or the OG Adventurer logo, though be warned: Popularity will smack you in your face when you wear – or display – these masterpieces.
Full News Roundup
23 Jan: A visit to LucasArts by Swedish television forever preserved: Learn about the hottest N64 games the studio has in the pipeline.
22 Jan: Double Fine Is Kiln It: Kiln being the new title, natch.
21 Jan: Peter Langston imparts the origins of Lucasfilm Games: And he’s the guy to do it, since he basically created the company.
Last Week’s Mojole Results
It’s the game that sweeps the nation! Can you beat Mojole, our fiendishly difficult daily puzzler? Only hardcore LucasArts aficionados need apply.
19 Jan: “stew###” – Food featured in the SCUMM Bar kitchen. Will it return in Return?
20 Jan: “high###” – ... Street: The street with the jail, church, etc. in MI1/Return.
21 Jan: “low####” – ... Street: The street with the Voodoo Lady -- and Wally! -- in MI1/Return.
22 Jan: “ten####” – Seems like it’s always ten o’clock on that island.
23 Jan: “holy###” – ... crap, ReMI releases on Monday!
24 Jan: “whooo##” – ... oooooo! Return to Monkey Island releases tomorrow!
25 Jan: “today##” – ... is the release day of Return to Monkey Island!
And for the competitive amongst you, the Mojole forum thread has gone strong for more than two years. The two juggernauts to beat: Sushi and Huz.
Become a Mojoer! (sponsored content)
Hey, kids, do you want to become one of us? Why not join our Patreon? One single dollar will make you a Friend of Mojo. And for the privileged few, there’s the $5 Diamond Club tier, which will earn you a special mention in The Adventurer. Join now! Our interns are hard at work finishing up the special mention section!
The International House of Mojo: Web, Bluesky, YouTube, and Mastodon.
The Monkey Island SCUMM Bar: Web, Bluesky, and Mastodon.
The Grim Fandango Network: Web, Bluesky, and Mastodon.
It might also be posted to other socials, I don’t know. Checking sources isn’t “my thing.”