The Names Bond, Indiana Bond LucasArts likens Indiana Jones to James Bond as it speaks about reinvigorating the videogame slice of the franchise pie 12:01 Indiana Jones - a slick silver screen icon in the 1980s that spawned a number of memorable adventure games in the 90s; but does the franchise still appeal to today's videogame punters? According to LucasArts, it certainly can, as for the company it's an important videogame IP that has a strong future even if the recent Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb didn't quite return us to those halcyon days of Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis. According to an interview in print publication Game Informer Magazine, LucasArts' president Jim Ward has spoken of plans to "reinvigorate the Indiana Jones IP". As to precisely how it will be reinvigorated, Ward didn't elaborate, but after admitting that the IP "basically has been stagnant for years" went on to hint at a potential strategy for Indy for the coming years. "There's no reason that Indiana Jones can't be a James Bond and have a year-in, year-out great representation of that brand," Ward said, adding: "and take the advantage of the fact that in the next couple of years, there will be a new Indiana Jones movie...". With Steven Spielberg's Indiana Jones 4 movie currently scheduled for release in 2006, a videogame tie-in could well be on the cards. The Indy movie would be exactly what the game needs to re-ignite interest and a further catalyst to launch a fresh wave of titles featuring everyone's favourite whip-cracking archaeologist. We'd guess any game would want to surf on the wave of the movie's momentum and it seems clear that if LucasArts has its way it won't be too long before old Jones is cracking his whip in earnest in the videogame world again. We'll be dodging a large rock ball to bring you the latest. |
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