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Lucasarts cancels Sam'n'Max 2

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Some of you will probably know the popular series of adventure games Lucasfilm (and later on Lucasarts) made, starting with "Labyrinth" and "Maniac Mansion" and ending with great games like "Grim Fandango" (it had very poor sales figures, although it was a superb game with an excellent story) and "Monkey Island 4" (a mediocre attempt to continue the series, it's low sale figures were kinda justified, imho).

"Sam'n'Max hit the road" was a significant milestone in the lines of great adventure games made by Lucasarts. It was an homage to the comic books and the cartoon series with these two characters (there already had been occasional cameos in several Lucasarts games before that).

It was only about a year ago that Lucasarts finally announced a sequel that really rekindled many adventure game fans' hopes that Lucasarts would step back into the limelight, ceasing to just manage Lucasfilm's movie licenses and outsourcing game development to companies like Factor5 and Ravensoftware.

Now, Mike Nelson (Vice president of Lucasarts' finance and operations department) announced the discontinuation of the development of the highly anticipated adventure game:

"After careful evaluation of current market place realities and underlying economic considerations, we've decided that this was not the appropriate time to launch a graphic adventure on the PC." (For more information on Sam'n'Max and related information, visit the page that served as the source for this article).

Edit: Added hotlinks to factor5 and ravensoft for informational purposes and italicised the quote.
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LucasArts is getting worse and worse... they used to release remarkable games, true "instant classics" with that elusive spark that makes you play them even as they grow old... too bad nowadays they just patch-up another console shooter with plot little to none and short gameplay span.
But this is a worldwide trend. Making games is no longer a labour of love, but a growing industry set on mass production.
I saw the original theatrical release of the Old Trilogy on the big screen and I'm proud of it...
How did I accomplish that (considering my age) is my secret...
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Steve Purcell, the creator of Sam'n'Max has made a public statement, commenting on the sudden cancellation of Sam'n'Max 2 (Source):
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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

Edit: Here's yet another comment from within the company (Source):
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"It was the first cancellation I've ever seen that wasn't due to poor performance on the part of the team," an anonymous Lucasarts employee told us. "I just don't get it."
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Some older (and thus well hung) news snippet on this issue:
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Originally posted on: theforce.net -- More on Sam and Max 2 Petition
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Less than a week after the LucasArts announcement that it has stopped production on "Sam & Max: Freelance Police" a Save Sam & Max Website was launched. It has just undergone a huge redesign facelift. The Site is dedicated to forcing LucasArts to reverse their decision and have Sam & Max 2 finished and released. There was a lot of frustration, anger and resentment after LucasArts shock announcement and the creator of http://www.savesamandmax.com wants to "harness that in a productive way."

"The campaign to get this game reinstated has just begun, as a petition exceeds 20,000 signatures, we have protest being organised for E3 2004. We also are encouraging everyone to mail their own piece of Sam & Max Fan Artwork to LucasArts to let them know their are Sam & Max Fans out there who would buy this game, contrary to whatever flawed research they have done. I think its also time for the gaming community to take a stand and let companies like LucasArts know we want original and funny games like Freelance Police. I also challenge Mike Nelson who cancelled the game with that pathetic two line quote, to come out and respond to the fans passionate showing of support for the game."

- SaveSamandMax.com
After just going through a resdesign, SaveSamAndMax.com continues in the tireless job of trying to convince LucasArts to un-cancel the Adventure Game. The petition has over 20,000 signatures, a protest is in the works, and I have a feeling that whoever is at LucasArts reading the PR e-mail is putting in some long hours.

Many people are wondering, what one can do to help out. Well they have a whole section devoted just to that, with ideas from protesting at E3, sending letters, to even pre-ordering the game where you can find it.
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Guys, isn't something wrong with this industry (and others too) ? Those big-time company bosses hire companies for predicting how this or that particular game could sell. Looks like they're just wasting money as they make more and more bad decisions... cancelling Sam'n'Max 2, Fallout 3 (or dumping Original Trilogy into nonexistence) created huge protests, tens of thousands people are signing petitions - and this is just small percentage of the potential target buyers.

Darn, looks like those fat execs forgot what people really want to buy...
I saw the original theatrical release of the Old Trilogy on the big screen and I'm proud of it...
How did I accomplish that (considering my age) is my secret...
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RRS, I think the 'bad marketing projections' were just a lame excuse. I think the title was cancelled to make more room resource and budget-wise for more StarWars games. Looks like George intervening all over again (hehe, or my paranoia taking over all over again - it's up to you to pick one ).
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I'm mad on George for doing this stuff now and then - the AMT/ERTL had to cancell production of all old SW plastic model kits to make more room for Prequel garbage. I foolishly waited to buy new batch of old SW models that would be supposedly made in new molds, in scale - just like prequel stuff. To my disappointment (it's an understatement: I'm still pulling my hair when I think of it... it's a horror to me!) the only thing that gets manufactured now is prequel ships and vehicles - and the supplies of old models run out... I don't have the $$$ to buy expensive Japanese ones or order the garage-produced sets overseas (from USA).
I saw the original theatrical release of the Old Trilogy on the big screen and I'm proud of it...
How did I accomplish that (considering my age) is my secret...
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Darth Ward takes over command (Source). Here's a snippet of the article:
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"I've worked closely with every division of the Lucas companies, and it's clear there is enormous potential for synergy between visual effects, video games, licensing and film and television production," Ward said. "I'm looking forward to exploring how — more — to integrate them into the current and emerging interactive entertainment markets, where so many possibilities exist. It's going to be a great adventure." Read more
In my humble opinion, this explains why Sam'n'Max 2 was cancelled. Don't expect any cool Non-StarWars games from Lucasarts in the years to come, after all "this is not a democracy"...

"Enter the beaurocrats - this is where the fan's power will disappear..."
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They did the same thing with Full Throttle 2... What is happening to Lucasarts? Day of the Tentacle, Full Throtle, Sam & Max, all of the Monkey Island games, Grim Fandango, those are instant classics... Any adventure game released by them would sell lots of copies. Maybe they are focusing on SW now...
“Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.” — Nazi Reich Marshal Hermann Goering
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In older news on this topic, 29 Lucasarts employees were fired in late april this year.

Savesamandmax.com had further details to report on this:
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Among the people let go were Sean Clark (Director of The Dig, Escape from Monkey Island and most recently Full Throttle 2), Robert Blackadder(Director of Jedi Power Battles and Gladius) as well as both the Lead Engineer and Producer of the late Sam and Max 2 game.

Mike Stemmle (Director of Sam and Max 2) is apparently still with the company.