LucasArts' last big adventure seller

crabapple · 01-17-2005, 06:04 PM

I came up with this list of LucasArts adventure games.
Dates are from the Pagoda Game Database.

1987 Maniac Mansion
1988 Zak MacKracken and the Alien Mindbenders
1989 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
1990 Loom
1990 Monkey Island 1: The Secret of Monkey Island
1991 Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge
1992 Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis
1993 Day of the Tentacle
1993 Sam and Max Hit the Road
1995 The Dig
1995 Full Throttle
1997 Monkey Island 3: The Curse of Monkey Island
1998 Grim Fandango
2000 Monkey Island 4: Escape from Monkey Island

Which game was LucasArts' last big selling adventure game?

LeChimp · 01-17-2005, 06:08 PM

My guess would be Monkey Island 3

bysmitty · 01-17-2005, 06:34 PM

Quote:

...big selling...

I think we need to establish a definition. Big selling is a bit vague. ...bysmitty

mag · 01-17-2005, 06:46 PM

I think by most definitions of "big selling," we can pretty safely assume that CoMI was LucasArt's last hit adventure game. Grim Fandango got a lot of critical praise but sold pretty poorly. EfMI also didn't seem to make much of a splash, so I'm guessing it wasn't that hot either. Probably not a failure, but definitely not on the same level as KotOR.

mag

Udvarnoky · 01-17-2005, 07:08 PM

Are you guys so sure about CMI being such a hit? I know it wasn't as huge a financial failure as Grim, but I want to say it wasn't a huge seller (at least initially, I'm certain it had healthy long-term sales).

EMI, on the other hand, at least sold decently. I don't know if it fits your definition of "big selling" (my guess for last slam dunk is Sam & Max), but it did well.

Now, someone tell me how wrong I am.

remixor · 01-17-2005, 07:30 PM

Zak McKracken.

Estoy Loco · 01-17-2005, 07:48 PM

Something tells me that MI4 sold better than MI3... but I don't really have any reason to back this up with other than that MI4 was also on PS2.

RemiO · 01-17-2005, 07:52 PM

EMI at least charted in the top 20 both in the US and Europe. "Big selling" kind of comes down to who you ask, and in comparison to what.

crabapple · 01-17-2005, 09:50 PM

"Big selling" was probably not the best way to put it.

I meant which was their last adventure game to be able to hold its own with other genres saleswise. I don't think that would be MI4 or LucasArts would have made another adventure game.

BacardiJim · 01-17-2005, 09:58 PM

Episode II?

***Jackal*** · 01-17-2005, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crabapple

I meant which was their last adventure game to be able to hold its own with other genres saleswise. I don't think that would be MI4 or LucasArts would have made another adventure game.

But they did make another adventure game. Management at the time obviously felt it was viable enough to greenlight. If only the lame temps that followed didn't chicken out, we'd be playing it now.

As for the other games being big sellers, it's hard to answer, since LEC adventures still sell well in JC versions.

Intrepid Homoludens · 01-17-2005, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mag

...definitely not on the same level as KotOR.

Did you say KoTOR? As in Knights Of The Old Republic? Mmmmm....

Swordmaster · 01-17-2005, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RemiO

EMI at least charted in the top 20 both in the US and Europe. "Big selling" kind of comes down to who you ask, and in comparison to what.

Word. The Curse of Monkey Island sold better than the first two Monkey Island games combined, anyhow. And despite the common belief, Grim Fandango didn't do that poorly. It wasn't the run-away hit it should've been, but it did OK.

DustCropper · 01-17-2005, 11:27 PM

I wish computer game sales figures were as accessible to the public as movie box office figures are so that we could know such things.

crabapple · 01-18-2005, 12:02 AM

My reason for asking this was to try to figure out around what year a really well-made adventure game could no longer be expected to bring in the same sales as hit games in other genres. I chose LucasArts' games as an example because I think most people agree their adventure games were well put together.

EMI may have sold well enough to be profitable, but I don't know that it rivalled the best selling games in other genres. (I don't have the numbers though).

Steve Ince · 01-18-2005, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DustCropper

I wish computer game sales figures were as accessible to the public as movie box office figures are so that we could know such things.

I think that a lot of developers would like to know exact sales figures, too.

BacardiJim · 01-18-2005, 01:50 AM

Quote:

My reason for asking this was to try to figure out around what year a really well-made adventure game could no longer be expected to bring in the same sales as hit games in other genres.

I know nobody here wants to hear it, but for nine years an adventure game was the best selling PC game of all time. (Until it was finally surpassed by the combined Sims franchise.) It is still the second bestselling PC game of all time. Yeah, I'm talkin' about Myst.

If you want to pinpoint the marketplace shift away from adventure gaming, jump in the Wayback Machine and visit 1996.

Reptil3 · 01-18-2005, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BacardiJim

It is still the second bestselling PC game of all time. Yeah, I'm talkin' about Myst.

Are you sure it's still second bestselling pc game? I'm afraid it has been beaten by Half-Life or Diablo2 or something like that.

BacardiJim · 01-18-2005, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reptil3

Are you sure it's still second bestselling pc game? I'm afraid it has been beaten by Half-Life or Diablo2 or something like that.

Yeah, I'm sure.

Wormsie · 01-18-2005, 05:04 AM

Myst reminds me that mass market success isn't necessarily a good thing.

01-17-2005, 06:04 PM	#1
crabapple Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 948	LucasArts' last big adventure seller I came up with this list of LucasArts adventure games. Dates are from the Pagoda Game Database. 1987 Maniac Mansion 1988 Zak MacKracken and the Alien Mindbenders 1989 Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade 1990 Loom 1990 Monkey Island 1: The Secret of Monkey Island 1991 Monkey Island 2: LeChuck's Revenge 1992 Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis 1993 Day of the Tentacle 1993 Sam and Max Hit the Road 1995 The Dig 1995 Full Throttle 1997 Monkey Island 3: The Curse of Monkey Island 1998 Grim Fandango 2000 Monkey Island 4: Escape from Monkey Island Which game was LucasArts' last big selling adventure game? Share Share this post on Twitter

01-17-2005, 06:08 PM	#2
LeChimp Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 356	My guess would be Monkey Island 3 Share Share this post on Twitter

01-17-2005, 06:46 PM	#4
mag Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 1,913	I think by most definitions of "big selling," we can pretty safely assume that CoMI was LucasArt's last hit adventure game. Grim Fandango got a lot of critical praise but sold pretty poorly. EfMI also didn't seem to make much of a splash, so I'm guessing it wasn't that hot either. Probably not a failure, but definitely not on the same level as KotOR. mag Share Share this post on Twitter

01-17-2005, 07:08 PM	#5
Udvarnoky Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 632	Are you guys so sure about CMI being such a hit? I know it wasn't as huge a financial failure as Grim, but I want to say it wasn't a huge seller (at least initially, I'm certain it had healthy long-term sales). EMI, on the other hand, at least sold decently. I don't know if it fits your definition of "big selling" (my guess for last slam dunk is Sam & Max), but it did well. Now, someone tell me how wrong I am. Share Share this post on Twitter

01-17-2005, 07:30 PM	#6
remixor A search for a crazy man! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 3,987	Zak McKracken. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Chris "News Editor" Remo Some sort of Writer or Editor or Something, Idle Thumbs "Some comparisons are a little less obvious. I always think of Grim Fandango as Casablanca on acid." - Will Wright

01-17-2005, 07:48 PM	#7
Estoy Loco @_@ Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Minnesota USA Posts: 95	Something tells me that MI4 sold better than MI3... but I don't really have any reason to back this up with other than that MI4 was also on PS2. Share Share this post on Twitter

01-17-2005, 07:52 PM	#8
RemiO Antibacterial Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 327	EMI at least charted in the top 20 both in the US and Europe. "Big selling" kind of comes down to who you ask, and in comparison to what. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Remi O Best site ever... ever!

01-17-2005, 09:50 PM	#9
crabapple Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 948	"Big selling" was probably not the best way to put it. I meant which was their last adventure game to be able to hold its own with other genres saleswise. I don't think that would be MI4 or LucasArts would have made another adventure game. Share Share this post on Twitter

01-17-2005, 09:58 PM	#10
BacardiJim Banned User Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,346	Episode II? Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Time flies like the wind; Fruit flies like bananas.

01-17-2005, 11:27 PM	#14
DustCropper Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,117	I wish computer game sales figures were as accessible to the public as movie box office figures are so that we could know such things. Share Share this post on Twitter

01-18-2005, 12:02 AM	#15
crabapple Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 948	My reason for asking this was to try to figure out around what year a really well-made adventure game could no longer be expected to bring in the same sales as hit games in other genres. I chose LucasArts' games as an example because I think most people agree their adventure games were well put together. EMI may have sold well enough to be profitable, but I don't know that it rivalled the best selling games in other genres. (I don't have the numbers though). Share Share this post on Twitter

01-18-2005, 05:04 AM	#20
Wormsie Doctor Watson Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 4,736	Myst reminds me that mass market success isn't necessarily a good thing. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Don't worry, I'm a doctor.

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