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LucasArts and Direct2Drive strike a digital deal

by: Jake -
More On: The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition
Looks like LucasArts is really starting to take up an interest in digital distribution of their products. Very wise, considering there are so many Star Wars gamers out there, plus all the fans of their other games. This can make them a lot of money.. Especialy now that they've not only struck a deal with Steam, but now IGN's Direct2Drive. Keep reading if you want to know more!

DIRECT2DRIVE AND LUCASARTS STRIKE DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION DEAL

-The Secret of Monkey Island®: Special Edition and Other Classic
LucasArts Titles Soon to be Available at Direct2Drive-



BRISBANE, Calif. – July 14, 2009 – Direct2Drive and LucasArts today
announced that they have entered into a digital distribution agreement
through which a variety of classic LucasArts titles will be available
for digital download on Direct2Drive.com
(http://www.direct2drive.com), IGN Entertainment’s digital download
store. The first title to make its digital debut – The Secret of
Monkey Island®: Special Edition, a completely re-imagined version of
the first game in the series that adds updated high definition
graphics, a re-mastered musical score, and full voiceover to the
classic adventure game originally launched in 1990, will be available
beginning July 15th on Direct2Drive.com and will be joined by other
classic games from LucasArts’ extensive catalog over the coming
months.



This agreement represents LucasArts’ latest move toward the adoption
of digital distribution as a platform for selling games and
underscores the growth and broadening audience digital distribution.



“When we launched Direct2Drive we envisioned the ability to not only
sell great new games digitally, but sell true “classics” that can no
longer be found at traditional retail outlets. By bringing the
LucasArts catalog – and The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition
to Direct2Drive, we’ve made a major stride in fulfilling that vision.
Digital distribution provides an outlet for gamers to continue to
enjoy some of the greatest games of the past, which benefits both
consumers and the game creators,” said Sutton Trout, VP of Content
Acquisition for Direct2Drive.



“This is just the start of our effort to revitalize our beloved gaming
franchises and make them available again for both original and new
audiences,” said Darrell Rodriguez, president of LucasArts. “We’re
embracing digital distribution with open arms – to be a key player in
the industry today, it’s a must.”



Back by popular demand, The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition
faithfully re-imagines the internationally acclaimed classic game
(originally released in 1990) for original and new audiences alike.
The development team at LucasArts is bringing the game into the modern
era with all-new HD graphics, a re-mastered musical score, full
voiceover, and an in-depth hint system has been added to help players
through the game’s side-splitting puzzles. Purists will also delight
in the ability to seamlessly switch between the updated HD graphics
and the original’s classic look. More information about The Secret of
Monkey Island: Special Edition can be found at the official website,
www.MonkeyIslandSpecialEdition.com.



Since the site’s launch in October 2004, more than one million games
have been downloaded on Direct2Drive, and the site enables gamers to
conveniently purchase, download and play the latest PC games and
expansion packs from the world’s top publishers. The site features
titles from the industry’s top publishers including EA, Activision,
Blizzard Entertainment, Rockstar Games and THQ, underscoring the
growing investment the industry's top publishers are making in digital
delivery.



ABOUT DIRECT2DRIVE



Direct2Drive (D2D) is IGN Entertainment's digital download store
(http://www.direct2drive.com and http://www.direct2drive.co.uk).
Launched in October 2004, D2D allows consumers to conveniently
purchase and download the latest premium PC games directly from the
Web to their desktops. D2D's AAA roster of leading game publishers
includes Atari, Activision, Blizzard Entertainment, Electronic Arts,
NCsoft, Rockstar Games, SEGA, Sony Online Entertainment, THQ, 2K
Games, Ubisoft and Vivendi Universal Games, as well as prominent
independent and casual titles.



ABOUT LUCASARTS



LucasArts, a division of Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd., is a
leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software
worldwide for video game console systems, computers and the Internet.
Based in San Francisco, Calif., as well as on the Internet at
www.lucasarts.com, LucasArts was created in 1982 by George Lucas to
provide an interactive element to his vision of a state-of-the-art,
multifaceted entertainment company.



LucasArts and the LucasArts logo are registered trademarks of
Lucasfilm Ltd. © 1990-2009 Lucasfilm Entertainment Company Ltd. or
Lucasfilm Ltd. & ® or TM as indicated. All rights reserved.