The Return Of Leisure Suit Larry

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The Return Of Leisure Suit Larry

Posted by simoniker on Monday October 20, 2003 @06:42AM from the more-strip-liar's-dice-please dept.

Thanks to Blue's News for their article pointing out playboy gaming icon Leisure Suit Larry will be returning to videogames, since a Computer Games magazine cover "reveals plans for Leisure Suit Larry: Magna Cum Laude." According to the piece, "This would mark the eighth installment in the exploits of the polyester-clad would-be Romeo, whose last [adventure] gaming appearance was over six years ago now", and it's noted that "the teaser makes a reference to similarities to Grand Theft Auto." Unfortunately, AdventureGamers have also learned "that [original series creator] Al Lowe has nothing to do with this new game."

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In other words... by SomeGuyFromCA · 2003-10-20 06:44 · Score: 4, Insightful

In other words, video game company leverages nostalgic character to try to sell trendy-genre game that has absolutely no connection to the previous games or previous people involved.

Film at 11.

The same thing almost happened to Space Quest 7 before it was shelved.

--
if the answer isn't violence, neither is your silence / freedom of expression doesn't make it alright
1. Re:In other words... by SomeGuyFromCA · 2003-10-20 06:49 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  And from Al Lowe's web page:
  
  A peek at the first (cancelled) LSL8 project.
  
  --
  if the answer isn't violence, neither is your silence / freedom of expression doesn't make it alright
2. Re:In other words... by Anonymous Coward · 2003-10-20 07:12 · Score: 0
  
  Wow, that looks like shit.
3. Re:In other words... by Mike+Hawk · 2003-10-20 08:27 · Score: 0, Flamebait
  
  Wait, I didn't know this was a Nintendo title for the Gamecube!
4. Re:In other words... by Decaffeinated+Jedi · 2003-10-20 09:09 · Score: 2, Informative
  
  In other words, video game company leverages nostalgic character to try to sell trendy-genre game that has absolutely no connection to the previous games or previous people involved. Film at 11. The same thing almost happened to Space Quest 7 before it was shelved.
  Tell me about it!
  Also, as I recently posted in my weblog, Josh Mandel (co-designer of Space Quest 6 and Freddy Pharkas Frontier Pharmacist) is not involved in the new Leisure Suit Larry game--contrary to popular belief. As Josh confirms at the Subspace Channel, he simply wrote a preview of the game for Computer Games Magazine.
  
  --
  DecafJedi
  my weblog: apropos of something
5. Re:In other words... by shoptroll · 2003-10-20 10:34 · Score: 1
  
  Gee, only cause it was created 6+ years ago... I highly doubt that Sierra would think that they could actually sell this game with 6+ year old graphics, and minus the original designer (who's been on hand for the entire series). I applaud Sierra for kicking one of the coolest guys in the industry while he's down.
  
  --
  Insert Sig Here
6. Re:In other words... by pebsmith · 2003-10-21 09:19 · Score: 1
  
  Sierra would kick anyone while they're down. Vivendi (who bought Sierra games a while back) pretty much ruined all the goodwill that Ken Williams and his crew built for the company over the years. Their adventure game division is nonexistent despite having a wealth of classic titles they could revisit (Kings Quest, Space Quest, Gabriel Knight). I've no doubt they'll screw up LSL (my least favorite anyway).
Great... by mopslik · 2003-10-20 06:47 · Score: 2

Al Lowe has nothing to do with this new game.

So there will be ten times as many boobs and ten times less humour than any of the original LSL games? Just retire the poor guy.
1. Re:Great... by malverian · 2003-10-20 06:58 · Score: 0
  
  Anything sounds bad when you say it with that tone of voice!
  
  Anyway, if you try to be optimistic, you'd notice how well this game is going to sell if the traits you described are factual.
  
  --
  You're just mad because the voices in your head talk to me.
2. Re:Great... by mopslik · 2003-10-20 07:26 · Score: 1
  
  ...how well this game is going to sell if the traits you described are factual.
  
  Yes, if by "sell" you mean "be downloaded via Kazaa for free".
  
  The humour is what made the games. Why people would pay for pixelated boobs alone, given the abundance of free internet sites today, is beyond me.
3. Re:Great... by Alkaiser · 2003-10-20 08:03 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  Unfortunately, AdventureGamers have also learned "that [original series creator] Al Lowe has nothing to do with this new game."
  
  I don't understand where the shock is in any of this. Al Lowe's "involvement" on many of the games that had his name on them consisted of him walking into the dev. department, asking how the game was going, and never coming back in again. I worked with a guy in the sound dept. who worked on "his" games and swore he'd have nothing to do with him ever again. Called him the foulest man he'd ever met.
  
  --
  Netjak.com independent reviews of domestic & import video ga
4. Re:Great... by malverian · 2003-10-20 08:05 · Score: 0
  
  You mean people actually still want content in their entertainment? Here I thought it was all about the sex appeal and cliche romances - learn something new every day!
  
  --
  You're just mad because the voices in your head talk to me.
5. Re:Great... by secolactico · 2003-10-20 08:11 · Score: 1
  
  Just retire the poor guy
  
  Should have been retired after the third. And we could have done without the second.
  
  Of course, Sierra's policy seemed to be "keep 'em coming until the players find out we are out of new ideas".
  
  --
  No sig
6. Re:Great... by mopslik · 2003-10-20 09:43 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  I thought it was all about the sex appeal...
  
  Given titles like BMX XXX and DOA Xtreme Beach Volleyball, you may be right.
7. Re:Great... by Acidic_Diarrhea · 2003-10-20 10:34 · Score: 1
  
  BMX XXX sold horribly and since DOA Xtreme Beach Volleyball was released on the XBox, XBox owners just bought it because that's all that was on store shelves other than Halo.
  
  --
  I hate liberals. If you are a liberal, do not reply.
8. Re:Great... by Rayonic · 2003-10-21 02:57 · Score: 2
  
  Interesting. Which of his games was this again? And in which way was he "foul" -- temper, manner, humor, or smell? I'm sure nobody will get in trouble for telling us which game it was.
  
  --
  [PowerPoint] is a tool for capitalist presentation
9. Re:Great... by Anonymous Coward · 2003-10-21 08:19 · Score: 0
  
  Yeah because there are no other x-box games except halo and Xtreme Volleyball...you shortsighted MORON.
10. Re:Great... by Alkaiser · 2003-10-22 07:15 · Score: 1
  
  As far as "foul" goes, I'd probably say in the "temper" and "manner" depts.
  
  In the matter of the games, I think it was just everything that had his name on it, around the time of LSL6 onward.
  
  --
  Netjak.com independent reviews of domestic & import video ga
Ummm.... by wanderers_id · 2003-10-20 06:47 · Score: 5, Funny

Ken sent me.
Who is the audience? by Picass0 · 2003-10-20 06:58 · Score: 4, Insightful

Leisure Suit Larry was funny in it's day because it was the first "dirty video game". That market is well covered now.

I remember back in junior high when I saw LSL for the first time, and one of my friends pointing at the screen and saying "that pixel is her nipple!" The whole payoff for that game was getting chicks into the hottub.

That was a long time ago.

LSL was a hybrid text adventure with graphics. A 3d first person "shooter" (no pun intended) isn't going to be a thematic continuation. It's just cashing in on a name.
1. Re:Who is the audience? by gl4ss · 2003-10-20 07:41 · Score: 1
  
  and now if you want games like that you have to get some japanese games and then people look at you all funny.
  
  -
  
  --
  world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
2. Re:Who is the audience? by tigersha · 2003-10-21 04:29 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  Actually, Leisure Suit Larry in the Land of the Lounge Lizards (the first LSL game) was based on an Apple II Text-only game called SoftPorn Adventure. I remember discovering this little gem in a pack of disks my dad pirat...obtained from a friend when I was all of 14 years old and it was a blast!
  
  The cover of the box of SoftPorn adventure had a set of people in a bathtub. One of them was Roberta Williams herself.
  
  --
  The dangers of excessive individualism are nothing compared to the oppressiveness of excessive collectivism
3. Re:Who is the audience? by Frizzle+Fry · 2003-10-21 05:52 · Score: 1
  
  The appeal here is mainly nostalgia. The hope is that people who were really turned on by these games when they were twelve will now find them silly and fun, and it will be a nice throwback to those days.
  
  --
  I'd rather be lucky than good.
Finally, a reason for 3D Pr0n0-graphics by mabhatter654 · 2003-10-20 07:00 · Score: 2, Funny

Ati and Nvidia should be getting involved with this! This could be huge! Consoles are still limited by their huge license fees--they have to gaurantee to sell copies. A properly constructed DirectX 9 game could do wonders! We've all seen "Dawn" and DOA beach volleyball. This would be a great excuse for nekid, 3d accelerated, computer animated chicks! [Every /.ers wet dream!] They would of course need a Linux port---even OSS geeks need "some".
A truly "X" rated game would be cool... more so if it had "tasteful" "adventures". Done right such a game could actually be fun too. but they might have "regulatory" issues...release it as "R" rated then allow you to verify online that you are old enough to view the "good" stuff. Actually speaking of "online" it could bring a whole new dimension to MMORGs! combine Chat, Cybersex, and 3d realtime gameing and you'd have a Winner!
Of course this could have great system benchmarking purposes as well. The latest crop of test suites is pretty bo-ring...any benchmark involving ## of 3D jiggly boobies per second would be welcome!
1. Re:Finally, a reason for 3D Pr0n0-graphics by irc.goatse.cx+troll · 2003-10-20 07:09 · Score: 1
  
  There is XXXtreme beach volleyball, a worthless volleyball game not unlike DOA's extreme volleyball, but topless. No jiggle, no fun.
  
  And you can play max payne 2 as the female lead character(nameless to not spoil it) if you turn on developer mode and cycle the player skins, but I dont think that counts. (mostly because again, no jiggle.)
  
  The last game I remember that had full nudity and good jiggle was the virtual vallery games. DoA had great jiggle, but no nudity (excluding kasumi nude intro cheat on the dreamcast) /no karma bonus so I can hide in with the ascii penis bird posts at 1.
  
  --
  Pain lasts, kid. Its how you know you're alive. Sometimes I think this growing up thing is just pain management-TheMaxx
2. Re:Finally, a reason for 3D Pr0n0-graphics by milkman_matt · 2003-10-20 08:46 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  A truly "X" rated game would be cool... more so if it had "tasteful" "adventures".
  You know... I hadn't even seen this story with that angle, but now that you bring it up, what if they were able to get Vivid or somebody to back it and license out the women in their videos? Then every girl you're chasing after in that game is a real porn star or something?
  -matt
3. Re:Finally, a reason for 3D Pr0n0-graphics by DrEldarion · 2003-10-20 09:46 · Score: 1
  
  "Do" you think "you" could "use" "quotes" "any" "more" """"""""""""?"
  
  -- Dr. "Eldarion" "--"
4. Re:Finally, a reason for 3D Pr0n0-graphics by crazysim · 2003-10-20 16:28 · Score: 0
  
  Search Google for Sexy Beach 2 3d
5. Re:Finally, a reason for 3D Pr0n0-graphics by Anthracks · 2003-10-21 05:41 · Score: 1
  
  For some reason it amuses me greatly that this post got moderated "Insightful" :)
  
  --
  Rock over London, Rock on Chicago. Wheaties: Breakfast of Champions.
6. Re:Finally, a reason for 3D Pr0n0-graphics by Anonymous Coward · 2003-10-21 06:49 · Score: 0
  
  A properly constructed DirectX 9 game ... would of course need a Linux port ...
  
  There's a contradiction there. Change that to A properly constructed OpenGL game and we're in business.
7. Re:Finally, a reason for 3D Pr0n0-graphics by Riff10111 · 2003-10-21 17:21 · Score: 1
  
  A truly "X" rated game would be cool... more so if it had "tasteful" "adventures".
  
  You know... I hadn't even seen this story with that angle, but now that you bring it up, what if they were able to get Vivid or somebody to back it and license out the women in their videos? Then every girl you're chasing after in that game is a real porn star or something?
  
  Sure, and make it a MMORPG!
  types: "You're not the usual pizza delivery boy..."
  
  --
  "When I smile, I have a mouth full of teeth; when I frown, I'm not even here."
8. Re:Finally, a reason for 3D Pr0n0-graphics by milkman_matt · 2003-10-22 03:56 · Score: 1
  
  e, and make it a MMORPG!
  types: "You're not the usual pizza delivery boy..."
  Yeah, i'd be the dude who only delivers when they order 'extra anchovies' heh ;)
  -matt
age verification by GreatTeacherMusashi · 2003-10-20 08:03 · Score: 1

haha I just remebered what they used back in the day to "verify" your age for the LSL games, there was like a cycling list of questions about the 70s XD but seriously, I see through its disguise, this is just Sierra's attempt to cash in on the whole GTA craze, only where GTA had violence, this has sex! not to say if it works I won't play.... >.> . (hurrah for a girlfriend that doesn't read /.)

--
You win battles by knowing the enemy's timing, and using a timing which the enemy does not expect. Miyamoto Musashi
1. Re:age verification by Anonymous Coward · 2003-10-20 10:00 · Score: 0
  
  Funny, I remember someone(Al lowe?) saying something along the lines that if you played the LSL games for the sex you are going to be very disappointed. That is pretty much true, the game mostly focused on adult related humor then sex.
The nerd in me just has to point out... by borg1238 · 2003-10-20 09:11 · Score: 4, Informative

...that this would be the 7th larry game. They skipped 4.
1. Re:The nerd in me just has to point out... by Decaffeinated+Jedi · 2003-10-20 09:48 · Score: 1
  
  It's the eighth installment if you count the VGA point-and-click remake of Leisure Suit Larry 1. ;)
  For what it's worth, here's Al Lowe's explanation for the why he chose to skip LSL4 and how, in the process, he "invented" online gaming. Not exactly modest, but interesting nevertheless.
  
  --
  DecafJedi
  my weblog: apropos of something
2. Re:The nerd in me just has to point out... by Jarlsberg · 2003-10-20 20:05 · Score: 0, Troll
  
  If you're going to that pricklish, you'd have to count all the other Larry games as well, such as the '98 game Leisure Suit Larry Casino, the remake of LSL1 for VGA graphics, the Larry desktop game etc.
3. Re:The nerd in me just has to point out... by MrKinkade · 2003-10-21 15:17 · Score: 1
  
  There's a reason that there was no Larry 4... That reason being:
  
  Larry doesn't believe in Fore-play.
  
  har har.
  
  Look it up :)
WHAT? by Anonymous Coward · 2003-10-20 09:53 · Score: 0

A new LSL game and Al Lowe isn't involved? It would have been great to see him working on the LSL series again, i loved the music.

Hopefully it won't suck, although with the way sierra has been going I have my doubts.
Numbering by Guppy06 · 2003-10-20 10:48 · Score: 1

"This would mark the eighth installment"

So this would make it number 9, right?

LSL 4 kicked so much ass...
I think it'll be great! by Anonymous Coward · 2003-10-20 11:07 · Score: 0

After all, the 3D incarnations of King's Quest and Quest for Glory were smash hits! If Sierra has learned anything from its semi-recent past, its that retooling a classic series to absorb the current "popular" genres is a guarantee for a great game. I predict nothing but dollar signs for this title.
Here's hoping for that Incredible Machine FPS!
The nintendo strategy? by Anonymous Coward · 2003-10-20 12:03 · Score: 0

Creating new characters/games/universes and actually making them "hits" takes too much of trial and error 50% of the times it just wont work. Using licenses from the 80's, 70's and characters that are already hits, almost always mean a guaranted hit, at the very least for fans. Dont be surprised if "day of the tentacle" and "king quest" is on the making.
Leasure Suit Larry Crossover by SPrintF · 2003-10-20 12:21 · Score: 2, Funny

I can easily imagine a crossover of Leasure Suit Larry and Animal Crossing.
"Larry! Put down the sheep and back away!"

--
Honesty. Loyalty. Kindness. Laughter. Generosity. Magic!
Did you hear about the live-action movie by TerryAtWork · 2003-10-21 02:18 · Score: 0, Offtopic

They're going to do, staring Al Davis of Oakland Raiders fame...

--
It's Christmas everyday with BitTorrent.
screenshots? by novakane007 · 2003-10-21 10:02 · Score: 1

What no screenshots?! /me returns to the newsgroups
=)

--

WURD!!
You are right! by Anonymous Coward · 2003-10-21 10:40 · Score: 0

There is Halo, Halo, Halo, Halo, DOA3:Xtreme Boucing Breasts "Fighter" SIM For Perverts(TM), and Halo!