E3 06: Indiana Jones returns on PS3, 360

LOS ANGELES--LucasArts has announced that Indiana Jones 2007 will head its E3 line-up this year. The name is provisional at this stage, but it will launch on PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 and features an original story written under the direction of George Lucas. The game is also a technological collaboration with Industrial Light & Magic, which is based under the same roof as LucasArts.

The new adventure will feature locations from around the globe, and Indy will be able to use his fists, whip, and revolver against enemies. Other new technology to be included in the game includes NaturalMotion, which LucasArts promises will deliver lifelike action and awareness to every character, in real time. Indy will stumble, then attempt to maintain his balance, brace himself for falls, then get back up and reach for nearby ledges when falling.

Pixelux Entertainment's Digital Molecular Matter has also been employed, which is a technical way of saying that walls will crumble, glass will shatter, and organic plant life will sway in the game. LucasArts promises that the power of these two consoles has been utilized to offer open-ended and completely destructible environments.

Indiana Jones 2007 will also feature vehicle-based sections that will be remeniscent of those from the film, such as the mine-cart scene in The Temple of Doom, and the free-for-all aboard the tank in The Last Crusade. The game promises a longtime rival, old friends, and trusted allies, although no specifics have been announced yet.

There's no release date for the game or information on whether it will be playable at the show, but we'll be darting over to the LucasArts booth to find out once the show opens.