At the start of this month, during the hectic mess that was otherwise known as E3, it was announced by Telltale Games that everyone's favourite want-to-be pirate, Guybrush Threepwood would be making a triumphant return to the gaming world in Tales of Monkey Island.

Telltale Games have since announced a release date for the new instalment in the Monkey Island series, due to launch on the PC on the 8th of July.

The first of five episodes, Launch of the Screaming Narwhal will be available on the 8th of July on the PC, and will launch on WiiWare at a later date.

The Telltale developed game will see Guybrush Threepwood return in an all new adventure in which he confronts his nemesis LeChuck, after "accidentally" releasing a voodoo pox that threatens to transform the pirate population into zombie like monsters.

Tales of Monkey Island has five episodes planned, and Telltale promise us that as each episode is released, we can expect the plot of the game to become more twisted and bizarre.

The game can currently be pre-ordered from Telltale's online story, with the entire episode set available for US$34.95 along with a few bonuses, like an exclusive DVD Slipcase painted by Artist Steve Purcell, a free Telltale Games episode of your choice, and access to an exclusiove part of the Telltale website which grants access to more information about the game.

With Tales of Monkey Island set to begin next week, (which can be enjoyed by those who have not played the original games) those who'd like to relive their memories of the original games will be pleased to know that LucasArts are currently working on The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition, which is a high definition re-imagining of the original game.

Those way of Telltale development skill should be put to rest by knowing that the majority of the staff at Telltale Games worked on the original titles in the series, as they gleefully boast on their website.