'Secret of Monkey Island Special Edition' en route to Facebook

InstantAction (IA), a Web-based games site with the promise of "Real PC gaming in your browser," has the ambitious project of attracting 'core' gamers to Facebook, or to Web games at large. But at the same time, they want to decentralize social gaming, and take away its reliance on social networks by using a distribution method that -- pardon the pun -- expects to be a real game-changer to how games are played online.

For most life-long gamers, the real attention-grabber is a game that IA's put in the seat of their new vehicle -- and that's bringing "The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition" to Facebook.

First released in 1990, The Secret of Monkey Island is a highly quotable, cult classic adventure game that was remastered and re-released last year, as a "Special Edition," by LucasArts. Originally a PC game, it's so beloved that it's also sold on Xbox Live Arcade, and for the iPhone/iPod Touch.

I saw the game at PAX East this weekend, where it definitely looks better than the XBLA release (which was compromised due to compressed visual and audio). IA's plans to launch The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition as a 20-minute demo on Facebook for free, and the full version for $9.99, which is a reasonable deal once you understand the scope of this launch...