Lego Star Wars
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Nintendo: Don't panic, Chinatown Wars will do just fine ... probably
Nintendo isn't afraid of low sales numbers for the M-rated DS outing of the GTA series, GTA: Chinatown Wars. In fact, the company believes the game will have "long legs" -- continuing to sell for the months to come rather than the usual cycle of big launch and steady decline. Speaking with MTV Multiplayer last week, Nintendo vice president of licensing Steve Singer said, "Chinatown Wars is performing in line with AAA titles that have come to our platform like Spore [Creatures] or Lego Star Wars." And the sales numbers of those titles seem corroborate his point. Spore Creatures has sold nearly one million units worldwide at this point and Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga has moved just over two and a half million, though each title sold less than half of Chinatown's numbers in their first two weeks at retail (released March 17, the March NPD numbers only recorded the first two weeks of the games sales). We're not sure what the future holds for the critically lauded title but Singer believes "word of mouth" will help to keep GTA: Chinatown Wars steady in the future. We'll certainly see after April's NPD numbers arrive in a few weeks.
Traveller's Tales talks more LEGO games
Ever hear that expression "if it ain't broke, don't fix it?" Traveller's Tales has, as the company has become quite the cash-earner with its LEGO line-up of games, so why change? "We've gotten started doing some LEGO games on the Warner IP... down the line," says Traveller's Tales' Jon Burton. Also, he wants to dabble in films and the like, while also keeping his "day job" in games development. What a multi-tasker!"And for me personally, I think further in the future we're making a kids' TV show... using some of the tech we've developed for games," Jon said. So, what kind of kids' show? He wouldn't name anything specific, nor would he comment on what the next LEGO game from them will be (well, aside from the soon-to-release LEGO Batman). Looks like we'll just have to wait and see.What kind of LEGO game would you like to see next?
Wii's third-party million-sellers revealed
Ah, how we all knowingly chuckled when Sega predicted it would sell four million copies of Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games across the Wii and DS. Like a drunken, rowdy friend boasting of sexual conquests that never actually occurred, Sega's strutting came across as the stuff of fantasy.And then the news came through. They'd sold five million. D'oh!We were reminded of our misplaced Mario & Sonic cynicism again today, after That Videogame Blog listed the third-party games that have shifted one million units on the Wii. Sure enough, the plumber and the hedgehog taunted us from the top of the pile (with 3.4 million sales), while Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock (1.8 million), Resident Evil 4: Wii Edition (1.6 million), Rayman Raving Rabbids, Sonic and the Secret Rings, Carnival Games (all 1.2 million), and Red Steel (1 million) sat beneath it.Helpfully, author Ashutosh Chhibbar has also listed those titles that are nearing the magical seven-digit landmark, with Resident Evil: Umbrella Chronicles, MySims, or LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga just needing one last push.
Play & Win: Originals, Universe and LEGOs
If you're looking for some Play & Win opportunities, then garsh darnit you've come to the right place. Open for registration and about to begin are three (count 'em, three) Play & Win contests over on Xbox.com that run the gamut of gamers. We've got an Xbox Originals Play & Win that runs from December 4th-5th, a LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga Play & Win that takes place between the 7th and the 9th and a Universe at War Play & Win between the 14th and 16th. There's all kinds of prizes to be won and rules to be read, so make the jump and register quick as a gopher! And remember, variety in Xbox Live sponsored Play & Win contests is the spice of life.Read - Xbox Originals Play & WinRead - LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga Play & WinRead - Universe at War Play & Win
WRUP: Our wallet hates November edition
With the time of year being what it is and all, we imagine inside the empty and very penniless chasms of our wallet is a faint and very tortured voice crying out for help. It wants us to stop spending, but we can't. Oh, we just love the Q4 season and our awe of the Wii grows and grows.So, some big releases this week, wouldn't you say? Personally, we're making eyes at Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga, but we're not absolutely sure we'll be picking it up. What about you? What will you be playing?
Lego Star Wars developer travels to Warner
Travellers' Tales, the British developer most recently known for their Lego Star Wars series, will soon be acquired by Warner Bros. Luckily, this does not spell the end of their popular series, as they have announced that they will maintain their current partnerships with Lego and LucasArts. Quite a relief for those looking forward to the upcoming Lego Indiana Jones game.Just about the only relationship this new acquisition calls into question is that between Travellers' Tales and Sega. TT has had a longstanding partnership with Sega, developing high-profile games like Sonic R, Sonic 3D Blast and Super Monkey Ball Adventure. Of course, those aren't the best three Sega games, so maybe it's not much of a problem for them to be off the market.
Warner Bros buys TT Games
Not satisfied with merely financing, publishing, and distributing LEGO Batman, Warner Bros. has decided to purchase the whole pie, bagging developer Traveler's Tales and its parent group TT Games. While we haven't been told just how much cash will be stuffed into the briefcase when it changes hands, we do know the acquisition encompasses both the development and publishing arms of TT Games, which owns game rights to a book about obscure world records. Recreating the longest ironing session ever (55 hours, 5 minutes, fyi) would certainly be a thrill, but we've got our fingers crossed for a proper Matrix treatment to follow on the heels of LEGO Indy. Go ahead, eat the red brick -- we dare ya!
Wii releases for the week of November 5th
Today is a big week for releases on the Wii, as we not only get one first-party Nintendo game, but also two very high-profile third-party titles. It can only mean one thing: we're getting closer and closer to the holidays. Oh, will someone think of our poor wallet, please? Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn Bee Movie Hannah Montana: Spotlight World Tour LEGO Star Wars: The Complete Saga Mario and Sonic: Olympic Games My Word Coach Agatha Christie: And Then There Were None Code Lyoko: Quest for Infinity So, going to pick up any of these games? Would like to pick something up, but lacking the funds?
Star Wars Complete Saga: Invasion of Naboo
You know, we never played the first Lego Star Wars game because, frankly, Star Wars Episode 1, 2 and 3 were trash. Seriously, we couldn't find a single thing worth liking about those new movies, but this is not the proper forum to complain about them, we're merely presenting you with a why as to our avoiding that game.The latest trailer for Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga has us thinking that we missed out hard though, as the invasion of Naboo level looks like all kinds of fun. And those graphics are pretty nice, too. Who will be joining us in picking this up come next month?
Lightsabers in Wii's Lego Star Wars exactly what you hoped for
...that is, if you hoped for shaking the Wiimote to swing your lightsaber and shaking the nunchuk to use the Force. If you were hoping for something a little more ... fun intuitive from Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga on the Wii, you're out of luck. If it sounds like we're disappointed, we're not, we know that the real 1-to-1 Star Wiirs experience isn't due until The Force Unleashed. Still, it was nice to dream. We wish there was some sort of geekiness conversion chart to help us figure out if the presence of Indiana Jones is enough to make up for mediocre lightsabering. We suspect it is not.
Lego Star Wars controls revealed in a helpful video
While it might not be the 1:1 lightsaber movement we wanted in our first Star Wars game on the Wii, the controls don't look as if they're totally bunked. No, this is a game we can still very much play. We might get a bit tired doing so, but no pain, no gain, right?What do you folks think?[Thanks, zizzy!]
Joystiq impressions: Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga (DS)
LucasArts recently showed off the in-development DS version of Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga. The company tried to remain positive -- or at the very least, civil -- about the previous DS bomb, Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy. But this showing was clearly to prove to journalists that the DS version of the new game won't follow the murky fate of its predecessor. Lego Star Wars creator, Traveller's Tales redeveloped the game for the DS instead of re-using the old DS engine, and it shows. The new game more closely resembles LSW on other consoles. In my brief play session, I was impressed with the top-screen 3D graphics; LSW Complete could be the graphical leader for 3D DS games with its November 6 launch.%Gallery-7861%
Today's most re-sellable video: Lego Star Wars trailer
While LucasArts says it's adding some new content, we fear that the upcoming Lego Star Wars game, Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga will just be a new name on an old title. Still, the humor in this series is worth a second look -- at least in cost-free trailer form -- and this ad for the game reminds us why we enjoy this unlikely franchise at all.In time for the 30th anniversary, see epic Star Wars events reenacted with Legos after the break.
Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga coming to PS3 this fall
LucasArts will bring forth a new retooling of the already released, Lego Star Wars and Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy for PS3 gamers this fall. Instead of just combining the two games into one, developer Traveller's Tales decided to go the extra mile and include some extra levels, new power ups, and even a challenge mode. Watto and Boss Nass become playable characters and from the sounds of it, the character customizer now allows options for the prequel trilogy characters. With promises to "take full advantage of the unique capabilities of all three next-generation consoles," we should expect Sixaxis tilt control game play. Utilizing the Force by moving the controller certainly sounds interesting. Lets hope it's implemented well. Considering the last release sold like hotcakes, expectations are high on this combined re-release. Look for more as the fall release approaches. [Via Joystiq]
Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga to brick 360, PS3, Wii, DS
Nothing beats the satisfaction that arises from successfully assembling a Lego masterpiece out of a handful of meaningless blocks. LucasArts must be glowing with delight then, since they've just managed to construct a fully functional ATM by just clipping two of their pieces together. On the eve of the 30th anniversary of Star Wars, LucasArts has officially announced Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii and DS. The game will be a combination of Lego Star Wars: The Video Game and last year's Lego Star Wars: The Good Original Trilogy, with additional characters, enhanced levels and features tossed in by developer TT Games. The group promises to take "full advantage of the unique capabilities of all three next-generation consoles" (three?) and notes that the DS version is unique in being constructed from "the ground up." Brick your favorite console when Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga arrives this Fall.
Saints Row and Lego Star Wars II are platinum
Both Saints Row and Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy are officially turning into Xbox 360 Platinum Hits. As part of Xbox.com's May newsletter, Microsoft announced both titles were going to be retailing for the standard $29.99 Platinum Hits price. We know Saints Row will appeal to some gangster fans, but we can nearly guarantee that most fanboys will find Lego Star Wars II worth the $30 price tag. Congratulations Saints Row and Lego Star Wars II, you're part of the somewhat special Platinum Hits club and now it's time to cash out on that retirement fund.
Saints Row and Lego Star Wars II go platinum
Got some money leftover from Easter that's still burning a hole in your pocket? For less than the cost of a $3.95 latte every day for a month solid, you can score yourself Saint's Row and Lego Star Wars II for the Xbox 360 ... and still have enough left over to pick up a full-priced title of your choosing. Saint's Row stretches out the GTA-style replay value with downloadable content, and Lego Star Wars II is about the most fun you can have bashing Lego bricks, so either one ain't a bad value.
Lego Batman developer hints at even more Lego titles
We imagine the office floors of UK developer, TT Games, being completely covered in developers sitting with their legs crossed and their eyes firmly fixated on their latest Lego creations. When other groups are hard at work stringing together reams of code and drawing concept sketches, these guys are building bridges, stacking blocks and crying in anguish whenever a careless passerby kicks over a wall. They're making Lego games -- and lots of them too.The studio's head of production, Jonathan Smith, tells GamesIndustry.biz that the Lego tracks have been put down beyond Lego Batman (bricking multiple consoles in 2008). "We have genuinely exciting plans for future Lego titles," says Smith, noting that the positive response earned by the Lego Star Wars games is pushing his team to exceed expectations. Though the titles have been popular among the young ones, it's not unusual to spot an "adult" having a good time with familiar characters and equally familiar building blocks.Though no other Lego-fied franchises are mentioned, we eagerly anticipate the arrival of Lego Pink Panther, Lego Carmen Sandiego: Where in the World is That Damn Piece?, Lego Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Brickening and of course, Lego Lego Batman (the game based on the Lego based on the game).
Holy LEGO Batman!
LEGO Batman has been rumored to be in development for quite some time, but finally fans of building blocks and super heroes are having their dreams met (at least the ones that can be rated E for everyone). Variety of all places is reporting that TT Games is eagerly following up the success of LEGO Star Wars with a LEGO dark knight game. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment will do the publishing rights this time and LEGO Batman is set to come out sometime 2008. I'm personally more excited about this LEGO title than Star Wars simply because I'm a bigger fan of Batman. If you could have any property turned into a LEGO game, which would you choose? [Via Firing Squad]
Lego Batman coming to 360 in 2008
After witnessing the huge success of the Lego Star Wars games, Warner Bros. is going to work with Lego to make a Lego Batman game. With Warner Bros Interactive Entertainment heading the publisher duties, TT Games is returning to develop the title, which is slated for a 2008 release on new generation consoles. Did you play and enjoy either of the Lego Star Wars games, camera issues aside? Looking past some gameplay issues, we were able to have fun and enjoy The Original Trilogy for what it as. So, do you think "Lego-izing" the Batman universe could see the same success as the Star Wars franchise did? [Via GameStooge]
