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LucasArts confirms SW: Force Unleashed Demo this week
If you recall, back in May, we reported that Lucas Arts' was certain about releasing a Star Wars: The Force Unleashed demo. Back then, it was just a matter of knowing when that demo would arrive; however, three months later, we now know exactly when it will come. The pleasure of wielding Sith powers begins this Thursday, August 21.The demo takes place in one of the early levels in the game known as the "TIE Fighter Construction Facility" -- it's a level you've probably seen many times before in trailers. The mission briefing goes: a Jedi General named Rahm Kota is attacking and it's your job to dispose of him, but to do so in secret (read: kill everyone, no witnesses). That sounds promisingly evil and very much Sith-like. Let the dark side coercion begin.[Via press release]
Force Unleashed demo unleashes to XBLM in Aug.
The possibility was discussed months ago and now forceunleashed.org has learned that Lucas Arts' own marketing manager Matt Shell has confirmed that a Star Wars: The Force Unleashed demo will be releasing to the Xbox Live Marketplace sometime next month. Interesting too is mention that the demo will feature a different experience than the game itself, with a remade Tie Fighter Construction Facility, extra force powers unlocked and a special conclusion to the level that isn't seen in the retail version. Force Unleashed, good or bad? We'll give you an answer next month.[Thanks, Mads Klitgaard]
Joystiq E3 hands-on: De Blob and Force Unleashed for iPhone
With the App Store open for business, games are finally headed to Apple's iPhone, and the unit's multitouch interface, accelerometer, and built-in mic and speaker make it perfect for gaming. THQ Wireless is one of the many companies getting ready to try and cash in on the first generation of the App Store -- after making games for a lot of other mobile devices, Director of Global Production Brad Pitser is excited about finally releasing software for the iPhone. Joystiq got to play two different games in THQ's demo at E3. De Blob is a handheld adaptation of the Wii game, and uses the accelerometer in the iPhone and iPod touch to do a little light platform puzzling. And Force Unleashed attempts to recreate the upcoming Star Wars action title, by using a touchscreen gesture system to try and make you feel like a Jedi. impressions of both are after the break.
The force is with the Wiimote
The DS gets a lightsaber controller (well, stylus, but it's like a controller as you control stuff with it .. whatever) so why is the Wiimote left out in the cold, cold night without bright neon colors and thwong sounds?Useless Wii attachments might be the butt of several chortling jokes, but Star Wars nerds (this blogger included) can't help but think this lightsaber is kinda badass. It actually plugs in to the Wiimote and emits a healthy glow, so the generic white Wii Sports thingys are immediately shamed to oblivion. Of course, the Wii currently lacks any decent Star Wars games, but the aesthetic appeal alone might drive some consumers to pick it up in high hopes that The Force Unleashed won't suck diddly-uck.Buy, or do not buy. There is no try.[Via Wii News; thanks, Craig!]
Force Unleashed launch trailer; minor spoilers
Those of you who really care about "spoliers" should shy away from this Force Unleashed trailer knowing simply that the game is looking good. For those who can see these type of "twists" coming a mile away (it is Star Wars after all) the spoilers won't really matter. Plus, we're sure there's even more too come and we can't help but be distracted by the wooden voice acting of the apprentice's love interest.
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed trailer runs free
LucasArts released a fancy new trailer for The Force Unleashed and, although many of the people who made it aren't working at the company anymore, the empire must march on to get ready for the Sept 16 launch.Feel free to peruse our hands-on impressions of several versions of the game (Wii, PSP/PS2, DS) after you've checked out the trailer featuring -- what we're guessing, by the looks of it -- is the PS3/Xbox 360 version of the title. The Dark Apprentice can be found force powering it up after the break.%Gallery-1662%
New Force Unleashed trailer is Star-Wars-like epic
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is still set to kick off this September 16. Reiterating this, LucasArts presents this new trailer which gives us slightly more insight into the game's storyline. Can you sense what's going to happen? You don't need the Force to figure this one out. Need a hint? Think "betrayal." Yeah, seems to be a central theme among the haggard Sith. We'll let your imagination go wild; you'll need it too because September seems like a galaxy far far away ...
Wii Warm Up: Unleashing the fun
With the latest on Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, it sounds like the fine folks at Lucasarts have managed to do something no other developer has done: create a Wii port of a multiplatform title that actually sounds like it could be better than the other versions available. Come on, ripping off turrets and using them to fire at people with your mind while you cut down countless enemies with your lightsaber? That sounds awesome.What do you all think? Does Star Wars: The Force Unleashed sound like fun to you? Do you think the game will be as endearing as some of the better Star Wars games of the past?
Joystiq gets friendly with Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
When it comes to multiplatform titles, the console versions usually snatch up all of the attention, leaving the DS titles out in the cold. With the big fancy features and graphics capabilities of the current-gen systems, many might have forgotten, or not known, that Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is set to rock the DS as well as those other consoles we talked about. How does the game play? Well, you'll just have to head on over and find out!%Gallery-26970%
Joystiq tests Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
Just like you, we're dying to get our hands on Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. It looks like a good Star Wars action title, one that might even stay with us long after we've completed, just as Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II did. Thankfully, our cruel overlords at Joystiq got to enjoy some time with the game, taking care to write down their thoughts for us all. Their verdict? You're probably going to want to pick this up.
Joystiq hands-on: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (PS2/PSP)
The PS2 and PSP versions of The Force Unleashed are close siblings, and I recently enjoyed playing nearly-finished editions of both. Each follows the same bounty-hunting apprentice story and settings as the 360/PS3 game, although specific level design occasionally differs. Unlike 360/PS3 game, the PSP version gets two-player duel-mode fights against a local gamer, and it also includes five "historical missions" pulled from the movies. The PS2 version includes the full camera control of the 360/PS3, but not those extras.The PS2 and PSP games felt slightly scaled back from the 360/PS3, with fewer destructible objects or enemies in any one moment. But both maintained a fluid sense of battle, maintaining the visceral thrill of the Force powers. With the game's September 16 release, PS2 and PSP gamers will find a kinetic action title suited to their systems.%Gallery-26953%
Joystiq hands-on: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (DS)
The DS version of The Force Unleashed tries to cram all of the light-saber-rage from the consoles into a handheld package. You'll be disappointed if you directly compare the two. I recently tried a late version of the DS game, and I didn't think enough of the system's strengths and weaknesses affected the design. The DS game gives a 3D perspective of the action on the top screen with adequate visuals, but the chunky graphics steal some of the excitement. And since the camera can't be repositioned, you'll be regularly attacked by people just off-screen. Worse, player attacks are issued by tapping on icons, causing hunting-and-pecking through battles.Since The Force Unleashed is about going nuts with explosive superpowers, that sense of excitement got lost by scaling everything down to fit the DS. A wireless, four-player, local battle mode might make it a fun game to play with friends, but I wasn't able to test that feature. I hope the final game will grow on me after its September 16 release. But the time I had with this portable edition left me cautious.%Gallery-26952%
Joystiq hands-on: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (Wii)
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/nintendo/Star_Wars_The_Force_Unleashed_Wii_Impressions_Unleashed'; For good and bad -- or should I say light and dark -- Star Wars: The Force Unleashed for Wii is clearly a Wii game. Side-by-side with the PS3 and 360 versions, the Wii graphics disappoint, and the complexity and frequency of enemies feels scaled back. But the Wii motion controls are regularly interesting, mapping many of the game's controls into gestures. The simplest ones feel great, like punching the Nunchuk forward to do the Force-push.After recently playing late-development versions of all four game editions--360/PS3, Wii, DS, and PS2/PSP--I think the Wii game holds up as well as any of them. I had fun throwing enemies, shooting them with lightning, and hitting them with the lightsaber. And while the Wii holds its own, I'm mildly concerned that the final game could be repetitious, just cutting down waves of attackers. Hopefully the many different attacks, and Wii-specific two-player duel mode, will keep the game interesting.%Gallery-20587%
LucasArts cuts hit Force Unleashed team after all
LucasArts may be "proud of the work" that members of its internal Star Wars: The Force Unleashed team put forth on the upcoming title, but Joystiq has learned that it nevertheless laid off a number of key personnel on the title earlier this month during its company-wide downsizing.We spoke with one now ex-member of the team, who told us that the layoffs came just as work on the game was wrapping up. Our source, who wished not to be named, is one of several long-time members of the LucasArts talent pool let go, many of which had worked on titles including X-Wing, Full Throttle, and Grim Fandango. Should The Force Unleashed live up to the hype surrounding it, and a sequel is ordered, the current team size is said to be insufficient to handle such an undertaking. Given the fact that LucasArts stressed a continued commitment to internal developement following the layoffs, it will just need to re-staff for such a project – in which case, it has already let some top talent go – unless it intends to outsource to an external developer.
Wii Lightsaber Games Episode II: The Clone Wars [update]
IGN's interview with LucasArts producer Ken Fox offers the first gameplay information (and screenshot) of Star Wars: The Clone Wars. The one-on-one lightsaber fighting game, developed by Krome Studios, makes heavy use of Wii Remote motion controls to simulate swordfighting. You know, just like that other Star Wars Wii game coming out. Strangely, Fox's discussion of this new game seems to omit The Force Unleashed -- which is also a Star Wars game developed by Krome which features a duel mode. "The promise of a Wii lightsaber game has hung in the air since the Wii hit the shelves," Fox said. "We think this is the game that delivers on that promise." Sort of implies that the other one isn't going to deliver, doesn't it? Is LucasArts trying to shift focus away from The Force Unleashed? Should we be worried about its quality? We only say this because since its reveal, The Force Unleashed has been positioned as The Wii Lightsaber Game.[Update: another screen now available after the break.]]
The Force Unleashed story video
First and foremost, if you're interested in not having anything at all spoiled regarding the story behind Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, don't watch the video. Just keep reading. If you're actually sane though and really couldn't care less just hit play already! To tell you the truth, our feelings regarding the game are still rather mixed (the gameplay portions of the video still look a bit uninspired) but this clip definitely convinced us that the story is more than just something to skip past. Considering we were already sold just based on the game's tech crap, we're much more excited for the game than we were before.
See Vader's apprentice in Soulcalibur IV form
Click for high-resolution image. So, last night we revealed that Darth Vader's secret apprentice from the upcoming LucasArts title, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, was heading to Soulcalibur IV. Today, we've got some screenshots of the dark lord in training. He looks quite accurate to his Force Unleashed avatar. You can also see him in action in the clip after the break. Now, all we're hoping for is Ivy to appear in The Force Unleashed. You know, to make full use of that Euphoria engine. Soulcalibur IV is out July 29.%Gallery-24534%
LucasArts cuts staff, remains committed to internal development
LucasArts has confirmed to Joystiq that the company laid off "a portion" of its workforce yesterday, June 5. Margaret Grohne, director of public relations for LucasArts, could not comment on the number of employees affected or which departments they came from. She could confirm that Peter Hirschmann, vice president of product developer, did depart the company yesterday in what was a "mutual decision" with management, and that his "passion and humor will be missed."According to Grohne, the layoffs are not the result of a shift away from internal product development. "We remain committed to both our internal teams and working with external partners," Ghrone told Joystiq, adding that "[sites] are definitely reading too much into the layoffs; [LucasArts] is not halting internal development." To that end, Ghrone stated that no titles have been canceled or put on-hold as a result of the layoffs, and that the company is "very proud" of the work done by the internal team creating Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, as well as that done by the staff of Day 1 Studios, who are developing the upcoming original IP Fracture for LucasArts. Regarding various reports of now ex-employees of the company divulging information online concerning titles such as the next Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, Star Wars Battlefront 3, and a "lightsaber game" for Wii, Grohne stated that the company cannot comment on unannounced products.The LucasArts layoffs follow THQ's elimination of at least 200 jobs last month.
Soulcalibur IV adds one more lightsaber to roster
No, you're not seeing things, and no we haven't made a gargantuan mistake by having a Star Wars: The Force Unleashed pic on a Soulcalibur IV story. It, basically, is the story. For you see, according to Gamespot, not only is Darth Vader making his way into the PS3 version of Soulcalibur IV, but his dark apprentice will be following close behind. However, the apprentice will be the only guest Star Wars character to go multiplatform as both Vader and Yoda will remain console exclusives.It's quite interesting to see all these cross-genre, cross-developer crossovers. Another prominent one is Assassin's Solid. We wonder which two developers will unite and surprise us next.
Third Star Wars character joins Soul Calibur IV cast
The Force is strong with the next installment in Namco's weapons-based fighting series. GameSpot reports that both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 versions of Soul Calibur IV will feature Darth Vader's "Secret Apprentice" from LucasArt's forthcoming Star Wars: The Force Unleashed as a playable character.Each console version of Soul Calibur IV will feature one exclusive Star Wars icon: Darth Vader in the PS3 release and Yoda on 360. We'll have first screens of Vader's apprentice in action Soul Calibur-style tomorrow.
