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Battlefront II: Extra force for PC
Pandemic has some pleasant surprises in store for PC users who expected more from the original Star Wars Battlefront. Associate Producer Dave Baker talked with 1UP about some features in Battlefront II that will be exclusive to the desktop crowd. For starters, they've beefed up the visuals over the console counterparts by leveraging the PC's pixel shading prowess and ability to support environment mapping. There's also an improved HUD, a first-person perspective option, and support for up to 64 players online (improving on the LAN limitations of the first game). With the PSP release also getting the bonus treatment, one has to wonder if Pandemic will maintain balance in the force by providing some console goodies.
Ewoks and Gungans now in season
"You can kill Ewoks! And Gungans!", boasts Pandemic producer Phil Hong when discussing one of three game modes exclusive to the PSP release of the upcoming Star Wars Battlefront II. Hong believes it is the dream of many gamers to exterminate those furry little denizens of Endor and as an Imperial Enforcer that dream will be realized. Gungans, Wookies, and other species from the Lucas realm are also ripe for the pickin'. Other exclusive modes include Rebel Raider (a capture-the-flag style shooter) and Rogue Assassin where you can hone your mercenary skills. WiFi support allows 4 of your buddies to join in and go on a Gungan killing spree. "Ouch time" begins Oct. 31.
Star Wars Battlefront II preview
The first Battlefront wasn't a bad game. It certainly came closest to capturing the dramatic battles of the movies. Too bad the AI had the IQ of a bar of soap. The ship to ship battles were pretty pathetic as well. Still, as a Star Wars fan, it was that or nothing. Until the inevitable sequel. Which is now. Well, soon anyway. The build they played in the preview still had pretty pitiful AI, but they don't know if that's genuinely the case, if the difficulty level was on low, or if the bots weren't finished. Regardless, for those with no interest in playing online with the ravening hordes, it's a concern. Gunning down Ewoks is not without it's appeal, but a challenging AI would elevate the title to the next level. Guess we'll have to wait and see.
Star Wars Battlefront 2 E3 clip, in case you like Star Wars in the morning
Yup, my second Star Wars post in a row. Perhaps the hype has gotten to my head. This clip of Battlefront's sequel was playing at E3, and it was a genuine rubbernecker. The improvements to the game include a single player mode with "open-ended, mission based objectives" so you can sink your teeth into some AI action. You'll also get space combat, Jedi powers and the chance to fight inside the Death Star. What more could you want? Love the skirts on the troopers.
Star Wars Battlefront 2 announced for PSP
LucasArts revealed that Battlefront 2 would be released for the PSP alongside its console counterparts. The portable version will be developed by Savage Entertainment and will feature stripped-down one-player "mini" campaigns. You'll take the role of a Rebellion smuggler, mercenary for hire, or an Imperial soldier. And of course, what would Battlefront by without multiplayer? The PSP version is reported to support both competitive and co-op play via wireless networking. Sadly, only four players will be able to link-up.
Star Wars Battlefront 2 screenies
There's still a few weeks until Revenge of the Sith gets the H and IT transposed by fans. So while we're all deluding ourselves that Lucas has gotten it right for once, how about a look at a Star Wars game? Battlefront 2 is, unsurprisingly, the sequel to the mostly great Battlefront. What can you expect from the sequel? More of the same. More Ewok massacres, we hope! If we can just get Jar-Jar in there and blow the bastards head off, all will be right with the world. Go check the screenshots for some hot, imperial lovin'. Troopers all the way, baby!
Star Wars Battlefront 2 gets its lid lifted
The ever-scooping giant we call Gamespot has dug up a late night story. They have a preview of Star Wars Battlefront 2 on the homepage. The piece includes some really sweet pics and a video interview with Shara Miller, the game's producer. She seems genuinely excited about the game, and we can see why. The title will be just like the first in the series...only bigger. Among the additions that stand out in the preview: 1) Seamless space to battleship action - you can hop in a small fighter and fly out of massive battleships into the stars. The space combat is impressive in the clip. You can also land your ship in the enemy's hangar and man their own turrets to weaken the ship's shields. 2) Storyline for single player - you'll be able to play as a character in a story mode that lets you experience a little bit of everything that the main game offers. 3) Episode 3 content - of course... 4) 64 simultaneous players on the PC version (there will also be PS2 and Xbox versions) 5) Release date is in the Fall of this year.
Star Wars Battlefront 2 gets a mention in mag
PC Gamer has let it slip that there will be a Star Wars Battlefront 2 for the PC and a bunch of consoles. Some tidbits include improved AI, refined goal-based missions and a battle around the Death Star. There aren't many more details at the moment, but expect them at E3. Speaking of battles around the Death Star, I have a question. Which game has the best Death Star battle scene? I know a number of Lucas titles have had some semblance of a Death Star presence, but which one stands out?
Star Wars: Battlefront patch is available
Hot on the heels of the official release comes a patch for Star Wars: Battlefront. The game has surprised a few of us old-timer online gamers, who assumed it would be a rehash of other troop games. But the title has its fair share of originality, and manages to capture the Star Wars atmosphere, without becoming too vanilla. A full review is forthcoming, but you can see where I'm going. The patch deals with a few bugs: * Improves NAT negotiation for online games which may help improve multiplayer performance. * Minor fix to server browser screen. * Corrects an issue with connecting via GameSpy Arcade. * Corrects an issue with losing connection to the host after Task-Switching. * Added planet names at Planet Loading Screen.
Lucas gives Joystiq hands-on with Battlefront and Mercenaries
Once in awhile Lucas crosses the Mississippi and joins us in the big bad city. New York has its share of hotels that have hosted the Lucas press events. I've gone to the last couple and seen some real winners. And some real duds. But the one thing you can say about Lucas is that they keep on trying. For years they had a drought of bad product. The Star Wars franchise was being treated like some second-tier IP, especially around the time of Episode 1. But as they saw their sales (and reputation) plummet they got their act together, and now they're providing consistently good material. This current line-up offers something for fans of Star Wars, sure; but more importantly it offers a lot for fans of fun games. This time around I was shown Knight of the Old Republic II, Star Wars: Battlefront, Star Wars: Republic Commandos, Star Wars Galaxies: Jump to Light Speed, and (perhaps the most intriguing of them all) Mercenaries. Today's round up will give you my impression of Battlefront and Mercenaries.
Star Wars Battlefront review may disappoint some
IGN has posted a review of Star Wars Battlefront. The Battlefield 1942-in-space has had a lot of us Star Wars fans hungry for some head-to-head warring. If the review is to be believed, the title is not going to rise to the top as we'd hoped. The overall polish is below standards, the AI is rocky, and the game is "too easy". Take it for what it is...a review. But it's always more fun to see a gamer excited about an anticipated game like Battlefront The IGN reviewer gives the game a 7.5, but there doesn't seem to be very much in the actual review to back up a score that high. I'll reserve judgment until some more reviews (and maybe a patch or two) comes out.
Star Wars Battlefront interview begins the countdown to release
One week before its release, Star Wars Battlefront is getting a thorough once-over from the game press. Avault presents a fine interview with Greg Borrud, Executive Producer at Pandemic Studios, the game's creator. The interview touches on everything fro AI to tactical balancing to the unannounced map editor (we have our fingers crossed that they offer one, considering all the mini-films it would inspire). Pandemic Studios had a hand in the Battlezone series, a couple of the most underrated games in PC history. Our hopes are high, our expectations are low. We are ready to play.
Lucas is keeping things fresh
Lucas' PR people are working overtime these days. Hot on the heels of their announcement of a new GBA game (Star Wars: Apprentice of the Force), they've now held a press conference just to make sure we don't forget them. They presented three of their upcoming titles. Star Wars: Republic Commando, KOTR 2 and, of course, Star Wars: Battlefront, all get revised looks from the nasty press corps. The Gamespot page that we link to here includes updated impressions of the games, as well as new clips to peruse. Many, many clips. Some would say too many.
Star Wars Battlefront needs audio to be any good
You'd think that designing audio for a Star Wars game would be simple as hell; lift some John Williams tunes, sample a laser blast from a DVD, and do your best wookie mating call. But, alas, it's not so simple. Nick Peck, the man with a name we all want, is the sound designer of Star Wars: Battlefront, the tactical shooter coming our way this winter. He lays out the process of making the game sound like a Star Wars experience.
Star Wars: Battlefront plays it loose and easy
Star Wars: Battlefront has been getting a lot of attention lately. Joystiq being no exception. Either the game is unbelievable and these are the tremors before the quake, or there's not much else going on in the business right now. Look, the game seems fun; but at a certain point it's going to feel like we already played it. The best we can guess is that the summer months tend to slow down on the news front, so it's the perfect time for unwarranted hype to breed, fester and spawn. So here's another preview...
Star Wars: Battlefront screenies for lunch
The Battlefield 1942 of space operas gets another batch of screens, for promotional purposes only. The game looks to be shaping up nicely, with numerous environs and a growing list of weapons and game modes. For example, the "Conquest" mode will allow your team to take a special ability with them after every victory. These abilities will give you a small edge, as you move toward galactic conquest. Console players can play PC players, though console games will max out at 32 people per game. PC battles will be able to handle 64 soldiers. Click on one of the article's images to get the full library of screens.
Star Wars: Battlefront lets IGN in
Star Wars: Battlefront gets a long peek from IGN, in a preview that will make Star Wars buffs rustle. The developer found it in their hearts to show off some Endor Moon action. You can assume the role of rebel or Stormtrooper (presumably so you can take shots at Ewoks if you want). But one of the most intriguing details is the breakdown of classes in the game. Each side gets four kinds of soldiers and a unique character class all their own. No word on whether the Cantina Band is one of them.
