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Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

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Template:Future game

This article is about the video game. For the multimedia project, see Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed
File:Star Wars - The Force Unleashed Coverart.png
Developer(s)LucasArts (PS3, X360), Krome Studios (PS2, PSP, Wii), n-Space (DS), Universomo (N-Gage)
Publisher(s)LucasArts
EngineRonin Engine
Platform(s)Consoles: PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, Xbox 360
Handhelds: Nintendo DS, N-Gage, PlayStation Portable
Genre(s)Action, Fighting (Duel Mode - Wii)
Mode(s)Single-player, Multiplayer (Duel Mode - Wii)

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is an upcoming video game, part of a future multimedia project developed and published by LucasArts along with Dark Horse Comics, Lego, Hasbro, and Del Rey Books.[1] The game will be available on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii,[2] PlayStation Portable,[3] Nintendo DS,[4] second-generation N-Gage,[5] and PlayStation 2.[3] The game is expected to be released in North America on September 16, 2008; in Australia on September 17, 2008; and in Europe on September 19, 2008.[6]

Development

The 20 to 25 early concepts included making the game the third entry in the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic series, or to have the character play as a Wookiee "superhero," Darth Maul, a bounty hunter, a smuggler, or "the last Skywalker".[7][8] In April 2005, after "several months" of planning, the LucasArts team received Star Wars creator George Lucas' encouragement to create a game centered on Darth Vader's secret apprentice.[9][8] Krome Studios is developing the PS2, PSP and Wii versions of The Force Unleashed, while n-Space is developing the Nintendo DS version.[10]

The Force Unleashed is the first game on which LucasArts and Industrial Light and Magic have worked since they both relocated to the Letterman Digital Arts Center.[11] Development of the Xbox 360 version came first; PlayStation 3 development started when the production team had enough development kits.[7] The game is based around LucasArts' proprietary "Ronin" engine but also integrates third-party technology: Havok for rigid body physics, Pixelux Entertainment's "Digital Molecular Matter" (DMM) for dynamically destructible objects, and NaturalMotion's Euphoria for character animation and artificial intelligence.[7] LucasArts' programmers had to overcome technical hurdles to get Havok-, DMM- and Euphoria-coded components to interact.[12] Developers also had to strike a balance between realistic and entertaining physics.[12]

To give the game a more cinematic presentation, intended to make players think they are "actually, finally, in a Star Wars movie," developers used face- and motion-capture equipment during stage actors' voice and physical performances of their lines.[7][12] Mark Griskey, who composed the music for Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II, composed TFU's score.[13] LucasArts music supervisor Jesse Harlin said the music matches the game's themes of redemption and bridging the gap between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope;[13] said Harlin:

We had to make sure that the game’s score started off rooted within the Prequel Trilogy feel of ethnic percussion and sweeping themes that spoke to the nobility and grandeur of the old Jedi Order. As the game progresses, however, the Empire gains more control, the Jedi are hunted, and the ordered control of the Prequels gives way to the more romantic temperament of the Original Trilogy.[13]

The game's soundtrack will include material composed by John Williams for the films in addition to material created specifically for The Force Unleashed.[13] The 90-minute soundtrack was recorded by the Skywalker Symphony Orchestra and mixed at Skywalker Sound in September and October 2007.[13]

Gameplay and features

The game's developers wanted each platform to offer players a distinct, "unleashed" experience.[10] The Wii version will use the Wii Remote to simulate the ability to wield a lightsaber, while the Nunchuk attachment will simulate Force power use.[14] The Wii version will also feature an exclusive two-player duel mode and five levels not included in the Xbox 360 or PS3 versions.[14][15] The PlayStation Portable version will feature an exclusive "historic mode" that allows players to reenact five battles and events from the Star Wars films as well as multiplayer for up to four players.[10][16] The PlayStation 2 version allows the player's character to participate in Jedi trials, encountering the spirits of long-dead Jedi.[10] The N-Gage version will use a "CellWeaver" gesture system: each enemy will have a symbol above its head that corresponds to a "gesture," or button combination, that will result in the player's character using a Force power to attack the enemy.[17] The Nintendo DS version allows players to use the stylus to input a chain of lightsaber effects combined with Force powers.[10]

Plot

Lucasfilm claims the game will "unveil new revelations about the Star Wars galaxy".[11] The player will control Darth Vader's secret apprentice (voiced by Sam Witwer) in the time period between Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.[7] Vader (voiced by Matt Sloan, who provides the titular character's voice in the Chad Vader - Day Shift Manager parody) sends the player across the galaxy to destroy the remaining Jedi;[12][18] the game also will involve the creation of the Rebel Alliance.[12] During the first level, the player will play as Vader, searching for his secret apprentice on Kashyyyk.[12]

References

  1. ^ "Overview". Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. LucasArts. Retrieved 2008-03-08.
  2. ^ "LucasArts to Unleash the Force on the Wii in Spring 2008". 2007-09-18. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |Publisher= ignored (|publisher= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ a b "Games by Platform". LucasArts. Retrieved 2008-03-08.
  4. ^ "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed". GameSpot. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
  5. ^ "THQ Wireless, Lucasfilm Ltd., and LucasArts to bring Star Wars: The Force Unleashed(TM) to N-Gage". Nokia. 2007-12-03. Retrieved 2007-12-04.
  6. ^ Berardini, César A. (2008-04-03). "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Dated". Team Xbox. Retrieved 2008-04-03.
  7. ^ a b c d e "GDC '08: LucasArts prioritizing PS3 dev, unleashing Force". Gamespot. 2008-02-22. Retrieved 2008-02-23.
  8. ^ a b Blackman, W. Haden (2007-03-22). "The Force Unleashed: From Concept to Console". Star Wars: Gaming. Lucasfilm. Retrieved 2008-03-09.
  9. ^ "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Webdoc #3". Gamespot. 2008-01-25. Retrieved 2008-02-23.
  10. ^ a b c d e "The TFU Experience". Lucasfilm. Retrieved 2008-04-07.
  11. ^ a b "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Continues the Star Wars Adventure". Star Wars: Gaming. Lucasfilm. 2007-02-14. Retrieved 2008-03-08.
  12. ^ a b c d e f DiGiacomo, Frank (2008). "The Game Has Changed". Technology. Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2008-04-14. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  13. ^ a b c d e "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed -- Orchestra Recording Session at Skywalker Sound". Music 4 Games. 2008-04-14. Retrieved 2008-04-14.
  14. ^ a b Ogden, Gavin (2007-09-18). "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed - on Wii". Computer and Video Games.
  15. ^ Hicks, Chris (2008-01-28). "Wii gets exclusive Force Unleashed levels". Computer and Video Games.
  16. ^ Roper, Chris (2008-01-25). "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Impressions". IGN.
  17. ^ "The Force Unleashed on N-Gage". Nokia. 2007-12-04. Retrieved 2008-03-11.
  18. ^ "Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Official Website". LucasArts. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
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