Pac Man Reality

PAC MAN (REMI GAILLARD)
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Indy Game Heading to Wii

From Kotaku.com

New Force Unleashed Content on the Way

LucasArts today announced that it is preparing two rounds of additional content for Star Wars: The Force Unleashed this Fall. This new content will be available for Xbox 360 owners through Xbox Live Marketplace and for PlayStation 3 owners through the PlayStation Network.

The first piece of downloadable content will be comprised of additional costumes and character models that can used while playing through the single-player campaign, including Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ki-Adi-Mundi, and Kit Fisto.

The second round of downloadable content, due later this year, will feature an entirely new single-player mission, set in the Jedi Temple on the planet Coruscant. Darth Vader’s Secret Apprentice turns to the Jedi Temple to learn more about his father, and while searching through the rubble of the destroyed building he must confront his inner demons.

Both sets of content are being created by LucasArts’ internal development team.

Additional themes and picture packs will also be released over time.

Pricing and availability for these downloadable items will be announced at a later date.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed was released on September 16, and since then has become a worldwide hit. The game completely re-imagines the scope and scale of the Force and casts players as Darth Vader’s “Secret Apprentice,” unveiling new revelations about the Star Wars galaxy seen through the eyes of this mysterious new character, who is armed with unprecedented powers.

More information about the game can be found at the official website, www.theforceunleashed.com.

Sources: Lucas Arts, Game Focus (pictures)

Wii Lightsabers Finally in the USA... Sorta

It was almost time to get excited in the USA for the long anticipated arrival of Wii remote lightsaber attachments, which were previously only available in the UK. Somehow, Nintendo thought it too dangerous to agree to such an attachment (but boxing gloves, other controller accessories, and the remotes themselves weren't already dangerous in the same way?), but I guess it was okay for the Brits to wack the snot out of each other.

In recent weeks, there were several different brands offering the lightsaber attachments for preorder, of which the highest quality hilts were from the Thrustmaster company. The Thrustmaster Glo Saber Duo Pack had a release date listed for September 30, with preorders available. If you check that link today (September 30, the release date) they are already temporarily out of stock. Did they ever really have them in stock, or did the preorders scoop them all up?

There are some other brands offering a lightsaber attachment, but you will be hard pressed to find any available. Amazon is also carrying the Glo Sword, which appears to ship from Target (so look for it there on shelves at some point?), in three different flavors as far as I could find; red, blue, and green. This one is "temporarily out of stock" as well, although I hadn't seen if this had a release date previous to today.

Bestbuy.com has a listing for the dreamGEAR Dual Glow Sabers, which as of yesterday was listed as "coming soon", and today - you guessed it - they are backordered.

My guess is there was a limited quantity of all of these brands that they tried to squeeze out for the already released (as of September 16) Force Unleashed game. Here's to hoping there is a large supply available for the release of the Nintendo exclusive Clone Wars game, expected for the holiday season.

'Visions of the Blade' online comic!

This may be just what I need to actually dig into Soul Calibur IV. I have the PS3 version, but with little time to play of late (okay, I admit I got a little side tracked with Ninja Gaiden 2), I've barely customized a character and started the story.

As TFN's Curto put it in this SC4 review, we need a little back story as to the why and how our beloved Star Wars characters ended up in the Soul Calibur 'verse. The online comic at starwars.com titled Star Wars: Visions of the Blade aims to do just that. Goody!

Force Unleashed demo out today!

At the time of this posting, The Force Unleashed demo is up on Xbox Live for Gold members only (Gah! What a rip!), and it is not yet up on the Playstation Network, but I'm hoping it will be very shortly. I've heard some mumbles that PSN doesn''t update until somewhere between mid afternoon up to 9pm Pacific Time. *cries*

Tomorrow!!!!!!

From Lucasarts.com:
"

Demo for Star Wars: The Force Unleashed coming on August 21 on Xbox Live Marketplace and PlayStation Network

On August 21st, PLAYSTATION®3 and Xbox®360 owners will be able to unleash the Force in the comfort of their own homes by downloading the demo of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed from Xbox Live or the PlayStation Network. The demo gives players a taste of one of the early levels in the game: the TIE Fighter Construction Facility, under siege by a Jedi General named Rahm Kota. The Secret Apprentice has been sent by Darth Vader to hunt down and destroy the General, but is also told that, in order to remain a secret, he is to leave no witnesses.

"

Click the above link for the rest of the article. Yay!

Star Wars on G4

I love G4. They have gaming, technology, pop culture stuff, but most of all because they're Star Wars fans, and recently G4 has been letting it all hang out.

They've been rerunning the 1.5 hour Celebration Japan special frequently, with awesome interviews from cast biggies, and have pretty much all of it divided into mutliple video segments on the website. Click here to see them all (I started at page 2, since the end is the beginning in this case). I have to post my favorite video from the lot though, which features our very own starwars.com fellow blogger and GHG Geek 'greenandwhitejedi', who aces the Star Wars quiz while the others flounder (how they didn't know the answers to those questions and still paid to go to Celebration Japan is way beyond me). Sorry fanboys, no Slave Leia Olivia this year, but they do flash back to those golden days with a Japanese twist! More info after the video:



Aside from this awesome Celebration Japan spectacular, X-Play is also running some Star Wars heavy programming centered around the upcoming Force Unleashed release (yeay!). As with CJ, most of the TFU segments are available to view via the site (scroll down to X-Play Previews), sans commercials. Some of the best news from X-Play concerning TFU is that the game is finished and they're putting the playable demo together which we can expect this month!



I've also heard that Steve Sansweet will be on Attack of the Show, but haven't seen it in the programming and I'm not sure if it's happened yet. Anybody?

Sony's PS2 'Glowing Sword' Game

So yeah, it looks like a lightsaber game. It acts like a lightsaber game. But it's not a "lightsaber" game. Sony unveiled an interesting new motion tracking game-play system for the PS2 at the Edinburgh Interactive Festival on August 12, which should be available by the holidays this year. The new games will be using the PS2's Eye Toy, which isn't so new anymore. Some of the things that will make the new Eye Toy games different are the 1:1 motion-tracking capabilities, which should make movement instantaneous on screen, as well as the updated color-tracking system. The most notable game to be introduced is 'Hero', which will feature a fluorescent green sword used by the player which the Eye Toy will track and represent on screen as a glowing sword used to deflect objects and parray enemies.

Pros: Looks like a lightsaber. You get to swing a sword around. It's not for Wii.

Cons: It's not a lightsaber (Sony, did you even ask George Lucas?). You have to swing a sword around (Put on a sweatsuit and remove breakables from living room). The glowing sword on screen just hovers with no hands or character attached to it. Not even a mention of PS3 compatibility (even for backwards compatible systems). It's not a lightsaber.

Read more from:
Engadget
Dark Zero
Kotaku

IGN's Soul Calibur IV video review

TFU previews start rolling in

Wired blogger Chris Kohler visited Lucasarts HQ last week and got what would be the experience of a lifetime for Star Wars fan-gamers; a hands-on sampling of The Force Unleashed on almost all the platforms. He is admittedly not a Star Wars fan which would explain the mediocre level of excitement present in the article. The "clear winner" seems to be the next-gen platform versions (if you couldn't have guessed that already) and the Wii version sounds less than impressive. Maybe they'll make up for it in The Clone Wars. Some game story spoilers present, if you haven't heard them already. Click here to read.

If you want a secret apprentice name spoiler and more, check out the Xbox 360 run through of the first few TRU levels over at Game Daily.

Vader gameplay and Retrospective V

Kind of on a gaming kick around here...

Thanks to ps3mods (I don't think I've posted this yet) for the GT video of Vader gameplay in the upcoming Sould Calibur IV:



And Episode V of the Star Wars Gaming Retrospective at GT is now up:



For all the episodes of the retrospective so far, go to this GT page or here at 9ff4.

Force Unleashed demo: Soon please?

This just blipped on my radar... Have you been getting itchy fingers with the eternal wait for The Force Unleashed release on September 16? Well, I have, and there will be some relief as we can expect a demo for the game sometime within the four month period before the release. Well, there are less than three months to go now! videogamer.com reports, and don't forget to check their interview with Cameron Suey, producer of the next-gen TFU versions (PS3 and Xbox 360).

And while we're at it, why not make the "Secret Apprentice" (not much of a secret anymore, eh?) part of the Lego universe? Done! Well, since it was done by legostarwarsblog.com, they have come out with Lego TFU, but I like the original homemade version much better!

Gratuitous posting of concept art below

LucasArts at game critic press event

Many may have heard about the LucasArts job layoffs and surrounding media squabble in the past week or so. In a recent game critic press event, LucasArts not only shows off TFU and the coming Nintendo Clone Wars games, but it also assures us that development continues for the future, including the next-gen Indy game. Apparently, there was some press chatter about the leaked two threes (KOTOR3 and BF3 that is *winks*). LucasArts will keep relatively quiet this year at E3 as well. Venture Beat reports.

Clone Wars game sneak peak!

Fresh out of the oven:



Via CJ, via EUC, via GT

New Indy game early 2009?

It feels like forever that we've been waiting for some real next-gen content, and of course LucasArts leads the way creating completely playable environments with Digital Molecular Matter and euphoria technology (GTA4 uses euphoria, but not DDM). First we'll get The Force Unleashed, but hopefully not too long after that we'll get more of an Indy fix. Some retailers are projecting a March-or-so 2009 release date. My Lego buzz is just starting to wear off too.

The more I think about it, the more this looks like it might be Grand Theft Auto: Indy Nights... or something to that effect. Notice the San Fransisco setting?

Keep an eye on the LA Indy game site:

"Indiana Jones debuts the revolutionary new euphoria technology from NaturalMotion, which delivers never-before-seen lifelike action and awareness to every character in real time -- so you'll never see the same thing twice. For the first time ever, euphoria enables interactive characters to move, act and even think like actual human beings, adapting their behavior on the fly and resulting in a different payoff every single time. This next-gen technology imbues Indy and his opponents with unparalleled environmental awareness and survival instincts. They'll stumble, then attempt to maintain their balance; brace themselves for falls, then get back up; and reach for nearby ledges when falling. Each action results in an authentic, varied performance every time.

Complementing euphoria will be Pixelux Entertainment's Digital Molecular Matter (DMM) technology, which brings a level of realism to next-gen games never seen before by making completely interactive environments that react as they would in real life. From crumbling walls to shattering glass and even swaying organic plant life, in-game objects have material properties that behave realistically all in real time.

Indiana Jones also features completely interactive Hot Set™ environments, where every setting is open-ended and completely destructible in a way that only next-generation consoles can deliver. Use your wits and daring to make each spring-loaded environment a weapon as you dispense of foes in clever and unexpected ways. Also, embark upon thrilling chase sequences that remain true to the spirit established in scenes such as Indy's pursuit of the motorcade in Raiders of the Lost Ark, the mine-cart scene in The Temple of Doom, and the free-for-all aboard the tank in The Last Crusade. Face Indy off against a devious longtime rival, reunite him with old friends, and meet more of his most trusted allies throughout the world."

This is the lightsaber game you're looking for

*waves hand*

Remember last year when mean old Jim Ward taunted us with press releases saying they were developing a lightsaber game for the Wii, and he's played it? Well, after I did a little post-art school math, it seems that game is in fact the Clone Wars inspired game for the Wii. The lightsaber-centric game is tentatively titled simply Star Wars The Clone Wars: Lightsaber Duels. IGN talks with game producer Ken Fox all about it. Now let's all grovel to the Star Wars gaming gods so they'll really come out with the fabled Wii-saber, even though Nintendo refuses to endorse such a dangerous add-on. Um, hello? It may be the only thing that makes this game really worthwhile peeps! Don't make me operate on my Force FX lightsabers :(

The DS Clone Wars exclusive will be a vastly different game than that for the Wii apparently (Kotaku), since the mobile platform doesn't have the same motion capabilities as Nintendo's Wii console and instead uses the touch pad and stylus. Read more about Star Wars The Clone Wars: Jedi Alliance for DS at IGN here.

The Force Unleashed spoilers!

Dang. I almost wish I didn't watch this but really, I'm glad I did (since it's taken so frakking long for TFU to get even close to a release date!). The newest Lucasarts TFU documentary gives away the very beginning of the story's plot, along with some other awesome clips from the game story. You could go to the official TFU site, but unless your broadband is working better than ever, the video will be more watchable at Gameriot's blog here. Found at i09

Gametrailers.com Star Wars Retrospective

It's all about the games, and if there's any franchise that trumps the gaming industry, it's Star Wars. This retrospective even goes beyond the Star Wars Universe of games and forays into a little Lucas Arts history to boot. Thanks to Joe2D2 for bringing the continuation of this series to my attention. Click here for all the episodes at Gametrailers.com or watch them all below.

Episode I



Episode II



Episode III



Episode IV

Soul Calibur IV also unleashing the Force?

The Soul Calibur - Star Wars parallel universe just got a little bigger. We've all already heard that we'll be seeing Darth Vader and Yoda in Soul Calibur IV (the former on PS3 and the latter on Xbox 360), but it has now been revealed that we will also be getting a taste of Vader's "secret apprentice" from the highly anticipated upcoming Force Unleashed game.

Now waitaminnut! Soul Calibur IV will be released July 29th, but Force Unleashed isn't due out until September 16. That means the secret apprentice will make his debut in Soul Calibur IV?!

Just a reminder for BSG-RDM fans to be excited to see "Crashdown" Sam Witwer as the secret apprentice.

Screen shot via Wired