Game Stooge

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed - Spring 2008

• Scribbled on March 12th, 2007 by Derrick Schommer
• Filed in GDC, Previews, Release Date(s)

LucasArts is secretive about their next project, holding a black-ops meeting at the Game Developers Conference (GDC) - no cameras or photos allowed. Why so secretive?

We’re guessing it has to do with the viral power of the Internet. One screenshot or photo and the world is full of news, rumors and ideas. One developer puts down a console and a few days later they’ve got to publically apologize for it. Why? Gamers on the Internet absorb all information and build their own assumptions and responses about it.

LucasArts gave a few sneak peak previews into the story, focusing on “the story” in the game - not the horsepower and ground breaking technology…

According to the hype, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is a game that plans to break the pattern present in games of today: games that want to be “as realistic as possible.” With Star Wars: TFU, main factor of the game is storytelling aspect, while utilising will be immersing the player into the world which is far more complex, and yet more interactive than any of the current-gen games.

LucasArts wants to put a lot of emphasis on the story and developing the characters and ideas, probably more like a novel than a plot-less game.

The story takes place between Episode III and IV, with Darth Vader taking a secret apprentice that would one day take over his role and probably even replace Emperor Palpatine. This story will show an uncertain side of Darth Vader that was present during Episode III and in the end of Episode VI, his belief that his life is wasted serving dark side of the force. Redemption is the key aspect, but you will of course, be able to choose will you turn into a knight of light side, a Jedi or will join the ranks with the Sith.

We’ve seen a few games with great stories but it seems most games today are all about showing off the eye candy. Perhaps LucasArts will bring back the lost art of storytelling and character building in gaming.

Can games with good story-lines still bring in sales? Or is it all about the eye-candy? If anyone can pull it off LucasArts can do it. People will buy the game because of the “Star Wars” keywords - plot or plot-less.

In any case, we’ll have to wait until spring ‘08 to know for sure.

(Thanks, Inquirer.net)