N-Philes

LucasArts E3 Interview

Posted July 4th 2009 by Adrian DeHerrera.

There's nothing like starting out the day with a tall, intimidating Clone Trooper blocking passage to the E3 interview with LucasArts. I don't think the guy was intentionally blocking my path, but he certainly was in the way, oblivious to my concern that I was going to be late.  Now, the guy was probably just an actor paid to wear an uncomfortable costume all day, but the thought did cross my mind that if I tapped him on the shoulder I was going to get brained with the butt of a laser rifle and thrown into a holding cell alongside some yappy princess and her droid.

To my relifef, the guy eventually moved out of the way and I was welcomed by a representative from LucasArts who immediately introduced me to developers, producers and other staff who were really excited about what the company has in store for its fans in the near future.  This E3, LucasArts had many games on display, some playable, but the first to catch my eye was Star Wars the Clone Wars: Republic Heroes.



Gavin Leung's enthusiasm about Republic Heroes comes through immediately. The senior product manager for LucasArts has reason to be excited: he's working on a title based on one of the most popular Cartoon Network shows of all time. In fact, the season's first show became the network's most-watched premiere with an average of 4 million viewers according to Nielsen Media.

The game's storyline takes place immediately after the first season and the game allows the player to choose from characters like Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Ahsoka Tano; it also gives gamers the chance to don a clone trooper uniform. Choose your favorite Jedi or heavily armed clone trooper as you travel the galaxy hunting down the new villain Kul Teska and unveil the mysteries surrounding the bounty hunter Cad Bane.



360 version

The show's continued success means that there are big expectations for Republic Heroes, and LucasArts hopes that fans will appreciate a few things about this game. The first is that the title will utilize the same voice actors that regularly supply talent to the TV show. The show's graphical artists have also been used to bring Republic Heroes to life in the gaming world; Leung emphasized that he wants there to be continuity and authenticity to the show's storylines.

Co-op will also play a big part in the game with game mechanics that allow the player to bring in a friend or family member to help them take down a myriad of enemies with new weapons, as well as a variety of vehicles.



Wii version

Star Wars The Clone Wars: Republic Heroes debuts September 15, 2009 on multiple platforms.



In Elite Squadron, players go from war on the ground to dogfights in space and back again in this new addition to the Battlefront family of games. Jeff Peña, a producer for the game, took me through a hands-on demo, and the premise sounds interesting. You're a clone trooper who has joined the Rebellion, but you're no simple soldier; you're X2, a clone with the DNA of a Jedi Master. Utilizing the Force, you break away from your original goal of destroying the Jedi and use your powers for good. On the other hand, your brother, X1, has decided he just wants to tear Jedi to pieces. Hey, there's a black sheep in every family – and some of them just want to destroy rebel scum.


Artwork

According to Peña, important features in this Battlefront game include the fact that the DS version of the game is built from the ground up to take best advantage of its touch-screen capabilities. The PSP version will have more customization than ever, allowing the player to outfit their characters in different armors and weapons while later being able to create characters of different species as well.



PSP Screenshot

Co-op also plays a big part in this game, the PSP version allowing 16-player multiplayer with in-depth stat tracking and the DS allowing for four players to join in at once. Explore planets like Yavin 4, Endor and the ever obligatory Hoth system. Do I smell a wampa throwdown rematch? Probably not, but expect a tentative release date of Fall 2009 for the Sony PSP and Nintendo DS systems.


Producer Jeff Pena (right) and assistant Andrew Bell (left)

Anybody here remember the awesomeness that was Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull last summer? You say you remember it, but not the awesome part? You say Indiana Jones survived a nuclear explosion by hiding in a fridge that landed two miles away from ground zero? Seriously?

Hm, well that's terrible.

Still, even if you didn't love the film, LucasArts has brought Indy back for a second Lego Indy iteration in the aptly named LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues. In this game (debuting in Fall of 2009), Indiana Jones again cracks the whip in journeys inspired by all four cinematic Indy adventures.

One of the bigger draws for this title will be the ability to create your own levels. Gamers will be able to lay down tracks for dynamic vehicle levels but no word on whether you can build your own jungle level to swing with badly rendered CGI monkeys - yet. If you are so inclined to take a chance on the game, expect to play it on pretty much every platform except the Nokia N-Gage.



If you can survive a nuclear blast, you can lift over 5 tons of Legos


No time for love, Dr. Jones




There are certain games that have a profound effect on people that, when you bring it up, their eyes light up and they can't stop talking about it. One of those games is the original Secret of Monkey Island. Personally, I've never played it. But if you admit that fact to someone who has, they will say you have to play it, and if you don't, you should go die.

LucasArts has revamped the classic game with all new hand-drawn artwork and upgraded sound. Painstaking work has gone into lovingly redone HD art laid directly over the original's graphics; for old-schoolers, there's the option to press a button that reverts the game back to its original state. The sound has also had an overhaul with a re-mastered musical score.

There are also a few other additions including a hint system to help less skillful players as well as a spotlight on Spiffy the Dog, who will now get his chance to shine in a close-up moment that Monkey Island aficionados have apparently been waiting for. No seriously, they've been waiting.


Brooks Brown (LucasArts Community Manager) and Spiffy

The game will be made available on Xbox Live in Summer of 2009.

So now you say you're psyched for more Monkey Island and the only thing that is going to scratch that itch is a five-episode saga starring Guybrush Threepwood battling his evil pirate nemesis LeChuck and a creepy French physician who wants to study Guywood's nasty infected hands? You're not going to believe this but that is exactly what you're going to get.

In this game, it seems that Guybrush has unleashed a curse that is turning the denizens of the Caribbean into monsters. Only by finding a legendary sea sponge can Guybrush stop the curse and solve mysteries he encounters along the way. You heard me - SEA SPONGE. In fact this sea sponge is so awesome it has a name: La Esponja Grande.

The names of the chapters have been released and are as follows:

• Launch of the Screaming Narwhal

• The Siege of Spinner Cay

• Lair of the Leviathan

• The Trial and Execution of Guybrush Threepwood

• Rise of the Pirate God

You WORK that facepaint, girl


Don't make me cut you

To make Monkey Island fans cry even more tears of pirate joy, pre-orders are already being taken at this site: http://www.telltalegames.com/monkeyisland

Take to the high seas this summer on WiiWare or download for the PC.

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