Ahead of tomorrow’s Microsoft press conference at the E3 video game expo, the USA Today has a story with some interesting new details. Microsoft’s “Project Natal” motion control system, which was announced in early June at E3 2009, will be called Kinect, according to the USA Today story. The new name, which was leaked in advance of its intended unveiling at a pre-show party tonight, is probably less interesting to readers of this site than another interesting tidbit that has just come out. From the USA Today: Star Wars characters and iconic Disney favorites will be featured in separate new games being developed at Microsoft in conjunction with LucasArts and Disney. Giving that Microsoft Kinect is supposed to be a groundbreaking way for gamers to control their consoles with just their body movement, it’s likely that this new Star Wars game will take game-play in the Galaxy Far, Far Away…
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The Force Unleashed 2 Cinematic Trailer Revealed
During the E3 All Access edition of GameTrailers TV, a new cinematic trailer for The Force Unleashed 2 was released. You can watch the trailer below. We expect to hear more about TFU II from E3 this weekend. The Force Unleashed II is set to be released on October 26th, 2010. News: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II Collector’s Edition Details Demo for TFU II Coming in September Previews: IGN’s Preview Interviews: Videos:
Rumor: Star Wars: Starfighter to be resurrected
Several video game news sites are reporting that the next installment of Starfighter could possibly be in the works and may even be revealed next week at E3. This is definitely a possibility, since LucasArts has not revisited any flight simulation games since Star Wars: Rogue Squadron III: Rebel Strike, released on the GameCube in 2003. Since we only know of four upcoming Star Wars games (The Force Unleashed 2, The Old Republic, Lego Star Wars III, and the newly announced Clone Wars Adventures), E3 is a mighty fine time to announce a game, but for now, file this one away as a rumor. We’ll keep you updated as E3 draws closer.
LucasArts Gets A New President
It looks like LucasArts will be at E3 2010 next week with their new president in place. ust a month after Darrell Rodriguez left his position as head of LucasArts, the gaming company has named Paul Meegan to fill the void at the helm. Meegan formerly helped found Epic Games China and worked at Ubisoft and Jaleco Entertainment. Meegan has had a long history in the game industry. He founded game developer Sinister Games in 1997 which was bought by Ubisoft a few years later. After serving as an executive at both Ubisoft and the now defunct Jaleco Entertainment, Meegan became the co-founder and CEO of Epic Games China. There’s no word yet if Meegan will be attending E3. IGN also reports that Meegan will get started at LucasArts in mid-June. Source: Kotaku
A favored SWG developer moves to SWTOR
Massively reports that a one of Star Wars Galaxies’ developers, and apparently a fan-beloved one, has moved on to join the The Old Republic development team: Massively has learned some exciting news for Star Wars: The Old Republic and sad news for Star Wars Galaxies. According to his Linked-In profile, the fan-beloved developer, Matt Boudreaux, landed a new job at Bioware’s Austin studios working on SWTOR. Boudreaux, known as AdeptStrain on the SOE forums, implemented some of the most ground-breaking additions to the aging game Star Wars Galaxies, such as new Jedi and melee animations, the Appearance Tab, and the Chronicles System. His role on the SWG team was solidified by his role in creating some of the best instances like Hoth and Death Troopers. His wit and easygoing demeanor gained AdeptStrain quick rapport among fans. Roleplayers, in particular, have a vested interest in his work because of the added…
Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures
Back in march we reported that Star Wars: The old republic wasn’t the only Star Wars mmorpg in development. Today Sony Online Entertainment announced new MMO universe, this one adopting the animated Star Wars: Clone Wars setting. It’s fully a browser-based experience, allowing players to choose to be either a Jedi, Padawan or a Clone Trooper and along-side their favorite heroes such as Anakin Skywalker or Obi-Wan Kenobi. Sony Online Entertainment and LucasArts are developing Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures, a free-to-play virtual world based on the Star Wars: The Clone Wars animated series airing on Cartoon Network, set to launch online and in retail stores this fall. While LucasArts published SOE’s last MMO based on the George Lucas franchise, Star Wars Galaxies, the San Diego-headquartered studio is both developing and publishing this title. The companies hope to introduce the Jedi, Padawan and Clone Troopers saga to a new generation of…
Star Wars: The Old Republic isn’t the only Star Wars MMO in development.
According to GamerVision Star Wars: The Old Republic isn’t the only Star Wars MMO in development. They say that “trusted sources” confirm that Sony Online Entertainment is working on a Clone Wars MMO. This is not the first time that we’ve heard this rumor. Here’s what they had to say on it: Thought EA’s The Old Republic was the only Star Wars MMORPG in development? Think again. Trusted Gamervision sources have confirmed that there is a second MMO in development by Sony Online Entertainment, the creators of once awesome, now less-than-awesome Star Wars: Galaxies. Supposedly called Clone Wars Adventures and due by the end of the year, it’s to be a browser-based game aimed at a much younger demographic than The Old Republic. Namely pre-teens, the same audience for the popular Clone Wars television show, and far away from those who might even consider subscribing to BioWare’s RPG. So far…
IGN Presents the History of BioWare
With Mass Effect 2 right around the corner, IGN posted an article, titled “IGN Presents the History of BioWare”, looking at the history of developer BioWare. Starting with their humble beginnings as two students of medicine programmign educational software at the University of Alberta, right down to the present day of them working on Star Wars: The Old Republic it looks at the string of successful titles they’ve released, the publishers they’ve worked with and such. Here’s an excerpt: Shattered Steel was a modest success, receiving positive reviews and seeing decent sales. Of particular note was the detailed deformable terrain that allowed players to blast craters in the sides of hills, and zone damage that allowed strategic-minded sharpshooters to take out weapons mounted on enemies. Interplay was pleased with the game, too, and a sequel was planned for 1998. It would never come to pass, as BioWare’s second game was…
Star Wars: Force Unleashed II trailer
In non Star Wars: The Old Republic related news, the game industry announced lots of new projects at the Vidoe Game Awards, including a sequel to one of the most successful Star Wars games ever – “Star Wars: The Force Unleashed”. The Story in “The Force Unleashed 2″, takes place between Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope.