Clone wars video game

[Professor Flitwick]

http://uk.wii.ign.com/articles/877/877779p1.html

enjoy and sorry if already reviled!

[Deinonychus]

No, I'd revile it if it was exclusive to PS3

Glad I finally scraped up a Wii

[Plural]

Aw, it's only for Wii and DS.

I guess I'll have to blow the dust off my DS and see if it still works. Mind you, I did enjoy the Episode III game for DS so I probably shouldn't be so quick to be disappointed.

Good find by the way.

[Oky]

Sweet! That sounds great! Thanks for sharing!

I'm a little sceptic, though, since previous Wii/DS only titles were more directed to a younger audience and were kind of kiddie games.

On the other hand, this is the first SW game that was developed specifically for Wii, so there is hope for a more fine tuned lightsaber gameplay for the Wii-mote in the style of Red Steel!

CW ON!

[commanderbly42]

Awww..... Why couldn't it come out on PC as well? I don't have either a Wii or a DS.

[zero1312]

Saweet!!!

Thanks for sharing.

[JoeMI6]

Eh, I have doubts. If this was announced a while back, maybe it'd have promise, but this'll probably be an underwhelming tie in like the majority of movie tie-in games. Still, it's good to see the Wii and DS finally getting something exclusive. I mean, the DS releases of the past few months haven't been dazzling, and I'm getting damn tired of all the PS2 ports and sub - par multi console games on Wii. I know we don't have much news yet, but this could go either way in my opinion.

Awww..... Why couldn't it come out on PC as well? I don't have either a Wii or a DS.

This is probably because of the nature of the film and rest of the series, with it's stylised look and such like it's possibly viewed to cater to the younger audience, which is wider on the Wii and DS, like Oky Wan Kenobi said, although I'd be inclined to disagree slightly and I hope future releases will change this opinion.

[Lord Thrawn]

I somehow doubt Lucas is gonna market his new movie to the 'kiddie' consoles (sorry to use that term but its primarily true). He has already said the tone of the series, if not the art style, is darker than the 6 live action films and that he hopes to show them in adult time slots so it goes against the grain somewhat.

I think LucasArts are developing the game for all the major platforms. They want their money too much. I'm confident that when LucasArts is ready to put their site online about this game, we will be able to look forward to a PS3 and 360 version.

[Andrex]

I do indeed think this might be a Wii exclusive, but nonetheless.. here's a screenshot for you!

I didn't really care for this game.. suddenly I do .

I just hope it's a good game, and not just a cheap cash in.

-- Andrex

[Pencoin]

hmm it makes me think of episode3 on ps2 not a good thing indeed

[simonjedi]

Grevious has lukes lightsabers.

Blue one is the same as his (and dads) EP4/5 blue one

Green saber is is ROTJ one

[Andrex]

WARNING! NEWS EXPLOSION BELOW!

We have the first trailer! Find it here .

Also another screenshot:

Here are the official summaries:

Star Wars: The Clone Wars is a state-of-the-art computer-animated motion picture that bridges the gap between Episode II and Episode III feature films. Under the supervision of George Lucas, Star Wars: The Clone Wars brings a fresh new look to the timeless saga of one of the most celebrated stories and introduces generations of fans to brand new characters as well as classic rivalries and conflicts that delve deeper into the Star Wars mythos.

STAR WARS THE CLONE WARS: LIGHTSABER DUELS (Wii)

Now everyone can experience the fun and excitement of a Lightsaber fight. Star Wars The Clone Wars: Lightsaber Duels immerses you in the characters, locations, and epic duels from the all-new Star Wars animated feature film and TV series. Built from the ground-up for Wii™, Lightsaber Duels features an intuitive motion-controlled combat system that puts the Lightsaber™ weapon in your hand. Mastering the Jedi's distinctive weapon is now within any player's grasp.

Fight the most memorable duels from The Clone Wars feature film and TV series.

Wield your Wii Remote like a Lightsaber and experience first-hand the unique weapon of the Jedi knights with intuitive controls, so no matter what your gaming experience you can become a Lightsaber master.

Play with your friends as your favorite Clone Wars hero or villain - from familiar characters like Anakin Skywalker and General Grievous to new faces like Ahsoka Tano and Asajj Ventress - each with a unique fighting style and set of skills.

Exploit your interactive surroundings to defeat your opponent: slice down pillars and Force throw them against your foe.

Duel your way through significant Clone Wars locations, such as Tatooine and Teth.

STAR WARS THE CLONE WARS: JEDI ALLIANCE (Nintendo DS)

Star Wars The Clone Wars: Jedi Alliance takes the player into the world of the all-new Star Wars animated feature film and TV series. Experience the combined power when two Jedi join forces to fight as one. Choose your favorite Jedi pair at the start of each mission and experience unique moves and combat skills. With an innovative stylus-based input, controlling the Jedi's movement and Lightsaber combat has never felt more immersive.

Play through an original story - exclusive to the Nintendo DS - that expands The Clone Wars series in exciting new directions.

Create your own Jedi dream teams by pairing Jedi Masters and Padawans. For example, team up Anakin Skywalker with Obi-Wan Kenobi, or Ahsoka Tano with Mace Windu.

Develop the relationship between two Jedi and generate more powerful attacks and special abilities. Replay missions with different character combinations to unlock new areas, collectibles, and other secrets.

Play with a friend using wireless drop-in/drop-out coop.

Control all movement, Lightsaber combat and cinematic action sequences with just the DS stylus.

And here's a promising interview from IGN:

IGN: The game is developed for the ground up for Wii. What has this allowed you to do?

Ken Fox: The biggest thing has been the opportunity to design and tune the controls around the unique controller. That's the hook in many Wii specific games, but I think we've been able to take advantage of it like the market really hasn't seen yet. The difference between swinging your Lightsaber by hitting a button and swinging your Lightsaber by swinging the Wii- remote is huge. Developing specifically for the Wii also gave us the opportunity to really dial in the look of the game to match the show very closely rather than needing art assets to be usable cross-platform.

IGN: Describe the gameplay in The Clone Wars. What exactly do you do? Is it a beat-'em-up? (Right now, we're picturing something like LEGO Star Wars. Please help us understand exactly the type of game you're making.)

Ken Fox: Clone Wars for the Wii is all about lightsaber dueling. It's about swinging your Wii remote like a Lightsaber and recreating what we know will be classic Lightsaber battles from the movie and the show. It's also about the character development that happens in Lightsaber Duels. We have one of the main writers from the movie and the series writing and all the voice talent from the series recording over 4000 lines of dialog for the game. So, when you as Obi-Wan versus General Grievous, they will say things to each other that they will never say to any other character. We think this is something that we've never seen in a game like this and is perfect for Star Wars and the Clone Wars franchise in particular.

IGN: LucasArts is really pushing the game's lightsaber battles. How do you control your lightsaber with the Wii remote?

Ken Fox: We've tried to make the lightsaber control as intuitive and fun as possible. It's not a Lightsaber simulator, but when you swing your Wii remote left to right; your character does the same. You use the thumbstick on the nunchuck to move your character and swing the Wii remote to swing your Lightsaber. The buttons all do cool stuff like use the force, block and dodge, but the focus is really on putting the Wii remote in the players hand and saying 'This is your Lightsaber!'

IGN: A lot of games have tried for one-to-one swordplay, but none have nailed it. Are you going for it?

Ken Fox: I wouldn't describe what we're doing as one-to-one in the way that you might picture, but we really tried to make it feel like you get to swing your Lightsaber 'manually'. In short, it feels like the most natural and convincing sword type experience I've had on the Wii. And on top of that, it not just a sword, it's a lightsaber.

IGN: Are you using pointer-based and gestural gameplay controls?

Ken Fox: We are not doing much with the pointer beyond menu choices as we felt like it might take away from the feeling of the Wii remote being like a Lightsaber. As far as gestural controls, there's a few 'mini game' moments that use some light gestures, but still within the context of wanting it to really feel like you're swinging your Lightsaber not using a game controller.

IGN: How can you use the environments to your advantage?

Ken Fox: Well, although we wanted to keep the focus really squarely on Lightsaber dueling, we thought you just wouldn't feel like a Jedi unless you could use the force to pick things up and throw them at each other. So we made sure that you could, you know, pick things up and throw them at each other using the force, but to make it more Lightsaber centered, we made sure a lot of the things you can throw need to be sliced off first with your Saber.

IGN: You can play as different characters from The Clone Wars series, both good and bad. How does that work?

Ken Fox: In the story mode, where we are recreating the greatest Lightsaber battles from the movie and the series, you play through as the Jedi. But in the other modes of the game, challenge, multiplayer etc. you just pick your favorite character and go to town!

IGN: What are you most proud of visually speaking in regard to the game?

Ken Fox: We are very happy with the look of the game. We use a lot of the visual tricks that the Wii is best at, but more than any specific technical achievement, I am proud of the fact through all of the technical achievements and the very close contact we have had with the animation team making the movie and the series; we have been able to achieve a look that really matches the source material and creates the very real feeling that you are playing the show.

IGN: Is there a multiplayer mode of any kind?

Ken Fox: Yes! We really see multiplayer and the social aspect of this game as a huge part of its potential. We see a scenario much like with sports games where fans will watch a real game on TV and then boot up a video game and replay the match they just watched. We see fans watching the show every week and extending the experience by booting up the Wii game and re-enacting the great lightsaber duel they just saw, then picking their favorite characters and dueling some more.

IGN: Wii owners are a finicky bunch. Why should they be excited about Star Wars: The Clone Wars?

Ken Fox: The promise of a Wii Lightsaber game has hung in the air since the Wii hit the shelves. We think this is the game that delivers on that promise. It also delivers on what we think Wii owners will want from a game based on the new Clone Wars Movie, DVD, and TV series. The Clone Wars is an exciting way to relive the duels from the series using your Wii remote as a lightsaber, as well as keep the gameplay open and accessible to everyone.

And for the DS version:

IGN: Your last DS Star Wars effort was handled externally by n-Space. Why take the development process in-house?

Feargus Carroll: This DS game is based on the forthcoming movie and TV series Clone Wars. It is being developed in the Lucasfilm Animation Studio in Singapore, the same place that the TV show is being animated. The opportunity to build the game alongside the artists on the show was a unique one, and I think for the first time in the world both movie/show and game were built side by side in the same building. And the results speak for themselves.

IGN: How does the storyline of the DS game branch out from the movie and TV series, if at all?

Feargus Carroll: We've taken all the major characters from the TV show and created a brand new adventure for them. The very future of the Republic is threatened by a sinister alliance of Count Dooku and the mysterious Nightsisters, Sith Witches with Force powers and Lightsaber skills. This combination is a huge threat to the Jedi Order, and it is up to the player to uncover the plot and defeat this powerful enemy.

IGN: Explain the gameplay mechanics powering the project. What do you do?

Feargus Carroll: Clone Wars Jedi Alliance tells the story of how Jedi tag-teams work together to uncover and prevent a plot by enemies of the Republic. The player gets to choose from a possible six Jedi which two get taken on each mission. With the player directing one character and the other under AI control, the team must fight droids, Lightsaber wielding enemies, complete thrilling action sequences and solve numerous mini-games before a six-way showdown with the ultimate boss, Count Dooku! Each Jedi has their own unique fight combo moves, and they also combine to carry out unique two-man attacks on powerful enemies.

IGN: How do you control your Jedi using the stylus? Please elaborate.

Feargus Carroll: Jedi Alliance is designed, from the ground up, as a stylus driven game. Player movement, combat, Force powers and puzzle solving all driven by the stylus. The unique form factor of the DS has given us a great opportunity for the first time ever to give players direct control of the Lightsaber. With stylus control the player can aim the Lightsaber with pin-point accuracy and engage in blisteringly fast Lightsaber duels. Using the Force has never been easier – press a button, tap the screen and feel the power. The team has worked really hard to make controls really intuitive, and I believe they've succeeded.

IGN: How does the multiplayer mode work?

Feargus Carroll: At any time during play, one of your friends can drop into the game and take over control of your partner Jedi at that point they too must engage enemies in Lightsaber duels, escape near death in the high action sequences, and combine with you to unlock secret rooms to find pick-ups and collectables.

IGN: How are you pushing the DS graphically?

Feargus Carroll: Can you imagine a fully 3D world on the DS? Well, neither could we 18 months ago, but that was the challenge I set the team, and they knocked it out of the park. You won't have seen anything like this on the DS.

IGN: You have a Jedi pairing system in the game. How does this work?

Feargus Carroll: As you will learn from the TV series, Jedi are not lone operatives; they work in partnerships, fighting alongside each other and leading the Clone troopers. We will reveal how each partnership brings a unique dimension to how the Jedi fought during the Clone Wars their relationship to each other; their fighting moves; their Force abilities are all different depending on which Jedi are fighting together. In a given situation, you will hear unique dialogue between each pair of Jedi, depending on whether it is master and apprentice, master and former apprentice or two Jedi Masters.

IGN: Who do you get to play as?

Feargus Carroll: This is the Clone Wars, and the Jedi Order bring out their big guns to combat their enemies so you play as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Mace Windu, both Jedi Generals. We also have Anakin Skywalker, no longer a Padawan (apprentice) but a full Jedi; the new star of the TV show Ahsoka Tano. She is very cool and Star Wars fans will love her. We also have two die-hard fan favorites, Plo Koon and Kit Fisto. Each of these Jedi feature in the show, and you will get to see their cool and unique powers in our game.

IGN: Why should DS owners be excited about the project, in your opinion?

Feargus Carroll: In watching the TV series, fans will learn a lot more about the individual Jedi than was previously known their relationships to each other, events from their past, how the Clone Wars were won. In the game we explore that further. This is not just the game of the TV show; this is the TV show in your pocket. Just as in the show, each game level is delivered as an episode of the story, with a cliff hangar ending that is resolved only later. This is a stylus driven game that delivers previously unknown Lightsaber control in a game that will blow your mind.

And two DS screens for you:

You know, I'm actually kinda liking this! Probably for the wrong reasons, but the cartoony graphics, the humour and the overall style reminds me of the Lego Star Wars games. Whenever I saw a trailer for the new Clone Wars film, I couldn't help but think "this looks nothing like a Star Wars film, more like a video game cutscene". The gameplay looks great fun, and with multiplayer I'm highly considering buying it. Not to mention a fantastic gameplay system for the Wii, and a lot of potential.

I'm wondering how long the Wii version will play out, since it's based upon lightsaber combat, but hey: it looks promising! As does the DS version, which may seem rather uncanon, but also very much like the Lego Star Wars games. If pulled off correctly, that can't be a bad thing, especially with the layout of the game.

So enjoy these tidbits for now! And I hope you've learnt something here .

-- Andrex

PS: I seem to have edited this post so many times, I have punctuation spewing forth from various crevices. I apologise if parts do not make sense o.O

Edited June 21, 2008 by Andrex

[Lt. Col. Thok]

We have the first trailer! Find it here .

"That was impressive!"

That was classic. The game looks much more promising.

[Andrex]

Ah yes, the humour seems to be a key element for the Clone Wars .

I'm loving the fact that it is indeed a Wii exclusive, and not just a port. That way the controls can be definitive, and the game can be moulded around the console without problem.

Also, the environments! Is that a rancor I saw? And the krayt dragon skeleton on Tatooine with Dooku? Awesome stuff =D.

That means for me it'll be Clone Wars for Wii, Force Unleashed for PS3. You have the saber controls with the Wii remote, and the Force physics with the hi-def PS3 ^^. It's going to be an expensive Star Wars Summer with the Death Star play set on top of those, but I think I've decided now that this title is a must-buy!

-- Andrex

Edited June 21, 2008 by Andrex

[JoeMI6]

Eh, I'm not so set. Whilst it's great that it's being built ground up and all, and that focus on only one element should mean a good game, I hope it's more that what it seems. When I think Clone Wars I think epic battles, not just lightsaber duels. If it proves to be the best lightsaber sim ever in a game, then that's something, but I think that so much more could be done.

[Andrex]

You've made a very good point there - the Clone Wars aren't exactly famous for their lightsaber duels. All those battle droids, republic gunships, and wars raging on in the background. Obi Wan's confrontation with Durge, Mace Windu's fight against an entire army, Anakin's ritualistic path with the [sp] Nelvaan. So many adventures that could work. We'll have to see.

-- Andrex

[Lord Thrawn]

I find it hard to believe this game will be the best sabre sim ever. It's not even in the 1st person so the Wii controls won't suit it very well I don't think.

[JoeMI6]

I didn't say it would be, I said if. For me, that'd probably be the games saving grace, but it is very doubtful. If I wanted to play a game where SW characters simply duke it out, at the mo I'd take Soul Calibur 4.

[Andrex]

American box art.. oh dear.

I personally don't like this at all o_o. Out of all the awesome designs they could have used.. It's simple yes, but it just looks so tacky and thrown together.

Ah well haha. Perhaps I'll like the PAL case more?!

-- Andrex

[Pencoin]

i wouldnt get your hopes it dude, it reminds me ALOT of the episode3 game (which was megabloks)