LucasArts has opened an official website for the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. The site features early concept artwork, fact sheets and information on the middleware technologies used in the game. According to the site, the Force will be unleashed in November 2007 for next generation platforms, PS2, Nintendo DS and PSP.
Star Wars: The Force Unleashed first surfaced as
tech demo footage in YouTube. In the development process LucasArts has relied heavily on middleware software. The game uses Digital Molecular Matter (DMM) software from Pixelux Entertainment for the spectacular environmental damage. The software is exclusive to LucasArts to use in any game through September 2008. Furthermore the game uses euphoria behavioral-simulation engine, which enables the game AI to think, act and behave in a realistic manner. LucasArts says that gameplay is different each time, since the characters are unpredictable all action is simulated, not scripted. For physics, the nearly iconic Havoc Physics Engine will provide the grunt.
Here are the game´s features:
During the period between Episodes III and IV, players hunt Jedi in the role of Darth Vader´s Secret Apprentice.
Unleash and upgrade the Secret Apprentice´s four core Force powers – Force push, grip, repulse and lightning – throughout the course of the game, and combine them for ultra-destructive, never-before-seen combos.
Examples of unleashing the Force in ways never thought possible:
- The Secret Apprentice won´t just Force push enemies into walls – he´ll Force push enemies through walls.
- The Secret Apprentice won´t just Force grip foes to throw them aside – he´ll Force grip them in midair, zap them with lightning, then drop them to the ground to explode like a bomb.
In addition to new adversaries created just for the game, such as fugitive Jedi and Force-sensitive Felucians, players will also confront and associate with familiar faces from the Star Wars films, including Darth Vader.
Visit locations such as Episode III´s Wookiee homeworld Kashyyyk and the floral Felucia, the junk planet Raxus Prime, plus an Imperial TIE fighter construction facility.
Decisions made by players throughout the game will determine the path of the story, including multiple endings that will rock Star Wars continuity as they know it.
The Force Unleashed is LucasArts´ first internally developed title for next-generation consoles, and it represents the first in-game collaboration of talents and technology between LucasArts and Industrial Light & Magic, two companies now finally under one roof at the new Letterman Digital Arts Center in San Francisco´s Presidio district.
The Force Unleashed debuts Digital Molecular Matter from Pixelux and euphoria behavioral simulation from NaturalMotion Ltd.
LucasArts is preparing an unprecedented promotional effort around the launch of The Force Unleashed, encompassing a full line of toys and game-based action figures from Hasbro, as well as a full publishing program from Dark Horse, Del Rey and Palace Press.
So, the game should be released before the year´s end, and the Dark Side can finally be victorious. Excellent…