LucasArts Shows Interest In Wii Lightsaber Game

Gamasutra reports that, though they're not willing to say they have one in the works right now, LucasArts is interested in a Wii lightsaber game. From the article: "At the end of the demonstration, Gamasutra inquired as to whether the company planned on creating a lightsaber game for the Wii, after many commented on the suitability of the system to the concept - especially after an internal speaker was revealed in the controller being used to demo the concept. This question produced a number of knowing smiles around the room from LucasArts employees, followed by the comments: 'We know' and 'We are looking into it', as possible concepts for the game were discussed. However, the firm has not yet made any official announcements regarding planned Wii titles."

Comments

Article is a bit hopeful...

[inkdesign]

They translate this:

"We know" and "We are looking into it"

into this:

"LucasArts staff have confirmed to Gamasutra the company's intense interest in creating a Wii lightsaber game"

Perhaps the author meant their own intense interest in playing a Wii lightsaber game?

Re:Article is a bit hopeful...

[DingerX]

Same thing. Money talks. The essence of Jedi persona is tied up in the light saber. Now you've got a controller that can make you monetize that.

I'm sure they've got numbers that will indicate how many sales of any turd with "star wars" on the box will sell. Then you add in something that they haven't done before, but would just be cool, and there you have it. A Wii light saber game is a million sales minimum; the Wii artwork demands are not as bad as PS3/360, so all you need to do is make it work, and make people feel cool doing it.

Besides, I want me one of them twin-blade batons o' death.

Re:Article is a bit hopeful...

[Golias]

Okay, so everybody with memories of playing "lightsaber fights" with their flashlight beams when they were little kids hears about a Jedi game for the Wii and thinks "oooo! That's perfect! The wireless Wii motion sensor will work just like a lightsaber! What could be more intuitive????"

But wait a sec. There are a few details to work out.

1. If controller motion indicates what you are doing with your weapon, what indicates where you move and where you are standing? The thumb buttons?

2. If you swing your lightsaber and your opponent blocks it, but you follow through on your swing... where is the lightsaber? Still pinned against the block? Do you need to bring your hands back up to that aproximate location to move it? Or do you now need to keep your hands down by your knees for the rest of the fight?

I'm not saying such issues can't be worked out somehow, but unless you put the controllers into big plastic tubes, and attach several more motion sensors to your head, torso, and limbs, it's kind of hard to indicate that you block one swing, duck under the next, leap over the one after that, then circle around so your opponent's back is to the Sarlac Pit (or whatever) without resorting to old-fashioned button-mashing as part of the interface.

Re:Article is a bit hopeful...

[DingerX]

Aye, 1) is the rumblestick.

2) is easier than you think. Swinging, and other motions are simply movements between extremes. Anything beyond an extreme (Such as against a contraopposing sword, or bey0ond the range of motion), you can either filter out or use to shift the relative range of motion -- or some combination thereof.

The best way to find out what really works is to hook someone up and play.

troll me if you like...

[tont0r]

But could the Wii posts end? Im really growing tired of every jackass coming up with a 'Wii' pun and getting 5 points for it.

too obvious

[dlc3007]

So... When Nintendo first announced the Revolution with the wireless controler you can wave around, who didn't think of a light saber game? It is just a question of when -- not if.

Sith game please

[Winterblink]

Make a Sith game. Playing as a Jedi is fun sure, but sometimes it's neat to take a walk on the Dark Side. Let us as players indulge in being a bad guy, it may untether the game design a bit since it's a side of Star Wars that's not focused in in any great detail for games.