LucasArts Reaffirms Commitment to All Consoles

dud83 writes to mention an article on IGN, in which LucasArts confirms they'll be making games for the Wii, in addition to their already announced titles for the PS3 and 360. From the article: "During the Q&A session, a younger gamer took the microphone and asked if the company would be showing support for the newest motion-controlled Nintendo console. Sansweet's responded simply by stating the likeness between the Wii controller and a lightsaber, followed by a statement that LucasArts would be supporting every next generation system."

Comments

Priorities?

[eldavojohn]

That's great news, but what about its commitment to the fans/consumer?

I don't know about the rest of you but games like Tie Fighter, The Dig & Dark Forces won me over long ago ... only to disappoint me time and time again with bland console games and repackaged computer games in the new millennium.

They could seriously concentrate on their fans before worrying about which console they're going to choose to support.

Re:Priorities?

[Gulthek]

Their commitment to profit was stronger.

Re:Priorities?

[MaestroSartori]

Saying they're working on all platforms *is* a sign that they're concentrating on the fans. It increases development costs substantially, but means that whatever platform the fans go for they'll have games to play on it.

Re:Priorities?

[drinkypoo]

Saying they're working on all platforms *is* a sign that they're concentrating on the fans. It increases development costs substantially, but means that whatever platform the fans go for they'll have games to play on it.

It has been shown time and time again that gamers buy systems for games. I think that concentrating on making really great games (they've done it before, but it's been a long time) would be a better sign that they're working to support the fans.

Luke... I am your console!

[straterpatrick]

A light saber dualing game would be the ultimate on Wii. They really really need to make it.

Re:Luke... I am your console!

[BigCheese]

As long as I can carve up Jar Jar with my light saber I will be happy. Ewok hunting would be a bonus.

drool

[uberjoe]

Just imagine the wii controller in you hand. The speaker humming that lightsaber hum, the rumble as you parry your opponent. Tendrils of the force squeezing your trachea shut. . . hmmm maybe that's too much immersion. I still can't wait though, I'll buy a wii for this game alone.

Re:drool

[masklinn]

You're aware that the reason why they're redoing Red Steel's controls is that they didn't "do" them in the first place?

E3's Red Steel had barely functional controls in the sense that the game didn't actually detect your motion, only part of it to trigger specific predefined saber motions. And it sucked, and everyone said it.

So the Red Steel dev team decided to do it right and use the motion sensor to actually detect and replicate the whole motion.

If anything, the way they're redoing RS' controls is much closer to the GP's lightsabers desires than they were at E3.

The Force is weak with this one

[RyoShin]

Sansweet's responded simply by stating the likeness between the Wii controller and a lightsaber,

I don't know why LucasArts hasn't at least announced that they're working on a Star Wars game for the Wii. The first thing most people probably thought of upon the revealing of the Wiimote (after the initial "OMGWTF" moment passed) was "Holy crap this thing would make a kickass lightsaber game."

It doesn't even need a story, just give us a character with a lightsaber and let us go to town. Imagine the thrill of moving your arm and actually hearing the "VOOM FWOOM" sounds coming out of the Wiimote! Then doing various parries, blocks, and cutting Darth Maul in half. Add in having light saber battles with someone over WiiConnect or a network, and you have a great game. We can all be the Star Wars Kid!

followed by a statement that LucasArts would be supporting every next generation system.

Including the Phantom?

Re:The Force is weak with this one

[grapeape]

The wii remote has a rumble function, that would be sufficient for most as far as "contact" with another light sabre goes, no you wont be able to "duel" as elegantly as you would like but it could be fun none the less. When you play a racing game and hit a wall the steering wheel doesnt topple over on its side and knock you out of the car, but you still get the point that you hit something right? I dont see how this would be much different.

Lightsaber with Wii ???

[ranton]

Everyone keeps commenting about how they want a lightsaber fight with the Wii without actually thinking about how poorly that would be implimented.

How would you possibly simulate a sword clash? Eventually the two light sabers will touch, but you cannot possibly simulate that with a Wii controller. There would have to be a great deal of hydrolics in any system that could simulate your lightsaber actually making contact with something other than air.

This new controller could be a great addition to a number of new gaming ideas, but a sword battle is not one of them.
--

Re:Lightsaber with Wii ???

[Jerf]

I disagree that it's impossible, while conceding that we'd need an actual implementation to try out to actually come to a consensus.

(In other words, consider the "I disagree because I don't think that would work" reply to this message already posted.)

I think you could make it work with a bit of cooperation from the user, and a bit of compensation given to the unreality of the situation. (Of course we're not going to be swinging as quickly as in the Phantom Menance anyhow.) When two swords cross, hit the controller's vibrator. Train the user that when that happens, they have to pull back. When they pull back past the collision point, resume control of the lightsaber.

If they don't pull back, interpret that as a contest of strength, like you've seen in the movies. (Probably a bad idea since the opponent would probably have to always win or this would be too easy to win with.)

I think that this wouldn't be impossibly unnatural. Certainly it's not like swinging a real sword. But then, that's not really the standard, is it? The question is, can it be better than current controllers? And the answer is probably yes.

Again, I'm not certain this would work. But I think it's at least worth a try, and I suspect it could be made to work with a bit of trial, error, and refinement.

Re:Lightsaber with Wii ???

[Brownstar]

Not sure how old you are. But when I was growing up, we didn't have any of the fancy FX lightsabers that exist now to play with.

Instead, my friends and I would often play with flashlights as lightsabers.

Which also do not have anysort of collision detection. Fortunatly we're smart enough to see when the "blades" cross each other and had no problem simulating that the sabers had collided.

To put this in a different video game genre, have you ever played a car racing game?

Ever collided with a wall? The car doesn't go throught, even though I'm still pushing the game pad in that direction. Doens't seem to bother many people. I'm sure that either:
      - the dev's will figure out something that is fun, and fairly
          intuitive for all users.
      - the dev's can't come up with something fun, and don't release
          a game using the wii remote as a lightsaber.
      - the dev's come up with something that is clunky, but do to
          marketing, release it anyway. You'll hear about how poorly
          implemented it is in reviews, or you'll rent it/play it in
          store and not buy the game.

Regardless of implementation, it will almost definatly take some hand-eye co-ordination, and will not be purely force-feedback controlled.

Will require some of the massive computing power our brains already provide when we make believe.

Will have some aspect that some one can bitch about no matter how its implemented.

Also quite likely the initial games lightsaber fights will probably look and act more like the fights in Ep IV - VI than I - III.

Re:Lightsaber with Wii ???

[KDR_11k]

I'm thinking that if you move past the collision point your grip on the saber gradually weakens, if you overdo it you drop it. Perhaps that could be combined with the test of strength, the more accurately you can make it mimic the actual position of your saber the more your grip stabilizes (should be a bit over time so you'd have to return for a second or two to regain full grip), by pushing into the enemy saber you use strength and push the sabers towards your opponent but your grip starts weakening and you have to trade speed for grip. If you push far enough your opponent loses his saber regardless of grip strength and you can get in a few free hits.

Sansweet's responded simply ...

[Threni]

> Sansweet's responded simply by stating the likeness between the Wii controller and a lightsaber,
> followed by a statement that LucasArts would be supporting every next generation system."

You know, he could have responded much more simply if he'd just said "yes". What is it with these business people that they can't just speak clearly?

Lightsaber via Haptics.... duh!

[Tz-Auber]

Developers (Nintendo SDK folk, this means you) should really make code hooks for Haptics effects in your games. The Wii already has 3d position reading code, it wouldn't take too much effort to allow support for writing force effects to a haptics controller.

Sensable (http://www.sensable.com/) already has a great set of controllers, but they are currently super expensive (thousands of $$).
Novint (http://www.novint.com/) is claiming they'll have a controller out next year in the sub $100 range which is comparable to existing industry haptics devices. If Nintendo licenses the hell out of this technology, it's possible for the price to drop even further.

Briefly, haptics is the study of the sensation of touch, google for more info.