Even if the latest movie, “The Clone Wars”, didn't break box office records, the Force is still strong for Star Wars in the videogame realm. LucasArts has two new games, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed has hit all platforms on September 16, and a pair of Star Wars The Clone Wars games will come out on Nintendo platforms on November 11. In addition, Darth Vader, for PlayStation 3, and Yoda, for Xbox 360, are exclusive playable characters in Namco Bandai's recent release, Soul Calibur IV. Sony Online Entertainment's partnership with LucasArts in the multiplayer online role-playing game, Star Wars: Galaxies, also continues to keep hundreds of thousands of gamers happy. Since the first film was shown on the big screen over 30 years ago, Star Wars fans have dreamed of the day that gaming could replicate those lightsaber battles between good and evil. Thanks to Nintendo's revolutionary Wii, that day has come with Star Wars The Clone Wars: Lightsaber Duel. Wii's motion sensor controllers allow two players to replicate the moves of Jedis from the recent movie and upcoming CGI TV series. Developer Krome Studios worked with LucasArts and the creators of the CGI series to ensure the game experience remained authentic. LucasFilm's Singapore studio, which created The Clone Wars movie and TV series, was also responsible for the Nintendo DS game, Star Wars The Clone Wars: Jedi Alliance. “LucasFilm is telling The Clone Wars story in two different ways -- through a linear, TV format, as well as through an interactive, handheld format,” said marketing manager Gavin Leung. This collaboration across entertainment mediums allowed ideas to flow freely. Leung said a new battleship called the Devastation in the videogame will be incorporated into a future episode of the TV show. The Force Unleashed introduces a new character to the universe - Darth Vader's secret apprentice. After taking control of Vader, himself, in the first level of the game, players learn the powers of the Force through a series of missions as the apprentice. The interactive adventures will continue regardless of whether any new Star Wars films make their way into theaters.
