The Empire Strikes Apps
May 29, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
The developer has been working closely with THQ and Lusas Arts to create a strategy game in the Tower Defense genre of game, titled, Star Wars: The Battle for Hoth. “This game focuses on one of sci-fi’s most epic battles,” says the games designer Tomas Rawlings, “it is epic because it has got it all - conflict, heroism, a back-against-the war struggle, cool military technology, good vs evil and of course AT-ATs.” The game give the player 15 levels in 2 gameplay modes all set around the famous battle on the ice planet. The game features all of the classic units that fans of the film will immediately recognise; AT-ATs, Snowspeeders, Snowtroopers and the trenches and guns of the Rebel defences.
“One thing that player may not have seen is the more varied landscape of Hoth,” notes Ana, “when it was filmed 30 years ago, they used Norway to get that stark white battlefield. But later information published about the planet noted that it had other facets to it - volcanoes, ice-forests and algal blooms. We’ve used this as inspiration to vary the landscape a little more.”
The developers have good pedigree of making Tower Defense titles - having done past games on PS3 and PSP that were well-received both critically and in popularity. “We had a good range of development experience to draw upon for the title, but at the same time we had to learn a lot, ” comments Tomas, “the touch-screen is a great way of interacting with a strategy game but it requires a totally new approach to user-interface and HUD. It’s been a good challenge getting what we feel is right by the gameplay - I hope players will agree with us.”
The title also draws of the talent of Armin Elsaesser as sound designer. Armin (who uses the stagename ‘Parasite’) has been making a name for himself after getting nominated for the prestigious Ivor Novello awards. 2010 was the first year the awards for music composition were opened up to games - and Armin was one of three nominated for an award.
The title also manages to coincide with the 30th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back. May 21st 1980 saw the original release. The film was one of the highest grossing films of 1980 and has grown in reputation over the years to become of the the most loved of all the Star Wars pantheon. “When we were asked to do a game based in the Star Wars universe, we felt really honoured - that this was a great opportunity and that we had to handle the ideas with care,” says producer at FluffyLogic, Ana Kronschnabl, “The 30th anniversary was important to us - it felt like this would be our tribute to a film that we’ve grown up with.”
“In another 30 years I think we’ll still be celebrating The Empire Strikes Back.” says Tomas, “Yes the platform will again be different; it might be a super-virtual reality version of the game where we actually feel the cold of Hoth and involuntarily duck as Snowspeeders scream overhead – the the story of the film is a universal one that has become so engrained in our culture that it will endure as long as we do.”
General Information
Star Wars: The Battle for Hoth is a game for both iPhone and iPod. It is a tower defense strategy game; such games have the player placing defensive units to stop waves of enemy units from exiting the level. The game sees the player taking the role of commander of the Rebel forces trying to stop Imperial forces from reaching the main shield generators before the evacuation of Hoth is complete. As the game progresses new units for both the Rebel forces and the Imperial attackers are introduced. The game has 2 difficulty settings - easy and normal, plus comes with a help and unit guide.
Gameplay
The player begins each level with a set amount of Command Points. The player ’spends’ these by choosing a unit type and selecting where on the level to build them. Each unit can also be upgraded for additional Command Points. Upgrades add to a units power - depending on the unit type - increasing aspects such as range and damage. The player can also change the targeting orders for units - tell them to prioritise ground/air units or stronger/weaker units (though not all Rebel unit types can target flying units). This can be done on an a single unit or for all units at once. The player can also build trenches to both funnel the Imperial forces into kill-zones and to position infantry who gain extra protection once inside. Except for infantry, Rebel units require a power supply to operate.
Imperial forces emerge from staging areas to the left of the map and proceed to try to exit the level on the right, to damage the main shield generators. Once too much damage has been done to the main shield generators, the player has failed the level and must replay to progress. The various Imperial units do different amounts of damage to the main shield generators.
Battlefield
The game is set on the planet of Hoth - it features 15 levels. Initially each level is played in ‘Classic Mode’. In this mode once the player’s defenses have destroyed each group of Imperial attackers, a Command Points bonus token is left behind. By touching these the player can collect them and earn additional Command Points. If the player collects multiple tokens with a single sweep of the finger, bonus Command Points are awarded. However, leaving Command Points bonus tokens risks the value of them degrading over time.
Once a level has been completed in ‘classic mode’, it is available to play again in ‘Fortress Mode’. In this mode the player get a larger starting pool of Command Points, but does not gain any additional during the game. The player collects Score Points bonus tokens instead which add to the player final score.
Unit List
• Soldier – A basic infantry unit armed with a blaster rifle. This unit requires no additional
power but is vulnerable to heavy fire. Place in trenches to improve their defensive
capabilities. Can only target ground units.
• Heavy Weapon Soldier - A solider armed with a powerful repeating blaster. This unit
requires no additional power but is vulnerable to heavy fire. Place in trenches to improve
their defensive capabilities. Can target ground and air units.
• Power Generator – Provides all units within range with an energy supply.
• 1.4 FD P-Tower Laser Cannon – High damage ground-to-ground combat weapon. Can only
target ground units.
• DF.9 Anti-Infantry Battery Tower – Effective against infantry, but vulnerable to larger units.
Can target ground and air units.
• Ion Cannon – High power consumption but very powerful weapon. Can target ground and
air units. To vehicles the ion-impact disrupts the electrical systems slowing the unit down.
To infantry the heat of the impact can kill.
• Snowspeeder Control Tower - Launches a single Snowspeeder which completes it’s attack
run before returning to the base. Can only target ground based units.
• X-wing Control Tower - Launches a single X-wing fighter which completes it’s attack run
before returning to the base. Targets only air units.
• Energy Shield Generator - Generates a localised Energy Shield that protects all Rebel units
within its range. If the Energy Shield collapses, the generator unit is destroyed.
Imperial Units
• Viper Probe Droids – Fast but with weak armour, these units are used by the Imperial forces
as cannon fodder.
• Scout Trooper – Fast but vulnerable infantry. These troops are the advance of the main
force.
• Snowtroopers – Elite infantry trained to fight on any world. Deployed in large numbers to
hammer at enemy defenses.
• 74-Z Speeder Bike - Often used as a scouting unit or for rapid attack. This air unit is fast
speed with weak armour.
• AT-ST Walker - A fast walker with medium armour. Designed for hit and run attacks on
enemy defenses.
• TIE Fighter – The main multi-role space fighter of the Imperial forces. This air unit is also
used to attack ground targets.
• AT-AT Walker – Huge, heavily armoured walkers that are deployed to smash foes into
submission either by being shot or crushed. These units ignore trenches and can crush all in
their path.
• Command Units - ‘Boss’ versions of existing units but much stronger and tougher.
Concentrate your fire at them to stop their advance.
Celebration 5 Guest List Grows
May 28, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
Jake Lloyd: Anakin Skywalker, The Phantom Menace
The actor who portrayed young Anakin Skywalker in The Phantom Menace, Lloyd was cast at the age of seven-and-a-half, having been watched closely by casting director Robin Gurland since she first spotted him as a five-year-old.
Daniel Logan: Young Boba Fett, Attack of the Clones and Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Boba Fett spans the entire Star Wars saga, and started with the character as a young man, portrayed in Attack of the Clones by television and film actor Logan. Recently, Logan reprised this iconic role, voicing the character in Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series.
Matt Wood: General Grievous, Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith, and Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Bib Fortuna, The Phantom Menace.
Wood, the Supervising Sound Editor for the Star Wars prequels, created the voice for General Grievous for Episode III, and voices for other prequel characters as well. Always busy with his technical responsibilities for the film, Wood managed to find his voice — or rather helped the nefarious droid general find his voice.
Amy Allen: Aayla Secura, Attack of the Clones, Revenge of the Sith.
A striking blue Twi’lek Jedi on the cover of a Dark Horse comic made an impression on writer/director George Lucas. So much so, that he requested that a fit female extra be found to play the part. Allen, who was a production assistant at ILM, was recruited for Episode II, and returned to reprise her role in Episode III.
Caroline Blakiston: Mon Mothma, Return of the Jedi.
Blackiston’s busy career began in the 1950s and has continued with dozens of television and film appearances in the U.K. and beyond.
Julian Glover: General Veers, The Empire Strikes Back.
The busy actor has appeared not only in The Empire Strikes Back and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, but also voiced Aragog in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and played Triopas in Troy.
Frank Hensen: Stormtrooper, Rebel guard, Skiff guard, Return of the Jedi.
Hensen’s filmography is as varied and interesting as his many roles in Episode VI. In addition to acting roles he has been a stunt coordinator and fight coordinator, appearing recently in Sherlock Holmes as a stunt performer.
Ian Liston: Wes Janson, The Empire Strikes Back.
Liston’s character of Wes Janson has built a loyal following not only from his screen time, but also from the character’s role in a number of Star Wars novels and comics. Liston’s acting career spans several decades.
Jack McKenzie: Cal Alder, The Empire Strikes Back.
McKenzie, who played the deck Lieutenant on the Hoth Rebel Base, has appeared in a number of television series and movies, including the classics A Bridge Too Far and Gandhi.
Christopher Muncke: Captain Khurgee, A New Hope.
The movie and television actor played the scanning crew leader and pilot in the first Star Wars movie. As an added trivia note for fans, Muncke also appeared with fellow Star Wars actors Anthony Forrest and Garrick Hagon in the 1977 James Bond movie, The Spy Who Loved Me.
Chris Parsons: 4-LOM, K-3PO,The Empire Strikes Back.
In addition to performing two iconic droid characters in The Empire Strikes Back, Parsons also performed in Return of the Jedi.
Toby Philpott: Jabba Puppeteer, Return of the Jedi.
Philpott’s puppeteer and animatronic credits include Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal, Little Shop of Horrors, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit, among many others
George Roubicek: Commander Praji, A New Hope.
This Austrian-born actor has had a storied acting career, spanning more than 50 years. Beginning in 1957 with The One That Got Away, Roubicek has performed agents, officers, soldiers, and kings.
George Lucas To Be At Celebration V!
May 22, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
The week’s winding down, but we don’t take Fridays lightly. No. Especially this Friday. This Friday is special. This Friday is very special.
We are very, very proud to announce Star Wars creator George Lucas will make a special guest appearance at Star Wars Celebration V this August in Orlando! This will be Lucas’s second Celebration appearance, and only his third Star Wars convention appearance, the last of which was Celebration III in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 2005.
Lucas will appear onstage during the four-day run of the show, with the specific information about dates, times, and where and when to start the line coming later this summer. (You can ask, but we can’t tell you yet.) Celebration V takes place August 12-15, 2010 at the Orange County Convention Center.
Visit www.starwarscelebration.co
‘The Empire Strikes Back’ and Harrison Ford at the ArcLight on May 19
A yearlong Lucasfilm charity campaign called “The Empire Gives Back“ begins with the ArcLight event, where Ford will be interviewed on stage by Hero Complex blogger Geoff Boucher.
This is a longer version of my article in Friday’s Los Angeles Times…
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of “The Empire Strikes Back,” Lucasfilm is planning a yearlong charity campaign that kicks off on May 19 with the hottest fanboy ticket of the year: A one-night-only digital screening of the 1980 “Star Wars” sequel at the ArcLight Hollywood and an on-stage Q&A with Harrison Ford.
Read Full Story …. Click Here
Lightsaber Flash Mob Video
February 15, 2010 by admin · 2 Comments
On February 13th 2010, Jedi and Sith met to do battle for the neutral planet Slotsirb Tobac Sucric. Well, actually it was just a few hundred well organized Star Wars fans who invaded Bristols Cabot Circus, a shopping mall in Bristol, England. The fans of all ages, shapes and sizes used Facebook to set up the “Flash mob” scene. A flash mob is a large group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual and pointless act for a brief time, then quickly disperse.
Bravo to all of those involved, even the guy with the paper tube aluminum foil lightsaber!
Star Wars TV Series Casting Begins
February 11, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
The oft mentioned and long anticipated live-action Star Wars television show has apparently begun the casting process. The MTV Movies Blog interviewed actress Rose Byrne at a junket for her new film Knowing, and she let slip that many of her friends had already auditioned for the Star Wars series. Byrne, no stranger to the Star Wars univerese appeared in 2002’s Attack of the Clones.
Star Wars Live-Action TV Series Exclusive @ MTV Movies Blog
As with the Clone Wars animated series, George Lucas plans to produce an entire seasons worth of shows before shopping it to potential networks. Set between Revenge of the Sith and A New Hope, the series is said to focus on the early days of the rebellion against the Galactic Empire. Although the TV show will focus on lesser known and new characters, the possibility of cameos from familiar Star Wars characters has not been ruled out. Cyborg Darth Maul and Boba Fett anyone?!
As long as Lucas gets a strong team of writers and directors for the series, this property has a lot of potential. Frankly, the less involved he is the better. Director Kevin Smith has openly admitted many times that he would love to write or direct for the TV series. Plus, there are so many talented writers working in sci-fi TV right now that were weaned on the original trilogy—the writers of Lost, Heroes and Battlestar Galactica come to mind. George, I know it’s your sandbox but it’s time to let the new kids play in it.
Clone Wars Roundtable: S2 : Episodes 9 & 10
January 16, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
The Clone Wars ForceCast Roundtables return as Jimmy and Jason are joined by Star Wars artists Randy Martinez and Denise Vasquez, as well as director Kyle Newman, to break down the most recent Clone Wars episodes of Grievous Intrigue and The Deserter. Click here and visit ForceCast.net to listen in on the fun now!
Kenner Cardbacks
Kenner Cardbacks
The cardbacks had a strip of cardboard under the figure to keep it from moving. They where sized for each figure.
Why is the cardback punched on the left? For balance. The figure needed to look balanced on the hook. If centered it would hang to the left because… anyone? the figure is heavier.
- rod
Hamill Talks Video Game Voice Acting
Mark Hamill recently gave an interview to CVG where he talked at length about his post-Star Wars career of video game voice acting. By all means click here for the full interview where Mark touches on the various games he’s been a part of, the fantastic actors with whom he’s worked, and his take on voicing The Joker. For Star Wars gamers who wonder why we don’t hear him voicing Luke Skywalker in video games, see the excerpt below.
“As he developed a parallel career in animation voiceover - becoming a cult star by playing Joker in Batman: The Animated Series - he went on to play characters in games like Starsiege, relishing the challenges of interactive entertainment. In films, actors rarely explore every nuance of a character. In games, characters change depending on the player’s decisions. Some games, such as Full Throttle, even gave him a chance to play numerous roles. This was the only time Hamill acted on a LucasArts title.
Considering the amount of Star Wars games released, has he intentionally resisted portraying Skywalker in a game? “When I played Luke from 1977 to 1983, games were in their infancy,” he says. “I talked about turning a page and starting a new chapter. Those movies had a beginning, middle and end, and everyone sort of moved on.
“I don’t really know how to answer that, because I’ve never been asked to do it. That’s fine, though. If you’re playing Luke the way he was in the films - from his late teens to mid-’20s - I’ve outgrown the role. In the story, Luke is so boy-next-door farm boy, it’s like Dorothy in Oz. All the other characters that surround him are fantastic.”
He pauses for thought. “I’m not sure when George’s animated series Clone Wars is set, but I think it’s before Luke was born. Maybe when he was an infant.” Perhaps, then, he could provide infant sounds? “Yeah, whimpering myself to sleep at night.”‘
The Clone Wars Interviews At SW.com
January 2, 2010 by admin · Leave a Comment
