Star Wars lightsaber action coming to Wii, as predicted

LucasArts have announced a Wii version of ´Star Wars: The Force Unleashed´ which will offer "owners the unique chance to live out their Jedi fantasies by wielding the Wii Remote™ as a lightsaber while using the Nunchuk™ controller to torment foes with their Force™ powers."

The Wii version, in development by Krome Studios, will also add an exclusive duel mode in which players can compete head-to-head with their friends to determine the ultimate Jedi Master.

"The Wii is a great platform for The Force Unleashed, because the console's motion-oriented controllers really bring the game to life," said Jim Ward, President of LucasArts. "We've worked hard to make the Wii version of the game unique in order to truly let you unleash the Force." (...)

LucasArts and developer Krome Studios are creating an equally enthralling version of The Force Unleashed on the Wii, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, and n-Space, Inc., is developing a version for the Nintendo DS™. All will feature the same storyline, with opportunities to unleash the Force in devastating new ways.

Australian developer Krome Studios is responsible for the ´TY the Tasmanian Tiger™´ series and are currently busy with ´The Legend of Spyro: The Eternal Night´ for Wii and ´Viva Pinata: Party Animals´ for Xbox360.



Finally, we have confirmation of the game I exclusively revealed, way back in May 2006. I was only wrong about the timing, believing Nintendo would show a teaser trailer there and then. That was my interpretation, though. The information I got from my source was entirely accurate.

EDIT I realise that there is some discussion whether my exclusive information really matches ´The Force Unleashed´. I admit that I never knew a great deal of detail about the game. So, to make sure, here is a chronology of what I said and when:

---

"There will be a star wars exclusive for wii, i just learned, light sabers and all. it will be revealed tuesday." 8th of May 2006

---

"My informant regarding the star wars game is a very senior industry insider that is not affiliated with a specific developer or publisher. he believed that nintendo will steal the show." 8th of May 2006

---

"I am a bit disappointed that lucasarts were unable to show their exclusive star wars game for wii at the show, featuring hot lightsaber action. apparently, you will have to wait until e3 2007 for that one. nothing has been officially announced, but remeber where you heard it first. but even without it, i am very confident that the wii launch will be one of the most spectacular launches in console history." 13th of May 2006

---

"Noone has ever denied the game. At E3, I have had a frank (and off-the-record) discussion with a very senior executive at LucasArts and he told me that they will show the game at E3 2007. Don´t forget: my original informer is a very senior figure in the industry. It´s a shame the title wasn´t shown this year. But my information is 100% accurate. Remember where you heard it first, people." 25th of May 2006

---

"I only received exclusive and confidential information that this game was in development (that was in May). It was my own assumption that it would be shown (with everyone associating the Wiimote with Star Wars). (...)

I know this: There is a Star Wars game in development for Wii that focusses on lightsaber action. I have no idea when it will be shown or when it will be ready." 5th of August 2006

---

"I have spoken to a reliable source about the Wii-exclusive Star Wars game I learnt about last year. This source has seriously questioned whether LucasArts would consider exclusives at all with their current titles being strictly multi-platform. The person I spoke to also questioned my original source. To me, though, such a game would make perfect sense, business-wise, since pretty much every Wii owner would gobble it up." 25th of August 2007

---

Also, bear in mind that while I may have been lucky enough to be the first journalist to know about the game (certainly the first to make it public), other media outlets soon followed suit. IGN confirmed that LucasArts was ´looking into it´ only days after I revealed the game and, finally, in May this year, French news agency AFP removed the last doubts anyone of you may have had.

---

"During a technical demonstration for an unnamed Xbox 360 and PS3 Star Wars title, LucasArts made note to announce high interest in creating a Wii title in the Star Wars universe, with lightsaber battles in mind." IGN, 11th of May 2006

---

"The head of the LucasArts, the game division for "Star Wars" series creator George Lucas, told AFP a Wii game that lets players wield virtual light sabers is on the horizon." AFP, 27th of May 2007

---

So, there you have it. I readily admit that I never knew much. But I knew that a ´Star Wars´ game featuring hot lightsaber action was either in pre-production or development by early May 2006. And it seems obvious that this game was ´Star Wars: The Force Unleashed´.

I was wrong about the entire game being a proper exclusive. But, again, there are almost no straight ports to Wii and this one features ´an exclusive duel mode´.

Source: LucasArts
Thanks to: Product_Number_18, CVG