A new Republic Commando game?

[Sluis Van Shipyards]

Check this out: TheForce.Net - Latest News - Former SW Game Director Back At LucasArts

I read earlier last week that LucasArts licensed the newest Unreal game engine and that was my first thought as well. RC was the only LA game to use the Unreal engine, so either they are doing a Dark Forces/Jedi Knight using that engine, an entirely different game, or a sequel (and it would be about damn time! 6 or 7 years since RC!) of Republic Commando.

 

[IndyFanChuck]

Jason, you are awesome. I have wanted a sequel for years. YEARS I TELL YOU. It'd be about time Lucas gave us a video game worth playing.

I'm still bitter about how they cancelled the Indy game and made it Wii only.

Grumble Grumble, complain, grumble. lol

This would be FUN FUN FUN to play.

 

[Sluis Van Shipyards]

I know, but thanks! :lol I will actually have faith in LucasArts again if they actually start bringing back some of their popular series. I'm guessing they must still have some fans of RC inside LA because RC helmets popped up in the Clone Wars game and a RC helmet was an easter egg in The Force Unleashed. So my fingers are crossed!

 

[Burke]

Wasnt Jedi Outcast on the unreal engine as well?

 

[Solo4114]

Nope. Jedi Outcast and Jedi Academy were both done on Raven's take on the Quake 3 engine.

Frankly, while I'm happy this at least will NOT be oriented around Jedi, I'd rather see a classic trilogy game made instead of YET MORE clone wars crap.

Someone get Larry Holland on the phone and give us a damn Star Wars version of privateer with a ground game included.

 

[Sluis Van Shipyards]

The RC game was actually better than a lot of OT stuff LA was putting out. I think with some more features a second game would be great. Especially if they follow Karen Traviss' novels and not Lucas' crap take on the RC's/Mandos.

I'm pretty sure at some point LucasArts said they wouldn't do any more X-Wing/TIE games. Maybe it's just me, but I thought I read it. Also there's no way those games would work on consoles because of all the buttons needed. We'd get a game where you could only shoot, fly around, and do a few other commands. A lot of times the only way a game gets made on the PC nowadays is if they can put it out on multiple platforms. Then the PC usually ends up getting a crap port of that game that barely functions.

 

[Solo4114]

The RC game was actually better than a lot of OT stuff LA was putting out. I think with some more features a second game would be great. Especially if they follow Karen Traviss' novels and not Lucas' crap take on the RC's/Mandos.

Never read that book. I gave up on the EU books about the time the Black Fleet Crisis books were out. They just got stale, and when I heard about the whole Vong thing I had ZERO interest in seeing a poor man's Borg introduced into the SW mythos. Better to just walk away and let it rest. But yes, the game may have been better than a lot of the OT crap they were putting out then....which really isn't saying much. I can count on one hand the number of quality SW games released since 1999.

I'm pretty sure at some point LucasArts said they wouldn't do any more X-Wing/TIE games. Maybe it's just me, but I thought I read it. Also there's no way those games would work on consoles because of all the buttons needed. We'd get a game where you could only shoot, fly around, and do a few other commands. A lot of times the only way a game gets made on the PC nowadays is if they can put it out on multiple platforms. Then the PC usually ends up getting a crap port of that game that barely functions.

I still haven't played it, but I've heard that the console IL-2 Sturmovik game is a good example of a console game that can be adjusted to be way more sim-like. If they could do that, the games would work. But I agree that sims aren't really cut out for consoles unless you have special hardware like a HOTAS combination (a la the Ace Combat 6 bundle). Still, the strength of the X-Wing/Tie Fighter brand MIGHT be enough to let it survive on PC alone. I doubt anyone would take the risk, though.

 

[Sean Hebein]

I want moar Katarn!

 

[clancampbell]

I want moar Katarn!

Yup, another Jedi Knight style game would be very welcome. The Force Unleashed games were very limited, frustrating and shallow. Republic Commando had a lot of issues, my main gripe of which is the crappy underpowered weapons, and felt unfinished.

Just give us something beautiful, fun, Star Warsy and make it an FPS and i'll be a happy bunny.
Rich

 

[Solo4114]

NO

MORE

JEDI.


I'm so friggin' BORED with superpowered monks. Gimme a damn smuggler game. Or a bounty hunter game. But ENOUGH with the damn Jedi.

 

[clancampbell]

Well, i did say a Jedi knight STYLE game.....a smuggling game might just prove too dull if it involved actual smuggling/buying/selling.....i'd prefer something actually story based...

Rich

 

[Solo4114]

Who says you couldn't have a story revolving around smuggling? Have you never played Privateer?

 

[clancampbell]

Yes, also the original Elite....the concept is too long winded for a SW game. Now, if they did a smuggling game about a good character, with a decent story, that might be OK. But, would it feel like Star Wars? Or would it feel like the Star Wars references and cameos were just bolted on?

I dunno....

Rich

 

[Solo4114]

Yes, also the original Elite....the concept is too long winded for a SW game. Now, if they did a smuggling game about a good character, with a decent story, that might be OK. But, would it feel like Star Wars? Or would it feel like the Star Wars references and cameos were just bolted on?

I dunno....

Rich

Of course it could be good. Too long-winded? I have no idea what you're talking about. It would not be hard to come up with a good character OR a decent story, and it wouldn't feel any more like Star Wars references and cameos being "bolted on" any moreso than the various Jedi Knight/Jedi Academy games. Oh, look, it's Chewbacca. He's gonna run around with you and shoot stuff, but don't let him die or your fail the mission. Hey, look, it's Luke Skywalker being all mystical and telling you to use the Force.

You ever play the X-wing/Tie Fighter games? Those games had fun stories and felt every bit like they were part of and set within the Star Wars universe. How hard would it be to show the underworld of the Star Wars universe via space combat, trade/smuggling, and FPS ground-action? Coming up with a decent story should be a friggin' cakewalk.


Re-read the original Timothy Zahn novels and take a look at the character of Talon Karrde. Go back and watch ANH and remember who shot first (actually, the only one to shoot). You can tell interesting, action-packed stories about guys living in the underworld of the Star Wars universe and have it have NOTHING to do with The Force, the Skywalkers, or hell, even any of the major characters from the original or prequel trilogy except MAYBE as a brief cameo. And you know what? With the right attention to detail, with a compelling story, and with good game mechanics, it could rock.

Of course, nobody will take a risk on it, because of the glowbat fetish that the marketers have, and the insistence that all new product must be clone-wars-era stuff so they can cross-merchandise. Which is why I basically don't buy anything with the Star Wars brand on it anymore, or at least without taking a VERY close look at the details first.

 

[clancampbell]

I take your point. My comment on too long winded was aimed at the Elite games, where it basically took days/weeks to build up enough cash to do anything rewarding.

Yes, i've read most of the SW novels, yes i liked Zhan's characters. No, i don't think they'd stand up to being the "star" of their own game. These characters don't really work on their own merit, without the support of original characters...i know they've had their own books and short stories and such, but, these are successful mainly due to fanboy love.

Yes, i played the X-wing/Tie fighter games. Yes, they were good, but not adventures. These days, you can't tell a story in cut scenes then have the player just fly missions over and over.....well, you could, but that's not the game we're looking for. I always felt the Wing Commander games were better though.

I'm a bit of a sucker for most things Star Wars...i saw it when i was 10 and it's stuck with me ever since.

I don't really want to get into an argument about this, so suffice to say, I'd love to see a new Jedi Knight style game......hell, at the moment, i'd get super excited if Dark Forces was reworked and put on XBL!!

Happy Star Wars Day!

Rich

 

[Thibault]

If I remember well, at the end of the game, the team were not pleased being deployed to fight the jedis... Maybe they would rebelling at a moment of the scenario...
Or maybe it will happen after the Jedi purge ... As I heard that Lucas is producing a Star Wars TV show, where the story takes place between the 3rd and the 4th episode...

But I much more waiting for the Battlefront III :love !!!

 

[Solo4114]

I take your point. My comment on too long winded was aimed at the Elite games, where it basically took days/weeks to build up enough cash to do anything rewarding.

Ah, fair point. I never played Elite, though I've heard great things about it. I did play Privateer, though, and those early runs are pretty hairy or just plain tedious until you upgrade your ship.

Yes, i've read most of the SW novels, yes i liked Zhan's characters. No, i don't think they'd stand up to being the "star" of their own game. These characters don't really work on their own merit, without the support of original characters...i know they've had their own books and short stories and such, but, these are successful mainly due to fanboy love.

Yes, i played the X-wing/Tie fighter games. Yes, they were good, but not adventures. These days, you can't tell a story in cut scenes then have the player just fly missions over and over.....well, you could, but that's not the game we're looking for. I always felt the Wing Commander games were better though.

I'm a bit of a sucker for most things Star Wars...i saw it when i was 10 and it's stuck with me ever since.

I don't really want to get into an argument about this, so suffice to say, I'd love to see a new Jedi Knight style game......hell, at the moment, i'd get super excited if Dark Forces was reworked and put on XBL!!

Two things:

1.) I recognize I'm in the minority when it comes to gaming in general, and Star Wars gaming in specific. This is why I complain, and it's why I recognize that they'll never make the game I want to play. Even though I'm absolutely convinced that it COULD be done fantastically well, I also am absolutely convinced that no one would roll the dice on it sufficiently to LET it do well. They'd half-ass it, or they'd simply pass. Probably they'd just pass.

2.) If it's the old school Dark Forces/Jedi Knight games you want, you can get them on Steam now for dirt cheap. Actually, them and almost all the old LucasArts adventure games.

 

[clancampbell]

I agree completely. There've been so many games i looked forward to only to be kicked in the nuts with disappointment....Republic Commando was one...i couldn't believe i had these huge guns that might as well have shot water.....I loved Tie Fighter, but wasn't enamoured of X-wing.....i kept screwing up on X-wing Alliance-so gave up....i Loved Dark Forces, Jedi Knight...wasn't too keen on Jedi Academy, I quite enjoyed the earlier Rogue Squadron games, ( making a fool of my earlier comments on these type of flying games....oops....)
Hell, i loved Rebel Assault 1 and 2! But that was way back when i could show off what my PC could do! The force Unleashed 1 had potential, but squandered it on an implausible character and a frustrating, weak almost on rails game. TFU2 was more of the same, but shorter....

What i REALLY want to play is Oblivion in a Star Wars universe!

Rich

 

[Sluis Van Shipyards]

That's why I said if the added more features to RC (or Imperial Commando?) and improved what was bad, it could be a great game. Karen Traviss' novels are up there with the best of the SW novels. They've got four books to mine for more info on the RC's in general. I just really want to find out what happens to Sev because he's been off limits by Lucasfilm.


As for a smuggling game, isn't smuggling a part of the new TOR MMO? I think that's as close as LA will get. I'd rather see a Rebellion era smuggling game, but I doubt they'd risk that. Most game (PC or consoles) companies won't, or aren't allowed by the suits, to stray too far from the norm. They are content to churn out Madden 2062, Call of Duty 64, etc.

 

[Qui-Gonzalez]

Yes SVS, the Smuggling will be in TOR. It never really worked in SWG as your role was a spice crafter and container slicer. Lame...

There were far too many constraints in SWG about what you could do. That timeline was already firmly in place. In TOR, it is open season on anything.

As to an RC game, I would be all over it if it is a good story. As others have said, Travis has written some damned fine books that are very engrossing. Play on that and her Mandalorian sub-culture and you have a winner.