A long time ago, in a world of video games far, far away, Star Wars games were awesome. Whether LucasArts was was producing excellent space combat sims like X-Wing and its sequel or solid first-person shooters like Dark Forces, LucasArts could apparently do no wrong.

Then…everything sucked.

Some of this can be attributed to LucasArts farming out games to 3rd-party developers. Some of this is a total lack of quality control (remember Rebellion? Ooopha). Some if it can be related to a lack of focus and mismanagement. However you want to slice it, Star Wars games are a ghost of their former glory.

Is there hope for the future? Well, Bioware making an MMO is a great first step as Bioware is one of the few 3rd-party developers to “get” Star Wars.
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Zombies are everywhere, enjoying a resurgence in popularity that ultimately spells an imminent collapse, the Zombie Bubble, if you will. Can’t happen a moment too soon. Between endless videogames and movies, I think the zombie concept has run its course. But what is this? Yet one more attempt to include zombies in pop culture? Indeed. Zombies meet Star Wars posters…

See all the posters here.

Not much is currently known about the Japanese Wii title “Zangeki no Reginleiv,” (reportedly called “Dynamic Zan” at one time) but the graphics and fantasy/medieval setting have certainly caught our attention.

There’s more to the title than just graphics and atmosphere though.  The game is Nintendo’s second title to support the Motion Plus accessory and it will use the peripheral with over 300 different types of weapons so that you can hack and slash your way through hordes of enemies.  It will also feature four-player online mode as well.

In the above montage video, we’re given a 10-second preview of in-game footage (starting at about 6:14) showing off some impressive attacks, large bosses, and sprawling armies covering large, open fields ala Star Wars Episode I.  It is without a doubt drool-worthy.

The title is scheduled to release in Japan on February 11, 2010.  There’s no word on any potential American release, but we sure do hope Nintendo decides to release this one stateside.  Wii owners could use more Motion Plus-supported titles, especially from the Big N.  Otherwise it’ll be an awfully long wait until Zelda Wii.

Being a bit of a Sci-Fi nerd (or is it Sy-Fy now?) , the few friends I have managed to accumulate over the years tend to have similar interests, and whenever a few of us get together one area of disagreement tends to rear it’s ugly head more often then others — Which is better, Star Trek or Star Wars?

While I haven’t discovered anything that gives a definitive answer to which is better, I have come across the answer to which is bigger. Someone named Dan Carlson went to the trouble of compiling an image that features ships from both universes to scale with 1 pixel = 10 meters. Apparently with little else to do in his life, he also added ships from almost every other Science Fiction property that made its way into television and film including things as obscure Lexx and Space: Above and Beyond.

So if size matters (and all Carlson’s distances are accurate), it looks like the Star Wars fans have something to brag about due to the incredible length of the Executor class Destroyer. (Star Trek fans can salvage some pride if they point to the Earth Spacedock and try to make the girth arguement however.) Unfortunately this area of comparison may only start up another bitter debate, especially if one subscribes to the theory that guys with big trucks (or space ships) are only trying to compensate for a deficiency in something else.

So what are you trying to draw attention away from, Star Wars fans? Do you have a little anxiety about your Light Sabers?

A new single-player level for Star Wars: The Force Unleashed has been made available for download through the Xbox Live Marketplace and PlayStation Network.

The level features Darth Vader’s Secret Apprentice in a mission beginning at the end of the story in The Force Unleashed.  The level modifies the saga to a scenario where the Secret Apprentice has killed Darth Vader and taken his place by the Emperor’s side.  The Emperor then sends his new apprentice to Tatooine to take care of Obi-Wan Kenobi, who has been in hiding on the planet since the events of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.

The downloadable episode promises to let players explore Jabba the Hut’s palace as well as encounter infamous bounty hunter Boba Fett.  The episode is available for download to PS3 and Xbox 360 owners now.

In a recent email interview with LucasArts’ President Darrel Rodriguez concerning the recent release of their classic Monkey Island titles, G4’s Patrick Klepek happened to ask if there were similar plans for their much loved X-Wing and TIE Fighter games. His response?

“We don’t have any announcements now, but stay tuned,” said Rodriguez. “We will soon…..”

It’s hard not to interpret that as confirmation, but whether that means there will just be an “enhanced” re-release of the originals or an entire remake of the games, we can only hope the answer is, “Yes!” read more…