The trailer featured a Vader vs. Yoda voice over, Starkiller fighting a beast muuuuch larger than a Rancor, but no gameplay, and no release date. Earlier in the day a Kotaku tipster emailed us describing exactly this trailer. The tipster said the game is being developed internally at LucasArts and will be out in late 2010. "It is everything the first game could/should have been and a lot lot more (online support!)" the tipster wrote.

Earlier, if you guessed that the mystery spike VGA teaser from late November, and the deep cover detective game set in Hong Kong that it depicted, was in fact Activision's True Crime, then give yourself a gold star. The game is being developed by United Front Games.

This might be a reskin of the game, but going back to Hoth, one of the trilogy's most iconic settings, even in that quasi-Isaac from Dead Space getup has me intrigued. At least intrigued enough to fire up my old copy and toss around some palette-swap Wampas, I mean, Wookiees as practice.

Exclusive Ultimate Sith Gameplay [Gametrailers]

The game's new Tatooine mission is the second DLC level offered since last September. The original took place during the events of the game's campaign, which spans Star Wars Episode III and Episode IV. The new one occurs after the game, as summarized in LucasArts' press release:

The mission begins at the end of the story of The Force Unleashed and re-imagines the Star Wars Saga as if the Secret Apprentice had killed Darth Vader and taken his place at the Emperor's side, becoming the most powerful Sith Lord in the universe. The story picks up as the Emperor sends his new apprentice to the planet Tatooine to dispatch Obi-Wan Kenobi — who has been hiding on the planet ever since the events of Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith. During their hunt for the reclusive Jedi, players will also explore the depths of Jabba the Hutt's palace and encounter notorious bounty hunter Boba Fett.

The mission costs 800 Microsoft points, or $10.

A third level, set on Hoth, is set to be included only on the disc-based Ultimate Sith Edition release of the game, which is set for later this year. That edition will include all three missions in addition to the core game.

LucasArts has announced no plans to make the bonus missions available for the Wii version of the game.

The Trophy patch will be issued prior to the release of the next downloadable level for the game, one set on Tatooine and introducing Boba Fett to the game's adventure.

Trophy hunters, be warned, LucasArts told Kotaku that a Sony requirement necessitates that anyone wanting to use this patch will have to let their current PlayStation 3 save file for the game be deleted. Maybe you can copy it, but the message we're getting is that it won't work, as per Sony requirements for Trophy patches.

With the Tatooine DLC coming in the fall, the Trophy patch should be out in the next few months. The Xbox 360 version has supported Achievements since launch.

The new Hoth level, which brings one version of the game's branching plot beyond a new downloadable Tattooine level to an Empire-Strikes-Back-era level with AT-ATs and Luke Skywalker, will only be available in a new version of The Force Unleashed, according to LucasArts.

But on that disc, the Hoth level will be easily accessible.

A LucasArts rep told Kotaku today that the three extra levels that extend beyond the original release of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed — meaning, the already-released Coruscant DLC level plus Tattooine and Hoth — will all be accessible from the new edition's front menu. That means players who have finished the original release of the game won't have to worry about transferring their save file or even playing the game all the way through again, in order to reach that level. Of course they'll still have to get a copy of The Ultimate Sith version. It just sounds like renting or borrowing a copy of the new Sith edition may be an option for those who merely want to play Hoth and be done.

Star Wars: The Forced Unleashed: Ultimate Sith Edition, ships for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 this holiday season.

The forthcoming Tattooine level, unlike the Hoth mission, will be downloadable later this year for Microsoft and Sony's consoles.

OK, so, you look like Isaac from Dead Space, and the Emperor's VO is loud enough to make me think this was a fan-produced trailer. But it's not. This expansion is on the level, and you get access to this storyline content in the fall. Enjoy!

Exclusive Ultimate Sith Trailer [GameTrailers]

The new content will have players once again assuming the role of the Secret Apprentice from The Force Unleashed, now serving the Emperor and tasked with eliminating the few remaining Jedi—Obi-Wan and Skywalker, for example—altering the established Star Wars story line further. The DLC's trailer posed the question "What if the dark side won?"

(Warning, spoilers ahead!)

The trailer showed scenes of Starkiller in his Sith Stalker armor, which players of The Force Unleashed will recognize if they chose to kill Darth Vader at the end of the original game's story line. Starkiller was featured in battles with Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke Skywalker in the Hoth hangar base and Boba Fett at Jabba's Palace on Tatooine.

LucasArts will also release Star Wars The Force Unleashed: Ultimate Sith Edition during the Holiday 2009 season, a special edition of the game for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 featuring the original title and the already available downloadable content, plus an exclusive level on Hoth, where the confrontation between Starkiller and Skywalker takes place.

The publisher also has plans for PC and Mac versions of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed planned for later this year.

It's time for the Xbox Live Deal of the Week, and this time around it isn't half bad. The Jedi Temple Mission Add-On for the Xbox 360 was one of those iffy add-ons that a lot of people passed up. After all, why pay 800 Microsoft points for a mission they included in the Wii, PlayStation 2, and PSP versions of the game but left out of the PS3 and 360 versions?

Well how about 400 Microsoft points then? From now until the end of the week, the Jedi Temple is priced to move, so if you've a spare $5 lying around, there you go. I have the PlayStation 3 version of the game myself, so all I can do is weep.

Deal of the Week: The Force Unleashed: Jedi Temple Mission Pack [Major Nelson]

The five new achievements boost the Star Wars: The Force Unleashed achievement count from 1220—220 of those points added alongside the Jedi Temple Mission Pack DLC—to 1345 points. Thing is, LucasArts hasn't publicly announced that new downloadable content. But it appears it will soon.

The spoiler-filled possible new additions to The Force Unleashed are after this.

• And The Quarterback is Toast - Defeat Boba Fett
• Skywalker Style - Meet Jabba and defeat his pet using the pit gate
• No More Lies, Old Man - Defeat Obi-Wan, before and after he becomes more powerful than you can possibly imagine
• Hot Bot - Use the hot irons three times on the Gonk Power Droid
• Jawa Juicer - Crush 5 Jawas by using the grinder in the Garbage Processing Room

Nice Die Hard reference, guys. And way to fulfill our Gonk Power Droid torture fantasies.

We've contacted LucasArts to get clarification on these new unannounced additions, but haven't yet heard back. That may be because the new DLC announcement was planned to be made at next week's Comic-Con Star Wars Spectacular keynote, possibly one of the "world exclusive announcements" the publisher has planned.

Thanks to Brandon for the tip!

According to the title's project lead Haden Blackman, "But part of it...is that I'm watching this team that has worked so hard on this game for two, almost three years. And they're reading this stuff. And you're right; all the air gets sucked out of the room. People were miserable for the whole day. It's hard to keep them focused."

Two things: 1. Don't confuse hard work with good game making. Everyone works hard. That's what it means to be a professional. 2. This is the nature of the beast. You work on something and put it out to be judged. It can be judged by critics, and it can be judged by consumers. The Force Unleashed was judged favorable enough by consumers, it seems, racking up 5 million copies sold in North America and Europe.

Some games critics love, but consumers hate. Other games critics hate and consumers love. Chin up, Haden Blackman! Remember critics don't play the bills. George Lucas does.

Dining With Developers, Vol. 2: Haden Blackman, Part 1 [Crispy Gamer via GameBizBlog] [Pic]

That figure is according to a release from LucasFilm, which released Star Wars: The Force Unleashed on just about every platform one can rattle off, including PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PlayStation 2, PSP, Wii, Nintendo DS, iPhone, nGage and other mobile phones, a platform bombing strategy sure to have helped the game's chance. Moving 1.5 million copies in its first week gave it a pretty good head start.

We're betting that LucasFilm might have something good going here with this Star Wars stuff. I'm calling it now: Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II. Eh? Catchy, isn't it?

The awards, presented by the Writers Guild of America, West and Writers Guild of America, East, are for achievement in writing for screen, television, radio, news, promotional and video games.

The writing was OK in The Force Unleashed, but I can think of at least two games that were better. Of course last year's award was for Dead Head Fred, so maybe this year's winner isn't that big a surprise.

Winners Announced for 2009 Writers Guild Awards

The titles are all selling for $40 and coincidentally include Call of Duty World at War, which Gamasutra recently pointed out was getting a price drop to $50 from Activision.

The sale starts on Sunday for Call of Duty: World at War, Shaun White Snowboarding, Madden 09, Animal Crossing, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, and Midnight Club.

The new level takes place on the Planet Coruscant inside of a Jedi Temple, where the Secret Apprentice travels in search of information about his father. Searching through the rubble he is forced to face his own inner demons, which I'm guessing are much more unpleasant than his outer demons.

New character skins included in the pack range from a Lightsaber training droid to the bad mother himself, Mace L. Windu. Hit the jump for some screens of the new level and costumes, along with a complete list of who you can be now.

LucasArts Announces Release of New Single-Player Level For Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

LucasArts today announced that it has released a new single-player level for Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. Available now for Xbox 360 owners through Xbox LIVE Marketplace and for PlayStation 3 owners through the PlayStation Network, the level features The “Secret Apprentice” in an entirely new mission set in the Jedi Temple on the planet Coruscant. The Secret Apprentice travels to the Jedi Temple to learn more about his father, and while searching through the rubble of the destroyed building he must confront his inner demons.

Bundled with the single-player level are nine new costumes, which allow gamers to play through the game disguised as several new characters, including:
• Apprentice’s Temple Exploration Gear
• Apprentice - Cybernetic Reconstruction
• Apprentice’s Sith Training Gear
• Mace Windu
• Darth Maul
• Qui-Gon Jinn
• Dark Stalker
• Lightsaber Training Droid
• Combat Training Droid

In addition, LucasArts also released a new stand-alone costume pack which includes:
• Apprentice’s Utility Combat Suit
• Apprentice – Animated
• Spirit Apprentice
• Republic Trooper
• Luke Skywalker – Tatooine Gear
• Ben Kenobi
• Plo Koon
• Count Dooku
• Jango Fett
• C-3P0

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed was released on September 16, and has since become a worldwide hit. The game completely re-imagines the scope and scale of the Force and casts players as Darth Vader’s “Secret Apprentice,” unveiling new revelations about the Star Wars galaxy seen through the eyes of this mysterious new character armed with unprecedented powers.

More information about the game can be found at the official website, www.theforceunleashed.com

But what interested me more were the cut force powers.

"We implemented more force powers than we shipped with," Blackman told me. "We removed some because of consumer feed back. There were too many in the game and (the force) started getting watered down.

"We do have other ones we could go back to look at."

While Blackman declined to list out the cut force powers, I did manage to get him to talk about one of the cut powers he particularly liked.

"We had this plague power where you could infect enemies and they would get sick and lose health over time," he said. The plague power, which showed up in a different form in the final game as a crystal power-up for the light saber, also spread. When an infected enemy got near their cohorts they would catch the killing disease too.

The problem was it moved a little too slowly for the pacing of the game, Blackman said.

"The Force Unleashed is such a visceral, fast-paced time, that it wasn’t that effective."

Speaking of not that effective, I also asking Blackman about the sometimes problematic targeting system in the game. (No, I didn't mention my son crying. LucasArts already emailed me to apologize.)

Turns out he was surprised that so many reviews mentioned the sometimes touchy targeting.

"Targeting wasn’t an issue that came up when we did focus testing," he said. "The other thing I was really surprised about, the story was strong, and reviews have said that, but we haven’t seen a lift in scores."

"Maybe that means stories aren't important to reviewers."

Personally, I think that's more an issue of the current state of review systems, rather than a statement about the the importance reviewers put on story in a game. Or at least I hope that's what the issue is.

Blackman pointed out that the average rating on Amazon is higher than the Meta Critic score, which he found gratifying.

"We worked really, really hard on all aspects of the game," he said. "On bridging the gap between those trilogies. At the end of the day I hope we provided a good, satisfying experience."

Now that the game has shipped, Blackman and some of the team are concentrating on the downloadable content.

"Everybody working on the DLC is someone from the core team," he said. "Everybody worked on The Force Unleashed. It’s all being produced internally.

Blackman brought this up, he says, in part because of the rumors still floating around that LucasArts is no longer doing internal development.

"We absolutely are," he said. "This is the continuation of The Force Unleashed team while we plan our next game."

"We are doing internal development and have projects in the works. I'm hoping more (of my team) will roll onto my next product, which will more than likely be a Star Wars game."

As for the remaining 850 handsets, this is a good time to check and see if your phone needs upgrading. If yours isn't one of the 850 you obviously need to step up to a newer model, unless that military field phone is part of your whole campy, retro vibe.

THQ WIRELESS UNLEASHES THE FORCE TO HANDSETS WORLDWIDE

Star Wars®: The Force UnleashedT available for download on iPhone, N-Gage and feature phone handsets

LightsaberT Unleashed now available to fans via the iTunes App Store

AGOURA HILLS, Calif. - September 29, 2008 - THQ Wireless Inc., a subsidiary of THQ Inc. (NASDAQ: THQI), today announced Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is now available for download on more than 850 handsets globally, including the iPhoneTM, iPod® touch and N-Gage devices. The game casts players as Darth Vader's secret apprentice during the largely unexplored era between Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed offers truly cinematic action in breathtaking 3D visuals. Players will assist Darth Vader in his quest to rid the universe of Jedi - and face decisions that could change the course of their destiny. The game introduces the CellWeaverT mobile control system (created by THQ Wireless' development studio, Universomo) where players can form sequence patterns through the phone's keypad allowing them to feel and use the Force.

The LightsaberT Unleashed, available for free today on the iTunes® App Store, offers features directly from Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, including: · Multiple lightsaber colors and hilts that correspond to the main characters in Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, including Darth Vader, The Secret Apprentice and more · All-new music from the game · Hidden treats, including character dialogue directly from Star Wars: The Force Unleashed

The release of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed mobile game coincides with the worldwide debut of the LucasArts videogame which is now available on the Xbox®360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft, Nintendo WiiT and Nintendo DST, PLAYSTATION®2 and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment systems and PSP®.

THQ Wireless' growing line of successful Star Wars titles span several genres including the side-scrolling Revenge of the Sith, space shooter Battle Above Coruscant, first person shooter Battlefront Mobile, and action titles like LEGO Star Wars Mobile and LEGO Star Wars II Mobile.

Actually, is that such a great record? Hard to tell without knowing the other figures for context - anyway, it has sold a lot and that is good.

LucasArts say that the initial publishing run of 4.3 million copies is unlikely to last long, and the game is going into a a second 'printing' earlier than expected.

Full details after the jump

Star Wars®: The Force Unleashed™ Sells 1.5 Million Units Worldwide in Under One Week

Becomes Fastest-Selling Star Wars® Game of All Time

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – September 23, 2008 – After less than one week on store shelves worldwide, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is on track to become the best-selling Star Wars game of all time. LucasArts today announced that more than 1.5 million customers worldwide have purchased Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, making it both the fastest-selling Star Wars game and LucasArts game ever.

Released on Sept. 16 in North America, Sept. 17 in Australia and Southeast Asia, and Sept.19 in Europe, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed has demolished LucasArts sales records around the globe in record time.

Sales figures are based on the first five days of sales across all platforms worldwide.

Although LucasArts shipped more than 4.3 million units of The Force Unleashed around the world in preparation for the game’s launch, unprecedented demand has led to the manufacture and distribution of additional copies.

“The record-setting sales of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed shows the undiminished power of Star Wars and its popularity across all media types, including video games,” said Darrell Rodriguez, president of LucasArts. “We’re blown away by the response to the game.”

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed completely re-imagines the scope and scale of the Force and casts players as Darth Vader’s “Secret Apprentice,” unveiling new revelations about the Star Wars galaxy seen through the eyes of this mysterious new character, who is armed with unprecedented powers.

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is the first next-generation game developed internally at LucasArts, and is available on the Xbox®360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system.

LucasArts and developer Krome Studios have created an equally enthralling version of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed on the Wii™ home videogame system from Nintendo, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, and n-Space, Inc., developed a version for Nintendo DS™. All feature the same storyline, with opportunities to unleash the Force in devastating new ways.

G4 X-Play
This is a surprisingly adult take on Star Wars, and uncompromisingly depicts a very dark Galaxy Far Far Away, as befits the time period. The early part of the narrative deals with Vader sending Starkiller to hunt down survivors of the Jedi-exterminating Order 66, but events quickly unfold that change the course of galactic history. The Force Unleashed makes some very interesting things canon, both in terms of the storyline and the characters and elements it uses. You also get to see Vader acting like the merciless villain that Anakin never really was, even in Episode III.

TeamXbox
in some places the execution is really off, making the game terribly frustrating in some moments and downright dull in others. Sometimes you’ll be left scratching your head at why something it the way it is in the game. While it does the Star Wars universe better than you’ve seen in a long time, especially since it lets you actually play as Vader in the first level, things like boss and puzzle designs feel sort of lacking. The fact that the game seems so awesome at first just makes the later frustrations of the game that much more disappointing.

1UP
The Force Unleashed's leveling system fails to make much of an impact to overall combat outside of some improvements (new attack combos and Force upgrades) to the Apprentice's preexisting repertoire of moves. Admittedly, some later abilities prove useful — especially defensive upgrades that allow you to deflect rapid laser fire back toward turrets and other enemies. This aspect of the game also gives some justification for hanging around and killing enemies to get experience, as opposed to just blowing by them, which — oddly enough — is something you can do quite often. Kinda makes the battle with three Rancors later on a little less dramatic.

GamingTrend
All of that negativity shouldn’t put you off of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. The fact of the matter is, this is one of the better Star Wars titles out there. While some elements of the plot are somewhat overused or contrived, it doesn’t change the fact some of the plot moments are well worth seeing. I enjoyed the game from beginning to end, despite some of the more frustrating moments and technical glitches. There are a few choices that you’ll have to make at the very end of the game, but somewhat like Bioshock, they are in fact limited to the very end.

Kotaku
...that's what The Force Unleashed does throughout on a much smaller level, it gives you a chance to glimpse some of the moments and things behind what become keystones of the epic battle between Rebellion and Empire...The Force Unleashed is most definitely a flawed game, but with the help of some amazing acting, a deep plot and rampant force kills is sure to please most Star Wars fans. Ahh, the Force is inconsistent in this one...

Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, packed with new AI and physics technology and a story written by Haden Blackman, certainly has potential, but is The Force with this game?

Loved
Epic Story: More than anything, it was Star Wars: The Force Unleashed's story that kept me going through the game. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the game's story wasn't just emotionally evocative and engaging, but vital to fans of the history of Star Wars. There are moments in the game that are genuinely breath-taking, relationships I cared more about than in any of the first three episodes and a linchpin moment that helps to hook the original classic movies to the abortive modern trilogy. I've actually gone back and re-watched the cut-scenes again. That's not just a first, it's something so beyond the pale for me as to be likely a first and last.

The Force is With You: Who doesn't love the idea of being able to move shit around with your mind? The force implementation (when the targeting works) is the best I've seen to date. In the later levels I can run through an area lousy with Stormtroopers and fling them willy-nilly without breaking stride, just like I always imagine it should be. Frankly, they could have made this game be a bunch of monkeys running around with the force and I would have loved it.

Art Direction: Right up there with the deep, engaging plot is the art direction. The game forgoes the unnatural creations of the modern anti-classics - plastic, soulless beings like Jar Jar - and instead reaches deep down into the crevices of George Lucas' dried out husk of a soul to find a menagerie of beings that don't just fit it, but add to the alien feel of the game. Exploding plants, bug-like creatures imbued with the force, mega-Stormtroopers; and it all looks so beautiful.

Voice Acting: There are plenty of games out there with good voice acting - Metal Gear Solid 4, Gears of War, etc, etc - but it still surprises me when I run across another. High among the talent is Sam Witwer, who nails the ethos of the Secret Apprentice.

Fun Combo System: The Force? Fantastic. Electrocuting, choking, throwing a light saber? Also wonderful. Combining them into grisly combos? Unforgettable. My favorites among the list of devilish force combos include impaling a struggling enemy with your lightsaber after you've floated him over a high drop and a whirling lightsaber Sith combo that ends with a force ground pound that lifts everyone in the area slowly up into the air.

Digital Molecular Matter: Pixelux's physics engine was introduced to the game to make things react as they should in the real world — for example, when a berserk Jedi comes rampaging through an area. And it really adds to the power of the game. DMM really shines when you're forced to blow down a wall or door, or when you rend hunks of metal from the surrounding scenery. It really gives the punch needed to convey the power of the force that you wield.

Hated
Glitches: Endless falls, getting stuck on the scenery, suddenly invulnerable enemies, these are a few of my least favorite things. While the glitches that crop up in the game are pretty infrequent, when they do happen they almost always require having to start back at your last save. Unforgivable.

Boss Battle That Made My Son Cry: There is in The Force Unleashed one particular boss battle of sorts involving a Star Destroyer that isn't just onerous, it's broken. This one fight manages to coalesce everything wrong with the game into one dark and painfully long moment. The battle involves lots of hiding, running, force use, and a mini-game that requires you to follow the on-screen thumbstick manipulation directions to a T. The problem is that those on-screen directions can, on occasion, be just plain wrong. The level became so frustrating that on one particularly long play through of more than a hour, which had me within minutes of winning, I died and my son, feverish to get on with the game, broke down and started crying. That's a first.

Poor Targeting System: The Force and its derivatives are often the most addictive part of The Force Unleashed. But getting a force lock-on and then getting things to go where you want isn't entirely flawless. At times you can grab anything with a flick of a trigger, but other times it's just impossible to do a force grab. And because of the dual thumbstick controls of an object being held by the force, throwing it where you want to is as much art as it is science... in a bad way.

Too Much Euphoria is a Bad Thing: Lots of attention was given to Euphoria, the advanced AI for the game, before its release. And in many ways it adds a level of detail much needed when grabbing people and flinging them to their death over and over again. Stormtroopers struggle, call for help, run at or away from you. All good. But do we really need the Emperor's elite guard tripping over wreckage in mid combat, or Stormtroopers hiding away behind containers in epic battles? Sure it's real, but maybe a bit too real.

What makes The Force Unleashed such a pleasant surprise to play isn't really the gameplay, but how it taps into the wealth of existing Star Wars lore and history. There is, in the game, a level that has you playing through the Death Star. The gameplay and the puzzles you have to solve to get through this portion of the game are fun in their own right. But what makes this level so amazing is how it also manages to give you a sort of behind the scenes tour of an object so iconic to Star Wars. You play through this thing and learn how it works, see how it works. And that's what The Force Unleashed does throughout on a much smaller level, it gives you a chance to glimpse some of the moments and things behind what become keystones of the epic battle between Rebellion and Empire.

The Force Unleashed is most definitely a flawed game, but with the help of some amazing acting, a deep plot and rampant force kills is sure to please most Star Wars fans.

The Force Unleashed, developed and published by LucasArts and released on Sept. 16 for the DS, Playstation 2, PS3, PS, Wii and Xbox 360. Retails for $48 to $50. Reviewed on Playstation 3. Played through campaign mode, tinkered with saber customization.

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