LucasArts hiring for FPS, aerial combat games
By
Brendan Sinclair, Senior Editor
Publisher's job postings point to multiple unannounced projects under way at San Francisco-based development studio; action adventure game also in the works.
Last month, LucasArts drew attention when it put up a job posting for a gameplay engineer to work on an as-yet-unannounced open-world role-playing game. That's not the only secret project in the works at the publisher, as LucasArts' job pages now include listings for developers to work on an action adventure game, a first-person shooter, and an aerial combat game.
LucasArts has a history in all three genres. In the '90s, the company's X-Wing series of Star Wars flight combat games were among the most popular such titles on the PC. While the publisher also has its Secret Weapons series of World War II-era dogfighting sims (Secret Weapons of the Luftwaffe and Secret Weapons Over Normandy), the requirements listed for the aerial combat game position indicate that experience in the genre, "especially space-based shooters," is a plus.
As for first-person shooters, LucasArts has produced titles in the genre both inside and outside of its prized Star Wars franchise. The Star Wars Dark Forces and Battlefront games are the publisher's best-known efforts in the genre, but it also produced a Western first-person shooter in 1997's Outlaws, as well as a more recent sci-fi effort with 2008's Fracture.
LucasArts' other famous film franchise has also provided the publisher with action adventures like Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine and Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb. As for clues from the job opening, it notes only that "experience with cinematic action adventures is a plus."
At the moment, LucasArts has only a pair of upcoming projects announced. Those games consist of Kinect Star Wars for the Xbox 360 and the PC online game Star Wars: The Old Republic, which is primarily being developed by Electronic Arts' BioWare Austin studio.
By
Brendan Sinclair, Senior Editor
Brendan Sinclair has been a games journalist since 1999. His tastes are eclectic, though he has a definite affinity for games with arcade roots. He's Canadian, but has also been at home in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, and San Francisco.
161 comments
Best news of the month :) I was just saying last week that XWA doesn't bring as much joy as it used to. And an open world RPG by LA? Bring it on! @Sairnath though you sadly do make sense
@Otawo I agree with you. I am completely disappointed with how space combat is being handled in TOR. Hopefully it will change, or if not, your prediction comes true. I could sure go for some dogfights :)
Do you know how amazing it would be to have a Battlefront 3 with the graphic and sound design of DICE studios along with Frostbite 2.0 or something.. *drool* It definitely could be as big as Battlefield or Call of Duty with how many of us Star Wars geeks there are out there. You guys already got my $$$ if you make it! ;) haha
@Sairnath Crap..... Sadly I think you are right. That "Red Tails" idea makes way to much sense.
Please say that means Battlefront 3. I have been waiting for that game since I got a 360.
I actually like Hayden Christensen! He's a very cool guy. Second, I have a deep ache in my heart wanting DICE and Lucasarts to do a co-op on Battlefront. Please, Please God make this happen. Pandemic was alright, but you cannot beat the guys that have been doing it for years. Pandemic wasn't even all that passionate about the sound design. For some vehicles they FLAT OUT made up weapon noises. At least DICE takes their sound seriously - and with LucasArts/Skywalker sound they would just... *I* would just give them my wallet. Have all of it. Here. Take it
With SWG closing and TOR space being a shooter on rails maybe Lucas Arts is going to give us pilots a new X-wing TIE fighter game. Please Lucas Arts, your our only hope.
I'm more inclined to believe that the aerial combat game will tie in with LucasFilms WWII movie "Red Tails" that comes out early next year.
The FPS will include a level where you can blow away Jar Jar Binks and Hayden Christiansen.
From what I can remember, Republic Commando was pretty fun so a sequel would be cool. Lucas can also fianlly settle on some sort of canon for post return of the jedi story and they can make something for that. I don't know much about it but if there is already canon in place, why haven't they done anything with it except for the sci-fi novels? Its a shame that kotor3 can't be made because of TOR and its inevitable expansions.(Yes, its more kotor whining!) Unless they go even farther back into the past.
The X-Wing games were sweet and battlefront 3 has so much potential it hurts. I really think that if Battlefront 3 was done right, it cud be as great as the cod or battlefield franchises
I miss my rogue squadron games, I want them back but even better, anyway I'll buy anything that has star wars in, I love it.
The Action/Adventure title interests me. The world has gone too long without a Jedi Knight game. The mention of "cinematic action adventure" makes me think it won't be a JK game though.
I'm glad to hear about this and hope they'll open in up to some of the newer stuff as well. There are gaming SW communities out there that have been in need of new games to help keep the interest of it's members. The old flight Sims are a favorite of mine and many others in my club. To to get revamped version of these would be awesome and adding in the newer stuff would help to bridge the fan gap of new vs old school. Thus inspiring our fan fiction as well as pull us all together going forward and be able to generate some new interest for years to come.
Please, please, Lucasfilm don't screw this up. Look to the X-Wing series and just keep it simple and true to the Star Wars saga (preferably ignoring anything from the prequel abominations). I want to fly in formation with my friends and take on the Empire. Keep George Lucas and Rick McCallum the hell away from it. Go on do it for us...the fans...make us proud.
Hell Yeah, At last Lucasart's is getting the ball rolling. I would love a new proper Indiana Jones game, Star Wars Battlefront 3 and a new Rouge Squadron game PLEASE :) :) :)
@digitalheadbutt Yeah I would be happy for a reboot in either franchise. I've had my heart personally set on seeing a new entry in Kyle Katarn's story for years, but I don't know if they could pull it off. Still, this is exciting news.
Is this really happening? Is Lucasart if finally comming back to the correct road and gonna give fans what they want? :) We'll see we'll see....
Whatever the guys at LucasArts create is an instant buy for me. I think the gaming community has been without a LucasArts flight simulator or FPS for far too many years. "The Force Unleashed" just didn't cut it, but we'll have to wait and see what comes from this, and if it's even "Star Wars" related.
It's awesome how many people love Lucasarts games. I agree a Co-op Republic Commando and Battlefront would be absolutely amazing. We could always use a new Jedi Knight/Dark Forces title while we're at it. Hell throw in an X-wing title I'll take 'em all;).
Battlefront III would be so epic. Republic Commando II would be sweet. If they were to do a Knights of the Old Republic III, it'd be fun. I'd buy it. I love that stuff. But if they went a different direction and did a knights of the New Republic. So much win is there. And let's not forget X-Wing/Tie Fighter. That would be so awesome. I'm hoping for a true sequel. I would totally take even a total remake of X-Wing/Tie Fighter. Fond memories of being little, and cruising down the Death Star trench in my B-Wing during that special B-Wing mission . I don't know about you guys, but the whole Star Wars tittles sale on Steam today, along with this announcement.. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
@Crash_WL Oh God yes, a new Republic Commando with possibly co-op? Yes please. @baconater87 I hope so!
A Republic Commando game would be day one purchase for me. And, of course, Knights of the Old Republic 3. You know we want it. Just give it to a great studio.
How about "Knights Of The New Republic"???? Bring on X-Wing vs Tie and bring on SW Battlefront 3, Republic Commando 2 or Jedi Academy 2 [AKA Dark Forces 5]
Guessing a Trooper FPS game and another Rogue Squadron? So how about Battlefronts 3. I mean its not like a lot of people are wanting it or anything.
@siamo Dude, for reals. I want me some new Dark Forces. They hired Clint Hocking who has a background in open world FPS; that was a while ago but this means they are about to start development in earnest. Since they are hiring an aerial combat guy too maybe they will the finally deliver the dark Forces meets Tie Fighter/XWing. I would be happy with just a new TieFighter/XWing.
God, yes. I've been longing for a modern version of X-Wing. Please let it be a new X-Wing. :3
Screw action adventure! Screw aerial combat game! Give me a Gladius sequel! I'd also not mind an Outlaws FPS, provided it doesn't try to be "modern" with sticky cover, slow gameplay and health regen.
A current gen X-Wing game would the the PERFECT sidekick to SW:TOR ! Imagine after hours of storydriven mmorpg-ing, you strap into a x-wing or tie fighter and let rip ;) Of course, what would have been even better, is having that in SW:TOR to begin with. I'm less excited about a possible return of the "Secret weapons" IP. If anything i'd want it to be a proper flight sim, which given this day and age is not gonna happen. More likely some sort of aerial 3rd person shooter. Anyway, curious what they come up with.
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