Club Jade

Shamelessly indulging in melodramatic space trash since 1995

Entries Tagged as 'gaming'

The Clone Wars: What’s coming in season 3?

August 24th, 2010 by jawajames · 9 Comments

Lots of good information has come out at Celebration V on what Season 3 has in store for Star Wars: The Clone Wars. We’ve already touched on a few things previously, but here’s a little more in-depth view, opening up some questions for speculation.

  • Delta Squad. Who didn’t get chills when the Republic Commando helmets popped up in the Thursday sneak peek clip showcasing rain effects (and also for a split second in the extended trailer shown on Saturday)? Dave Filoni has confirmed that it’s the Delts, and that there shouldn’t be any major continuity issues with their appearance on the show (avoiding Mandalorian-level changes.)
  • Ahsoka Tano’s character development: Anakin’s padawan is going to start getting visions (similar to Anakin’s visions in Episode III) and this is going to make her life a bit more complicated. Ashley Eckstein has hinted that Season 3 will really bring a lot more to Ahsoka’s character.
  • Kamino: In the Season 3 panel, Dave Filoni talked up the new technology in animation that will allow them to use Kamino – water and reflections and such. And from the clips, we learn that Kamino is a big deal: the clones will be fighting for the closest thing to a home they have… and for all their younger brothers. Expect some giant robo-tentacular action as Asajj Ventress and the Separatists launch an underwater assault.
  • Baron Papanoida and family: In the Main Event, George Lucas previewed a clip showcasing a cantina firefight between some thugs and Baron Papanoida (as played by George Lucas in Episode III) and his fellow Pantoran family members. George remarked that his son, Jett, was jealous that Jett’s character only gets one blaster to George’s two. This episode and a few others were penned by Katie Lucas, who also wrote the season 1 episode ‘Jedi Crash.’ Does George return to voice his character?
  • Aurra Sing: Someone asked if Aurra’s established background as a Jedi washout with mad lightsaber skills would eventually be shown in the show, but Dave Filoni explained that Aurra in the show would simply just be a butt-kicking bounty hunter – besides there’s already a bald pasty lightsaber-wielding villainess. Which bring us to:
  • Asajj Ventress: She’s going to be getting some major storyline action as she somehow finally loses Dooku’s (and Sidious’) favor and is forced on the run. In clips, we’ve seen her arrive wounded on Dathomir, where she is challenged by Nightsisters, until Mother Talzin vouches that Ventress is no stranger. Filoni also pointed out that one of the Nightsister weapons, a kind of energy bow, is an homage to Hank’s bow from the 80′s Dungeons & Dragons cartoon. Expect Asajj’s story to go from bad to worse to ???, while someone else might take her place…
  • Savage Opress: According to George, he’s Darth Maul’s brother – but that might just be from a certain point of view. He’s certainly fear-inspiring. While Maul had the lethal look of a martial artist, Savage Opress (who’s clearly trying to have a name even sillier than Kit Fisto) has the hulking horror of an Oakland Raiders fan – except that he’s in Steelers’ colors, thanks to Filoni’s hometown love. The Nightsisters of Dathomir are making a play by bringing Dooku this Zabrak version of Brock Samson as a new apprentice. But then again, they also turn invisible and attack Dooku in his pajamas, and the Count is no slouch when fighting in his Sitharoos.
  • C-3PO: He’s getting droid-napped… and tortured (a la EV-9D9′s chamber in Jabba’s palace.) After Artoo getting some dangerous adventures in Season 2, it’s time for Goldenrod to get some action. Will Padme or Jar Jar be the one to rescue him?
  • The future of the show: They’re already scripting season five, and with the advances in animation technology, the show’s look now to what the future holds was compared to an Atari video game with XBox 360.
  • And in short: Shaak Ti. Saesee Tiin. more Cad Bane. and some sense made out of “There are heroes on both sides.”

Can’t wait for Season 3? Clone Wars Adventures online experience is now in beta, filled with lots of fun mini-games for the whole family. (Although if you want to play as a female character, you can only be a human or Twi’lek Jedi, while male characters also include clonetroopers.)

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Clone Wars goes kid-MMO with Clone Wars Adventures

June 2nd, 2010 by jawajames · 1 Comment

StarWars.com posted that Sony Online Entertainment announced the development of Clone Wars Adventures, a free-to-play online experience based on Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and geared primarily towards TCW’s fan base of children. Remember, get permission from your parents! Similar to SOE’s game Free Realms, Clone Wars Adventures is not your typical MMORPG (which is usually combat focused), but instead has different mini-games, exploration of the SW universe, and customizing your own SW gear.

Check out the announcement video, which calls it a destination, not a game. From the announcement, it looks like gameplay is limited to being a Jedi or a clonetrooper, but there’s also speeder and starfighter piloting games, as well as a puzzle and card games. While the game will be playable with free accounts, a monthly paid subscription will provide greater access and exclusive virtual goodies. Chat with friends, show off your achievements, or circumvent the parental controls for the ultimate Clone Wars adventure.

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First look at Paul Kemp’s Old Republic novel

April 30th, 2010 by Dunc · 2 Comments

StarWars.com has the cover and title for the second Old Republic MMO tie-in novel, Paul S. Kemp’s The Old Republic: Deceived. It will focus on Darth Malgus, the lead Sith from last year’s game trailer. Here’s a bit of the blurb:

Deceived tells the story of Darth Malgus and gives fascinating insight into his rise to fame and glory as the Sith Lord who destroyed the Jedi Temple. This stunning narrative finds the dark hero battling a veteran Jedi Master, setting the stage for the affairs and betrayals surrounding the last battle of the Great War before the signing of the Treaty of Coruscant.

Deceived is set for release on December 28. Fans following Kemp’s blog will note that he just posted about finishing the first draft yesterday.

→ 2 CommentsFiled: expanded universe · gaming
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Video: Too Many Dicks

April 3rd, 2010 by Dunc · No Comments

Today’s dedication is to all the lady gamers. (The original.)

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Video: Boba Fett busks the NYC subways

March 10th, 2010 by Dunc · 3 Comments

I guess Boba Fett is taking Karen Traviss’ departure pretty hard. Don’t worry Boba, you’ll find love again. Or at least, quarters. (via)

→ 3 CommentsFiled: fandom · gaming
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Video: The Lego Force Unleashed

March 3rd, 2010 by Dunc · 2 Comments

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And the rest: Links on Lost, ladies and lightsabers

February 27th, 2010 by Dunc · 2 Comments

Don’t tell me what I can’t shampoo. So Lost is pretty much the only non-rerun genre show I’ve been watching* and I was charmed to discover/rediscover the recaps at The Ack Attack, which are brilliant and hilarious. (The site also features an ongoing comic done in a style that looks quite familiar…)

Ladies, love and Warcraft. Times Online did an article on women who game. Or rather, women “finding love” in World of Warcraft. No seriously, that’s the article. Jezebel snarks so we don’t have to.

Nah nah nah nah nah nah. I remember music videos and Daria, so MTV is not exactly a hot number on the dial these days. (The esteem is mutual.) But apparently they do run at least one show these days that isn’t Jersey Shore, and the other day there were lightsabers on it. Also: Get off my lawn.

* Well, there is The Vampire Diaries, but it is a) shameful and b) an accident, I swear.

→ 2 CommentsFiled: gaming · tv
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Been meaning to try The Force Unleashed, iPhone users?

February 14th, 2010 by Dunc · 1 Comment

The Force Unleashed Mobile

The fully-featured mobile version of The Force Unleashed is on sale in Apple’s App Store for 99 cents, down from the usual $6.99. Don’t know how it’ll last, so nab it while you can.

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TGIF: The Toy Saab

February 12th, 2010 by Dunc · No Comments

Toy Saab is back! by cdevers @ Flickr.com / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Chris Devers spotted this toy car in Harvard Square and has thankfully documented it for the rest of the world. All I can think is that this is clearly owned by someone who has a garage.

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Wizards of the Coast jumps off the Star Wars ship

January 28th, 2010 by Dunc · 2 Comments

In what I’m sure is not a shock to any and all active gamers, Wizards of the Coast will not be renewing their Star Wars license.

They picked up the RPG license back in 2001, redoing the game twice, and some say they never quite captured the spirit of the original West End Games line that was an important launching point for the modern EU, and many writers still working with the franchise today.

I don’t think we’ve seen the end of a Star Wars RPG: StarWars.com’s line about “announcements regarding future products” almost guarantees it – so here’s hoping that Lucasfilm can find a company with the enthusiasm they – and the fans – need.

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