A couple of weeks ago, X-Play got an exclusive look at the Duel Mode in the Wii version of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed. It seemed like a ton of fun, and I figured that while it wouldn’t be as awesome to swing around a lightsaber with two analog sticks, it’d still be plenty satisfying. Unfortunately, LucasArts has announced that the HD current-gen (yeah, I said it) versions of the game — i.e., the PS3 and 360 versions — will not have any multiplayer component.
According to a LucasArts spokesman, the “reason” for the lack of a multiplayer mode on the PS3 and 360 is … because one exists in the Wii, PSP, and DS versions (it’s Wi-Fi on the handhelds, of course). Wait...WHAT? Apparently, they believe that it’s better to give no explanation at all than to try and give even a bullsh*t PR answer. Frankly, I just find that infuriating, but you be the judge:
To be specific, there's no multiplayer in the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions, because there is on the Wii, PSP, and DS. As far as specific reasons are concerned, we don't really like to get into the reasons why we don't do things because I don't think there's really a satisfactory answer that people would really be happy with. So, there isn't multiplayer and that's kind of how it is...
I’m just waiting for the next edition of Webster’s Dictionary to feature this statement as a definition of the word “lame”. Hell, I would’ve been happy if he’d said something like, “We were originally working on a PS3/360 multiplayer mode, but had to scrap those plans due to time constraints.” But as it stands, we’ve got nothing; instead, we’ll have to pick up the Wii/DS/PSP versions or forever lament the inability to recreate the Obi-Wan/Vader fight from Revenge of the Sith.
[Via PSX Extreme – thanks, Jonathan!]
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Actually, Star Wars games a boring, and I could live my life with out ever hearing anything more about Star Wars for as long as I live.
You have failed me for the last time, Admiral.
It's because the PS3/360 versions get shiny graphics and nifty physics, so the other versions get the multiplayer versus mode as a trade-off. The gamers who can't afford the more expensive consoles got thrown a bone.
You know what, I'm cool with that.
Are you serious? PS3 and 360 would sell the most copies of any of the systems. This is probably one of the dumbest development decisions I've heard in a long time.
Why would they do this whole niche/unique system thing? The PSP gets duels and historic battles, the wii has the crazy motion sensor, the DS has the stylus. Gimmicky.... do they really expect us to buy a copy of this game for each of my systems so I can experience all the features they should have put into the game regardless of system?
LUCASARTS should just go back to doing point-and-click adventure games and Rebel Assault. Bring back FULL THROTTLE!! Let vader die for god's sake.
Wait? When was the last time Lucasarts made something good as a developer. Also, Star Wars sucks donkey dong.
"So, there isn't multiplayer and that's kind of how it is..."
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA *breathe* AAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!
I wasn't expecting any multi-player modes in the first place. I don't know why Lucasarts just doesn't flat out say that they can't/won't/aren't able to make multi-player all neat and shiny for the game.
That's fine with me. With those kind of powers, I can't see it really working anyway. Unless you would make a Jedi Knight Arena game in HD with full motion lightsabre battles and... I just soiled myself
Fuck that shit. Now I'm just renting, I don't buy single player games anymore. They aren't worth 60 bucks. If I can beat the game in a week for 8 bucks or I can beat the game in a week and pay 60, I'm going with 8.
Once again the folks at LucasArts prove that they have no idea what fans want.
HAHAHA The jedi powers, they make us money! HAHAHAHA
Way to sabotage your sales Lucasarts
@Leathersoup
They prove that they know what some of their fans want. For example myself, as well as several other million fans who will purchase the Wii, PSP and DS versions.
first theyre lazy to make PC next theyre lazy to make MP.
im lazy to buy their games.
I heard this and I sh*t bricks. I'm so pissed. Why should I have to buy another game to experince the full content? Bullsh*t. F*ck you.
I'm so pissed off at that...
That is very dissapointing. Jedi knight 2 on the pc was one of my favorite games because of the online multiplayer.
The game still looks fantastic, but I am finding myself quite annoyed... The half-assed multiplayer option in Ep. 3 was actually pretty entertaining, and I was looking forward to something similar in this. Boo hiss Lucasarts.
@GROUNDAXIUS - Dark Forces, Dark Forces 2: Jedi Knight, Shadows of the Empire, Rogue Squadron, Pod Racer, Jedi Knight 2, Jedi Academy, BattleFront, Mercenaries, the Lego games, Knights of the Old Republic, Republic Commando, etc, etc.
LOST.
SALE.
Yeah, I think it's bullshit. The multi player looks really cool (so do the historic battles) and I'd love to be able to have those in the version I'm buying. This non-explanation kind of pisses me off about it more.
I'm still buying it. But this means I'll probably trade it in when I'm done.
"...the HD current-gen (yeah, I said it) versions of the game..."
No multiplayer is so last-gen. :P
You know though, Battlefront 3 would totally make up for this.
This bothers me not as I plan on getting the wii version anyway. Bahaahahah
Doesn't bother me none, but I think he should be castrated for that prickish answer.
They have to make people want to buy the handheld and Wii versions somehow. It's not that they really wanted multiplayer at all, it'll probably just be tagged on for those versions.
Multiplayer whores need to chill the fuck out. This is a single player game. Always has been.
Single player whore needs to STFUAJPGs.
well excellent, I can go cancel my preorder
@ superezekiel
Agree.
@ Daynger777
Agree.
they can do this cause they know the fans will buy this with or without MP. Force Choke with Vader is still fun alllll by myself!
also, Vader
Fuck you Lucasarts I'm saving my money for something else.
LOL, did anyone actually think it was getting multiplayer? They said early on that the Wii would have multiplayer, and they never once implied that the current-gen versions would be getting multiplayer, as far as I remember. As Mxy said, I just assumed it was a tradeoff.
I don't really buy Star Wars games for multiplayer anyway, though I must say the Wii's MP mode looks awesome. (I mean, Mara Jade vs. Mace Windu? FUCK YEAH.)
we don't really like to get into the reasons why we don't do things because I don't think there's really a satisfactory answer that people would really be happy with. So, there isn't multiplayer and that's kind of how it is.
um...who decided this pinhead should be a spokesperson? someone needs to go to pr 101 class. what a douchebag way to handle this. yes folks, take your money elsewhere. i'll wipe my ass with the $60 first before i give it to georgie porgie.
There's 60 bucks I'll be saving.
I hope some of you who have decided not to buy it haven't come to that decision SOLELY based on this news. Don't get me wrong, the excuse is pretty much insulting and I'd love to have it in but this game isn't a multiplayer experience, it's a single player one.
Not buying this game because it doesn't have multiplayer is like not buying God of War because it has no multiplayer.
Way to ruin a good thing LucasArts.
This game just went from buy to rent.
The single player aspect of this game was much more of a draw for me than the multiplayer. If they can provide a killer single player experience I'm there. I'll still get it regardless, but if it clocks in at say 8 hours with no replay viability I'll be a little upset.
Also, his comments might sound prickish, but would you rather be lied to? Fed some false information, like a politician would do, just to make you feel better? Sure he could have been more tactful but at least he was honest.
Don't care for the game but whoever made that gem of a press release needs to be confined to a dark cupboard where he will never come into the glare of public attention again.
Seriously, what a dick bag.
@Everybody who says they're not buying the game
Yes you are. When this comes out you will forget all about the multiplayer, or post a C-Blog saying "Yeah, no multiplayer sucks, but the game rocks!", so don't even try to be a tough ass and say you're boycotting TFU.
Frankly, you all lack the willpower.
I expected something like this to happen. They haven't put out a good multiplayer game since Jedi Outcast, IMO.
Maybe if the Wii version is fun, I'll pick it up. But .. FAIL, YOU DID.
@GuitarAtomik
Well said. Very well said. And not just God of War, also BioShock, Mass Effect, Okami, every Zelda game, etc. I only have a Wii so will be getting that version anyway, but some games don't HAVE to have a multi-player component to be good.
Lame, but I understand
@everyone: I totally agree that some games don’t need a multiplayer component (you’re 100% right, GuitarAtomik; I don’t want to see any of that in God of War III). But it just doesn’t make sense to include it in the (arguably) “lesser” versions of the game and leave it out in the PS3/360 versions (the ones with all the crazy physics stuff).
I don’t know if this is a ploy on LucasArts’ part to try and increase the sales of the Wii/PSP/DS versions, or if they just wanted to keep the HD versions all about the single-player mode. Either way, I’m probably still going to buy it (assuming the campaign is long enough and good enough to warrant a purchase), but knowing that Wii/PSP/DS owners are getting something (desirable) that I’m not is going to annoy me.
Wait wait wait. Let me get this straight. The same people who said tough luck to the people who got shafted on the lack of DLC on Wiitar hero and the lame ass Wii Rock Band are pissing and moaning that THEY don't get some bonus minigame?
Cry some more please, it gives me pleasure, the 360 and PS3 versions will still look WAY better and probably control better.
@that1dood
The difference there though is that:
A] the Rock Band/Guitar Hero stuff is DLC + you really shouldn't expect any solid DLC on the Wii.
B] that DLC was left out due to technical reasons
This Force Unleashed stuff could easily be implemented into the PS3/X360 versions (I'm talking technically) so why not? Obviously it's because they want the "lesser" versions to have something extra but when it comes to whole modes that could be on the other versions (and we're talking games that are going to release simultaneously) it just pisses off the people who are left out. It's the same reason why I hate that Darth Vader and Yoda are console exclusive in SC4. Just make all the versions as identical as possible to the best of each console's ability.
You shouldn't just blame LA, also aim the blame cannons at Namco.
Soul Calibur 4 has Star Wars characters for PS3/360.
Two Star Wars themed multiplayer's or Namco gives LucasArts a non descript briefcase full of cash. LA forgets all about Multiplayer for PS3/360.
Also, $5 says they add the VS mode and Historic Battles later down the line as DLC. Like the not-for-free kind.
@Guitaratomik
I've heard to this, "it's being done on this platform so it should be easy to port it to this other one" argument a lot and the fact is, unless you've personally worked on all three platforms, there's no way you can possibly back up that claim. From what I've read, developing games for the 360, the PS3 and the Wii are completely different. It's like developing a program to work on a Mac and then taking the exact code and then telling it to work on a Windows machine. It doesn't work that way, it's not cut and paste.
Also, programming aside, there's always the possibility that the multiplayer mode sucks hardcore ass and they decided to give it to the Wii to offer a little bit of an incentive to buy it over the much more polished, shiny versions on the PS3 and 360. Which may get their own exclusive content as well for all we know.
As far as people saying, though, that the "lesser" versions will be completely different games....I do have one question. Have you never read interviews with the game creators before? The main games ARE supposed to be essentially the same. Not exactly, of course, with the paired down physics and such for the "underpowered" systems, but the same story is there in the single player game. I remember one such interview I've read (don't remember where or I'd link it), where the 360/PS3 version/story was being compared to the Wii version. The interviewee said that they couldn't do the same sweeping episodic chapter on the Wii, so it was broken down in to smaller chunks, but the same over all story was available. Of course, the PS3/360 versions look a damn site better, and the multiple advanced physics are going to make those games amazing. You CAN do some, but not nearly all, of the same physics angles on the Wii. Such as glass and things breaking and shattering real time on the higher end systems, where it just breaks apart the same way each time on the Wii. To me, though, I think the game still looks pretty nice for a Wii game and can't wait to try it. I do think the battle system shown off in the duel mode (via Morgan Webb on G4) looks pretty damn fun. :)
@Highlar
Exactly!
i will break down what theyd really like to say if they could say it without negative feedback or reprecussion... ready? here we go:
"Basically we needed a way to still be able to sell copies on the wii psp and ds despite their obvious lack of processing power so we made this little gimmick up to balance out sales... so wii gets to wave their little remotes around in duel mode and 360 owners can get their silly achievements in a smoother sharper environment."
@Hoss
Good one. *grins* Although, from everything that I've heard/read about it, the controls for the Wii sound pretty tight, responsive, and while not 1:1 work really well (IE: force powers with the Nunchuk, and light saber slashing with the wiimote).
"So, there isn't multiplayer and that's kind of how it is..."
So I'm not buying the game you pompous douchebag, and THAT'S kind of how it is.
I'm glad they won't be tacking on some lame multiplayer, and can instead focus on the awesome single player, which is the whole point of this game.
@maximuspaynicus
get of the soapbox dude. while a lot of people my end up buying the game, your missing the point of peoples displeasure. this 'spokesperson' sounds like a total turd and lucasarts ain't looking so great with the basic attitude of deal with it.
That's totally unacceptable. In this day in age, while yes, sometimes it is good to focus solely on singleplayer (i.e. Bioshock Multiplayer would've been bad), but it's necessary to get bigger sales by incorporating multiplayer.
My "meh" is super-effective!
KOTOR didn't need multiplayer to be the best damn Star Wars game ever, and the best Star Wars story (to me) since ESB. Kudos to Lucasarts for keeping their focus on point and not rushing anything out before its time in the oven is reached. KOTOR II showed what happens when that's the order of the day.
Well, that sucks. /sadface
I'm still gonna choke Wookies. It just may be via rental, which was probably going to be the case to begin with.
The guys answer was kinda shitty but expect a nicer, kinder response in the next couple days. Pissing of Starwars Fanboys with the internet is kinda like suicide. I think both versions are gonna be sweet, for the same reasons people by the wii and the X360/PS3 respectfully.
The wii remote and nunchuk were built for multiplayer on this game. The testers thought it was so fucking cool that the next gen systems felt like shit in comparison. More power to ya Lucasarts, but understand that pissing off fanboys wont sell Starwars games.
To be honest, I find the frankness of the spokesperson rather refreshing. I mean, it's better than pissing on my head and telling me its raining, right?
I was gonna grab both the Wii and PS3 versions, so it's cool with me. I like starwars games.
...what.
OMG no online on PS3/360 but they do it on Wii/PSP AND DS????
due to time constraints???
well then DELAY THE FUCKING GAME!!!
I'd rather wait then not have online in this game...
Good, I mean who likes multiplayer anyway?
*...uncontrollable weeping...*
Good, that just means they'll focus more on the single player instead of wasting resources on some tacked on multi which everyone will get bored of anyway and inevitably go back to Halo, CoD and GTA IV.
Lucasarts needs to man up and do some point and click Star Wars adventure games. A self-parody could be awesome, but something on the level of Fate of Atlantis would be truly sweet.
Seriously, guys... Really, this many people really thought this game would have multiplayer? I'm sorry, I'm just genuinely surprised.
Also, if you canceled your pre-order because of this, then you're a moron and I now totally buy into the RetroForce peoples' view that people are becoming too damn reliant on multiplayer modes. (Do you still believe that? Am I wrong?)
I'm still looking forward to this game. Although the platform I buy it on will probably be dependent on reviews, and not the ds/psp.
I too am more upset at their response (or lack thereof) as I never really expected multiplayer to be in it anyway.
big QQz everyone, get jedi knight 2 or academy runs on pretty much any PC providing it's not coming straight from ww2.
Has less polish than force unleashed, but that should cover your multiplayer needs.
also, the wii multiplayer looks fun for 10 seconds.
well, im sure glad i have a wii and a 360 (id get a ps3 if they werent such garbage) guess ill just get it for the wii since its multiplayer will be b4dass. but yeah, GL with your singleplayer modes all you 1 system non-wii owners.
Ok i just played and beat the game in less then 18 hours now i have nothing to do with the game because i have a xbox 360 and not the wii i had no idea about the duel mode for the wii.
and now that i do im so fucking pissed that lucas arts fucked up another game that looked so cool. i feel like im being pissed on by george lucas and his bullshit company lucas arts every time i buy a game from them. i think this will be the last one i buy ill rent or barrow them off of someone one for now on.
"fuck you lucas arts i'm so glad you bitches that made this game got caned."
To be specific, there's no multiplayer in the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 versions, because there is on the Wii, PSP, and DS. As far as specific reasons are concerned, we don't really like to get into the reasons why we don't do things because I don't think there's really a satisfactory answer that people would really be happy with. So, there isn't multiplayer and that's kind of how it is... fuck who ever said this to.