Finally, the Force Commander we were all waiting for...
(by Brian)
(Thanks to Peter for letting me know about this game first!)

Well, back when Star Wars: Force Commander first started being developed, it was a 2D Command and Conquer type strategy game, with added features and strategy elements to make it different. However, Lucasarts decided to make it a 3D RTS, with a fully moveable camera. While that sounded good, and the screenshots were fairly impressive, the game itself turned out to be a dissappointment. Force Commander arrived as yet another 3D RTS that couldn't manage to master the control issue of RTS in the third dimension. So, thankfully, it looks like Lucasarts is finally going to give us the Command and Conquer: Star Wars that we were waiting for. Or should I say, Age of Empires?

Lucasarts has teamed up with Ensemble Studios, the makers of the hugely successful Age of Empires series. I personally can't think of a better company to ask to make a RTS. AOE 2 has it all! And now we should see that kind of perfection and polish in Lucasarts' next RTS, Battleground.

Since I was waiting on pins and needles for Force Commander, and was dissappointed, I am highly anticipating Star Wars: Battleground. A Star Wars RTS that looks like it can't fail. I plan to have all the Battleground news posted here, so when the news is made known, it shouldn't be long before it's added to this page. The information currently known about Star Wars: Battleground will be listed below, along with some links.

Lucasarts Press Release

Ignpc Battleground Interview

4/1/01

Interestingly enough, exactly one month after we heard about the upcoming Star Wars RTS: Battleground, we now have some more info. Not only has Lucasarts released several screenshots, but they have also given "Battleground" a updated title... "Star Wars: Galactic Battleground". Go here to check out the screenshots, as well as any other info that will develop. The following is a list of the features of GB from Lucasarts.com:

• Epic real-time strategy set against a backdrop of the entire Star Wars saga.
• Conflicts involve six key civilizations: Galactic Empire, Rebel Alliance, Wookiees, Gungans, Royal Naboo and Trade Federation.
• Execute your campaign over land, sea and air with over 300 different units and structures in single-player campaigns, skirmishes and multiplayer battles.
• Combat arenas extend from interstellar asteroids and aerial encounters to submerged cities and ground battles.
• Deploy vast legions of units into battle-up to 200 per side- with units that can include bounty hunters, Jedi Knights, stormtroopers, X-wings, AT-ATs, snowspeeders, AT-STs, Wookiee Kas tanks and droids.
• Manage your resources and integrate the power of upgradable technology into your strategy, such as Wookiee ingenuity, advanced Gungan biotechnology and Jedi stamina. Each technology level brings new wonders and new forces.
• Accessible gameplay built upon the familiar RTS engine adapted from Ensemble's popular Age of Empires™ series.
• Use the scenario editor to create custom single- or multiplayer battlegrounds with virtually any Star Wars units and settings.

As you can see from this list, GB is going to be an AOE type RTS with all the fixin's (including map editor!). I noticed on ignpc's news update that this game is "expected to be released sometime next year", apposing what was originally said about this being a Fall 2001 release. We'll likely know more at this years E3. I'll be watching ignpc for all their E3 coverage and will post any GB related info on this page. Bookmark it and check back!

3/1/01

Battleground is going to be a 2D RTS like Age of Empires (see interview) based in the Star Wars universe. It should be out in fall of 2001, and has been in development for some time now. Ensemble Studios (Age of Empires, AOE 2) has teamed up with Lucasarts to make Battleground, giving Battleground a very promising outlook. Stay tuned here for more on Battleground as it becomes known.