SWE1:Obi-Wan Cancelled

The much-awaited sequel to DF2: Jedi Knight has been cancelled for the PC by LucasArts. Although the game is still under development, it is more likely that it will only be released on the new consoles such as the PS2.

LucasArts are very serious about this cancellation, as all references to Obi-Wan, such as Press Releases, Websites, and other such things, have been removed from the LA website (http://www.lucasarts.com).

Technical Limitations

Apparently, the PC does not have the technology to handle a game like Obi-Wan. LucasArts do not wish to release a game that will lose some of quality due to technical limitations of a platform. Not only is this a shame to all the PC owners looking forward to the game, but it also shows that LucasArts consider the PC as an inferior system to the next-generation of consoles.

While we PC owners can still expect classics like "Super Bombad Racing" to keep our Star Wars fun going (/sarcasm), it is unlikely that many of the future LucasArts games will be released on the PC from now on. Most of the games that LucasArts were making recently have been for consoles only, and this axing of Obi-Wan shows how much they are trying to move away from the PC market.

Money, Money, Money

If you look at the press releases for all the games that LucasArts are making at the moment, you may notice that not only are a lot of the games are being developed mainly for consoles, but each game is only being made for one or two platforms.

Personally, I think that LucasArts are getting paid by the likes of Nintendo and Sony to make game exclusively for their console. It is a practice not unheard, as it has been done many times in the past. If you think about the links that Rage Software had with Nintendo, Psychosis had with Sony, and EA have with focusing on the PS2.

Why do I say this? Well, it's what a lot of people have been thinking ever since the new batch of Star Wars games that were announced last month were focused on the PS2 and Dreamcast. Also, because no one actually knows who I really am, so they will have a hard job giving me a lawsuit for saying this.

Save Us Microsoft

Yes, you read that sub-title right. I think the only way that the PC is going to get any more LucasArts games is if Microsoft shell out their cash, which they rarely do.

But I feel fairly confident that Microsoft will have to pay out cash to get some exclusive titles for their new X-Box. Fair enough, it's another game for another console, but since the X-Box and PC are so similar it is more likely that the title will be released on the PC too (albeit a few months later).

Lets Riot!!! Or at least make a petition

Our best hope of bringing back Obi-Wan to the PC is by adding your name to a petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?ob1pc. It asks for a full explanation from LucasArts about the cancellation, and to urge them to keep on developing the game for the PC. While it is unlikely to work, it’s our only hope at the moment.

To finish off, I'm probably going to have to say that my opinions are not that of the Emperor's Hammer Online Club (I don't want Ronin to get sued instead of me). It is however the opinion of everyone else who own PCs.

By CPT Werdna Elbee

btw, this is for all the British readers. Has anyone else noticed how PC Gamer has been paid off by LucasArts to give all their games high ratings even if they are crap (<cough>...Force Commander...<cough>)? Also, isn't it funny how PC Gamer gets all the features and exclusive reviews of LucasArts games too. Again, this is my opinion, so don't sued anyone else LucasArts.