Grand_Admiral_Thrawn

I only dissagree with you on Republic Commando's graphics. I though they were pretty good. Not Half-Life 2 good, but well above average. You're right about those games not being in the LucasArts store (except for XvT. It's there, but XWA isn't for some reason). I'm sure if you go to the web page (if there is one) dedicated to each game you'll be able to find it. Iguess we'd all better start holding on to our LA games, just in case they become scarce.

I am still of the oppinion that not everything that has its face obscured is a clone, but I do think that the Empire's armed forces were founded on them. After all, there is a 20 year gap between Episode III and IV. With the militarization of the Republic/Empire, there is bound to be regular people who wanted to sign up. Officers also started out as clones, but as we see in the OT, that has changed. So, perhaps the Imperial Armed Forces are so many clones, but a mixture (but this has already been said). I agree that non-movie sources should not be used here... at least until Episode III is released and we have time to digest it.

I keep hearing how bad Force Commander was, but I've only ever played a single game of multiplayer which resulted in my being bombed by the AI before I could build a single Stormtrooper. If I could find a copy I would buy it just to say I've played it. I haven't played X-Wing or TIE Fighter, but I've played X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter and X-Wing Alliance. I really enjoyed XvT despite the dated graphics and the fact that the lasers didn't converge. X-Wing Alliance was alright, the graphics were certainly good, but the story line just didn't feel like Star Wars to me, and the last mission where you (for some reason) become Lando rather than finish the Battle of Endor as an X-Wing pilot didn't thrill me. I enjoyed Dark Forces, Dark Forces II: Jedi Knigh and Dark Forces II: Jedi Knight: Mysteries of the Sith (despite the not-so-good plot with Mara), but when I made the jump to Jedi Outcast it didn't have the same feel. It felt as though the game had lost something with the new graphics I've played, beaten and enjoyed both of hte KotOR games, but I agree that they are just knockoffs of Neverwinter Nights... although the KotOR games have better graphics. I enjoyed NWN more though (especially the expansions). I've played and despise Battlegrounds. I don't even want to make a comment on that one... The first game I had for my N64 was Shadows of the Empire. I loved that game and beat it on all three difficulty levels. I also played Rogue Squadron and enjoyed it. I had a Gamecube... though only for a month or so. I played both Rogue Squadron games, and enjoyed the second to some degree. I played Masters of Tera Kasi. It was odd but enjoyable for a while. I enjoy Republic Commando, despite the bad rep it's getting (only 64% in PC Gamer). Sure it's buggy, but the Multiplayer is enjoyable and the SP is challenging. I find that LA has put out a mixed bag of games in recent year, and it really depends on who the developement team is. The games based on the OT tend to be better than those of mixed or Ep 1-3 focus. I'll wait and see for Battlefront 2, but I'm going to be more careful this time around.

It's in next month's PC Gamer (which is actually the May issue). I haven't read the physical article, as that particular issue hasn't been released here yet, but I've read scans of it. They were taken with a digital cameral, so the text is a little fuzzy, but I can post the links if anyone is interested.

Well, if LucasArts took the same view with Rebellion as they do with Star Wars: Battlefront, we'd be seeing a part 2. Yes, despite the failure Battlefront was after release, LucasArts is going to pump out another one! Did I mention that they're adding in everything missing from the first one? Does it really matter? Added into BF 2 will be features such as a playable Jedi class, space battles (supposedly including capitol ships), 16 additional battles (apparently including the Tantive IV), moving the focus from Command Point capturing to objective based maps (You have to escort Leia to safety on the Tantive IV), improved AI, art and renders provided by ILM, and combat that extends into Episode III (some of the game devs have previewd the movies to assure accuracy). There is one disturbing revalation from the article I read. Apparently development for Battlefront 2 began immediately after the first was finished. That indicates to me that LA is willing to pump out one game and drop it just to get something else done (and who makes a sequal before you know the success of the original?). I liked the original Battlefront, but after the initial "OMG, I'm playing a Star Wars that's game like Battlefield 1942" wore off, the game got old pretty fast, especially with so many bugs, glitches, omissions, and general bad choices for gameplay. If there is a demo for Battlefield 2 (the demo for the original was never released) before the game release, and if I like it, I might pick it up. However, this looks to me like another LucasArts money grab, which seriousely puts me off this, and other up-comming games from LucasArts.

Well, we can't blame it all on Daala... ok, we can, but she really wasn't deserving of her rank. She was only promoted to Admiral because Tarkin though she was deserving, and for other reasons (even a Grand Moff can only take soo much "pillow talk" before getting the urge to promote her the hell away from him ). I like to think that her skills weren't up to the level her rank would suggest. Sure, she could beat all of the other officers when she was in training, but we've seen some of the officers in the Empire, and there were alot who were duds. She probably was stuck in with the class with cousines of Fleet Admirals, wealthy merchant's sons, and officers destined for the Outer Rim

Of Battlefield 1942 and Vietnam, and probably Battlefield 2, I have a feeling that the former will have the longer life, despite EA's attempts at prolonging Vietnam with their "Redux" release. As good as Battlefield 2 looks, EA's marketing strategy is sort of putting me off buying it. Sure, the game might be good, but of late they've been releasing bug-plagued games and then moving on. Battle for Middle Earth is a prime example. There's still a huge community playng it, but so far EA is almost two months behind on their promissed patch v1.2, and by the time they do release is (slated for March 28-April 8 ), it will be another month on top of that. But what can you expect from a company that took most of the developers for BFME off the project just before they released the game and handed them another project in the form of Red Alert 3 (which in its self is a money grab) I guess this is why so many EALA employees have been quitting and moving on. I'm just getting sick of all these companies putting out sub-par products one after another for the sake of meeting that quarter's goal, while the little guy's games don't get recognition in the form of a full page add in PC Gamer simply because they don't have the financial backing.

Well, I suppose it depends on your preference. Do you want a Naval or Army rank? Do you want a rank that most people wouldn't think of, like something in the fighter corps? Imperial or Rebel, or something different?

Well, I've read some of Zahn's non-Star Wars books, and I must say that he is very versatile. I'll read any book he writes simply because if any one can pull a good pook out of a pile of crap called a plot, he can do it...

I wish I could remember half of what I red in the EU prior ot the Vong (and some things that occured during the Vong). I do remember that at some point Leia had a red lighsaber, but I also though there was a time when it was blue... or green... opal? I think it's changed a few times .

I agree with both of you to some degree, but I think there is something we need to consider. Zahn and other authros aren't really elevating their characters above the staples of the OT, they're simply expanding on those events. If you look at everything Thrawn, Mara Jade, Pallaeon, Corran Horn and other have done in the EU, it pales in comparison with what Palpitane has done, or the eradication of the Jedi at the hads of Vader. They're not trying to out-do the originals, they're just trying to fill the void left after the OT ended. Now, IMHO, that only applies to Zahn, Stackpole and Allston. Why? Because after them, the other authors tried to outdo them, create characters that were more powerful and better than Thrawn, Corran and others, or beef up or smack down existing characters. Kyp grew too much, becoming a Super Jedi. It seemed to me that some authors were trying to make Corran and Luke look like wimps in comparison. Then there's the occasional bashing of Thrawn , or attempts to make Han's and Leia's children more than they are. That is what I think makes the EU over-blown, and that is what will kill it in the end. I agree completely that it has spiraled out of control, moving too far from the movies and trying to appeal to a new audience by inserting younger characters into the mix. I think that if the authors can learn not to compete, but to work in tandem, and to embrace the movies, rather than look upon them for cliche inserts (another annoyance in the books) the EU could rise above what it has become. We will have to see what is introduced in the series of books set after the Vong invasion. I think that the Vong were needed, not to introduce a new foe, and certainly not for character development (which was totally ruined in those books IMO), but tomake a clean sweep of sorts. The destruction of most of Coruscant, and the ravaging of the galaxy makes way for fresh adventures rather than a rehashing of old ones. That is, if the same mistakes aren't made in the next series as in the old.

Well, it's not Sunday yet, but since some of you might be going away to visit family and whatnot, I'd like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy easter! Enjoy whatever celebratory meals you consume on sunday, and of course, any chocolate you happen to stumble uppon!

I'm always up for a Zahn book, especially one that has Thrawn in it, but Obi-Wan and Anakin? I thought Outbound Flight was suppose to be a mystery to all those in the Republic. Shouldn't there have been no survivors who returned?

I suppose he does make a good baby sitter... though I still like him better when he's retired . He seems the type to keep a pet dianoga too... which are apparently not carniverous, but omnivourous (sp?)

If I'm not mistaken, the variance indicates that that particular attribute can go up or down by that value. In my experience, Thrawn's combat rating allways goes down. I've never had his start in a game with a combat rating of more than 50. Ackbar's combat rating can only go up, to a value higher than Thrawn's if Thrawn were to loose the full 30 his variance allows for. There is also two additional factors that balance Ackbar's stats out. First off, he'll never betray his side. There are three rebel characters with this attribute, though there are no Imperials who do. There is also the fact that Ackbar can be a Jedi, where Thrawn can't (well, he can, but I've only seen it happen once). If Ackbar becomes a Jedi his stats are greatly increased. One thing that I do find off for both Thrawn and Ackbar is that they have a low diplomasy rating. I would have expected that they would both be more along the lines of Piett in that regard... As for Lemelisk, I usually retire him when he is of no use to me, though when it turns out that he is a Jedi I tend to throw things about.

Well, other than having Vader, the Emperor or Luke on the same planet, there really isn't any way to tell. The Empire has it easy since they'll find out if a character is force-sensative as soon as they are recruited. With the rebels, you have to have Luke on the same planet after he goes to Degobah. As for Ackbar, I think they reflect him pretty well. He's only an Admiral, not a field agent. His stats are very similar to Thrawn's.

No, I think their existance there came about through Decipher's SWCCG. I believe they were members of Onyx Squadron.

Republic Commando isn't too bad, though it could use a patch to fix a few glitches. Then again, since when has one game been a sign of how good another will be? Note: This is in response to JediIgor's post, not something out of left field (as I noticed it appeared to be after I clicked Submit)

I'm almost ashamed to say that I ordered one of those for my sister... ok, so it was sort of like Homer buying Marge a bowling ball, but my sister liked it none-the-less.

Ok, I've seen a few shots of the Clone Wars animated series, so I ask: is this Grievous?

"A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defence, never for attack". Throwing a pillar at some one isn't really defence when they're running away (it's O.K. to push battle droids with the force, because they are attacking). Actually, there have been some studies done that show many older women prefer younger men. There must have been something about him she liked that allowed her to see past the cry-baby attitude (also, remember that we only see a fraction of events in the movies. There's pleanty of boring stuff we don't see). Yes, too many links... he should have left Obi-Wan out, I mean, he was in the original three, having him in these three is too big of a link... oh, and Yoda, why did he have to be in there? And Palpatine! He already played a pivotal role in RotJ! You know what, if he was really smart, he would have just changed the whole Star Wars galaxy, that way we'd have something completely fresh! [/sarcasm] Really, R2 being in the first (Ep. I-III) makes perfect sence. In ANH we hear that R2 says he once belonged to Obi-Wan. His role in the new trilogy solidifies this link. Furthermore, links back to the original trilogy prevents the "Old School" fans from feeling lost in the new story line. Familiar faces (or in this case, domes) makes them feel more comfortable. Not all Jedi are as powerful as Mace Windu, Obi-Wan or Yoda. Some (many) of them were mediocre. There was also that scene where that crazy guy with the purple glowing sword sort of decapitated Jango... Well, I suggest you take another look (I suggest you use the Scene Selection menue as you clearly suffer from motion sickness or epilepsy). You'll see that there are more species than you could shake a stick at (and some you woulnd't want to shake a stick at for fear of angering/accidently offering to mate with them). I thought the race announcer was an original character... but perhaps you'd prefer Domo and Pikachu reenacting a scene fromClockwork Orange, just to spice things up? So you're complaining that the new movies (save RotS) were targeting the same group of viewers as the original trilogy? What, were yu expecting softcore porn mixed with The Godfather's violence? I'd say a Sith Lord getting sliced in half, and a massive clone battle is violent enough for a Star Wars movie. Who woulda thunk that a Sci-Fi/Fantasy movie would be far fetched and ridiculous? I respect that you didn't like the movie, but I get the impression that you were expecting to see the same-old, same-old, hoping to re-live the "glory days" of the original trilogy. If so, you went to the wrong movies (maybe switch over to Star Trek, they're all pretty much the same). The title is no more/less creative than any of the others: A new Hope. Wow, I wonder if this movie has a happy ending? The Empire Strikes Back: huh, I bet some one will get attacked in this one. Return of the Jedi: I've got ten bucks that says Luke wins and completes his training. All of the titles describe what happens in the movie. Attack of the Clones is no different.

I really think that you have to read the EU to tell what's good and what's clearly stupid. Darksaber, the Black Fleet Crisis, Children of the Jedi, even the New Rebellion were all pretty terrible. However there rae some things that are added by the EU that help expand our vidion of the Star Wars universe (I, Jedi was an excellent book). I personally enjoyed most of the EU, yet I find the prequal novels to be boring and rather un-inventive. It's those particularly terrible novels that truin the EU for people...

After re-installing Steam and Hlaf-Life 2, this one really spoke to me: http://groups.msn.com/_Secure/0TQAvA4YYieAvLOPldM0Z4ga6Ezyvw!dhX9ufomwIR2X0rh!*9bApfIAkTz3Pc!y0yKPqRXkKWLbq2GgewIsLhtIoGkTaJ7Z4bgLR*MY6ScBmjI5RHe3rsg/steamupdate.gif

I tend to agree. Novelists aren't really cut out for the job of writing for TV or movies. A novel is designed to develope it's plot slowly, introducing characters and ideas of a period of time. In a movie you plot has t be clear within the first 15 minutes of the show (unless you're Peter Jackson with a huge budget and a cast willing to spend a sizable chunk of their life filming). If any of the Star Wars novels were to be made into a TV series, you would have one of two endings: 1) So much would be cut out of the original plot that you wouldn't recognise the story at all, save for the characters, with the occasional "May the Force be With You" thrown in to remind you that you are actually watching Star Wars, or 2) They would stick with the original story, but it would take a whole season to et through one book, with people saying "wait, why the hell am I watching this, it's going no where? I think there's a repeat of Friends on TBS". I think the only people who would watch a EU novel TV series from beginning to end are those who really enjoyed them (I would, but each episode would have to be two hours). I think there is a surprising number of Star Wars fans who are hooked on the OT and want nothing to do with the EU. You would also have to consider the loss of quality in making a Star Wars TV series. It certainly wouldn't be the movies. I for one wasn't impresed with Stargate SG-1's special effects compared to the movies (the animal heads on the bad guys was too... animated and toy like for me), but I think the effects would be more pronounced ina SW TV series...

That makes sence. Officers with more influence in the Imperial Admiralty would be given small promotions, nothing major, but enough to give them a boost in pay. This would be similar to a Post-Captain beeing given the rank of Colonel in the Royal Marines. He'd be recieving his regular pay as well as a Colonels pay, but he would only be performing his duties as Post-Captain.