Force Unleashed demo unleashes to XBLM in Aug.

by Dustin Burg { Jul 27th 2008 at 6:00PM }

The possibility was discussed months ago and now forceunleashed.org has learned that Lucas Arts' own marketing manager Matt Shell has confirmed that a Star Wars: The Force Unleashed demo will be releasing to the Xbox Live Marketplace sometime next month. Interesting too is mention that the demo will feature a different experience than the game itself, with a remade Tie Fighter Construction Facility, extra force powers unlocked and a special conclusion to the level that isn't seen in the retail version. Force Unleashed, good or bad? We'll give you an answer next month.

[Thanks, Mads Klitgaard]

Tags: force-unleashed, lucas-arts, star-wars, the-force-unleashed, xblm

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

ChewyDogg @ Jul 27th 2008 6:07PM

More demos should go this route. Give us a feel for the gameplay/powers/abilities, but make it a self contained "short story".

MDJ2010 @ Jul 27th 2008 6:19PM

Definately, wish they'd done that with Bioshock so that the game intro came as a surprise on release date. Sure other people have their own examples aswell.
Also, this game looks pretty sweet, will be checking out the demo in August!

Arno @ Jul 27th 2008 6:52PM

Valve did this way back with Half-Life. They made a demo that was brand new content.

evilsmevil @ Jul 27th 2008 8:52PM

For the record it was called Half Life: Uplink

spamsphen @ Jul 27th 2008 6:32PM

agreed.

Anticrawl @ Jul 27th 2008 8:20PM

I'm still pissed at LucasArts for leading their fans on for so long about multiplayer. They stated time and time again that there would be multiplayer but they weren't ready to discuss it, and this was in the context of the 360 and PS3 version. Then after they have all the attention and devotion of the fans they quietly peep out "yeah, no Jedi Knight II-esque multiplayer or any at all for the 360/PS3." I don't care how story driven the game is I have a hard time believing I can squeeze 60 dollars worth of gameplay experience and time out of a solitary singleplayer experience in an action game. If it were an RPG then sure, you'd be able to get your money's worth. But an action game?

Vcize @ Jul 27th 2008 10:04PM

So wait and buy it when it gets cheaper? Or used at some point? Or get some service like Gamefly?

From your post it sounds like you've never played a non-RPG single-player only game before and never will...

Mr.U2 @ Jul 27th 2008 11:17PM

wait... I thought there was giong to be online multiplayer... wow, I was really excited for this game. But now, not so much, now that I know there won't be any multi. It will be worth a buy if the price lowers though. Kinda like assassins creed, right?

Anticrawl @ Jul 28th 2008 12:42AM

Action genre games usually don't have that much of a value compared to others. There has to be something I really want out of the game to spend 60 dollars on. I love Star Wars and the concepts behind this game, but for the 20 hours of gameplay I'll likely receive from this it doesn't seem worth the price. LucasArts said 40ish to follow all the plot lines, that's pretty weak. I was looking forward to seeing this display of technology used in player on player combat, perhaps with around 8-16 players. I typically rent hack n slash or action games because of the lack in value for me.

I'll probably just rent the game for a while or wait till Circuit City has it on sale for 39.99 a few weeks after launch. I doubt I will consider purchasing it because I don’t like being blatantly lied to just so they can make a sale. There is no future for this game either, with the team being dissolved after development of the game was nearly complete. So to recap, LucasArts quietly hacks multiplayer from 360/PS3 to save money, fires off their most influential and seasoned developers for the title to do just the same, and finally splits the player experience up across the consoles in an attempt to get current gen console owners to buy the game twice to experience a flimsy dual mode on the PS2, Wii or DS. Seriously, dual mode was all they could come up with, must have taken them seconds to whip that up. Yeah I’d rather not hand them any of my hard earned cash or rather my singular number to reflect on their retail sales chart numbers. I was shocked by LucasArts willingness to innovate, bring depth to a shallow franchise, and attempt to make the game the best it could be. The shock was warranted, and I can’t trust their game to be anything more than a lot of flash and no substance now, whereas before they lied to me I’d be willing to take the risk and buy any edition they tossed at me day one.

Here’s hoping Star Wars: Battlefront III will be incredible and that enough of the gaming public can hear how the Force Unleashed stands now, it may cause a spring delay and the so called multiplayer they were maybe probably might have been working on to be added in. I was really looking forward to that next game that could impress me more than Shadowrun online, I thought this might be it.

Anticrawl @ Jul 28th 2008 12:54AM

By the way, there is only so much fun one can have running and killing, running and killing, all against the same tired AI. Add the human element in there and things change fast, because they don't work on logic or reason and are difficult to predict.

I buy plenty of single player platformers, 2d scrolling shooters, 2d action adventure games like Castlevania, puzzle games, and any combinations of the above 2d or not.

Would you buy a fighter at full price if you couldn't challenge a human opponent?

Sand-box games and action games suffer from sever repetition, limited gameplay elements and an illusion of freedom than any grade school child could see passed. These sorts of games intrigue one at first, but end up being nothing like one expects and become tired and boring before one feels the least bit confident about their purchase.

Sentox6 @ Jul 27th 2008 9:18PM

Something similar to this was done back in the demo for Jedi Knight II; a level that wasn't seen in the full game, and was basically a self-contained scenario.

I had more fun with that level that a lot of the actual game.

I find demos an odd thing, in general; if a demo is good, I'll replay it over and over again. Yet I won't do that with the full game, even if it contains the same level.

Anticrawl @ Jul 28th 2008 12:45AM

That's because a free loaf of bread can taste as good as a paid for steak to many.

By the way, the Xbox version of Jedi Knight II actually included the demo level whereas the PC version lacked it. Didn't matter though, because PC was where the online multiplayer was at.

SoxFan13 @ Jul 27th 2008 9:45PM

What's the deal with the "X3F Staff" stuff? I like to see if it's Richard, Dustin, Xav, or Terrence writing!

Dustin Burg @ Jul 27th 2008 11:25PM

ZEBRA NINER @ Jul 28th 2008 12:31AM

Somebody else posted this when I asked the same question.

http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/07/24/aol-makes-big-budget-cuts-across-blogs/

kp @ Jul 28th 2008 12:49AM

yah that is kind of strange. its funny though, usually i read the article and think "i bet that ..whoever.. wrote that post." and when i go and check i'm usually right. everyone definitely has their own little idiosyncrasies when they post.

Vcize @ Jul 27th 2008 10:05PM

Good to see someone actually putting some time and effort into a demo.

Crono @ Jul 27th 2008 11:13PM

Got to try it out at Comic-Con this past week. The game is just as awesome as it promises to be.

NukeAssault @ Jul 27th 2008 11:22PM

Man i cant wait!

PSN & GAMERTAG: jorojoserojas - Wii FC: 0749-8609-3752-6926 @ Jul 28th 2008 3:02AM

Alright, I may be in the wrong arena to ask this (this IS a 360 fanboy site, after all)....but I'm torn as to which version of the game to buy.

The 360/PS3 version has the high-end, absolutely beautiful graphics, and that trifecta of awesome engines.

But the Wii version, although weakened, has the multiplayer aspect and (if I'm not mistaken) exclusive content (like additional levels or extra missions or something). And I'm one of those gameplay-over-graphics people.

So which version should I plunk down for? I REALLY don't want to buy both versions, and I'm not too big on renting games (I really don't know why), but that's the best thing I can think of.

What do you guys think?

Sentox6 @ Jul 28th 2008 5:04PM

Gameplay over graphics might lead one to recommend the Wii version, but I'm not so sure. Gameplay probably isn't going to be as satisfying, given the main hook is all the ridiculous physics-related stuff the Wii isn't going to be able to do (or do as well).

I'm not convinced it isn't going to be gimmicky, either, but I'm just a cynic when it comes to the Wii remote. But obviously, I think the 360/PS3 versions are better choices.

That all being said, the Wii version is quite different, so really, it's kind of like buying two games from the same genre, not buying the same game twice...

Clinton oxendine @ Jul 28th 2008 3:42AM

get the game on the system site you are on now. that is all no further questions about it i made the decision for you

Jcarpio @ Jul 28th 2008 7:23AM

I for one don't care if it has multiplayer or not. if the game looks fun, i'll consider buying it.

And i don't see why it would need a multiplayer component to quantify its purchase.

by the way, don't really like the fanboy sites going to this "fanboy site" staff byline. was this an edict brought forth by your AOL overlords?

Dirty @ Jul 28th 2008 10:32AM

That last trailer sold me on this game. And by sold I mean that I will rent it from gamefly.

Patton @ Jul 28th 2008 10:34AM

I'm not going to miss the multiplayer component either. I'd rather plop down 60 bucks for a solid Single Player game than plop down 60 for a half-assed SP game and even decent multiplayer. Why? Because people on Live suck, and I don't like paying to be called a faggot for the duration of my play experience.