The Empire Strikes Brick In LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
LUCASARTS' SEQUEL TO 2005'S AWARD-WINNING LEGO STAR WARS WILL APPEAR ON SEVEN PLATFORMS
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - Friday, February 10, 2006 - Just in time for the American International Toy Fair 2006, LucasArts and TT Games today announced their plans to release LEGO® Star Wars IITM: The Original Trilogy [working title], the sequel to one of the best-selling video games of 2005. Created by TT Games and developed by Traveller's Tales, LEGO Star Wars II is slated for release this fall across seven platforms. May the Force build with you on PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, Sony PSPTM, Xbox® video game system from Microsoft, Nintendo GameCubeTM, Nintendo DSTM, Nintendo Game Boy AdvanceTM and Windows.
With a comical take on the Star Wars Trilogy that revolutionized pop culture forever (Episode IV A New Hope, Episode V The Empire Strikes Back and Episode VI Return of the Jedi), LEGO Star Wars II follows the Rebel Alliance's battle to dismantle the Galactic Empire and rebuild a galaxy in pieces. From Darth Vader's pursuit of Princess Leia aboard her Blockade Runner to a showdown on the reconstructed Death Star, the game includes even more of the family-friendly LEGO action, puzzles and humor that earned the original LEGO Star Wars such popularity and acclaim.
And much more new to offer, it still has. For the first time ever, levels feature vehicles and creatures that players can ride or exit at will. Also, in LEGO Star Wars II's Free Play mode, gamers can customize more than 50 new playable characters by mixing and matching body parts, to build their own LEGO Star Wars heroes. And on certain platforms, a game save from the first LEGO Star Wars can unlock as many as 56 additional characters for Free Play -- that's more than 100 characters total, plus millions of possible creations! Other exciting additions include the ability to Free Play with vehicles, cool new character-specific attacks and maneuvers, playable mini-kit vehicles, an optional advanced mode for experienced players and more.
"Whether it was your first gaming experience or you've played everything released since Pong, the first LEGO Star Wars was one of those rare video games that everyone enjoyed," said Jim Ward, president of LucasArts. "With LEGO Star Wars II, LucasArts is working with TT Games and Traveller's Tales not only to set players loose through the original three chapters of the Star Wars Saga, but also to make this feel like the true sequel our fans have been clamoring for."
"TT Games is delighted to have formed a partnership with LucasArts for LEGO Star Wars II," said Tom Stone, managing director of TT Games. "The first game was an absolute joy to work on, and we're excited to deliver even more fun and creativity, this time with more features to work on and the original trilogy as the game's focus."
Distributed by Eidos Interactive, the original LEGO Star Wars was the No. 13 best-selling video game of 2005 (according to NPD Funworld) with over 2.5 million copes sold worldwide, and also won its fair share of awards. A few of the most notable include G4 Videogame TV's Best Adaptation of 2005 at the G-Phoria Video Game Awards, IGN.com's Best Platform Game, GameSpot.com's Best Use of Creative License, and it was one of 1UP.com's Hidden Gems of the Year. To date the first game has sold more than 3.3 million units worldwide.
For more information on LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy, please visit www.lucasarts.com.
About LucasArts
LucasArts, a Lucasfilm Ltd. company, is a leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software worldwide for video game console systems, computers and the Internet. Based in San Francisco, Calif., as well as on the Internet at www.lucasarts.com, LucasArts was created in 1982 by George Lucas to provide an interactive element to his vision of a state-of-the-art, multifaceted entertainment company.
Lucasfilm Ltd. is one of the world's leading film and entertainment companies. Founded by George Lucas in 1971, it is a privately held, fully integrated entertainment company. In addition to its motion-picture and television production operations, the company's global activities include Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound, serving the digital needs of the entertainment industry for visual-effects and audio post-production; and Lucas Licensing, which manages the global merchandising activities for Lucasfilm's entertainment properties. Additionally, Lucas Online creates Internet-based content for Lucasfilm's entertainment properties and businesses. Lucasfilm's motion-picture productions include five of the 20 biggest box-office hits of all time and have received 19 Oscars and 53 Academy Award nominations. Lucasfilm's television projects have won 12 Emmy Awards. Lucasfilm Ltd. is headquartered in San Francisco, Calif.
About TT Games Ltd.
Based in Beaconsfield, England, TT Games Ltd. is the only publisher to specialise in computer and video games for young gamers and their families. LEGO Star Wars was their first step on the road to becoming the leading publisher in this market, and LEGO Star Wars II will further realise this goal.
About Amaze Entertainment
Amaze Entertainment® is one of the world's largest independent interactive game development companies. The company consistently delivers world-class multi-platform video games and has earned a reputation as an ideal partner, especially for high-profile product launches based on popular brands and franchises like Harry Potter® and The Lord of the Rings®.
Founded in 1996, the Amaze Entertainment now employs almost 200 talented interactive game creators and continues to deliver games that maximize the capabilities of PCs and all video game devices, from Nintendo's DS and Sony's PSP to the powerful and complex advanced console systems. The company is extremely skilled at producing titles that help build existing brands and franchises. This quality is highly regarded by clients who turn to Amaze Entertainment for assistance in expanding their prized mass-market properties.
About The LEGO Company
The LEGO Company is a privately held, family-owned company, based in Billund, Denmark. The Company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of play materials for children, employing approximately 8,000 people globally. The LEGO Company is committed to the development of children's creative and imaginative abilities, and its employees are guided by the motto adopted in the 1930s by the founder Ole Kirk Christiansen: "Only the best is good enough." www.lego.com