-= Gametoast.com =-

I just posted a feature article I wrote on "Star Wars Battlefront Arcade" - a hybrid of SWBF1/2 that we think would be perfect for Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network. It features screenshots from Gametoast members!

http://www.xblafans.com/xblas-most-want ... -6160.html

To be clear, THIS GAME IS NOT CURRENTLY BEING MADE. This is a weekly column in which the staff at XBLAFans chooses a game that would be a perfect fit for Xbox Live Arcade.

Awesome.

You win, good sir. Spot on description of a perfect Arcade version.

cool , linked on main page.

Very good article!

dark times and the convo pack on xbox 360? thats epic!

Sounds nice...If only I had an Xbox...

Ooh, it's my Ventress/Anakin pic!

+3 Self Esteem Points

EraOfDesann wrote:Ooh, it's my Ventress/Anakin pic!

+3 Self Esteem Points

I just noticed there's my Bespin: Platforms screenshot! :maulsaber:

We would really like to push this story - both as SWBF fans and as digital download (Steam, XBLA, PSN) fans. Below are links to the article and to the tweet I made about the article. Please, please take a few minutes to pass this along to your friends, at fellow websites, etc. You can retweet my tweet, link to the actual article, whatever you'd like, but please pass it on. Also, you can comment on the article at the actual page. You can login via many ways, one of which is with your Twitter account (don't worry, it doesn't tweet your comment to the whole world). Anyway, please pass this on to your friends, and please comment on our site. We want to know what you think about the article, but more importantly your thoughts on what SWBF Arcade would need if it were created. If anyone works at SWBFfiles or Battlefront3.net, please post a link to the article there as well.

LINK TO TWEET (TWITTER)

LINK TO ARTICLE (XBLAFANS)

Thanks as always gang!

*PS: Thanks to Guru for posting this on the main page. We got a small surge in traffic on the site when he did.

On PC, that would be perfect.

I played SWBF1, and I wasn't surprised (on all because I already played SWBF2 before) to see the maps and units. This said, the Pandemic developpers added many new features to SWBF2 (new heroes, new maps, new units) but also deleted many things from SWBF1:
-The 2 awesome Bespin maps are missing
-Same for Rhen Var
-No Yavin IV: Arena
-No Naboo: Plains
-New version of Naboo: Theed I hate
-New version of Geonosis I hate
-No AI heroes
-No cockpit on vehicles and fighters
-New worthless sides, the BF1 sides were better
-I remember seeing few maps in SWBF1, and I don't see them in SWBF2 (but I don't remember the name).
... And other things.

That's why I like the work that made modders "close" to Pandemic:
-Teancum and Maveritchell wanted to make the ConvoPack, that include many things from the old SWBF
-Marvel 4 and other peoples converted maps from SWBF1
-The BF0 contributors worked hard to get the TCW story in SWBF2
-archer01 made the AI hero support, and made a RPG to show us what can we do in SWBF2 with "primitive" tools
-Zerted made new scripts to make the modding more easy and the playing more fun
-And many other modders, who made new models, skins, maps, and that I don't forget the work.

That's why I would love to play this game.

To finish: SWBF+SWBF2+community mods+ other stuff= a game that will be loved by all the SWBF1/2 players.
Honestly, I think it's a dream for now, but if developpers start to make it, it wil be real...

off-topic: minilogoguy18 would be happy to see his Ventress model here ... And alex533 to see his EPII Anakin skin...

I think this is a great idea, specially for those players that only game on consoles. It could really invigorate the series, and Lucasarts might realize how popular these games still are, and prehaps give them motivation to give us what we all want.

It's funny really but the more recent games, although they can have amazing graphics, never keep my interest, and I always end up coming back to SWBF, as the gameplay never gets stale. So I can only see something like this as a win, as I might even consider getting an Xbox myself.

If this were to happen could the modding community be involved in some way, with adding dlc maps/mods etc?

Since I do a lot of technical writeups for my job (web application developer) I got bored and did a super-quick writeup of the potential this has for four basic Battlefront II-based games: Arcade (360/PS3 via digital download), Gold Edition (Wii), Tales of the 501st (PSP, iOS) and updates for Battlefront II (Windows, new Mac port). It's nothing more than me dreaming as I'll never get the chance to promote this, but you can see my proposal below.

STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT PROPOSAL

1. THE CORE ENGINE

• Powered by the Battlefront II version of the Zero engine
• Includes missing features from the original Battlefront
  • Advanced squad commands
  • Prone
  • Cockpits (can be turned on or off)
  • Strafing ability in flyers (via new odf parameter)
• Current limitation list addressed (see our limitations topic)
  • Multiple dispensable turret types
  • Grappling hook enabled and working
  • Carrier class enabled and working
  • Team colors can be overriden via lua
  • Map design limits (max values) doubled, multiple water layers enabled
  • Tentacle parameters tripled (12 tentacles, total of 60 bone_strings per model)
• New functionality
  • SetUnitProperty(), sets the property of one specific unit on the field
  • Optional parameter for Set[x]Property() commands to execute them in real time
  • Deathmatch mode (faked - a team mode with 16 teams, on person per team)
  • Munge functionality for existing platforms updated
  • GameCube munge from Clone Wars game brought up to snuff for potential Wii port (see section 4)
  • iOS munge functionality added (see section 5)

2. STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT ARCADE ----- PlayStation 3 (PSN) and Xbox 360 (XBLA)

• Features full Battlefront II campaign and Galactic Conquest, as well as Instant Action
  • Campaign FMV videos replaced with slideshow and separate voiceover to save space
  • Additional planets added to campaign and Galactic Conquest
  • Voiceovers for new campaign planets by Temura Morrison
• Menu interface reworked to use static images
  • FMV videos removed to save space
  • Image backgrounds can now be layered, allowing for multiple backgrounds to be created with fewer images
• All maps from the original Battlefront added with new Battlefront II modes
• All new maps
  • Minimum of four new ground maps added to the game
  • One space map per ground map
  • Space maps are designed with one common asset set, reconfigurable to save space
• "Classic" mode
  • Five units, all unlocked, original configurations
  • No playable heroes (AI only). Heroes would be based on the planet
  • Original Red/Green/Yellow team designations return
• New game modes
  • Team Deathmatch - command posts cannot be captured, reach kill count to win
  • Order 66 - Team Deathmatch, clones vs jedi
  • Holocron - team-based capture object and hold
  • Deathmatch - 16 teams, one player per team
    • Bots can fill in remaining spaces, but one is removed for each player that joins
    • Max players configurable
  • Duel - Team Deathmatch, two teams, up to two players per team
    • Each team has 4 characters to choose from, max one player per character
  • Additional heroes
  • Future DLC (see section 6)
• Mutiplayer can be played via splitscreen, online or in acombination of the two (4 player splitscreen, 16 player online)

3. STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT II ----- Windows and Mac OS X

• Released via Steam for Mac OS X
• All core engine features implemented (see section 1)
  • Existing Windows owners will be able to patch their game accordingly
• Continued support for patches and updates
  • As community-based DLC is released on 360/PS3, part of the funds are spent on continued updates to the game and tools as thanks. (see section 6)

4. STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT II GOLD EDITION ----- Wii

• All features from Star Wars Battlefront Arcade (see section 2)
  • FMV videos are not replaced, but remain intact
• Wii-specific control schemes: GameCube controller, Classic controller, Wiimote & Nunchuck
• Features additional maps that are timed-exclusives
  • Released 6 months later as inexpensive DLC for PC/Mac/360/PS3
  • Timed exclusive is to justify full retail cost
• Mutiplayer can be played via splitscreen, online or in a combination of the two (4 player splitscreen, 16 player online)

5. STAR WARS BATTLEFRONT: TALES OF THE 501ST ----- PSP, iOS (iPod/iPad/iPhone)

• Core engine features all implemented (see section 1)
  • Assets are lower resolution to save space
• UI tweaked to minimize asset use
  • FMV videos removed to save space
  • Image backgrounds can now be layered, allowing for multiple backgrounds to be created with fewer images
• Smaller level set
  • Six ground maps
    • Death Star
    • Endor
    • *Geonosis
    • Mustafar
    • Rhen Var (Citadel)
    • Yavin 4 (Arena)
  • Three space maps
    • Space Endor
    • Space Geonosis
    • Space Rhen Var
• Available via iTunes and PlayStation Network only
  • Potential for DLC later on via the respective stores

6. ASSETS AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS

• Assets from LucasArts' previous games reused for Arcade/Gold Edition as applicable (examples follow)
  • Kyle Katarn (Jedi Academy)
  • Starkiller (The Force Unleashed)
  • Sith Troopers, Darth Malak, Revan (Knights of the Old Republic)
  • Upgraded vehicle models (various games)
• Future DLC is partially community-driven
  • Contests held for community-based levels
    • Winning levels implemented into paid DLC pack(s)
      • Winners receive a free download voucher for platform of choice
    • In exchange, continued functionality and patches added to Windows/Mac versions

In my opinion the above would merit some major cash for LucasArts while pleasing fans around the world. It covers the major platforms, it minimizes development costs, and provides fans with what they want, so everyone wins! Again, please retweet my tweet above, or link to the story at XBLAfans wherever you can. Thanks!

That answers my question.. that would be awesome. Might also help some of the community (not me, obviously) get noticed by game devs.

Jendo7 wrote:

Hidden/Spoiler:

6. ASSETS AND COMMUNITY RELATIONS
[list][*]Assets from LucasArts' previous games reused for Arcade/Gold Edition as applicable (examples follow)
[list][*]Kyle Katarn (Jedi Academy)
[*]Starkiller (The Force Unleashed)
[*]Sith Troopers, Darth Malak, Revan (Knights of the Old Republic)
[*]Upgraded vehicle models (various games)[/list]
[*]Future DLC is partially community-driven
[list][*]Contests held for community-based levels
[list][*]Winning levels implemented into paid DLC pack(s)
[list][*]Winners receive a free download voucher for platform of choice[/list]
[*]In exchange, continued functionality and patches added to Windows/Mac versions[/list][/list][/list]

That answers my question.. that would be awesome. Might also help some of the community (not me, obviously) get noticed by game devs.

Exactly. The one caveat I see is that there might be legal issue with those under 18 submitting their real name for the contest entry. Maybe the contest could be limited to 18 and up, or maybe those under 18 would have to submit their moniker (nickname) only.

Wow Teancum, you should be a game developper too!

That's awesome .

[Padawan]Helkaan wrote:off-topic: Neomarz would be happy to see his Ventress model here .

fixed
anyway, i would definitelly buy battlefront arcade if it was released (for pc), great article!

This is the dream that I would love to happen (and who knows, it just might!)

And maybe you could find a way to pick up weapons! (not like how Mav made it, but a bit like the Republic Commando game [though it might not work])

Commented on XBLAFans as "ScorchRaserik".
I'd put GTTwilightWarrior, but the crazy vampire books kinda put an image on that name that I'd rather ignore...