This could be a good game but for me FU has no chance to become a good Star Wars game.
Notice the difference between these two terms?
I've enjoyed KOTOR as a game, albeit I couldn't shake myself from the feeling that this is a gaming console production and this is not what I expect from cRPGs. However in terms of being a "Star Wars game" KOTOR was only "decent".
If you're not following then read my slightly exaggerated example:
"Gamers! Do you like Medal of Honor, Call of Duty etc.? Like the WW2 theme, read about WW2 tanks, ships and planes? Then you'll love our game! It's related to World War 2, but to make it more interesting it takes place 100 years before it!..."
Get it?
FU seems to be too far away from proper SW "look&feel". It's this new wave of designers
"Faster, more intense" instead of "better immersion, more freedom, longer gameplay, more choices". Just look at the design sketches. The fights are going to look like Final Fantasy or maybe Mortal Kombat, with all those Force Uber Combos... (and I agree with what Johnny Ringo said). And the plot? Special Vader's trainees? A half-a55 dark Jedi, then? How many lightsabers at once now, we had 4, so this time 6? 8? Why are they fighting stormtroopers? Super special secret mission for our little Annie, so that even stormies stand in our way? Just as good for the "look&feel" as shooting traitor's TIEs in "TIE Fighter" (when I fly for the Empire I want to shoot Rebels, pirates, smugglers, not other TIEs!).Unfortunately I will also agree about the degradation of quality of LEC games. Sure there are noble exceptions, but the trend remains. Too many times we enjoy a SW game because there is no other similar SW game to choose. I've played "SW: Rebellion (Supremacy)" simply because there was no other strategy game in SW universe! Beggars can't be choosers - we take from GL what he offers us and we can't go to other company, because only he licenses SW stuff. Talking about bad effect of monopolization on the client's side
Part of the problem is that LEC now focuses primarily on Prequel theme. But this is not the only issue...
"X-Wing", "Dark Forces" were milestones, not only for SW stuff but also for their respective PC game genres. These would be my faves.
"TIE Fighter" was excellent because it was the only (real) time we could fight for the Empire.
"Jedi Knight" was OK, but again: post-ROTJ story, another-Dark-Jedi-from-nowhere. Level design sucked.
I've mentioned SW "Rebellion" - wasted opportunity.
"Force Commander" - another wasted opportunity, horrible engine - give me my $ back!
"X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter" - total flop, they've ruined game mechanics (I've posted about this in detal some time ago).
"X-Wing Alliance" - continues with altered game mechanics I never got used to, but has excellent SW "look&feel" - just watch the intro! Way to go!
"Jedi Outcast" - good one, esp. first levels with Imperial bases - loved the level design and return of iMuse system!
"Galactic Battlefronts" - antiquated engine - rip-off from M$ games "tweaked" to look SW-ish.
"KOTOR1&2" - as I said, great games, but average SW-games
"Battlefront"s are good only for multiplayer and I would change many elements...
Most other games I mentioned are medicore. This is a step back, as LEC games used to be great.
I've been a PC gamer for over 15 years. I've not only played the games, but followed technology milestones, studied graphics, programming, read articles about developers, publishers, game expos, latest trends etc. With all this experience and very imaginative mind I've designed my own new SW game which IMHO should be successfull. It's something LEC never gave you, and what every SW-gamer would want. Other similar games like this had strong fanbase and were generally successfull. It would be something fresh though. But so what? The door is closed. LEC does not want even to hear about anybody's ideas.
http://www.lucasarts.com/company/job/
NOTE:LucasArts does not accept unsolicited artwork, music, proposals, outlines, manuscripts or other creative material; if we receive such material, we will return it unread to the person who submitted it.
I'll bet they don't want a swarm of geeks knocking at their doors with their silly concepts. However eventually they may fail, because they don't realize, that one of those geeks (and by this I don't mean necessarily: me) may have the idea just what other geeks want and would be willing to pay for it...
I wish I knew someone who knows the right people in the business (or even LEC bosses) and could bring up my offer to LEC...