Anyone see the news that Jakks is making a SW version of their TV Games dealio. I wonder if this means the Arcade version of SW?
Well, if this thing is anything like the other "10-games-all-in-one-controller" things that are out now, I wouldn't expect the "Arcade version"--at least not the arcade version of the arcade version. More like the Atari arcade version of the arcade version, if that makes sense.
These controller things are an interesting concept, but rudimentary at best, and unless things change by Fall 2005, there's no way in hell they'd be able to reproduce the arcade-arcade game in a little controller.
I think these will probably be all of the Parker Bros.-Star Wars games that were on the Atari 2600 in the early '80's:
- Star Wars: Jedi Arena (which is kind of supposed to be a two-player paddle game--not sure how this would work with one, joystick-style controller)
- Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (who doesn't love this one?)
- Star Wars: Return of the Jedi: Death Star Battle
- Atari 2600 version of the Arcade Game
And if we're extremely lucky:
- The Ewok Adventure (I think it's called)--infamous prototype 2600 game where you're the Glider Ewok, flying above the trees and rock-bombing AT-STs and Stormtroopers and stuff--I think. If they could somehow include that one, sales for this thing would be huge, no matter how crappy of a game it turns out to be
There could be some other early-80's Star Wars games I'm forgetting here.
As far as the original Arcade Game--it is available at home, on the GameCube. It was on the Rebel Strike: Rogue Squadron III bonus disc last year (and might be on the real game itself--I don't know), but I'll tell you what: Even with the decent GameCube controller, the experience still pales in comparison to the real deal--with that sweet-ass, unique controller that the real arcade versions had. My initial enthusiasm for finally being able to play that game at home was really dampened when I found out how different it played on the GameCube controller.
(And of course, it's available on the PC with MAME, as well--but like the GameCube version, it's just not the same.)
Now, if this all-in-one system could somehow duplicate the arcade controller--not to mention the specs of the game itself--then I'd defintely be all over it. I really doubt it, but you never know. I'd much rather spend $50 or $100 for something like that than trying to purchase either of the original arcade cabinets, which I have neither the money or the room for. . .
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Lucasarts just needs to get with the program, and release a compilation disc in the same vein of the Midway and Activision compilations of recent years, and put every old Star Wars game, both for home and arcade on it. Put it on the new systems for $30 each, and they'd sell tons. For the greedy bastards they are, I'm wondering why they're ignoring this retro-gaming gold mine that's sitting right in front of them. . .