Chat corner 3: Shall we play a game?

[annathecrow]

Welcome to this week's chat corner!

 

Optional chat prompt

The topic for this week is "Star Wars games" - computer, mobile, or otherwise. What are you playing these days? Fond memories of something you've played as kids?

 

Comments

[annathecrow]

To grumble and grouch, here is the The Dark Side of this chat corner.

[fleurviolette]

I remember playing Battlefront 1 and 2 when I was a kid. For heroes, I always picked Aayla Secura because of her double lightsabers.

Saving (in my opinion) the best game for last, Lego Star Wars!

[annathecrow]

I looked up Battlefront on Wikipedia, and I was like "wait, why does this have a Cultural Impact section?" - and turns out it has some fan-related history! Apparently there was a fan-made sequel that almost got distributed through Steam, but then LucasArts torpedoed it because it would compete with the official games.

Which, boo. But I might look around for some more info online later, that sounds like an interesting story.

[fleurviolette]

That’s very cool! Steam and LucasArts, both are names I haven’t heard in a long time.

A very long time lol

[stellar_dust]

My sister and I used to have a lot of fun with the collectible card game! Might have to dig that out the next time I'm home ...

Also I was so proud of myself when I beat my nerdiest friend at Star Wars Trivial Pursuit. XD I could never do that now -- this was pre-prequels, or maybe shortly after Ep1 came out.

[annathecrow]

Oh lol, Star Wars Trivial Pursuit must be so hard these days! Between all the movies and the not-canon-anymore stuff...

Still probably not as hard as Marvel or DC comics, though. Whew. Always look on the bright side, etc.

[extrapenguin]

I'm playing Star Wars: The Old Republic! Currently poking at the first chapter of the Sith Warrior storyline and bringing a Jedi Knight though KOTFE/KOTET.

I've also played KOTOR, KOTOR 2, and Jedi Academy. Jedi Academy has the best lightsaber combat mechanics of the four, IMO, but alas it's not an RPG (it has a somewhat customizable character creation and a choice of light side/dark side ending, but that's it).

[annathecrow]

It's interesting that from all the "big SF sagas" like, idk, Star Trek or Stargate or Battlestar Gallactica, it's Star Wars that has spawned so many genuinely good computer games. That's one thing LucasArts has always been good (or maybe just lucky) at, I think...

[extrapenguin]

I'm not sure I'd call Battlestar Galactica or Stargate big SF sagas on the scale of Star Wars or Star Trek – I don't think they've spawned nearly as much tie-in media. Maybe Doctor Who? But Star Wars is in a league of its own wrt tie-in stuff. It's easier to have good computer games if you have lots of computer games. I guess Star Wars simply hit a cultural zeitgeist and got mega-popular enough to become massively multimedia?

[annathecrow]

Hmm, you're probably right about Galactica, it isn't very fair comparison. Although I'd say that Stargate with its three shows is close enough. Honestly I was thinking more of cultural impact than actual breadth of material...

It's easier to have good computer games if you have lots of computer games.

Well, yeah, but that's the thing, SW has a lot of games, compared to other SF "canons".

(Not trying to have an argument btw, this isn't something I actually care about that much, I just wanted to clarify... and I like to theorize, oops.)

[extrapenguin]

Ah, yeah, I mostly characterize Star Wars as "thing that spawned ten squillion tie-in thingies"/by the breadth of its expanded universe. If it's just volume of official stuff, yeah, more things come close.

Well, yeah, but that's the thing, SW has a lot of games, compared to other SF "canons".
It does! IDK what's the reason, though. Some lucky confluence of gamers and Star Wars fans meant that the first game(s) were highly profitable? A game studio person was friends with a LucasArts person?

[yourlibrarian]

LEGO Star Wars was the first game I bought for our Wii, and that was the first video game console I ever owned (and the first time I really played video games in fact). I bought a few games after that but mostly I rented them. However I still have the game and last played it a few years ago.

I understand there will be a new LEGO game for the entire 9 films coming out this year, so when I find out more about it I'm thinking of getting it.

[annathecrow]

Making computer games from LEGO is such an insane idea, but for some reason it works, dammit. I've only ever played the LEGO Racers game (and holy shit, was that really released in 1999???), but we've spent HOURS on that one as kids.

[yourlibrarian]

I'm not very good at video games so the LEGO ones are just right for my level of ability. Plus many of them are quite amusing in terms of the comedy. I remember I watched the LEGO Batman movie a few years ago and found it much more entertaining than I expected.

[primeideal]

With my new fic now de-anoned I can say that I have a lot of R2 feelings!! Snarky beepy bot has seen the entire (well, PT+OT) family drama and just...keeps his beeps to himself. Thank goodness he's willing to occasionally yell at humans and get them to do things, otherwise the fic would be a lot longer, and/or the movies would be a lot shorter.

I really like "Star Wars: Rebellion," a complex board game, although I've only gotten to play it a few times. I got it on sale shortly before I moved (not quite two years ago) but it's long and complicated enough you really have to schedule time to play and then the pandemic happened...so it's still in the original wrapper.

[annathecrow]

Aww, R2D2 feelings, I has them. Was your fic for the May the 4th Exchange? Self-rec away!

As for the board game blues, I sympathize. Me and my coworkers used to have board game nights at the office, but then the pandemic hit and we all went on WFH.

[primeideal]

Treat for Id Pro Quo, actually, but thanks for the offer! Don't mind if I do.

Nights Forlorn and Sunrise (13274 words) by primeideal
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Star Wars Original Trilogy
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, Darth Vader, R2-D2 (Star Wars)
Additional Tags: Torture, Hallucinations, Enemies Forced To Work Together, Skywalker Family Drama (Star Wars), R2-D2 has no time for this human nonsense, Extra Treat, Canon Divergence - Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
Summary:

Luke Skywalker has vanished. But nothing will get in the way of Leia's quest to find him.

Well, nothing except Darth Vader.

[annathecrow]

Me, I have some very fond memories of the Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace game. I've never gotten very far (baby me was about as good a gamer as I am now, which is "not very"), but I did play it a lot.

Nowadays... *shakes fist at KOTOR* (also I think I accidentally spoiled the ending for myself while going through the May the 4th Exchange collection, but I'm not sure and don't want to go looking, argh.)

[annathecrow]

Gotta brag about my swag! I just ordered the Sheaffer Pop Star Wars R2D2 fountain pen:

I'm usually not much for fannish collectibles, but I recently got into fountain pens and I've been drooling over this one from the moment I saw it. I decided to set it as a prize for a big milestone in my current WIP, and since I've hit this weekend... *grabby hands*

(By the way, word for the wise, don't get into fountain pens. It's a collectors' hobby and the things are expensive.)

[primeideal]

Fortunately I am not a pen person, but that is gorgeous!!