THE REBEL ALLIANCE AND GALACTIC EMPIRE RACE TO RULE THE GALAXY IN STAR WARS REBELLION, THE EPIC STRATEGY GAME FROM LUCASARTS
Real-Time, Strategy-Based Title Challenges Players to Build, Deploy and Direct the Galactic Empire or Rebel Alliance Forces to Victory
Unlike previous Star Wars games from LucasArts, Rebellion places players in the role of strategic commander of all resources, planets and forces controlled by the Galactic Empire or Rebel Alliance. The character-driven game can be played in single-player or head-to-head mode and immerses players in a variety of strategic and tactical challenges. To succeed, players must satisfy specific victory conditions. For instance, those fighting for the Empire must capture Luke Skywalker, MonMothma and destroy Rebel headquarters. Players taking up the Rebel cause can win by capturing Darth Vader, the Emperor Palpatine and overthrowing the Imperial Seat at Coruscant.
"Star Wars has provided LucasArts with a universe full of possibilities," says Tom Byron, product marketing manager for LucasArts. "A deep strategy game like Rebellion offers a tremendous opportunity for LucasArts to broaden the Star Wars universe into other genres."
The setting for Rebellion is the time just after the conclusion of A New Hope in which the Rebel Alliance has dealt a decisive blow to the Galactic Empire by destroying the first Death Star. Only temporarily thwarted, the Galactic Empire regroups to continue its relentless pursuit to crush the Rebellion while the Alliance has rallied galaxy-wide support for its noble cause.
Domination of the galaxy is one of the primary objectives in Rebellion. The universe is divided by sectors and systems (or individual planets) and can be tailored by size for longer or shorter sessions, from 100 to 200 systems (10 to 20 sectors of 10 systems each). Players command all the major strategic aspects of their side, including managing production resources, military production and deployment and conducting political and espionage activities.
While galactic domination is key to successful gameplay, Rebellion is also about loyalty. The path to winning is through building a strong allegiancy of planets, which ultimately translates into control of the galaxy. Players can win a planet's loyalty either through diplomacy or battle victories. Use of force can be very effective, but players run the danger of a planet resenting control and rancorous planets can easily shift allegiances.
Star Wars's Rebellion gameplay breaks down to two basic parts, strategic and tactical. The strategic component is where players make the majority of decisions, including manufacturing, resource management, fleet deployment, mission assignments and exploration. Players are updated on events by their droid; (C-3PO for the Rebel Alliance and IMP-22 for the Galactic Empire).
When two opposing fleets meet over the same system, the tactical component automatically kicks in. In this separate game element players can join ships that have been deployed into task-forces or fighter squadrons, and assign orders or targets. All of this takes place in a real-time 3D space-combat engine; that is moving as soon as the conflict is joined, so while the player is making decisions, so is the computer or opposing player.
Another unique characteristic of Rebellion is that it is heavily character driven. Each side has a wealth of characters; drawn from the Star Wars mythology; at its disposal. Taken from all over the Star Wars universe, players can expect to make use of the talents of such well-known characters as Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Darth Vader.
To assist in winning the game, a number of missions must be assigned to achieve specific goals, such as diplomatic missions to sway a system's loyalty, sabotage missions to drop planetary defenses (allowing for bombardment) or rescue missions if another character has been captured. By assigning a character to a mission that complements his/her attributes, the chances of that mission succeeding are greatly enhanced.
"Rebellion promises a little something for everyone," says Byron. "Veteran gamers will spend hours vying for the domination of the universe, while newcomers will feel welcome in an accessible and undemanding interface. And, of course, anyone who's ever been a fan will finally be able to fulfill the ultimate Star Wars fantasy: the chance to rule the galaxy."
LucasArts Entertainment Company develops and publishes interactive entertainment and educational software for a variety of computer and console platforms. Based in San Rafael, California, LucasArts is one of four Lucas companies. Lucas Learning Ltd. develops and publishes educational multimedia for home and school. Lucas Digital Ltd., comprised of Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound, serves the needs of the entertainment industry for visual effects and audio post-production. Lucasfilm Ltd. includes George Lucas' feature film and television activities, as well as THX and Lucasfilm Licensing.
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