LucasArts Announces Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy
Continuing the epic legacy of the critically and commercially acclaimed Jedi
Knight action game series, LucasArts, a Lucasfilm Ltd. company, announces Star
Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy for Windows PC and the Xbox video game
system from Microsoft. Expected for release fall 2003, this latest chapter in
one of interactive entertainment’s most celebrated game series extends the partnership
between LucasArts and Activision, Inc., through its developer Raven Software.
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy is the follow up to Star Wars Jedi Knight
II: Jedi Outcast , the best selling premium priced PC game in America, United
Kingdom, and Germany upon initial release in 2002.
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy is a dynamic single and multiplayer action
experience featuring an all-new epic story. Players are immersed in the role
of apprentice at Luke Skywalker’s Jedi Academy where they learn
the power – and danger – of the Force. Amidst a multitude of complex and richly
detailed Star Wars environments, including twice as many unique locales as those
in Star Wars: Jedi Outcast, players face a variety of powerful and
insidious enemies.
For the first time in a Jedi Knight series game, Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi
Academy allows players to create and customize their own characters by choosing
various characteristics including species, gender, clothing, and physical attributes
such as hair and facial features. In addition, players can create a custom lightsaber,
selecting from hilt and blade color. As apprentices progress in their training,
different lightsabers will become available, such as the double-bladed lightsaber
or dual lightsabers.
“With the overwhelming success and critical acclaim of Star Wars:
Jedi Outcast, continuing an alliance with Activision and Raven Software was
a clear and very easy decision,” says Simon Jeffery, president of
LucasArts. “As they did with its best selling predecessor, Raven will
bring to Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy innovative, dynamic, and challenging
game play that honors the well-respected legacy of the series.”
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy begins shortly after the conclusion of
events in Star Wars: Jedi Outcast. Players create a Jedi apprentice character
and join the Jedi Academy on Yavin 4 to learn the ways of the Force under the
tutelage of Luke Skywalker and Kyle Katarn. While the young apprentice embarks
on various missions to hone their skills and abilities, a mysterious group is
discovered creating havoc throughout the galaxy. Until order is restored, the
fate of the Jedi Academy – and the future of the Star Wars galaxy itself – hangs
precariously in the balance.
While players will be able to accomplish more by using the lightsaber in Star
Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, they also will have a variety of weapons – new
and old – at their disposal including a blaster, blaster rifle, Wookiee
bowcaster, Imperial repeater, and a Destructive Electro-Magnetic Pulse gun.
A unique level selection system allows players to choose their own path through
the game as well as the missions they undertake to improve their Jedi skills.
The game will add new multiplayer modes and bring back the most popular modes
from Star Wars: Jedi Outcast.
Star Wars Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy will be published and distributed by LucasArts
in North America. Activision will publish and distribute the game in all other
territories worldwide.
About LucasArts
LucasArts, a Lucasfilm Ltd. company, is a leading developer and publisher of
interactive entertainment software worldwide for video game console systems
and PC. Based in San Rafael, Calif., as well as on the Internet at www.lucasarts.com,
LucasArts was created in 1982 by George Lucas to provide an interactive element
to his vision of a state-of-the-art, multi-faceted entertainment company.
Lucasfilm Ltd. is one of the world’s leading film and entertainment companies.
Founded by George Lucas in 1971, it is a privately held, fully integrated entertainment
company. In addition to its motion-picture and television production operations,
the company’s global activities include Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker
Sound, serving the digital needs of the entertainment industry for visual-effects
and audio post-production, and Lucas Licensing, which manages the global merchandising
activities for Lucasfilm’s entertainment properties. Additionally, Lucas Online
creates Internet-based content for Lucasfilm’s entertainment properties and
businesses. Lucasfilm’s motion-picture productions include five of the 20 biggest
box-office hits of all time and have received 19 Oscars and 53 Academy Award
nominations. Lucasfilm’s television projects have won 12 Emmy Awards. Lucasfilm
Ltd. is headquartered in San Rafael, Calif.
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