Star Wars: Empire at War

Star Wars: Empire at War (or EaW) is the latest real-time strategy (RTS) game to take place in the Star Wars universe. Promising to end the mediocrity of past Star Wars RTS games (namely Force Commander and the much better Galactic Battlegrounds), Empire at War started from the ground up. The game is being developed by Petroglyph, comprised of many former members of Westwood Studios (known for the Command and Conquer series). This company has developed a completely new engine known only as Alamo. It uses several higher-end shader effects such as soft shadows, specular lighting, and particle effects for dust clouds and explosions.

Gameplay
The game also features a brand new style of play to make things a bit more realistic--instead of building workers, gathering resources, and recruiting individual units, players will be granted resources based on how many and which planets the player controls. Some worlds will increase the players' cashflow, while others provide manufacturing capabilities. Infantry units are "made" in groups, while larger-scale units are made individually.

Battles are carried out both on a planet's surface and in orbit. Bombing runs can be executed by space-borne units. Likewise, it is expected that ground-based units can attack those in space. Unlike in Galactic Battlegrounds, shields will form an actual physical barrier that must be penetrated.

Taking place in the time between Episode III and Episode VI, Empire at War features only two playable factions, the Rebel Alliance and the Galactic Empire. Among the Empire's advantages are their sheer power and numerical superiority, though it will be difficult for them to move about the galaxy. The Rebels, on the other hand, won't have the resources to fund massive armies and will instead have to rely on spies and hit-and-fade strikes. Like many RTS games, Empire at War will feature a "Rock-Paper-Scissors" unit usage style--for every unit there is a counter-unit. Brett Tosti, the LucasArts producer, has stated that this encourages players to create diverse armies and fleets with units that counter other units, as opposed to being able to building a bunch of "super units".



Players will be allowed to call on reinforcements during battle, including heroes like Darth Vader and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Players can also construct planet-borne ion cannons, factories, and space stations. Over forty locales will be featured including Yavin IV, Tatooine, Dagobah, and others from the Original trilogy and Episode III. Each world has its own unique advantages and resources. Vehicles from both trilogies will also be featured, further connecting them. Players that side with the Empire will be able to use the Death Star to further subjugate the galaxy.

Confirmed Planets

 * Abregado-Rae
 * Aeten II
 * Alderaan
 * Alzoc III
 * Anaxes
 * Atzerri
 * Bespin
 * Bestine
 * Bonadan
 * Bothawui
 * Byss
 * Carida
 * Corellia
 * Corulag
 * Coruscant
 * Dac (Mon Calamari)
 * Dagobah
 * Dantooine
 * Endor
 * Eriadu
 * Fondor
 * Fresia
 * Geonosis
 * Hoth
 * Ilum
 * Jabiim
 * Kashyyyk
 * Kessel
 * Korriban
 * Kuat
 * Manaan
 * Naboo
 * Nal Hutta
 * Polus
 * Ryloth
 * Shola
 * Subterrel
 * Sullust
 * Taris
 * Tatooine
 * Thyferra
 * Vergesso Asteroids
 * Wayland
 * Yavin 4

Confirmed Creatures

 * Bantha
 * Bothans
 * Desert Sketto
 * Ewoks
 * Geonosians
 * Gungans
 * Human
 * Hutts
 * Jawas
 * Mon Calamari
 * Rancor
 * Sarlacc
 * Sullustans
 * Tauntaun
 * Tusken Raiders
 * Twi'leks
 * Wampa
 * Womprat
 * Wookiees

Imperial

 * Darth Vader
 * Palpatine
 * Boba Fett
 * Grand Moff Tarkin
 * Captain Firmus Piett
 * Colonel Maximilian Veers
 * Mara Jade
 * Probe droid
 * Stormtroopers

Rebel

 * Plex soldier
 * Captain Raymus Antilles
 * Commander Ackbar
 * Han Solo
 * Chewbacca
 * Kyle Katarn
 * Mon Mothma
 * Obi-Wan Kenobi
 * R2-D2
 * C-3PO
 * Rebel Soldiers
 * Rebel Infiltrators

Imperial

 * Imperial Star Destroyer
 * Victory-class Star Destroyer
 * Acclamator II-class assault ship
 * Tartan patrol cruiser
 * Broadside-class cruiser
 * Y-85 Titan-class dropship
 * Sentinel-class landing craft
 * T-4a Lambda-class shuttle
 * Slave I
 * Jade Shadow
 * TIE Bomber
 * TIE Advanced
 * TIE/ln fighter
 * All Terrain Armored Transport
 * Self-Propelled Medium Artillery
 * All Terrain Attack Pod
 * All Terrain Personal Transport
 * All Terrain Anti-Aircraft
 * TIE Mauler
 * 2-M repulsortank
 * All Terrain Scout Transport
 * 74-Z speeder bike

Rebel

 * Home One
 * Liberty
 * Nebulon-B-class Escort Frigate
 * DP-20 Corellian Gunship
 * CR90 Corellian Corvette
 * Marauder Corvette
 * GR-75 Medium Transport
 * Millennium Falcon
 * Moldy Crow
 * BTL Y-wing starfighter/bomber
 * T-65 X-wing starfighter
 * Z-95 Headhunter
 * RZ-1 A-wing interceptor
 * T-47 Airspeeder
 * Mobile Proton Torpedo Launcher
 * T4-B Tank
 * T2-B Tank
 * Infantry Support Platform

Imperial

 * Death Star
 * Hypervelocity Gun

Both

 * Ion cannons
 * Laser turrets (anti-air, infantry, and vehicle)