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Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds is a 2001 real-time strategy game, developed by Ensemble Studios and LucasArts, who also published the game in North America. The Japanese version published by Electronic Arts and Squaresoft Joint Venture Electronic Arts Square. It was released on November 13, 2001.

The game was built on the Genie Engine that was used to build the Age of Empires II game. An expansion pack was released in 2002, featuring elements from Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones. Later that year, both Galactic Battlegrounds and Clone Campaigns were released in a box set, Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds Saga.

Plot summary[]

Episode I campaigns[]

The original game has six campaigns. Some of the missions represent battles from the movies, like the Battle of Hoth.

Harte Secur

Naboo Security Officers outside a Naboo city

OtohSancture

A Gungan establishment

Episode IV, V, and VI campaigns[]

  • The Royal Naboo also appear in the Gungan and the Trade Federation campaigns but have no campaign on their own. However, they are playable in standard gameplay, multiplayer, and the scenario editor.

Gameplay[]

At commencement of the game, each player can choose one of the available factions and will begin a typical game with a command center and a handful of workers. The idea of the game is to gather resources, build units and research technologies to ultimately conquer ones opponents. When a certain amount of resources have been stockpiled, they can be used to advance to the next technology level which opens up new construction and research options, as well as unlocking newer and upgraded units.

If the game begins with the First Tech Level, each player is limited in what can be built. Aside from a few basic troopers who are fairly useless except as scouts, most construction options revolve around the player's economy and getting that off the ground. Once 500 food has been stockpiled, the player will have the option to advance to the Second Tech Level. This will open up more buildings and units forming basic armies. 800 food and 200 nova will allow advancement to the Third Tech Level, where combat can become truly three dimensional with the ability to construct air units. 1000 food and 800 nova will let the player advance to the Fourth and final Tech level, where expensive upgrades are available but the benefits they bring to one's faction are often worth the excessive cost.

Each worker unit, which often takes the form of labor droids, Wookiees, or whatever suits the player's faction, can be individually controlled by the player and they can be ordered to gather resources, construct buildings and even attack enemy units and buildings.

Muja Fruit

Muja fruit bushes

There are four types of resources, all of which need to be gathered at a steady rate in order to supply a constant flow of resources: Carbon is used primarily to construct buildings and is often used in technology research and can be found in trees or in "carbon deposits." Food is used to help train units and can also be used to a lesser extent in technology research. Food can be gathered from muja fruits, fish, hunting or farms, and from nerfs or banthas housed in an animal nursery. Nova crystals are used primarily in technology research and to train some units. They are also used as currency at the marketplace, where buy and sell prices are listed in nova crystal value. The crystals are primarily mined but can also be traded for other resources at the marketplace. Trade caravans can deposit a fixed amount of crystal between two marketplaces and holocrons can provide a steady stream if housed at a Jedi Temple or Sith Temple. Finally, there is ore, which is mostly used to construct fixed defensive structures like turrets, fortresses and anti-air defenses as well as in some technology research. Ore is often the scarcest resource on the map, and the player will have to buy extra at the marketplace once exhausted.

Cheats[]

While playing, press Enter to open up the chat screen. Type one of the following codes and press Enter again. Some codes only work when you highlight a unit.

  • forceexplore – Entire map is explored.
  • forcesight – Remove fog of war.
  • forcebuild – Building, harvest, and research time becomes instant. (This happens to all teams, including the enemy.)
  • forcecarbon – Get 1,000 carbon.
  • forcenova, forcenovacrystals – Get 1,000 nova.
  • forceore – Get 1,000 ore.
  • forcefood – Get 1,000 food.
  • tarkin – Destroy everything belonging to all other players
  • darkside(1-8) – Destroy a specific civilization according to their # (1-8).
  • skywalker – Win the battle.
  • simonsays – Get Simon the Killer Ewok.
  • scaryneighbor – Get a Bongo Marauder.
  • tantive iv - Get a Rebel Blockade Runner.
  • that's no moon - Get a Death Star.
  • imperial entanglements - Get a Star Destroyer.

Easter eggs[]

Simonthekillerewok

Simon, the killer Ewok

Some levels also featured some easter eggs: In some marginal and hard-to-reach places (like mountain peaks, or areas behind trees that have to be harvested in order to reveal), some well-known characters can be found if the player decides to explore the corners of the map with air units:

  • On Naboo, during the second Trade Federation mission there is a place where you find Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Jar Jar Binks.
  • In the third mission of the Gungan campaign, Luke Skywalker, Yoda and R2-D2 can be spotted standing near Yoda's hut.
  • In the fourth Gungan mission OOM-9 can be spotted in the eastern corner of the map.
  • On Tatooine, C-3PO and R2-D2 can be found next to an escape pod.
  • On the first two Imperial missions, Mara Jade can be found somewhere on the map, though this requires cheat codes and she runs away when seen. Darth Vader will sometimes ask, "What is this?" when the player locates Jade.
  • Simon and Bongo Marauder appear when cheat codes are entered (see above).
  • One of the game's taunts is a parody of Samuel L. Jackson's line in Pulp Fiction: "Pigs are filthy animals. I don't eat filthy animals." In the game, "pigs" becomes "banthas."
  • A secret level can be found in the first Wookiee campaign; if the player advances to Tech Level 3, they can build a fighter, then pilot it to the far right of the map. This will uncover Obi-Wan Kenobi and Captain Quarsh Panaka, and will begin a mission to rescue Padmé Amidala from Tusken Raiders.
  • When you click on an Imperial trooper he will occasionally say the phrase "THX-1138 ready, sir." This is a reference to THX-1138, the first movie made by George Lucas.
  • When you click on an AT-AT walker, the pilot will sometimes respond by saying "They won't be back for the sequel," which breaks the fourth wall.

Aurebesh texts[]

Galactic Battlegrounds also contains many text easter eggs, found in the game's briefing/debriefing screens. While many of the screens contain gibberish phrases, some seem to be inside jokes between LucasArts employees. Notable excerpts are presented here by civilization:

  • Gungan: boss gallo/he has a big robe/one four/mesa sicka gungan guys; jerb wi 2 wjbe eks oh and by the way this is boss rogoe/a slave gungan why did george have to bring jar jar back in ep2?; so sad its my last day/i am going to miss this/its a game i hope like it; the two jedi in the gungan city hey did anyone see any gungan women?; orb of peace/naboo is victorious/long live naboo/PCP
  • Wookiees (Colonization of Alaris Prime): chewie/jp i love you/two one/harvesting food/status: not done yet/tomorrow for sure; image one/one two/wookiees approach/status; guarded heavy/will move forward cautiously/end transimission; obi-wan's lightsaber is long and dngerous/two hands are better than one/the ring; one two four/final town buildings/qui-gon/status: obi-wan is lost/check out the trees/hes in there
  • Trade Federation: teh tf tanks dstryd the the buildings/-dstry-capture-pillage; the search for the gungans has ended/c-whats d-up; -warning-droids no longer functioning
  • Galactic Empire: ooold/vader speaks/the lord of the sith/dodonna learns his lesson; Salvage the rebel base--take all survivors to command/processing for detention block b; mara jade occupation: bad ass/location death star code red surveylance; stormtroopers bad guys/s--jim tudner f--bob billy newman b--jack burton k--mike terpsta j--chris williams l--paul c pierce f--haden blackman; [The names of Paul Pierce and John Paul Soto appear at the bottom of all screens in the Imperial campaign.]
  • Rebel Alliance: random troopers/joey russo/this is echu shen can yog guess it really is; [Screen displays two X-wings flying over a forest] bob see any deer/yeah this is more fun than those banthas/not yet remember year when got that buck with my proton torpedo; all your base are belong to us; -you are here (pl)ease keep all (han)ds inside the boat at all times; yes its an eye ball uh 282n good old rotj; leia and luke looking on at rebels/what will they do who knows: ben kenobi does; boom yey the empire bast is one fire too bad its not jar jar/and this is fire shooting out of the doorw ohh ahh; the rebel transport ship otherwise known as a tunaboat/kiptan the boat smells like fish again/this will be earth in a few million years who would have ever thought; future site of dr. evil's new asteroid base...ohh haha
  • Wookiees (Liberation of Kashyyyk): han chewie buddies/solo action status: huge/gone today; bowcaster safety lock/chewie will kick your ass; run chewie/one two three/wookiee transports sail across the water; sttus: safe and secure/next mission comb matted fur; many parties among the trees/hiding ewok babies/wookiee party house; run run/free at last today/wookiee freedom at last/lando and han looking on

Game types[]

The original game comes with six solo-player campaigns with the expansion pack adding two more, all of which reflect events in galactic history. There is also a Standard Game feature, which pits human player(s) against a set number of AI opponents for control of a map. The standard goal is to defeat one's enemies by either forcing surrender or annihilation. Other variations include race to construct a Monument first, "King-Of-The-Hill" and regicide.

Technology and research[]

To acquire technology, the player must first construct buildings. Buildings are either economic, military or research orientated. Economic buildings will be drop-off points for resources as well as upgrades to worker gather speed. Military buildings can create new units, offer upgrades for those units or are defensive structures which help protect a base. Research buildings provide upgrades to units, buildings and defensive structures. The cost of the research will depend generally on the technology level and advantage that the research provides.

Technology plays a central role. Early in the game, players must balance economic and military priorities, allocating scarce resources. Too much emphasis on researching technology and moving through the Levels without creating manpower can leave an army vulnerable to attack. On the other hand, putting resources into a large population at the expense of progress can lead to defeat if the enemy has progressed and is able to field a small but more powerful attack force.

Monuments and holocrons[]

Vornatu

Holocron

Holocrons are special unique items that are scattered around the map, and can only be picked up by Jedi or Sith. Once placed within a Jedi Temple or a Sith Temple, a holocron steadily generates free nova crystals for the civilization that holds it (this reflects the historical realities of the power and influence that possessing knowledge has). Certain factions will gain extra crystals from holocrons, others will gain fewer. To capture a holocron from an enemy temple, the temple must suffer heavy damage to the holocron is ejected before its annihilation and then a Jedi/Sith unit can collect it. The standard skirmish victory condition allows for a "Holocron victory": if one player gathers all holocrons, a countdown begins, and if it expires, victory is awarded. (The Holocrons are similar in function to the Relics from Age of Empires II, for they are both stored in Temples, and generating resources: Nova crystals and gold, respectively.)

GalacticBattlegroundsImperialPalace

An Imperial monument

Monuments are massive structures that require large amounts of resources and time to build. If a player completes a Monument, and it stands intact for an uninterrupted period of time (400 game days), they win. Each civilization has their own Monument (typically a famous work of historical architecture).

Scenario editor[]

The game gives players the option of creating their own levels in the Scenario Editor. This allows players to create their own levels and even combine multiple levels into a campaign. The levels can be made using all terrain types featured in the game and can place every type of unit and building available in the game, including units listed as heroes which are characters that specifically appear in the campaigns, such as Chewbacca. Some other characters from the Star Wars universe can also be used in Scenarios that aren't anywhere else the game, such as Dash Rendar and the Outrider, as well as characters invented solely for the game, such as Excellency Lathe Parthenian and Tallamitta.

Units and factions[]

Each faction typically has a set number of advantages and disadvantages which ensures that the differences between each faction is not just cosmetic. Certain factions will be able to access various parts of the technology tree while others are denied certain upgrades. There are also a number of unique technologies and one faction specific unit trainable at the Fortress. These differences can be turned off at the beginning of a skirmish game so that everyone has access to the same technologies and units. In team games, there is a further bonus to that team.

Units separated with commas below means different versions of the same unit.

Galactic Empire[]

ASP-7droid

ASP-7, the Empire's basic labor droid

Faction Bonuses: Aircraft 5% cheaper, Upgrades to Heavy Mech units 10% cheaper Fortress builds 10% faster

Team Bonus: Mech units +10% speed

Gungans[]

Raaptur

A Gungan raaptur

Faction Bonus: Can construct underwater prefab shelters, buildings are organic and can self regenerate, Workers have 10% ore mining bonus in Technology Level 3 & 4.

Team Bonus: Ships -15% cost, Shield generators -15% cost

Rebel Alliance[]

RebelJavelin

Javelin

Faction Bonus: Farmers +5 carry capacity, Fortress +1 range, Line of sight and search radius, the Rebels have two unique units

Team Bonus:Farm food maximum raised by +35

Royal Naboo[]

RoyalCrusader

Royal crusaders

The Royal Naboo are not playable in the campaign mode, only in skirmish mode.

Faction Bonus: Nova collection +10%, Holocrons produce more nova, Fortress has increased attack versus mechs and heavy weapons

Trade Federation[]

Faction Bonus: No prefab shelters needed, Fortress +3 Anti-Air range Team Bonus: Heavy weapons +15% speed

Wookiees[]

Faction Bonus: Carbon collection is 5% faster in Tech Level 3 & 4, Fortress +5 line of sight and +10% strength

Team Bonus:Troopers +2 line of sight and +2 search radius

Species[]

Buildings and fabrications[]

UnknownMobileFlakGun

Unused concept art for a Flak Gun

Planets[]

Battles take place in the following background settings, also available for custom missions.

Reception[]

Critics believed that the game showed the limitations of the engine, which was probably not fit for sci-fi games: Laser shots often hit their target even when the craft wasn't pointing at them, and the proportions (like in the cases of AT-ATs or Rancors) were unrealistic.

Continuity[]

The game shows some historical and factual inconsistencies, such as telling players that the AT-AT was developed during the Galactic Civil War when in fact it was developed during the Clone Wars. Among the assault units in the game, the basic Trade Federation trooper is a B1-series battle droid, and the basic Confederacy trooper is a B2-series super battle droid. While the B2 is manifestly an upgraded version of the B1, the game makes them equal. Also, the NR-N99 Persuader-class droid enforcer, identified vaguely in the game as the "Corporate Alliance Tank Mech," is portrayed as much larger and more powerful than it actually was according to canon.

In some cases, levels are very different from the missions in the movies. For example, if the player is playing as the Empire on the Endor Mission, the Rebels have four bases; this disagrees with the movie and most canon sources, which state that the Rebel force deployed on Endor was limited. In the middle of the mission, the Millennium Falcon and R2-D2, C-3PO, Luke and Leia escape. This is inconsistent, too, as Luke was on the Death Star II at the time of the battle, and the Millennium Falcon and the multiple X-wings and Y-wings seen on the mission were fighting the Imperial Fleet.

Credits[]

By type
Cast Uncredited cast Crew Uncredited crew Special thanks

Cast

Crew

  • Garry M. Gaber: Director
  • Christopher Williams: Art Lead
  • Scot Brew, Bernard Eral, Bryan Erck, James Michael Gutierrez, Shinichiro Hara, Jeffrey Kember, Livia Knight, Michael Licht, Peter Tieryas, Sean Marr, Paul Murphy, Rob Nitsch, Paul Pierce, Allison Purdy, Josef Richardson, Kristen Russell, Josan Russo, Jonathan Sgro, Jennifer Sheldon, Daryl Smolen, Marcia Thomas, Carl Wattenberg, Martin Yee, and Jerril Yoo: Art
  • Greg Knight: Concept Art Lead
  • Ian Berry, Gregory A. Knight, Ti-Ning Kwa, Ashot Melkumov: Concept Art
  • Marc Overney, Animation Lead
  • Mike Dacko, Cathy Feraday Miller, Yu Hon Ng, Joe White, and Lisa Wong: Animation
  • Reed Knight: Level Design Lead
  • Brandy "Lily" Childs, Ryan Kaufman, Stephen J. McManus, Kevin Schmitt, Donald Sielke: Level Design
  • Matthew McManus and John Stafford: Level Design Balancing
  • Vernon H. Harmon II, Jenny Huang, George Ruof: Engineers
  • Charles W. Smith, Engingeers, Tools
  • Isa Anne Stamos: Producer
  • Nate Schaumberg: Assistant producer/Finnish tv star/Big in Japan
  • Chane Hollander: QA Testersmdash;Lead
  • Matthew Keast, David Silverstein: QA Testersmdash;Assistant Lead
  • James Barton, Phillip Berry, Ryan Bond, Eric Brummel, Jeremy Campbell, Jim Diaz, Nick Eberle, David Felton, Bryan Finoki, Brad Grantham, Jeffrey Gullett, Henry Hall, Alice Henderson, Toby Mast, Matthew McManus, Hugh Moore, Maximillian Alexander Roghi, Roger Romero, Matthew Rubenstein, Chris Susen, and Sean Thomson: QA Testers
  • Lynn Taylor: Compatibility Supervisor
  • John Carsey, John von Eichhorn, G. W. Childs, Eric Knudson, and Dan Martinez: Compatibility Technicians
  • Darryl Cobb: Network Compatibility Lead
  • James Davison: Network Compatibility Senior Technician
  • Jeff Sanders: International Testing Lead
  • Darren Hedges: Manager of International Production
  • Karen Ffinch: International Producer
  • Paul Purdy: Manager of Quality Services
  • Chip Hinnenberg: Quality Assurance Supervisor
  • Jay Geraci: Product Support Supervisor
  • Larry The O: Sound Design Lead
  • Andrew Cheney: Sound Design
  • Michael Frayne: Additional Sound Design
  • David Levison: Sound Design Supervisor
  • Malena Annable: Sound Department Coordinator
  • J. White: Music Editor
  • Darragh O'Farrell: Voice Director/Producer
  • Peggy Bartlett: Voice Department Coordinator
  • Cindy Wong: Voice Editing Lead
  • William A. Beckman, Hans Larson, Voice Editing
  • Burke Pemberton, Voice Editing Intern
  • John Williams: Original Star Wars music
  • Ben Burtt: Original Star Wars Sound Effects
  • Stacy Cheregotis, Chris Gollaher, and Kristi Kaufman: Lucas Licensing
  • W. Haden Blackman: Continuity Expert
  • Joel Dreskin: Product Marketing
  • Alexis Mervin, Heather Twist, and Tom Sarris: Public Relations
  • Kathy Apostoli: International Marketing / PR
  • Kevin G. Graas, and Alice Henderson: Manual Writers
  • Mollie Boero: Manual Editor
  • Logan Parr: Poster Editor
  • Cassia Dominguez and Patty Hill: Manual and Poster Design
  • Darryl Cobb, John von Eichhorn, Chip Hinnenberg, and Lynn Taylor: Technical Writers
  • Kellie Walker and Wendy Kaplan: CD Burning Goddesses
  • Greg Canessa, Matthew Esget: Special Thanks
  • George Lucas: Very Special Thanks


Appearances[]

By type
Characters Organisms Droid models Events Locations
Organizations and titles Sentient species Vehicles and vessels Weapons and technology Miscellanea

Characters

Organisms

Droid models

Events

Locations

Organizations and titles

Sentient species

Vehicles and vessels

Weapons and technology

Miscellanea

Sources[]

Notes and references[]

  1. News Archive for November 2001 by AoErat on Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds Heaven (November 13, 2001): "LucasArts Entertainment Company LLC is pleased to announce that Star Wars Galactic Battlegrounds for PC will be available for purchase on Tuesday, November 13th." (archived from the original on March 17, 2021)
  2. An alternate, "what-if" scenario that shows what could have happened if Gungans had won the Battle of the Great Grass Plains

External links[]

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