Last night hundreds of fans swept through the doors of San Francisco Best Buy, preparing to take control of Vader's apprentice in Star Wars: the Force Unleashed. Releasing at midnight, the game finally fills the mysterious gap between Episode III and Episode IV. Taking a new approach, the tales from a galaxy far, far away would open a new chapter in a familiar medium.
It's a massive change, taking advantage of the new generation of video game consoles and their ability to immerse players like never before. But that was not the only change in the air. Walking around, it was readily apparent that there is also a new generation of Star Wars fan ready to take hold of the franchise -- the kids.
Looking back to when I was young, I remember watching the Star Wars films, amazed that I was watching things I assumed only existed in dreams -- space ships flying through the air, aliens chatting and battling, and using one's mind in order to move massive objects. These things I could only imagine, and yet they were happening on the movie screen and I was able to actually see them as though they were real.
I was hooked, and so were countless of my friends, neighbors, and people around the world. We still sit starry-eyed when watching. Wandering Best Buy last night -- with all the monitors in their sample theaters playing Star Wars movies -- I caught myself momentarily forgetting I was in public, stopping in my tracks as Greedo and Han chatted in the cantina. Or perhaps as Jabba laughed his hearty laugh. I caught others forgetting as well.
Arriving after work, I assumed I was early - at least early enough to not have missed the brunt of the celebration. I quickly learned I was mistaken. Die-hard fans had been there for many hours, discussing stories, debating trivia, and taking part in the incredible contests. Up on a giant stage in the middle of the store, there were already members of the development team giving speeches and throwing swag down to the fans below.
Wandering over, it became apparent that the hardcore fans had beaten me there by a wide margin. There was Chewbacca wandering the crowd and being interviewed by a television news crew, dozens of Jedi walking through the aisles as regally as possible, and a Boba Fett costume that forced everyone to do a double take. And all of it took me back.
A short time later it was time for the actors from the game itself to grace the stage. First of the stars was Adrienne Wilkinson who played the part of Maris Brood. Sam Witwer followed as the face and voice behind the Secret Apprentice. As he spoke of his time in the game and the project, the highlight of the evening made his way to the stage -- George Lucas himself. Taking the stage together, the crowd went absolutely crazy. It was hard not to. It was a momentous night.
The fans had gathered, as they always do. However, unlike the groups I've stood in line at movie theaters with, this group had something different about it. Everywhere you looked, there were kids. Dozens of children, excitedly running around trying to get pictures with Chewie, Boba, and Darth. The remote-controlled R2-D2, courtesy of the local R2 Builders fan group, delighted them with its beeps and bursts of steam. And the controllers dangling from consoles exhibiting the game stole away their time. They stood, straining their necks to look high into the screen as they played.
Then I noticed that same look on the face of the seven-year-old holding his controller, wielding the power of Starkiller as he sent dozens of stormtroopers flying through the air. He was transfixed. It would seem these 31 years have passed, with the first generation of Star Wars fans slowly giving way to a new generation, sharing the power of the Force with their children. Once again it is kids, amazed they can experience those things we thought we could only dream. You know -- the ones about space ships flying through the air, aliens chatting and battling, and using powers of the mind to move massive objects.
For more snapshots from The Force Unleashed launch party, check out our Flickr set here!
