Star Wars: Droid Works
| Star Wars: DroidWorks | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Developer(s) | Lucas Learning |
| Publisher(s) | Lucas Learning |
| Engine |
Sith Engine (rendering and gameplay) INSANE Engine (cutscenes and video only). |
| Platform(s) | PC (Windows 9x), Macintosh |
| Release | 1998 |
| Genre(s) | Third-person adventure |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
Star Wars: DroidWorks is a 1998 educational adventure video game, and the premiere edutainment title of LucasArts subsidiary Lucas Learning. It was built from the same engine as LucasArts' Star Wars: Jedi Knight. The creators aimed to make a program that appealed to both genders, and designed it to avoid violence. The release date was moved up by a number of months, resulting in the development team having to cut some of the game's features.
The game's plot involves the player saving the galaxy by manufacturing droids that can complete secret missions based on certain specifications such as the ability to see in the dark or to jump. These missions are where the educational properties come into play, as the missions puzzle specifies, it will teach the player about energy, force and motion, simple machines, light, and magnetism.
Star Wars: DroidWorks was met with high praise from critics, sold very well, and went on to win a number of awards and accolades.
The game was developed by LucasArts subsidiary spin-off Lucas Learning. The company had originally been created to produce consumer products, but was reimagined as a developer of direct-to-school curriculum products in the fall of 1998. This marked George Lucas' first foray into the edutainment space. Star Wars DroidWorks was the premiere title of Lucas Learning, and one among a series of Star Wars games to be released their new sweep of edutainment titles. The title was also one out of 175 created by third party software developers for the newly launched iMac platform. Lucas' directive to the company was to design a game that would allow players the freedom to explore and create like Erector Sets and Legos. The initial concept was thought up by project leader Collette Michaud. who pitched a game where players could design their own Star Wars droid and watch them animate.
General manager of Lucas Learning Susan Schilling said that Droidworks did not require the player to use bombs or guns to progress, noting that the only weapon required is the player's mind. The team had a concerted effort to make the game equally appealing to girls and boys; recent research had shown that both genders liked interactive software and like to "make their own story" so they wanted the program to be able to encourage girls to become better at maths, science, and computers. The player's decision-making and curiosity would lead to their progress in the game. In a press release, Lucas Learning described their game as a "unique combination of construction set and strategy game". Susan Schilling and senior director of worldwide developer relations at Apple Computer Clent Richardson agreed that the Apple Mac was the best platform to play the game on. The development team sought aid from both a Kid Advisory Group and Subject Matter Experts, in order to make a game that was both appealing to young gamers and scientifically factual.
...
Wikipedia