The next Star Wars movie might not hit theaters until later this year, but that doesn’t mean you have to wait to reenter the galaxy far, far away. The video game LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens hits stores today, and it brings Episode 7 to life in a whole new way. The latest entry in the long-running LEGO Star Wars series lets you to play through a brick version of the movie as well as embark on six new adventures that plug into the start of Episode 7. In one, you help Han Solo and Chewbacca capture monstrous and deadly Rathtars. In another, you guide Poe Dameron on a mission to rescue Admiral Ackbar from the First Order. (Hopefully it’s not a trap!) Best of all: every actor from the movie recorded new lines for the game — including Han Solo himself, Harrison Ford! Before the game hit stores, SI Kids spoke with Graham Goring, the lead story designer on the game, to learn more about LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens and what went into creating it. To start, can you explain a bit what a story designer does?
It's kind of everything to do with any kind of speaking in the game. So sometimes it's telling the story, making sure that it's clear what's going on in terms of the plot. Sometimes it's directing the player so they can complete the missions more easily. If there's ever a point in the game where you're a little bit stuck and it's not something they can make visually clear, then maybe you have a little line of dialogue just to be, "Oh, hey, why don't we go over there and do that thing?" and just pointing it out a little bit. As a writer and story lead, does it help or does it make it more difficult that you have a full movie like The Force Awakens that you're trying to replicate as a video game? I think it's really useful, because obviously it means that I don't have to write a story. I don't think I'm actually particularly good at writing stories. It always helps me when I'm on a project that's got one or where the gameplay really directs the story. I'm sort of somebody who writes dialogue and jokes and things like that.
So I find it tremendously useful. Also, it really helps that we're making a game which is going to be humorous and funny and it helps that the movie is really funny. [The Force Awakens] has really great, whip-smart dialogue. So that's amazing, too. So, yeah, it's been brilliant having an amazing movie as the backbone for our game. When you're writing jokes or creating extra scenes for the game, what's your experience working with the people who are in charge of the overall Star Wars universe? How creative did you get with those new adventures? How did you work with Lucasfilm to create these? Yeah, do these games plug into the Star Wars canon?There is some original dialogue from the cast... How did that come together? Watching the trailer, a character like Poe Dameron sounds like he has a lot whereas maybe Han Solo doesn't have quite so much.That was surprising to learn you have lines from Harrison Ford. And then those lines include something like "Wookiee cookies,” which made me laugh pretty hard.
Is there a line or joke or a scenario that you created for the game that you're particularly proud of? Maybe setting aside the games you've worked on, do you have an all-time favorite game? Castlevania: Symphony of the NightUFO: Enemy UnknownGollopAmiga Do you have a favorite Star Wars movie? Episode IV: A New Hopesci-fi LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens is available for all major gaming systems (Playstation 4, PS3, and Vita; Xbox One and Xbox 360; and Nintendo Wii U and 3DS), both PC and Mac computer platforms, and iOS devices (Android coming soon). for more info on the game. Photos: Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment Star Wars: The Old Republic Learn more about the subscriber rewards program for Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ When you subscribe to Star Wars™: The Old Republic™, you automatically gain the following:Permanent access to all previous expansions and all content released up to and including your subscription period.
Full access to all aspects of the game for the duration of your subscription, with Preferred access afterward.500 Complimentary Cartel Coins per month while you are subscribed. Pre-launch Subscriber rewardsExcited about Knights of the Eternal Throne? We're offering additional rewards to players who are subscribed on the following dates:October 25, 2016:Begin your battle with a powerful ally by your side: Shae Vizla, an infamous mercenary and bounty hunter, joins you as a Companion in Knights of the Eternal Throne. Shae Vizla can be recruited through a story mission, or using a token that will be delivered to your characters via in-game mail, when Knights of the Eternal Throne launches. November 27, 2016:Rise above the battle with your personal Rapid Recon Walker Mount.You'll receive your Rapid Recon Walker Mount via in-game mail when Knights of the Eternal Throne launches.Be a subscriber continually between October 25 and November 27, 2016:Join the battle three days ahead of official launch, and play Knights of the Eternal Throne right after maintenance for Game Update 5.0 on November 29, 2016.
Be a subscriber on December 2, 2016:If you're a Subscriber on launch day of Knights of the Eternal Throne, you'll have full access to the new Chapters, and can begin your journey through five new, story-filled levels. We'll also make it easy for you to jump right into the latest chapters by adding one free high-level character token to your subscribed SW:TOR account. During the Chapter releases of Knights of the Fallen Empire, we offered additional rewards to players who were Subscribers on these dates:January 11, 2016:Recruit HK-55 in Game Update 4.1You will recieve an Alliance Alert to recruit HK-55 in once your character has completed Chapter IX: The Alliance.February 1, 2016:2 days early access to Chapter X: Anarchy in Paradise.Play Chapter X right after maintenance for Game Update 4.1 on February 9, 2016.HK-55-inspired JetpackLook for this in your in-game mail on February 9, when Early Access for Chapter X begins.March 1, 20162 days early access to Chapter XI: DisavowedPlay Chapter XI right after maintenance for Game Update 4.2 on March 8, 2016.HK-55-inspired helmetLook for this in your in-game mail on March 8, when Early Access for Chapter 11 begins.
April 1, 20162 days early access to Chapter XII: Visions in the DarkPlay Chapter XII right after maintenance for Game Update 4.3 on April 5, 2016.HK-55-Inspired WeaponsAdd firepower to your Alliance with the powerful new HK-55-inspired Weapon Set that includes HK-55’s Blaster Pistol, Vibrosword and Sniper Rifle.May 1, 20162 days early access to Chapter XIII: Profit and PlunderPlay Chapter XIII right after maintenance for Game Update 4.4 on May 3, 2016.HK-55-Inspired Ship Droid customizationsMake your 2V-R8 and C2-N2 droids look significantly more dangerous with HK-55-inspired Companion Customizations. June 1, 20162 days early access to Chapter XIV: Mandalore's RevengePlay Chapter XIV right after maintenance for Game Update 4.5 on June 1, 20162 days early access to Chapter XV: The GEMINI Deception Play Chapter XV right after maintenance for Game Update 4.6 on June 28, 2016Eternal Empire Patroller MountInpired by Zakuulan design protoypes, this elegant speeder will take you wherever your galactic adventures lead.
July 1, 2016In-game HK-55 Victory Stronghold DecorationInspired by the legendary Assassin Droid's prowess, this epic portrait will enhance the look of your Stronghold -- and is sure to draw the envy of all who visit!Look for your new Stronghold Decoration via in-game mail when Early Access for Chapter XVI begins. Be a Subscriber from January 11 through to August 1, 2016:Bonus Chapter! If you subscribed continually from January 11 to August 1, you gained access to an exclusive Chapter where you play as HK-55.This bonus chapter, Shroud of Memory, became available to play on September 7, 2016 for all eligible players. How do Subscriber Complimetary Cartel Coin rewards work?If you’re a Subscriber, you will receive your Cartel Coin Subscriber rewards as near as possible to every thirty days.Sometimes it may take a few extra days for the coins to appear in your account, but we’ll make every effort to grant them to you as close as we can to the 30-day mark in your recurring subscription.
If you’re using a Game Time Card to pay for your subscription, your Cartel Coin Rewards for newly added cards will only be added to your Ledger and in-game wallet once your current active game time has elapsed. You will receive two Reward grants for each 60 day card, one on the first day the time added by that card becomes active, and the other 30 days later. Each grant will be of 525 Cartel Coins.For non-recurring Subscriptions, the Rewards program works as follows:60 Days Fixed-time:First Reward Coins granted once payment is confirmed and game time is active, second grant at 30 days.Coins Rewarded: 525 each month for 2 months.Recurring Subscriptions work as follows:30 Days recurring subscription:Coins granted once payment is confirmed and game time is active.Coins rewarded: 500 every 30 daysYour payment method will be charged every 30 days and your reward coins for that month will be added to your account as soon as possible after that.90 days recurring Subscription:As above, additional grants at 30 days and 60 days.
Coins rewarded: 550 every 30 daysYour payment method will be charged every 90 days and your first set of reward coins for that Subscription will be added to your account as soon as possible afterwards.180 days recurring SubscriptionAs for 30 days with additional grants at 30, 60, 90, 120 and 150 days.Coins rewarded: 600 every 30 days.Your payment method will be charged every 180 days and your first set of reward coins for that Subscription will be added to your account as soon as possible afterwards.Please note that the numbers mentioned above are purely subscription based rewards and do not include any additional coins that may be due to you from the Friends of SWTOR program or from having a Security Key attached to your account.This is because your Security key grant and Friends Referral rewards are not granted at the same time as your Subscriber Rewards.The Security Key grant is every thirty days from the first granted coins, as long as you still have a Security Key attached to your account.
For many players their first Cartel Coin grant for having a Security Key on their account came with the launch of Game Update 1.5 on November 15th 2012 – and 100 coins will be rewarded every 30 days from that date on. If you added a Security Key to your account after November 15th 2012, you’ll receive your Complimentary Cartel Coins every 30 days from the date you added your Security Key, as long as it is still attached to your account.The rewards from the Friends of SWTOR program are granted at the same time that your referred friend(s) get their Complimentary Cartel Coins for their monthly subscription(s).If you have any further questions about your subscriber rewards or if you have not received them when they were due to you, please contact Customer Service.Why do I not receive my Complimentary Cartel Coins exactly every 30 days?As a Subscriber, you will receive your Complimentary Cartel Coins as close as possible to the start of your billing cycle. If your complimentary coins do not arrive on the date you expect, please wait for 72 hours before contacting Customer Service to report that you have not yet received them.