Lucasarts seeks fighter pilots for new network game, X-WING VS. TIE FIGHTER, a Star Wars multiplayer space combat simulation
Battle Head-To-Head In X-Wings and TIE Fighters For First Time San Rafael, Calif. -- The ultimate battle between the Empire and the Rebel Alliance will be fought this winter with the release of the first Star Wars network game, X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter, a Star Wars multiplayer space combat simulation, from LucasArts Entertainment Company. The PC CD-ROM game can be configured in single player mode or multiplayer, which will allow up to eight players to team up as a squadron or compete against each other via modem or a local area network.

X-Wing vs Tie Fighter Whether in single or network-play mode, X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter will offer players a choice of more than 15 original mission scenarios set in a variety of familiar

Star Wars environments, ranging from asteroid and space junk fields to the Endor star system, around which the Death Star battle in Return of the Jedir was fought. Players will have more than a dozen Rebel, Imperial and Pirate starfighters at their disposal, from which they can engage each other in assorted deep space dogfights.

"Technology has finally reached a point where we can offer networked games without compromising gameplay," said Mary Bihr, director of sales and marketing for LucasArts. "X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter will offer the same compelling gameplay experience that single-player games have always offered, with the additional thrill of real-time head-to-head combat against other Star Wars pilots," reassures Lawrence Holland, head of Totally Games, a development studio working in conjunction with LucasArts in the development of Star Wars space combat simulations.

X-Wing vs Tie Fighter Multiplayer/Network Mode
Prior to each new mission in multiplayer mode, players determine whether they want to fly for the Rebellion or the Empire. After choosing a flight group of starfighters, they are briefed and provided with goals, objectives and role descriptions and may communicate with squad mates to discuss battle tactics. 3D inflight maps will be available in real-time to assist players in determining mission strategy as well as providing rendezvous points.

Once engaged in battle, players can assume the controls of a single starfighter or multiple craft. Squadrons are controlled by issuing tactical orders either through the 3D map or a series of keyboard commands. Missions in X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter have been specially designed to promote cooperation between squad mates, allowing pilots to both send and receive messages to wingmates or enemy pilots. Players will quickly learn that collaboration between teammates is necessary to the success of each engagement. After a mission is completed, pilots are debriefed and scores awarded according to the successes of each pilot.

Single Player Mode
While gameplay is similar to that in multiplayer mode, X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter will have several missions specifically designed for single play. Players can choose between a series of conflicts fought by the Rebellion or the Empire, ultimately enabling them to perfect various battle tactics that can be applied in multiplayer mode.

Upgraded Game Engine
X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter features a fully upgraded version of the graphic engine used in previous X-Wing and TIE Fighter games. The engine will use new texture-mapped models, with ship details taken directly from the Star Wars archives at Lucasfilm, allowing for the most realistic in-flight graphics to date in a Star Wars space combat experience.

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