Here are my thoughts on this.
A while back LucasArts was rumored to be making three games, an FPS game, an aerial combat simulator game, and an RPG. Now we're seeing listings for an action game and an RPG game that LucasArts might be unveiling at E3 this year. What we know for sure, LucasArts will be showing SOMETHING at E3.
Based on those listings, they're making two games, which is different from those original rumors. BUT, if one was to put the FPS (which can sometimes be an umbrella term for shooters in general) and the aerial combat together, viola, we get Battlefront. The RPG that was rumored a while back could be what they're working on with the Wii U. Who knows, like many of you, I think that an MMO for the Wii U is unlikely.
That being said, let's just say hypothetically that the MMO listing for Wii U is a mistake. Where would that leave us? With an action game by LucasArts across all platforms. Now going by what the Wii U is supposedly doing, which is getting all of the third parties to start making games for Nintendo again (like the good ol' days) it would make sense to have a new Star Wars game that's multi-platform be on the Wii U, which will be able to handle just as much as the PS3 and 360 can. Think about this through the eyes of LucasArts. Nintendo wants third party developers, they're going to have a huge launch (Nintendo always does) and what better way to make some money off that than to have a Star Wars game come out for a new system, as well as current ones?
There isn't much evidence to show that it could be Battlefront, if anything it might be something completely different. Maybe it IS some kind of MMO, who knows. BUT, with all of the recent Free Radical pre-alpha stuff coming out, and some alpha-stuff as well (those new screenshots), one can't help but wonder why all of that is coming out NOW. Has it anything to do with the recent outcry from the fanbase regarding Battlefront 3? Perhaps. Maybe it has something to do with that they're planning on announcing at E3 this year.
Another fact of the matter is, one group has been super silent about this since 2009, and that's Free Radical, who eventually turned into Crytek UK. Could they be making the game? They haven't really talked about anything since the leaked footage and the downfall of the company. Timesplitters 4 also died with them, but just a year ago things like this started cropping up:
http://www.videogamer.com/news/xbox_720 ... ard_2.html
Does that mean that Free Radical's properties went to Crytek? Would this include Battlefront 3? I'm sure LucasArts would have to make another deal with them or something, but who's to say they didn't? Free Radical also said after they went under that all of the tech and assets died with them, but there was never any proof of that other than the word of an employee or two, who weren't even that high up in the company anyway. If there's one thing we know for sure, it's that any Lucas brand doesn't go into business without knowing that they'll have FULL ownership over any Star Wars related property. Maybe when Free Radical went under LucasArts seized the unfinished game and is now finishing it in-house, or maybe they've passed it onto Crytek UK. Timesplitters 4 is still being made (maybe..) so many Battlefront 3 is too?
One thing I found interesting is that the recent screenshots of the Free Radical game:
http://www.behance.net/gallery/Starwars ... -3/3246397
Were posted only two months ago, and if you look at the location of where the poster is, he's in the UK, same place as Crytek UK (obviously).
Anyway, these are just some of the things keeping me going after the Spark debacle.
