NEW YORK The new force will be with Nintendo. The video game manufacturer bested Sony for the most coveted movie title next year, Star War’s Episode I: The Phantom Menace.
Nintendo will create two games, one from the original Star Wars movie, and one from the new Menace movie. The three prequels from director George Lucas will concentrate on the early life of villain Darth Vader.
“The Star Wars franchise is undeniably one of the gold-plated entertainment properties of the 20th century,” says Nintendo chairman Howard Lincoln.
LucasArts Entertainment Co. will develop and publish the Nintendo 64 games, while Nintendo will develop the same titles for its hand-held Gameboys.
The first game, Star Wars: Rogue Squadron, will hit stores Dec. 7 while the game based on Phantom will be released when the movie comes out in May.