ring and online multiplayer technology.

LucasArts is a leading publisher and developer of interactive entertainment software for video game console systems and personal computers. The company was founded by filmmaker George Lucas to provide an interactive element to his vision of a state-of-the-art, multi-faceted entertainment company.
Since its inception in 1982, LucasArts has continually been heralded for its focus on creating rich, immersive worlds for players to discover. LucasArts games continually receive critical acclaim and attain commercial success, with the company¡¯s products often earning Game of the Year honors, including multiple awards from the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences.

Today, LucasArts continues to advance the art of game design, while still adhering to its original design philosophy: to create games that inspire, challenge and engage players. Consistent with Lucasfilm¡¯s movie heritage, each game combines vital film elements ?compelling storytelling, painstaking character development and vivid settings ?with interactivity or ¡°gameplay?acting as the element that distinguishes games from more traditional, linear mediums.

As a result of this pluralistic focus on both memorable storytelling and engaging gameplay, LucasArts?library of games has touched upon every possible human emotion by employing humor, creating exhilarating drama, and bringing to life the worlds of George Lucas?epic motion pictures. These emotions are infused into the adventures of the company¡¯s diverse cast of game characters, all of whom are either culled from Lucasfilm properties or the fertile minds of LucasArts?designers.

The Star Wars universe has proven to hold endless opportunities for videogame entertainment. In 2003, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR) won over 35 ¡°Game of the Year?awards and Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided became one of the fastest growing Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing games ever and quickly became one of the largest in the U.S. since its launch in June 2003.

Building off its success in 2003, LucasArts will unveil the next chapter of KOTOR in 2004-2005 with Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords as well as the first expansion pack Star Wars Galaxies: Jump to Lightspeed, which gives online players the opportunity to explore and engage in space flight combat. Further extending the LucasArts Star Wars library of video games into 2004-2005 is Star Wars Battlefront, the action/shooter game that gives fans and gamers the opportunity to re-live and participate in all of the classic Star Wars battles like never before. Star Wars Republic Commando gives players a unique look into the Star Wars universe by offering a squad-based first-person shooter that lets players explore the elite world of the Star Wars military. LucasArts is also committed to exploring exciting and new original titles such as the explosive game Mercenaries, a revolutionary third-person combat-action game that gives players the opportunity to take on the role of a soldier for hire in an open-ended world.

Over two decades after releasing its first game, LucasArts continues to introduce new heroes for the next generation of gamers, consoles and computers. These latest games are brought to life not only by the company¡¯s talented internal development studio, but also through relationships with leading independent development teams from around the world. These premier developers collaborate with LucasArts to further strengthen the company¡¯s lineup of innovative and award-winning interactive entertainment. This creative partnership extends to LucasArts?sister companies, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and Skywalker Sound, whose unique world-renowned talents further enhance the technical excellence of LucasArts?products.

While the characters, settings and styles of games in the company¡¯s portfolio may be diverse, every game shares an attention to detail that has become the hallmark of LucasArts. The company prides itself on creating interactive journeys that succeed both as games and as stories. In turn, gamers feel like they are not only playing a game, but actually living the life of the game¡¯s hero ?experiencing the character¡¯s triumphs, tragedies, and even moments of levity as can only be portrayed by the talented designers at LucasArts.