For fans who grew up with the original trilogy, an imagined Star Wars universe built from LEGO bricks undoubtedly inspired scores of X-wings and Death Stars cobbled together from the various LEGO kits available at the time. When LEGO became an official Star Wars licensee in 1998, the floodgates were opened for fans to recreate their favorite ships and environments with masterfully designed kits which still retained the signature LEGO look. Now, fans can finally immerse themselves headlong into the LEGO Star Wars universe with the release of LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game.

Recreating environments from Episodes I, II, and III, players will get to experience Podracing on Tatooine, dueling with Darth Maul, piloting a Naboo starfighter, and battling the droid onslaught in the Geonosian arena, among others. Players will be able to control the likes of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Yoda, Padmé Amidala, C-3PO and R2-D2, as well as notorious dark side enemies Jango Fett, Maul, and Count Dooku. There are over 30 playable characters that can be unlocked throughout the game, each with a unique ability to provide access to new areas and to solve puzzles.

Developed by Traveller's Tales and published by Giant Interactive Entertainment, LEGO Star Wars will be the only Episode III title released with an E rating. According to Giant Development Director Jonathan Smith, this is a game for everyone. "Right from the start we wanted to create a game that was acceptable and fun enough to be played by younger players and families. We've taken great pains throughout development to test it with players of all ages and to give sufficient depth for those who play the game over a long period of time."

Smith describes the decision to take the LEGO Star Wars universe into the gaming realm as a natural one. "We came to LEGO with big ideas for the kind of games we wanted to see, and spent some time experimenting and drawing up plans to find the best place for us to put these ideas into action. It came as entirely natural that we look to the fantastic story universe of Star Wars, with the world's favorite characters, so much exciting action, and epic scope. And of course, the LEGO Company had been creating playsets and vehicles in the Star Wars universe since 1999 with The Phantom Menace, which had already established the world of LEGO Star Wars in people's imagination. So the step to take it into the video game space felt entirely natural. We were delighted that the folks at LucasArts and the people throughout Lucasfilm were willing to give us the chance to prove what we could do."