Book Review: The Art and Making of Star Wars Force Unleashed

September 17, 2008 by Parka

The Art and Making of Star Wars Force Unleashed brings you behind the scenes into the game development process, while staying close to artists' drawing boards.

This book is choked full with breathtaking concept art, character designs, diary entries and screenshots from the game. It features over 300 pieces of art work in 168 pages. On two pages are pasted paper pockets, with each containing 5 character cards.

If you've owned the "art of" series for the Star Wars movies, expect the same high quality environment paintings. But this one goes up one notch with beautiful page layouts. It's the art magazine type of layout, so the every page design is essentially art in itself. Great effort from the book designers.

The 6 chapters in the book explains the game creation process in depth. That's from the development of a concept, to the pitch and approval stage, next to character studies, then environment and finally the technology behind.

There are lots of nitty gritty details that you won't read on Internet interviews. The authors bring you to the cutting floor and let you read all about the discarded ideas.

After reading the book, you'll literally feel like you've worked with these people (most probably as an intern).

For Star Wars fans, you have no reasons not to get this book. For people interested in concept design and animation, this book has lots of insight for you. This book is a great source of inspiration.

Be careful of the binding though. The part where the cover meets page 1 seems like they will come apart in the future. Easily fixed by pasting some clear tape to fix the problem before it develops.

Visit Amazon to check out more reviews.

If you buy from any links on the blog, I get a little commission that helps me get more art books to feature.

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Comments

I just want to comment you on

Darius (not verified)
May 23, 2009,
1 year 14 weeks ago
Comment id: 239

I just want to comment you on the great work done for these reviews. It's really very helpful!

Just awesome! :-) Thank you

Alex (not verified)
September 18, 2008,
1 year 49 weeks ago
Comment id: 443

Just awesome! :-)
Thank you very much for your efforts!

If, like me, someone is interested in such books there seems to be no really good information on the net about the quality of the books.
Here at your blog one can get a good impression what you get for your (hard) earned money.
Thanks, thanks, thanks!

Kind regards from Germany.