In this part of a continuing expanded universe series, we look at the effect that Star Wars PC and Video Games have had on the story arcs of the EU: their relevancy, their impact, their meaning in the grand scheme.

In the olden days, the Expanded Universe was very thin. But for LucasArts, the olden days were a day of legend, when every game they churned out was made of solid gold. Some would argue that holds true today for the most part; it's a debate. But in the early-mid 90's, it was fact.

Perhaps the earliest game that would begin to have significant impact was Dark Forces. It was a classic first-person shooter that introduced the world to Kyle Katarn, the first bona-fide Star Wars gaming hero. His story of redemption, going from Empire to mercenary to Rebel hero, is one of familiarity. But at the same time, there was something different about him. His full glory would be realized in the sequel to Dark Forces, Jedi Knight.

The game was a revolution. Today, the mere mention of its name send chills up the spine of any seasoned PC Gamer. To this day, the game remains a legend. For many FPS players, it was their first experience with the "mouse-look", the concept of using the mouse to aim and shoot, rather than only relying on the keyboard.

It was also revolutionary for its gameplay, its architecture, and its innovation: the first of many SW games allowing the player to choose light or dark side, and the stunning use of real actors in its cutscenes. The part where Jerec, the main villain, challeneges Kyle to join the dark side was overwhelming to me in my youth.

But more importantly, it set the stage for a real EU story arc: soon, there would be illustrated TBP novels chronicling Kyle's story, and there would be an expansion pack and two more games which continued his journey. He would even receive mention in EU novels: a recognized character, not just a game.

The gaming world thus became an extension of the EU: with such games as Shadows of the Empire serving as alternate media to the novels from which they were drawn from. The games and the EU are symbiotic, supporting the same entity, and drawing gamers into the EU novels and comics, and drawing EU fans to dabble in gaming.

But the pinnacle of the EU/Gaming relationship thus far was reached in 2003, with the release of Knights of the Old Republic, easily one of the best SW games of all time, and even perhaps one of the greatest overall games of all time. The story was one we heard before, a hero fallen from grace, looks for redemption and finds companions, love, and his destiny. But the way in which it was told is what matters: and KOTOR's story was the finest.

Drawing partially from existing EU sources, KOTOR follows the post-Exar Kun era, when the Sith and the Jedi were armies at war, not just adversaries settling things with a few lightsaber duels. The rich story and characters were enthralling, and such names as Revan, Malak, and Bastilas are household names (at least in SW houses).

The voice acting really brought them to life, and they became real people, especially Bastila, the best female Star Wars character since Princess Leia. Her strengths, her flaws, her feelings, all of them were so lifelike. She truly was a gem, so real to the point where I became more interested in the romance sidequest than defeating the Sith.

So where does that leave us? It's simple: the world of gaming and the EU are one. Videogames are merely a visual extension of the EU, and when they are done right, they become an important part of the continuously expanding universe.......................