It's always sad when someone in this industry steps down, and this is no different - as LucasArts President Jim Ward is finally hanging up his ten-year tenure at the company that brought us lightsabers and spaceships. Find out why and what's in the future for Jim Ward after the jump.

Before the "wtf?! this is not news!" comments start, we're gonna jumpstart this post by saying that yes, we know this is not news, and this has absolutely nothing to do with any aspect of Lego Star Wars gameplay, but we just found this vid so funny that we had to post it here.

We know some of the *cough*older*cough* gamers out there are probably harboring "Princess Leia in the gold bikini" fantasies, so maybe this one's for the younger gamers out there who want to see Princess Leia gone wild. Check out this vid posted by mcre8ive over at YouTube which shows Lego Leia strutting her stuff and dancing on top of a table...all in front of the bewildered and mesmerized Han Solo. Heck, you'll even see Han bobbing his head to the beat of My Humps. Bwahaha.

Why don't you guys just check out the action yourself, here's the video of Leia shaking her booty to the Black Eyed Peas. Enjoy! (If the video doesn't load because YouTube's having some site whatever, then you can just use the "Via" link instead.)

LucasArts and TT Games definitely went for the masses on this one. A week after LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy was released worldwide, it proved to be more than just a fun-for-family videogame. In fact, it sold more than 1.1 million copies in all the eight platforms, making it the biggest family game title this year.

LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy is a sequel to LEGO Star Wars: The Video Game and has been released September 11 in Europe and September 12 in the US. It can be played in PC, PS2, PSP, Xbox 360, Xbox, Nintendo GameCube, DS and Game Boy platforms.

The Original Trilogy is a massive hit because the new features allow you to create new characters and adjust the difficulty level. Above all, it's a neat family game that combines the tongue-in-cheek fun of rearranging Lego bricks and the most famous moments of the Original Trilogy itself. Parents admit that they found this game a great way to bond with their kids.

Well, it's obvious that the geniuses at LucasArts and TT Games have already figured this out in the beginning.

Buy: [LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy - Xbox 360]
Buy: [LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy - PSP]
Buy: [LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy - DS]

The Force was definitely with Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy as it lightsabered its way through zombie hordes and gangs of thugs to reach the top spot in the UK Sales Charts this week. LucasArts' multiformat title has become the tenth Star Wars title to gain a number one position in the UK all formats charts. It debuted at number 3 in the UK sales charts last week even before it was officially released, so this development isn't unexpected.

Here are the chart's top five games:

1. Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
2. Dead Rising
3. Saints Row
4. Cars
5. Test Drive Unlimited

Buy: [Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy (Xbox 360)]
Buy: [Dead Rising]
Buy: [Saints Row]
Buy: [Cars]
Buy: [Test Drive Unlimited]

Game releases for this week is said to be one of the biggest ever for the United States, with a whopping 46 new titles for various consoles. NDS players will have a lot to choose from this week, whether it be from popular franchises such as Mario Hoops 3-on-3 and Mega Man ZX, to the more original and new Cooking Mama and Harvest Moon.

Available for all platforms this week is LEGO Star Wars II, one of the most anticipated games since its prequel. LEGO Star Wars II will feature similar gameplay to that of its prequel, and of course, will allow gamers to mix and match the heads and bodies of  their beloved Star Wars characters. Below is the complete list of DS games to be released this week:

- Cooking Mama
- Harvest Moon DS
- LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy
- Mario Hoops 3-On-3
- MechAssault: Phantom War
- Mega Man ZX

May the Force build with you! And although talk like Yoda, we are tempted to... We'd spare you the agony. Besides, LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy will be out by Sept 12 across a lot of platforms, and surely by that time, you'd be bombarded by a lot of Yoda-speak from the fans.

Anyways, we have new screenshots for you. More familiar scenes from the original trilogy that we can play, build, and zap our way through in the game. That's what's fun about the game: based on Star Wars Episodes IV, V, and VI, you can do just about anything in the game: ride whatever vehicle, build and battle through various parts of the trilogy, and exchange the different parts of your LEGO characters! That's what's LEGO is all about, anyways. You get free reign, you get to do whatever you want. Endless customizability! And speaking of choice, the game will be available in Nintendo DS, GameBoy Advance, GameCube, PC, PS2, PSP, Xbox 360, and Xbox. [insert Chewie's guttural moan of excitement]

   
  

You've watched the trailer. You've ogled at the screenshots. You doodled permutations of various Star Wars characters you've mixed and matched. Heck, you even watched all six Star Wars installments (even if this game would feature only "A New Hope," "The Empire Strikes Back," and "Return of the Jedi") to prepare yourself for tongue-in-cheek-laugh-out-loud-Star-Wars-70s-nostalgia LEGO Star Wars game.

Unfortunately, this LucasArts game is set to be released not until September, so while waiting for the LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy, why don't you take a look at these screenshots we have for you?

Do you know what galaxies from far, far away are made of? We do. Lego parts. Want proof?

   

   
We told you so. These are latest screens LucasArts Entertainment has to offer. Lego Star Wars II which is set to be released in September 16, utilizes Lego parts for a child-friendly retelling of the original Star Wars saga. Sure to entice both new and old fans alike, the game lets player relive the exciting and breath-taking 70s original moments.

All the characters - like Han Solo and Chewbacca - originally from Lego Star Wars will be available in this sequel if you didn't forgot to save them.

Have some good, old Star Wars fun the LEGO-way. The new game from LucasArts, LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy takes a stab at Episode IV: A New Hope, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Episode VI: Return of the Jedi with a comic twist. Players get to follow the Rebel Alliance crusade to put an end to the Galactic Empire and rebuild the galaxy in pieces.

See Darth Vader pursue Princess Leia in her Blockade Runner, get to ride various creatures and mix and match different LEGO body parts to create new characters (Make Darth Yoda, Princess Chew-Leia, or Luke-Han-Solo).

And maybe - just maybe - with all the hype surrounding the scheduled September 13 release of this undoubtedly interesting game, a lot of retail sites might have got caught in all of it. Some people who've tried to pre-order LEGO Star Wars: The Original Trilogy may have come across Costco's site, and in the haste to get their names listed on that pre-order list, they didn't check the game's price: Costco listed the game as costing  $35.99 instead of $44.99. They say it really is a big ad mistake on their part. So if you've ordered already, make sure you did a double-check on the price listing, and... on your wallet as well.

In a galaxy far, far away LucasArts reveals the box art for LEGO Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy game for the Nintendo DS. A comic take on the original Star Wars Trilogy - A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi - it takes you on an adventure as you follow the Rebel Alliance's battle against the Galactic Empire, to the infamous Dark Vader's pursuit of Princess Leia to a Death Star showdown all in classic LEGO style.

This time around in Free Play mode, players can awaken their inner Frankenstein, as they can customize more than 50 new playable characters by mixing and matching body parts. This feature plus by using a game save from the first LEGO Star Wars, gamers have access to more than 100 characters. Other additions include character-specific attacks and maneuvers, Power Brick power-up items, playable mini-kits, an improved two-player camera, tougher puzzles, increased difficulty levels and more.