Nintendo of America, LucasArts Entertainment Company LLC, and Lucas Licensing better like working together. The three companies just inked a five-year worldwide deal that will span three new games - with limited exclusivity for Nintendo.

　　Two of those three titles will be based on Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace, the prequel to the popular Star Wars Trilogy, and will come in Nintendo 64 and Game Boy Color flavors. Episode I is scheduled to release in May, and the new titles will introduce new characters, new settings, and a new storyline. LucasArts will develop and publish the titles for the N64, andNintendo will build the same titles for the smaller Game Boy Color.

　　"The Star Wars franchise is undeniably one of the gold-plated entertainment properties of the 20th century," said Howard Lincoln, Nintendo of America chairman. "This agreement, launching new Star Wars video games surrounding the eagerly anticipated new Star Wars movie, propels both Nintendo and LucasArts aggressively into the new century of interactive entertainment."

　　The other title and first game due to retail under the agreement, Star Wars: Rogue Squadron, will hit North American shelves for the N64 on Dec. 7. Gamers will play Luke Skywalker as he pilots more than a dozen vehicles through 16 environments. It will also be one of the first titles to support the new Nintendo Expansion Pak - which boosts the title to a max resolution of 640x480. Rogue Squadron will sell for about US$59.99.

　　And with all the hype behind the upcoming movie, gaming titles based on the flicks should be equally popular with gamers.