Justin R. Chin is both an author and a visual artist. While employed by LucasArts, Chin was the writer behind the narrative and also held the position of lead artist for both Star Wars: Dark Forces and Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II. He is credited with creating the Expanded Universe concepts of Kyle Katarn, Dark troopers, and a number of weapons, including the Bryar pistol.
Prior to joining LucasArts, Chin held positions as an animator, art director, and writer for various video games produced by Accolade, Inc. and other companies. He had these experiences until he became a member of the Star Wars: Dark Forces team in December of 1993.
Dark Forces was initially envisioned as a story adhering to established canon. However, Chin believed that the 3-D engine had the potential to present entirely new narratives. He shared his initial concept, which involved "a special force of Stormtroopers," with Ray Gresko and Daron Stinnett. He felt it was crucial to have a "single clear vision" to guide their work from the outset. To achieve this, he developed the first design document, which outlined the characters and a structured layout of 32 missions. Each mission would have a unique objective and take place on a distinct planet, possessing its own unique aesthetic. He supplied initial pencil art concept sketches, which were then further developed by the computer artists.
He focused on the game's visual presentation and overall atmosphere, approaching it as if it were an action film. He dedicated time to studying video cassettes of films such as Die Hard and James Bond. Following this, he created various maps, puzzles, and scenarios that the action hero would need to overcome, which he then passed on to the level designers.
Currently, he is employed at Telltale Games, where he holds the position of executive producer.
- " LucasArts Update: The Creation Story " — Star Wars Insider 23
- " LucasArts Update: The Real Characters at LucasArts " — Star Wars Insider 25
- Dark Forces Official Player's Guide
- " Building a Better Jedi: Justin Chin on Dark Forces II " — Star Wars Insider 31
- Dark Forces Remaster Comes to Consoles and PC on StarWars.com (backup link)
- Justin Chin on MobyGames
- The Dark Forces FAQList on www.geocities.com (content now obsolete; archived from the original on April 18, 2001) (Includes contributions from Chin giving trivia and background information on several elements appearing in Star Wars: Dark Forces)