Upon your initiation into the Sith you will realize much of their culture and origins are still a mystery. The race itself was largely unknown until the Dark Jedi were exiled to Korriban, the Sith Capital, and began to subjugate the Sith with their rules and philosophies.
While the Dark Jedi ruled Korriban they married and [...]
January 02, 2004 - Not so long ago in a galaxy not far away, developer BioWare and publisher LucasArts lifted the hearts of countless CRPG aficionados by announcing Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, the first game of the genre within the latter’s hugely popular universe. That time was the summer of 2000. We [...]
For years, console and PC RPGs have lived in segregated worlds, borne of a common source but separated by audience and history. The time has come, finally, to end this abominable discrimination, and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic will be the game to bridge this gap? not only is it intensely hardcore like [...]
Looks like someone snuck in ahead of everyone else! Don’t even pretend you’re surprised. Before today’s LucasArts and BioWare press conference, IGN and Gamespot let slip Star Wars: The Old Republic — you know, the MMO based on BioWare’s massively successful Knights of the Old Republic series whose name was trademarked back in July.
What we [...]
Ever wonder what it would be like to step into the boots of the legendary Han Solo? To be a spacer bent on nothing but making credits and looking for the next big game of chance, so you could blow all of the credits you earned while your feet were propped up on the console of your trusty smuggling vessel? To have a reliable Wookie sidekick co-pilot and an attitude that makes even a princess call you a scruffy looking nerf herder?!?!
Well…. We don’t really know if you can have the wookie sidekick or a nice princess to be your character foil. But we do know that you can have all of the other fun stuff, which is definately a start.
The devs at Bioware and Lucasarts finally announced the next playable character class. The Smuggler. Interestingly enough, the Smuggler class seems to continue holding true to the boasts that were made about the overall play style of Star Wars: The Old Republic. It seems that every class has a unique story that throws the player into a different saga each time. Not only that, but the individual classes all bring something new to the table of combat.
It has been discovered that the Smuggler class has some rather interesting aspects over the other classes thus far. Someone, somewhere decided that being charming and handsome, simply wasn’t enough to get by in the galaxy as a smuggler. So they added some neat tricks for players to exploit in combat. This includes the ability to take cover behind objects, which has been formerly unheard of for any of the other classes. The Smuggler also gets a rapid fire ability which puts many holes in targets before they really know what hit them.
The downside to all of this is that, while it looks like the Smuggler is going to be some serious DPS in the game, it’s also been stated that the armor sets for the Smuggler class are going to be in the medium range. Meaning that all of you gung ho “Rush straight up the middle” folks might have to settle for the Commando Class, because you will not be taking a blaster bolt to the face and shrugging it off with a shake of your head and a manly grunt as a Smuggler.
All in all, with a few fancy moves with a blaster and some epic story telling, the Smuggler may be one of the most enjoyable classes that SWTOR has to offer. Lets hope the Devs can deliver!
E3 2009. What more needs to be said? It is closed to the public but that does not mean we don’t get little bits to drool over. Everyone was waiting for any information regarding Star Wars: The Old Republic. New Videos. New information. More mouth watering visuals that make you fall deep into the spell that is Star Wars. All of this and a little bit more was released today at the Electronic Arts Conference at E3.
Didn’t get to catch the E3 Electronic Arts Conference live stream? Here is what you missed.
The EA insignia lights the screen for a long moment as you feel like the press conference has ended. But then a familiar orchestral drumming begins in the background. No one has uttered a word about what was coming next. The room goes completely pitch black as the familiar theme begins to grow in your mind as something you recognize a little more with each note. Before long, you recognize the song as one of the epic themes to Star Wars.
Many robed forms begin moving around the room. They make their way up to the stage. In the darkness you think you see something glint as if it were the silvery hilt of a lightsaber. And then two prominent figures part the crowd, completely shrouded in robes that you commonly associate with Jedi Masters.
Red and blue energy blades suddenly lance skyward as many lightsabers are ignited in tandem. Finally, at long last, the lights cut on, and the two robed and hooded figures reveal themselves.
Standing before everyone on the conference stage is none other than Dr. Ray Muzyka and Darrell Rodriguez.
Ever heard of the phrase, “Go big or go home?” Apparently Dr. Muzyka and Mr. Rodriguez have. Star Wars: The Old Republic is now the final act on stage and they deliver with nothing less than an epic entrance. In the brief moments of awe and fantastic wonderment, Star Wars lives again with renewed vigor.
Once uncloaked and made known to the room, the two representatives from Bioware and Lucasarts begin to lay out what their new project is all about. I know a lot of gamers have been waiting a long time for something to sink their teeth into. Star Wars fans all around the world have been waiting on the edges of their seats for something to dream about. And here it is. The first real link to the galaxy we all anxiously await to play in.
SWTOR is going to be the first MMORPG of it’s kind. Talking up a game is cheap unless you can deliver, but talk from Bioware and Lucasarts is something that can be taken to the bank on payday. Some juicy tidbits have been loosed from our reps there on stage. Such as the fact that SWTOR will deliver thousands of lines of actualspeech. Yes! Actual voice over speech.
According to Ray, every character in SWTOR will have their own voice and lines. Remember when you played Star Wars Galaxies? Remember how everything you ever did only had sound effects and music to go along with it? Think back with me now and imagine if you will, if you could dive back into the Star Wars Universe and actually make ethical decisions whilst talking to a Jedi Master and actually hear their deep and wise voice respond. Watch as their face and mouth move like a real Star Wars movie. Where Star Wars Galaxies left off in our minds, SWTOR reaches in to pick up the 5 year gap and rein in loads of new content and exciting new experiences.
Simple audio isn’t all that we will get to delve into when this game releases however…
Not only do we have the aspect of audio stimulation, but we have also been gifted with that well talked about, “Fourth Tier.”
It has been stated that SWTOR will deliver a completely different playing experience for every class in the game. If a player decides to play through the game as a Bounty Hunter first, and then at Endgame, choose to start over as a Commando, or say a Jedi….
Every single class has their own story that can be brought into different and interesting lights with your own ethical decisions implanted into your gaming experience. Literally, the actions you decide to take in the game will shift the balance of the story, and sway the ideals of the companions that you will bring along for the journey.
Not excited about SWTOR yet? Don’t believe anything that I have said? Well if giving us some new information isn’t enough to keep your appetite for Star Wars absolutely ravenous… Then I have one more for you.
At the end of their presentation, Ray and Darrell stepped aside to show us all… “Something cool.”
And here it is. I don’t know about you all, but I think that maybe “cool” is an understatement….
Dark horse has joined in the fun and will be creating a
new, entirely online comic series to introduce people to the SWTOR mmo. Star
Wars: The old Republic – Threat of peace will be out this month.
“War between the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire has
gripped the galaxy for generations, but the sacking of Coruscant and a
subsequent peace treaty are changing everything. As the Republic scrambles to
re-establish order, the Sith Empire moves quickly to consolidate power within
its new dominion. Behind closed doors, however, individual Sith Lords engage in
a quiet but deadly power struggle, and discord breaks out among the Jedi as they
wrestle with the moral implications of the new galactic balance. During these
chaotic days, the stories of several critical characters interweave as they
pursue their passions, stand up for their convictions and ultimately lead the
galaxy back to the brink of a catastrophic conflict.”
This should be great for those loreseekers who wish to
know what has happened in the 3 decades between the signing of the Treaty of
Coruscant, and the beginning of SWTOR.
Bioware has also announced their next
playable planet for SWTOR:
Hutta!
We’re thrilled to announce the next playable planet in
Star Warsâ„¢: The Old Republicâ„¢, the Hutt homeworld known in The Old Republic
timeframe as Hutta. Nowhere in Star Warsâ„¢ lore has Hutta been so richly
realized, and players will be able to explore the first true interactive
realization of the “Glorious Jewelâ€.
Read more about Hutta and its rich history including the long standing
tension between the rebellious Evocii natives and the greedy, power-hungry Hutt
Empire. View the concepts of
Hutta’s harsh, polluted environments and see how the development team brought
Hutta to life in these screenshots.
“In Huttese, the name translates into “Glorious Jewel”, and
the planet more commonly called Nal Hutta is considered a paradise to the
gluttonous tastes of the Hutts. To anyone else, though, the planet is a living
nightmare—a disgusting and dangerous place to visit, and an unthinkable place to
live. Current Underworld slang has shortened the name to a simple ‘Hutta’—a
place where more civilized people threaten to send their children if they
misbehave.”
Sean Dahlberg has posted an update about art, 3d, and the realism that will be used in Star Wars: The Old Republic. We have added this and more content to our screenshots section.
Here’s an excerpt and some of the images from the article:
Art style is often considered one of the most important aspects of a gameplay
experience. Done well, it tells a story all by itself, and evokes the mood that
immerses you into the character and the environment. Since the announcement of
Star Wars: The Old Republic, there has been a great deal of interest regarding
the game’s visual style. We’d like to share some more behind-the-scenes
information with you and show how our Art Team came to develop what we have come
to call “stylized realismâ€.
The artists of The Old Republic have been hard at work. From the barren landscapes of the Sith Academy to the exotic Tython ruins, the inspired team has developed even more screenshots and concept art to reflect the Star Wars Universe. The following images are what Bioware and LucasArts have been able to release for the December media update on The Old Republic.
There have been swirling rumors recently regarding a micro transaction system being implemented into Star Wars: The Old Republic. We have neither been able to confirm or deny the existence of a micro transaction system in the game yet but we’ve gone ahead and compiled a list of pros and cons for people who might not be familiar with what a micro transaction system is and how it affects MMORPGS and possibly Star Wars: The Old Republic.
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First a definition of what a micro transaction system is:
A typical micro transaction system in an MMORPG involves the company that created the game making money from the players in small amounts as the game is played, instead of a monthly charge. Players are charged for items in game, bonuses, and other benefits that players can purchase for a nominal fee. The idea is that with enough players purchasing small amounts of items/bonuses that the game can sustain itself without monthly fees.
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Pro: Players are not charged for inactivity, meaning if they don’t play for a month then they don’t have to pay the monthly fee.
Con:
To be competitive in the game you’ve got to spend real money - The link to RMT (Real Money Trading), which many players despise, presents itself in games where you have to spend real life money to get ahead in the game. Some players feel that the game associating itself with the selling of their virtual items will lead to problems and is an unfair method for other players to advance themselves.
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Pro:
Player items have a real value in a secondary market. For example if a new light saber costs 15.99 from Bioware it might only cost 10 dollars from a player - Creating value for the selling player, and the ability for other players to buy at a discount.
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Con:
Often game companies prevent or discourage player selling. There has been no official word yet from Bioware but if they restrict the selling of items then they will have the Monopoly, many players argue that this isn’t fair.
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Pro:
The game is free to play for anyone who wants to play it, money is not required to play the game.
Con:
Those that spend money will have a large advantage over those who cannot afford, or are not inclined, to do so.
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Pro:
Micro transaction systems arguably force the game to add new content, items, quests, and fun things for players in a more regular pattern - in order to spur sales and keep players buying the game company has to add new things to buy.
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Con:
Arguably the game could release things that might not benefit the overall game in the long term, but benefit their pocketbooks in the here and now.
GameSpy recently interviewed Dr. Ray Muzyka, the General Manager of Bioware and Vice President at Electronic Arts, as well as Dr. Greg Zeschuk, the VP of Development Operations at Bioware and VP at EA. All information gleaned from the exclusive interview can be found in an article titled The Old Republic: BioWare Returns to Star Wars (PC). This interview reveals why BioWare has decided to take on the world of MMOs, what plans are being developed to accomodate the massive game, and a plethora of other SWTOR information.
Here is a brief excerpt taken from the original article:
GameSpy: Here’s the big question! From your earlier interviews we know that BioWare is going to focus on story as a major part of the experience. But how can you incorporate meaningful story into an MMO universe, where everyone has to share the same world? What techniques are you using? What can people expect?
BioWare: Storytelling is BioWare’s greatest strength and we think it’s a critical part of the gaming experience whether you’re playing online or offline. More than anything, we’re trying to bring this high-quality storytelling to the MMO space to make a game that’s really as compelling and emotionally engaging as it can possibly be. There’s a lot of amazing stuff going on in the “Star Wars” universe during this time period, and we’re giving players the opportunity to get involved in some truly galaxy-spanning plots in which their choices will really make a difference.
These storylines are each crafted to match the fantasies represented by each of the classes: As you can imagine, an epic fantasy for a Jedi is quite different from a saga tailored to a Sith. Though all the different classes in the game are playing in the same galaxy, and in the same virtual space, they’re getting caught up in a really diverse set of storylines and interacting with a lot of different characters. So while they may be visiting many of the same places and sharing a lot of adventures, each player will also be pursuing his or her own personal storyline, a storyline that develops and really changes pretty dramatically based on the player’s choices.
One of the things that makes this especially cool is that you can play through the game as one class, and then pick up another class and have an entirely different storytelling experience which focuses on entirely different themes and activities. You’ll visit brand-new worlds, learn some deep secrets about what’s going on in the galaxy, but you’ll still be an epic hero (or villain) taking part in a story which we intend to be as big and as exciting as the original trilogy of movies George Lucas created!
BioWare and LucasArts have released a video documentary providing an inside look at the creation of SWTOR. If you have been looking for a better explanation of the game, this is a great video to check out. The video features comments from VP of publishing Mary Bihr, VP of development Dr. Greg Zeschuk, director James Ohlen, co-founder Dr. Ray Muzyka, and producer Jake Neri. The actual game footage within this documentary is the first of any gameplay displayed for the public. New screenshots and concepts are also found throughout the video.
Head of community relations, Sean Dahlberg, has released more news on the SWTOR story. In this article the overall experience that the developers of SWTOR have been aiming for is revealed. Ultimately both Bioware and LucasArts have identified four main pillars that will be used in the construction of the SWTOR experience. Exploration, combat, progression, and story are the main ingredients that will be added to this one of a kind MMORPG.
Sean promises that writers of SWTOR are composing an experience that will completely immerse the player. The development team hopes to create a story that will make those who play feel a connection with their character. With this character a player will make choices that influence individual plot. The development of character and plot line have both been left open. This means a player will shape their story through the decisions made.
Due to the multiple paths a player may take throughout the game, the writers of SWTOR have been hard at work creating more content than is seen in most games. The consequences and outcomes for all decisions will lead the characters through variety of unexpected twists and turns. Some players plots may actually intertwine, while other will simply be experiencing a story all thier own.Â
Class selection will also influence the SWTOR story. Each class has its own individualized plot. These differences will determine what drives the character and to where they may journey. To make this experience even more unique, the addition of companion characters will also enhance the feeling of being immersed in the Star Wars Galaxy. Each companion has a personality all its own, as well as many strengths, weaknesses, and struggles. A companion character will think for itself and react to descisions accordingly. Often the companion may aid and agree with the player, but not always.
LucasArts and Bioware plan to incorporate all of these elements into SWTOR in an effort to make an experience like no other. They believe that the main element that will draw players in is the story. More information about the SWTOR story is expected to be made public in the future. To learn more visit the official SWTOR website.
Senior writer and management editor Alexander Freed recently posted a blog about story writing for the upcoming SWTOR MMORPG game. Freed reviews some of the major aspects Bioware writers have taken into consideration. It is explained how the overall story foundation is based on the traditional Star Wars elements. Freed also reflects on the building blocks the writers have used, as well as the overall plan to create the Star Wars “feel”. As is explianed in the blog, maintaining continuity with other well known Star Wars storylines is a major obstacle. To read more about the Bioware team’s response to SWTOR development challenges visit the official SWTOR website.
Head of community relations, 
Senior writer and management editor Alexander Freed recently posted a blog about story writing for the upcoming SWTOR MMORPG game. Freed reviews some of the major aspects Bioware writers have taken into consideration. It is explained how the overall story foundation is based on the traditional Star Wars elements. Freed also reflects on the building blocks the writers have used, as well as the overall plan to create the Star Wars “feel”. As is explianed in the blog, maintaining continuity with other well known Star Wars storylines is a major obstacle. To read more about the Bioware team’s response to SWTOR development challenges visit the official 