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February28th

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Star Wars: The Old Republic Dev Diary talks Taris

Posted in: Developer Dispatch

BioWare has put up a new developer diary for Star Wars: The Old Republic over on the game’s official site. The video talks a bit about the planet Taris, how it was devastated by Darth Malak, and how instead of just being a giant swamp like it is in the lore, the developer decided to play around a bit with it so that the Republic and Imperial factions can fight over it.

Remember – it also has Rakghouls, and they want to infect you. Run, Han, Run! The game is tentatively scheduled for 2011, but we want it, like, yesterday and such.
February24th

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Star Wars: The Old Republic to be at E3 2010

Posted in: Pre Launch build up

The guys over at Bioware have just posted on the SWTOR facebook page, that they are chatting with LucasArts about this years E3. It’s not yet clear what will be on show but expect it to be some exciting reveals as we build up to the launch in 2011. E3 is in June.
February12th

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Star Wars: The Old Republic update – Taris revealed

Posted in: Pre Launch build up

Once home to a thriving civilization, Taris was razed by the Sith Lord Darth Malak 300 years ago during the Jedi Civil War. As a symbol of hope, redemption, and defiance, the Republic has begun an unlikely effort to re-colonize Taris. To do so, they will have to deal with the toxic soil, dangerous pirates, and ferocious rakghouls – the only survivors of the Sith bombardment. Determined to overcome the challenges, Republic and Jedi leaders are moving forward with the effort. However, Imperial intelligence has other plans…

Access the HoloNet to read about the history of Taris and the re-colonization of this ruined world swarming with rakghouls. Also, see the scarred surface of Taris in this video and visit the media section for exclusive screenshots, concept art, and wallpapers!
February9th

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Star Wars: The Old Republic to miss ‘Spring’ 2011 launch window?

Posted in: Pre Launch build up

EA’s confirmed that BioWare’s Star Wars MMO, The Old Republic, won’t make the publisher’s next financial year, casting a previous “spring 2011″ release date into serious doubt. Speaking in EA’s Q3 earnings call last night, CFO Eric Brown said the game won’t ship in the 12 months ending March 31, 2011. “We are not assuming that we bring a major new MMO to market in fiscal ‘11. We will continue to increase significant development cost as we prepare this title for launch,” he said.

Both EA and Lucas has previously said the game is aiming for a “spring 2011″ release. Getting pedantic, “spring” starts on February 1. Using super sleuth skills, that means The Old Republic is releasing next April. Or not, obviously. As CEO John Riccitiello added, the costs involved here are gigantic, so don’t be hugely shocked when this inevitably trundles off into the back half of next year. “It’s a significant cost,” said the exec. “MMOs can cost as much as two to six, seven times as much as a front-line title, if they’re done right.

“It is a major investment for us.” Brown eased through analyst questions in the call last night by assuring the mega-costs involved in developing the game will be repaid in full.

“I think the important point here is you ask that title goes live, and we’re not giving any specific date, we’ll move from a net OpEx investment mode to a highly profitable op-income contributor,” he said.

“So it’s a pretty important step change, when you compare a year with the MMO active versus the development stage that we’re currently in this fiscal year.”

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February8th

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Lego Star Wars II announced

Posted in: Other LucasArts releases

Activision’s announced Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars for a release this autumn for PS3, 360, Wii, PSP and DS.

The game takes place during the first seasons of the animated series, with characters from both series’ and the previous LSW titles.

“The LEGO Star Wars franchise is a massive hit with fans, bringing in sales of over 20 million units worldwide. We’re thrilled to extend this experience to LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars, delivering the humour and fun players expect from this award winning franchise,” said Darell Rodriguez, president of LucasArts.

“LucasArts is an amazing partner, and working with them on the next iteration of the LEGO Star Wars series continues to be a great experience,” said director at TT, Tom Stone.

Full PR below.

*LucasArts and TT Games Bring Back the Award-Winning LEGO^® /Star Wars™/ Series with LEGO^® /Star Wars/^™ / III The Clone Wars/^™ / /*

LONDON, UK – 8^th February, 2010 – LucasArts and TT Games today announced the development of LEGO^® / Star Wars/™/ III: The Clone Wars/^™ /./ The next chapter in the award-winning LEGO^® / Star Wars/ videogame franchise, LEGO^® / Star Wars III: The Clone Wars/ will combine the best elements of all previous LEGO^® games while adding brand new gameplay to make it the most action-packed LEGO^® videogame to date. Developed by the same team at Traveller’s Tales that created the critically acclaimed LEGO^® / Star Wars/ and/ /LEGO^® / Indiana Jones™ /series, the game will ship on the Wii™, Nintendo DS™, PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, and Xbox 360^® videogame and entertainment system from Microsoft and Windows in the Autumn of 2010.

“LucasArts continues to set the bar for next-generation family entertainment,” said Darrell Rodriguez, president of LucasArts. “The LEGO^® / Star Wars/ franchise is a massive hit with fans, bringing in sales of over 20 million units worldwide. We’re thrilled to extend this experience to LEGO^® / Star Wars III: The Clone Wars, /delivering the humour and fun players expect from this award winning franchise.”

“LucasArts is an amazing partner, and working with them on the next iteration of the LEGO^® / Star Wars/ series continues to be a great experience,” said Tom Stone, director at TT Games. “The team at TT is working hard at making this simply the best LEGO^® game ever with all new gameplay and features never before seen in a LEGO^® game.”

LEGO^® / Star Wars III: The Clone Wars/ will include all the characters from both seasons of the hugely popular animated television series, /Star Wars: The Clone Wars,/ as well as some fan-favourite characters from the beloved theatrical /Star Wars/ Saga. The game will feature brand new battle modes, giving players unique, head-to-head combat and an upgraded level builder, allowing the creation of customized bases and in-game battlefields. Play either as a Jedi or Separatist with all-new character abilities, such as Squad command, Lightsaber slicing, Lightsaber jumps, long distance Jedi attacks and Grapple Tie-Ups, all within a new, easy-to-navigate hub.

For more information on LEGO^® / Star Wars III: The Clone Wars/ please visit http://www.legostarwars.com/
February8th

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BioWare explains two Sith in Star Wars: The Old Republic update

Posted in: Pre Launch build up

BioWare writer Rebecca Harwick has explained the developer’s decision to create two Sith classes in its upcoming Star Wars MMO, The Old Republic.

Profiling the Sith Inquisitor class, Harwick explained, “When we set out to build our game, we knew we needed more than one Sith class. The original trilogy only has two Sith in it, but they couldn’t be more different: the heavily armoured brutal physicality of Darth Vader compared to the frail but immensely powerful Emperor Palpatine.

“When we extend our inspiration to Episodes I-III and The Clone Wars cartoons, Count Dooku, Darth Maul, and Asajj Ventress further expand our concept of what a Sith can be. Is a Sith a lithe quick fighter who uses the Force to enhance his/her physical combat prowess, a calculating deceiver adept at Lightsaber duels, or a master manipulator and amasser of dark side secrets?… Having multiple Sith classes allows us to embrace all of those Sith inspirations, instead of having one Sith class that was the jack-of-all-trades and the master of none.”

But Harwick said the decision was made for story decisions as well as class differentiation. “With two Sith classes, we have the opportunity to explore the Sith order from two very different perspectives, to develop a more complete picture of the Sith Empire at the time our game is set, and to present strikingly different character arcs and choices…

“And where that other Sith class starts in a position of privilege, born to lead and prepared from childhood for training at the Academy on Korriban, the Sith Inquisitor begins the game as a slave, plucked from obscurity and toil in a highly stratified, unforgiving Empire because of his Force-sensitivity and sent to become a Sith or die.”

It’s not just the Sith that get such close attention in The Old Republic; there are two Jedi classes too, the Knight and the Consular. You’ll also be able to play as a Smuggler, Trooper, Bounty Hunter or Imperial Agent. You can read the full entry here
January29th

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Star Wars: Battlefront online in the works?

Posted in: Other LucasArts releases

SOCOM: Confrontation developers Slant Six Games are working on a new Battlefront game with LucasArts, known thus far as Battlefront Online. That’s according to a rumour from Kotaku. Obviously, the name implies it is online only.

The rumour states it is currently in pre-production, with a 2011 release for the game on PS3 and 360. It seems this has now become what Battlefront III used to be. Free Radical, who were rumoured to be the original developer of the now possibly canned game altogether, went into administration before Christmas of 2008.

They were soon bought out by Crysis developer Crytek, first confirmation of which came from Haze writer, Rob Yescombe. Nothing has been heard out of Battlefront since last year, when leaked footage of the shooter appeared online. There was, before Christmas of last year, talk of it still existing, however.

Casting director Chris Marazzo confirmed it was still alive, but the Kotaku report cites it was actually for Battlefront Online, and not BFIII.
January27th

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Player Spotlight – January 2010 – Ellegos

Posted in: Community Love, Player Spotlight

In this months Player Spotlight, we sat down with forum regular Ellegos and asked him some questions about him, what he plays and about his upcoming idea for a brand new Star Wars: The Old Republic Radio Station.

Enjoy!
January27th

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Is there a Dr in the house? Eurogamer live chat with Dr Ray Muzyka

Posted in: Community Love, Pre Launch build up

BioWare’s big boss Dr Ray Muzyka will be answering Eurogamer readers’ questions live on the website this Thursday, 28th January.

Be here at 5pm GMT to see what he has to say. Or be here from 4pm GMT to submit questions to the BioWare co-founder, general manager and co-CEO.

Muzyka joins Eurogamer on the eve of European Mass Effect 2 release. And the accolades for the PC and Xbox 360 space opera can come no higher, as Eurogamer awards the role-playing game a 10/10.

Editor Tom Bramwell called the game “utterly essential” and said this series could become the most important in BioWare’s history. Considering that BioWare created Knights of the Old Republic, Baldur’s Gate, Dragon Age and Jade Empire, those implications are eye-popping.

But Muzyka’s influence on the world of RPGs does not stop at BioWare: having been acquired by EA in 2007, the good doctor now finds himself as the senior vice president of EA’s entire RPG/MMO Group, which presides over Mythic Entertainment.

With Mass Effect 2 on our doorstep and Mass Effect 3, more Dragon Age and Star Wars: The Old Republic on the horizon, few come bigger than BioWare’s Dr Ray Muzyka.

Have we made him sound important enough now? Because he is, he really is.

Obviously demand for this one will be sky-high, so get your questions in early and make them count. So visit Eurogamer.net on Thursday and enjoy the chat
January22nd

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Star Wars: The Old Republic Friday Update – Galactic Timeline

Posted in: Pre Launch build up

A new holorecord in the Jedi Archive tells the story of the Sith Empire’s surprise attack at the start of the Great War over 28 years before the Sacking of Coruscant. Master Gnost-Dural notes the brilliance of the Imperial military’s carefully orchestrated assault which put the Republic at a disadvantage for the duration of the conflict.

BTC 28 – Centuries after being driven into exile, the Sith Empire returned from deep space to launch the most calculated military assault in Republic history. Strategically revealing its attack in a menacing manner, the Sith struck fear into the hearts of the Republic’s defenders even while orchestrating surprise attacks at carefully targeted locations across the galaxy. When the Republic fleet rushed to respond, they discovered the Sith had established puppet governments on several planets in the Outer Rim. Surrounded by enemies and traitors, the Republic fleet was forced to scatter, allowing the Sith Empire to sweep through most of the Outer Rim without further challenge. The Empire’s initial victories put the Republic at a disadvantage for the duration of the Great War.

Watch the sixth Timeline holorecord, Onslaught of the Sith Empire, narrated by actor Lance Henriksen.