Star Wars: Old Republic - MMO

[Obi Chris Kenobi]

Posted by: Obi Chris Kenobi April 03, 2009 12:48 am
CODE
Title: Star Wars: The Old Republic
Genre: MMORPG
Development Phase
Projected Beta Date:
Projected Release Date:
Website: http://www.swtor.com



This video is voice acted and describes the timeline of when SWTOR will take place. Warning its for SW geeks only. The most revealing part of the video is near the end...it gives away that there will be 16 planets in the game. 8 controlled by the Sith and 8 controlled by the republic.

The more work I see Bioware putting into this game the more I cant wait for it.


http://www.swtor.com/info/timeline/timeline1

There are small pieces of ingame footage...but it is looking like bounty hunters (with jetpacks) will be part of the game...see 3:25

http://www.swtor.com/media/trailers/video-documentary-2

Really looking forward to this. Bioware introduced one of the best rpg ever made with KOTOR, can they bring out the best mmo ever made. Time will tell but I hope so.

Posted by: dubq April 03, 2009 07:40 am
I can't get into those links from work. Is this going to be on the consoles as well?

Posted by: Obi Chris Kenobi April 03, 2009 12:21 pm
They're thinking about it, but its not confirmed.

 

[Smues]

I don't do the MMO thing, so I'm sad they're doing this and not KOTOR 3.

 

[Obi Chris Kenobi]

http://www.eurogamer.net/videos/e3-star-wars-the-old-republic-jedi-vs-sith

Get the Kleenex and enjoy.

--
I can see this working like Guild Wars with the semi live 'instances' for group of 15 or whatever, otherwise it'll just be crowded to hell.

 

[Sabre]

This could be the first MMO i ever consider buying.

 

[Obi Chris Kenobi]

If they do it right I'll be pick it up for sure, not sure how my girlfriend will react to that - only gave WoW up about a year or so ago! Strangely she doesn't mind me on the xbox, which I can't work out, I guess its the stigma of online PC games that gets to her.

 

[Sabre]

Aye, my gf will happily put up with me rocking to guitar hero etc, but if i stick in a RPG she goes off on one.

Stupid bint.

 

[vivisectvi]

Sweet motherfuck that trailer is awesome. I'm all over this. Is it PC only or are there going to be console versions as well, a la the DC Universe MMO?

 

[Obi Chris Kenobi]

I think its PC first with option for consoles. The more I think about this the more I see it becoming a mini MMO like Guild Wars. KotoR games only allowed you to have several people at once in your team, so if its still team based, I reckon that's how many people you'll be able to take into your 'world' with you at a time. I guess we'll know more over the following months, but I'll at least buy retail and use the 30 day free sub to decide if its worth it.

 

[Next USC #55]

I don't do the MMO thing, so I'm sad they're doing this and not KOTOR 3.

I'm with this guy.

 

[bps21]

I don't understand why they don't have someone making KOTOR 3. Enough time has passed that people aren't going to hold the fact that KOTOR 2 wasn't as good as 1 against a new one. They're leaving a lot of money on the table.

 

[Obi Chris Kenobi]

Why make a game that will sell at $60 once, when you can sell a game that will sell at $60 once, then bring $10 every month afterwards? But yeah, I'd have preferred KotoR3 so I didn't have to pay subs to play it, but I guess this is a cost cutting method on their part.

They can develop one game engine and churn out several game's worth of storyline on that one engine/release/expansions.

 

[Anakin Flair]

Watching the trailer, all I could think was that I want this MOVIE. Good god that would rock.

I'll only get this if it's on the 360, as there is no way my computer could handle it.

 

[Sabre]

gotta remember that its a fmv and the game could look like shit

 

[Obi Chris Kenobi]

The in game footage I've seen doesn't look far removed from what previous KotoR games looked like.

 

[vivisectvi]

As long as it's on par with Force Unleashed I'll be happy.

 

[Sabre]

If the kombat plays like KOTOR but must be played online i will happily play this till im a size of fat bastard and covered with cheesy poofs.

 

[Obi Chris Kenobi]

Not sure, but I just want more information on it - MORE MORE MORE! I'll defo sign up for Beta if I can.

 

[Obi Chris Kenobi]

http://www.swtor.com/info/holonet/classes
http://www.swtor.com/info/holonet/classes/trooper
http://www.swtor.com/info/holonet/classes/bounty-hunter

Still only two classes revealed, but the mini vids for each one is decent enough.

 

[Conspiracy_Victim]

I'm looking for the Mandalorian class. Barring that, I think Bounty Hunters will work out just fine.

I'm still trying to figure out how they're going to balance the classes enough to keep Jedis and Sith from being way too overpowered.

 

[Obi Chris Kenobi]

Man, those original KotoR games don't stand the test of time too well - they've aged terribly.

 

[El Psycho Diablo]

Man, those original KotoR games don't stand the test of time too well - they've aged terribly.

I have to disagree. Graphically, perhaps..but the game play is just fine. Even if KOTOR 2 is hurt by being so incomplete.

Then again, this is from somebody who still plays Baldur's Gate.

 

[Obi Chris Kenobi]

Preview on Eurogamer - http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/star-wars-the-old-republic-e3-2009-preview

 

[vivisectvi]

Oh shiiit. I just put down a pre-order for the CE version of this.

Early Access
Color Stone to change your weapon effect
Pre-order Star Wars: The Old Republic with GameStop and receive Early Access and Color Stone to change your weapon effect!

Online Customers: A code with instructions will be emailed to you with pre-order.
Store Customers: A code with instructions will be available at time of pre-order.

Once codes are sent, you will be unable to cancel your order. Cancellation of order will deactivate your registration.

Exclusive Gentle Giant Darth Malgus statue
Game disks collectible metal case
The Journal of Master Gnost-Dural as annotated by Satele Shan
The Old Republic galaxy map
Music of Star Wars: The Old Republic CD
High-quality Collector's Edition box
Includes 7 additional Digital Items:
Flare Gun: Fire flares into the air
Training Droid: Hovers at your side for combat assistance
HoloDancer: Project your own holographic dancer
HoloCam: Keep visual records of in-game adventures
STAP: Sleek and unique in-game vehicle
Exclusive Mouse Droid: Spunky Droid to join your adventures
Exclusive Collector's Edition Store: Unique in-game vendor with an assortment of items
Custom Security Authentication Key

Also, some more videos..

Star Wars The Old Republic: Join the Fight Trailer HD

Star Wars: The Old Republic. Newest E3 Trailer Preview

Star Wars: The Old Republic Cinematic Trailer - E3 2010

Star Wars: The Old Republic - Intro Cinema

..and the latest info from the Wiki entry!

Gameplay
The Old Republic will use cover mechanics for the second time in MMO gameplay; the first being Tabula Rasa.[8] Members of the two main factions – the Galactic Republic and the Sith Empire – will have different moralities; the project's key focus is to differentiate between the player's faction and morality.[9]
Unlike traditional MMOs, classes in The Old Republic are not limited to the typical archetypes (healer, tank, melee DPS, ranged, etc.). BioWare has stated that each class will support on-the-fly customization that will allow any class to fill any role within a party, eliminating the need to spam channels in search of a specific class needed to fill a role within a group, which can delay or outright stop parties from completing group-quests. While each class in The Old Republic will still favor a certain play style (be it ranged, melee, or otherwise), customization combined with companion characters will make for having a class be able to tackle many different situations, with or without the support of other player characters, and without requiring specific other classes in order to move forward.[10]

Players' choices will permanently open or close storylines and affect players' non-player character (NPC) companions.[9] The game's developers believe that the game will provide more context for characters' missions and quests than other MMORPGs offer. Every character in the game, including the player character, will feature full voice dialog to enhance gameplay, and interactions with those characters will feature a dialogue system similar to that used in the Mass Effect series.[9] Players will be able to choose from a variety of NPCs, although spending time with a single companion will help more in developing story and content than dividing time among several,[11] and may even develop a love interest.[12] It is possible for players to "blow it big time" if they fail to meet NPCs' expectations.[11] Players will also have access to dozens of planets,[9] including Korriban, Ord Mantell, Nal Hutta, Tython,[13] Coruscant,[14] Balmorra,[15] Alderaan,[16] Tatooine,[17] Dromund Kaas,[18] Taris,[19] Belsavis,[20] Voss,[21] Hoth, [22] Corellia,[23] Ilum[24] and Quesh,[25] and the moon Nar Shaddaa.[26] Every player will receive their own starship, which was announced at Electronic Entertainment Expo 2010.[citation needed]

Footage of space combat was released at Gamescom. The short clip provided by BioWare revealed that space combat would be a "tunnel shooter."[27] A tunnel shooter, otherwise known as a scrolling shooter, is a flying game where the player is on a predetermined track. Game play includes moving right and left on the X axis and up and down on the Y axis; however, players won't have control of the speed of their space craft. Jake Neri, LucasArts Producer, told PC Gamer in their upcoming October 2010 issue that their goal is to "capture the most cinematic moments that we can create. We want players to get in and feel like they're in the movies. It's about highly cinematic, controlled combat moments ... very heroic, action-packed, exciting, visceral and dangerous encounters that'll make you pee your pants."


Plot
The story takes place in the Star Wars fictional universe shortly after the establishment of a tenuous peace between the re-emergent Sith Empire and the Galactic Republic,[28] 300 years after the events of the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic games, and more than 3,500 years before the events in the Star Wars films.[9][29] The Jedi are held responsible for the success of the Sith during the devastating 28-year-long Great Galactic War (which led to the Treaty of Coruscant prior to the Cold War), and thus choose to relocate from Coruscant to Tython, where the Jedi Order had initially been founded, to seek guidance from the Force.[9][30] The Sith control Korriban, where they have re-established a Sith Academy.[31] The game begins as new conflicts arise.[9]

A collaborative effort between BioWare, LucasArts and Dark Horse Comics has resulted in webcomics entitled Star Wars: The Old Republic – Threat of Peace and Star Wars: The Old Republic – Blood of the Empire, the purpose of which is to establish the backstory as the game opens.
BioWare has stated that the game will have a significant focus on the storyline, unlike other MMORPGs that disregard storyline for the sake of gameplay.


Species
There will be a range of playable species for the player to choose from. So far confirmed are Chiss,[32] Human, Miraluka,[33] Mirialan,[33] Rattataki,[34] Sith Pureblood,[33] Twi'lek[35] and Zabrak.[33] Although Humans can pick any class available, other species have been restricted to only several classes each.
An E3 2011 gameplay footage video showed a Rattataki Bounty Hunter.


Classes
Each faction will contain different classes, each with a distinct backstory and a branching storyline affected by players' moral choices.[9] Classes will also be exclusive to one faction or the other, however, the classes of one faction mirror the classes of the other (for example, Jedi Knight and Sith Warrior).[36] Eight classes have been confirmed: the Bounty Hunter,[37] Sith Warrior,[38] Imperial Agent,[39] and Sith Inquisitor[40] for the Sith Empire; and the Trooper,[41] Smuggler,[42] Jedi Knight,[43] and Jedi Consular[44] for the Galactic Republic. Although each class will have a distinct storyline, they will be integrated with the game's overall arc.[45]

Every class has also two specializations.
Trooper; Commando and Vanguard
Smuggler; Gunslinger and Scoundrel
Jedi Knight; Guardian and Sentinel
Jedi Consular; Shadow and Sage
Bounty Hunter; Powertech and Mercenary
Sith Warrior; Juggernaut and Marauder
Imperial Agent; Operative and Sniper
Sith Inquisitor; Sorcerer and Assassin


Companions

The game features a passive form of crafting, known as Crew Skills, in which a player's companions carry out gathering and crafting tasks asynchronously to the player's adventures out in the world. The player can assign up to five companions to perform various skills. Crafting skills allow the player's companions to create items. Gathering skills allow the player's companions to gather resources out in the world. Mission skills allow the player's companions to perform acts on the player's behalf, gaining the player light or dark side influence and other unspecified rewards.[46]

During E3 2011 a video was shown with gameplay footage of the Bounty Hunter which has the ability to have a companion named Blizz that is a Jawa. The developers stated during the chat that only the Bounty Hunter would be able to get Blizz and that other classes would have unique companions as well including some companions that are force users.
During the same E3 2011 video feed it was shown that companions will have a similar character screen as the players and can have gear just like a player character.


Development
The Old Republic marks BioWare's first entry into the MMORPG market,[28] and it will be the second Star Wars MMORPG after Star Wars Galaxies. BioWare had long been interested in working on a MMORPG, but waited until they had "the right partners, the right team, and the right I.P."[9] A major focus in the game is on developing characters' individual stories[28] and, in October 2008, BioWare considered this game to have more story content than all of their other games combined.[9] The writing team has been working on the project longer than any of the game's other development teams.[45] An October 2008 preview noted some of the 12 full-time writers had been working on The Old Republic for more than two years at that point.[9]
The game's first cinematic trailer, "Deceived", was shown at the Electronic Arts 2009 E3 Press Conference on June 1, 2009.[47] A public live demo was shown for the first time at the Gamescom. On September 29, 2009, Bioware announced that they would be accepting applications for testers from the game community. Within minutes, the official website was down due to traffic, and Bioware announced shortly after that the site was being changed in order to accommodate the increase in visitors. A second cinematic trailer, "Hope", was released on June 14, 2010, that depicts another battle that happened before the game, the Battle of Alderaan. Game testing was officially announced to be underway on July 9, 2010, for testers from North American territories. As of September 2010, the official website has shown inclusion of the character Darth Revan and information of his reign in the gameplay. On June 6, a new trailer "Return" was released at E3 2011 depicting the initial Sith invasion force as it retakes its home world of Korriban.

In the early morning hours of Thursday, July 21, 2011, Electronic Arts and BioWare began accepting pre-orders for the game. Pre-order information included the revelation that a limited number of pre-orders, across all editions of the game, would be accepted. It remains to be seen whether this pre-order limit will be reached before the game releases, which would throttle the number of people able to play the game at release.

 

[AlaskanHero]

I was on the fence about this game and unsure if I should jump into yet another MMO, but in the end I pre-ordered the CE. After reading that wiki entry however, I'm feeling significantly better about my purchase and now I'm getting pretty excited.

 

[vivisectvi]

I had reservations myself, especially after how disappointing DCUO turned out to be. Gotta take a chance I guess. Well, we'll need to link up on the same server when the game comes out for sure though.

 

[Sabre]

Ill get it following its inevitable price drop.

Also, unless i missed it, has the price per month been announced?

 

[vivisectvi]

Not yet. Probably be standard MMO fare, ie $14.99/mo, and then discounts based on your subscription plans length.

I love that you're not tied down to a role - controller, healer, dps, tank, etc. in this one. So nothing is holding you back from forming groups for raids, missions, etc.

 

[muzzington]

I'm looking forward to the Old Republic for the casual slant to it and more story driven game play which is why I'm avoiding reading any comments on MMO sites about it since nothing pleases those people.

 

[Kageho]

I love that you're not tied down to a role - controller, healer, dps, tank, etc. in this one. So nothing is holding you back from forming groups for raids, missions, etc.

From what I've read, it sounds like they'll be borrowing RIFT's concept of "Souls", which does the same thing.

 

[vivisectvi]

I also love the companions factor. That you can have them go off and do the gathering and crafting is awesome. No more grinding for parts or ingredients. Good shit.