BioWare Talks About Preparing for Game Launch
In an interview with Gamasutra, James Ohlen, Project Lead for The Old Republic, discusses the difficulties of developing a MMO and talks about the final phases of the game’s development. He goes on to divulge a bit about the uses of beta testing and the focus on polish as well as planning for future content. While the interview doesn’t reveal anything really new it does give us a bit of perspective about the process that the developers are going through in order to bring a high quality experience at launch. According to Ohlen it looks like they are expecting to have a very large launch crowd and are determined to make sure it runs smoothly.
And the fact is, because of the hype around the game right now, our launch numbers are predicting something really huge, which means we have to be ready for the biggest online launch in history essentially, which has made it really tough. We’ve been running a lot of tests, just making sure we’re going to stand up when we launch. Read more»
Friday Update: Companion Characters Blog
This week’s updates have focused on companions; first with last night’s developer dispatch video, and now with a developer blog post by William Wallace. Some areas that he discusses include more on companion customization, the different companion classes, which are different from player classes, and other recent changes to how companions will work in the game. See below for an excerpt.
As you advance your story in Star Wars: The Old Republic, you build relationships with your companion characters based on the decisions you make throughout the game. How you treat each companion and how you act when they are in your presence determines how your relationship with them evolves. The writing team has done a fantastic job of bringing these companions to life with compelling stories and backgrounds. They add an emotional layer to the experience in the same way that such memorable characters as Bastila Shan and HK-47 did in Star Wars®: Knights of the Old Republic®.
Developer Dispatch: Designing Companions
A new Developer Dispatch, at least part of this week’s update, has been posted to Gamespot. The video features designers including James Ohlen, Daniel Erickson, and others discussing the importance of companions to Star Wars: The Old Republic and what went into designing them. Topics discussed include companion customization and the affection system, similar to the approval system in Dragon Age: Origins. Check out the full video for yourself below.
Facebook Image of the Week: September 21, 2011
This week’s featured image on the official Facebook page features a Jedi Padawan, still with his training saber, in battle with a massive Guid.
A Jedi Padawan fights off a Guid near the Kaleth Ruins on Tython.
Guild Alignment Begins in Phase 2 of Guild Pre-Launch
Phase 2 of the Guild Pre-Launch program has officially begun, with guilds now able to choose allies and adversaries to align themselves with. If you are a guild leader or officer, check out the newly updated Guild HQ to see how to do this. In addition, guilds can begin recruiting their friends via email. Check out the full announcement below.
Back in March we initiated our Pre-Launch Guild Program, where members of the Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ community could search for already established guilds or register one of their very own through the Guild Headquarters page. We are thrilled to announce that we have begun the second phase of our Pre-Launch Guild Program!
With Phase 2: Alignment, we are introducing new features which allow guilds to set their allegiance with other guilds in The Old Republic. Now a guild leader, along with members who have the proper permissions, can select up to three guilds as either Allies or Adversaries, depending on their faction affiliation. Qualifying guilds that are marked as Allies and Adversaries of other guilds will have the highest chance of being placed in the game together, allowing these guilds to coexist on the same server.
Another feature being implemented with Phase 2 is the ability for guild leaders and members with the proper permissions to invite friends to join their guild via email. You can start recruiting new members today!
To learn more about guilds in The Old Republic, check out the Guilds Game System page for details, and to search for or join a guild, visit the Guild HQ now! Also be sure to visit the Guilds FAQ for answers to commonly asked questions.
No Beta For You!
Here I sit, stuck at work on a Saturday afternoon. Saturdays at the office are about as slow as it gets. After hitting F5 for about the 3,000th time my gmail widget informs me that I have a new e-mail. Opening my inbox has become a source of seemingly endless sadness for me over the course of the last 716 days. Today was no different, I have not been invited to participate in beta testing The Old Republic. Instead I was informed that a newer, heart healthier version of Viagra has been developed and is ready for me to try.
I would rather not focus on my lack of TOR beta access or the ominous forecast of my impending impotence. So, to keep my mind off of such sad and scary things I decided to find some ways to keep myself entertained while waiting for access to The Old Republic beta or release. Here are 5 things I came up with in no particular order.
1. Come up with horrible names for TOR guilds.
- Porkins Patrol
- Boonta Eve Bandits
- Ludicrous Speed
- Aluminum Falcons
- 69th Brigade
- Order of the Hairless Wookie
- Twin Ion TurbineS
2. Look at pictures of Death Star dress girl.
3. Attempt to make funny captions out of the Facebook Image of the Week.
4. Google “Princess Leia Metal Bikini Cosplay”…. SafeSearch Off.
5. Marathon watch the new Star Wars Blu-Ray Collection!
Setting the sarcasm aside for the moment, as we approach closer and closer to the release of The Old Republic I’m sure we’re all getting a little antsy to try the game out. So how have you been keeping busy while waiting for a taste of The Old Republic? Are you playing other video games, re-watching the trilogies, or maybe even reading some of the EU? Let us know what’s keeping your mind distracted whilst waiting for TOR, or if you’re lucky enough to have participated in the beta, tease us with tantalizing tales about your experiences (if you can!).
Friday Update: Studio Insider & Eurogamer Expo Plans
The update to the Star Wars: The Old Republic website this week is a Studio Insider, where we get a closer look at what actually goes in to various development processes. This week, the focus is on animations. Principal Lead Animator Mark How goes into detail on how various animations are created, including the lightsaber clashes in combat.
One of the most iconic images in the Star Wars™ universe is the Lightsaber. Making the Lightsaber come to life in The Old Republic requires a collection of all the correct elements falling into place at the same time through visual effects, sound design and animation. Our challenge was to make the iconic Lightsaber battles from the movies come to life within the design confines of an MMO. We worked closely with the combat programmers and designers to ensure that the combat visuals do not detract from the gameplay experience. A key aspect we learned early in development was that players do not enjoy having character control taken away from them because of an action or animation. Similarly, we realized that any action a player takes in the game needs to be visually represented in a way that is consistent with the player’s expectations. Combining these two things, it was particularly challenging to develop animations that allowed for visually appealing combat while still allowing the players complete control over their characters.
Check out the full article at the official site.
In addition, Star Wars: The Old Republic will be at the Eurogamer Expo in London this year. Check out the details for that, and keep your eyes tuned to the site if you aren’t able to attend. If you are going to the show, make sure to plan on meeting up with the BioWare crew!
Held each year at the Earls Court Exhibition Center in London, the Eurogamer Expo stands as one of the largest video game events in the United Kingdom. This year BioWare and LucasArts will be bringing Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ to the show, letting gamers get their hands on Origin World content for each of the eight classes in the game, as well as some Player-vs-Player combat in both the Alderaan and Huttball Warzones!
The Eurogamer Expo runs from September 22nd through the 25th, with show floor hours from 11:00 AM GMT until 7:00 PM GMT. For those of you who are early entry ticket holders, the show opens an hour earlier at 10:00 AM GMT.
On Saturday, September 24th from 8:00PM until 12:00AM GMT, BioWare will be hosting a Community Meet and Greet at Gamerbase London inside the Trocadero Centre. Those who attend will be able to meet other members of The Old Republic community, have a couple of drinks with the BioWare team, and take part in a developer Q&A session.
If you aren’t able to make it to the Eurogamer Expo, be sure to check back to www.StarWarsTheOldRepublic.com as well as our Community Forums, Twitter and Facebook for the latest information!
Facebook Image of the Week: September 14, 2011
An empty Imperial space station that is just begging to be populated by all of us eager fans is on display in this week’s Facebook image.
A large space station in the midst of the Imperial Fleet serves as a hub for transportation and a trading center for Imperial forces as they travel the galaxy.
Friday Update: Smuggler Character Progression, PAX Highlights
The weekly update to the official website today is a fan favorite: a character armor progression video, this time showing off the Smuggler. The video shows off what types of weapons and armor the two advanced classes, Scoundrel and Gunslinger can use, and what they are capable of against Sith opponents. Check out the video for yourself below.
In addition, as you may know, last weekend was the PAX Prime convention in Seattle, Washington. As it has been for most shows throughout the year, Star Wars: The Old Republic was a huge success at the show, with the line wait being up to 8 hours at some points. Check out the highlights video below to see what those of you who didn’t attend missed out on and what the show-goers thought of the game.
Smuggler Character Progression
As your character progresses through the saga of Star Wars™: The Old Republic™, you will see them advance as you unlock new skills and acquire or craft superior gear.
Whether running blockades to deliver vital supplies or evading Imperial patrols, the Smuggler must rely on his wit and guile just as much as the blaster at his side. As the price on his head rises and his enemies grow more dangerous, the Smuggler will have to acquire new skills and utilize more powerful weapons and armor to survive.
Get a look at some of the ways the Smuggler can progress and see just a small fraction of the weapons, armor and abilities that become available to him. (Official Forums)
PAX Prime 2011 Highlights Video
Every major show and convention we’ve attended this year has been a blast, and PAX Prime was no exception! Throughout the weekend, thousands of fans visited the Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ booth on the show floor. They were able to spend some time playing the game, and many even had the chance to face off against other players in the Alderaan and Huttball PVP Warzones! Those who attended the Star Wars: The Old Republic panel were able to watch a live demonstration of the Eternity Vault operation. They were also the first to hear new information about open world PvP on the planet of Ilum.
The reception from the fans at the panel was extraordinary, and it was an incredible experience meeting all of the awesome people who made their way over to check out the game. The reception from fans makes us truly grateful to have such dedication and passion in our community.
We have put together a brief highlights video to share some of the fun moments from PAX Prime. Thank you to the remarkable community for your continued passion and support for Star Wars: The Old Republic! (Official Forums)
Facebook Image of the Week: September 7, 2011
This week’s featured Facebook screenshot shows the bleak and destitute slums of the planet Hutta, where the poor and unfortunate attempt to scrape together a living.
Tricked out of their land by the Hutts, many native Evocii are forced to live in run-down settlements scattered across Hutta.
