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.
Developer Dispatch: Designing the Light Side, Fan Friday
This week a new developer dispatch video is released on creating the Jedi classes. In addition to hearing from the developers we also see some space combat footage.
In addition there is a new fan friday featuring new fan art, art from the developer corner, and updates to the events and wallpaper sections of the site.
Check out all the new art at the post on the official site!
Bevy of Updates to the Official Site Today
This week’s main updates focus on the sound and music of the game. First, Audio Producer Orion Kellogg (that is an awesome first name) discusses the sound of the game in his first developer blog. He goes into detail about the voicing for both humans and aliens, sound effects, and music.
In addition, we are given a new developer dispatch: Music of the Old Republic, which shows us what goes into creating original music for the game and weaving that into familiar Star Wars tracks.
The last site update this week is Blood of the Empire issue 7. Check it out here.
Lastly, we are teased with a future update. As you may know, The Old Republic will have a panel at Comic-con called “Beyond Solo“. Well the team would like to make an additional announcement during that time, but for them to do that, there needs to be 200,000 “Likes” on the SWTOR Facebook page, and 30,000 followers on Twitter. So if you utilize either of these social networks and haven’t already liked/followed SWTOR, get on it if you want to hear about this additional announcement. As an aside, if the goal isn’t reached, I would guess that we’ll hear about it soon after Comic-con anyway.
New Developer Dispatch, End of Threat of Peace
This week we are treated to two updates to the Star Wars: The Old Republic website. The first is a new developer dispatch video featuring the creation of Taris. We also see the final episode of the webcomic Threat of Peace.
Returning to Taris
Once home to a sprawling planet-wide city, Taris was razed long ago by the Sith Lord Darth Malak while seeking to eliminate the Jedi Knight Bastila Shan. Now, a post-apocalyptic Taris is being realized in Star Wars™: The Old Republic™. After 300 years, Republic and Jedi leaders are moving forward with the efforts at colonization.
Watch insights from James Ohlen, Drew Karpyshyn, Scott Carpenter, and Mark How about the new environments – and adventures – awaiting players in our latest Developer Dispatch: Returning to Taris! (Source)
Threat of Peace, Issue #27
The twenty-seventh issue of Threat of Peace™ concludes the volume with a surprising turn of events as Jedi Knight Satele Shan, Fortris Gall, and Special Forces Lieutenant Tavus report their battle with the Sith to Master Orgus Din. The story comes full circle when Braden the Bounty Hunter finally completes the contract which got him tied up in this mess in the first place.
Check out the final issue of Threat of Peace now. (Source)
While there will be no more Threat of Peace, we have been teased with upcoming The Old Republic webcomic news:
This is the final issue for Threat of Peace. That said, we do have an announcement coming in two week’s related to The Old Republic webcomic.
Holiday Roundup: Developer Dispatch, Developer Blog
Happy New Year and welcome to 2010 folks! We learned quite a bit about Star Wars: The Old Republic in 2009 but there is still a lot left to be unraveled in 2010. This site is going stronger than ever and I hope you continue to make it the best place for SW:TOR news in 2010. Here are the last two official site updates from 2009.
Designing the Dark Side
Inspired by notorious characters such as Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader, the Sith Inquisitor and Sith Warrior take different approaches to their rise to power. The Sith Warrior achieves victory through pure aggression and might while the Sith Inquisitor excels by cunning ambition and Force manipulation.
From storyline, to art style, to combat tactics, each design decision was made to support the dark side themes of power, domination, and destruction.
Watch Developer Dispatch: Designing the Dark Side, and learn how Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ developers created this dominating force. (Source)
Top Secret: Dossier on the Imperial Agent!
Senior Writer Alexander Freed divulges some of the secrets of the life of the Imperial Agent!
http://www.swtor.com/news/blog/20100101_001
… and now Sean is going back to bed; Happy New Year (and new Decade) everyone! (Source)
New Developer Dispatch – The Making of Coruscant
A new video has been released on the official site and it details the making of Coruscant in game. We hear developers Clint Young, Erick Young, Robert Chestney, and Robert Lamb talk about what it took to build Coruscant from the ground up. Check out the video below to hear what they have to say.
Also note that Threat of Peace #17 has also been released today.
New Dev Dispatch Details Trooper
In the latest Developer Dispatch, The Old Republic developers take us behind the scenes to see what went in to the development of the newest announced class, the Trooper.
Watch the video above, or check it out at the official site!
The Diverse Worlds of The Old Republic
The official site has today posted a video about some of the worlds we will be visiting in TOR.
Majestic forests, toxic swamplands, desert landscapes, and hazardous war zones – the worlds that make up the Star Wars universe are unique and enriched with compelling storylines. Watch Developer Dispatch: Diverse Worlds and go behind the scenes to find out how the developers are bringing the worlds of Tython, Korriban, Hutta, and Ord Mantell to life – a few of the many playable worlds in Star Wars™: The Old Republic™.
New SWTOR video shows off making of Tython
A new video for SWTOR has been released at the official site, this time showcasing the Jedi homeworld Tython. The video includes interviews with developers as well as never before seen gameplay footage. Alexander Freed, Andrew Collins, Clint Young, and Shawn Ketcherside show how they are taking concept art and story ideas for Tython and implementing them for us to see in-game.
