Coming Soon to a Galaxy Near You!
On the heels of the latest patch BioWare has also debuted a new trailer that highlights things to come for Star Wars: The Old Republic. James Ohlen discusses the recent Rise of the Rakghouls game update and how it is a two part story that has been in the works for quite some time now. The trailer also shows off plans for new Warzones and expanded PvP options including rankings, expanded guild offerings such as a guild bank, further details on the expansion of the Legacy System and the modifiable UI changes everyone has been clamoring for. Check out the trailer below.
SWTOR Launch Documentary: Your Saga Begins
With yesterday’s launch of Star Wars: The Old Republic, a day many have been waiting for for years and surely a day long remembered, BioWare and LucasArts have put together a video celebrating the event. Members of the developer team reminisce on the development cycle and how the idea of a Star Wars MMO set in the Old Republic era came to be. If you can peel yourself away from playing for 10 minutes, check out the video below. The developer team deserves some great recognition for putting out such an epic experience.
Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ has launched! This is an incredibly exciting time for everyone at BioWare and LucasArts, and to celebrate this event we invite you all to watch this launch documentary, “Your Saga Begins.” Watch as members of the Star Wars: The Old Republic development team discuss the many facets of building the game, from bringing life to the epic stories for each class, to hand-crafting the numerous iconic worlds that you can explore!
Star Wars: The Old Republic Collector’s Edition Unboxing Video + Gallery
With Amazon shipping their copies of The Old Republic early, we got out hands on the Collector’s Edition before the game’s official release date and have put together a video and image gallery of the contents. The box includes the game in a special steel book case, the Journal of Master Gnost-Dural, Collector’s Edition Soundtrack, Galaxy Map poster, security authenticator, and of course the Darth Malgus statue by Gentle Giant. Unfortunately our video is cut off midway through as the device ran out of storage space, but we’re hoping the number of images in the gallery will make up for what we didn’t get to show off in the video. Check it all out below.
See the gallery after the jump. Read more»
Friday Update: Choose Your Side: Smuggler vs. Sith Warrior
The last Friday Update before the official launch of Star Wars: The Old Republic brings us the last of the Choose Your Side video features; this time we see the savvy Smuggler going toe to toe with the fearsome Sith Warrior. The debate between the two classes rages on for the developers at BioWare, check out the video below and decide for yourself which class comes out on top.
Choose Your Side: Smuggler vs. Sith Warrior
In the fourth and final installment of “Choose Your Side,” writers and developers discuss the ins and outs of the Smuggler and Sith Warrior classes, highlighting some of the skills and abilities that separate these classes from the rest. This time around, Senior Writer Hall Hood and Senior Game Designer William Wallace stand behind the Smuggler, while Writer Ian Ryan and PvP Designer Ben Pielstick speak for the Sith Warrior. (Community Blog)
Friday Update: Inquisitor Progression Video, New Community Blog, Launch Events
Welcome to one of the last Friday Updates before launch! You may have been thinking it would never come, but the Sith Inquisitor character progression video has been released, with a full dose of Force Lightning. Check out what the different armor sets for the Sith Sorcerer and Assassin look like in the video below.
Even within the Empire, Sith Inquisitors are respected and feared for their deception and control over the Force™. Channeling their hatred, they bend the Dark Side of the Force to their will to crush their enemies while manipulating their allies. See for yourself just a few of the many paths of advancement for this wielder of the Force in Star Wars™: The Old Republic™.
Starting today, a new Community Blog has been added to the official website. The blog will feature more frequent updates from the dev team, and get this – they won’t always be posted on Fridays. Currently, with the forums to be wiped soon, they will be re-posting some pertinent dev posts from the forums to the blog to make sure everyone has a chance to read them. Also expect some future entries that showcase different aspects of the community. Check it out here.
In anticipation of the upcoming launch of Star Wars™: The Old Republic™, we wanted to ensure we have a place to communicate the latest game status updates, community-focused news and developer thoughts as efficiently as possible to our fans. While our Forums are a great place to go for discussion and debate, this blog allows us to talk about things in greater detail, and to keep updates collected in one place.
Unlike our previous schedule of Friday Updates, this blog will be updated more frequently and at any time during the week, with updates being both big and small. Over time we plan to expand the blog to showcase the passion and excitement of our community, but we’ll start small and get bigger as we move forward. Initially, we’re going to use the blog to re-post a few recent (and important!) posts from our Forums, as the Forums are going offline for an overhaul before launch.
Excited about the launch of TOR? Live in a major(ly lucky) city in the US or Europe? Then make sure to attend one of the launch events for Star Wars: The Old Republic, which will have official presence from BioWare. In the US, head to Best Buy Union Square in New York City and the Best Buy South Austin in Austin, Texas on December 19. In Europe, events will be held at the Virgin Megastore in Paris, France and at Oxford Street GAME in London on December 14. If you are able to attend, know that we are extremely envious, and we expect photos.
On December 20th, 2011, BioWare and LucasArts will be launching Star Wars™: The Old Republic™. To celebrate the game’s release, we are hosting a series of launch events in several major cities in both North America and Europe!
Friday Update: Choose Your Side video, SWTOR Peripherals info
There are two updates to the SWTOR official site this week. The first is another video in the Choose Your Side series, which sees the BioWare developers debate the merits between two different classes and which would win in a duel to the death. Check out the video below.
In addition to that, the officially licensed peripherals for Star Wars: The Old Republic are now up for pre-order. You will be able to get your hands on the mouse, mouse mat and headset from Razer later this month. The keyboard, which includes the customizable LCD keypad, won’t be available until mid January. More info at the Razer Store.
Choose Your Side: Imperial Agent vs. Jedi Consular
In the latest entry of our series “Choose Your Side,” members of the Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ team plead their cases for two iconic Star Wars™ classes, highlighting the many skills and abilities that set each class apart. This time around, Senior Writer Alexander Freed and Designer Ken Dilks argue in favor of the stealthy Imperial Agent, while Writer Jo Berry and Designer Jason Attard speak on behalf of the Force-wielding Jedi Consular. (Official Forums)
The Old Republic Peripherals Available For Pre-Order
During E3 2011 we announced that BioWare and LucasArts had partnered with Razer, the world’s leading provider of high-end gaming products, to create a line of premium PC peripherals based on Star Wars™: The Old Republic™. Now, as the game approaches its December 20th launch date, we’re excited to inform you that Razer has begun taking pre-orders for each of these incredible products!
To see all of these items for yourself you can head over to Razer’s Star Wars: The Old Republic products page, and you can pre-order these items right now through Razer’s Official Store! (Official Forums)
Friday Update: Jedi Consular Character Progression
The Update from BioWare this Friday brings with it a video on the character and armor progression for the Jedi Consular. A paragon representing the qualities of peace and diplomacy that the Jedi Order and the Republic stand for, watch as the Jedi Consular progresses in both ability and wardrobe to compliment her ascension as a Jedi Master.
Jedi Consular Character Progression
The Jedi Consular is both a revered ally to the Republic and a dangerous adversary to the Empire. Their ability to revive fallen allies in combat and to manipulate the Force to remain hidden from their enemies makes them an invaluable asset. Get a small glimpse of the many paths of advancement for this powerful Force-wielding class. (Official Forums)
Friday Update: The Art of The Old Republic, ‘Hammer’ Flashpoint
Flashpoints are a big part of Star Wars: The Old Republic, and today we get a look at a newly announced Flashpoint in the game, Bringing Down the Hammer. This flashpoint is for both the Empire and Republic and takes place on a Republic battlestation previously thought to be destroyed. Check out the preview for this flashpoint below.
If you love the look and feel of Star Wars: The Old Republic, then The Art and Making of The Old Republic may be right up your alley. This book goes into detail of the making of The Old Republic, and is co-written by former Star Wars Insider editor Frank Parisi and BioWare Writing Director Daniel Erickson. It features both pages and pages of concept art for the game as well as interviews with the development team. You can buy this hardcover collector’s item from Amazon and other retailers now.
Bringing Down the Hammer
The ‘Hammer,’ a powerful prototype battle station developed by the Republic, was thought to have been destroyed in the war, but it has mysteriously reappeared in the possession of the expansionist Advozsec. Determined to assert their new power, the Advozsec have been using the weapon to conquer neutral worlds in the Outer Rim. Now, before the Hammer can strike again, both the Galactic Republic and Sith Empire have set plans in motion to bring the station down.
We are excited to present a new preview of ‘Bringing Down the Hammer,’ just one of the many Flashpoints in Star Wars™: The Old Republic™. (Official Forums)
BringingThe Art and Making of The Old Republic
Chronicle Books has released a new book which highlights the process of creating Star Wars™: The Old Republic™. Co-written by former Star Wars Insider editor Frank Parisi and BioWare Writing Director Daniel Erickson, this book chronicles the creation of the game, with over 150 pages of conceptual artwork and interviews with various members of the development team.
The Art and Making of Star Wars: The Old Republic includes over one hundred pieces of artwork, many of which you have never seen before. Much of the artwork is accompanied by text describing the process of creating each class and, every world as well as, the process of working in this previously unexplored time period in Star Wars™ lore. (Official Forums)
Friday Update: Choose Your Side video, Beta Test Weekend, SWTOR at Dreamhack 2011
This week brings a trio of updates to the Star Wars: The Old Republic community. Like the previous “Choose Your Side” video between the Jedi Knight and Bounty Hunter, this week’s video pits the Republic Trooper against the Sith Inquisitor.
Been wanting to get into testing for Star Wars: The Old Republic but feel like you’re never going to be chosen? Well the wait will soon be over. If you signed up for testing before November 11, you should have already received a game testing invite for a future weekend. This upcoming test will be seen as a stress test, so BioWare is inviting as many participants as they can. If you didn’t receive an invite from the official site, you can enter to win one at several gaming websites. Please read the FAQs on the upcoming testing weekend for more information.
Lastly, Star Wars: The Old Republic will once again be at Dreamhack in Sweden this year. This will give fans the chance to play the game before the game’s launch in North America and Europe. Dreamhack will be November 24 – 27. Let us know if you will be there!
Choose Your Side: Inquisitor vs. Trooper
In the new video series “Choose Your Side,” members of the Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ team plead their cases, highlighting some of the many skills and abilities that set each class apart from the rest. In the second video of the four-part series, two of the most iconic classes in the Star Wars™ universe face off as the Force-wielding Sith Inquisitor ambushes the stalwart Republic Trooper. (Official Forums)
Beta Test Weekend Announced
When we started our Beta Testing Weekends, we told you that each weekend would include more testers than the last. We’re excited to announce that later this month we will be conducting our largest Beta Testing Weekend yet, specifically designed to help us stress test our servers in preparation for the launch of Star Wars™: The Old Republic™.
How can you take part in this coming Beta Test Weekend? Well, for starters we are happy to announce that anyone who has signed up for our Game Testing Program prior to today, November 11th, will get invited! Invites will be sent in the coming weeks. (Official Forums)
The Old Republic at DreamHack Winter 2011
Held each year at the Elmia Fair in Jönköping, Sweden, DreamHack is far and away the largest “LAN party” in the world. BioWare and LucasArts will be attending the event this year to give people the chance to play Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ before its worldwide launch on December 20th.
The DreamHack event begins at 8:00AM CET on Thursday, November 24th and runs, non-stop, until 8:00AM CET on Sunday, November 27th. Members of BioWare’s European Community Team will be on hand throughout the weekend. (Official Forums)
Friday Update: Imperial Agent Character Progression, Revan novel preview
The Friday Update this week gives us a new trailer in the form of the Imperial Agent’s character and armor progression. Take a look at how the Agent’s abilities and armor sets change as he levels up and chooses an advanced class.
Additionally, there is another preview of the upcoming novel Revan available. Previously, chapter 1 was available to read online; now chapters 3 and 11 are also available to read before it comes out. Revan is released November 15 and you can pre-order at Amazon.
Imperial Agent Character Progression
As you progress in Star Wars™: The Old Republic™, your character will gain experience, growing more powerful and discovering new skills while also acquiring more advanced gear.
Through cunning, stealth, and ruthless tactics, the Imperial Agent has no shortage of ways to complete his objectives. Even so, as the complexity and importance of his missions increase, the Agent will have to acquire new skills and equipment to help him combat the ever-growing threat to the Empire. This video shows you a sampling of the many different armors and abilities the Imperial Agent can obtain as he travels the galaxy. (Official Forums)
Exclusive Preview: ‘Revan’ Novel
On November 15th, fans of Star Wars™ will finally learn the answers surrounding the mystery of what became of the redeemed Jedi Revan after the events of the first Knights of the Old Republic™. Drew Karpyshyn’s Revan picks up immediately after the events of the game, and follows the former Sith Lord as he travels beyond the Outer Rim to confront a danger that he can’t quiet remember, yet cannot forget.
To prepare you for the release of Revan, we are excited to present you with an exclusive look at chapters three and eleven of the book! (Official Forums)
