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.
Friday Update: Blood of the Empire Webcomic
This week sees the launch of the new webcomic, Blood of the Empire, available free on the official site just like the previous webcomic, Threat of Peace. There is also a new Fan Friday with several pieces of community-made fan art, as well as a new developer corner video.
Blood of the Empire Released!
The first issue of Blood of the Empire™ takes us to a galaxy engaged in war. The Sith Empire strikes blow after blow against a Republic reeling from the return of its ancient enemies, and the Jedi scramble to defend their holdings. But Imperial victory is far from certain…
Teneb Kel, a fiercely clever young man apprenticed as a Sith, is selected by his masters for a secret mission–a mission concerning the Emperor himself and a threat to the Dark Lord’s thousand-year plan. Doomed if he fails, expendable if he succeeds, Teneb must unravel the schemes at work around him if he is to seize control of his destiny and alter the course of history.
Check out the first issue written by Alexander Freed, illustrated by Dave Ross, inked by Mark McKenna, colored by Michael Atiyeh, and lettered by Michael Heisler!
STAR WARS: The Old Republic Fan Friday
We’re kicking off this Fan Friday by featuring some outstanding work by various members of the Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ community. We also have some great stuff to show off in the Developer Corner, along with new polls and avatars! Make sure to catch it all!
Check out this week’s fan friday features here.
In addition, yesterday’s combat video documentary has been added to the official site.
New Planet and New Webcomic
This week we have the previously-hinted news regarding the next TOR webcomic as well as a new planet reveal!
Breaking out on Belsavis!
Since before the Great War, the ancient Rakatan prisons of Belsavis have been maintained by the Republic and used to incarcerate some of the galaxy’s most dangerous Sith lords, Mandalorian warriors, and ferocious aliens. Having recently discovered the location of this Republic super prison, the Empire is determined to see its allies released.
Access the HoloNet to learn more about the ancient prisons of Belsavis, and the horrible secrets contained within its vaults. View the glacial world of Belsavis in this video and visit the media section for never-before-seen screenshots, concept art, and wallpapers depicting the setting – and the struggle – of Belsavis. (Source)
Blood of the Empire Webcomic
BioWare™ and LucasArts have once again teamed up with Dark Horse to create this original comic series published entirely online. Blood of the Empire features a new perspective and strong character-driven story written by BioWare’s Senior Writer Alexander Freed and published by Dark Horse.
Set in the years before the Treaty of Coruscant and the establishment of peace between the great galactic powers, Blood of the Empire sets the stage for The Old Republic with new heroes, new villains and new revelations about the inner workings of the Emperor’s cabal.
Be on the lookout for the release of the first issue of Blood of the Empire coming soon on the Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ website. Get a sneak peek at the series! (Source)
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.
Dromund Kaas Revealed, Plus New Threat of Peace
The latest planet players will be able to visit in The Old Republic has been revealed: Dromund Kaas, where the Emperor and the Dark Council reside.
Dromund Kaas, Imperial Seat of Power
Colonized and built upon by the Sith Empire, Dromund Kaas is home to the Emperor and his Dark Council. Almost completely forgotten for over a thousand years, the rediscovery of this world prompted the Sith surprise attacks that plunged the entire galaxy headlong into war. Despite being “off the map” by comparison to more heavily visited planets, such as the training world of Korriban, Dromund Kaas is very much the center of the Empire. Although the Emperor himself seems to have fallen silent recently, his Dark Council may have awakened a dangerous, hidden power within the planet’s jungles and ruins. (Source)
Threat of Peace, Issue #23
The twenty-third issue of Threat of Peace™ brings us beneath the surface of Dantooine where Sith Lords Baras and Angral are waiting in the planet’s ancient crystal caves; they know the Jedi will attack. Sure enough, Master Dar’Nala leads Jedi Knight Fortris Gall and Lieutenant Tavus to the caves to slay the Sith and lay the blame on them for destroying the peace treaty. When Jedi Knight Satele Shan tracks down her friends and realizes her Master yet lives, however, anything can happen…
Check out the latest issue of Threat of Peace now. (Source)
The all new media will be added to the site shortly, but in the mean time you can check it out at the official site!
Tatooine Revealed, New Threat of Peace, and TOR Clichés
The latest planet has been revealed for play in The Old Republic and it is none other than Tatooine:
Far in the Outer Rim, the sands of Tatooine bake beneath the glare of two bright suns. Small pockets of barely civilized communities dot the desolate landscape, surrounded by the endless expanse of barren dunes and rocky canyons that have silently slain so many of those who ventured out into desert. Among the small shantytowns and settlements that persist, travelers may find shelter from the brutal climate, but trust is as rare as water on this lawless world. Visitors and locals alike must constantly watch their backs in Tatooine’s townships.
There are also new screenshots, concept art, and wallpaper for Tatooine.
The latest Threat of Peace, issue 22, has been released this week as well:
The twenty-second issue of Threat of Peace™ takes us to the long-abandoned Jedi Enclave on Dantooine, where Lieutenant Tavus meets the true culprit behind the efforts to undermine the peace treaty. It seems Master Dar’Nala survived her Imperial captivity after all, and everything that’s happened since has been all part of her plan. Despite his doubts, Lieutenant Tavus agrees to assist Master Dar’Nala in completing her plan by slaying the Sith mastermind, Lord Baras.
Check out the latest issue of Threat of Peace now.
Lastly, IGN has run an article dealing with what clichés we can expect to see in The Old Republic based on common themes from the Star Wars movies and other games. Check out the full article here.
Jedi Consular Holonet Page and Threat of Peace 21
This week there are two updates to the official site, though we already knew about the Consular, and Threat of Peace isn’t much of an update, so really it’s like there’s one total update. You can check out all there is to know about the Consular from a lore perspective in our game info section, along with a few new screenshots, concept art, and wallpapers.
You can read the latest issue of Threat of Peace on the official site.
Friday Update – Threat of Peace #20
This week our Friday update is a new issue of Threat of Peace. In this issue, Lord Angral is traveling back to Korriban to confront a traitor while Master Orgus Din catches Braden off guard. You can read the latest issue here.
Friday Updates – Developer Blog, Threat of Peace, and Class Reveal
This week Senior Writer Drew Karpyshyn, who you may be familiar with as the lead writer of the original Knights of the Old Republic, blogs about what went in to writing the Jedi Knight class. Check out the entire blog to read what he has to say.
We are also treated to the latest episode of Threat of Peace this week, as the third chapter begins with issue 19. Followers of the webcomic may be pleased to know that it will be published as a graphic novel. Look forward to that in May 2010. In the meantime, check out the latest episode now.
Lastly, a relatively surprising reveal is given to us this week as the Imperial Agent class is officially confirmed, just one week after learning about the Jedi Knight class.
For those of you who may have attended or read reviews from the Electronic Arts European Press Tour that happened earlier this week, you already know the answer to this. It’s the Imperial Agent!
The Imperial Agent is heavily inspired by several classic Star Wars characters such as Zam Wessel and Grand Moff Tarkin. Imperial Agents work behind the scenes to get the work of the Empire done. Specializing in high-tech gear, the Imperial Agent always has the right tools at the right time. They use abilities of subversion and subterfuge to infiltrate and assassinate enemies of the Sith Empire with deadly efficiency. Players who choose to be Imperial Agents in The Old Republic (TOR) will see the underbelly of the Empire in a whole new light.
Look forward to screenshots to be added to the site later today!
UPDATE: Check out the screenshots below or in our gallery!
Threat of Peace Issue 18 Released
Along with the new timeline holorecord released this week, we are given the 18th issue of Threat of Peace. In this issue, we see Jedi Master Orgus Din pursuing a bounty hunter while Lord Baras on Korriban survives an assassination attempt. Check out the new issue at the official site.
