Star Wars: The Old Republic Message Board older than one year ago

The Star Wars universe is a one of constant peace. No one ever dies, there are never any wars, and everyone carries around Lightflowers (which are retractable flowers made of light). Except that's all a complete lie, because anyone who even has a passing knowledge of Star Wars -- and I proudly boast...

Last week we brought you word of the impressive-looking PvE content in Star Wars: The Old Republic. Now is the turn of the PvP. How does this fit into a game that’s so story-focused? Read on.

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EA's fourth quarter investor call today had some Jedi mind tricks going on when it came to the topic of highly-anticipated MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic's launch date. In documentation provided to investors, the company noted the title is "expected to launch in either Q2 FY12 or Q3 FY12." Translation: Second half of 2011, as was previously stated.

However, during the investor call, EA CEO John Riccitiello said, "The launch date, while in our fiscal year (before March, 2012), is not yet certain."

The hedging continued later with CFO Eric Brown, "While we fully anticipate launching Star Wars: The Old Republic in Q2 or Q3, the low end of our guidance range assumes the outside possibility of a January launch."

If you're playing along at home: when the paperwork, CEO and CFO aren't on the same page, it means EA isn't exactly sure when this thing is coming. One thing is for sure: they hope it's by next March.

#dontpanicyet BioWare's ambitious Star Wars massively multiplayer online role-playing game is still officially on the books for a 2011 release, penciled in for a release in the second half of the calendar year—though publisher EA is hesitant to pin it down more specifically. More »

Before March 31, 2012, EA and BioWare will (maybe) let you play The Old Republic. Electronic Arts and BioWare are betting big on Star Wars: The Old Republic, easily the highest-profile competitor to World of Warcraft since Blizzard assumed genre dominance, but nailing down a release date has been a constantly moving target. In discussing its latest fiscal results, publisher EA was just as cagey about when The Old Republic will be released. Their only guarantee? Before March 31, 2012.

"We are preparing the launch of Star Wars: The Old Republic," said EA CEO John Riccitiello on today's financial call. "The launch date, while in our fiscal year, is not yet certain."

In EA's own breakdown for the next year, the company "assumes" The Old Republic will ship within the calendar year (read: before the end of 2011), but has baked in the possibility of a slip into 2012. Just today, BioWare and EA announced Mass Effect 3, originally scheduled for holiday 2011, is now early 2012.

"While we fully anticipate launching Star Wars: The Old Republic in Q2 or Q3," said CFO Eric Brown, "the low end of our guidance range assumes the outside possibility of a January launch."

If you're not following EA's explanation so far, here's a summary: The Old Republic's coming this fiscal year and expects it before 2011's end...but there's a chance it won't actually arrive until next year. Okay.

Unsurprisingly, EA believes the launch of The Old Republic will be "the biggest event of the year."

"We currently have over one million double-opt-in beta testers for the world’s first story-driven, fully 
voiced MMO," said EA Games president Frank Gibeau. "Everyone is waiting for us to announce the ship date… Sorry, but that’s not going to happen today. We’re holding the date for two reasons--first, we don't want to tip off the competition; second, we want more data from the beta test to guarantee a spectacular experience at launch."

The wait continues. Ironically, this all comes on Star Wars Day. May the 4th be...oh, nevermind.

I'm not a huge MMO player -- I'm mostly just a casual WOW player (questing but no raiding), and even that goes through some serious dormancy phases. I'm also not a Star Wars nerd, though I do enjoy watching Star Wars nerds argue over ridiculous things ("No, Twi'leks are the prettiest aliens!")...

My name is Windoryn -- Imperial Agent Windoryn. I'm Chiss, which means I'm rocking blue skin and reddish eyes. I also have a British accent (though I can quickly switch into an American accent when I need to) and a sarcastic sense of humor. If I do say so myself, I am kind of a badass...

#sharpdressedman The Jedi use their mystical powers for good. The Sith? The Sith use their mystical powers for sexy. Check out what the well-dressed Sith Warrior will be wearing in BioWare's Star Wars: The Old Republic. More »

Preview the power of the dark side as you follow a Sith warrior through his progression toward lordship.

Jedi Knights don't just become Jedi Knights, you know -- if that were the case, The Empire Strikes Back would be way, way shorter. It takes tons of training for a Jedi (and every other class in The Old Republic, for that matter) to hone their abilities to a lightsaber-sharp point. Luckily for the MMO's potential players, BioWare has revealed a ton of information on how this progression will play out in-game.

Check out the latest post on the game's official blog for a quick rundown on class progression in The Old Republic, covering everything from advanced classes to skill trees. So, so many skill trees. No kidding, you guys. Like, a tropical rainforest of skill trees.

Fans get their hands on The Old Republic for the first time at PAX East 2011!

Live the life of a Jedi from Padawan to Master in The Old Republic!

Thwack! Bap! Thunk! CVG have spotted the latest trailer for upcoming Bioware MMORPG Star Wars: The Old Republic, this time covering the path of the Jedi, showing how Jedi players will work their way up from nobodies running around twatting ugly dudes to mighty warriors who run around twatting ugly dudes. The overall impression I get is that the Jedi Knight is certainly the bane of ugly dudes the galaxy over, but also kind of a jerk and somewhat at odds with the heroic trumpets in the backgrounds. Come see if you agree. (more…)

Though proficient in laser-bladed weapons and space magic, Jedi Knights typically share one profound weakness: A lack of fashionableness. That's not the case in The Old Republic -- check out the trailer after the jump to see how the Jedi's armor progresses as they move up the level ladder.

#video In the latest video from BioWare's Star Wars: The Old Republic we get a look at what the discriminating Jedi Knight will wear as he progresses through the ranks in the upcoming MMO, or how to dress for Jedi success. More »

EA Games' Frank Gibeau was less-than-complimentary to Blizzard's World of Warcraft this past week, saying that the older game "feels more like doing a shopping list at times" than EA and Bioware's upcoming The Old Republic title. But Blizzard's Frank Pearce is a little nicer to his competitor, saying in an interview that he'd love to see another popular MMO arrive. "This is a game that has an opportunity to grow the MMO market if done right," he said, "and therefore is very important to the industry as a whole, not just EA."

Blizzard CEO Mike Morhaime was similarly excited by the prospect of a quality Bioware MMO and its effect on the market. "From our perspective, we hope they make an enjoyable game because they're going to bring in a lot of new players to the MMO genre," he's quoted as saying.

These guys make an MMO about war? Where's that blood, the fury, that boisterous arrogance? There's just one answer: Morhaime and Pearce must both play Alliance.

EA is using the Helen logic with Star Wars: The Old Republic, it seems. If 30 Helens agree on something, it has to be truth, right?

While talking during a Lazard Capital Markets Technology & Media Day presentation (via Gamasutra), EA CFO Eric Brown revealed that near 1.5 million have signed up to beta test Star Wars: The Old Republic, apparently confirming there is significant interest in the title. Hey, maybe these guys and gals just like being included in beta testing? Ever think of that, Mr. Brown?

"It's a great indicator in the interest level in the franchise," Brown said. EA's goal is apparently to grab not only diehard MMO players, but also to expand to a much more broad audience -- and Star Wars fans, of course, though we're sure just having "Star Wars" on the box will do that. "For us it's about creating the right experience for expanding from tier 1 and the tier 2 users to getting people who have never played an MMO before, but are interested in Star Wars, to engage and give it a try," Brown added.

Brown hopes that Star Wars: The Old Republic can gain a user base exceeding 12 million, which he estimates is the current number of MMO players out there -- half of whom are in World of Warcraft. "If we do that, our addressable market is well beyond 12 million people ... into more of a general gamer population, pretty much anyone that has a minimum spec personal computer." Now to get 1.5 million people to agree on what the "minimum spec" is for a PC, we guess.

Join the assault as the Jedi-led force assaults a stronghold in this gameplay from PAX East 2011.

#preview I haven't played a massively multiplayer online game since the single Saturday afternoon I spent four years ago raising a World of Warcraft Tauren Druid to level 12. More »

#trailer BioWare kicks off PAX East with the brand-new Fate of the Galaxy trailer for Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Prepare to set your prejudice to maximum, meatbags! More »

This new Star Wars: The Old Republic trailer exhorts players to "fight for the fate of the galaxy," which would be much more exciting and suspenseful if we didn't have six movies, a couple of TV series and countless books detailing exactly what the fate of the galaxy is after the events of this game. It's still a really cool trailer, though, consisting entirely of in-game footage.

This week, BioWare also announced the "Guild Program," which lets players create guilds pre-release and import them into the game. Soon, your "Jediz" will be able to gather to take on the "Jedizz."

What part will you play in the fate of the galaxy?

A few moments ago, in a convention hall reasonably far away, Bioware unleashed a super-shiny new trailer packed with in-game footage of their upcoming Star Wars MMO: The Old Republic.

It looks improbably glossy and exciting. Can the game itself possibly live up to such visual promise? Well, depends to some extent whether your PC can run that much anti-aliasing. (more…)

We’re still Mystery Months away from getting to play Bioware’s Star Wars MMO The Old Republic, but clearly they expect their players to be organised. No hanging around the newbie areas yelling “PLZ HELP WERE IS RANCOR TUSK NEED 1 MORE LOL” on your todd – you can get on with pre-registering your guild, or joining another, right away. Step to it, magic soldier. (more…)

#bioware BioWare has launched Star Wars: The Old Republic's Guild Headquarters, a place where players can get their groups organized well in advance of the massively-multiplayer online game's launch. More »

There's a bounty hunter class. Learn about it.

In Star Wars: The Old Republic, the bounty hunter class will give you a chance to make a name for yourself as a hired gun -- a feared Jedi killer or an ally of order -- with a master hacker as a companion character. This clip shows off the bounty hunter's specialized armor and weapons in action.

Will you choose to overpower your enemy with heavy weaponry as a Bounty Hunter?

#bioware Was Boba Fett a Powertech or a Mercenary? BioWare has updated its Star Wars: The Old Republic page with everything you need to know about Bounty Hunters, the class Empire players will turn to once they're done waving lightsabers around. More »

Life as a mercenary in BioWare's upcoming MMO.