LucasArts, BioWare unveil Star Wars MMO

Written by Joe Martin

October 22, 2008 | 10:01

Tags: #mmo #star-wars #star-wars-the-old-republic #the-old-republic

Companies: #bioware #lucasarts

LucasArts and BioWare have now officially unveiled the new Star Wars game, an MMO called The Old Republic - a game which has been so expected and anticipated that it hardly needed an official announcement anyway.

Star Wars: The Old Republic is currently in development for the PC only, is being developed by Bioware and is set in the pre-movie universe some 300 years after the events of Knights of The Old Republic. Bioware is currently claiming that the game will feature the usual dynamic combat and immersive storytelling as well as "intelligent companion characters."

The game is still set thousands of years before Anakin 'Vader' Skywalker comes onto the scene with his frowns and teen angst, but that doesn't mean the universe seen in The Old Republic will be any safer. There's still a war raging between the Republic and the Sith Empire and players will be given a chance to choose which side to join - Jedi or Sith, though BioWare promises there are other non-force roles to play.

One of the major features of the game is that players will be able to enlist companions to work alongside them, though these allies could betray them if things go wrong.

"Traditionally, massively multiplayer online games have been about three basic gameplay pillars - combat, exploration and character progression," said BioWare's Ray Muzyka in the official announcement.

"In Star Wars: The Old Republic, we're fusing BioWare's heritage of critically-acclaimed storytelling with the amazing pedigree of Lucasfilm and LucasArts, and adding a brand-new fourth pillar to the equation - story."

LucasArts president Darrell Rodriguez was also excited about the game, saying that KOTOR was the most critically acclaimed Star Wars game to date and that LucasArts had full faith in BioWare.

"For a long time, we've wanted to return to the franchise in a grand way, and we felt that the best setting for it was an online world that would allow millions of people to participate in the experience together," added Darrell, who is obviously trying to forget Star Wars Galaxies, LucasArts previous MMO attempt.

Maybe this PC MMO offering from LucasArts will help to calm down Randy Stude, but with a console version of the game in consideration according to EA, we wouldn't bet on it.

Are you a Star Wars nut? What's your favourite game (Hint: The correct answer is Jedi Knight II - Ed) in the series? Let us know your thoughts in the forums.
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