Star Wars: The Old Republic

[Regolyth]

I'm beginning to look forward to this game less and less. They still have time. I really hope they don't screw it up. I was looking forward to playing.

[Morreion]

Hyperspace Beacon: Beyond the scope (Massively)

"I would like to think that developers would re-evaluate the scope of the project if enough people complained, but in truth, that level of reconstruction is expensive. For a game that is already as expensive as SWTOR, I just don't see it happening. The few things that have been changed, like the size of the lightsaber hilts and the Wizard title, are really small things. However, things like taking space combat out of the tunnel are a bit more time-consuming, not to mention costly, and so they are less likely to be changed. But as Bree suggested to me, what other avenue do players have?"

Farming Out The Farming (Level Capped)

"I hope that BioWare isn’t creating this system as a way to funnel trade skillers into their game by offering a unique system that may get them frothing at the mouth, though. If there’s no hands-on time with the workbench, then it’s really going to be just lip service, as trade skillers will need to fall back on combat while their companions get to have all the “fun”. Regardless, this is certainly a step in the right direction; MMO players are always asking for something “new”, although many of us can’t really define what “new” means. I’d say that this qualifies nicely, and I’ll be waiting for more info."

Details on SWTOR Warzones and Crafting Revealed (Darth Hater)

"There is this mechanic of two drop ships. Your objective as a team is to go down and control anti-aircraft artillery pieces that you literally see turn and fire on the other ships," explained BioWare's Blaine Christine. Once a team controls these defenses, they direct a massive cannon at the other faction's capital ship, and the first team to destroy the other team's ship is the victor. "You are destroying the ship which is inherently kind of a timer, because once that destruction occurs, the match is over," continued Christine. "The winner is the winner, and the loser is the loser based on whose ship is still alive."

Star Wars: The Old Republic: Warzone Thoughts
In his latest column covering all things Star Wars: The Old Republic, MMORPG.com Community Manager Michael Bitton takes a look at last week's news about Warzones. Mike admits to being pleasantly surprised by what the Bioware team showed off with regard to Warzones and he's got a few thoughts about what it all means. Read Mike's thoughts, then head over to the forums to have your say.

PvP Warzone Trailer (SWTOR Life)

A 1:45 video.

Massively interviews BioWare on SWTOR's crafting and PvP

"So [in SWTOR], I'm the crew boss. I decide what we make. I'm the guy that knows all the recipes. I'm the guy that knows how to do everything. And then I'm putting all of these people to work as my whole crew, into one unit -- your companion characters are all a unit with you. And so, one, it makes all of your companion characters useful, which is nice. Two, it puts in skills for people who aren't ever going to be real crafters. People who are not really into crafting are going to take mission skills, so their people are still going to be useful, but they're going to run them on missions all the time. But serious crafters say that it's a super deep system."

BioWare reveals The Old Republic crew skill details (Massively)

"In a nutshell, your hero character will have the ability to assign crafting, gathering, and even mission skills to various NPC crew members. While you're out saving the galaxy, chasing attractive Twi'leks, or whatever it is that heroes do these days, your faithful companions will be doing all the grunt work involved in keeping you competitive when it comes to crafting."

Includes a 2:33 video.

Hyperspace Beacon: Managed crafting (Massively)

"This system is unlike anything any other game has; it's as unique as the rest of the game is unique. There exist very few MMOs in which everyone is a pet class. So I guess it's only proper that you have something for your unused pets to do (instead of idly sitting in your datapad or inventory someplace). You will be able to assign tasks to your pets, then after five minutes to 23 hours, they will come back, begging you to give them more work. You can task them with gathering raw materials, making items from the raw materials, or conducting diplomatic missions that can earn you influence with certain factions and Dark Side or Light Side points."

Some positive news about SWTOR’s crafting (Keen & Graev's Gaming Blog)

"Overall, this sounds good based on how it is being presented on paper. Crafters get to specialize and set themselves apart, people can supply crafters with goods, crafters get rare schematics/recipes, it’s still possible to do it oldschool, it uses a similar system to SWG’s factories, and it sounds like they’re trying to make it less boring and more about running a business."

Star Wars: The Old Republic: Crew Skills: Impressive, Most Impressive
In his latest column about Star Wars: The Old Republic, MMORPG.com Community Manager Michael Bitton takes a look at the recently detailed crew skills and crafting. As the title says, Mike is most impressed by what he's learned and has a few thoughts to share about it. Check out Mike's column then leave us your comments below.

Hyperspace Beacon: Rockin' the Roleplay (Massively)

"Where does this leave the roleplayers? I believe it leaves them in an interesting place. It also requires them to make a decision about their playstyles. We know that BioWare is not going to give a world with our own tools to play with so we can create our own storylines. But it is giving us the tools where our character's story can be unique. In my opinion, that is an interesting middle-ground between the free-form roleplayer and the GMed roleplayers. There are no player GMs, but BioWare's writers have attempted to give the player choices that will impact the direction of gameplay."

Is Star Wars: The Old Republic Doomed? (Game Theory Online)

"If EA can’t convince players that it’s worth pouring money into a subscription versus hopping onto any number of free games available on the Internet, Hubertz is right: The project will die. But Star Wars has a dedicated fanbase, so EA has the benefit of a captive audience from the get-go. It just needs to keep them around."

Studio Insider – Flesh Raiders (SWTOR official site)

"The Art Team is delighted to share another step-by-step break-down of how concept art is created for The Old Republic. Concept Artist, Diego Almazan, goes into detail regarding the process and thoughts involved in creating a set of Flesh Raiders."

[Regolyth]

Nov 24, 2010 8:59:42 GMT -5 Morreion said:

Is Star Wars: The Old Republic Doomed? (Game Theory Online)

"If EA can’t convince players that it’s worth pouring money into a subscription versus hopping onto any number of free games available on the Internet, Hubertz is right: The project will die. But Star Wars has a dedicated fanbase, so EA has the benefit of a captive audience from the get-go. It just needs to keep them around.

The person who wrote this article is an idiot. The end.

[Morreion]

Star Wars: The Old Republic: Community Q&A Thoughts
In his latest Star Wars: The Old Republic column, MMORPG.com Community Manager Michael Bitton takes a look at last Friday's community Q&A and the information that the Bioware development team revealed. Mike found a lot of great tidbits that he's excited to discuss so keep reading! Be sure to leave us a comment when you're done.

BioWare releases new TOR inhabitants entries (Massively)

Today's calibrated leak focuses on some new inhabitants made available in the Holonet database: the terentatek, the vine cat, the Sith pureblood, the M3-M1 med droid and the S3-F5 probe droid.

Star Wars: The Old Republic: Sith Not-So Pureblood
In his latest Star Wars: The Old Republic column, MMORPG.com Community Manager Michael Bitton takes a look at the Sith Pureblood playable race. Mike delves into Sith history to determine why it is that the race despises the Jedi so much and whether or not a 'pureblood' is precisely that. Check it out and then join the discussion below.

Hyperspace Beacon: The BioWare schtick (Massively)

The Star Wars films were heavily influenced by Joseph Campbell's study of the mythological hero, Hero with a Thousand Faces. George Lucas discussed the influence in the biography Joseph Campbell: A Fire in the Mind: "It was very eerie because in reading The Hero with a Thousand Faces I began to realize that my first draft of Star Wars was following classical motifs." At that point, Star Wars really started taking the shape of the memorable story it would become.

EA puts faith in The Old Republic's lifespan and profits (Massively)

"Our assumptions for break-even and profitability are not seven-digit subscribers. We think we can run and operate a very successful and profitable MMO at different levels. The key thing here is to really perfect the product. We're shooting for an extremely high quality game experience. We view this as a 10-year opportunity."

TOR video talks crew skills and PvP (Massively)

Includes a 4:54 video. The dev said SWTOR will release Spring 2011!

Star Wars: The Old Republic: This Weapon is Your Life
In his latest Star Wars: The Old Republic column, MMORPG.com Community Manager Michael Bitton gives readers a bit of history behind the importance of the lightsaber, both to individuals and to the overall lore behind the game. In addition, Mike ponders how the acquisition of lightsabers will be accomplished. Check out Mike's thoughts and then add your own to the mix in our comments section.

Gnost-Dural discovers the origin of the SWTOR Sith Empire (Massively)

Includes a 5:30 video.

Hands-on with SWTOR's Jedi Knight on Tython (Massively)

For the people worried that SWTOR is going to be all talking and no fighting, stop worrying. Combat itself was very satisfying. The Jedi Knight is very much a melee class not unlike warrior classes I've played in other games (like WoW or Rift). Smash, slice, spin -- and I am in love with Force-Leap! My Knight even had a focus bar reminiscent of the WoW Warrior's Rage mechanic.

SWTOR devs answer your questions and release a preview for Deceived (Massively)

"We're big fans of multiple gameplay paths -- we don't want to force you to do one thing to advance. That means you'll level up whether you're playing PvE or PvP."

Studio Insider – Experience Coruscant (SWTOR official site)

When you land at the spaceport on Coruscant you are greeted with a view of the Senate Tower, lavish gardens flanking its historic entrance. In all directions shimmering glass towers stretch out to the horizon; only the wealthy and powerful can afford to live on the surface, and see the sun and stars. Walkways connect the spaceport to the Senate Tower, decorated with statues and monuments commemorating the Republic’s heroes. In between the two massive structures sits the district’s transport hub, active at all hours with the thriving traffic of politics and commerce.

The link contains several video clips.

Star Wars: The Old Republic: Daniel Erickson Interview
At a recent event held at Bioware, MMORPG.com's Ben PerLee sat down with Daniel Erickson, the Lead Writer for BioWare and the man in charge of the story behind Star Wars: The Old Republic. He had a lot to say about what players will discover once they're in the galaxy of The Old Republic, and he offered a little insight to what they will find. Check it out and then leave us a comment or two.

Star Wars: The Old Republic: A 6-Hour Preview
Recently, MMORPG.com writer Ben PerLee had the opportunity to spend quality time with Bioware's Star Wars: The Old Republic. In this new feature for MMORPG.com, Ben and fellow journalists had the chance to play as Jedi Knights and Jedi Consulars on their origin planet of Tython. Check out Ben's thoughts about his six hours with SWTOR and then weigh in with your impressions below.

Star Wars: The Old Republic: PvP in the Old Republic
At a recent Bioware event, MMORPG.com's Ben PerLee had the opportunity to talk PvP with Gabe Amatangelo, Lead PvP Designer. Called warzones, each PvP area offers unique and special elements to keep things fresh, as well as remind players of the universe of The Old Republic. Amatangelo had a lot to say about this, so read on more for his side of The Old Republic. Be sure to let us know what you think below.

Star Wars: The Old Republic: Wearing Your Heart on Your Face
In his latest column about Star Wars: The Old Republic, MMORPG.com Community Manager Michael Bitton has a few words to say about a recent thread on our SWTOR forum where the discussion centered around one's face reflecting one's alignment. Check it out and comment below!

Hyperspace Beacon: Life in the Force (Massively)

We roleplayers do not have all the answers to canon and character development, but there are many of us who study our character philosophy deeply. Despite this, our Jedi characters tend to come across as stiff and one-dimensional. By contrast, Sith characters seem to have personality and variety. Of course, there will always be the Sith who are all broody and who stand in the corner of a cantina being "evil." However, if a Jedi developed a personality other than that of a sage monk, he was automatically labeled a "gray Jedi" -- or even "dark Jedi" if his personality was extremely vivid.

[Morreion]

SWTOR Trooper video kicks some serious -- shut yo mouth! (Massively)

Troopers aren't in it for glory. They are protecting the Republic. They are protecting freedom. And according to the newest trailer from Star Wars: The Old Republic, the Troopers' duty is to defend the people and the principles of the Republic no matter the sacrifice.

Includes a 1:38 video.

Trooper info explodes from Star Wars: The Old Republic (Massively)

First, we have the Weequay, Tanno Vik, who impressed his military instructors by always planting explosives where they would do the most damage. The Republic army considered him for the Special Forces division, but his attitude and disregard for authority always held him back. Vik will eventually run into you and become a part of your crew if you pick the Republic Trooper class.

Star Wars: The Old Republic: The Republic Trooper
In his latest Star Wars: The Old Republic column, MMORPG.com Community Manager Michael Bitton takes a look at the Republic Trooper. While announced early on, the Bioware dev team recently expanded the available information about the Trooper. Mike takes a look at the new information and offers a few thoughts. Read on and then be sure to leave us a comment or two below.

Like the aforementioned Clonetroopers, the TOR Trooper really brings the pain, wielding blaster rifles or even giant assault cannons. Additional death dealing options include access to heavy ordnance, such as rifle-launched high-power grenades and even a sticky bomb that can be attached to an enemy.

SWTOR developer blog on cinematic design (Massively)

"the Cinematic Design team members are the visual composers of this chapter of the Star Wars universe, developing scenes that players will remember for years to come."

Hyperspace Beacon: Always in motion is the future (Massively)

As the release nears, we will certainly see a plethora of updates and secret reveals. We had our share of SWTOR news last year, and as with every game, the hype-machine presses on with a fevered fervor towards its zenith. There is so much we know about this game already, yet at the same time, we know very little.

Why Star Wars: The Old Republic Might Already Be Too Late (1Up)
EA is pouring millions into what they hope will be a World of WarCraft killer, but they may be four years too late.

I think the real concern though is not so much in the quest design as in BioWare Austin's apparent willingness to play follow the leader. Whenever something becomes a big hit -- be it a movie, game or book -- there's always a mad scramble to replicate the formula; in World of WarCraft's case, that mad scramble has been going for six years now. The amount of money that goes into developing MMOs makes publishers naturally risk averse (Realtime Worlds is a great example of what can happen when an ambitious MMO goes horribly wrong), but the amount World of WarCraft contributes to Activision's bottom line is just too enticing to ignore. Given Blizzard's enormous headstart though, a developer has to do more than play it safe to reach the heights that World of WarCraft has scaled.

Five Hours with Star Wars: The Old Republic (IGN)
Questing for lightsabers.

Whether speaking with a villager in a remote town or with leaders inside the Jedi Temple on Tython, I'm not given the traditional text boxes filled with quest information. Instead, the camera zooms in close and cuts between characters as they engage in fully voiced dialogue sequences. I can't say right now if this approach to delivering story might wear out its welcome on the journey from level one to the cap, but throughout the starting zone I was having a great time listening to the story of the world and getting to better know the characters. It made me feel more like I was doing quests for a particular person than as an excuse to check off another box in my quest log.

Your SWTOR story grows with more character biographies (Massively)

Our Bounty Hunter is a Zabrak named Jewl'a Nightbringer. This adept hunter won the Mandalorian Great Hunt, leaving no captures alive. She then won hundreds of Mandalorian honor duels. You see, this particular hunter grew up on Coruscant at the time the Hydian Way was blocked by Mandalorian warships. She grew up poor and fended for herself. Her deep-seated hatred for the Mandalorians brought her to their Great Hunt to prove her victory over them.

Hyperspace Beacon: A mystical energy field controls my destiny (Massively)

The Potentium is heretical to both the Jedi and the Sith. These followers of the Force believe that the Force is neither inherently good nor evil. Rather, these Force followers believe there is no Dark Side, that all is the Force. It is the user's intentions that determine to which side his moral compass points.

Star Wars: The Old Republic: Are Mounts Important?
Mounts are one of the core features in most MMOs on the market today and are the subject of MMORPG.com Community Manager Michael Bitton's latest Star Wars: The Old Republic column. While Bioware has indicated that basic MMO features will be included SWTOR, not much has been said about mounts. Check out Mike's ideas about SWTOR mounts and then weigh in with your own opinion in the comments below.

Engaging the community: good or bad? (SWTOR official forums)

I feel there is to much silence on these forums and fear that the same culture of secrecy dominates the TOR team. I wonder if it is not better to engage the potential consumers to a greater degree and show off elements of the game more often than to withhold information out of fear of showing things before they are "perfect".

There is talk of a spring release, and still we have yet to see any lenght of actuall game play or insight into how the game is going to work.

What do you guys think?

[Morreion]

Hyperspace Beacon: It's against my programming to impersonate a deity (Massively)

...You get a bunch of gods competing for the same throne in a no-win situation. BioWare has said that our character in Star Wars: The Old Republic is not going to be just any Bounty Hunter (or Smuggler or Trooper) but the best Bounty Hunter. How is that going to impact the story and our interactions with other players from an in-character perspective? For a game that is "putting the RP back in the MMORPG," this is dangerous ground.

R-E-S-P-E-C: Find out what it means to Star Wars: The Old Republic (Massively)

"You may be able to spec to another Advanced Class, but that is something we haven't entirely made up our mind about as there are plenty of arguments that can be made - pro and con - and future class developments could influence this."

Star Wars: The Old Republic: Speaking Up
Updates to favorite games in development are things that keep communities active and alive. When the news gets thin, the community gets restless. In his latest column about Star Wars: The Old Republic, MMORPG.com Community Manager Michael Bitton takes a look at SWTOR's efforts and just why keeping quieter than expected might be a good thing. Check it out and then let us know your thoughts below in the comments section.

Star Wars: The Old Republic: The Quiz: SWTOR Edition (MMORPG.com)
Think you know Star Wars: The Old Republic? If so, you'll want to test your mettle against The Drew Wood Quiz Power Hour and his tough questions about SWTOR. Take The Quiz and let us know how you did in the comments below.

SWTOR planet Quesh: the anti-vacation spot (Massively)

Today, Star Wars: The Old Republic introduced Quesh as the 17th planet players can visit in their exploration of the galaxy. This toxic treasure was first discovered in Hutt space during the Great War but was quickly abandoned because of the poisons discovered in the atmosphere. It was not until years later that a scientist reviewed the chemical analysis reports from the planet and discovered a key component for making adrenals. Shortly thereafter, the planet became the Republic's secret source of revenue. But like all secrets, it did not stay secret for long. Upon its discovery by the Empire, the Sith sent a full-scale attack force to steal the planet from the Republic.

Hyperspace Beacon: Gameplay mechanics -- twisted and evil (Massively)

This prompted me to take a closer look at other mechanics we have been told about that differ from those in other MMOs. Is crafting different? How about other combat systems? I agree that there is an air of familiarity to all these mechanics. Why do they feel familiar? How are they different? Follow me after the break to explore these questions.

Could EA's history make investors wary about SWTOR? (Massively)

The article released today cites Janco Partners analyst Mike Hickey as saying, "We believe many investors are betting against SWTOR achieving market success, provided the company's (Warhammer Online from Mythic) and industry's track record at releasing successful new MMOs."

It's worrying to me to think of SWTOR being a big bust, because that might mean less well-funded MMOs in the future. They've set the success bar high with this title.

Damion Schubert philosophizes about SWTOR's death penalty (Massively)

"I would rather our challenges be gated by whether or not you have the skill, the gear, and the teamwork to succeed than whether or not you have the credits and/or time to wait out the forced downtime in between, you know, the fun part," Schubert explains in the post.

Star Wars: The Old Republic: The Treaty of Coruscant
For some players, the lore, or the story, behind a game is crucial to their enjoyment. Creative minds work quite hard to make sure the lore is entertaining and, in the case of Star Wars: The Old Republic, symbiotic with existing background lore. Check out MMORPG.com Community Manager Mike Bitton's thoughts about a recent discussion on the SWTOR forums about the Treaty of Coruscant. Be sure to let us know what you think in the comments below.

Lore Update: Alderaan (Darth Hater)

Situated in the Alderaan sector of the Core Worlds, Alderaan's surface is one of natural beauty. Occasionally called the "shining star" of the Core Worlds, the planet's lush forests, grassy plains and snow-capped mountain ranges provide inspiration for many of the galaxy's writers, who often travel to Alderaan to invoke their muse. Flying through the skies are giant winged creatures known as Thrantas, which are commonly used for air transportation over the planet's vast plains. Thranta riders can look down upon these plains to view grazing lands for the native nerf herds.

[Regolyth]

Jan 27, 2011 13:02:43 GMT -5 Morreion said:

Could EA's history make investors wary about SWTOR? (Massively)

The article released today cites Janco Partners analyst Mike Hickey as saying, "We believe many investors are betting against SWTOR achieving market success, provided the company's (Warhammer Online from Mythic) and industry's track record at releasing successful new MMOs."

It's worrying to me to think of SWTOR being a big bust, because that might mean less well-funded MMOs in the future. They've set the success bar high with this title.

I don't want to, but I really feel that EA is going to ruin SWTOR. Even if the game has a chance to be successful, I fear that if it doesn't do so in the first month or two, EA will pull funds on it and move on elsewhere, leaving it to wither and die like they did WAR.

[Morreion]

I agree, Rego. Expectations are so high that if it is a decent game, it might not be good enough for all of the money they've spent on it. They need a lot of subs to get their money back. If they fail, I think the subscription model is in even worse trouble than it is now.

[Morreion]

SWTOR unveils the Taral V flashpoint (Massively)

Includes a 1:40 video.

Star Wars: The Old Republic Updated Q&A - Flashpoints...The Old Republic's Answer to Dungeons? (Gamespot)

"Flashpoints are designed to be enjoyed by everyone, but they will hold the most appeal for players who like cooperative gameplay. I would also say we're sympathetic to players who are a little bored with the "traditional" dungeon experience. My team loves playing dungeons, but we want flashpoints to be an evolutionary step toward something more engaging. My hope is that even players who traditionally solo will be attracted to them and seek out groups."

The "big bet": EA aims at a half-million subscribers to make SWTOR profitable (Massively)

While Riccitiello admitted that the title has seen "significant development costs," he claims that costs proposed by the public are far higher than the actual costs of The Old Republic's development. He declined to share the actual costs or the number of staff working on the game.

Star Wars: The Old Republic: If You Strike Me Down
It is inevitable that every character will die at some point in a game but it is the mechanic behind death, the penalty behind dying, that overjoys or irks players. In this week's Star Wars: The Old Republic column, MMORPG.com Community Manager Michael Bitton discusses the game's death penalty and why the devs chose the system they are creating. Check out Mike's thoughts and then give us a few of your own in the comments.

Break-even Analysis à la SWTOR (Keen & Graev)

Anyone on this planet knows that SWTOR will sell well and do fine on subscriptions. It’s Star Wars and Bioware. If WAR is still alive with even 50k subscribers for this long then SWTOR will do 500k sustained for at least a few months. The key lies with the timing. Their recent announcement that SWTOR would not be out in Spring is, in my opinion, a result of intentionally delaying the game. Bioware’s biggest competition will not be WoW but rather the dozen other games closely packed well below the mean. Delaying until after Rift releases, DCUO is chilled for a few months, and Cataclysm is but a memory means that they get to swoop in and clean house. It’s smart. It’s what I would do.

Developer Blog: Building Flashpoints (SWTOR official site)

The real challenge of building a Flashpoint is balancing momentum with storytelling. We want you to feel like you are the heroes in a Star Wars action sequence, but we also want to give you opportunities to roleplay with your friends. The combat is made meaningful because we place it in the context of an epic struggle with cinematic storytelling. At the heart of every Flashpoint is a conflict that you have some personal stake in. We never want you to lose sight of that.

Includes several video clips.

Hyperspace Beacon: From a certain point of view (Massively)

Some would argue that there is some truth to the $300 million claim. It is possible that the parasite received his number from somewhere, and it is completely possible that BioWare does have $300 million to spend from EA, but did you also know that BioWare was working on at least two other big budget games at the time of the insect's post? DragonAge 2 is set to release on March 8th. Mass Effect 3 will release sometime later this year. And there is a rumor of another MMO -- not SWTOR -- in development right now. So maybe the supposed Mythic employee saw a memo on someone's desk that indicated that BioWare had a $300 million budget and assumed the whole thing went to SWTOR.

Friday Update: Flashpoints Game Systems Page Launched! (Ask A Jedi)

The new page showcases not only the Taral V Flashpoint, but 4 others. The full list is as follows:

* The Esseles – Early Game – Republic Only
* The Black Talon – Early Game – Empire Only (This is the Kill/Spare the Captain mission.)
* Taral V – Mid Game – Republic Only
* Boarding Party – Mid Game – Empire Only
* Directive 7 – End Game – Both Factions (!)


Star Wars: The Old Republic: Combat Musings
Bioware developer Georg Zoeller has been very active on the Star Wars: The Old Republic forums lately with many of his postings centering on combat. In his weekly SWTOR column, MMORPG.com Community Manager Mike Bitton takes some of Zoeller's thoughts about combat and offers our readers a few thoughts. Check out Mike's interpretation of Zoeller's posts and then add a few of your own combat ideas in the comments below.

Looking For Story (Darth Hater)

Star Wars: The Old Republic is throwing an entirely new variable in the equation by adding a narrative focus to their Flashpoints. While gamers in the past butted heads over personality and playstyle, SWTOR players will also contend with interest in story. Do you want to wait and listen to each line of dialogue, read the subtitles and then skip the voice over, or do you want to skip it entirely? Do you make your conversation choices quickly or take a while to choose? Are you taking the story seriously or lightheartedly? How a player answers these questions will add a new depth to who they will enjoy grouping with and where they wish to play.

[Regolyth]

Feb 9, 2011 11:35:04 GMT -5 Morreion said:

The "big bet": EA aims at a half-million subscribers to make SWTOR profitable (Massively)

While Riccitiello admitted that the title has seen "significant development costs," he claims that costs proposed by the public are far higher than the actual costs of The Old Republic's development. He declined to share the actual costs or the number of staff working on the game.

I think this is going to kill the game. I understand that it's Star Wars and Bioware, but that's a tall order. With EA's track record, I think they'll pull the plug before the game is able to get to the 500k point. I think that the game could eventually get there, but I don't think EA has the patience, know-how to nurture it, or, at this point, the money to invest in it (willingly at least).