All Articles: Star Wars: The Old Republic

After months of rumours and a dwindling subscriber base, BioWare has finally announced that their MMO, Star Wars: The Old Republic, is rolling out a Free-To-Play option this Fall.

Jeff Hickman, the game’s Executive Producer, took to the SW:TOR blog to explain how the team had arrived at this decision:

“Since launch, our team has spent a lot of time trying to find new ways to be able to bring the Star Wars: The Old Republic experience to as many potential players as possible. We quickly became aware that our subscription only model was a major barrier for a lot people who wanted to become part of The Old Republic universe. In fact, many players who have left the game said they would happily come back if they could play without the commitment of a monthly fee.We feel that flexibility and choice in playing our game is important for all current and future players. For that reason, we began the exploration of expanding the game to include a Free-to-Play option.”

But what does it all mean? Essentially, anyone who is a current subscriber can switch to the Free-to-Play option when it rolls out this fall. However, the option does limit a number of the games features. For example, Free-To-Play members will have restrictions on character customization, and certain species will not be available. There will be an as yet unspecified cap on the number of Space Missions you can embark on, as well as limited access to the Warzones and Flashpoints and no access whatsoever to Operations. Current subscribers will also be showered with gifts in the form of Cartel Coins, while Free-To-Play gamers will have to whip out the old credit card should they wish to make in game purchases. A complete comparison between the Free-To-Play option and a monthly subscription can be found at the game’s official website.

So what do you think readers? Is this a move for the good of the galaxy, or a step towards the Dark Side?

BioWare today announced the release of “Game Update 1.2: Legacy,” which is a massive update for Star Wars: The Old Republic that will deliver new content and the next evolution of the Legacy System alongside community requested enhancements like custom user interfaces and guild banks.

The new Legacy System will give players the ability to join all of their characters in a family tree that gives each a “bond.” This bond will grant bonus abilities and new character customization options to each character in the tree. They can also unlock new races for new characters, and convenience items for ships including a Galactic Trade Network terminal.

There will also be new high-level content for both experienced and novice players, including a Flashpoint on Ord Mantell called Lost Island, an Operation in a new zone on Denova called Explosive Conflict, and Warzone: Novare Coast.

But that’s not all! To reward current players for their support, BioWare will be offering some in-game rewards, including a Tauntaun Ram pet for anyone with an active account created before or on April 21, 30 days of free game time for players who reach level 50 by April 12, and up to seven days of free game play for former players with inactive accounts starting April 13.

For more information on the update, head over to the official Star Wars: The Old Republic website for patch notes and a more in-depth discussion of the update with the SWTOR developers.

This is the news post where we’d normally list all of this week’s new releases. However, there’s only new release to talk about, so for this week, this is the news post where we talk about Star Wars: The Old Republic.

The Old Republic is the second attempt at a Star Wars MMORPG and it combines the talents of BioWare, LucasArts, and Electronic Arts while making liberal use of the Knights of the Old Republic setting last seen in the much-maligned Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II: The Sith Lords.

BioWare promised to have the game out before the end of the year and they made good on their pledge as The Old Republic will be the final game released before the calendar turns over to January.

So enjoy the rest of your 2011 folks! We’ll be back with another New Releases report in 2012!

While it looks like Diablo III won’t be out until 2012, EA, LucasArts and BioWare have confirmed that Star Wars: The Old Republic will be released by the end of the year. The massively multiplayer online game has been given an official release date of December 20 with “limited pre-order quantities.” Players who pre-order SWTOR will also receive an Early Game Access token to ensure they play the game before anyone else.

“In 1977, Lucasfilm created magic with the release of Star Wars. Our goal is to capture some of that magic when we go live with Star Wars: The Old Republic on December 20,” said Dr. Ray Muzyka, BioWare’s Co-Founder. “This is an incredible moment for everyone at BioWare and our partners at LucasArts who have dedicated so much of their lives to building this extraordinary game.”

After the initial game purchase, players will be asked to spend $14.99 per month, $41.97 for 3 months ($13.99 per month), or $77.94 for six months ($12.99 per month) in subscription fees. What do they get for their money? Well…

Star Wars: The Old Republic has been lauded for breaking new ground in the genre by building on traditional MMO gameplay pillars of combat, exploration, character customization and progression, and adding a powerful fourth dimension to the experience — story with personal choice and consequence. The Old Republic is set thousands of years before the rise of Darth Vader, when the Star Wars galaxy is in the midst of a cold war.

Players will be asked to join forces with either the Galactic Republic or Sith Empire and choose one of eight iconic Star Wars characters: Jedi Knight, Jedi Consular, Smuggler, Trooper, Bounty Hunter, Imperial Agent, Sith Inquisitor and Sith Warrior. Every player’s story will unfold based on meaningful choices made throughout the game, enabling them to become the hero of their own personal Star Wars saga.

Along their journey, players will encounter companion characters with whom they can build and break meaningful relationships as they fight by their side. Players will explore a vibrant galaxy, engage in heroic battles, and experience visceral Star Wars combat.

Sounds pretty epic, but can it topple the World of Warcraft juggernaut? As Yoda says, “Do. Or do not. There is no try.”

The dawn of BioWare’s Star Wars: The Old Republic is upon us, and we get lots of tasty editions to pre-order from, even if there still isn’t a solid release date.

Beta testing for the game starts in September, and hopefully it will highlight the new ideas that BioWare and Lucasarts have brought to the MMO game. The Old Republic is supposed to have a deeper focus on story rather than herding X amount of Nerf.

The pre-orders will get you first access to the game and an in-game color stone to change up your weapon. The launch supply of the game will be limited in order to keep transition to the servers nice and smooth. If you are cuddling with your Darth Maul pillow in anticipation, you might want to ante up some cash.

The three editions of Star Wars: The Old Republic are:

The Collector’s Edition – It includes a ton of real and in-game swag. You get a Darth Malgus Statue, the journal of Jedi Master Gnost Dural, The Old Republic soundtrack, a security key and a map of the in-game Star Wars galaxy. Virtual items include a Flare Gun, Training Droid, personal HoloDancer, HoloCam, the STAP vehicle and access to the Collector’s Store, an in-game store with new in-game items exclusively for owners of the Collector’s Edition. The Collector’s Edition will also include 30 days of game time and will set you back a resounding $149.99.

Digital Deluxe Edition – This edition includes 30 days of game time and five virtual items, including the Flare Gun, Training Droid, personal HoloDancer, HoloCam and the STAP vehicle. It is a little bit cheaper, weighing in at $79.99.

Standard Edition – You get the game and 30 days to play it. This one will cost you a reasonable $59.99.

In true George Lucas fashion, we get many editions of the game. Hopefully they won’t feature any updated special effects, extra scenes, or Jar Jar Binks.