Majestic forests, toxic swamplands, desert landscapes, and hazardous war zones the worlds that make up the Star Wars™ universe are unique and enriched with compelling storylines. Watch Developer Dispatch: Diverse Worlds and go behind the scenes to find out how the developers are bringing the worlds of Tython, Korriban, Hutta, and Ord Mantell to life a few of the many playable worlds in Star Wars™: The Old Republic™.
SW:TOR – Latest Webcomic and Some Video Lore
I’ve never been big on comics (bad geek, I know. Please don’t hurt me!) but the Star Wars fan in me cannot help but follow the SWTOR web comic. If you haven’t seen it before, I urge you to check it out and catch up! They just put up the 3rd installment. And because BioWare loves me and wants me to fall madly in love with them, they also have put up what very well could be the best bit of lore ever. Perhaps it’s the fangirl in me, but I got chills. All MMOG lore needs to be presented in this way. Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ is set during a unique time period in the galaxy’s history. Decades of war concluded with the Sith Empire sacking the Republic’s capital planet, Coruscant, and forcing Republic Senators and the Jedi Council to agree to a painful peace treaty. In the…
Star Wars The Old Republic – Developer Diary 2
LucasArts and BioWare have released a second video developer diary for their upcoming MMO, Star Wars: The Old Republic. This time we get some new infomation about the Bunty hunter class.
Faction lore: Mandalorian
The Mandalorians (called Mando’ade in Mando’a, meaning “children of Mandalore”) were a warlike, nomadic group of clan-based people consisting of members from multiple species. Often, they served as mercenaries and bounty hunters. Their culture revolved around that of battle and war being a source of honor and pride in their community. The leader of the Mandalorians typically took on the title of “Mandalore.” Mandalorians were frequently allied with the Sith, most notably Exar Kun and much later as a prototype for the Clone trooper under the power of Darth Sidious and the Galactic Republic, though they would not hesitate to cooperate with the Jedi if it suited them. In later years Mandalorian Warriors wore very distinctive battle helmets with T-shaped visors that covered the entirety of their faces, which would provide inspiration for the helmets of the clone troopers. These helmets would eventually become strongly associated with the Mandalorian people….
Kotor: Sleheyron Demo Mod
This mod is being developed by Sithspecter, Dan Loto and Marius Fett. This is just the demo they have released to let the public know that it isn’t a dead project. I just walked around the only module they released in this demo and talked to a few guys so you would know what the demo is like. Looking forward to the completed project. If you’re new to this project and feel lost Sleheyron is a planet that was cut from the first KOTOR game that is being restored. To find out more information, visit the official thread at Holowan Labs: http://www.lucasforums.com/showthread.php?t=186244 Want to keep up whats going on? make sure you subscribe to our RSS feed!
Bioware is Hiring
New from the Bioware forums: Come work at BioWare! 2 New Positions Open! We’re looking for a Senior Web Developer and Web Designer here at BioWare Austin. Do you fit these job descriptions or know someone who does? Applications and resumes can be submitted through the BioWare Austin Careers Page . BioWare offers competitive salaries and medical benefits, as well as relocation assistance. All applicants must be willing to relocate to the location of the respective studio.
Know your lore: Revan
“You will have gone from being the Sith Lord himself, to the savior of our galaxy.” ―Bastila Shan — Revan was a Jedi Knight and General during the Mandalorian Wars. A Human male once known by the nickname the Revanchist, he was both a charismatic and enigmatic leader, a renowned tactician and expert strategist, and a hero of the Galactic Republic during the Mandalorian Wars, leading the Republic fleets to victory after victory. Ending the conflict personally, with the execution of Mandalore the Ultimate and the destruction of Malachor V, Revan led the remains of the Republic fleet deep into the Unknown Regions to hunt down the remaining Mandalorians. He returned however, as Darth Revan, the Dark Lord of the Sith. Deploying his vast armada, the very ships that had fought alongside him during the Mandalorian Wars, against the Republic fleet, Revan ignited the Jedi Civil War. Revan and his…
The Old Republic – And Revan…
The new Starwars MMO: The Old Republic has been officialy announced and so exciting many KOTOR fans… But does the game also answers our questions on Revan? Will we ever see him again? Will we ever know what happened to him? This video is, according to me, one of finest fan movies on youtube! Want to keep up whats going on? make sure you subscribe to our RSS feed! or follow us on Twitter
New Star Wars: The Old Republic Trailer Arrives
Tucked away within this “Developer Dispatch” video is our second chance to see BioWare‘s upcoming Star Wars MMO in motion, including combat and Jedi meditation. Want to keep up whats going on? make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!
Full Star Wars Timeline
Can be found here: Star Wars Expanded Universe Timeline If you are a fan of the modern phenomenon that is the Star Wars Expanded Universe, you know that many have attempted to make sense of the vast media palette that represents the fictitious history of the Galaxy Far, Far Away. Hundreds of stories by nearly as many authors now color (some might say litter) the canvas of Star Wars outside the films. And if you are like me, you discovered fairly early on that it would take some effort to make sense of the whole mess. I’ve looked in a few places and think this is the most comprehensive out there right now. He did say that he is adding quite a bit more later this year.
Star Wars: The Old Republic Focuses on the Player, Says BioWare
The MMORPG genre is a pretty big one, but one of the most popular themes that appear on this market is the space one. Although EVE Online is currently the most popular space-themed game, a lot of other titles are beginning to show promise and will certainly make this genre very popular. One of the most ambitious projects is the Star Wars: The Old Republic title, which is currently being developed by Electronic Arts’ BioWare studio, makers of the original RPG series Knights of the Old Republic, and LucasArts, the owners of the Star Wars IP (Intellectual Property). Even though fans are eagerly anticipating any tidbit of information, the developers haven’t really made any big statements, only saying that it will dominate the space-themed MMORPG genre, and that it will make a big dent in the World of Warcraft user base. However, Greg Zeschuk, one of the co-founders of the…
Know your Lore: HK-47
HK-47 was a Hunter-Killer assassin droid and Jedi hunter constructed by Revan towards the end of the Mandalorian Wars to kill those who Revan believed would destabilize the galaxy. Revan gave up the droid shortly before his redemption, and HK-47 went from owner to owner, many of whom he slew himself, before being unwittingly reunited with his master. The droid went on to help Revan destroy the Star Forge. Later, HK-47 was damaged, and his schematics were stolen by the droid G0-T0 to produce HK-50 units. Five years later, the Jedi Exile repaired HK-47, who went on to defeat G0-T0 with help from HK-50 droids he persuaded to join the Exile. Four millennia later, HK-47 was found on the planet Mustafar and given a new body. HK-47 turned on those that had created it for him, who were forced to disable HK-47’s new droid army and the factory producing them….
TOR Lore: The Jedi Order
The Jedi have been the noble peacekeepers and diplomats for the Galactic Republic for 22,000 years. While law-abiding citizens look to the Jedi with respect and inspiration, the Galactic Republic’s enemies regard the Jedi with suspicion, fear, and anger. The success of the Sith Empire’s military campaign during the Great War saw the deaths of thousands of Jedi. During the sacking of Coruscant, six Masters of the Jedi Council were killed, and in the time since, the Sith have started their own recruitment campaign to seek out Force-sensitive children around the galaxy. These catastrophes have damaged the Galactic Republic’s faith in its legendary protectors, but they are far from defeated. Overwhelmed but fearless, the Jedi have returned to their ancient homeworld of Tython, recommitting to their timeless principles and looking to the future, hoping to restore balance to the Force and peace and justice to the galaxy. Despite their intentions,…
TOR Lore: The Galactic Republic
For more than twenty thousand years, the Galactic Republic has been the most civilized and advanced power in the known galaxy. Governed by the Galactic Senate with representatives from hundreds of star systems and planets, the Republic has been the center of peace and progress, a bright beacon in the darkness of outer space. The revered Jedi Order has sworn itself to defend the Republic, to battle the darkness, and to bring peace and balance to the greater galaxy. The Jedi have served for millennia in this capacity, and in that time they have earned themselves the admiration of their allies, and the hatred of their enemies. Less than a century ago, the greatest of those enemies returned… The onslaught of the Sith Empire caught the Republic and the Jedi completely by surprise, and during a long and arduous war, the Republic was broken. After the capital planet of Coruscant…
The Sith Empire
The true origins of the Sith remain shrouded in mystery. The Sith race was, in fact, largely unimportant until three thousand years ago, when Dark Jedi exiles arrived on Korriban and subjugated the Sith beneath their rule and their philosophy. As the years passed, the Dark Jedi intermarried with those they ruled, and within generations, the word “Sith” took on new meaning. This powerful new civilization began expanding rapidly, led by a growing population of ambitious dark Force-users. Fifteen hundred years ago, the Sith civilization’s boundaries reached the Republic, and the Great Hyperspace War began. Dark Lord of the Sith Naga Sadow led his armies in an aggressive campaign to destroy the Galactic Republic. Though the Sith were successful at first, the Jedi Order rallied back to defeat their dark counterparts, systematically destroying the Sith civilization on Korriban. Unbeknownst to the Jedi however, the last Emperor of the Sith managed…
Hippocratic Game Design on The Escapist
Hippocratic Game Design Try to view the game industry’s never-ending parade of dragons, robots and space marines from an outsider’s perspective, and it’s easy to see why many developers are growing tired of looking inward for inspiration. At first glance, BioWare seems to embody this gripe. Browse their back catalogue of games, and you’ll immediately be struck by their close involvement with the Star Wars and Dungeons & Dragons universes – epicenters for the hardcore gaming fanaticism that have been a stumbling block for the videogame industry as it strives for mainstream cultural acceptance. Yet it was with these intellectual properties that BioWare made their name as a developer, breathing new life into them and creating something uniquely their own. Making a game larger than the sum of its intellectual property is no simple feat. But BioWare founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk are well acquainted with looking at things…
Design Q&A – Lightsabers, The Force, and Space Combat
Exclusive SWTOR Design Q&A – Lightsabers, The Force, and Space Combat What kind of level cap do you have in mind? James Ohlen: We are going to have a level based system, and we are going to have a level cap, When we know what that is we’ll share it with you. Gordon Walton: There are a lot of thing that we aren’t going to be able to share with you simply because they’re still in development. BioWare games go through a lot of iteration before we ever settle on something. We’d rather give you real information than blow smoke up your….whatever. When we share something with the community, we’ve played through that part of the game enough that we’re confident that it’s going to be in the final game. We’re really, really committed to no overhyping the game. Rich Vogel: It’s BioWare and it’s Star Wars. Overhyping the game…
Video Interview with Ray and Greg
After years of secrecy, LucasArts opens the book on its ambitious second MMORPG; BioWare’s Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk explain why it’s a bigger project than all their previous projects combined.
BioWare Blog and Dragon Age Updates!
BioWare has opened a new section on the official website called the BioWare Blog. The theme of the blog will be story-based gaming of all varieties. Make sure to check it out! In addition, the Dragon Age: Origins website has been updated with new content. See a new video showcasing how your choice of Origin Story can affect the game. New Dragon Age: Origins posters are also now available for download, and check out the Fanged Skeleton and Wynne updates, all on the official site.
A Q&A with Daniel Erickson [Ten Ton Hammer]
SWTOR Writing – An Exclusive Q&A with Daniel Erickson Are you looking at putting some of the expanded universe characters into the game that weren’t really mentioned in KOTOR I and II? Individuals like Exar Qun, Nomi Sunrider, and Ulic Qel-Droma? Daniel: Absolutely! It’s really one of the areas that’s important to us. Outside of the guy at Lucasfilm that keeps track of the Holocron – the repository of knowledge that is “true” in Star Wars – we probably have the largest group of experts on the Star Wars history. We never want you to have quest where you listen to a librarian for two hours, but we know that it’s very important to the people that are familiar with the IP. Even the things that contradict other things in the expanded universe, we’ve tried to iron out. One of the things you may have noticed in KOTOR is that…