LucasFilm Files New Star Wars Trademarks, Is The Old Republic Its New MMO?

[Q'in]

From SoE forums

EA: LucasArts and BioWare building KOTOR MMO (not official or confirmed)
by Christopher Grant Jul 17th 2008 1:40PM

Portfolio.com just published a short excerpt of its interview with EA boss John Riccitiello who tells the site that it's "got two of the most compelling MMOs in the industry in development" including "the one that people are dying for us to talk to them about -- in partnership with Lucas, coming out of BioWare." One doesn't need to connect too many dots to arrive at the conclusion that BioWare is returning to the Star Wars universe with a Knights of the Old Republic MMO.

Of course, this product has been rumored for ... well, for a long time. Separately confirming a BioWare / LucasArts collaboration and a BioWare MMO project lead to certain obvious conclusions and countless other rumors and leaks seemed to do everything but confirm (and some denied) the project's existence. Though it would appear Riccitiello wasn't quite ready to put a name on that project - it's Portfolio.com connecting those dots - by referencing that this is the game that "people are dying for us to talk to them about" he clearly seems to be pointing to KOTOR.

[Update: We've just spoken with N. Evan Van Zelfden, the writer of the report, who told us that when asked specifically if this game was "KOTOR Online", Riccitiello responded unequivocally, "Yes." So, there you have it - sounds like we can take off our skeptical glasses.]

http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/17/p...ding-kotor-mmo/
http://www.portfolio.com/views/blog...he-old-republic
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-9993349-1.html

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"The house that Lucas built has filed for a handful of new trademarks, all Star Wars related, all potentially new names for the oft-rumored Knights of the Old Republic 3, the one that continues to pop up as a new BioWare developed MMO. LucasFilm recently filed trademark applications for Star Wars The Old Republic, The Old Republic, Star Wars Sagas and Star Wars Legends, all of are described as "video game software" and "entertainment services provided on-line by means of global and local area networks." While that certainly sounds like a new Star Wars MMO and it all matches up nicely with what we've heard from former LucasArts employees, we'll call it rumor for now."

http://kotaku.com/5024529/lucasfilm...mo#viewcomments

[Woobe]

It make me excited and sad at the same time. In my opinion though it should have come out on the heals of this new movie starting next month.

[Q'in]

KotOR online now has it's own wiki.

[Q'in]

Found two interesting images on the SoE boards :

[Q'in]

Found the source, so at least the pics arent fake

http://www.massively.com/2008/10/07/check-out-our-bioware-lucasarts-announcement-invite/

[Q'in]

http://www.massively.com/2008/10/21/massively-and-joystiq-liveblog-the-star-wars-bioware-announcem/

5:18PM ET – Phew! Made it inside. SPOILER: Game's called Star Wars: The Old Republic -- we spotted it on BioWare bosses Greg and Ray's shirts. (Also: No photography allowed -- BOO!)

5:18PM ET – Luke's theme swells over the speakers and we're now watching a retrospective on BioWare's involvement with the Star Wars franchise. Specifically, KOTOR.

5:20PM ET – Footage of KOTOR and KOTOR II is running along with comments from BioWare and Lucas staff. Looks like it might be The Old Republic -- Yes! Star Wars: The Old Republic logo just appeared on screen to tremendous applause!

5:22PM ET – LucasArts' Daniel Rodriguez is speaking now, confirming that the two companies are indeed developing a massively multiplayer game titled Star Wars: The Old Republic. They are partnering with EA for the release.

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/starwarstheoldrepublic/video/6199708#

http://pc.ign.com/articles/922/922115p1.html

[Q'in]

5:23PM ET – Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk are at the podium. Greg's joking around about ideas for Howard the Duck and THX-1138 MMOs. The Old Republic is being developed by BioWare Austin, and is what he calls a "story-driven MMO." So, why haven't they made KOTOR 3? Internally, they team jokes that The Old Republic is KOTOR 3/4/5 and beyond!

5:25PM ET – Muzyka feels that the story aspect of the game will make players feel even more connected to their characters.

5:26PM ET – Greg Zeschuk is speaking now, giving us an update on where the game's at. He says they're not going to show gameplay, but will demo some things "we will like."

5:28PM ET – Greg says some of the neat things you can do are support your companion characters and also change them. He uses the Dark Side as an example -- this will somehow affect your companions. And with that ... we're seeing a trailer!

5:29PM ET – A starship streaks towards a planet; we see crystals in use; on a desert world a Sith is walking alongside a droid. He takes out several sentries!

5:30PM ET – A female Jedi is now fighting the Sith to "the Duel of The Fates." Very dramatic -- but it's over. It was entirely CGI. The tagline: "The Saga Begins Online."

5:32PM ET – James Ohlen, creative director of BioWare Austin is now at the podium. He was the director and lead writer of KOTOR. He's the main man on The Old Republic. TOR takes place 3,500 years before the films and 300 years after KOTOR II.

5:33PM ET – You'll be able to choose between the Sith Empire and the Galactic Republic, each with multiple sub-classes. Each of sub-class will have its own story. Ohlen likens these stories to those of Han, Luke, etc. -- everyone will have a personal story, but be able to adventure together (just like the movies!).

5:35PM ET – Ohlen is most excited by the combination of player choice, specific stories for the sub-classes, and companions.

5:36PM ET – Now its on to Jeff Dobson, art director of BioWare Austin. He calls TOR the most ambitious game he's ever worked on. He wants to make something that looks unique. Talks about the realism available on current platforms, but how he wanted to create something with a very distinct look, where every screenshot will look different.

5:38PM ET – The art team spent a lot of time discussing the look, feel, and technology of the era the game's set in. Concept art is running in a slide-show on-screen. The style of the game looks more saturated than the previous KOTOR games – reminiscent of WoW. Dobson calls it "concept art come to life."

5:39PM ET – Dobson says they've spent a lot of time focusing on making the player characters very iconic -- something people would want to play as. BioWare doesn't want this to be a game that only runs on the top 5% of machines. He says it should look good on a wide range of platforms. Time for some actual in-game footage ...

5:42PM ET – Wow! The visual style looks like vibrant, hand-painted art. They've shown Coruscant, as well as some various worlds -- plains, lava, deserts ... all with lots of lightsaber duels, 'natch.

5:43PM ET – Greg is back at the podium. "When will we get to play it?" They're not saying yet. They're "working hard" on the game and can't wait for us to get our hands on it. We can't wait either. Q&A time now ...

5:45PM ET – The footage we just saw was pre-alpha. Greg says there's still a lot of work to do. Ray doesn't want to say how long they've been working on it -- just that a lot of work has gone into it. Asked what platforms it will appear on, Greg says they're only talking about one today: PC.

5:46PM ET – Will there be a subscription model? "There will be a variety of ways for people to get into the game and we're working to accommodate everyone." The release date is "sometime in the future." Har har!

[Q'in]

5:47PM ET – When asked what TOR means for the future of Star Wars Galaxies, LucasArts steps in and says, "We're only talking about The Old Republic today." Point taken.

5:47PM ET – Greg and Ray are now talking about pulling races and occupations from the films -- they want players to be able to do whatever they've seen in the films in the game.

5:48PM ET – They're replaying the gameplay footage and ... that's a wrap!

5:48PM ET – We're headed off to a breakout session. Check the main page for continued updates -- and may the Force be with you! (Wow, did we really just say that?

[Q'in]

While playing Star Wars: The Old Republic players can meet, recruit, speak to and even be betrayed by companions just like in the first two singleplayer experiences. This seemingly ties into BioWare's addition of story as a "fourth pillar" to combat, exploration and character development.

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