So, we finally have our first video documentry. It is interesting to say the least, they mainly discuss how it will so much better than KOTOR 1 & 2 and how much bigger it will be. You will see some pre pruduction footage that they claim that they havn’t showed anyone else, besides us, the fans.

Overall the footage looked pretty good to me. I’ll be interested to hear everyone’s thoughts.

We will also be announcing the winner of the “Why aren’t they listening contest” shortly!

BioWare® and LucasArts™ share the vision for Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ in our first video documentary, complete with new concepts, new screenshots, and real-time pre-production gameplay video. Hear about the approach to storytelling straight from The Old Republic’s Creative Director and Lead Designer James Ohlen and Principal Lead Writer Daniel Erickson, and watch Art Director Jeff Dobson discuss the aesthetic appeal of stylized realism.

Some great info on the storyline for The Old Republic has been released via the official Old Republic website. Even though it is a MMO, it still sounds awesome and I may be just compelled to try it. I’ve bene having a great response to our last post, where we announced our first contest! Be sure to check it out here! for your chance to win a free Star Wars Video Game of your choice!

The article talks about your character development through-out the game:

“In Star Wars: The Old Republic you will have an emotional attachment to your character and face decisions in the game which will guide the development of your character and determine the direction of the character’s storyline. Whatever your choices may be, you’ll still be the hero (or villain) of an epic storyline which gives extra meaning to the other gameplay pillars. Character advancement will be much more than coming up with efficient statistics. Exploration will be about experiencing new places, new people, and new stories. Finally, instead of just reaching for that next level, you will be engaging in visceral combat reminiscent of the Star Wars movies where you’re motivated to fight for more than just yourself – but also for a cause.

We believe that choice is the most gripping and crucial element of these stories. The team has left a lot open so that your decisions have a significant impact on the way the storylines and the characters develop. Because each storyline offers multiple paths, Star Wars: The Old Republic writers create much more content than you would expect from a linear game storyline. In fact, Star Wars: The Old Republic will contain more story content than all other BioWare games combined. As with the original Star Wars™: Knights of the Old Republic™, some stories intertwine, and some decisions may lead your character down a completely unexpected path. Smaller choices may yield small results, but on some occasions may later lead to larger consequences.”

As well as your class and some information about their new companion system:

“In Star Wars: The Old Republic, your class means more than just the amount of hit points your character has or how many skills you can choose. Each class has its own epic storyline that will drive the majority of your character’s journey. These storylines reflect the spirit of the class you chose, some more traditionally heroic, some more sinister. Class-specific content allows you to play through a tailored experience based on your choices.

With compelling choices, class-specific epic storylines, and fully developed companions characters, we are making a strong commitment to put the concept of story at the forefront of Star Wars: The Old Republic. By focusing on these story-driven features, our goal is that you will become immersed in your character and others around you, explore exciting environments, and in the end, get lost in your own Star Wars saga. Stay tuned to the official website for more updates and behind the scenes looks at Star Wars: The Old Republic.”

VideoGaming247.com has posted a video of the entire LucasArts/Bioware presentation that took place on October 21st. Unfortunatley there’s no actual footage of video play, but it is still a great source of what’s to come. Check it out below.

“LucasArts passed over a video edit of the entire reveal presentation of BioWare MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic today, held in San Francisco last week. Watch it after the break.

And no: there’s no footage of gameplay. Two trailers were shown at the event – one on the history of the KOTOR franchise, and one showing early gameplay – but both have been edited out. Apparently there’s a movie exclusive deal in place with a US broadcaster, so no such luck for you, we’re afraid.”

Check it out here.

They hype of this game since the official announcement from Bioware and LucasArts has increased substantially. I’m actually quite amazed at the amount personally, I didn’t quite expect this much. I covered The Force Unleashed (www.forceunleashed.org) and it wasn’t even close to the amount of hype The Old Republic is getting when it was announced. It really tells the scope and popularity of The Knights of the Old Republic series.

There is still no news on a single player version of The Old Republic or a single player KOTOR 3 (which is doubtful now), but a lot of us are still hoping. To be honest, personally, i’d rather have a single player version, i’m not into MMO’s much.

Some more infomation on The Old Republic will be up on this site soon, but for now, some information was posted on The Old Republic official forums (SWTOR.com), which include a barrage of Frequently Asked Questions.

Some include:

Will there be space flight?
The developers are not yet talking about the space experience and likely will not be ruling it out any time soon.

What classes will there be?
At this time the only announced classes are that of the Jedi and Sith. Though the Sith is also technically a race as well. It is unknown if you can play as the Sith race.

What races will there be?
The only confirmed race is that of Humans. However given the timeframe Mandalorians have not been ruled out, and no confirmation about whether potential Sith classes are in fact part of the Sith race.

Will there be instancing?
Yes, there will be instancing. However just because a MMO has a story driven foundation, does not mean that there will be too much instancing. While delivering a quality story to players is important, the developers realize just how important interaction with other players is.

What are companions?
Companions are non-player characters (NPCs) who will help the player form two person group. In combat he NPCs recruited become directly controlled by the player, or allowed to think for themeslves. Players can have several companions over time, however players may only have one active companion with them at any one time. Companions help players find a balance between strong melee chracters, characters who wield guns and weapons, and those that provide different types of auxiliary support, such as smugglers. The characters interact with the player and each other during the game, and are a vital part of the atmosphere and story of each character.

What kind of companions can we expect to see?
Undoubtedly droids as well as other NPC characters and classes.

Will there be PvP?
Yes, according to the Kotaku article there will be some PvP in SWTOR. However at this time it has not be publicly discussed and likely the details of which will not be revealed in the near future.

Will there be Crafting?
Yes, there will be crafting. Lightsaber crafting is an important part of any force sensitive user. Moisture farming however, likely will not be. With such a story driven foundation players will most likely find that crafting is suited to enhancing the game rather than detracting from it.

Is this a MMO?
Yes, Star Wars: The Old Republic is a MMO, or “massively multiplayer online game”. Star Wars: The Old Republic will allow thousands of players to explore, adventure, and fight in a single game session.

How does Star Wars: The Old Republic differ from other MMO titles?
Star Wars: The Old Republic will be similar to other MMOs but with several key innovations. Traditionally MMOs are built on three pillars; Exploration, Combat, and Progression. We at BioWare and LucasArts believe there is a fourth pillar: Story. Our mission is to create the best story-driven games in the world. We believe that the compelling, interactive storylines in Star Wars: The Old Republic are a significant innovation to MMOs and will offer an entertainment experience unlike any other.

While there are some tasks that cannot be completed without the cooperation of others, the majority of the game can be accomplished by playing alone.

What Species and Classes can I play as?
We have yet to announce specific playable species and classes.

Will I be able to travel to other worlds?
Yes, you will be able to travel to many of the planets featured in the Star Wars movies and in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. There will also be a number of new planets and star systems to explore.

Will I be able to play on the Light or Dark side of the Force?
Yes, during character selection you will align with the Republic or the Sith Empire. In addition, throughout the game you will also be faced with many decisions which can change your path down the Light or Dark side of the Force.

When does Star Wars: The Old Republic take place in relation to the movies?
Star Wars: The Old Republic takes place more than 3,500 years before the rise of Darth Vader. The most powerful Sith Empire in history has emerged from deep space to attack the Republic and its legendary Jedi guardians. After decades of war, a tenuous truce has been established between the Sith Empire and the Republic, but events occurring in the game are leading the galaxy back to an all-out war.

How does Star Wars: The Old Republic relate to Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic?
Star Wars: The Old Republic takes place approximately three hundred years after the events of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR). At the conclusion of the Jedi Civil War in KOTOR, Revan disappeared into unknown space in search of a great threat to the Republic, an expanding Sith Empire led by a mysterious Emperor who planned vengeance for his ancient Jedi enemies. Revan never returned from unknown space, but the Sith Empire did, kicking off a war with the Republic that lasted for decades. Now, despite the uneasy truce created by the Treaty of Coruscant, the tension among the divided star systems is threatening to once again tear the galaxy apart.

Will I see any characters from Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic?
Given that it is approximately 300 years since the events of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, many of the characters have passed away. However, their legacy does live on as many of their descendants will be part of Star Wars: The Old Republic. Some droids can last a long time as well.

When will Star Wars: The Old Republic be released?
No release date has been set for Star Wars: The Old Republic. To keep informed as to the status of Star Wars: The Old Republic, be sure to join our newsletter. We also encourage you to visit the official website to view regularly scheduled content updates.

Will Star Wars: The Old Republic be released in multiple countries?
Star Wars: The Old Republic will be released simultaneously in various countries of the world and the service will be localized in several languages. More details on this will be released at a later date

How much will it cost to play Star Wars: The Old Republic?
Pricing for Star Wars: The Old Republic will be determined and announced at a later date.

What are the system requirements for Star Wars: The Old Republic?
We will detail specific system requirements closer to the release date.