Tag Archives: Star Wars: The Old Republic

Train2Game at Gamescom: Interview with Star Wars: The Old Republic Associate Lead Designer Emmanuel Lusinchi

Posted on by
Reply

 

Train2Game was at Gamescom in Cologne, Germany from 17th August to 21st August. We caught up with Star Wars: The Old Republic Associate Lead Game Designer Emmanuel Lusinchi to discuss a variety of subjects.

These include, tailoring game design for an MMO, keeping the narrative in check with the Star Wars universe, the importance of community testing and the reasons behind PvP sport Huttball.

Lusinchi also revealed how he started in the games industry and gave Train2Game students advice on how to get in. Read the full interview below, or listen to it on Train2Game Radio. Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Analysts “unimpressed” by Star Wars: The Old Republic Game Design

Posted on by
1

As reported by the Train2Game blog, Bioware have previously stated that World of Warcraft is a big influence on their upcoming Star Wars: The Old Republic.

But a report from analysts Cowen and Company reports suggests the influence on Game Design may be too far reaching and in a negative way. It makes interesting reading for Train2Game students anticipating the Star Wars themed MMO.

“We got hands-on time with the game, and were largely unimpressed” reads the Cowen and Company post E3 report.

“Despite promises from EA/Bioware that the title represents a major step forward in MMO design, what we saw was essentially a World of Warcraft clone with Star Wars character skins and the Bioware RPG nice/nasty dialogue tree mechanism bolted on for non-player character conversations.”

The ‘Flashpoint’ dialogue tree mechanism is described in depth by Bioware in a Train2Game blog post from April this year.

Meanwhile, the Art & Animation of Star Wars: The Old Republic is described as “competent but hardly breathtaking.” Cowen and Company predict that the game won’t even see release this year.

As previously reported by the Train2Game blog, publishers EA state that Star Wars: The Old Republic needs 500,000 subscribers to become profitable.

Train2Game students can attempt to see Star Wars: The Old Republic for themselves by signing up to be a beta tester. More information about how to do that is available on the Train2Game forum.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on the Game Design of The Old Republic? Should it stick to the WoW formula or do something new? What would you like to see in the game?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: GamesIndustry.biz] 

Bioware explain Game Design ‘Flashpoints’ of Star Wars: The Old Republic

Posted on by

Star Wars: The Old Republic Train2Game blog image

Here’s one for the Train2Game Game Design students; Bioware associate producer Cory Butler recently spoke about the upcoming Star Wars: The Old Republic, explaining now the narrative of the MMO moves forward through what are called Flashpoints.

“Flashpoints in Star Wars: The Old Republic are action-packed, story-driven adventures that put a group of players up against difficult foes in sticky situations” Butler told Star Wars website Darth Hater.

“Every Flashpoint begins with an exciting story and contains difficult decisions which have meaningful impact on the challenges you’ll face, the enemies you’ll fight, and the outcome of the flashpoints.”

In other comments that Train2Game QA Testers may find interesting, the producer spoke about how character creation and in-game difficulty of Star Wars: The Old Republic had been altered by community feedback. Butler also mentioned how those interested in testing the came can do so.

“Those interested in testing The Old Republic need to be a registered member of the Star Wars: The Old Republic community. Once signed up at www.starwarstheoldrepublic.com, they simply need to check the box indicating that they are interested in becoming a tester and follow the instructions provided”

So if any Train2Game students – those on the QA Tester course in particular –now is your chance to try and get involved.

Star Wars: The Old Republic developers Bioware have previously stated that World of Warcraft is the ‘touchstone’ for all MMOs. You can read the full comments here on the Train2Game blog.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on the ‘Flashpoint’ method of driving narrative? Is a story an important factor for an MMO? And how much impact do you think community testing can have?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: VG247]

Star Wars: The Old Republic ‘can be profitable with 500,000 subscribers’

Posted on by
Reply

Star Wars The Old Republic Train2Game blog image

EA claim their upcoming MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic will be profitable with 500,000 monthly subscribers.  That’s according to Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello who was speaking in a conference call.

“At half a million subscribers, the game is substantially profitable, but it’s not the kind of thing we would write home about. Anything north of a million subscribers, it’s a very profitable business.”

Riccitiello said the publisher is “incurring significant development costs” for Star Wars: The Old Republic, but suggested those costs would “”essentially turn on a dime” to profits when the game is released.

There is no official word from EA about a release date for Star Wars: The Old Republic, but a report from MCV Online suggests it’ll be available worldwide from September this year. However, increasing rumours of delays could mean it isn’t released until March 2012.

Riccitiello also criticised some games industry news outlets for ‘irresponsible reporting’ of the games development costs.

There’s been a fair amount of talk on various blogs describing [Old Republic development] spends that are vastly higher than anything we’ve ever put in place,” he said.

“Don’t read gamer blogs as having any substance. They bring a chuckle, but they also bring a frustration for those that are being responsible with the management of EA’s R&D dollars.”

For more information about Star Wars: The Old Republic see this post on the Train2Game blog, and this one on the Thoughts of Train2Game blog.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on Star Wars: The Old Republic? Do you believe it’ll be a successful MMO? Will you subscribe? Or do you think the competition from World of Warcraft – with its 12 million subscribers – is just too strong?

As usual, you can leave your thoughts here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum. Alternatively, let us know what you think through the Train2Game Twitter account.

[Souce: Gamasutra]

Train2Game, in association with DR Studios and the University of Bedfordshire, will be holding a Game Jam at the end of March. For more information, see this Train2Game blog post or the Train2Game Game Jam Facebook page. Alternatively, keep an eye on the Train2Game Game Jam Twitter account.