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E3 2011: Star Wars: The Old Republic - Exclusive Details on Raiding, Tatooine, Mounts and More

By Staff

At E3 2011, Star Wars: The Old Republic will show off more content than ever before. We have the exclusive first details.

All eyes are on Star Wars: The Old Republic. The massively multiplayer online game from Dragon Age and Mass Effect developer BioWare will attempt to offer a fully story-driven experience on a massively multiplayer scale, and at this year's Electronic Entertainment Expo, more details will be revealed than any other previous year. We sat down with writing director Daniel Erickson, lead flashpoint/raids/player-versus-player designer Gabe Amantangelo, and lead systems designer Damion Schubert to discuss what's planned for E3. We also discussed what's planned for after E3, including topics like high-level content, mounts, crafting, in-game economy, differences between player-versus-player and player-versus-environment conflicts, and space gameplay.

What awaits you at E3? Find out in this video interview.

GameSpot: Give us an in-depth overview of what's planned for Star Wars: The Old Republic at E3 2011. What new content will be shown?

Daniel Erickson: We have a ton of new content at E3. We will have stations on the show floor for the first time, giving everyone hands-on [time] with Tatooine, a planet we've never shown. We'll have a first look at some boss fights and will be taking the wraps off our end-game content. We are also going to be debuting the grand conclusion to Blur's amazing CG trilogy and will have a few more surprises thrown in as well. It's going to be a big show!

GS: So, Tatooine will be shown at E3. What will this planet have to offer players of either faction?

DE: We're just going to set players in front of the game on Tatooine, give them a speeder, and let them run around and see our take on Star Wars' most iconic world. All stations will be on the Imperial side, with all four classes available--Sith warrior, Sith inquisitor, bounty hunter, and Imperial agent.

GS: We also understand that high-level content is something we'll start to see revealed. Give us an overview of the kinds of things you expect high-level characters will be doing in Star Wars: The Old Republic.

DE: Everything you'd expect in a AAA MMO but all with the BioWare dedication to storytelling, context, and immersion. If you've seen how different our flashpoints are from a typical dungeon or [how different] our war zones are from a normal PVP area, you'll have a good idea of what we're going to bring to the elder game.

GS: One of the most popular activities for high-level players in online games these days is to go on high-end raids in search of powerful loot and other rewards. Tell us about the raiding game in Star Wars: The Old Republic. How will it improve on the kinds of raid gameplay we've seen in other games?

There's nothing wrong with bringing a gun to a light saber fight.

There's nothing wrong with bringing a gun to a light saber fight.

Gabe Amantangelo: What you'd know as raids in other MMOs, we're calling "operations" in Star Wars: The Old Republic. Operations will be epic, multi-group events with settings and immersive gameplay inspired by scenes in the Star Wars movies. For examples, players will have to navigate the environment as a powerful Force wielder brings down the room around them; they'll have to work together to solve a code and fend off enemies while they're cornered, and so on.

Additionally, players will be able to enjoy operations as soon as they hit level 50. There will be varying difficulty modes, much like what is found in other BioWare games. The challenge, mechanics, and rewards will vary with the modes. So both the casual and hardcore player will be able to enjoy epic content alongside multiple groups of friends.

GS: We also understand that the team is ready to talk about personal mounts. What kind of mounts will players be able to commission? Any iconic Star Wars animal mounts, such as tauntauns or banthas? Any iconic vehicles like the speeder bikes we've already seen used for fast travel? Give us some specific examples. What purpose will mounts serve other than looking cool and helping players travel more quickly? Will some mounts have combat applications or provide specific bonuses, for instance?

Damion Schubert: Initially, we're just going with vehicles instead of animal mounts, although we definitely hope to get to the animals post-launch. We felt that, given a choice between the two, being on a vehicle felt more like Star Wars. The vehicles tend to be reminiscent of vehicles you've seen in the films, although it's a balancing act. As a designer, you want to be sure that the vehicles graduate in speed but also that the vehicles look appropriate for the speed at which they're travelling.

GS: BioWare has already experimented with "world arcs" in games like Mass Effect and Dragon Age, where the events that took place in one story affect the situation in the next. How will world arc stories come into play in Star Wars: The Old Republic? How will the game let players change the situations of key characters or worlds while still remaining a massively multiplayer game in which other players may choose differently? Will instancing play a significant role here, for instance, generating one version of the universe for a player who chooses to spare Alderaan and another version for a player who chooses to destroy it? Give us a specific example.

This cannon is great for taking out ships; ground troops not so much.

This cannon is great for taking out ships; ground troops not so much.

DE: World arc events and choices will absolutely be reflected in later stories as the player goes forward, and instancing helps us achieve those classic role-playing game moments. That said, it's important to us that we never disconnect the players from each other. So you'll never have a point where you're standing in the same place as your friend but can't see each other or discover you're seeing the world two radically different ways.

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206 Comments

  • memi69

    Posted Aug 2, 2011 10:13 am GMT

    ( Bioware + LucasArts ) * MMO = EPICNESS

  • Gizmofather

    Posted Jun 16, 2011 9:17 am GMT

    Uninstall

  • dutchgamer83

    Posted Jun 9, 2011 7:49 am GMT

    @BornGamer

    We shall see, they might add it. They changed more things cause people complained about it. Time will tell.

  • BornGamer

    Posted Jun 8, 2011 1:12 pm GMT

    @dutchgamer83

    Yes, you will be able to skip dialog, but you can't choose which parts you skip. If you skip at a certain point you will miss everything that's said until your next "dialog wheel" choice.

    And the point still stands that the quest will be read to you at their pace, not your pace.

    I do believe though that full voiceovers could work well in an MMO, just not the way Bioware is implementing them.

  • dutchgamer83

    Posted Jun 8, 2011 7:16 am GMT

    @BornGamer

    Im pretty sure you can skip the reading/listening part just like you could in any other Bioware game. Like pressing spacebar or mousebutton.

    @Udzija Totally agree

  • Udzija

    Posted Jun 8, 2011 2:01 am GMT

    It's real shame that players think about comparing games, game overall success and how will other people like it instead of just thinking if the game have what they need or not. Don't care if it will be better than WoW because it's all about FUN. Stop comparing and ask yourself will i have fun playing this game or not. If yes then go get it when it's out and if not then why bother looking at it

  • BornGamer

    Posted Jun 7, 2011 10:18 pm GMT

    @dutchgamer83 "Just because you skip the reading doesn't mean everyone does"

    I didn't say everyone does. I said most people do.

    And you make a good point that some people do like to read WoW's quest text, at their own pace, and skimming bits that don't interest them at their leisure. A stark contrast to what SW:TOR will offer: Sit there and wait until the questgiver is done going "blah blah blah blah blah" at THEIR own pace or skip the whole thing.

    The voiceover/cutscene overload is little more than a gimmick that won't work well in an MMO but will definitely appeal to a niche audience.

    Again, I'm not saying it will be a bad game. I'm just saying it won't be very successful. If you like it, great.

  • dutchgamer83

    Posted Jun 7, 2011 12:02 am GMT

    @BornGamer talk for yourself please. Me and my friends enjoy reading stuff in MMO's. Sure not everything is great or make much sense. But you had some great story lines to read in WoW. Beside if you read the forums a bit of WoW you seen how many people actually care for the lore and all in that game. When they anounced the Dreanei and adjusted the lore for that allot of gamers where angry at blizzard. Just because you skip the reading doesn't mean everyone does, allot enjoy the stories and take the time to absorb the entire game instead.

    I don't know if SW will be a succes, but people need to stop comparing every freaking MMORPG with WoW. Not one MMORPG has came close to the ammount of players WoW has and to be as succesfull you have to have the same amount of players after as many years as WoW. SW focuses on another audience anyway and it has the SW and Bioware fanbase who probally will have a look what it is all about. Time will tell if its gonna be a succes. I will have a look, im intrested in the whole story driven part of it. But the gameplay will make or break the game.

  • chyng85

    Posted Jun 6, 2011 10:09 pm GMT

    It's great, but not for me~

  • artic1982

    Posted Jun 6, 2011 1:41 pm GMT

    @Anatomimesteren

    And i certainly hope so sir. Would be a total waste if this game fails.

  • 0ld_sch00l

    Posted Jun 6, 2011 1:08 pm GMT

    And the continuation above.*

  • 0ld_sch00l

    Posted Jun 6, 2011 1:05 pm GMT

    The conversation below is a representation of the immense stupidity that is the massively multiplayer online role-playing game.

  • BornGamer

    Posted Jun 6, 2011 12:30 pm GMT

    @WelBluVid

    Comparing the text of your post to mine, you have a lot of nerve to call me illiterate. LOL.

    I love story and voiceovers in single player RPGs. MMOs are a different kettle of fish altogether.

    Most MMO players don't want to sit staring blankly at their monitor while an NPC explains why it's so important that you go and kill twelve whomp rats to save Yoda's farm, or gaze motionless while NPCs dance around their screen acting out a cutscene.

    They want to get out there, kick ass, level their chars and get the next cool gear upgrade.

    Besides the voiceovers and cutscenes, this game doesn't do enough different to WoW to ever be a real success.

  • WelBluVid

    Posted Jun 6, 2011 11:58 am GMT

    & I don't agree at all w/BornGamer down below I think everyone will agree that you need a new gamer tag cuz I've played MMO's & got so sick of illiterate noobs like you that skip the voice over/bubble over the NPC's head that clearing tells you hey! The item you need is the trinket in your bag asking me over & over again HELP! HOW! WHAT! LOL

  • setuwa

    Posted Jun 6, 2011 11:48 am GMT

    @borngamer "I'm sure it will have a strong core audience like Star Wars Galaxies... I'm just saying that after a year or two, that audience won't be very big." thank you for stating the obvious, thats what happens to most mmorpg's. They made the game with low computer specs so most computers are able to play on it. which will gain a higher audience

  • the_punkface

    Posted Jun 6, 2011 11:30 am GMT

    Personal Vehicles? HELL YEAH!

  • KiwiforBrain

    Posted Jun 6, 2011 10:35 am GMT

    Looking good!

  • BornGamer posted Jun 6, 2011 9:31 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    BornGamer

    Posted Jun 6, 2011 9:31 am GMT (hide)

    Storytelling is nothing new.

    Yes, there's never been a fully voiced MMO before, but that's because most people skip through the questgiving section anyway so it would be a waste of resources (as it is here).

    Story is very important in single player RPGs, and only vaguely important in MMOs. Certainly not important enough to warrant blowing a big chunk of the dev budget on full (very average-sounding) voice acting.... Money that could have gone into making this game look like it wasn't made five years ago.

    As I said, I'm not saying it will be a bad game at all. I'm sure it will have a strong core audience like Star Wars Galaxies... I'm just saying that after a year or two, that audience won't be very big.

    I understand that a lot of people are experiencing the usual irrational hysteria that goes hand in hand with the release of a new AAA MMO, but sorry guys... This is just gonna be the same old same old with a few gimmicky bells and whistles that might stave off boredom for a few weeks, but this one clearly won't have strong subscriber retention.