April 12, 2010

Bank on it.

My moneys on somewhere between June 1st and July 20th 2010.  I have a feeling they want to release this in summer time, when alot of potential subscribers have nothing to do for almost 3 months and dont wanna spend another summer of playing warcraft because from what im reading about the game, that seems to be the market theyre shooting for outside of the star wars faithful.

ALWAYS A YEAR AFTER WE ARE READY (

But what if it's still delayed? xD

www.massively.com/2007/10/11/ea-buys-bioware-their-mmo-delayed/

I was thinking around the holiday season 2010.  Novemberish-December.

Depends on EA imho... BioWare isn't BioWare anymore... unless the $860 Million EA paid was just to help them along...

EA has seemed to be hurting and these companies tend to want a product rushed to market when that happens.  So it could be very late 2009 with a short beta test.

I would think to be honest for it to be released in the shape/quality it should be.. you'd be looking at a summer 2010 release and most likely fall/winter 2010.

I guess we'll see...

Ok now Gamespot has it listed as TBA 2010 with a box shot. It's the same on IGN and labeled "Not final art" so Lucas arts must have submitted it. pc.ign.com/articles/922/922115p1.html

www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/starwarstheoldrepublic/index.html

• BioWare , LucasArts
• Sci-Fi Online...
• Release: TBA 2010

The latest speculated time plus minimum 1 year, so since people keep saying mid to late 2010, minimum of late 2011.

Considering only one class has been fully featured on the website along with a couple of planets, I think its safe to say it will still take a long while. And, what we know about the state of the game as it is now (a working game, if I'm correct), that long wait ahead of us can mean two things:

- Scenario 1: Folks at Bioware realize very well that when you really want to take on WOW you need a game which is polished and bug free at launch, huge on variety and content, entertaining in the long run and offer an altogether full and diverse gameplay experience. They have seen what we have seen; premium mmo's being launched too early and not complete enough to keep people interested for longer than 1-3 months. They have the money, the time and the vision to take development a few steps further to release a REAL contender to the throne.

- Scenario 2: Quite similar, with the addition that the game, in working state, got skewered by their own internal testers and it NEEDS more time to be developed into a game which does live up to their standards.

Then again ... they might just be right on schedual and taking their time to add more content and features ... but that sounds boring :P

Originally posted by Antarious

Depends on EA imho... BioWare isn't BioWare anymore... unless the $860 Million EA paid was just to help them along...

EA has seemed to be hurting and these companies tend to want a product rushed to market when that happens.  So it could be very late 2009 with a short beta test.

I would think to be honest for it to be released in the shape/quality it should be.. you'd be looking at a summer 2010 release and most likely fall/winter 2010.

I guess we'll see...

From everything I've heard regarding this, I don't think Bioware will be negatively influenced by their relationship with EA. For the most part, EA is keeping their hands off and allowing Bioware to do their thing. However, they do have significantly more resources with which to do it now.

From an interview with EA/Bioware and Gamespot:

GameSpot: Going from the worlds' biggest independent developer to part of the world's biggest publisher? People are kind of taken aback. What's your reaction to that?

Ray Myzuka: Well, I'm really excited about the opportunity to integrate the great development teams we have here, the marketing teams we have here. As you said, EA is the largest, and I think, the best publisher in the world, and I think we can [add] some value to that team, and that organization as a partnership.

GS: Right, but you guys were always an icon of independent development, and were even more so after the deal with Pandemic...

Greg Zeschuk: Well, to be blunt, I don't really see ourselves as not being independent anymore. We've got a goal of making great BioWare games, and we believe in [EA CEO] John [Riccitiello]'s vision--we can't overemphasize that. We've worked with John for years, and we're looking forward to keep doing what we're doing and doing it well.

GS: You said you still think of yourself as being independent, even though you're now owned by EA. So what exactly, besides the fact you're obviously wealthier, has changed under the deal? Will day-to-day operations at BioWare change at all?

RM: Well, we can achieve more. We've got more opportunities, more resources for the great development and marketing teams here to take advantage of. We're also a lot more direct to the consumer now, since we're part of the publisher. It's going to allow us to fulfill our mission statement of making the best story-driven games in the world, even better than before. Nothing's going to change about that, since we're really passionate about that, and that's in line with what we've heard from John in the values and mission he's expressed.

GS: So is the name going to still be BioWare or is going to become "EA BioWare"?

GZ: Well we're still BioWare...

RM: BioWare is a name that's associated with some really positive things. The fans like the brand, it's a consumer-facing brand, so we're not going anywhere with it.

April 2010 seems logical, therefore the realistic release date is late 2011. November 2011, likely.

Lots of time for me to upgrade. :)

Originally posted by DarkPony

Considering only one class has been fully featured on the website along with a couple of planets, I think its safe to say it will still take a long while. And, what we know about the state of the game as it is now (a working game, if I'm correct), that long wait ahead of us can mean two things:

- Scenario 1: Folks at Bioware realize very well that when you really want to take onWOW you need a game which is polished and bug free at launch, huge on variety and content, entertaining in the long run and offer an altogether full and diverse gameplay experience. They have seen what we have seen; premium mmo's being launched too early and not complete enough to keep people interested for longer than 1-3 months. They have the money, the time and the vision to take development a few steps further to release a REAL contender to the throne.

- Scenario 2: Quite similar, with the addition that the game, in working state, got skewered by their own internal testers and it NEEDS more time to be developed into a game which does live up to their standards.

Then again ... they might just be right on schedual and taking their time to add more content and features ... but that sounds boring :P

What they have released for information and what actually exists are two different things. They have a planned timeline to release this information. Jedi are obviously in the game as we have seen videos/pictures of them but we don't know anything about them yet. They have the information but you can bet they are holding on to the jedi/sith info until every other class is announced.

The problem with this game releasing in late 2010/early 2011 is that Blizzard is also developing a MMO. While we have no idea what it is; you can bet that since it is blizzard it will be BIG. Direct competition between the two could be devestating for this game especially with Blizzard having far more experience with online games.

So the problem won't be competing with WoW. It will be competing against WoW's successor which will draw upon both Ex-subscribers, current subscribers, and IP fanbase. If the MMO turns out to be Starcraft based then that makes things that much worse.

My initial guess is/was based a date of approximately 18 months from the forum launch, which would be late April 2010, but I tacked on a month for a release date of May 25th, 2010:  the 32nd anniversary of the release of Epidose IV.

If we have a fair amount of info released at E3, then I will stick by this date.  If we get nothing other than the standard Friday updates by the time E3 comes and goes, than I will be more pessimistic and say Nov/Dec 2010.

I really don't see any way this game releases this year, barring a ridiculous info dump at E3.  I know Bioware is usually fairly tight lipped about their titles, but right now we have close to no info on this game.  One confirmed class, four confirmed planets, and a few screenshots.  I would think if they planned to release this year, we would have a lot more than this by now.

im betting 4Q of 2009 or 1Q of 1010. Plus with so much info being released on the game every week, they are building hype! Bioware IMO is very good at this, and im betting we will hear a release date in the coming months

if we are lucky 4th Q of this year, but I think it will be more like 2nd Q of 2010.

After Friday May 1st, its looking like early 2010 latest and 2009 Q4 very possible. From the video its looking like atleast 4 planets are done. One of the programmers said, "I enjoyed working and playing around creating Korriban" and the rest of the video was about creating 4 planets. They are doing a great job of keeping us guessing and this will be for sure the most anticipated mmo to date.

Originally posted by Iijs

April 2010 seems logical, therefore the realistic release date is late 2011. November 2011, likely.

Lots of time for me to upgrade. :)

November 2011 is way too late IMO. It would be a marketing mistake to hype us up this much then release it 3 years later.

That would also put the game in development for 6+ years. Thats just too long for a company like Bioware or EA and not very cost effective.

Originally posted by Distaste

Originally posted by DarkPony

Considering only one class has been fully featured on the website along with a couple of planets, I think its safe to say it will still take a long while. And, what we know about the state of the game as it is now (a working game, if I'm correct), that long wait ahead of us can mean two things:

- Scenario 1: Folks at Bioware realize very well that when you really want to take onWOW you need a game which is polished and bug free at launch, huge on variety and content, entertaining in the long run and offer an altogether full and diverse gameplay experience. They have seen what we have seen; premium mmo's being launched too early and not complete enough to keep people interested for longer than 1-3 months. They have the money, the time and the vision to take development a few steps further to release a REAL contender to the throne.

- Scenario 2: Quite similar, with the addition that the game, in working state, got skewered by their own internal testers and it NEEDS more time to be developed into a game which does live up to their standards.

Then again ... they might just be right on schedual and taking their time to add more content and features ... but that sounds boring :P

 

What they have released for information and what actually exists are two different things. They have a planned timeline to release this information. Jedi are obviously in the game as we have seen videos/pictures of them but we don't know anything about them yet. They have the information but you can bet they are holding on to the jedi/sith info until every other class is announced.

The problem with this game releasing in late 2010/early 2011 is that Blizzard is also developing a MMO. While we have no idea what it is; you can bet that since it is blizzard it will be BIG. Direct competition between the two could be devestating for this game especially with Blizzard having far more experience with online games.

So the problem won't be competing with WoW. It will be competing against WoW's successor which will draw upon both Ex-subscribers, current subscribers, and IP fanbase. If the MMO turns out to be Starcraft based then that makes things that much worse.

Hmm, I think the new Blizz mmo will still take quite some years of developement. Unless they have silently been working on it for years at an end already, but I don't think so. Diablo III will be the first to see the light from the blues (which could be a short term threat for SW:TOR on it's own accord; atleast untill most people are fed up again with mindnumbing hacking & slashing in a semi-single player game).  But I think it is safe to say that the SW'Tor launch will be at least one year before Blizz releases it's true new mmorpg, giving SWTOR a nice timeframe to build a rep with.

Though within that timeframe it still has to compete with the likes of Aion, Mortal Online, Earthrise, Global Agenda, Black Prophecy, etc. Quite a long list of promising new mmorpgs :) May the best win, ... FITE!!!11

Originally posted by SaintViktor

Not too far fetched to think we may see TOR in 2009 but my guess will be early 2010.

I agree.  I think the game is probably about a year from launch.  I will be surprised if we see it in less time than that.  I'll still have my fingers crossed for an earlier release, but judging by the amount and depth of the info available.. I'd say it's still got a way to go.  I think when we get within 6 months, we'll have a lot more info than we do now... including a full list of racfes, classes and planets.

I think Bioware was working on this way before they officialy announced it , and due the professionalism of Bioware as developers  it could be even a release this year.

Anyway imo devs shouldnt announce titles and let then players waiting around on hot coals for years (plenty examples out there)

Announce title and go beta within 6 month ..or shut ur trap :)