Disclaimer: All of this is speculation, and I'm not going to try to back up my information, so take it however you want. 

Having had assurances from people who work at EA and Lucas Arts the new Bioware MMO is not KOTOR, but with them unwilling to divulge anything further, I engaged on a little speculative Google searching.  With tidbits like "No, it's 1000 times bigger than KOTOR" and "This is going to reach more than just the gaming community", I've come to this conclusion:

New Star Wars IP in mass market form.

Now a new Star Wars movie seems heavily unlikely, but this is not.  Since Lucas is writing content that takes place between Ep III and Ep IV, this seems an excellent setting for an MMO: The Empire is hunting down the last of the Jedi and the Rebellion is just getting started.  i.e. people can play Jedi, there's RvR combat potential, and plenty of recognizable world and story.  Tie that in with a new TV series, and you have the makings of a mass market hit on your hands...the kind of mass market that would cause Bioware to re-think their strategy of working on their own IP...the kind of mass market that would make EA pay attention and buy them out.  Note that the 2009 TV debut date times nicely with the MMO release date speculation.

Besides, people in Hollywood talk to each other.  Anyone remember the James Cameron MMO?  I'm thinking someone in Lucas film production talked to Cameron and thought this sounded like a good idea.  It also seems I'm not the first person to reach this conclusion, although, you have to hit Google's cache to see the similar speculation.

Hey, I loved KOTOR as much as the next person, which is why I immediately glommed onto the idea of Bioware making another one in MMO form.  But it just doesn't fit.  It's not "Big" enough for Lucas Arts.  I'd bet on tie ins with the new TV series, and if I'm wrong, then I'd bet on a new Star Wars movie before I'd bet on KOTOR.  Given the ridiculous secrecy surrounding this title, I wouldn't be all that surprised.

I talked to George in person, he assured me the samething. Then, EA called me at home and said that they concured.

You see, I don't care enough about any game that I have to call the company for answers, so they call me now, because we're tight and I'm that special and my input matters.

I think most people, who speak of (or expect) a "KOTOR online", actually think about this in a broader sense.

That means, a MMO, not necessarily exactly in the classical KOTOR setting and time frame, but still in the Star Wars universe, and with some game features from the KOTOR games. So your guess fits into this category pretty well, too :)

2 years ago I was told it was based on the fantasy Fire and Ice from a friend at Ubi. I don't really know how true his info is but time will tell. The engine  they are using won't really capture the sonic intensity of what star wars battle consists of. SO to me its just another same old MMO RPG hack and slash formula. I do doubt if its a KOTOR MMO.

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Originally posted by Lateris
2 years ago I was told it was based on the fantasy Fire and Ice from a friend at Ubi. I don't really know how true his info is but time will tell. The engine  they are using won't really capture the sonic intensity of what star wars battle consists of. SO to me its just another same old MMO RPG hack and slash formula. I do doubt if its a KOTOR MMO.

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Are you talking about the Hero engine?

back on topic. While I'm sure that your speculation could be right. I just think of SWG and how they did the same thing, except between episodes 4 and 5 and mybe it's just me, but I can't see it happening, for the purpose that the movie periods 1 through 6 are too content constricting and don't allow devs for more creative freedom. Where as the expanded universe has much more to offer, and even good RvR possibilities (Mandalorian-Jedi Wars).

That being said, at least if it's made between episodes 3 and 4, we'll still be able to fly x wings and ties and wear storm trooper armor, which is ok with me :) I don't like the sith soldier armor from KOTOR. Although I would've preferred a time frame after the movies (legacy anyone?)

Yes I am referring to the Hero engine. I was watching a presentation of the engine which I think is a great engine. The world tools are great. I am just not sure on the physics end of it. Maybe its just a pet peeve of mine because I feel a star wars mmo should be able to capture pod racing, combat, and so forth in ways that may not exist with todays technology.  I would also like to know if it is a star wars mmo if space will be a key role in the game. :)

I would love a star wars mmo set in the star wars legacy era from dark hoarse.

Is it Star Wars?   Check

Is it Sci-Fi?  Check (of course, if its starwars)

Is it an MMO?  Check

Is it made by Bioware?  Check

Outside of a few very key design questions, that's all I need to know.  I could care less if it's Kotor, or another well-thought out setting in the SW universe.  As long as it's not set DURING a movie and they want to keep a static themepark going everywhere; as long as the stories can evolve, I'm happy.

personally as long as its a Star wars MMO, i dont care. i would rather see the NJO era rather then the kotor era anyway!

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Originally posted by Lateris
Yes I am referring to the Hero engine. I was watching a presentation of the engine which I think is a great engine. The world tools are great. I am just not sure on the physics end of it. Maybe its just a pet peeve of mine because I feel a star wars mmo should be able to capture pod racing, combat, and so forth in ways that may not exist with todays technology.  I would also like to know if it is a star wars mmo if space will be a key role in the game. :)
I would love a star wars mmo set in the star wars legacy era from dark hoarse.

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Agree with you on every point. I think that in order for a star wars game to really feel alive, you need to be able to do more than just killing. Why not become a professional pod racer? play pazaak? holo chess? But I actually do think the technology is there, it's just not being implemented well enough. I REALLY hate to bring this game up, and in fact I've never played it, I simply saw this while channel surfing. Toon Town online (yes, Disney's kiddie game) actually allows for at least the pod racing aspect from what I saw. They actually did have Mario Kart style races in this MMO, which was kind of like a mini game you could play if you felt like doing something else other than beating up mobs. So if f***ing Toon Town can do it... why can't Star Wars have pod racing or swoop racing? Heck doesn't FFXI have chocobo racing? I think its just that devs think "That's too much work! waaaaaah!"

Y'all need to stop getting your hopes up for a KOTOR MMO, why even put yourselves through the torture and huge disappointment?  Most companies now want to make mmo's wow'ified, aka.. stupified.  It would be damn near impossible to make a quality star wars mmo made and ran like you had an IQ of a mushroom.  Just an opinion, I hope I get proved wrong, but I doubt it, with the trend mmo's have been going.

kotor sold over 2 million copies (not counting illegal copies) - it was just a single player game.

and you are still talking about it would not be mass marketing etc.

and TV series - between eps 3-4 is the worst timeline for a possible sw mmo.

i can write lots of things but really unneccesarry, just seeeing people still suspicious about kotor online is interesting.

It is a star wars MMO and The timeline is Old Republic. Trust me. 

Originally posted by oronisi

Is it Star Wars?   Check

Is it Sci-Fi?  Check (of course, if its starwars)

Is it an MMO?  Check

Is it made by Bioware?  Check

 

Outside of a few very key design questions, that's all I need to know.  I could care less if it's Kotor, or another well-thought out setting in the SW universe.  As long as it's not set DURING a movie and they want to keep a static themepark going everywhere; as long as the stories can evolve, I'm happy.