You’ve been waiting a long time for Star Wars: The Old Republic and now…you could be waiting even longer.

Speaking to a group of investors, EA CFO Eric Brown revealed that a release date won’t be announced until late October; “In terms of timing we haven’t given a street date yet,” Brown said. “We won’t do so for some time, possibly at our next upcoming earnings call towards the end of October.”

Then Brown confirmed what gamers have feared for quite some time, the long awaited, long in development game could slip to next year. “”We did hold out a slight possibility that it could slip to our March quarter,” he said, “and the factors that would cause a slip is, for example, us not being completely satisfied with the scalability testing, and wanting to tune it for several extra weeks.”

Bioware’s Stephen Reid has said that the comments were not supposed to be made public, but stands by Brown’s comments, saying that the slip to next year is only a possibility and not a promise.

If the game does get delayed, it won’t be the first Star Wars title to be delayed this month, Star Wars Kinect was recently pushed back to the first quarter of 2012.

Joystiq is today reporting the game is NOT coming to Xbox 360.

“While we recognize that there are other operating systems and platforms available for games today, our development is specific to the personal computer using the Windows operating system at this time,” BioWare’s Sean Dahlberg said.

Could it be? The epic massively multiplayer online role playing game “Star Wars: The Old Republic” coming to console?

According to an internal Xbox 360 release list, nabbed by VG247, The Old Republic is slated for a TBC date in 2011 for Xbox 360.

Given the believed massive magnitude of the game, and its persistent online experience, it seems extremely unlikely. But, in 2008, EA’s Frank Gibeau pretty much hinted at it when he said “We’re definitely looking at the opportunity to bring the MMO experience to console, without question.”

Would you play a MMORPG on a console, like the Xbox 360? I only worry about the controls, but I do think if one were to show up and the controls did work, it could be a  huge success.

Patience is a virtue I’m told.

We knew Star Wars: The Old Republic wouldn’t arrive for quite some time, but who knew Spring 2011 would be the launch date?

Electronic Arts boss John Riccitiello, said yesterday that a “major” MMO, one that would be key for driving digital sales, would arrive Spring 2011, yesterday at a corporate meeting.

And clarification (confirmation) of that “major MMO” tease came in the form of a Old Republic message board posting by none other than Bioware’s Sean Dahlberg who confirmed the Spring 2011 release date, but couldn’t say more.

Can we wait? Yes. Do we want to? No.

Dahlberg also promised "exciting updates and reveals" throughout 2010, and noted that anyone interested (and extremely lucky!) can sign up to test the game at the Old Republic’s official Web site.

Source: Destructoid

When BioWare and Electronic Arts release Star Wars: The Old Republic, the massively-scaled and fully-encompassing MMORPG sometime this year (2010 finally!), it will steal the lives away from millions upon millions, and this is why.

Here’s an interview, from the guys at GiantBomb with more guys from BioWare, chatting, at length, about the MMO.

Let us know, in the comments, what you’re excited about with this title. It will likely draw me back to the MMO-world. Here. We. Go.

The day has finally come MMO fans. Today, BioWare initiated a closed beta sign-up for the hordes of Star Wars fans to apply for in hopes of getting into the game pre-release.

What you have to do is head over to the sign-up page, drop your name and information, and pray to Palpatine that you’re chosen. BioWare are looking for “active community members” for the closed beta, so don’t think you can simply sign-up and walk away.

Sadly, even if you think you’ve got what it takes to test out the 100% voice-acted MMORPG, you cannot right now. The site, due to a massive influx of traffic, has gone down. But when it returns we’ll let you know. Or simply keep hitting refresh. I know I am.

The Old Republic Closed Beta

In case you were not aware, BioWare Austin is currently working full steam ahead on an ambitious massively multiplayer online project, even by BioWare’s standards, titled Star Wars: The Old Republic, and today the men and women who brought you Knights of the Old Republic revealed the Smuggler as the game’s latest playable class.

Details surrounding the altogether epic project have been few and far between, but the Austin-based development crew hard at work on the title have left a tasty crumb trail of teasing goodies for the faithful to enjoy over the past months and today’s is certainly worth getting excited about.

The Smuggler sounds like a fun class to play as the bad-ass class is described by BioWare as such:

“An adventurous spirit who’s not afraid to break a few rules can make a handsome profit hauling cargo to these hot spots, but it requires fast reflexes, fast wits and a fast draw with a blaster. Even then, the life of a Smuggler is always a gamble.”

Furthermore, the Smuggler is a charmer, and through his vast intellect and cunning can surmount any bleak situation with the simple use of charisma.

Finally, and most interestingly, Smugglers “make their own destinies,” and are not bound by any larger force, truly opening the door for players to take the ultimate gamble in deciding their fate.

Have a look at the official Smuggler page at The Old Republic site for lots more BioWare scripted detail, glorious images, and combat-themed videos.

Lady Smuggler

BioWare announced the Trooper as a playable class in the upcoming Star Wars: The Old Republic MMO due out whenever the famed studio damn well pleases.

The official character description from BioWare states:

“The Trooper is an elite combat specialist in the Republic military armed with heavy blaster rifles and nearly impenetrable armor designed by the military’s top engineers.”

These soldiers carry a new generation of heavy blaster weaponry and smoke enemies in close-combat fire-fights.‚  Troopers are most effective in grouped engagements but that is not to say Mr. or Mrs. Trooper can’t handle him or herself without backup.

Keep scrolling down for bea-utiful shots of the Trooper.‚  As always, click to enlarge to full sensory overload.

Bring it!

The varied arsenal of the Trooper

Character Reveal

Be afraid...

Star Wars: The Old Republic developer BioWare recently dropped some monumental details on the first playable class in the dynamically ambitious MMO, the Bounty Hunter.

“Earning a death mark from the Empire means a life spent in fear, constantly looking over one’s shoulder. It’s never a question if a Bounty Hunter will find you… only when.”

“The Bounty Hunter’s path lies along the edge-the stakes are always high-and the path only lead two places, to a life of infamous glory… or to a quick and ignominious death.”

I have always been intrigued by Bounty Hunters, whether it is from their questionable allegiances, general shady tendencies, or their pure bad-assery, I find myself somewhat compelled to finally assume the role of the elusive head hunter.

The Old Republic official site offers up some striking details and video regarding the “outfitting,” “field recon,” and “combat tactics” of the new class, very much worthy of your examination and consideration.

Sadly, no price point, release schedule, or really anything else is available at this time.

Each and every week, Star Wars the Old Republic looks better and better.‚  BioWare updates the game’s official website every week, not always with news, but always a great piece of hype that leaves Star Wars fans like me itching to play this next-gen MMO.

This week we have the second in-depth, visually pleasing developer documentary regarding the setting and story of The Old Republic.‚  Of the wealth of information in the video, most intriguing might just be that Bounty Hunters are playable characters and how the universe will be truly and monumentally vast and content rich.

Star Wars the Old Republic, the ambitious MMO set in a pre-Vader universe has had fans giddy with excitement since the day it was officially announced.‚  Details on the project have been released on a weekly basis brimming full of hype and expectation.‚  Some over-excited fans are crying out for a release date or a time frame, but every sign points to a date far, far away.‚  The amount of content BioWare is creating is gargantuan and greater than the amount found in both Knights of the Old Republic titles combined.

Ever wonder how that content is created?‚  How the vast and dynamic world is assembled, from an artistic standpoint?‚  Well, a recent entry on The Old Republic blog, written by Alex Thomas, Senior Environment Artist on the title explains the methodology behind environment creation.‚  The entry is appealing even to me, someone with the artistic proficiency of an 8 year old.

The entry highlights the creation of the polluted world of Hutta.‚  Interestingly, concept art was based on the many swamps found in Florida.‚  Log that fact away for some killer trivia points when the game finally releases.

The entry does not skimp on detail as Alex eloquently describes the creation of Hutta:

“When we began work on Hutta, we knew it was supposed to be a polluted, filthy sewer of a planet, just like the Hutts would like it. Without any movie reference, we gathered a wide variety of real life photos of swamps and wetlands, taking note of common themes and basic shapes that come up again and again, like hanging moss, thin trees and ankle-deep water.”

The article continues to explain the environmental design of Hutta as Alex notes the “unique challenges” a swampy planet contains.‚  He notes how swamps are naturally flat but in terms of gameplay, such a swamp would be quite dull, and having steep hills of swamp would make no sense either.‚  The team of artists found themselves at an impasse until a solution was found in the creation of large metal shoring props. ‚ These props were essential to shaping the mud at different heights thus creating “corroded metal walls with swamp muck oozing out from the cracks.”‚  Sounds like Hutta to me.

The Old Republic will be laden with content upon release.‚  However creating a planet is no easy task and the many planets that make up the universe can take four to eight months, depending on the sheer size of playable terrain, for the team of three to four environmental artists to complete.

As much as I would love to play The Old Republic tomorrow, I would much rather see a content rich, environmentally beautiful universe to explore and interact with.‚  BioWare, take your time, if you build it, they will come.‚  Indeed we will.

Read the full, very detailed blog post here.

Dark Horse Comics in association with BioWare and LucasArts released the first issue of the bi-monthly web comic Star Wars the Old Republic: Threat of Peace today.‚  The comic will narrate the epic series of events leading up to a dramatic conclusion where the player enters the world of The Old Republic.

Star Wars the Old Republic, the very ambitious MMO project currently in development from BioWare promises to redefine the genre and draw fans of the KOTOR series from their consoles to the vastness of online PC gaming.‚  Many fans were crying out for KOTOR 3, but BioWare has wanted an MMO in the Star Wars universe for quite some time now and promises a wealth of content, exceeding the sum of both KOTOR 1 and 2.

BioWare is releasing details on the project each week on their site and what we have seen so far looks amazing and for any Star Wars junkie, absolutely worth the wait.‚  The Old Republic, set thousands of years before the rise of Darth Vader, in the middle of a constant Sith vs. Republic struggle, puts you in the role of a Jedi or Sith and every irrevocable decision you make will ultimately shape your journey.

The comic, written by BioWare’s own Rob Chestney will feature “action packed, character driven episodes,” the first of which, entitled Treaty of Coruscant follows this storyline.

The Sith Empire has scored a series of solid military victories over the Republic, winning control of several critical star systems and seriously damaging the Republic’s logistical supply lines. Overwhelmed but stoic, the Jedi and the Republic Military have succeeded in defending the core worlds and have slowed the Empire’s steady advances. In a surprising turn of events, the Empire has now extended an offer of peace to the Galactic Senate. Wary but desperate, the Republic has agreed to engage in ceasefire talks. A large delegation of prominent Senate and the best and brightest of the Jedi are traveling to the planet Alderaan, where they expect to hunker down for lengthy negotiations on the terms of a treaty with a representative from the Sith Dark Council.

I have long been awaiting an MMO with high caliber storytelling on par with BioWare’s previous console efforts, and from developer commentary and the studios undying enthusiasm for an immersive experience I can’t help but think The Old Republic will be everything everyone is hoping for.

As excited as I am for The Old Republic, I want it done right and given BioWare’s past successes I know they have a winning formula in place, one that undoubtedly takes time and effort.‚  At the same time however, a release date, month, season, anything I can circle on my calendar would be greatly appreciated.

For now, read Treaty of Coruscant here and watch video documentary from BioWare staff here and here.