Lucasarts Finally Announces The New Star Wars MMO

 

Yesterday Lucasarts finally announced their next big Star Wars game, and to absolutely no one's suprise, it's a new Star Wars MMO called The Old Republic.  Rumors have been swirling for months now that Lucasarts and Bioware,the guys who made the original Knights of the Old Republic (KOTOR), have been working hard on a new super secret project of some kind.

 

The inclusion of Bioware has led fanboys everywhere to pray and hope that a new game based on KOTOR was coming out, and it looks like their prayers have been answered.

 

In Star Wars: The Old Republic, players will explore an age thousands of years before the rise of Darth Vader when war between the Old Republic and the Sith Empire divides the galaxy. Players can choose to play as Jedi, Sith, or a variety of other classic Star Wars roles, defining their personal story and determining their path down the light or dark side of the Force. Along the way, players will befriend courageous companions who will fight at their side or possibly betray them, based on the players' actions. Players can also choose to team up with friends to battle enemies and overcome incredible challenges using dynamic Star Wars combat.

 

The KOTOR games were massively popular, so it makes sense for Lucasarts to try to capitalize on that.  This makes me wonder though what will happen to the existing Star Wars MMO, Star Wars Galaxies.  Galaxies was a big hit for a while, but it's lost a lot of its former glory due to bad game redesigns.  Is that game going to fall by the wayside now?

 

I also can't help but wonder, since you know just about every Star Wars geek out there is only going to want to play a Jedi or a Sith, what's the point of trying to play one of the other roles, like a pilot or a smuggler?  What's the point maxing out all your piloting skills when every stupid schmuck with a lightsaber is probably going to come along and force-choke you to death?

 

At the above like you can check out some more screenshots from the game, as well as some concept art.  Here's a pretty pic I liked: