KOTOR MMO

[Jen]

I've been following this story for a few months now. Looks like it may be confirmed soon, if it hasn't already. I'm not sure this is a solid story, but I've gotten a lot of Google Alerts today indicating that it is:

KOTOR MMO confirmed by Electronic Arts
by KYLE HORNER Jul 17th 2008 at 2:17PM
Filed under: Sci-fi, New titles
We've had plenty of speculation -- lots and lots of it -- but now we've got confirmation from Electronic Arts chief executive John Riccitiello that Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is indeed getting a massively multiplayer online iteration. Portfolio.com has the story.

The article quotes Riccitiello as saying, "... the one that people are dying for us to talk to them about -- in partnership with Lucas, coming out of BioWare, which is, I think, quite possibly the most anticipated game, full stop, for the industry at the point when we get closer to telling you about it." When directly asked if this was confirmation of Knights of the Old Republic Online, the executive said simply, "yes".

You can commence the freaking out now.

http://www.massively.com/2008/07/17/kotor-mmo-confirmed-by-electronic-arts/

---

OK... I'm freaking out. I LOVED this RPG!  :starwars:

[Jen]

Here's the source to the above story:

EA to Play in Knights of the Old Republic

N. Evan Van Zelfden in Los Angeles warns, watch out World of Warcraft. In an interview at E3 this week, Electronic Arts chief executive John Riccitiello said that EA is working on the next version of Star Wars game Knights of the Old Republic, and it will most certainly have a massively multiplayer online component to it.

"We've got two of the most compelling MMOs in the industry in development," said Riccitiello. The first title, based on the Warhammer property, will launch soon. "And the one that people are dying for us to talk to them about -- in partnership with Lucas, coming out of BioWare, which is, I think, quite possibly the most anticipated game, full stop, for the industry at the point when we get closer to telling you about it."

Does Riccitiello mean the oft rumored Knights of the Old Republic Online?  "Yes," he said.

Moving into MMOs is an essential component for any gaming company, and it's a big part of the reason Vivendi merged with Activision, for that company's World of Warcraft MMO.

Riccitiello told Portfolio.com that he was interested in owning World of Warcraft, and that he did discuss it, but it wasn't in the cards. "Because [Vivendi] couldn't afford control of EA, and I wasn't giving it up."

But EA is firmly on that path now, with a KOTOR MMO, which would sidestep the consoles owned by Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo. "Increasingly, people are going to be talking about direct-to-customer in our business," said Riccitiello. "I think we'll be talking about it louder than most."

Today, two-thirds of the game industry is console systems and dedicated handhelds. "We expect in 2011 for it to be fifty-percent," Riccitiello said.

MMOs will also be useful as a way to expand into foreign territories.

"China's a growth market for us," he said. "We're launching some mid-session games on a micro-transaction model." In May of last year, the company announced an equity investment in a leading Chinese online game operator, The9, Ltd. "And there's a bunch more coming that we haven't announced. "

The company has stated that M&A is part of the strategy, and EA is looking for core game companies "only when they bring great [intellectual property] and great teams," he said.  The company is also interested in businesses that "help us build our platform in the area of Asia, online, and direct-to-consumer."

"One is strategic and new, one is core and profitable -- and we're looking at both," explained Riccitiello.

Future games aside, Riccitiello is most proud of EA's revenues, its console-business growth, and what's currently on display to the army of reviewers and game journalists in Los Angeles this week.

"We added almost a billion dollars to the revenue last year," he notes. "This year, we've told the street that we're going to add a billion to a billion-three."

And console games are a market that's doing well. "It's grown 30 percent year-to-date," says Riccitiello. "All three of the consoles are way up. The PC business in terms of it's aggregate of subscriptions/micro-transactions is also way up. "

But at the end of the day, it's about the games themselves.

"I think, hands down, there's not a publisher or a platform that's got what we've got," he says. In his own life, he sees how EA's games are making an impact: "I've got twenty-two nephews and nieces. A couple years there, I couldn't buy everything I wanted for them at the holidays. I can do the entire holiday -- and capture my mother for the first time -- at the EA store. That's never been the case before."

[Rico]

Can't wait!

[billybob476]

You know what would make me happy? An MMO for the 360 that would allow me to connect to the game servers through XBox Live, also it would let me play with people on PC, PS3, etc. A good Star Wars MMO may pull me away from WoW, but it will be a tough decision.

If I could have an account to this game through XBox Live, it wouldn't cost me any more money. I think a lot of people who barely have time to put into one MMO would be much more willing to take on a second if the monthly fee was something they already paid.

I don't know if the developers get a cut of XBL revenues or how it works exactly and this probably isn't feasible, but I can't justify paying for two MMOs.

[billybob476]

KOTOR MMO Announcement Today

Posted By Mike on October 21, 2008



LucasArts and Bioware are set to make their big announcement today (as reported here) at 2:00pm PST / 5:00pm EST and you can follow along right here at 1up.com's Liveblog.

From 1up.com:

"On Tuesday afternoon LucasArts and BioWare will be holding a formal press event to announce "the official unveiling of the game that's been rumored about for years." The event starts at 2:00 p.m. PST, and we'll be using the latest in Internet technology to attempt to liveblog the presentation.

It seems safe to assume that this event will finally and formally announce the Knights of the Old Republic MMO (or that it's named KOTOR III but takes the franchise in an MMO direction). But then again, there's enough time and ambiguity for LucasArts and BioWare to actually unveil, who knows, the newest Yoda Stories game. Or maybe the highly-demanded follow-up to Super Bombad Racing. "


Keep your fingers crossed for that KOTOR MMO!!!

http://www.theforce.net/latestnews/story/KOTOR_MMO_Announcement_Today_118625.asp

[billybob476]

and here we are...

STAR WARS: THE OLD REPUBLIC

http://www.swtor.com/

[Jen]

YES! I already signed up for the newsletter. :)

[Meds]

I've just signed up to the newsletter but all this is totally new to me.... Exciting.

[Jobydrone]

Soundsfun and promising but no way it willrun on my laptop, even though it is new.  I can barely get 20 FPS out of WoW since the patch.

[Rico]

So when do you guys think we will see this?  2009?  2010??  2011??  Before or after the Trek MMO?

[Jobydrone]

They have been working on it a while, I wouldn't be surprised to see a Fall 2009 release announced or Spring 2010.

[Jen]

I'm going to have a hard time choosing between the two games. I know I won't spend money on both...so a decision will have to be made. Ug.

I've heard that this has been in production for a very long time... At least this has been the theory amongst Star Wars Galaxy players. They were sure that there was another Star Wars game in the works and decided that this was the reason why Sony Online Entertainment had neglected to improve Star Wars Galaxies.  I listen to the podcast Star Wars Galaxies with Yivvits and Mr. Bubble, even though I don't play. At one time I considered playing and started listening to their show just  to get a feel for what the game was all about. I enjoyed their funny episodes so much I subscribed as a listener and have been enjoying their show for almost three years despite the fact I passed on SWG. ANYWAY, they have been talking about this possibility for a while now. They didn't say it would be a KOTOR game, but they smelled the blood in the water.  I bet you Jobydrone is right... It will be out next year, and I bet it will be a race between Star Trek Online and Star Wars Old Republic, much like space race between Russia and the U.S.

[billybob476]

5 minute video about the development of the game from Bioware/Lucasarts:

http://www.swtor.com/media/vidcasts/viddoc001

[Rico]

I almost hope this game turns out badly.  Between WOW, this one and the Trek MMO my life could be consumed.  LOL!

[billybob476]

Not to mention spending like 50 bucks a month on MMOs!