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GameSpot Exclusive Pre-Friday Developer Dispatch U...

GameSpot posted an interview with Game Director James Ohlen about companions in Star Wars: The Old Republic. Mr. Ohlen revealed that companions will function similar to other classes in the game, leveling up alongside the player and unlocking skills as they progress. He also talks about a new system that will allow players to set up companion behaviors (AI) in combat beforehand, managing which abilities they do and do not use.

Along with the James Ohlen interview comes a Developer Dispatch video on companions  featuring Lead Writer Daniel Erickson, Principle Lead Combat Designer Georg Zoeller and Art Director Jeff Dobson.  The developers talk about hitting the cornerstones of Star Wars with companions such as droids and aliens, how companions level-up and unlock new abilities just like players and the affection system, where gifts can be given to companions opening up new conversations and quests.

Update @ 3:39PM EST: BioWare also released a Developers Blog on Companion Characters – Part 1

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18 Bottles of Beer on the Wall.. Part Deuce

Put on your tin foil hat folks – you’re in for a looooong ride!

<Begins to sing slurring>

18 bottles of beer on the wall.. 18 bottles of beer.. Take one down, pass it around.. 17 bottles of beer on the wall!

<Ends singing>

We are just over halfway through 2011 and we officially have 18 Friday’s left in the year for BioWare to release information on Star Wars: The Old Republic.  This is my “speculation” into what we may see in some of these Friday Updates and I don’t believe we will be using all 18…

September 2 - PAX Recap (Convention Video(s) of Fans & Booth, Huttball, Eternity Vault, Open World PvP, etc.) & Details on Beta Weekends
September 9 - Smuggler, Imperial Agent OR Sith Inquisitor Armor Progression Video (SR Already confirmed Jedi Consular was not next) (3 of 4 Remaining)
September 16 - Fan Friday | Studio Insider
September 23 - EUROGAMER EXPO Reveals (Smuggler, Imperial Agent, Jedi Consular OR Sith Inquisitor Armor Progression Video, EU Beta Weekends Start, Guild Phase 2 Begins*)  (2 of 4 Remaining)
September 30 - Fan Friday | US & EU Beta Weekends Restart
October 7 - Imperial Agent, Jedi Consular OR Sith Inquisitor Armor Progression Video  (2 of 4 Remaining)
October 14 - New York Comic Con Reveals (Release Date, Last HoloNet tab “Legacy System”**)
October 21 - Fan Friday | Studio Insider
October 28 - Smuggler, Imperial Agent, Jedi Consular OR Sith Inquisitor Armor Progression Video (Last Video), Early Access Details & Announcement of Beta Weekends Ending Oct. 30th
November 4 - Developers Blog/Dispatch: Advanced Class Tree’s, Website Update: Advanced Class Skill Tree “Calculators” & Guild Phase 3 Begins
Tuesday, November 8 - Early Access Begins!***
Tuesday, November 15- Star Wars: The Old Republic is Released!

Updated 09/23/2011:

• Moved  ”Website Update: Advanced Class Skill Tree “Calculators”" from Oct 21st to Nov 4th.
• Replaced Developers Blog on Sep. 30th with Fan Friday | US & EU Beta Weekends Restart.
• Moved Early Access Details from Oct 14th to Oct 28th.
• Moved “Guild Phase 3 Begins” from Oct. 28th to Nov. 4th.
• Moved “Announcement of Beta Weekends Ending Oct. 23rd” from Oct. 14th to Oct. 28th and changed the end date from the 23rd to 30th.

*Guild Phase 2 could likely happen the week before with the Fan Friday | Studio Insider OR on Wednesday (September 21) before the EUROGAMER EXPO. (Am I good or what!)
**The  ”rumored” Legacy system could likely be included in a content patch after the release of the software as hinted at the Sunday PAX Panel by Daniel Erickson when saying they were already working on the first content patch.
***A 7-day staggered release would allow for approximately 250K people per day for a total of 1.75m pre-orders.  If there are more than 2m pre-orders Early Access could be extended additional days +/- delaying the retail release to November 22. 

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Friday Update: E3 Recap

This week’s Friday Update is a recap of everything shown at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3).  Throughout the week BioWare announced the new Cinematic trailer “Return” from Blur Studios which shows how it all began with the reemergence of the Sith Empire featuring Darth Malgus and Satele Shan.  BioWare also unveiled their version of raids called “Operations” featuring the Eternity Vault which has confirmed difficulty modes and sizes including 2 groups (8-man) at its smallest size.  BioWare has not confirmed the size of the larger sizes, but various screenshots have estimated sizes between (4 groups) 16- and (5 groups) 20-man operations.  At E3 attendees were able to get their hands on the actual game – not a demo of the game.  Attendees could play any of the origin worlds for each of the eight classes, the Taral V Flashpoint, Alderaan Group Content (Ulgo Boss Fight) or explore Tatooine which included the recently announced vehicles (mounts).

There is also TONS of great information from other fan sites and media outlets that have been compiled by a community member on the official www.swtor.com forums: Officially Unofficial E3 2011 Thread

“Return” Intro Cinematic

 

For over a thousand years, the Sith were thought to be extinct after a grave defeat in an ancient war. But a select few survived, fleeing to unknown regions to escape Republic forces. In the centuries since, the Sith have prepared; rebuilding their Empire for the day they would make their return to reclaim what was once theirs and take their revenge on the Republic.

That day has arrived.

Operation: Eternity Vault
Groups of Heroes unite to undertake an epic adventure on Belsavis. View More

Tatooine Developer Walkthrough
Watch gameplay on Tatooine, one of the most iconic worlds in STAR WARS: The Old Republic. View More

The Old Republic Gaming Peripherals
Razer announces a line of premier gaming peripherals designed especially for STAR WARS: The Old Republic! View More

(Video Source: Darthhater.com)

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Fan Site Summit: Question & Answer Session (A...

Our friends at Darthhater were one of the fan sites in attendance at the Fan Site Summit.  The question and answer sessions covered a range of topics relevant to the developer answering questions at the time. After the session concluded and the summit ended, BioWare made the audio of the sessions available to fan sites.  Below is the audio from the Q&A sessions with Blaine Christine, Daniel Erickson, Damion Schubert and Georg Zoeller.

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Fan Friday & Studio Insider: Flesh Raiders

This weeks Friday Update introduced a new update called Studio Insider which demonstrates the process that goes into concept art from Diego Almazan of a Flesh Raider and a Community Q&A section.  BioWare’s Daniel Erickson answers questions about group questing mechanics, helmet toggle options, Advanced Class roles, and returning to origin planets. If you would like to ask the developers a question and possibly be featured in a future update, BioWare is soliciting participation from the community to post their questions in a thread dedicated to the function.

The update also included this month’s Fan Friday, and includes various artwork, paintings, fan fiction, emoticons, wallpapers, costumes and avatars. Community members also showcased their Halloween costumes, and new polls are available.