Sony out, Bioware in for Star Wars Galaxies?!

[Cap'n Rawkenschpiel]

More cool news that JC wanted me to deliver to HJU (therefore I registered). Enjoy:

:buttrock:

Holy ****! I believe it because I've been hearing other news from podcasts (not linked to this source) that are pointing in this direction. A KOTOR MMORPG?! Anyway, this is from a SWG site I visit:

I'm not going into any details as I dont want any hints to my sources but here goes....

Lucasarts pulled the license from Sony Online Entertainment. The rumors about February (back in November) were dead right. SOE was allowed time to transition players (how much is unknown) to their other station pass games. Thats why they stopped selling SWG prepaid cards.

Publish 28, if it gets done will be the last publish to the game. There is a minimal support staff now working on it. Its purely cosmetic changes to keep existing players subscribing

Bioware did indeed gain rights to develop a second version of SWG. It wont be called SWG2. Its not a completely new game but rather a reworking of existing code. Bioware is currently hiring a large team to work on the game and prefer experience with SWG. Pre-combt upgrade is a plus

The focus groups (Sony just had a huge focus group gathering to find out players and ex-players thoughts) information was handed basically directly to Bioware. Some of the questions given to the groups, like "a KOTOR experience", were hints to you folks as to who was behind it.

My source or sources only stated what they know. They didnt speculate on how long development would take. No clue on the rumors if its tied into a television show. No clues on pre-cu, cu, etc. And finally, no clue on an announcement or what SOE will say about this.

I trust this source's info 100%. Believe what you will but it looks like SOE's tyranny is over


-So there ya have it. SOE really fucked up the game, but I believe Bioware will save it. I might just resubscribe someday! It makes sense, Bioware have announced their new MMO studio which is headed by an ex Sony Online Entertainment VP of product development who was also responsible for launching Ultima Online. Also, an ex-SOE and executive producer for Electronic Arts will be heading the new studio. Interesting as well, that most of the guys who worked on KOTOR will be joining up. One point to keep in mind is that Bioware mergered with Pandemic Studios who have also made Star Wars games...

 

[Keith Justice]

You know... if there were anyone else who could pull off the "No Monthly Fee" model, it'd be Star Wars.

I've a feeling tho that Lucas and his sausage like fingers would be too greedy not to hit the fans with a monthly fee.

Still... BioWare's made themselves one of my absolute favorite studios of al time in just one game, so they just might have me sold if it's done right.

 

[VengeanceGOD]

Guild Wars already pulled it off, Keith.

And this is SO FUCKING EXCITING. DEAR GOD.

 

[Keith Justice]

Yeah, I'm wondering if Guild Wars can do it with success, why not something like Star Wars?

 

[Mikazuki]

Star Wars Galaxies was pretty good, albiet a bit crappy in graphics. I can only hope that Bioware will FINALLY get on the ball with KOTOR3 since Obsidian did a shitty job on TSL.

As for SOE losing the rights to SWG, it's being discussed on the LucasForums. I don't see anything on Bioware's site.

 

[Cap'n Rawkenschpiel]

...that's because it's still hush-hush and in the rumor stage. It's not official, but all signs are pointing to "yes", this is going to happen. If this got out officially before SOE had time to prepare, everybody who is still on SWG would bail before Sony could try to talk them into joining their other titles.

 

[Mega Ranger]

I lost 2 years of my life to SWG before leaving after it became a ghost-town MMO where everyone was a Jedi and everyone had the Power Levels of a Super-saiyan. as soon as the concept of "Solo-Rancor missions" came into existance I was outta there.....might be time to rejoin!


nice avatar Butter

 

[NAND NOR]

Interesting news. I wonder how it will turn out. I played SWG a while near the biginning, mostly because a friend insisted, and it was alright. It lacked well, the feel of Star Wars, the sense of adventure. It was just an average MMORPG dressed up in Star Wars clothing.

If this goes through perhaps Bioware could make something a look more exciting/more fun to play. But if ex-SOE members are invovled ... well, I'm not going to get my hopes up.