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Star Wars: The Old Republic News, Interviews, Media & Podcast

Friday Update: 'Living the Life of a Live Producer' Developer Blog



Today's Friday update features a Developer Blog from Live Producer Blaine Christine. He discusses what his job entails and his role in the Star Wars: The Old Republic game testing process. He also included some quotes from various game testers.

Blaine Christine
I work with the development team to ensure that anything released to our fans (read you!) meets the quality standards that are so important to any BioWare product. That means any time a new build of the game makes it into our Game Testing Program, I need to ensure that any content or features that we specifically want to have tested meet the designers needs and don't contain any major bugs.


Update: Stephen Reid explains the reason for the Developer Blog showing up this week and hints at a heroic update incoming next week leading into PAX.

Stephen Reid
A little peek behind the curtain.

This week's blog was originally intended to be part of next Friday's update. We ran into some unexpected issues finalizing this Friday's originally scheduled content, and so chose to move that content out to next Friday. As a result, next week, you'll get an update-and-a-half... and then after that, you'll soon see the cool stuff we've all been hard at work on for PAX East.

Part of the reasoning for this blog was to give you a peek into some of the feedback we got from our Game Testers; on the whole, feedback has been very positive and we're excited to see the response. We also wanted to remind everyone about our Game Testing Program, as feedback from our community so far has been extremely valuable to the development of The Old Republic.

We realize we can't please 'all of the people, all of the time' but we remain committed to giving you regular updates on the development and features of The Old Republic.


More excerpts from the Developer Blog and official yellow post follows after the jump.
Blaine Christine
First of all, yes, we officially started external Game Testing a while ago, as some of you are able to confirm by your participation.


Blaine Christine
As we get closer to launch, the number of players invited to our tests will continue to increase - so if you haven't made it in yet, don't lose hope!


This is the Jedi game to end all Jedi games. If you're a gamer and you don't throw your hands up in triumph when you get your first lightsaber, you're not really alive. This game is, bar none, the best interactive Star Wars experience ever.

Alyson Bridge
Live Producer Blaine Christine gives us an inside look at Game Testing.

Hey everybody! My name is Blaine Christine and I'm proud to say that I am the Live Producer on Star Wars: The Old Republic. I've been on the BioWare team for three and a half years now and I'm happy to report that all of the mental images you have of us working at a world class RPG development studio are true. Yes, we have rivers of chocolate running down the hallway, yes, a live animatronic ogre lives in the basement and of course, yes, we have LARPing parties from 5PM to midnight every weeknight. (I usually dress up as Princess Amidala and practice my diplomacy skills on Daniel Erickson, who pulls off a very convincing Gungan ambassador.)

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Comments

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  • agentwred's avatar
    Jawa Trader
    • Posts: 298
    #68 agentwred Posted 2/28/2011 7:22:47 AM
    I think its very possible that the PAX update will have to do with the social hubs and mini-games, as what better event to announce that at than a Penny Arcade Expo. Large beta and a release date would also make sense. PAX is all about the gamer and the community, so it only makes sense that they release something very community friendly. Then again, maybe I'm just being hopeful.
  • sgtsavage's avatar
    • Posts: 0
    #71 sgtsavage Posted 2/28/2011 10:53:55 PM
    I think they need that too, to be like, we have a bunch of cool side features and other aspects that make us an MMO. If they are going with a Release date, they need an epic end game raid scenario for sure, to be like BAM look how bad ass this game is, and its coming out in XXXXXX!!!!

    To be honest, if they don't give a release date at PAX East, I do not think this game will be out by the end of spring (in May, which was my guess) and we will for sure be looking at a Summer/Fall release...
  • Jecalips's avatar
    • Posts: 0
    #74 Jecalips Posted 3/1/2011 1:57:54 AM
    They haven't even even started beta yet, just focused testing. I wouldn't get my hopes up on a release date announcement anytime soon. Start of beta anouncement though has ... possiblities.
  • agentwred's avatar
    Jawa Trader
    • Posts: 298
    #75 agentwred Posted 3/1/2011 10:20:43 AM
    True. I can totally see a broad beta testing announcement with the unannounced release date being early June (the final weeks of spring) but wouldn't be surprised if it is pushed back into summer proper. But if things are further than I realized 3-5 months could be enough to wrap things up for release, which would make the near future friday updates very exciting ones indeed.
  • Jecalips's avatar
    • Posts: 0
    #76 Jecalips Posted 3/2/2011 4:56:33 AM
    Yeah, I'm not expecting a Q2 release myself either, I've seen MMO's in beta for very long times. I'll be pleasantly surprised if it is released Q2 though.
  • sgtsavage's avatar
    • Posts: 0
    #64 sgtsavage Posted 2/28/2011 4:34:33 AM
    So, for this One and Half "update" we will be getting next week, how much you want to bet it will be a new CLASS VIDEO which will be the "main update" and that there will be wonderful "Biographies" as the "half update".... lol
  • Jaramukhti's avatar
    Jawa Trader
    • Posts: 782
    #69 Jaramukhti Posted 2/28/2011 6:35:13 PM
    I'd probably go with this guess, but my inquisitive side wonders what could have caused them to pull this past Friday's update at the last minute? I can't see BioWare pulling a biography at the last minute, or even a class video.

    My guess is, it was something new, but had some footage in it that BioWare wasn't ready to have people...you know...blow up into high res and create orange boxes around specific parts with descriptive text.:P
  • sgtsavage's avatar
    • Posts: 0
    #70 sgtsavage Posted 2/28/2011 10:50:38 PM
    hahha, ya I was just poking fun for sure because that would be hilarious if that is there definition of "one and a half updates", I kinda agree with you more tho. I mean if they had to pull it, it better be something more than just that. lol.
  • agentwred's avatar
    Jawa Trader
    • Posts: 298
    #66 agentwred Posted 2/28/2011 7:16:59 AM
    haha that's a good call.
  • Mrkizzy's avatar
    • Posts: 0
    #63 Mrkizzy Posted 2/27/2011 8:59:27 PM
    Honestly, I think the only update people will be truly happy with is a release date.
  • SuMBUDDy42o's avatar
    • Posts: 0
    #72 SuMBUDDy42o Posted 2/28/2011 11:13:51 PM
    I know right? some ppl just dont have the patients... Nor give the credit and respect thats due to the numerous talented ppl who put the hardwork and loooong hours at BioWare (OR ANY GAME DEVELEOPER in that case) into disigning a video game. I do... well maybe just because im a Game Art and Design student =/ but still... ppl should try... The key is to NOT HYPE anything up and too much and TRUST that "BioWare" arent du masses and actually know how to make a "Good/Great game". By not only going for WoW but using WoW and doing 1 better!
  • agentwred's avatar
    Jawa Trader
    • Posts: 298
    #65 agentwred Posted 2/28/2011 7:16:35 AM
    Not me. I'd be happy with info on social hubs, mini-games, recommended specs, and maybe even 1 or 2 other things.
  • Axtor's avatar
    • Posts: 0
    #60 Axtor Posted 2/26/2011 11:19:21 PM
    Updates need more substance.
  • brilderee's avatar
    Jawa Trader
    • Posts: 179
    #59 brilderee Posted 2/26/2011 11:11:40 PM
    Best quote

    Blaine Christine said:
    "As we get closer to launch, the number of players invited to our tests will continue to increase - so if you haven't made it in yet, don't lose hope!"
  • Mygolas's avatar
    • Posts: 0
    #62 Mygolas Posted 2/27/2011 6:07:42 PM
    Can't have hope while the beta have not even began in my country.
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