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GameInformer Interview with the Doctors

GameInformer recently conducted an interview with the founders of BioWare, Dr. Ray Muzyka and Dr. Greg Zeschuk. During the interview, GameInformer turned their attention to Star Wars: The Old Republic asking a few questions of the doctors. Check the jump for highlights from the interview.
What have been the exciting and challenging aspects of getting into the MMO business with The Old Republic?

Zeschuk: Obviously, MMOs are an enormous undertaking. There are a lot of technical challenges that you have to accomplish. Its just the size. Historically, Bioware's been known to make a lot of big games. Now working on an MMO, its very eye opening to see just how big they are.

There are some really successful ones out there. You have things you need to do to reach the bar. But its really rewarding though. Were at the stage right now of doing a lot of internal and external testing for Star Wars and its really shaping up. Its exciting. There are so many moving parts and its an interesting challenge, but we like that.

A lot of people around the office are excited to play it. Are there any plans coming together for a public beta?

Zeschuk: You'll have to watch our website and see. At this point we're still in more of a closed beta period. Were definitely making great progress on it. The feedback's been great. Theres always lots to do, but its really really shaping up. Before too long you guys will get a little crack at it. Keep an eye out for that.

The interview covers a bit on Mass Effect 3 among other things so the interview is more of a general one as it pertains to BioWare with a few tidbits about SWTOR. To read the interview in its entirety, make sure to visit GameInformer.

Update: Stephen Reid puts the quote in context -

Stephen Reid
As always with interviews, you need to be aware of the context of the question. So here's the original question and answer:

A lot of people around the office are excited to play it. Are there any plans coming together for a public beta?

Greg Zeschuk: Youll have to watch our website and see. At this point were still in more of a closed beta period. Were definitely making great progress on it. The feedbacks been great. Theres always lots to do, but its really really shaping up. Before too long you guys will get a little crack at it. Keep an eye out for that.

In his reply, when he said 'you guys will get a little crack at it', Greg was specifically referring to Game Informer themselves. That's not immediately obvious from the transcript here, but I have confirmed this with Greg himself. It's not a reference to the community as a whole, it was a reference to the 'people around the office', and a direct response to that portion of the question. (And to be clear, Greg was answering this question before Game Informer had been invited to their hands-on play session - hence the future tense of his response.)

So, to strip the entire question and answer down to the part that's relevant to the community as a whole, you'd get this:

Are there any plans coming together for a public beta?

Greg Zeschuk: Youll have to watch our website and see.

That's all we have to say about any future iterations of Game Testing right now.

Comments

  • Joerazz's avatar
    Jawa Trader
    • Posts: 84
    #12 Joerazz Posted 4/15/2011 3:08:53 PM
    Here's my opinion-

    They're in closed Beta now, but at E3 in June, they will announce open beta to all who pre-order the game. This way they can gauge serious interest (through a purchase) in the game, and stress test their servers enough for an August-Sept. launch. It's just smart business, and doing all of that will give them the testing metrics they need for a clean launch day.
  • adipokerface's avatar
    • Posts: 0
    #11 adipokerface Posted 4/15/2011 6:23:57 AM
    I don't see why they wouldn't do an open beta at some point before release.
    The fact that he didn't outright deny open beta means either they genuinely haven't decided yet (yeah right..) or they will have it.
    It's in their best interest to have one anyway.
  • Yavin_Prime's avatar
    • Posts: 0
    #10 Yavin_Prime Posted 4/15/2011 4:45:44 AM
    Interesting stuff but honestly I'm getting tired of Bioware hiding behind a semi-permanent fog. Honestly I'd like it if the developers could have more transparency with their community. Let us know on a grander scale how things are going. In general I know most developers don't do this but hey some have in the past.
  • Harper's avatar
    • Posts: 0
    #8 Harper Posted 4/15/2011 1:41:46 AM
    Silly Zeschuk, everyone knows it's called Game Testing, not Beta Testing. You funny man.
  • Disinvolto's avatar
    Jawa Trader
    • Posts: 82
    #7 Disinvolto Posted 4/14/2011 10:33:55 PM
    It's good to see this. I've been a very active participant of the release speculation thread on the official forums and this blew it up with about 10 pages of speculations on when open beta is and whatnot... It's kind of funny to see Stephen Reid shoot it down so quickly in the one sense, in another sense that makes me slightly nervous as to how much longer they'll be playing this cat and mouse game of when the game will release... we shall see though, we shall see.

    It's definitely going to come out this year though... right?! =P
  • Perkunas's avatar
    Jawa Trader
    • Posts: 204
    #6 Perkunas Posted 4/14/2011 6:52:17 PM
    I'm starting to get the Jumpgate vibe.
  • Gamewiz's avatar
    • Posts: 0
    #4 Gamewiz Posted 4/14/2011 5:55:21 PM
    Stephen commented on the article on the TOR forums. Basically they weren't hinting at when the OB was happening, this interview was done before the UK event.
  • Gamewiz's avatar
    • Posts: 0
    #3 Gamewiz Posted 4/14/2011 4:27:50 PM
    "Before too long you guys will get a little crack at it. Keep an eye out for that."

    Translation: "Sometime this year you'll get to play Open Beta."
  • Jatlantis's avatar
    Jawa Trader
    • Posts: 73
    #9 Jatlantis Posted 4/15/2011 2:25:31 AM
    http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?p=6078175#edit6078175

    Nah.

    Greg was referring specifically to the game-informer people. But I guess your translation is probably still true :P

  • BrodieSolo's avatar
    Nerf Herder
    • Posts: 12
    #5 BrodieSolo Posted 4/14/2011 6:30:18 PM
    If they were interviewed before the UK event, then maybe the hint was the UK event and not OB.
  • DEADHEAD's avatar
    • Posts: 0
    #2 DEADHEAD Posted 4/14/2011 4:18:40 PM
    "a little crack at it"... I don't do drugs... But I already need rehab for my addiction with Swtor!
  • Jobo's avatar
    Gamorrean Thug
    • Posts: 34
    #1 Jobo Posted 4/14/2011 3:40:57 PM
    Thanks Klipto! Glad you guys still make an effort to keep up with things.
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