Friday Update: New Karpyshyn Novel



Today Star Wars: The Old Republic announced Drew Karpyshyn is authoring a new novel titled Revan. An in-depth interview with Karpyshyn is also available on the official site.

Q: In what ways will readers who have read Revan benefit when playing Star Wars: The Old Republic?

A: I think the novel will give them a much better understanding of the Sith Emperor and the Empire, for one thing. The Old Republic Sith Empire is very different from what people know from the movies, or even from the Great Hyperspace War comics that focus on characters like Naga Sadow and Ludo Kressh.

The novel will also give them some very direct background and detailed information that ties in directly with key Flashpoints in the game. I can't say too much, of course, but like any great prequel the books will give you the details of what came before to add an extra layer of depth to the experiences in the game.

As you might expect from the title, the main character of the forthcoming novel is Revan of the Knights of The Old Republic series. While that sets the novel some 300 years before the time of the game, Karpyshyn let us know that there will be some significant characters [in the novel] who appear in Star Wars: The Old Republic.

The book will be available "later this year," which surely bears some relationship to "soon." Hit the jump for the official announcement.

In other news, if you are in the Austin, TX area tomorrow, Austin Books & Comics is hosting a Star Wars Day featuring autograph sessions with Star Wars: The Old Republic comic authors Rob Chestney and Alexander Freed. Details about appearances from film stars and schedules available here.
AlysonBridge

Star Wars: The Old Republic is continuing to expand beyond the core game and into novels and comics. Del Rey Books has already published two novels in the Old Republic timeline, Fatal Alliance and Deceived, and last year announced that a third Old Republic novel was to be written by Drew Karpyshyn, Principal Writer at BioWare, and author of the Darth Bane series of Star Wars novels.

Read More...

Comments

  • DarthShnooky's avatar
    Dark Lord
    • Posts: 345
    #117 DarthShnooky Posted 4/23/2011 3:34:03 AM
    Or that BW have their own plans and do not care what you think about their marketing campaign. They have the long term vision of what they are doing and know the release schedule for information, we do not! The fact that you use a phrase like "this is not really acceptable" goes a long way to supporting the use of words like "entitled."
  • Vastori's avatar
    Jawa Trader
    • Posts: 98
    #126 Vastori Posted 4/23/2011 4:00:05 AM
    Guess what? It's their sandbox. Put you're shovel in it or take your pail home. They'll consider your suggestion to paint it all rainbow for you, but don't expect it. 'Acceptable' is only a valid argument when you open your wallet, or shut it.
  • Neko399's avatar
    Dark Councilor
    • Posts: 705
    #164 Neko399 Posted 4/23/2011 3:40:51 PM
    The point is that we are talking about the internet marketing, and its impact on the minority that it is targeting.

    Again, forums love to insult other posters, but in real life, they are potential customers, minority or not. They are also part of the viral marketing, especially to their friends.

    The lack of foresight to see the immediate outcry about it, and the negative impacts, should have been obvious to any PR department that is actually in touch with that internet customer base.

    Marketing serious missed on this one -- and is something that is troubling that they did not foresee.
  • Neko399's avatar
    Dark Councilor
    • Posts: 705
    #168 Neko399 Posted 4/23/2011 4:45:32 PM
    Again, BW is a business, not a 'click' nor a charity.

    They want as many customers as they can get.

    Businesses do not tell people to get lost, nor do they intentionally drive off customers because they are 'too cool' for them.

    They want the $$$ from those fans that are complaining about this Friday Update, and contrary to fanbois, they do not want them to just 'go away'.

  • BrenMcGuire's avatar
    • Posts: 0
    #57 BrenMcGuire Posted 4/22/2011 6:37:31 PM
    Interesting update choice, especially after Daniel Erickson suggested that these TOR novels were superfluous just last week!
  • Neko399's avatar
    Dark Councilor
    • Posts: 705
    #71 Neko399 Posted 4/22/2011 8:14:13 PM
    Do you have a link?

    And it would not be the first time that we see DE say one thing, and then someone else say something to the contrary.

    The PR really is sort of like a leaking boat. It is staying afloat but still taking on water. Imo, they really need to review how they are handling PR.
  • BrenMcGuire's avatar
    • Posts: 0
    #106 BrenMcGuire Posted 4/22/2011 11:36:03 PM
    DanielErickson
    [color=#f9d648]Hey Folks,

    You most definitely don't need to read all the books and comics to enjoy the story in The Old Republic. Everything that your character would need to learn about the galaxy will be there for you in the world and class quests.

    If you're really someone that wants the full picture, however, some classes know more than other classes about certain subjects, and not everyone who tells you things in the world is right or truthful. So seeing different classes, the books, the comics and all the fun website pieces can give a more complete view of the entire galaxy. Both Blood of the Empire and Deceived, for example, really delve into unexplored areas of Sith social politics and what it's like to live in the Empire.

    Hope that helps!

    Daniel :csw_deathstar_un:[/color]


    I do have to add that I found this on the Dev Tracker hours ago and it has mysteriously been removed since. Perhaps it's in DH's highlights.... here: http://darthhater.com/2011/04/21/devtracker-highlights-for-the-week-of-april-21-2011/
  • DarthShnooky's avatar
    Dark Lord
    • Posts: 345
    #118 DarthShnooky Posted 4/23/2011 3:36:57 AM
    I'm not sure I would say this is him saying they are "superfluous." This seems more like a statement that if you do not read the novels and comics, you will still be fine in game understanding what is going on. This does not mean the novels are useless or merely marketing gimmicks, merely that they expand upon the content in the game rather than replace it. The answer seems designed to comfort people who may fear that playing the game w/out reading the novels will be confusing or that pieces of the overall story will be missing from the game to push the books.
  • Neko399's avatar
    Dark Councilor
    • Posts: 705
    #179 Neko399 Posted 4/23/2011 8:31:19 PM
    To me, it sounds like the books are more additional 'fluff' so to speak -- sort of like how EU books are to the Films.

    You do not need to read the EU books, to understand or enjoy the films. However, if you enjoyed the films, you might enjoy reading the EU books.
  • thorpin's avatar
    Nerf Herder
    • Posts: 7
    #85 thorpin Posted 4/22/2011 8:45:20 PM
    Maybe the answers that are given in the novel will be in the game as well. I know makes the novel a little unimportant but it's just another media that is more in depth to show what happened to Revan.

    I'm sure if you don't read the novel you will still get the answers in game. If not, i'll be a little dissapointed
  • darthuser3134's avatar
    Nerf Herder
    • Posts: 10
    #48 darthuser3134 Posted 4/22/2011 5:44:10 PM
    Sorry but this "update" was just patetic by BioWare.I'm sure the book will be great and all but for an update .....
  • darthuser915's avatar
    Spice Runner
    • Posts: 130
    #50 darthuser915 Posted 4/22/2011 5:51:53 PM
    I couldnt agree more. BW is starting to become a well ill wont do this or say it on DH site. The crew here has done nothing but good an is actually far better then the crew at BW thats for sure. Highly disappointed in BW for the lack of good updates or the better part of this year
  • DarthShnooky's avatar
    Dark Lord
    • Posts: 345
    #61 DarthShnooky Posted 4/22/2011 7:09:00 PM
    That's because this is a fansite, run by fans for fans of this upcoming game. The official site is run by the PR department of the developers of the game. DH wants to get all the info it can and share it with us because they are just as rabid about it all as we are. BW, on the other hand, wants to release info in a way that works best to get people excited about the release of the game. There are different goals and different approaches to the same material here, so you really can't compare.
  • emlaeh's avatar
    Dark Councilor
    • Posts: 995
    #65 emlaeh Posted 4/22/2011 7:39:12 PM
    Appreciate the compliment but not the spirit of it.

    If it wasn't for the Friday Updates and all the extra pre-release marketing BioWare & LucasArts do for this game, then there wouldn't be much to talk about except for rampant speculation.

    People will call me a kissass or whatever, but I'm sure everyone can keep the fact it isn't always sunshine and roses over here in mind. People should take the QQ down a few notches and notice we learned some stuff today from this update.
  • Neko399's avatar
    Dark Councilor
    • Posts: 705
    #72 Neko399 Posted 4/22/2011 8:16:30 PM
    Not calling you a kissass, nor even trying to be remotely rude.

    The simple fact is they are a business, that will eventually want us to spend our money on their game.

    The Friday Updates are a Marketing tool, not a 'charitable' action by BW.

    BW would be hurt more by the lack of Friday Updates, than we the potential customer.
  • To post a comment, please login or register a new account.