E3 Day 1: Press Conference Live Blog & New Content

The team spent the morning on planes, trains, and automobiles so we apologize if some of this is going up later than expected. There is a preview of Star Wars: The Old Republic's new CGI trailer exclusive to EA's new service, Origin. Although the EA press conference is available to watch on Spike TV and GameTrailers, we're still doing a bit of a live blog for those of you who are cubicle bound from our staff attending the press conference itself.

Stay tuned...!

12:34p PT: New CGI Trailer: Return




12:46p PT: Dr. Z takes the stage for SWTOR
12:47p PT: Showing preview CGI montage (same one viewable at Origin)

Other tidbits:
  • New Game Setting section debuts on official site.

  • Razer announces SWTOR-branded accessories (via IGN)


Stephen Reid's comments on E3 expectations after the jump. In short, no announcements of release date or pre-order details at E3. Instead, BioWare is focusing on demonstrating game features. A Dissection of the recently unveiled screenshots is now up in the Media Gallery below.
Stephen Reid

'Choose' was always going to be shown at the E3 press conference. Unfortunately for us, we had a timing issue which put it live on Origin.com before the conference started.

'Return' we saved for our fans worldwide, debuting it on The Old Republic website at the same time the press conference started. If you haven't watched it yet, see it here. 'Return' is also the intro cinematic to The Old Republic - you'll see it when you start the game.

There will be no release date announced during E3 2011, and no pre-order details either. Our release date window has not changed. We are still aiming to release Star Wars: The Old Republic in the second half of 2011.

While I know many of you believed a release date announcement was going to happen - which is understandable - as I've said before, an announcement of that size will effectively be 'pre-announced', and we will not 'bait and switch' you. We aren't going to lay a trail of subtle clues that lead to a release date announcement. We'll be obvious. We're just not there yet.

E3's not over yet, though. This week we'll be allowing the world's media and fan sites to get hands-on with The Old Republic at the EA booth, and they'll be reporting back on their experiences on Tatooine as well as seeing gameplay on Alderaan. Last but not least, they'll get a glimpse at Operation: Eternity Vault, some of the high-end content in The Old Republic.

We're bringing much of this to you on The Old Republic web site this week, so keep checking back - although I will pre-warn you, our Alderaan coverage will be slightly delayed (look for it in a few weeks).

I know many of you are disappointed. I know you want a release date - believe me, all of us know that. It is coming, I promise, and you'll hear about it before it arrives - not through subtle clues, but through obvious signs.

Gallery: E3 Screenshots

E3 Screenshot 1
E3 Screenshot 6
E3 Screenshot 5
E3 Screenshot 4

Gallery: E3 Screenshot Dissection

E3 Screenshot Dissection 5
E3 Screenshot Dissection 6
E3 Screenshot Dissection 7
E3 Screenshot Dissection 8

Comments

  • zechio's avatar
    Dark Lord
    • Posts: 391
    #61 zechio Posted 6/6/2011 9:33:37 PM
    It's pretty normal for MMOs to not have a release date until fairly close to launch, because they are much MUCH more prone to last minute delays. Single player games follow a lot more predictable schedule, and really don't have last minute delays, so they can lock down a release date very far off.

    We'll probably get a release date about the same time they announce Open Beta, about a month or 2 before it actually starts, so only about 2-3 months out from release.
  • theunwarshed's avatar
    Dark Lord
    • Posts: 490
    #65 theunwarshed Posted 6/6/2011 9:47:32 PM
    this is so very true, but the "perception" often trumps truth for a lot of gamers, and the perception is that TOR is lagging.
  • DarthShnooky's avatar
    Dark Lord
    • Posts: 345
    #84 DarthShnooky Posted 6/6/2011 10:51:45 PM
    That would be the perception from the vocal minority. I'd say most gamers are rational and understand that they will release the game when it is done, and they will announce the release date when they are ready. The game has never been delayed, there is nothing to indicate it is lagging and the majority of players understand that.
  • abner_ford's avatar
    Dark Councilor
    • Posts: 662
    #87 abner_ford Posted 6/6/2011 10:56:44 PM
    That's why you don't design based on the perception of someone who's ignorant to how things work. They're not withholding the game to be spiteful, they're doing it because they want the launch to be as smooth as possible.

    Galaxies would've been better served waiting another year before release. I can wait a year to have TOR's launch be much better than Galaxies'.
  • r2d2arm's avatar
    Dark Lord
    • Posts: 440
    #62 r2d2arm Posted 6/6/2011 9:35:12 PM
    I'm not really worried. I feel that they want to make sure 100% that the release date given will be the final one.
  • lobochris2's avatar
    Nerf Herder
    • Posts: 4
    #64 lobochris2 Posted 6/6/2011 9:45:49 PM
    Two things:

    1. E3 isn't over yet, and we've got alot more TOR content coming.

    2. We'll get a release date a month or two beforehand and no sooner. Do it any sooner than that and you risk tiping your hand to your MMO competitors, with negative consequences.
  • Odin_Kira's avatar
    Jawa Trader
    • Posts: 88
    #66 Odin_Kira Posted 6/6/2011 9:57:56 PM
    Patience Zooger, it will be released this year. E3 has traditionally been a place where deals are made in anticipation of a new Game Release. This no release date was made at the EA Press Event then my bet is on Pax Prime for a Release Date announcement.

    May the Force be with You All.
  • LuckyArc's avatar
    Dark Lord
    • Posts: 307
    #55 LuckyArc Posted 6/6/2011 9:02:12 PM
    I laugh at the fact that the montage video (which seems to have the name of 'Choose') put the clip of the trooper blowing up the grenade and Malgus getting tossed into the rocks by Satele right beside each other. I think they ripped it off of Ghost to be quite honest.
  • darthuser915's avatar
    Spice Runner
    • Posts: 130
    #52 darthuser915 Posted 6/6/2011 8:57:46 PM
    The trailor was tight but I must say Im highly disappointed in the fact the game is a 2nd half release. Grant it the window was atleast mentioned but shit come on already. DH for those going to E3 have a great time. An considering they wont say a Date at least ask if they have plans for Open Beta.
  • Hewo's avatar
    Dark Lord
    • Posts: 312
    #51 Hewo Posted 6/6/2011 8:57:00 PM
    And smugglers around the world rejoice while agents throw their pcs out the window. Or the agent was in stealth the whole time...picking off republic troops from a safe distance....
  • darthuser162's avatar
    Dark Lord
    • Posts: 350
    #57 darthuser162 Posted 6/6/2011 9:09:05 PM
    We get the job done without being seen. Video of us would mean we failed.
    (btw, just got my mobile hotspot up and running in LA)
  • varnsta's avatar
    Jawa Trader
    • Posts: 73
    #113 varnsta Posted 6/7/2011 12:26:02 AM
    The Agent was just out off screen setting himself up for the attack. Took him 7 minutes :P
  • stoffi's avatar
    Spice Runner
    • Posts: 192
    #214 stoffi Posted 6/7/2011 5:59:08 PM
    +1 lol

    I'm not bummed over the fact they left out the class I want to play, it might get its spotlight in another trailer for an expansion or whatever. But the smuggler looked very nice.
  • Shriven's avatar
    Spice Runner
    • Posts: 137
    #50 Shriven Posted 6/6/2011 8:55:59 PM
    Something i saw btw. Remember when i found that PC Gamer UK article with Cyborg as a playable race. Well, i was watching the PC Gamer live blog too and one of the writers replyed to someone asking if you could play as an Ewok with.

    'no, but you can play cyborg, i checked' Tim something his name was :P

    Not to throw petrol on a ember or anything, i just thought id share.

    Edit: The blog quoting it, and the original thread with the moderator replies have been removed. Im quite sure they are playable.
  • Convertible's avatar
    Spice Runner
    • Posts: 239
    #175 Convertible Posted 6/7/2011 9:23:24 AM
    Well, there was a leaked 90 min gameplay video around somewhere *grin* where the player checked his toons on the character screen and checked also the playable races/classes. And there was cyborg listed as playable race.
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