With all of the buzz surrounding Star Wars: The Old Republic these days, some fans may be frustrated that they've yet to be accepted into the hallowed halls of game testing. However, soaking up interviews and developer diaries is an acceptable distraction from the wait, which is why we're glad that the folks at Darth Hater grabbed some face time with Associate Producer Cory Butler to talk about TOR's flashpoints and testing progress.
Butler is pleased with how BioWare is raising the bar for instances by including a gripping tale to enrich the experience: "Every Flashpoint begins with an exciting story and contains difficult decisions which have meaningful impact on the challenges you'll face, the enemies you'll fight, and the outcome of the Flashpoints."
Butler said that testing is in full swing and BioWare's gathering great feedback from the process. While he declined to disclose the amount of current testers, he did admit that "it is a bunch."
As The Old Republic grows nearer to launch, how does Cory Butler envision the launch day happening? "Honestly, our hope is that as important and exciting as it is, Launch Day is another day at the office for us. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to downplay how significant a smooth launch of the game is to us. It is just that we are working on plans and backup plans and backups to the backup plans for quite some time now, so we're ready to execute all these plans at launch."
Reader Comments (25)
Posted: Apr 20th 2011 10:03AM searstream said
Launch can make or break the game for many people. I hope it comes out smooth. With all the seasoned talent they have they should be able to put together something that wont fall apart day 1.
Posted: Apr 20th 2011 10:14AM Krayzjoel said
Bioware has yet to let me down on any games they have made. Im very excited for the launch of this game.
Com'on CCP where is my WOD game too! :D
Com'on CCP where is my WOD game too! :D
Posted: Apr 21st 2011 2:33PM Scarecrowe said
@Anciegher
Yep, DA2 was a huge let-down after the original. It's ok. I'd probably give it a 6 on a 10 scale but DAO runs circles around it.
Reply
Yep, DA2 was a huge let-down after the original. It's ok. I'd probably give it a 6 on a 10 scale but DAO runs circles around it.
Posted: Apr 20th 2011 12:51PM Duulin said
Caption to the picture "Go ahead, I dare you, pull my finger."
Posted: Apr 20th 2011 2:31PM C Rose said
Well if you're like me and can't resist the urge to spend time on the SWTOR forums you may have recently seen some subtle clues that MAY (and I can't stress the MAY here enough) indicate that Bioware is really in the final stretch before launch.
I've optimistically, yet realistically, been anticipating a June/July release for many, many reasons. And alot of current events seem to strengthen that conjecture.
1. They shut down the "Off Topic" thread in the forums yesterday as most MMOs do near the launch announcement. They anticipate alot of new visitors to the site and want to clear some of the "trash" and trolling posts which mainly exist in that thread.
2. They are having a major "Fansite Tour of the Austin,TX HQ" this weekend which in itself seems to speak to the tight timeline they are on. It's going to be a huge event for many SWTOR fansites and they are promising that they will let the writers for those sites see alot and PLAY alot. The main fact that they hastily scheduled it THIS WEEKEND, during a holiday seems to indicate that waiting another weekend wouldn't be possible. So that's another good indication they have plans on something big soon. Otherwise why inconvience those from the media and their own employees in such a way as to make it a holiday weekend instead of say next weekend?
3. Lastly there's alot of speculation about them having a HUGE announcement at E3 in early June, which many think will be the official release date with the open beta announcement coming in the next few weeks. They are finishing up their current "closed" beta cycle around May 12th and it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to think that MAYBE, just maybe they will begin to widen the beta testing slowly in preparation for a release date announcement soon (open beta has been confirmed as well). They have currently been in closed beta now for almost 12 months, and that's the normal timeframe for a AAA MMO such as this.
Let me state very CLEARLY here that this is all speculation and I wouldn't be surprised if I'm totally wrong, BUT I've been keeping very close tabs on all my SWTOR news and filtering out the rampant and unsubstantiated rumors and the information I just gave above is all pretty much concrete.
I've optimistically, yet realistically, been anticipating a June/July release for many, many reasons. And alot of current events seem to strengthen that conjecture.
1. They shut down the "Off Topic" thread in the forums yesterday as most MMOs do near the launch announcement. They anticipate alot of new visitors to the site and want to clear some of the "trash" and trolling posts which mainly exist in that thread.
2. They are having a major "Fansite Tour of the Austin,TX HQ" this weekend which in itself seems to speak to the tight timeline they are on. It's going to be a huge event for many SWTOR fansites and they are promising that they will let the writers for those sites see alot and PLAY alot. The main fact that they hastily scheduled it THIS WEEKEND, during a holiday seems to indicate that waiting another weekend wouldn't be possible. So that's another good indication they have plans on something big soon. Otherwise why inconvience those from the media and their own employees in such a way as to make it a holiday weekend instead of say next weekend?
3. Lastly there's alot of speculation about them having a HUGE announcement at E3 in early June, which many think will be the official release date with the open beta announcement coming in the next few weeks. They are finishing up their current "closed" beta cycle around May 12th and it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to think that MAYBE, just maybe they will begin to widen the beta testing slowly in preparation for a release date announcement soon (open beta has been confirmed as well). They have currently been in closed beta now for almost 12 months, and that's the normal timeframe for a AAA MMO such as this.
Let me state very CLEARLY here that this is all speculation and I wouldn't be surprised if I'm totally wrong, BUT I've been keeping very close tabs on all my SWTOR news and filtering out the rampant and unsubstantiated rumors and the information I just gave above is all pretty much concrete.
Posted: Apr 20th 2011 5:43PM ThePenIsMightier said
@C Rose
June or July isn't happening. Sorry, even if it were thrown into full swing beta today (which it isn't in) there's no way it would be ready.
I cannot imagine this happening before September at the extreme earliest, to tie in with the Star Wars bluray releases. Holiday season is a safe wager if beta testing explodes soon.
What is likely going on is the preparation for "ok, here's our anticipated launch window or release date-NDA free beta incoming!".
Reply
June or July isn't happening. Sorry, even if it were thrown into full swing beta today (which it isn't in) there's no way it would be ready.
I cannot imagine this happening before September at the extreme earliest, to tie in with the Star Wars bluray releases. Holiday season is a safe wager if beta testing explodes soon.
What is likely going on is the preparation for "ok, here's our anticipated launch window or release date-NDA free beta incoming!".
Posted: Apr 20th 2011 5:53PM Vagrant Zero said
@ThePenIsMightier I have to agree with the Pen. June/July is just too soon, we should have been on the cusp of open beta at this point if that were the case. I also think September is the earliest we'll see this game, probably late October to really capitalize on the holiday season.
Of course I'd absolutely love to be wrong about this.
Reply
Of course I'd absolutely love to be wrong about this.
Posted: Apr 21st 2011 6:43AM Space Cobra said
@ThePenIsMightier @Vagrant Zero
I've always been thinking October/November, but that's my speculation. It would also fit just in time for the holidays.
Of course, the pessmists/realists/corporate PR have been trying to play down things and always hint at "next year". I am cool with either, but I have been noticing (again IMO) that certain things suggest it may come out this year. And like C Rose, I also could be wrong.
@C Rose
Excellent post and speculating.
Reply
I've always been thinking October/November, but that's my speculation. It would also fit just in time for the holidays.
Of course, the pessmists/realists/corporate PR have been trying to play down things and always hint at "next year". I am cool with either, but I have been noticing (again IMO) that certain things suggest it may come out this year. And like C Rose, I also could be wrong.
@C Rose
Excellent post and speculating.
Posted: Apr 20th 2011 5:52PM TORnut said
I agree with most of what CRose has said; it makes sense to me.
June or July could indeed happen, as they have seemed to hint a few times that there might not be an open beta. I'm not sure if this is at all likely, it just appeared that way judging by the way BioWare responded to questions regarding an open beta start date.
Remember, I said COULD happen, lol... I'm not expecting it anytime soon.
I will happily wait as long as it takes; I'm certain that this game will be well worth it :D
(By the way, first time posting on a forum!)
June or July could indeed happen, as they have seemed to hint a few times that there might not be an open beta. I'm not sure if this is at all likely, it just appeared that way judging by the way BioWare responded to questions regarding an open beta start date.
Remember, I said COULD happen, lol... I'm not expecting it anytime soon.
I will happily wait as long as it takes; I'm certain that this game will be well worth it :D
(By the way, first time posting on a forum!)
Posted: Apr 20th 2011 5:54PM Vagrant Zero said
@TORnut Open beta has been confirmed repeatedly. I'm sure CRose will stop by in a sec to link you to the proof.
Reply
Posted: Apr 20th 2011 6:00PM TORnut said
@Vagrant Zero
I found this on the subject...
http://torwars.com/2011/04/14/stephen-reid-elaborates-on-the-docs-public-beta-comments/
Reply
I found this on the subject...
http://torwars.com/2011/04/14/stephen-reid-elaborates-on-the-docs-public-beta-comments/
Posted: Apr 21st 2011 2:44PM ThePenIsMightier said
@TORnut
My only other thought regarding even the vague possibility of a July-ish release date is that maybe Bioware is throwing a wrench in the ol testing cycle but not having any kind of NDA free announced beta, so that they can surprise everyone with "BAM, IT'S DONE AND ON SHELVES NEXT MONTH!"
I don't think they'd be "competing" at all with Mass Effect 3-you're talking about a PC MMO release and a primarily console single player release. While there's a fair amount of overlapped interest, it's two very different markets.
Reply
My only other thought regarding even the vague possibility of a July-ish release date is that maybe Bioware is throwing a wrench in the ol testing cycle but not having any kind of NDA free announced beta, so that they can surprise everyone with "BAM, IT'S DONE AND ON SHELVES NEXT MONTH!"
I don't think they'd be "competing" at all with Mass Effect 3-you're talking about a PC MMO release and a primarily console single player release. While there's a fair amount of overlapped interest, it's two very different markets.
Posted: Apr 20th 2011 10:36PM C Rose said
Well guys you both may be right, however the closed beta is almost at 1 full year. Open beta for a game like this, a huge AAA MMO, is usually only a few weeks long, not 6 months like smaller independent titles. The "open beta" will definitely be basically a test drive period for a game with tons of polish and testing already done. They won't REALLY let anyone even get close to a version that isn't basically finished, due to the hype and expectations.
Also as far as a release date, they will probably only announce it about a month beforehand. That's, again, what most AAA MMOs do. WoW and others like big name titles that have alot of financial backing and an experienced company behind them do it that way. They don't need time to build any anticipation obviously.
Lastly I would just add that they will probably, MOST assuredly NOT be releasing the game anywhere near christmas 2011, because Bioware's other huge title Mass Effect 3 is already confirmed for that time-frame and they won't EVER compete with their own game for our time or holiday money.
Most likely E3, June 7, will be the date they unveil the infamous release date we are craving so much. I still hope it will be late June, early July. But the VERY latest they will release the game is September and that's also getting close to ME3 too.
Reply
Also as far as a release date, they will probably only announce it about a month beforehand. That's, again, what most AAA MMOs do. WoW and others like big name titles that have alot of financial backing and an experienced company behind them do it that way. They don't need time to build any anticipation obviously.
Lastly I would just add that they will probably, MOST assuredly NOT be releasing the game anywhere near christmas 2011, because Bioware's other huge title Mass Effect 3 is already confirmed for that time-frame and they won't EVER compete with their own game for our time or holiday money.
Most likely E3, June 7, will be the date they unveil the infamous release date we are craving so much. I still hope it will be late June, early July. But the VERY latest they will release the game is September and that's also getting close to ME3 too.
Posted: Apr 21st 2011 6:48AM Space Cobra said
@C Rose
Now reading this. You may be right about ME, but I think October/November is still fairly realistic for release.
We could always split the difference like some folks mention and say September (or Aug/Sept.), but that's kinda a weird time to release most games, assuming they are going by such a time table (actually, in June/July is a "dead month" for many new/big releases; Summer tends to have a slow trickle, but I am just looking at console/single-player titles).
Reply
Now reading this. You may be right about ME, but I think October/November is still fairly realistic for release.
We could always split the difference like some folks mention and say September (or Aug/Sept.), but that's kinda a weird time to release most games, assuming they are going by such a time table (actually, in June/July is a "dead month" for many new/big releases; Summer tends to have a slow trickle, but I am just looking at console/single-player titles).
Posted: Apr 21st 2011 2:36PM Scarecrowe said
@C Rose
Yep, I believe C Rose has a point. I don't think they'd time the release with E3. But I *do* think they could use E3 as the platform to announce the actual release date.
Reply
Yep, I believe C Rose has a point. I don't think they'd time the release with E3. But I *do* think they could use E3 as the platform to announce the actual release date.
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