A fascinating report in the Los Angeles Times about Star Wars: The Old Republic ought to get some attention for pegging the cost of making the massively multiplayer game at $US200 million.
But for fans of the game’s developers at BioWare — and for fans of some of the cooler pieces of pop fiction around — there’s another detail that should grab your attention:
The idea for the [The Old Repubic] has its origins at a 2005 meeting between [BioWare producer Rich] Vogel and BioWare’s Zeschuk and Muzyka, two Canadian physicians-turned-game developers. After attempts to adapt “Lord of the Rings”, “A Game of Thrones” and Marvel comic book super-heroes such as Spider-Man, the team signed a co-publishing deal with “Star Wars” creator George Lucas.
One of the top studios behind story-rich games wanted to tackle that stuff? They wanted to do what they’d do for Star Wars for the best dark fantasy lore around?
They wanted to do an MMO with Spider-Man and presumably the X-Men and Fantastic Four, too?
Maybe it’s too bad that we got The Old Republic. Maybe.
Star Wars: The Old Republic — the story behind a galactic gamble [The Los Angeles Times]
AerintheADEQUATE
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 8:32 AMI would interpret that as “BioWare wanted to make a Marvel MMO”… but I guess you can interpret things your way too… :-P
*Imagines 3,000 Spider-people hopping around Time’s Square speaking internet gibberish at one another*
Greg
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 8:43 AMwhat do you mean maybe its too bad we got the old republic. the fact that we will never see a true kotor 3 now is downright tragic
4len
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 9:12 AM*nods inseccently* :’(
Akra
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 9:55 AMSo, it wasn’t that they wanted to do a Spider man MMO exactly, it was that they looked at Marvel themselves, LoTR and Song of Ice and Fire for inspiration when they started the process of designing their first MMO game.
I really wish that Kotaku’s US ‘journalists’ wouldn’t sensationalise the headlines by taking words out of context and call it fact.
Logan Booker
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 1:47 PMI’ll take the blame for that. I shortened the headline to prevent it from overflowing and it obviously lost something as a result.
I’ll be more wary in the future. For now, I’ve altered the headline to better reflect the article.
Andy
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 10:47 AMShould have just stuck to single player games.
Mr Waffle
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 11:08 AMAs someone who has been playing The Old Republic for the last two weeks… I agree, I wish I’d gotten KOTOR3 instead :( this game is fun but it’s really just another MMO, it won’t be looked back on with fondness like (most) of Bioware’s RPGs have been in a few years.
Azza
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 11:58 AMMost estimates I heard put the cost at closer to $500m. I’m surprised.
Riku
Saturday, January 21, 2012 at 12:53 PMAn ‘A Song of Ice and Fire’ MMO? Damn well too right that it was too bad that we got TOR!
Ty
Sunday, January 22, 2012 at 4:36 PMI used to think MMO’s were a great idea, and games like Ultima Online allowed enough creative freedom to simply exist and explore. Ever since Ever Quest and then the success of World of Warcraft, though, it’s completely degenerated (along with the internet in general) to a detached sport-like hobby. I like the Diablo formula, but I prefer it for a small and intimate group.