Star Wars: tOR: Art & the Old Republic

Transforming a well known and beloved intellectual property such as the Star Wars world into an online game is no easy feat. Yet those on the Star Wars: the Old Republic development team are working diligently to do just that. Check out how it’s all done below.

Art style is often considered one of the most important aspects of a gameplay experience. Done well, it tells a story all by itself, and evokes the mood that immerses you into the character and the environment. Since the announcement of Star Wars: The Old Republic, there has been a great deal of interest regarding the game’s visual style. We’d like to share some more behind-the-scenes information with you and show how our Art Team came to develop what we have come to call “stylized realism”.

The overarching goal of the art for Star Wars: The Old Republic is to bring concept art paintings to life in 3D. This goal has led the artists to forego the use of photographs for surface textures in favor of hand-painting every asset. The concept art also drove the game art to match its heroic and idealized proportions of the characters and environments. Part of remaining true to the classic big screen vision of Star Wars™ is not only to look like it, but also to ensure that the art feels like it on the small screen. There is a fine line to follow in being true to the realistic expectations that we inherit from the movies while making style choices that will play well on the computer screen. This distillation of the Star Wars vision through a painters eye and a fan’s heart forms the core of the visual direction of the game.

The stylized realism approach has many advantages. For instance, Star Wars: The Old Republic will have a unique and instantly recognizable appearance which will continue to look great as it ages. Being on the bleeding edge graphically is a lot of fun for artists, but as that edge moves forward, games that were once living at that frontier of graphics tend to look dated as technology improves. We want to achieve visuals that look great at the lower-end computers, knowing that if they look great there, they will look great on all machines, both now and in the future.

One of the visual style choices made for Star Wars: The Old Republic is a modeling technique we refer to as the “crease”. The crease can be described as the lines you would make when drawing a character in ink. Each line creates and defines the shape of a surface and is often seen in modern industrial design. It helps define surfaces and works very well with the in-game lighting.

Color is a critical component in stylized realism for evoking mood in an environment. The Art Team conducts a color study for each planet to determine its mood and compares it to other planets so that each newly visited planet has a unique feel. This applies to character design as well. The Jedi tend to have a softer, more colorful palette, while Sith gravitate towards darker colors with higher contrast. These colors are great in evoking Light Side and Dark Side affinity in the Star Wars universe.
When it comes to designing characters, the entire team has placed a heavy emphasis on the bigger picture of costuming as part of both the Star Wars and MMORPG experience. The Art Team has a large board of wearable designs, customized to both level and class, for comparing every new costume to all the others. From Design to Art, everyone involved in creating the game agrees on the importance of characters looking and feeling like their respective classes. A character should look like the role that they play. Keeping an eye on the bigger picture also allows us to better understand the importance of advancement for characters.

Sophisticated Robes, intimidating armor, and other impressive signature items will be earned at higher level. If you see someone with the signature Jedi robe or Sith Lord cape, you know they have earned it.

Making robes and capes in real-time 3D is one of the most challenging technical aspects of character creation, but an important one! You can’t really have Jedi without the iconic robe or Sith Lords without a cape, can you? Armor also has a very important place in the Star Wars universe, of course, so we have definitely done some work on that as well. More garments, including armor, will be shown on the website as character classes are announced.

From mountains, to temples, to the smallest gadgets, much research and thought has been put in to the details to give each environment its own personality and to create a living, breathing world. Art Director, Jeff Dobson says, “The Art Team spends a lot of effort thinking through the right choices on the little things because we know that they will add up to a greater whole. You might never notice them, but you will feel it when you get that sense of immersion in Star Wars: The Old Republic.”

Some have complained about the game’s art style. Does this alleviate some of the concern or deepen it?

Source: Warcry

Star Wars: The Old Republic Toys And Comics coming to a store near you..

As one of the last eras of the Star Wars mythos that most seem to regard as “cool,” fans have often wondered why George Lucas doesn’t just start licensing the hell out of Knights of the Old Republic instead of the Clone Wars era. Well Star Wars fans, be careful what you wish for.

If comments made to the videogaming247 blog by LucasArts’ online boss Tom Nichols are anything to go by, Lucasfilm has plenty of plans for the Knights of the Old Republic universe. And that means “[comic books], action figures and all kinds of things.”

?I think the potential is there for us to have similar types of products and extensions from our licensing partners as well,” said Nichols.

So when hits sometime in the distant future, you can expect a pile of other media to go with it. We’re fine with this so long as they do us a favor and make a talking HK-47 action figure. This is something long overdue.

Source: LucasArts

LucasArts & Sony Online Entertainment expand online deal

LucasArts and Sony Online Entertainment announced today the development of the second release to the successful Star Wars Galaxies(TM) Trading Card Game, Squadrons Over Corellia, scheduled for release this year.

Squadrons Over Corellia expands on the first release Champions of the Force, released last August, by adding a new game mechanic to the online trading card game with the addition of all-new strategy-altering starship cards for players to dominate their opponents from space. In Squadrons Over Corellia, players will once again take up arms for the Empire or Rebels and battle over a secret Rebel base on the Corellian moon of Talus. This strategic stronghold acts as a launch point for Rebel sabotage efforts in the Corellian system, and harbors one of the last known Jedi Knights, Rachi Sitra.

Squadrons Over Corellia will add more than 250 new playable cards and 22 new loot cards to the Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game, bringing the total number of cards in the game to more than 550.
The new playable cards will feature space-based units that can:

– Support ground units with heavy fire power;

– Transport units from quest to quest;

– Increase resources with smuggling runs;

– Shield and enhance the player’s avatar.
In addition, Squadrons Over Corellia will introduce exciting new cards to the Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game:

– New Star Wars character cards – Players can add a host of powerful iconic Star Wars characters to their virtual decks, including Emperor Palpatine, Han Solo, Wedge Antilles and Jabba the Hutt;

– Two New Species – Players can choose to play as Wookiees or the Rodians, each with customizable stats and abilities;

– New Loot Cards – More than 20 new Loot Cards will be available, including the V-wing Starfighter and a powerful buff, the Sanyassan Skull, that can be redeemed with an active account* in the Star Wars Galaxies MMO.

The Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game marks the first ever Star Wars trading card game offered exclusively online. Available to both current and former Star Wars Galaxies subscribers*, the Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game provides players an entirely new gameplay experience by combining the challenge of a trading card game with the adventures and community of the massively multiplayer game. Players can build their own virtual decks to fight in the story mode, epic one-on-one matches, cooperative Heroic Encounters, and official tournaments.

In addition, all Star Wars Galaxies subscribers with current, valid, paid accounts in good standing are eligible to automatically receive five digital trading card Booster Packs each month included with their paid Star Wars Galaxies subscription at no additional cost, providing a simple way to quickly and easily build their decks.

Anyone wishing to try the Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game can do so at no charge through a downloadable trial that includes limited access to a tutorial and practice games with a provided virtual Starter card deck.

The Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game may also be accessed from inside Star Wars Galaxies, and is available to trial players as part of the Star Wars Galaxies 14-Day Trial. This trial, offered at no charge for up to two consecutive weeks, also includes all of the content of the base game, Star Wars Galaxies: An Empire Divided(TM) and its first expansion, Star Wars Galaxies: Jump to Lightspeed(TM). Available by download from www.StarWarsGalaxies.com, the 14-Day Trial gives players a chance to become part of the Star Wars galaxy and meet and fight with or against their favorite Star Wars characters as they explore this massive online universe filled with thousands of other Star Wars fans.
More information about the Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game and its second expansion, Squadrons Over Corellia, along with the game’s trial can be found at www.StarWarsGalaxies.com/tradingcardgame.
About Star Wars Galaxies

Star Wars Galaxies, developed and published by LucasArts and Sony Online Entertainment, is one of the longest-running and most popular online experiences, bringing gamers of all ages and skill levels together in the ultimate Star Wars(R) journey. Begin aboard the Millennium Falcon helping Han Solo and Chewbacca fend off the notorious Darth Vader. Along the way, join Star Wars characters on missions that span the galaxy. Ally with the Rebels to fight against the Galactic Empire, or join forces with the dark side and crush the Rebel scum. Heroic adventurers can seek their fortune in space or on the ground as a bounty hunter, smuggler, Jedi or a host of other unique Star Wars professions.
About LucasArts

LucasArts, a Lucasfilm Ltd. company, is a leading developer and publisher of interactive entertainment software worldwide for video game console systems, computers and the Internet. Based in San Francisco, Calif., as well as on the Internet at www.lucasarts.com, LucasArts was created in 1982 by George Lucas to provide an interactive element to his vision of a state-of-the-art, multifaceted entertainment company.

About Sony Online Entertainment
Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) is a recognized worldwide leader in massively multiplayer online games, with hundreds of thousands of subscribers around the globe. SOE creates, develops and provides compelling entertainment for the personal computer, online, game console and wireless markets. Known for its blockbuster franchises and hit titles including EverQuest(R), EverQuest(R) II, Champions of Norrath(R), Untold Legends(TM), and PlanetSide(R), as well as for developing Star Wars Galaxies, SOE continues to redefine the business of online gaming and the creation of active player communities while introducing new genres on various entertainment platforms. Headquartered in San Diego, CA, with additional development studios in Austin, TX, Seattle, WA, Denver, CO, and Taiwan, SOE has an array of cutting-edge games in development.

*Active or former Star Wars Galaxies or Station Access(TM) subscription required. Former Star Wars Galaxies or Station Access subscribers with accounts in good standing are also able to access and play the Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game. Star Wars Galaxies or Station Access accounts no longer in good standing may result in inability to play, use or access Star Wars Galaxies trading cards. Booster packs, starter packs, loot or promotional cards received as part of a promotion or included at no additional cost with valid, current, paid Star Wars Galaxies subscription are non-transferable and non-tradeable. Redeemed items are non-transferable and non-tradeable; may be limited to one per account; access to redeemed items available only with current, paid Star Wars Galaxies subscription in good standing or with Star Wars Galaxies trial account (but only for duration of such limited trial account–i.e., up to 14 days). Internet connection required. Players are responsible for all applicable internet fees. Additional recurring subscription fees apply to Star Wars Galaxies and Station Access accounts. Bonus loot card (and items redeemed from such cards) limited to one per account. Items are non-tradable and non-transferable. Booster pack cards included at no additional cost with valid, active Star Wars Galaxies subscription are non-transferable and non-tradeable. Additional starter packs and booster packs sold separately. Star Wars Galaxies and the Star Wars Galaxies Trading Card Game are digital files only. No physical boxes, trading cards, disks, software, documentation or other tangible materials will be sent to you.

Source: LucasArts