Star Wars: The Old Republic video needs more fighting

by Justin McElroy { Apr 8th 2009 at 8:55AM }

Hey Star Wars: The Old Republic, want to know the best way to suck the excitement out of your upcoming space opera MMORPG? Show us a bunch of still pictures not taken from the game, while a guy who sounds like Sam Elliott's less commanding brother, Denny, tells us a super boring story about galactic diplomacy.

Seriously, if the video was capped by a young Jack Palance playing a guitar solo while he kills a bunch of guys with a lightsaber (that's also an electric guitar), it still wouldn't be enough to wake us from our coma. Can we all agree to leave boring in books, where it belongs?

Tags: bioware, lucasarts, mmo, mmorpg, star-wars-the-old-republic

Related From Joystiq

'Imperial Agent' class sneaks into Star Wars: The Old Republic
3 days ago
Star Wars: The Old Republic site launches Jedi class page
7 days ago
THQ forcing Star Wars: Trench Run onto iPhone
17 days ago

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

CL34N3R @ Apr 8th 2009 9:02AM

Boring sure, but I'm still psyched for this game.

Ghen @ Apr 8th 2009 9:13AM

I'm scared it will take my life away the way WoW did.

BlaqueBeird @ Apr 8th 2009 12:32PM

I'm not scared, I'm certain.

Massmass @ Apr 8th 2009 9:17AM

MMORPGs generally lack everything but gameplay, and the gameplay is generally boring after a month. So, it's nice to see some thought put into the story, since that has always been one of KOTORs biggest appeal.

Although I agree, we need some actual gameplay now. Enough teasing.

The Dark Wayne @ Apr 8th 2009 9:18AM

that's not denny elliott that's lance henrikssen, he was Fleet Admiral Hacket in Mass Effect, one of the main characters in Riddick Dark Athena, lockdown on the new transformers cartoon, the android for Aliens, a guy who gets killed in the Terminator, and yeah okay so he's not that famous

The Dark Wayne @ Apr 8th 2009 9:20AM

also the guy shaking hands at around 1:00 sorta looks like him

Dirty @ Apr 8th 2009 10:06AM

I recognized his voice from mass effect, but now Im picturing him sputtering white blood from his mouth.

Charlie_Six @ Apr 8th 2009 10:22AM

GOD DAMN YOU BISHOP!!!

THE WICKER MAN (BWF) (GT: Dalek Prime) @ Apr 8th 2009 12:16PM

He will always be Frank Black to me...*sobs*

Powaqqatsi @ Apr 8th 2009 12:40PM

This Justin Mcelroy character needs to do his homework. Everybody and their mom know's lance henrikson's voice. Bishop? Helloooo! Also, he's obviously not a Star Wars fan. 'Cause that shit was interesting as hell.

Irma @ Apr 8th 2009 9:22AM

I kinda like it! It's a good way to explain the backstory IMO. I would rather watch this then take the time to read about it.

Kyle @ Apr 8th 2009 10:45AM

Agreed, I thought it was cool and would have much rather seen this than lightsaber fights which, awesome as they may be, we have seen a billion times already.

Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Apr 8th 2009 9:30AM

well I'm not an MMO guy but between this, The Agency, & MAG(God I hate that name) I might be able to start getting into it. Hell even that Star Trek MMO might get a little of my money for a while

The Dark Wayne @ Apr 8th 2009 9:35AM

i dont know much about MAG but i dont think it counts as an MMO. I mean it's basically like Halo or a battlefield game with a whole lot of people. As far as I know it isn't a persistent world is it?

Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Apr 8th 2009 9:52AM

I dunno man, I know from screens that its First person. but back when the game was first announced it was going around that it may be MMO like. I mean how in the hell will they make it open world with 256 people broken off into squads with different objectives?? Sure it may not be an MMO but there isnt really anything else I can compare it to with that many people playing at once....lol

Velsar @ Apr 8th 2009 1:46PM

Sounds similar to the jewel that was Planetside before Sony decided to kill it.

havs @ Apr 8th 2009 9:31AM

seeing as how this is the first mmo to actually have a story worth caring about since gameplay will actually be dictated by player decisions i think its worth hearing more about before combat specifics, since they are largely limited by massive online PvP and the such

il_duce620 @ Apr 8th 2009 9:32AM

I very much like the backstory... I never read any of the books or anything, so I'm not sure how "fresh" the storyline they present is, but it does sound pretty cool.

I just hope George Lucas doesn't get crazy and try to make any movies based on that...

The Dark Wayne @ Apr 8th 2009 9:35AM

it's pretty fresh indeed, this time span in star wars history has never been explored.

WiNG [XBL&Steam: WiNGSPANTT] from lifeinagame.com @ Apr 8th 2009 9:33AM

"Greetings young Jedi. My name it Kiith Ransunn and I've heard of your many exploits. My own apprentice has told me of the hardships you have overcome, and I trust you have battled many a [insert opposing faction/race here] on your travels to this distance planet.

It is with great reservation that I approach you, because the task I ask of you is both difficult and perilous. But I believe you are the only person who can help my people.

Our water supply is dangerously low, due to [insert opposing faction/race]'s military lockdown of our planet. They have 4,000 heavily armed troops and 15 capital ships protecting the communications hub that is the key to our water supply. This is where you come in.

We need you to start digging for water. There are 20 potential source spots within a 10 mile radius, which you'll find by looking for the YELLOW MARKER on your mini-map. This high-tech shovel will allow you to quickly displace dirt. I'm sure within 3 hours you'll be able to find a small spring of groundwater. When you have, return to me for your prize of 3 credits."

Xvnine @ Apr 8th 2009 8:33PM

+

Summed up what mmos are, this will be no different.

carlbob @ Apr 8th 2009 10:10AM

Yeah. Way to epic fail at comedy Justin. God knows getting backstory is "teh lame"

and that Lance Henrikssen? What a slouch. He's never been in anything cool...

The Dark Wayne @ Apr 8th 2009 10:16AM

oh yeah, nobody likes Terminator, Aliens, Mass Effect, Transformers, X-files, Red Faction, or Alien vs Predator, yeah all those things are fucking awful

PT @ Apr 8th 2009 10:19AM

Exactly Dark Wayne. I mean, in Aliens... He played a Cyborg. Cyborgs are so lame. No one likes Cyborgs..

THE WICKER MAN (BWF) (GT: Dalek Prime) @ Apr 8th 2009 12:18PM

I know I don't like you too much for at the moment for that comment. Millennium was great.

JediMasterASD @ Apr 8th 2009 10:17AM

I like the video, i look forward to more! The main thing that is suppose to separate this MMO from the others is the story telling.

Batzarro @ Apr 8th 2009 10:21AM

Oh-kay. At least they're making it in-story hystorical revisionism.

VoLiTioN @ Apr 8th 2009 10:26AM

Joystiq fails for not recognizing that's Lance Henriksen (Bishop from Aliens, Frank Black from Millennium) that's narrating.

snowleopard233 @ Apr 8th 2009 10:44AM

I don’t understand why so many mmo’s have settings that take place at a time when tensions are high but the war is still cold. It’s just boring. WoW was going along this path only until recently, when the developers realized that people wanted more conflict and war in Warcraft. Say what you want about warhammer, but at least they had the cojones to throw their players in the middle of brutal, unabashed warfare.

Have the guts to throw us in the middle of a real war, especially if it’s one between the dark and light sides of the force. Come on! Do you ever see those two getting along? Let’s cut the formalities and get to the galactic warfare that star wars is all about.

Velsar @ Apr 8th 2009 11:25AM

None of the star wars books are boring, you idiot.

Justin you've gone way too far this time... you usually are borderline stupid and ignorant, but now your immaturity has hit new levels...

It isn't within your power to judge the immense collection of sci-fi books in general as "boring" something that many would fight against you to ensure they were never thought of as such.

Story is what makes a game... else there is no drive to play it... and despite your idiocy and multiplayer focus the majority of people for most games buy it for story.

In any case, the video was actually quite informative and now I have many questions that I hope are answered when the game releases.

I believe Revan had a hand in having the Sith Empire return...

The Dark Wayne @ Apr 8th 2009 11:32AM

if you believe that you probably didnt pay any attention to anything in KOTOR 2
Also the entire Bounty Hunter wars trilogy as well as the dark nest trilogy books are skullfuckingly dull

Velsar @ Apr 8th 2009 11:39AM

Ignoring your poor selection of terms to use, and your utter lack of capability with our language, you should understand that you're wrong.

The story of KOTOR II itself was actually good, perhaps not as great as KOTOR I but it was good.

The lacking thing was the connection and the intensity of the plot itself, and that was mainly due to a lot of cut content and it not being fixed up before release.

I have a few friends who LOVE the Dark Nest trilogy, so you're obviously wrong on that, and as for the Bounty Hunter Wars, it's known more for the backstory and plot elements it hints at and references more so than it's actual story and climance.

But understand this, even if you were right, and you aren't, but if you were and these 6 books out of 98 star wars books (and that's just Star Wars books which aren't the only sci-fi) is not even a feasible percentage to base off that their books are boring.

So yeah... please come up with a better point.

The Dark Wayne @ Apr 8th 2009 12:04PM

maybe I would if you a) bothered to actually think about what you said about KOTOR 2, because what you said had almost nothing to do with what I said. I never said KOTOR 2 had a better story than KOTOR 1, I said if you though Revan had something to do with bringing back the True Sith you probably didnt pay attention. Obviously I was right, because in KOTOR 2 it is repeatedly stated that Revan went to FIGHT the True Sith b) that having several friends who liked the dark nest trilogy means they are good c) that providing backstory and exposition is an excuse for not really doing anything d) that I can be wrong or you can be right about this. Apparently you never learned the childhood lesson that opinions can't be wrong and finally e) being condescending about proper use of english on a game blog when you cant even use the reply button doesnt make you look good

Zanthox @ Apr 8th 2009 11:55AM

Um, it is supposed to be about the history, they didn't make it to show off gameplay and such. It is about the story here...

Velsar @ Apr 8th 2009 12:18PM

Assuming is the one thing that Humanity does which will lead to our downfall quicker than any other action.

Wayne, first off you are very bad at stating what you are replying to, your statement was vague and so it was impossible to tell what you meant, and I went by what was implied, as that made more sense.

In KOTOR II it says he goes off to fight with them, but him being a sith himself, it's extremely unlikely that he would actually decide not to align with them, of course it's also possible that him going to fight the sith in the first place, made the sith realize that Jedi still existed and thus they went back to kill them all.

Secondly, an opinion can easily be wrong, if it is formulated by the most pathetic or idiotic designs and thought processes, and your initial reply was more biased and hateful than intelligent and opinionated, and thus it would be considered an invalid opinion.

Third, it is books that create backstory that are what allow the rest of the series to continue... I agree that it would be better if they were a bit more interesting, but the fact that they helped flesh out even more of the Star Wars universe, is something we should be glad about, and the Dark Nest trilogy is hinted to, and has deeper lines and connections than most people realize, and as such it is a fine trilogy, however I prefer Mandalorians and thus the Legacy of the Force is one of my favorite series, as is the NJO and the Yuuzhan Vong.

Fourth, I chose not to use the reply button because I don't like having 5 - 10 posts under my first one, and so I choose to make it more clear and concise in terms of seeing replies and knowing when new ones begin.

Finally, using proper English (something that should be done EVERYWHERE, despite where you are) contrary to popular belief, being on the internet is STILL a place that involves communication with real people and thus they deserve your respect and proper speech, and that's irrefutable.

- Cere.

The Dark Wayne @ Apr 8th 2009 12:30PM

you say assuming is a problem but you're doing it yourself by assuming Revan would ally himself with the Sith, even though it is stated and implied that his conquering of the republic was only to strengthen it against the True Sith. Furthermore, according to Star Wars canon, Revan was not a Sith and saved the Galaxy in KOTOR 1, making it even more unlikely for him to ally with the True Sith. In elaboration of the True Sith, it's unlikely that they needed reminding of the Jedi as the True Sith were the remnants of the original empires of Naga Sadow, Marka Ragnos and the like and had been licking their wounds they received from the jedi for centuries. Also I would like to say that despite my use of "skullfuckingly dull" I meant no hostility, and have only enjoyed this conversation and I also agree with you about the Legacy of the Force and NJO

wait in the car @ Apr 8th 2009 1:57PM

Before you go calling the kettle black:

"None of the star wars books are boring, you idiot.

Justin you've gone way too far this time... you usually are borderline stupid and ignorant, but now your immaturity has hit new levels..."

Now, who's being "more biased and hateful than intelligent and opinionated"?

Velsar @ Apr 8th 2009 4:19PM

By definition?

I haven't fallen into that yet, my posts may not seem mature but by definition and without bias they are, and I am not bias, I used facts which in truth can't be bias, as it's a fact.

Books, are one of the reasons games were created, as a way to bring visualization to the stories of them, and same goes with movies...

Books aren't boring, and if they were, movies and games would never have been made since no one would want to bother making a book into a movie.

Same goes with opera's, and what not.

It's a dangerous road Justin is heading down currently... I put up with most of his idiocy but seriously, this was one part I couldn't ignore.

Let Griffin do the Star Wars posts, k?

Atleast he's not AS immature as you, and actually has a slight passion to them.

Riley @ Apr 8th 2009 8:59PM

or maybe, you just can't tell when he's being sarcastic, which is most of the time
i mean, come on, he's a writer, do you really think he thinks all books are boring?
and yes, some are, just because some movies are based on books doesn't mean they aren't boring, i've seen plenty of boring movies and books, including some Star Wars books

wait in the car @ Apr 10th 2009 6:30PM

"Books, are one of the reasons games were created, as a way to bring visualization to the stories of them"

Right.... I forgot about the epic story that gave birth to Pong. I think you have this backwards. Stories were written for games to give people motivation to move a random blip around a screen, shooting at or avoiding other random blips.

And you're honestly going to claim that after reading ALL the Star Wars novels you are unbiased towards them? It sounds more to me like you're throwing a temper tantrum because someone dared to question your passion.

Velsar @ Apr 11th 2009 8:12PM

Who mentioned pong?

Books were a way to express story, eventually instead of writing a book, it was decided to bring visual interpretation to leave nothing left to the imagination to the story, instead of just words.

Thus games with epic stories and backgrounds were created, and this evolved.

The same goes with movies and plays... simply further ways of expressing that which could be done with words, but wouldn't exclude visual cues.

I read other sci-fi books too, but anyone who stereotypes books as boring in general, needs to be seriously thought-over for a lobotomy.

Rhamsey @ Apr 8th 2009 12:21PM

yeah, this is almost 2 weeks old. bad show joystiq, bad show.

Moopcow @ Apr 8th 2009 12:40PM

I enjoyed this video, it gave a ton of back story that I wouldn't have gotten if they had only made it available to read on the site.

Velsar @ Apr 8th 2009 12:58PM

Bah... Revan was definitely evil, as he was a Sith Lord before he had his mind wiped, and even Canon recognizes that those issues won't just go away.

The Dark Wayne @ Apr 8th 2009 1:05PM

ha, that's exactly what i always thought, that when Revan was good it wasnt Revan, it was the implanted mind

Deck @ Apr 8th 2009 1:19PM

Boring? Hell no. I thought it was incredibly fascinating, but then I am a Star Wars lore/expanded universe nerd so.. it appealed right to me!

I can see though if you don't care about that stuff, that this may be not so exciting. Not everything has to be with lightsabers though!