Star Wars: The Old Republic: GDC 2010 Jake Neri Interview

Stradden

MMORPG.com's Garrett Fuller recently had time for a quick sit down with Star Wars: The Old Republic Producer Jake Neri to talk about the game and its development thus far.

MMORPG.com:

How has development been going on Star Wars: The Old Republic?

Jake Neri:

It's been going great. The team is very inspired. They continue to ride the wave of last year where we had a tremendous amount of interest. We were very fortunate to be treated very well. We won many awards last year and those are things I don't think anyone on that team takes lightly. That is not something that the Bioware and LucasArts folks take lightly and it drives us. So I think development has been going well. We understand that there are a lot of big expectations for the game and we always have and we continue to push forward. Development is challenging, you guys know this. You cover tons of MMOs. They all have their ups and downs. We've got a pro team that really knows how to adjust and make the right moves and continue to drive forward on creating a really incredible experience.

Read GDC 2010 Jake Neri Interview.

m240gulf

Good read, Jake Neri sure does have a lot to say to your questions.

NovaKayne

1st point of failure to note

 

END GAME content.

Raevanhawk

Well for me personally End Game Content shouldn't be about the actual Content.

 

In a game like this it really needs to have a certain DAOC type model of PvP. This doesn't mean kill everything everywhere (must protect carebears after all), but if you need a place to have continual conflict. Planets, cities, something worth fighting over and NOT, I REPEAT NOT capture the flag crap, the jedi that holds bauble the longest wins crap, no Actual PvP content in an epic land mass ala DAOC.

Senadina

Wow, he said a lot of nothing. They are working very hard to balance classes and have endgame. Done.

Airwren

Originally posted by Senadina


Wow, he said a lot of nothing. They are working very hard to balance classes and have endgame. Done.

 

I'm thankful that it seems like they are trying to get out there and give out as much information as possible but in reality I quote the above poster for a run down of this entire interview.  All that to basically say nothing new or add to what's already been said?  Here's basically all of the information we know:

1. Story driven

2. Focus on "iconic" classes/combat

3. Star Wars focus

Seriously, this didn't add anything to the conversation that hasn't already been said.  As I have stated before, I really wish these folks would just quiet their mouth until they have something to say that actually adds to the conversation.  All this redundancy is doing is making me less excited about the game.

kb056

Other then, "Bioware is awesome!", "Star Wars is awesome!", "The Story is awesome!", how is this interview any different then all the others? 

 

It's gotta be frustrating for you writers to get interviews with these folks and they never give any meaningful information.

BlackWatch

It would be an absolute shame if they gave ALL of the information about their game away... a full year before it launches, eh?  lol

Patience. 

 

Ravanos

ah i remember when you made your own stories for your character in MMOs not have it spoon fed to you. but i guess this is what you get when the masses want this genre to become Massive Single player Online games with chat boxes.

 

 

Sabiancym

They announced this game a year too soon.  There has been next to nothing new the past couple months and probably won't be for awhile.

 

They get tired of people calling it an instanced carebear playground, yet they don't release much information to contradict the statement.

Comnitus

Originally posted by Ravanos


ah i remember when you made your own stories for your character in MMOs not have it spoon fed to you. but i guess this is what you get when the masses want this genre to become Massive Single player Online games with chat boxes.
 
 

Go write a book, you can make multiple stories for multiple characters.

Elikal

Originally posted by Senadina


Wow, he said a lot of nothing. They are working very hard to balance classes and have endgame. Done.

 

Yeah, my thoughts exactly. Zzzzz.... wake me up when they have something new to say...

CujoSWAoA

The character on the front page advertisement for this Interview looks like he's just about to shout out....... "CAAAAABLE... GUUUUY!"

At least to me anyway.

elf8bliss

"I think we cannot give a ton of information about our end game yet. I think the main thing is that we understand the importance of a great end game. We do understand that there is a need to have a really compelling end game. That is where we are at for now, in terms of what we can say."

 

He should of just came out and said "No endgame as of yet".....lol

Elikal

Originally posted by elf8bliss


"I think we cannot give a ton of information about our end game yet. I think the main thing is that we understand the importance of a great end game. We do understand that there is a need to have a really compelling end game. That is where we are at for now, in terms of what we can say."

 
He should of just came out and said "No endgame as of yet".....lol

 

In all fairness, I think their main reason to be so tight lipped is twofold. One, and most important, to prevent the competition to copy it before they themselves bring it. Like Blizzard. Second, to prevent potential gamers from taking things for granted before they are finalized. So while its frustrating for us as gamers I understand the reasons for their lack of info. If you think of some really new systems you'd want to keep it silent until its ready and there.

zinkerz

 

 

very true..blizzard copies a lot of ideas and add them to their game lol.

Darth_Osor

Originally posted by Senadina


Wow, he said a lot of nothing. They are working very hard to balance classes and have endgame. Done.

 

I'm really looking forward to this game, but I have to wonder why these people give interviews when they aren't talking about anything.

Comnitus

Originally posted by Darth_Osor

Originally posted by Senadina


Wow, he said a lot of nothing. They are working very hard to balance classes and have endgame. Done.

 

I'm really looking forward to this game, but I have to wonder why these people give interviews when they aren't talking about anything.

So they aren't regarded as a crazy, tight-lipped, greedy/shady/scamming company that never talks with the community.

What, you really people people wouldn't call them that if they stopped giving these interviews/updates, even if they don't have much substance? Even a company like BioWare is not immune.

Xerith

My guess is they arent talking about much yet due to how long of a span is between now and launch. How many other game companies have spilled news of features and ideas before they were finalized in the game, only to have them change/deleted/altered come launch and then suffer the wrath of a million foaming at the mouth players who wanted said features to be in because thats what the selling point was of the game (AoC im looking at you here)

It does suck for us players who are looking forward to the game and click on every link that may contain possibly some new information. However from their standpoint its a smart move so they dont get caught with their pants down later if certain talked about features dont make it into the game.

Ravanos

Originally posted by Comnitus

Originally posted by Ravanos


ah i remember when you made your own stories for your character in MMOs not have it spoon fed to you. but i guess this is what you get when the masses want this genre to become Massive Single player Online games with chat boxes.
 
 

Go write a book, you can make multiple stories for multiple characters.

 

go play a single player game, then you can have no choice on what the storyline for the your character is.

Vagrant_Zero

---

Originally posted by Ravanos
ah i remember when you made your own stories for your character in MMOs not have it spoon fed to you. but i guess this is what you get when the masses want this genre to become Massive Single player Online games with chat boxes.
 
 

---

No you don't remember anything of the kind.

You remember MMOs having 0 content so you HAD to "create your own story" cuz there was precious little else to do.

I'm glad those days are dead and gone.

1990s are ---> that way. Say hi to Vanilla Ice for me while you're there.

Cameron27

Originally posted by Vagrant_Zero


 

Originally posted by Ravanos

ah i remember when you made your own stories for your character in MMOs not have it spoon fed to you. but i guess this is what you get when the masses want this genre to become Massive Single player Online games with chat boxes.

 

 

 

No you don't remember anything of the kind.

You remember MMOs having 0 content so you HAD to "create your own story" cuz there was precious little else to do.

I'm glad those days are dead and gone.

1990s are ---> that way. Say hi to Vanilla Ice for me while you're there.

Judging from your avatar..."In Soviet Russia you don't create story, story creates you"

 

dalevi1

Actually, I think the answer I liked best was the producer's perspective. He is gabby for sure, but at least he answered the questions that were posed to him. I thought it was a good read. Just saying...

Fdzzaigl

Originally posted by Ravanos


ah i remember when you made your own stories for your character in MMOs not have it spoon fed to you. but i guess this is what you get when the masses want this genre to become Massive Single player Online games with chat boxes.
 
 

 

Your personal social history in an mmo == the games story.

Neither are both mutually exclusive

Arden0010

Damn Jake talks a lot.

Distopia

Originally posted by Ravanos


ah i remember when you made your own stories for your character in MMOs not have it spoon fed to you. but i guess this is what you get when the masses want this genre to become Massive Single player Online games with chat boxes.
 
 

 

The last time I checked the Star wars story was written in the 70's. No harm done then , huh?