Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic III Release Still Possible in the Future

On October 21^st, 2008, history was made with the announcement of Star Wars: The Old Republic. It is Bioware's first venture into the market of massive multiplayer online games. Such news took place in the dreams of hardcore fans (such as veterans from games like Star Wars Galaxies) every night. It was also an announcement plagued with rumors and slip ups from day one.

The hype was met with mixed reaction by the gaming community. Bioware was bought out by Electronic Arts not too long ago after the news hit home that the Austin Bioware team was working on an unannounced MMO. Lucas Arts' collaboration with Bioware, and Sony Online Entertainment's ending license with Lucas Arts made it very clear that a new Star Wars MMO can be created. And what company is best for the job than Bioware, the developer that created the original KotOR, the most critically acclaimed game in Lucas Arts history?

Still, bitter fans who have seen many of their favorite games diminished by their own publishing companies have stated that the partnership with Electronic Arts may pose a problem of history repeating itself. Sony Online Entertainment's debut with the Combat Upgrade for Star Wars Galaxies remains one of the most controversial decisions in online gaming. The art direction was always at risk of being taken over by the publisher. Does Bioware keep creative control of its project? By power of reputation, it's safe to assume yes.

What's more interesting is that in the little time it has been since the announcement and launch of the official website, thousands of people registered for the forum to discuss the game. Bioware can read on many different experiences and directions the game can take. People underestimate gamers' opinions but these opinions are backed by surprising knowledge. Some posters have already exceeded over 1000 posts. Such is the dedication of fans for this game.

A huge debate taking place in the Star Wars: The Old Republic community forums is whether or not Bioware made the right choice in making KotOR III a massively multiplayer online game rather than the traditional single player RPG style that the franchise was based upon.

Both sides of the debate should answer one question:

Does Bioware want a KotOR III that is successful as a single player game or TOR successfully done as an MMO?

Look at it that way and you know that the MMO has the greatest potential to make Bioware that much more powerful. The MMO market has been the same because World of Warcraft is the dominant force with over 11 million subscribers . If TOR becomes big enough to challenge World of Warcraft then it can drastically change the way MMOs will be done forever. It is nearing the next decade and players everywhere are desperate for an MMO that will redefine the current generation. Such is the hype that Bioware is trusted with.

The internet is the driving force of the 21^st century. This is only the beginning of the increase in popularity in MMOs. Bioware is one of the most reputable RPG gaming companies known, Lucas Arts is one of the most recognizable names in life in general, and the Star Wars IP is legendary. The question of budget isn't a problem and Bioware has made huge promises about the scope of TOR.

And who said TOR means there will never be a KotOR III? The devs have been quoted to say that the game contained so much content that it can be called "Knights of the Old Republic 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9."

However, this was merely a loose description in the interview; the developers were giving the community to introduce what TOR is going to be in terms of content. It does not mean KotOR III is not going to happen. It may not happen in the near future but history has shown us repeatedly that franchises are never left to gather dust. Blizzard's Starcraft II and its recent restructuring as a trilogy is a good example of how classics return after years.

Time has a way of forming gaps and developers understand that the future of any gaming company depends on its consistency. KotOR III can be put on hold for the future when technology improves and Bioware learns more about the nature and economy of the gaming community. There are also many teams of Bioware developers working on different projects. The teams that made Mass Effect, KotOR, and Jade Empire, for example, were all different. Some designers have worked on previous titles before but as a whole, there are many things being done at once.

Most significantly, remember that the setting of The Old Republic is three hundred years after the events of KOTOR I and II. Three hundred years sounds like a big difference. The developers have stated that most major characters from the franchise would be dead but droids and species with high longevity will return as cameos. Common sense points us toward the idea that Bioware intends to finish the suspenseful story of Revan, the Exile, and how their paths all would intertwine. The story must be finished in those three hundred years, which is plenty of content Bioware can create in due time. If that isn't an indication that there will be future titles to fill the gap, then there isn't any better evidence.

Angered fans, patience is a virtue, as Yoda would say.

That gap must be filled and it's safe to assume Bioware already has a KotOR III project planned. Any real businessman who really wants to impact an audience would choose the MMO path. Bioware is smart enough to realize it does not mean giving up the single player RPG way, either.

There is much hype about the upcoming The Old Republic, but as players always say in the community forums, "In Bioware We Trust."