You can’t beat a free weekend and it’s great to see that more and more developers are now starting to make this a common trend. Modern Warfare 3 recently had a free weekend on PC and now it is Star Wars: The Old Republic’s turn.

It is even slightly longer than a weekend as the actual free trial will start on Thursday May 17 at 12.01am CDT and end on Monday May 20 at 2am CDT. That is over four days of Star Wars MMO heaven, but we hear that Bioware will be restricting certain aspects of the game for those that take advantage of this offer.

On studying the official notes compiled by Bioware, trial characters will not be able to level up past level 15 and you won’t be able to learn Legacy XP either. Certain chat methods will also be blocked, but you will still be able to receive in-game mail from other players like paid subscribers do.

If you have nothing to do this weekend and fancy giving this a go, you’ll want to head to the sign-up page here. The join up button is deactivated at the moment so it’s better to bookmark the page and try again tomorrow when the trial is live. Also read through the FAQ here if you are wondering what happens to your character after the trial and so on.

For those of you that have been paying since release – would you recommend the game for others to try out? More importantly, how does Star Wars: The Old Republic compare to World of Warcraft? Better or not in your opinion?

More About: Star Wars: The Old Republic

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During the event in New York, developers Bioware announced that the game will now be releasing on December 20 in Europe, which is two days ahead of the originally planned December 22 launch date. It now means that European consumers will be able to purchase and enjoy the game on the exact same date that Americans get it – so everyone can bask in the beauty of SWTOR together.

We have to say that it is a frustrating experience in that fact that Europeans, UK consumers especially, usually get shunted to the bottom of the list in terms of game releases, so considering the likes of Modern Warfare 3, Battlefield 3 and Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim all have global release dates, it’s pleasing to see Bioware and EA give the same treatment to Star Wars: The Old Republic as well.

A new trailer titled Signs of War was also unveiled at the NY Comic Con event, so check it out below if you have yet to see it. We’ve also uploaded some footage of Bioware’s event itself, so if you consider yourself to be a Star Wars fanatic but didn’t have the opportunity to get to New York last week, then don’t miss that video either.

SWTOR is PC only don’t forget, so you’ll have to head out and buy yourself a capable system if you’re still running your PC on old hardware. The upcoming game is surely going to test the capabilities of your current PC rig, on the plus side – you’ll be able to enjoy games like MW3, BF3 and Skyrim in their best form as well.

Are you prioritizing the new Star Wars game ahead of the likes of Skyrim, MF3 and MW3, or is it a game that you will play less you think?

More About: bioware, Comic-Con 2011, Star Wars: The Old Republic

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Most gamers will agree that the notion of any such game being able to topple the might of Blizzard’s WoW will be like saying; the Mega Drive can compete with the PS3’s graphics. However, SWTOR has so much more to give gamers, more in fact than Wow, but there is still much more to consider. Gamerzitch has now weighed in on the argument saying that BioWare has developed a game that makes you feel important, but is that really enough to topple the fan base of Blizzard’s MMO?

The reason we say this is because World of Warcraft currently has a user base of 13 million, this cult following will be tough to follow and even if those on the side of SWTOR must agree that it is a battle that will not be won. This is a shame; because The Old Republic has a lot more to give its users, the 1,000 hours of story is proof of this. No one will be able to say that BioWare has a pointless game here, as it is far from it.

It does not matter how much Star Wars: The Old Republic has to offer in way of gameplay, storyline or how differently it reacts when playing as a smuggler or Jedi, it will always come down to reach. But let’s think about this for one moment, as there is room for both. It does not matter if you want SWTOR because it is more for a single player or WoW because it excels in multiplayer, there will be times when you want the option for the two.

Take social media, there are so many people who prefer Facebook, but it does not stop them using Twitter for its different features. The two can coexist in harmony, its just you have to be willing to accept it. Chances are most WoW users love the Star Wars movies, which would mean that they might give SWTOR a chance just to see what all the fuss is about.

Do you believe that there is room in the market for both to do well?

More About: bioware, Blizzard, Star Wars: The Old Republic, World of Warcraft

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GamersBook reports that it was EA’s President who said that their MMORPG was outselling these rival games, and there is no reason why he would lie, as fans of the other two franchises would slate him if this were incorrect. This is not only a surprise to EA but us as well, who would have thought that SWTOR would be more popular than the big two FPS games?

However, we might have a theory on this. Star Wars: The Old Republic still has no release date, whereas Battlefiled 3 and Modern Warfare 3 do. So it makes sense that the game with no release date will be pre-ordered more, as to avoid not getting the game on its first day of release. As we draw closer to the other two releases then their pre-orders will move up another gear.

Talking of the release date for SWTOR, EA is set to announce something in September, which is a little annoying due to the fact that I will be on vacation. The game will be with us before the year is out, but it would be suicide to launch it during October or November, which is when BF3 and MW3 will come to the market respectively.

There are three versions of the latest Star Wars game, Standard, Digital Deluxe, and Collector’s Edition; the price for these are as follows $59, $79 and $149. There are currently a few promotions for the Battlefield 3 pre-order. The Limited Edition of the game will come with a free DLC pack called “Back to Karkand.” The UK will get a different version called “Physical Warfare Pack.”

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 will get a special “Hardened Edition,” it is these kind of specials and promotions that help with pre-order sales. The reason why is because we are often told that they will run for a limited time only, which is the case with EA and SWTOR.

When all three games are on the market it will become a two-horse race, as EA’s MMORPG has no chance against the big two – but stranger things have happened.

More About: Battlefield 3, EA, Modern Warfare 3, Star Wars: The Old Republic

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You could have expected a Collector’s Edition of the game to come out along side the standard version, but one thing you will not expect is the alleged price tag as it has been revealed that gamers may have to fork out a near fortune in order to pick up the extra goodies.

Information obtained over at NeoGaf forums states that Star Wars fanatics who pick up the Collector’s Edition of the game will be treated to the following ‘physical’ goodies – Exclusive Gentle Giant Darth Malgus statue, Star Wars: The Old Republic game discs in collectable metal case, The Journal of Master Gnost-Dural annotated by Satele Shan, Old Republic galaxy map, custom security authentication key, exclusive music of Star Wars: The Old Republic CD and a high quality Collector’s Edition box.

As for the digital items you’ll get with the CE, they are rumored to include the following, as taken from a poster previewing the Collector’s Edition: Flare gun: Fire flares into the air, Training droid: Hovers at your side for combat assistance, HoloDancer: Project your own holographic dancer, HoloCam: Keep visual records of in-game adventures, STAP: Sleek and unique in-game vehicle, Exclusive Mouse Droid: Spunky droid to join your adventures, and an Exclusive Collector’s Edition store: Unique in-game vendor with a dynamic assortment of items.

While that vast list of bonuses is nothing short of mouthwatering, the same can hardly be said for the rumored price point – a cool $220 USD, or around 150 Euros for those of you living in Europe. No word on a potential UK price for the Collector’s Edition, but considering the US usually gets favored with price conversions, you just know it’s going to be bad.

We often say that Collector’s Editions only apply to the real die-hard fans of a particular game / franchise, but this is one instance where this couldn’t be more true, as the average gamer is definitely not going to pay over $150 for this, let alone the rumored $220. Are EA slightly mad in pricing this way over what gamers expect for this special edition? Of course there are going to be many individuals who will still buy the Collector’s Edition, but out of a matter of principle, it’s particularly worrying as a fellow gamer as these high priced tactics can only be bad news in terms of other companies seeing what EA has done and the fact that they may try to copy EA with future titles.

What are your thoughts on a potential $220 price point for the Collector’s Edition of Star Wars: The Old Republic – are you going to be buying it at the end of the year?

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As a recent benchmarkreviews.com article reports, the Star Wars: The Old Republic product range – which has been designed and developed in collaboration with both BioWare and LucasArts – is expected to launch alongside the highly-anticipated game later this year.

All of Razer’s SWTOR peripherals come with interchangeable Sith Empire and Galactic Republic faction symbols. The Star Wars: The Old Republic gaming keyboard will set you back $199.99 / €199.99 and includes a touch-sensitive LCD track-panel and a braided 7 foot USB cable.

It also features 10 dynamic adaptive tactile keys, an adjustable multi-color LED and gold backlit keys with slim key caps. Meanwhile, the SWTOR gaming mouse will cost you $129.99 / €129.99 and includes 17 fully programmable MMO-optimized buttons and a charging dock.

The gaming mouse mat is dual-sided to display the two different faction choices and has a non-slip, anti-reflective, abrasion-resistant hard coating. The mouse mat is priced up at $49.99 / €49.99. The headset on the other hand will set you back $129.99 / €129.99.

For $130 / €130 you get a 5.1 surround sound headset, a flexible boom microphone, an adjustable multi-color LED, an adjustable headband for optimal comfort and both volume and mic control buttons. You can read more about the peripheral range via benchmarreviews.com.

Would you buy any of these gaming peripherals?

More About: Lucasarts, Razer, Star Wars: The Old Republic

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The video is rather special too, as this looks like one of the rare instances of actually seeing in-game footage for the game, and not just CG trailers that we have become accustomed to seeing.

The E3 trailer shows off some campaign story modes, new fighting techniques, boss battles, companion characters, the ability to control your own starship, space battles, vehicles and much much more.

We’d also like to add that the accompanying soundtrack to the game is fantastic, while the voice casting looks very professional too, and similar to what you’d usually see in a Star Wars movie. The game has seemingly been in development for a very long time, but fans will be praying at E3 2011 finally brings a solid release date for the MMO.

Get a first look at SWTOR’s E3 showing below, we promise you it’s well worth watching. Afterwards, let us know your thoughts on the upcoming game, and tell us if you are more excited about this than say The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim – now there’s a head scratcher for you.

PS. Don’t forget to select HD below for the best quality.

More About: E3 2011, star wars, Star Wars: The Old Republic

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According to a recent article over on the holyfragger.com website, both BioWare and LucasArts have just released a brand new progression trailer, which gives fans an idea of the armor and abilities that a player can achieve when taking on the role of a Sith Warrior.

Star Wars: The Old Republic is a story-driven MMO that’s set thousands of years before the rise of Darth Vader. The game will enable players to step into the shoes of a number of Star Wars classes including Imperial Agent, the Bounty Hunter and the Trooper.

Players will be able to make decision that will not only define their personal story, but also determine the path they take down the light or dark side of the Force. Gamers will befriend companions along their way, who will either fight at their side or betray them based on their actions.

Although we don’t know a specific release date at this stage, we will inform you when we do hear news on one. Are you looking forward to the arrival of the Star Wars: The Old Republic game?

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Although the game is due out later this year for Windows, we still don’t have an exact release date, other than sometime during Q2-Q4. To relieve some of the frustration though, Bioware has been dropping new tidbits of info along the way, just you keep you satisfied until we get that all-important info about the release date, and the exact nature of the micro-transaction business model that they intend to introduce for the game.

As for the trailer though, it’s a must see for those of you intending to choose the Jedi Knight class – and let’s face it, the majority of you will! We see some of the upgrades available, such as moving from a Jedi Knight to a Jedi Guardian, and then to a Jedi Sentinel, with each upgrade giving you a new outfit and a new set of abilities and force moves to pull off.

The game is looking stunning, and one which is surely a must buy for all Star Wars fans. Personally, I haven’t played a decent Star Wars game since Jedi Power Battles, but this game is definitely going to be one of the highlights of 2011 – would you agree? Check out the video below.

More About: bioware, Star Wars: The Old Republic

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The gameplay is over 5 minutes long, and gives you a look at how the game is shaping up so far but it is due to release later on this year. We’ve all seen those stunning CGI videos of the game, but this time we see some actual gameplay footage – and the graphics are looking pretty slick we have to admit.

The video quality isn’t perfect, but this will be the first gameplay footage you’ve seen of the game in a while, so enjoy it while it is still online since it wasn’t officially provided by Bioware, just in case it gets removed in a few hours.

As for a release, we’ve heard via Play.tm that the game won’t be out until July at the earliest, and could even be out during the latter months of 2011, hopefully that won’t be the case though. It seems like this game has been in development for an eternity, but judging by the footage below – it’s well worth waiting for.

Are you looking forward to The Old Republic?

More About: bioware, star wars, Star Wars: The Old Republic

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