Fans dust off their blasters for a new Star Wars MMO

"It has to be the best/ most polished pre-beta content I've ever seen from an MMO before. Bioware doesn't release anything until it's ready, and for a game that's been in development since late 2005, it's no doubt closer to beta than many people expect." - Voyle, Division 6

More than 3,500 years before the rein of Darth Vader, the Sith Empire was on the rise, aiming to destroy the The Galactic Republic and the Jedi. They succeeded in destroying the Jedi temple on Coruscant, leaving their enemies to pick up the pieces. Out of the dust and ruins, a new generation of heroes was born, ready to restore the glory of the Old Republic, or ready to see the final death of it.

You can be one of those heroes in the up and coming online multilayer game by Lucas-Arts and Bioware, Star Wars: The Old Republic; a game centered around "immersive storytelling, dynamic combat, and groundbreaking companion characters". Look out Star Wars Galaxies, you're in a run for your money.

As of now, you can side with one of four allegiances/factions:

• The Galactic Republic: constitution based on democracy, freedom, and individual rights.
• The Sith Empire: a society divided between sith and non-sith
• The Jedi Order: The peacekeepers for the Republic for over 22,000 years.
• The Sith Lords: the "Dark Jedi", intermarried with the sith race on Korriban

Among these, there are 8 classes from which you can choose your specialty, 3 of which have been announced. Smuggler, Trooper, and Bounty Hunter. Smugglers often rely on the element of surprise, favoring stealth and trickery to tip the odds in their favor. Troopers will not hesitate to step right into the crossfire for justice and freedom. Bounty Hunters stock up on the most advanced weaponry on the black market and are able to fine tune their tactics for any situation.

Smuggler concept art

Many online guilds/factions have formed out of antsy anticipation for the launch of this new MMO, particularly the members of Division 6, formally known as Division 9 during their SWG gaming days. The core founders of D6 were originally a part of another guild called The Illuminati, formed before the official release of The Matrix Online.

These ladies and gentlemen are polishing off their keyboards and writing their characters' history in the wake of this mouth watering game.

"My character is the son of a mysterious wanderer, and when the Republic and the SIth come knocking, it becomes as important as life and death to find out the identity of his estranged father and unravel the mysteries of the past." -Teal, Division 6

"Someone very unassuming, wanting to make a difference in the galaxy. That will depend on the different playable races and species the game offers, however." Salleos, Division 6

 Others are putting off their character creations to watch the forums for the release of new features, mainly for space content.

"[I would like to] be able to build and command your own space station." - Haelios, Division 6

"I hope there will be a practical approach to space content that does not restrict the characters, but still guides a character thoughtfully from one scenario to another. In addition to this, some kind of character piloted game play is a must eventually." - Morak, Division 6

The general consensus among the members about the content?

Breathtaking.