Following rumors that BioWare will be unveiling its new Knights of the Old Republic MMO later this month, BioWare and LucasArts have announced that they will be holding an event to reveal a new project on October 21.

The event, to take place at LucasArts' offices in San Francisco, promises "the official unveiling of the game that's been rumored about for years," according to Gamasutra.

After months of speculation, Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitello spilled the beans on the new Star Wars MMO during an interview at E3.

Since then, rumors have circulated regarding when the companies might officially announce the game. Last week, a columnist for the UK paper The Daily Star teased that he would be filing a report on the title later this month.

Acclaimed RPG developer BioWare will officially reveal its massively multiplayer Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic game later this month, claims CVG.

The publication cites a recent column in UK newspaper The Daily Star, which stated the reporter would soon head off to San Francisco in order to "file an exclusive report on [BioWare's Knights of the Old Republic MMO.]"

After months of rumors, studio owner EA confirmed that BioWare Austin was indeed working on a massively-multiplayer effort set in the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic universe, which takes place 4000 years before the beloved film series. No platforms have been announced for the game.

The Knights of the Old Republic universe was popularized through two Xbox and PC RPGs--the first developed by BioWare, the second handled by Obsidian.

According to EA CEO John Riccitiello, the Star Wars MMO is one of the "two of the most compelling MMOs in the industry"--the other being EA Mythic's recently launched Warhammer Online (PC)--and is "quite possibly the most anticipated game, full stop, for the industry."

Mass Effect (PC, 360) developer BioWare is examining the possibility of further updates to its space-age RPG following the release of the first downloadable content pack earlier this year, studio president Greg Zeschuk revealed.

"We said it was a trilogy so there's some stuff happening," Zeschuk told MTV Multiplayer. "We're also looking at some other post-release content... You know how we are. We're always very circumspect until we can go 'Aha! There it is!'"

The executive added, "With everything we build now, we want to have this long-term relationship with the customer and always have something for them to try. So we're definitely looking at that for Mass Effect."

The company is currently at work on Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood (NDS) in collaboration with Sega, but BioWare's Nintendo DS development may not end there. Sonic Chronicles lead designer Miles Holmes stated that the studio is... Read more

Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello has confirmed that celebrated developer BioWare is at work on a MMO based on the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic franchise.

"We've got two of the most compelling MMOs in the industry in development," Riccitiello told Portfolio.com. "The one that people are dying for us to talk to them about -- in partnership with Lucas, coming out of BioWare, which is, I think, quite possibly the most anticipated game, full stop, for the industry at the point when we get closer to telling you about it."

When asked pointedly if the game he was referring to was the oft-rumored Knights of the Old Republic MMO, the CEO simply responded "Yes."

BioWare has made several mentions of its in-development MMO project, but has remained characteristically silent on which, if any, property it would license for the title.

Earlier this year, however, BioWare and LucasArts announced that they had partnered for an unspecified project, leading many to speculate that the Star Wars MMO was indeed in development.

No release date or platforms have yet been revealed for the long-in-development MMO. A PC version is likely, though BioWare has made several comments indicating that it may be considering a console release as well.

In an era in which game piracy prompts formerly PC-exclusive studios to make the leap to consoles, Mass Effect developer BioWare has an alternative strategy to buck piracy: provide add-on content for its games and promote simple consumer loyalty.

"We're doing a lot of post-release downloadable content on all of our PC titles going forward," BioWare co-CEO Ray Muzyka told MTV Multiplayer. "We think it's a good thing to encourage players to make them want to buy a PC title.

"That's ultimately the best, most successful path to prevent piracy—to have players that want your games, want to believe in them and think they're high-quality and realize they're going to get a lot of value out of them as platforms for long time afterwards," Muzyka added.

It appears likely that the studio's next effort Dragon Age—which the studio plans to unveil tomorrow—will feature some sort of built-in copy protection, similar... Read more

Mass Effect (PC, 360) developer BioWare is examining the feasibility of a product for Apple's iPhone platform, company president Greg Zeschuk revealed in an interview.

"We look at every platform that comes along. Obviously, something that's as big a cultural and technical success as the iPhone is something you really got to take a close look at," Zeschuk told MTV Multiplayer.

Game development on the iPhone has ramped up since the gadget's debut. Ports of EA Maxis' life-sim Spore and Sega's Super Monkey Ball, which make use of the phone's built-in accelerometers and touch screen, were announced last March.

"I think one of the things that we'll have to see how it shakes out is what type of consumer buys games on it and what type of experience they're looking for," he added.

BioWare CEO Ray Muzyka offered his perspective on the rapidly growing PC MMO market and the success of titles such as Blizzard's World of Warcraft and... Read more

As the release of BioWare's Mass Effect PC port approaches this week, company CEO Ray Muzyka recently stated that the company will maintain a fairly even balance between licensed properties and original development in future projects.

When asked of his preference between creating original universes for games and working on preexisting intellectual properties, Muzyka explained that there are benefits to developing from either angle.

"Both choices have their own unique appeal," Muzyka told Joystiq. "In the end, both are ends of the same spectrum, since successful new intellectual properties become licenses. In the case of Star Wars... so it really wasn't confining when ... Read more

BioWare producer Derek French recently caused an uproar after announcing that copy protection on the PC editions of Mass Effect and Spore would require online validation every 10 days in order for the games to continue functioning.

In the face of increasing pressure, BioWare and publisher Electronic Arts today relented, updating the official Mass Effect PC FAQ to note that validation will now only be required when the player downloads new game content.

Q: If the game isn't going to require an authentication every 10 days, will it ever require re-authentication?

A: Only if the player chooses to download new game content.

Electronic Arts also released a statement mentioning that Spore's copy protection will be similarly changed to allow for offline play, only requiring validation on a patch or game content update.

The publisher further noted that the protection will still only allow users to authenticate each game on up to three computers. Approval of further authorizations... Read more

Update: Electronic Arts has relented to the pressure.

Original story: BioWare technical producer Derek French has said that the PC versions of both Mass Effect and Spore will make use of copy protection that will require online validation every ten days in order for the games to continue working.

"After the first activation, SecuROM requires that [Mass Effect PC] re-check with the server within ten days (in case the CD Key has become public/warez'd and gets banned)," said French in a post on the BioWare forums.

If customers do not come online after ten days, the game will cease to function.

"After 10 days a re-check is required before the game can run," added French. "..An internet connection is not required to install, just to activate the first time, and every 10 days after."

The check is run when users activate the game's executable file, with the first re-check coming within "5 days remaining in the 10 day window."

According to French, Maxis' Spore will also make use of the same scheme: "[Electronic Arts] is ready for us and getting ready for Spore, which will use the same system."

French also noted that the online requirement will be clearly labeled on the games' packaging.

BioWare president Greg Zeschuk said that the Wii is less like a game console and more akin to a toy, citing Nintendo's emphasis on casual gaming experiences.

"[Wii] experiences are much more like a toy experience," Zeschuk told GameDaily. [People] are playing, together or not, but you're not 'gaming' anymore...If gaming is defined by story, then generally Wii may not be."

BioWare CEO Ray Muzyka disagreed, suggesting that while the Wii focuses on casual experiences, the console offers a different brand of narrative.

"I think it IS gaming," Muzyka insisted. "When you look at a moment to moment experience what a player does on a Wii game, it's different, lighter, and more toy-like. But there's also a narrative between the players outside the game and kind of fulfills the same things games do. Games are 'toys' in the sense that they're fun."

BioWare, which created such story-centric titles as the Baldur's Gate (PC) series, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (PC, Xbox) and Mass Effect (PC, X360), is currently working on Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood for the Nintendo DS as well as an unnamed MMO strongly rumored to be set in the KOTR universe.

Publisher Sega has today titled developer BioWare's upcoming Sonic RPG, officially announcing that Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood will hit the Nintendo DS sometime in 2008.

Sega also sent along some shots of the colorful game, which you can check out below.

Addressing the alleged sequels to BioWare's Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Criterion's Black, publisher Electronic Arts has clarified that such products are not necessarily under development at this time.

Reports of the titles emerged yesterday, after a slide (pictured left) presented to analysts by EA CEO John Riccitiello suggested that future KOTOR and Black projects were underway at the EA-owned studios.

"The slide in John's presentation is titled 'Best Creative Talent'--it addresses future and past titles," EA told Shacknews. "KOTOR, Black, Boogie, Skate and some other titles on the slide speak to past portfolio releases and the pedigree of the studio but do not specifically address future sequels."

Outside of the slide, Riccitiello did not mention KOTOR or Black, though it was implied that the listed properties denoted new or upcoming releases. Many of the other properties in the slide, including Skate, were revealed to be receiving future iterations in a later presentation.

"The [previously announced] MMO in development at BioWare Austin is listed a 'New MMO,'" EA's statement continued in an attempt to prevent future misunderstandings. "We apologize for any confusion this may have caused."

Update: Electronic Arts has clarified has that a new KOTOR title is not necessarily in development at this time, with the slide merely describing "past portfolio releases and the pedigree of the studio."

Original Story: A new Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic game may be in development at BioWare, and it may have nothing to do with the studio's still-unnamed MMO.

During an analyst meeting, a slide presented by EA CEO John Riccitiello credited BioWare with the following projects: Mass Effect, Dragon Age, KOTOR, New MMO. Though Riccitiello did not specifically mention KOTOR in the audio portion of his presentation, it was suggested that all properties on that slide denoted new or upcoming releases.

The separate listings of KOTOR and the unnamed MMO indicate that they are not one and the same, as rumors had previously suggested. However, it is still quite possible that the MMO could be related to Star Wars.

In addition to the recently unveiled PC version of Mass Effect, BioWare is known to be working on the second title in the Mass Effect trilogy. The company's long-awaited return to PC role-playing, Dragon Age, is slated to arrive within studio owner EA's coming fiscal year, which runs April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009.

BioWare developed the LucasArts-published Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic on Xbox and PC, which was released in 2003 to critical and commercial success. An Obsidian-developed sequel followed, though it did not quite receive its predecessor's unanimous acclaim.

Electronic Arts is unsurprisingly planning future iterations for many of the hit franchises it publishes, including EA Black Box's Need for Speed, Criterion's Burnout, EA Black Box's Skate, and Harmonix's Rock Band.

EA president Frank Gibeau discussed the plans in an analyst meeting today, listing them as part of the company's "turn-around" strategy, which is focused on "a strong pipeline of innovative sequels and new IP" and increased digital revenue through titles such as Mythic's Warhammer Online and EA DICE's Battlefield Heroes.

As for the new IP, the president highlighted the company's plans to publish EA Los Angeles' Tiberium, BioWare's Dragon Age, DICE's Mirror's Edge, Pandemic's Saboteur, Valve's Left 4 Dead, and EA Redwood Shores' Dead Space.

Gibeau also mentioned the company's plans for EA Maxis' just-dated Spore (PC, NDS), detailing that efforts to bring the evolutionary simulator to more platforms and produce expansion content are already underway. The studio is known to be working on a Wii edition of the game.

Gamers hoping that BioWare's critically acclaimed Xbox 360 sci-fi role playing game Mass Effect would eventually hit PCs will be pleased to know that the wait won't be long, as the port will be released this May.

The PC version will be enhanced in several ways over the Xbox 360 release of the game. The inventory user interface and functionality has been reworked, allowing for easier equipping and modifying of weapons and armor. There will also be visual boost, due to the inclusion of higher-resolution textures, characters and environments. Also look for optimized controls, as well as control remapping and hot key binding of biotic powers and skills, along with a new decryption mini-game.

"Mass Effect serves as a powerful example of video games as an art form, delivering new levels of emotional intensity, realistic characters and a gripping storyline -- all set in a compelling new universe," said BioWare General Manager Ray Muzyka.

Publishing of Mass Effect PC will be handled by Electronic Arts, which said it has struck a deal with Microsoft to handle future publishing of the franchise. EA recently completed its purchase of BioWare.

Electronic Arts CEO John Riccitiello has admitted the company made serious mistakes in integrating several well-known developers, including Bullfrog and Westwood, into its corporate structure, Game|Life reports.

"We at EA blew it, and to a degree I was involved in these things, so I blew it," Riccitiello said at this week's DICE Summit in Las Vegas. "When I talked to the creators that populated these companies at the time, they felt like they were buried and stifled."

EA acquired Bullfrog Productions, creator of the Populous and Theme Park series and former home of industry veteran Peter Molyneux, in 1995. Two years later, Molyneux had left the company. "The command and conquer model doesn't work," noted Riccitiello. "If you think you're going to buy a developer and put your name... Read more

Developer BioWare today unveiled the first round of downloadable content for its hit Xbox 360 RPG Mass Effect.

Bring Down the Sky will introduce the alien race of the Batarians, an extremist group that has taken over an asteroid station in the Asgard system, sending it hurtling toward the colony world of Terra Nova. Players will be unsurprisingly tasked with averting the disaster, exploring a new world in the process.

BioWare estimates the scenario will last most gamers about 90 minutes, with 50 Gamerscore points hanging in the balance.

The content--the first in a series of such releases--is coming to Xbox Live on March 10, for the price of 400 Microsoft points ($5).

Cooper Lawrence (pictured left), who recently appeared on Fox News' The Live Desk with Martha MacCallum and, despite never having actually played the game, attacked BioWare's Mass Effect (X360) for containing pornography and misrepresenting women, has now admitted that she was wrong in her criticism.

"I recognize that I misspoke," Lawrence, the author of several self-help books, told The New York Times. "Before the show I had asked somebody about what they had heard, and they had said it's like pornography.

"I really regret saying that, and now that I've seen the game and seen the sex scenes it's kind of a joke," she continued. "I've seen episodes of [the ABC television show] Lost that are more sexually explicit."

During the segment, which repeatedly and incorrectly informed viewers that the game contained full digital nudity and graphic sex, Lawrence was asked by games journalist Geoff Keighley if she had ever played the game. She laughed and answered, "No."

BioWare and its owner Electronic Arts, meanwhile, are not amused... Read more

The ever-growing controversy regarding BioWare's Mass Effect (X360) and Fox News Channel's gross misrepresentation of the RPG as a graphic sex simulator shows no signs of slowing down.

Despite Electronic Arts' demands that Fox News correct the multitude of errors made when reporting on the game earlier this week, the network now claims that EA has ignored all invitations to appear on-air and set the record straight.

"Fox News Channel has extended several invitations to EA through a company representative to appear on 'Live Desk With Martha MacCallum' to discuss 'Mass Effect' and the segment which aired on Monday," a Fox News representative told MTV Multiplayer. "We have received no response."

The whole affair began this Monday, when Fox News hosted a segment on Mass Effect that involved longtime gaming journalist Geoff Keighley, who had played the title, and five other participants who had not. Baseless accusations began... Read more

Updated retailer listings for Pandemic Studios' Mercenaries 2: World in Flames (PC, PS2, PS3, X360) suggest the destruction filled open-world game may have been delayed yet again.

Both GameStop and Amazon.com now list the game as releasing on August 25, a substantial push from the previous target of Q1 2008. While retailers are notorious for using placeholder dates, it is extremely unlikely that two separate retailers would shift to the same date without outside word.

It wouldn't be the first delay for Mercenaries 2, which was originally slated to hit in the fall of 2007. "We wanted to time it more closely to the movie," Pandemic co-founder and president Josh Resnick said at the time. "But then we realized that we don't have a movie, so we just said, 'Aww hell, let's just make the game better.'"

Prior to the initial delay, the Venezuela Solidarity Network had petitioned U2 frontman Bono (pictured above) to cancel the title, as Bono was then a partial... Read more