Perhaps the first thing anyone remembers about their Star Wars movie going experiences is SPACE - the fantastical star-ships, the light-speed travel from one point in the galaxy to the next, and the unforgettable exchange of missiles, laser cannons, and proton torpedoes. 

Bioware has already promised us a true Star Wars experience, and they've took great pains to mention that every aspect of Star Wars will be included in The Old Republic... but a lot of gamers are left with one question on their tongue: can BioWare deliver us a true space-faring experience?  After all... it is Star Wars.

Fortunately, this is not the first Star Wars MMO and a lot can be learned from past history.  Previous Star Wars-based MMO Star Wars Galaxies first began to toy with the idea of space exploration and space combat with the Jump to Lightspeed expansion pack, sending many eager players into the limitless bounds of space with their beginning, level one star-fighters and to the numerous experiences and hardships beyond.

It features an in-depth ship construction and upgrade system, allowing for various pieces of equipment ranging from Ion Cannons to Chaff Launchers (think Obi-Wan fooling Fett's missiles in Attack of the Clones, and droid missiles in the beginning of ROtS) and everything in-between.  Though sometimes misrepresented, nearly every star-ship you can find in the movies has it's home in SWG (the majority of which are able to be player-crafted!). 

Progression in space relies solely on trainer given missions and experience grinds, and is perhaps the most time-consuming and often frustrating aspect of space flight.  Still, the in-depth look at ship customization and the realistic depiction of space combat has and still attracts many players to start hyperspace route calculations.

Jump to Lightspeed is arguably the best thing Star Wars Galaxies has accomplished in its almost seven years of blasters, crafters, and lightsabers galore. 

While flawed in various aspects, SWG has a lot of material when it comes to space combat that TOR can employ with their final release of the game (or perhaps even an expansion pack) - but the question is... will they?

 A lot can be gained from a space element in TOR - a devoted piloting community, a further dive into Star Wars lore and the 'action-packed' experience the game already boasts, and perhaps most importantly individualized transportation from Point A to Point B in space.  Ebon Hawk-esque ventures and personality would fit right in with forging your own path in the Old Republic, but BioWare has yet to release even the tiniest word of whether or not an in-depth space system will be implemented into the game.

Will space/space combat be a part of The Old Republic? Post your thoughts below.

Until the die-hard pilot community learns of BioWare's intentions, however...

Written by :

Phillip Brenfleck