We’re not directly worried about the competition

　　“We have developed a very robust multiplayer gaming platform at Trion and have a very talented group of developers,” he says. “And we will obviously look to grow the European infrastructure in the near future with key hires to match our triple-A products. We see this quality focus as one of our main competitive strengths that we will build on in 2012.”

The problem with interviewing a games firm about its new MMO is the inevitable question you must ask. So, when MCV met doctors Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk, the founders of BioWare, we asked it first, to get it out of the way.“Not at all, no,” says Muzyka. “We’re really good friends with the guys at Blizzard and have a lot of respect for them. Mutual respect.”

Zeschuk adds: “We can happily co-exist. We’re not directly worried about the competition."The question, of course, was the obvious one – the one about the comparing Star Wars: The Old Republic and World of Warcraft. Is it the rival game a genuine concern for them, or is it a red herring?

As the biggest, most lucrative MMO on the market WoW has a formidable reputation to live up to, let alone challenge, even if you’re BioWare. But put aside the speculation about the venerable online game starting to wane (even if it is something everyone has a view on; check out the other MMO interviews on the following pages). Because World of Warcraft has set a precedent, so The Old Republic has to live up to it in terms of success and spirit at least, if not execution.