Old Republic could feature multiple payment methods

LucasArts president Darrell Rodriguez has told GamesIndustry.biz that while no specific business model details have yet been announced for the forthcoming BioWare-developed MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic, a variety of options might be utilised - including subscriptions and micro-transactions - in order to appeal globally.

Speaking in an interview at this year's Gamescom event in Cologne Rodriguez was confident that the game would stand the test of time, following the seven years-plus that original MMO Star Wars Galaxies has so far notched up in the market place.

But he added that user interest would ultimately be the guiding factor in any decisions of longevity.

"I think the indicators are subscriptions and ongoing interest, but just related to the IP in and of itself," he said. "So it's a 30 year old IP and we anticipate that the IP and the quality game that we're making here is going to continue on for a very long time.

"We talk about the business curves of subscriptions, interest and investment it takes to make these games, but at the end of the day it's about making a compelling offering for our consumers."

And on that point of business models, he added: "Yeah, we're considering it all, absolutely.

"You start looking at how different communities, territories such as Asia, actually play games, and we start to consider it all - especially if we want it to be a worldwide phenomenon."

The full interview with Darrell Rodriguez is available on GamesIndustry.biz now.