The game is set 4000 years before the movies, giving the developers flexibility in designing the game without having to adhere to the events of the movies. The game takes place 50 years after the graphic novels of the same name, and will include some of the same locations. Dialogue takes place entirely through cut-scenes, and dialogue trees will allow players to take different paths through the game. One such example was the ability to insult a guard to provoke you into fighting him, or using your character's Force Persuasion power to distract him. Character creation options include gender, appearance, and a variety of different options for skills and attributes.

There will be 50 Force powers in the game, many that have not been seen before. In addition, the player's actions can push them towards either the Light or the Dark Side of the Force, with corresponding changes in appearance and abilities.

There will also be a strong focus on lightsaber combat - players will be able to choose between a standard lightsaber, a Darth Maul style double-saber, or wield two sabers simultaneously. The combat is real-time, and will be strongly impacted by character abilities and skills.

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic will allow parties of three people, from ten possible characters. They will each be controllable by the player, and various characters will have different quests available to them.

Finally, there will be some mini-games, such as a space combat scene demonstrated on the floor. They are designed to be relatively easy, and will be modified somewhat by a character's skills in the relevant action elements.

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic is set for a fall release on XBox and a release next spring on the PC.

• Lucasarts
• Bioware