Video from this morning’s EA press event is up on YouTube now.  SWTOR fans tune to about 36:00 for the news we get.

Best non-SWTOR gaming news to come out of this?  More Mac games.. EA is bringing Origin to the Mac, along with the next SimCity.

I haven’t seen this one yet..  German gaming site interviews Lead Designer Emanuel Lusinchi.

The interview is in English, and he talks about signature moves, as well as his role in the Eternity Vault demo.

We did not get any new information on Day 3 or Day 4 of GamesCom.. lots of gameplay video from various sources..  I’m going to include TotalBiscuit’s gameplay footage and commentary on the Smuggler Class (low level).. since it does a decent job showing off the low level skill usage.

In the midst of GamesCom, Stephen Reid and Gabe Amataneglo did a brief Q&A via twitter.. it actually took like 2 days to finish.. but, here’s the entirety of the Q&A.

Are purple lightsabers limited to the Sith? #GabeQ
To @Phantys No purple lightsabers are not limited to the Sith. – gabe

Will we be able to test in-game guild functions during the beta weekends #GabeQ #SWTOR
To @Att1cusPh1nch – yes you will be able to test Guild functions, it is part of the reason we want guilds in testing. – Stephen

I was wondering if the loot bags for defeated bosses are a operation only thing, or are they included for flashpoints as well? #GabeQ
Hey @MarkAM93 – we’re considering the possibility of loot containers for Flashpoints, but no final decision yet – gabe

Is your team designing hard-mode operations with more of a challenge in mind or more towards accessibility for all? #GabeQ
Hey @internet_champs Operations in ‘hard mode’ will require proper co-ordination and team work from all group members! – Gabe

How long do you need to wait until repeating an Operation? One week like other multiplayer games? Thanks #GabeQ
The length of time for an Op lockout will be on a case-by-case basis, but Eternity Vault is currently 1 week. -Gabe

#GabeQ How does BW look upon players killing quest npc’s to block pve players on pve servers?Hi @slambit – Players cannot kill other players’ mission-giving NPCs.

Are Operations only limited to normal mode and hard mode or will there be more than two difficulties? #GabeQ
Hey @joshuajamesbh – yes, we’re in the process of working on additional difficulty modes for Operations.

@Rockjaw #GabeQ Could you provide detail regarding whatever PvP advancement system is in place?Hi @Berkilak – quick answer – we have a Valor Rank system, players earn valor in PvP to rank up. Higher ranks unlock stuff. – gabe
#GabeQ Will we see a pre-launch character creation tool like Bioware did with Dragon Age:Origins?
hi @Bel_Garan – a pre-launch character creator is not currently planned. – Stephen

The game is released in limited numbers.Is this generally limited or more per area?I.E Having 90% of US playing, 10% rest of world. #GabeQ
@Xuijing Varies by area, but we can’t talk about specific numbers. Nowhere near the ratio you’re suggesting. -Stephen

#GabeQ With the beta weekends in September will the European contingent be gaining access beta at the same time as those in the USA ?
Hey @MrWarlock_ EU folk will be playing in September, however large scale ramp will happen in US first, then EU close after. -S

#GabeQ – Hi! Any chance you’ll change the animation of the Project ability? Any form of telekinetic mumbo would be more appealing…
Hi @libchh – Check today’s Huttball video update carefully. Like, frame by frame. ;) – Stephen

@Rockjaw when you design Operations, what are your main inspirations behind the content. From a functional & artistic perspective?#GabeQ
hi @DHCatalan – our main inspirations are the original trilogy (with a KotoR flair!) – gabe

@Rockjaw #GabeQ will Operation of 16 people give more/better reward than the Operation with 8 people
hi @mantas91 – there will be more rewards for 16 players than 8 -pretty much double- but ‘better’ is reserved for hard modes. – gabe

@Rockjaw #GabeQ we have heard about difficulties on operations but will there be any difficulties on the endgame flashpoints?
Hey there @NiklasABerndt — Yes, there will be a ‘hard mode’ for some early level Flashpoints which sets them to level 50. – Gabe

@Rockjaw Can you use the Agent’s orbital strike indoors? #GabeQ
Hello @DarthRobotik – yes, the Agent’s Orbital Strike currently works indoors. We’re looking into alternative VFX too. – Gabe

#GabeQ Will Ops groups scale from the 4-man comps ie. 8-man Ops=2 tanks-2 healers-4 dps, 16-man Ops = 4 tanks-4 healers-8 dps?
Hey there @alexshawftw … roughly, the answer is yes, but Op group comp can be somewhat flexible. — Gabe

@Rockjaw Outside of battlegrounds what PvP opportunities are there on PvE servers if you flag for PvP? Is it most areas? #GabeQ

G’day @TwoTORGamers If you flag for PvP on a PvE server, then you can fight other flagged players in most areas. More on this soon! -gabe

Day 2 brought us lots of gameplay videos from lots of the people at GamesCom.

From BioWare.. we got an interview with Cory Butler (Producer):

Highlights from the Video are:

More than just armor and weapons are craftable via crew skills.

No same gender romances

Brief description of PvP that’s in the game (besides Warzones)

We got a ‘BioWare Breakfast’ from BioWarePulse, which has a Q&A about TOR with the two Drs.

TOR stuff starts around 4:30, and includes:

No ingame voice chat

Need to be signed up on the site for Beta Weekends, they won’t be ‘open’ in the traditional sense.

Morality (light/dark/gray) side gear in game.

Phase 2 of Guild Program ‘soon’

No plans for other games set in The Old Republic ‘universe’.

No new races before launch.

Day 2 also brought us the first part of a Twitter based Q&A with Stephen Reid and Gabe.  Since that stretched out for a couple of updates, it’ll get it’s own entry though.

Day 1 brought us a hands on ‘look’ at the Razer TOR peripherals.

They look good…but they’re still way outside of my price range =(

Darth Hater has an excellent Photo Gallery up, with shots from Day 1.. you can find it here.

Day 1 also had a producer presentation.. most of it was in German, so I’m not sure what was said.. but there is some good footage visible.

Day Zero of GamesCom was only open to the press.

The big reveal for Day Zero.. was the first look at HuttBall!  Turns out the Devs had folks all set to play the Alderaan warzone, then pulled a fast one, and put them into HuttBall.. which is a nice twist on the normal Capture the Flag battleground/warzone.  Video is from Darth Hater’s coverage, as I couldn’t find anyone else with the Day Zero footage.

There were also additional demos of Eternity Vault, complete with fewer wipes than the Day Zero demo.

EA’s Press Conference to start off GamesCom was early Weds

Here’s the YouTube of the video:

The TOR Related highlights are:

TOR still setting records for pre-sales

September Beta weekends mentioned

Live Demo of The Eternity Vault

In-Game footage of deeper in the Eternity Vault than where the players in the Demo got to.

One benefit of the BW staff getting killed attempting the Operation, is that it should help quell some of the complaints about the game being too easy.