Suffice it to say for us non-engineers that the higher resolution textures in the open world suck up more power than all but the best computers can handle. People have been complaining for a while about the graphics in The Old Republic. Luckily things will be getting a little less rough around the edges (literally) with the addition of anti-aliasing soon in Patch 1.1, also now known as Game Update 1. While it may not be the perfect solution it is a step in the right direction. 

Think about it; most games release with a certain set of graphics and then never speak of it again. World of Warcraft has had the same terrible cartoonish graphics for close to a decade now. According to Stephen Reid's post, BioWare is actively working on optimization that will allow them to give us full high resolution textures. Performance issues are also why we have so few character customization options. Think about that for a moment; if they solve that one problem, it's a solution for several issues. I for one would rather them take their time, come up with a solution, and potentially be able to expand textures and character options six months from now. 

Welcome to another edition of the SWTOR-RP Dev Tracker Report. In today's collection of developer posts from the official forum, we've left out majority of the complaints about the games' minor bugs. Most of us are aware of them, and the development team are most likely on top of it. However, we've compiled some of the more interesting posts by the developers that relate to gameplay and – potentially – roleplay. PvPers may have noticed a reduction in healing whilst engaged in PvP combat, and Georg Zoeller comments on that issue. So when you jab a shot of kolto into a fellow Republican or Imperial during PvP, be sure to emote a curse at your medic at their incompetence in healing. Connection to roleplay. Voilà. Also mentioned after the break is the colour unification system, Quesh's difficulty level, the problems that coincide with hitting the level fifty cap too soon, and the 1.0.2 public server patch notes. Enjoy!

The results from the massive Q/A session are now up for viewing on Reddit to give you an idea of what sort of things will be coming in the future to The Old Republic. What do you think needs to be added? What sorts of features do you look for as a roleplayer? Let us know here. You can even check out some of the petitions that people are already organizing!

The roleplaying community represents 20% of TOR's population, so make sure your voice is heard. So far BioWare has been very good at listening to the community, such as promising to bring back the unify armor colors option. The Old Republic is still new and very malleable – make sure that you don't miss your chance to get together with other players and let BioWare know what you want to see out of the game in the coming years.

With The Old Republic's successful launch now behind us, the official forums have begun to run rampant with queries, complaints, and demands for BioWare's developers to feast their eyes on. Game bugs are being discovered across the many worlds in the game, and at the same time, players are screaming out for new content to be added as a matter of urgency. But which comes first? Should all the games' bugs be quashed, never to return? Or would you prefer the development team focus on implementing additional content to the already massive Star Wars virtual universe? Well, the BioWare developers believe that they can do both, according to on of Stephen Reid's many posts on the official forums. Continue reading below to view Stephen Reid's comments, as well as many others about sitting in chairs, server-specific forums, respec costs, server queues, and more, all in your SWTOR-RP Dev Tracker Report. 

Australians and New Zealanders have been crying out for Star Wars: The Old Republic to be launched in their countries ever since the game was announced over three years ago. When the game's launch details emerged, the Oceanic region was left disappointed with no details about launch plans for countries in that area. The game officially launched and Oceanic inhabitants were left with no choice but to obtain copies of the game from international retailers, as well as having to choose between the many American and European servers. However, BioWare has finally given in with an official announcement made by Stephen Reid on the forums, detailing plans for a launch for SWTOR in Australia and New Zealand in the first or second quarter of 2012! You beauty! Let's crack open a can of beer and put some shrimp on the barbie! Ok, in all seriousness, we really don't talk like that. Much. Here is Stephen Reid's announcement:

How do you think this will affect the roleplaying servers? Does anyone have any fears that they're going to lose some of their gaming friends to Oceanic servers? Only time will tell.

Finally, the wait is over! Well, for some people anyway. Early access for The Old Republic is in its very first hours. For three years, we've been following the development of one of the most anticipated Star Wars gaming titles ever announced. In the earliest days after BioWare's initial announcement, we had to settle for concept art images and developer blogs, but as time progressed, cinematic trailers and in-game footage crept its way onto the world wide web. Summits and gaming expo's were used to advertise the game, and BioWare eventually found themselves absolutely smothered by an audience that was ever-so-passionate about their product – and still is for that matter. During that long and drawn-out wait, SWTOR-RP was born and roleplayers began flocking on to what could eventually be – and what the staff hoped would be – the roleplayer's hub for The Old Republic. Now here we are, in early access, and that long three-year wait is just about over. 

BioWare have begun sending out waves of email invitations for early access to the game. Depending on when you submitted your pre-order code, you'll be able to play the game before it launches within the pre-launch seven days of access. Be sure to keep an eye out on that email inbox, as Stephen Reid posted on his Twitter account that "a lot" would be getting invited initially. Once early access ends however, you need to ensure you register your product registration code to keep playing the game. There will be no "grace period" for early access players, so until that code has been entered in, you'll be locked out of the game after the 20th of December. 

If you haven't pre-ordered the game and you're eagerly awaiting the official launch date – which would probably be very few of you – we'll see you in seven days. Enjoy the game ladies and gentlemen. It has been a long time coming. 

Although the note at the bottom of the article about having seven days early access might seem like an error, Stephen Reid has confirmed this to be correct via Twitter, effectively stating that players who pre-ordered the game will now be able to play as much as a full week in advance of launch on December 20th. I don't know about you but this was a big relief, I've been having withdrawal symptoms!

Unfortunately, this beta weekend is not for everyone, as only a smaller select group will be re-invited to test this weekend. You should be receiving an email sometime today if you're in the group. If not, well, I'm sorry to get your hopes up. Cheer up, though, for TOR is only 18 days away from launch as I write this, so you don't have to hold out much longer. Also, as a bonus, last weekend's client can be easily patched for launch, so no more huge downloads!

Today a new build was released as well. This has been confirmed as the launch build. While BioWare will still be smashing bugs and such, this is the content The Old Republic will be launching with. Has anything changed since last weekend? If you're invited, get to playing, and let us know what has changed! I remind you, though, that even if characters carried over from the last build, they will not carry over to launch. Everyone starts fresh at pre-launch, and those are forever.