At the start of a new year, the force is with Electronic Arts.   I’m Fred Fishkin with technology BootCamp, a report on gadgets and gear.   Arriving on store shelves right before Christmas, Star Wars The Old Republic has placed EA’s Bioware in direct competition with Activision Blizzard’s World of Warcraft.   After all, gamers only have so many hours in a day.   Bioware co-founder Dr. Ray Muzyka…

“It’s probably one of the biggest games ever made, frankly.   The sheer ambition of this game is immense and it’s incredibly humbling for us to see it launched and in the hands of our fans.  “

   Which, says co-founder Dr. Greg Zeschuk, makes it a challenge technically, to keep servers available for game play.  Beyond that…

“We also have to be developing new content,  adding new things for them to do.  Because even though the game is absolutely immense, eventually they may run out.    We call it a service, really.   A service that we’re going to offer for years for the fans that are playing.”

   And this year, there will be more from Bioware, including Command and Conquer Generals 2 and Mass Effect 3.   You can find us at BootCamp.com.   I’m Fred Fishkin.