After breathtaking video, BioWare has for the first time shown gameplay demo with the Bounty Hunter, Sith, and Smuggler classes. More information about Star Wars: The Old Republic from E3 expo 2009 coming soon. In the meantime take a look at several new screenshots.

All the theories and predictions that the next class to be revealed is going to be the smuggler were dead wrong. The class to emerge from the revolution torn world of Ord Mantell is none other than the Republic Trooper. Now remember kids, this is not your Imperial trooper clone. This is thousands of years before Darth Vader’s Storm Troopers. They might look alike but they are the good guys – defending the Republic alongside the Jedi. The official announcement reads as follows:

We are excited to reveal the next playable character class in Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ – the Trooper!

The Trooper is an elite combat specialist in the Republic military armed with heavy blaster rifles and nearly impenetrable armor designed by the military’s top engineers. Trained to beat almost any odds, the Trooper battles deep behind enemy lines to carry out precise, hard hitting strikes against the enemy, with a barrage of blaster-fire and a few carefully aimed firebombs. Even Sith Lords are wise to think twice before engaging in combat with the Trooper—this is what it means to be one of the Republic’s finest.

Check out the latest screenshots in our gallery below (including the walpapers). The official page presenting the Trooper is here, while in conjunction there is an interview with the SWtoR’s principal lead writer Daniel Erickson and lead combat designer Damion Schubert going deeper into the creation of the Trooper.

If you have time and talent and you are a Star Wars fan you should take part in Unofficial Swtor Fan Art Contest. You can submit your own work base on pre-existing character, object or location in the Star Wars Universe. Artists have until 11:59PM EST 28th of May to get their sketch in. On the 28th of May, the entries that receives the most votes win. Anyone can participate in this contest.  See the Official Contest Rules.

Some of  the art works

This week, Bioware’d like to share a few additional concepts created to help visualize the “Glorious Jewel”.

The next playable planet in Star Wars: The Old Republic, the Hutt homeworld known in The Old Republic timeframe as Hutta. Nowhere in Star Wars™ lore has Hutta been so richly realized, and players will be able to explore the first true interactive realization of the “Glorious Jewel”.

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