Star Wars: The Old Republic Translated Into Wookie

BioWare and Lucasarts have sent out a press release today announcing that their upcoming MMO, Star Wars: The Old Republic, is being translated into the Wookie language of Shyriiwook for the benefit of “our furry friends.”

By the way, did you happen to notice what today’s date is?

BioWare says that their community of players has been logging requests for a Wookie translation of the game since development began:

From their subtle roar of sadness to the pleasant yelp of excitement, Wookiees are a role model for companionship, loyalty and respect, and we at BioWare and LucasArts want to show our appreciation. Therefore, all text in the game will be translated into Shyriiwook, and all voice-overs will be re-recorded by authentic, native Wookiee speakers.

Fun!

As if to prove it, BioWare posted this collection of videos to show off how the game plays with characters speaking in Wookie. And if you had any doubt that this announcement was a prank, the video below will erase those doubts. The Wookie dialogue lend these otherwise tense scenes a little levity.

The supposed “Wookie version” of the game even comes with its own customized, furry HUD, which you can see above. What do you think? Did it make you laugh, or was it a waste of time?