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Waging WAR: Finding the sandbox
In this installment of Waging WAR, Greg takes a look at Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning from a few different angles and goes in search of the proverbial "sandbox" in a game that contains neither sand nor boxes. Somewhere along the line during my childhood, I developed a habit for playing games with nearly every game I've ever played. I can even remember a time in my early teens when I sat down with a few friends and collaborated on making our own version of battlechess. Pages of chicken-scratched rules and several dice results-tables later, and we were off and running for a solid week of the most entertaining chess matches I've ever played. Or there was that time with The Sims when I started creating experimental families and then leaving my computer on overnight and not interacting with them, just to see how successful they could be without my help. I could bore you for hours on end with examples of how I twisted the rules and made my own games from the games I've played. I suppose I can blame my penchant for metagaming on my early introduction to pen-and-paper roleplaying (i.e., D&D 1st Ed., to be specific). All I had was a sheet of paper, a handful of dice, a description of the world around me, and my imagination. By its very nature, PnP gaming is sandbox gaming. The reason I'm bringing this up now is that, until WAR, I had pretty much been able to "find the sandbox" in any MMO I was able to get my hands on. Whether it was building hardcore Dungeons & Dragons Online characters, roleplaying in City of Heroes, or achievement-chasing in World of Warcraft, I've never really been troubled with finding something to do when the grind started to wear me down. But now, with WAR, I'm finding most of my old tricks for MMO metagaming just aren't working. To read about what I've tried, and why it didn't work in WAR, follow along after the break.
Waging WAR: RvR packs, the "wait and see" edition
This week Waging WAR rides the double rainbow of gameplay customization via downloadable content and takes a cursory glance at the RvR packs being teased by the folks behind the development of Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. Let's follow along and see what Greg can unleash this time. It is difficult to talk about the future of WAR right now. Not because it doesn't have a future, but because the availability of information regarding it is not exactly easy to find. Actually, information on the future of WAR is all but non-existent, surrounded by controversy on all sides, and steeped in rumor, speculation, assumption and misinformation. The best I can put together is that we, as players, can look forward to some sort of set of three different "RvR Packs" allowing us to "customize" our gameplay experience moving forward. The packs have been called "Power," "Progression," and "Personality." What exactly each contains is a mystery, although the few talking points I was able to find regarding these RvR packs are speculatively disappointing at best. Although Carrie, Andy, and anyone else involved with the Mythic development team have said time and time again that they are not discussing moving toward the free-to-play business model, what they're proposing with these customization packs looks suspiciously like the item shop established by Turbine, implemented in Dungeons & Dragons Online and soon in Lord of the Rings Online as well. V.I.P. membership, anyone? Although concrete information is scarce and difficult to find, let's take a look at the most commonly referenced points of interest after the break.
Waging WAR: A healer's survival guide
This week, Waging WAR steps back from all the news and hype of Gamescom and GamesDay and focuses in on the healing archetypes in Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. As we all know by now, Greg plays a healer and he's put together a guide for those who kill by mending the wounds of those who kill by bludgeon or blade. In my time in WAR I've learned a thing or two. No, I'm not writing about my extensive knowledge of how various terrains taste (the sand on the beaches of Nordenwatch and the cobbled brick streets of Praag have become favored delicacies). I'm writing about how to be an effective healer in WAR. While I am by no means invincible or infallible, I do consider myself a decent, relatively resilient and capable PvP tank (let's not kid ourselves here -- who needs plate when you can wear robes, right?). I have some advice to share with those who are interested in endgame PvP/RvR healing, or even those who are already there but seek to add an edge to their game. To achieve enlightenment, click the Read More button.
BioWare teases TOR space combat video
Not to be outdone by all the hemming and hawing over the perceived merits of its space combat implementation in The Old Republic, BioWare has released a short video clip showing brief bits of the gameplay in action. Underscored by John Williams' seminal TIE Fighter Attack music track from A New Hope, the video features some stunningly rendered spacecraft as they fly and fight their way through asteroid belts and in high planetary orbits. The trailer also features the high-quality voice acting that everyone has come to expect from BioWare's Star Wars title, and you can check it out after the cut or at the official website.
Rumor: The Old Republic space combat on rails?
Those of you looking for levels of complexity and immersion comparable to X-Wing Vs. TIE Fighter or Star Wars Galaxies' Jump to Lightspeed might want to hold your horses prior to pinning your hopes on BioWare's Star Wars: The Old Republic. The forthcoming MMORPG is rumored to feature space combat "on rails," which basically means it could be nothing more than a mini-game or a "tunnel shooter" that severely restricts player movement in the form of pre-set paths and goals. While this is currently unofficial information, you can find a detailed write-up at the German fansite known as Online Welten. Purportedly, site contributors were privy to an upcoming article in PC Action magazine which goes into detail about some of the mechanics. Check out the original article (auf Deutsch) or the Google-translated version.
Hyperspace Beacon: We hope this never makes it into SWTOR, but, knowing our luck, it probably will
The Hyperspace Beacon is a weekly guide and discussion by Larry Everett about the yet-to-be-released game Star Wars: The Old Republic. In a world where speculation runs rampant, it seems everyone has his own ideas of what is going to be in Star Wars: The Old Republic. From swoop races to appearance tabs, we have heard them all, but, to be quite frank, it is very unlikely that most of these speculated items will ever make it into the final release of this highly anticipated game. Also, some of the ideas are so far removed from anything that would make sense in the game, that I have a hard time wrapping my wee-little brain around them. I won't name any here because I still want people to read the column, but if your friend's head twitches when you tell him your wicked-cool idea, then it probably will not make it in the game. In this week's column, I want to go the other direction. Sometimes producers, writers, and game designers will pitch ideas that cause uncontrollable ticks for the listeners, but, for some unknown reason, the design launches anyway. Every once in a while, I would like to turn our attention to some of these kooky concepts in series I like to call: We hope this never makes it into SWTOR, but, knowing our luck, it probably will -- or WHTNMIISWTORBKOLIPW, for short. Click "Read more" to read about the first couple of things I am praying do not find their way into the game.
Bioware's Erickson: TOR is your dream game
Bioware developer and lead storyteller Daniel Erickson has the writer's gift of gab and consequently has dropped some juicy quotes regarding The Old Republic (and MMORPGs in general) over the last few months. Today he continues the tradition in a portion of a new interview conducted by CVG. Erickson doesn't shy away from calling the forthcoming Star Wars MMO the best thing since sliced bantha bread, and he also has a few choice words for folks who aren't exactly thrilled with the RPG-maker's story, story, and more story mantra. "If you are a hardcore, traditional Bioware fan - a Mass Effect or especially Dragon [Age] fan - this is the dream game. It is an RPG forever. It is an RPG that at the speed and pace that I play RPGs as a gamer, five or ten hours a week, I could never finish this game," Erickson says. He doesn't stop there though. "If the idea of story and context really turns you off, if what you want is [just the] complete Disneyland experience, where you run on the rides and repeat the stuff, this probably isn't your favorite MMO," he says. Check out the original post at CVG. And if you're lucky enough to be attending the San Diego Comic Con later this month, you can even check out Bioware's SWTOR offerings in person; they are set to include a panel on multiplayer story, among others.
Bioware: TOR not coming to consoles
Itching to play BioWare's upcoming Star Wars opus on a console? You'd better buy some cream for that, as it likely won't be happening anytime soon. Daniel Erickson, lead designer and story writer on The Old Republic, recently told CVG that no one at the famed RPG-maker is working on a console port. "There was not a question when we started Old Republic - or any of our games, for that matter - [what the lead format would be]. There's a reason the lead SKU for Dragon Age was PC as well. When we're developing an RPG, it's a natural place to be," Erickson said. Unlike many developers who hint at console versions and rarely deliver, Erickson says BioWare hasn't even discussed the option. "There is nobody anywhere in BioWare laying the groundwork for that because we have a very large complicated game to ship first," he said.
The Daily Grind: Do cinematics make you want to play?
The Massively chat room, as well as the rest of the nerdosphere, was all abuzz this past Monday morning as some kind soul leaked the new Star Wars: The Old Republic cinematic that BioWare had been saving for this week's E3 reveal. Despite a quick retraction of the offending YouTube link, the clip remained viewable for some time prior to its official release, and frankly we all watched it. Leaving aside the ethical question of leaks (and wink/nudge "leaks"), the thought occurred to me that while the video is a marvel of CGI artistry and admittedly feeds the inner fanboi fire, it also bears absolutely no resemblance to what the actual game it is advertising will look or play like. So I ask you, Massively readers, do cinematics like this inspire you to play the game, or do you simply acknowledge them for the technical tour-de-force that they are and seek out definitive gameplay details before making a purchase decision?
Bioware discuss SWTOR player ships, group gameplay and PvP at E3
Fans of Star Wars: The Old Republic have been spoiled at this year's E3, with new game trailers and talks on what we can expect from the game when it launches. Earlier today, we learned the surprising fact that each player would get his own starship and got a first glimpse of what lies ahead for SWTOR's PvP. At their latest presentation, Bioware have now confirmed that space exploration will be a part of the game, using a system very similar to that used by Mass Effect's Normandy. They went on to disclose two of the classes of ship players will be able to get in the game. Players siding with the Republic can get their hands on the Corellian Vanguard light corvette while Imperial players can get the Fury Class Imperial transport. Skip past the cut to watch this awesome video of SWTOR's ship interiors and find out what's in store for PvP and group gameplay.
BioWare teases new holorecord entry
It's Friday, so that must mean it's time for another incremental information leak from the folks over at BioWare. Today, the official Star Wars: The Old Republic website has updated with a new Timeline holorecord focusing on the Jedi Civil War and narrated by Jedi Master Gnost-Dural (the unmistakable Lance Henriksen). The video covers some familiar ground for Knights of the Old Republic fans, as it brings us up to speed concerning the search for the Star Forge, the exploits of Darths Revan and Malak, and the introduction of fan favorite Bastila Shan. The narrative also hints at upcoming exposition regarding the legendary Mandalorian Wars, as well as Revan's mysterious vanishing act. "Though Revan was ultimately redeemed and restored peace to the galaxy, he disappeared afterward in search of a great darkness in Deep Space. Through his investigation, Master Gnost-Dural now confirms that this great darkness is the Sith Empire the Jedi Order battles today," says the press release. You can view it here, or jump directly to the video.
Star Wars: The Old Republic takes a trip to Hoth
Click to warm yourself with some hot new screenshots. It was inevitable, right? You can't have a Star Wars game without a Hoth level and Star Wars: The Old Republic will indeed feature the Tauntaun-able tundras that permeate the ice planet. The news comes via the game's site, which points out the planet's storied history of conflict. Years before the Empire and the Rebel Alliance were duking it out there in The Empire Strikes Back -- which turns 30 today -- the Republic and Imperial forces clashed during The Great War. Feel free to take a virtual tour of the planet in our gallery below. If you'd like to know more, check out its profile page on the SWTOR site. [Thanks, Justin] %Gallery-93497%
Star Wars: The Old Republic not planned for fiscal year 2011
If you're eagerly awaiting the release of Star Wars: The Old Republic, even with the release window of April 2011 being thrown around, you could be forgiven for holding out hope that the game might get a slightly earlier release. (If you're sick of hearing about it, you might be hoping for an early release too, just so everyone will shut up.) But your hopes will not be borne out, it seems -- and the game might even come a bit later than we'd expected. John Riccitiello, CEO of Electronic Arts, has stated again that the game is not expected to ship during fiscal year '11. Although he didn't reference Star Wars: The Old Republic by name, Riccitiello referred to a new MMO currently under development -- and CFO Eric Brown later referred specifically to the game as not being part of the '11 fiscal year forecast. The period under discussion ends on March 31st, 2011, which means that we can still look for the game early next year, but it's not getting pushed any faster. Still, it's only a year away, and that year could go quickly. [ via Joystiq ]
Star Wars: the Old Republic expands Blood of the Empire
If there's one difficult task that Star Wars: The Old Republic has set for itself -- well, it's set several, but if there's one difficult lore task it would be transforming the Sith into a sympathetic and likable player faction. After all, they've got years and years and years of fiction painting them as unrelentingly evil bastards, while BioWare wants them to be heroic in their own way. It's no surprise, then, that the most recent installment of Blood of the Empire continues to show both the brutality of the Sith as well as their more compassionate side. Expanding the focus from the young Teneb Kal from the first issue, this installment shows us what happens to Sith who decide to strike out on their own -- successfully or not. It also gives a look into some of the morality of the Sith, where attempts to seize power are expected, but failure to do so means you overstepped your bounds. With a closer look inside Dromund Kaas at the heart of the empire, the latest installment should be of interest to every Star Wars: The Old Republic lore scholar.
Environmental effects and new comics for Star Wars: The Old Republic
The big announcement out of Star Wars: The Old Republic came ahead of time this week, with the release of a surprise video documentary detailing combat. On the other hand, the game isn't only about combat. Having completed the Threat of Peace storyline in comic form, the site has launched a new comic to continue exploring the game's lore in more personal terms. Blood of the Empire has gone live, taking the exact opposite approach to the prior comic by focusing on a young Sith during the conquest of Republic worlds for the growing empire. True to form, the comic presents the Sith in the most straightforward fashion possible, leaving plenty of room for the moral ambiguity that classically defines BioWare's games. If that doesn't quite grab your fancy, the team's fan roundup has gone live, along with new concept art and a short trailer for the game. The former shows off some of the technology designs at work, while the latter highlights environmental effects from sparking generators to rippling water. It's a somewhat more contemplative look at Star Wars: The Old Republic compared to non-stop lightsabers and laser blasts, and it might prove a welcome contrast after the earlier announcements
The Daily Grind: Tired of TOR?
How, you might find yourself asking, can one be tired of a game that is still a year away from release? Well, hype works in mysterious ways, and, while I'm probably in the minority around these parts, the constant buzz surrounding BioWare's Star Wars The Old Republic is starting to stick in my craw. Don't get me wrong, the Canadian RPG deities have churned out a ton of great games, three of them on my short list for best ever (Baldur's Gate, Neverwinter Nights, and Knights of the Old Republic), but I continually boggle at the blind optimism which causes fans to proclaim that TOR will pwn face simply because of its perceived pedigree. I say perceived because I find it more than a little ironic that BioWare Austin employs several refugees from Star Wars Galaxies, a game that is almost universally despised by both Star Wars fans and MMORPG players alike, and represents the polar opposite in design philosophy from BioWare's World of Warcraft competitor wannabe. It's also interesting to note the news out of an EA investor meeting that indicates TOR will not break even unless they manage to conjure up a million subscribers (something only one other MMO has ever done). If nothing else, BioWare picked the right IP with which to break into the MMO space, as it's been repeatedly proven that Star Wars fans will buy absolutely anything with a lightsaber on it, regardless of quality. What about you, dear readers? Are you weary of the 800-pound hype wookiee otherwise known as The Old Republic?
Star Wars: The Old Republic drops a surprise video documentary
It seemed like just another day for the legion of fans rabidly awaiting more information on Star Wars: The Old Republic, or more specifically another Thursday. After all, the site updates with content on such a regular schedule on Fridays that you could set your watch by it, assuming that your watch only measures what day it is. But we were surprised by the tease that the game would be posting an update via its social media sites on Twitter and Facebook. Lo and behold, it's a new developer video on one of the most central activities in the game: combat. Currently exclusive to Gametrailers, the movie highlights the speed and fluidity of the game's combat animations as well as the overall design philosophy. One of the points the developers choose to point out is that most MMO combat is focused on several players versus a single boss enemy, which feels much less heroic and epic than a lone warrior struggling against unbeatable odds. Mobility, style, and more than a few interesting powers are on display in the six-minute video, which should give Star Wars: The Old Republic fans plenty to look forward to. [ Thanks to Tziena for the tip! ]
The Daily Grind: Still hyped for Star Wars: The Old Republic?
When we first heard that the much-anticipated Star Wars: The Old Republic was more than a year away (at the time), it was pretty depressing. Not just because it meant it was that much longer until it was playable, but also because there was little left they could tell us about the game and the world. We knew all the classes and what seemed like most of the areas -- and we had more than a year to wait. There wasn't much left to look forward to in 2010 other than expansions and maybe Final Fantasy XIV. Time has passed, as it is wont to do, and we're now just around a year out from the projected release. We've seen steady updates from the Star Wars: The Old Republic team, but they've been a bit more content-light on occasion. And, of course, 2011 is starting to gain a full roster even without BioWare's much-anticipated game. So what are your feelings? Are you still excited to be one of the two million desired subscribers, or has your ardor cooled? Do you hold out hope for a big new announcement in the next few months? Or are you just sick of hearing about it one way or the other?
TOR timeline update: Peace for the Republic
Ho hum, another Friday, another slick update for BioWare's forthcoming Star Wars: The Old Republic behemoth. Head on over to the official TOR site to view the latest video entry in the Galactic Timeline, narrated by Jedi Master Gnost-Dural (actor Lance Henriksen). This week's tale is a harrowing tragedy of two Jedi scholars and their brush with madness, Massassi warriors, and the dark spirit of Sith Lord Naga Sadow on Yavin IV. Gnost-Dural discovers that, even at the height of one of the Republic's most peaceful eras, sinister forces were hard at work sowing the seeds of chaos for the wars to come. Check out the summary or go directly to the video record.
Star Wars: The Old Republic reveals Voss
The looks we've gotten inside the planets of Star Wars: The Old Republic paint a number of different pictures, but for most of them the conflict is fairly cut-and-dry. There are objectives for Imperial Sith forces or the Republic, but there haven't been things that are external to both forces. But Voss, the latest world revealed, is a bit different. There is already an intelligent species living there, and they face utter annhilation even as both the Empire and the Republic try to curry their favor. The eponymous Voss are isolated against the other natives, the Gormaks, and have been fighting a long and losing war in which Gormak assaults have all but destroyed them. But the reclusive Voss are powerful natural Force users, an asset to either major galactic power. Both are trying to gain the allegiance of these potentially powerful allies, even as they stare one another down. The possibility for diverse adventures are obvious -- do you try and talk the Voss into helping your faction? Wipe out the Gormak? Attack your enemies when they're distracted? Ensure that if you don't get the aid of the Voss, no one does? The full reveal talks more about what looks poised to be a divisive part of Star Wars: The Old Republic, whatever path you would take.
