bioware
Latest
Expect the Keep in future Dragon Ages, maybe other BioWare games
As introduced this time last year, Dragon Age Keep lets you carry over story choices from previous games in the fantasy RPG series. Rather than importing a save game file, Keep asks players to select the choices they made. We imagine it's something along the lines of "Did you choose to get busy with Morrigan, yes or no?" and so on. It's a tool that cleverly solves the issue of moving from Dragon Age 2 on one platform like Xbox 360 to Dragon Age: Inquisition on another like PS4. With the tons of choices players can select in Keep, it sounds like a whole lot of work for designers. Despite that, Dragon Age: Inquisition producer Cameron Lee told Joystiq he's sure the Keep system will feature in future games in the series - not that any have been announced yet - and he also thinks it'll come to other BioWare games.
Gamescom 2014: SWTOR boasts over a million monthly players
"Every month, more than a million players are logging in, playing with their friends, and embarking on their own personal Star Wars Saga," EA claimed today at its Gamescom press event. If you're one of those million players, then you'll also want to know that Galactic Strongholds will release next Tuesday, August 19th, for subscribers. We've got the new trailer from Gamescom that quickly demonstrates the expansion's selling points, including its player housing system, guild flagships, and plantary conquest. What are you waiting for? You can bask in its glory after the jump! [With thanks to Hagu.]
BioWare announces Shadow Realms, a D&D-inspired co-op dungeon crawler
BioWare has just announced a brand-new IP for the studio: Shadow Realms, a "4v1 story-driven online action RPG" that was inspired by the team's love of tabletop Dungeons & Dragons. Shadow Realms isn't a full-fledged MMO, but will put players in the shoes of contemporary Earth heroes who will jump between our world of technology and another of magic. The twist for the game is that a team of four heroes will be opposed by one player who will assume the role of a dungeon master-like Shadowlord. "With Shadow Realms, we decided that the Shadowlord should interact with and see the gameplay world in a similar way to the hero players –- albeit with better tactical knowledge," BioWare wrote. "Their objective is to stop the group of heroes by haunting them, setting traps, casting spells, summoning monsters, and controlling any monster in the level." The game will grow with episodic storytelling, offer "deep combat customization," and feature six classes. Shadow Realms is set to go into closed beta this fall.
'Shadow Realms' is the next original game from the creators of 'Mass Effect'
EA subsidiary studio BioWare has made some pretty popular games, and is known most recently for its Mass Effect and Dragon Age franchises. Today at Gamescom, the developer gave us an insight into its first original title in some time -- Shadow Realms. The "online action RPG" pits a team of four "Heroes" against the ghouls and demons of the "Shadow Legions," including one player-controlled "Shadowlord." The evil, lone player is able to manipulate the environment, place traps and control ghastly minions in an effort to thwart the Heroes' progress.
BioWare debuts original 4-on-1 action RPG, Shadow Realms
BioWare Austin shared a tease of Shadow Realms, its new IP at EA's Gamescom 2014 presentation. It's a 4 vs. 1 online action RPG arriving on PC next year. Players can manipulate the environment as the above shadow lord, or align with friends against it. Group General Manager Matthew Bromberg explained that Shadow Realms' overarching story will develop "like a great TV series," with each episode being "experienced together, by the community, as it's released." Bromberg says that Shadow Realms began as a "quest to recapture the feeling" of a D&D table adventure, with parties facing a foe capable of guiding the challenges they're faced with. Those interested in an early, alpha-flavored taste can head to official site to sign up, as the first round of closed testing will happen next month.
EA Gamescom '14 Liveblog on Joystiq
The EA presentation at this year's E3 reflected an unexpected turn for the publisher, almost as if the powers that be had hit the reset button on multiple projects. Star Wars: Battlefront, Mirror's Edge and Mass Effect were shown only in early stages – far from being completed. The snippets and behind-the-scenes framed EA's claims of rethinking development to be more active, playtested and considered. At Gamescom this week, we'll see whether EA sticks to that message, and whether its teams at BioWare and DICE are ready to show more of their upcoming projects. Follow the news and announcements with u, right here, this Wednesday at 10AM CEST (4AM ET, 1AM PT, 9AM UK).
Hyperspace Beacon: SWTOR guild ships and Rakghouls
This weekend was full of space zombies and capital ships in Star Wars: The Old Republic. I ended up dividing my time between the live servers hosting the Rakghoul event on Tatooine and attempting to make the most out of having a guild ship on the public test server. Unfortunately, my guild's capital ship fell victim to the Bermuda Triangle bug that makes ships completely disappear, and I wasn't even able to buy a new one. I chalk that up to testing. And I certainly will not cry foul because of it. Besides, the ship was eventually restored, just not in time for my guild to really make any headway in the conquests for this week. However, I did get to experience the ship some because I was on the SWTOR official livestream last week, and I also created my own guild on PTS to test out the capital ship features. But first, let's talk about Rakghouls.
The Daily Grind: Do you adjust your in-game routine for events?
I coughed my way through a couple hours of Star Wars: The Old Republic gameplay this weekend. When I say gameplay, what I mean is standing at the AH and playing the market while waiting for my companions to finish crafting. And since BioWare's rakghoul plague event is currently a thing, I contracted the exploding green goo glowy eyes disease multiple times courtesy of the people who love to pass it around on Fleet. Eventually I wised up and acquired a stack of those anti-infectants, but not before I thought "hey, I can probably turn this into a Daily Grind!" So, here you go. Do you stop your normal themepark routine to participate in in-game events? Which ones are your favorite? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
Mass Effect creator Casey Hudson leaves BioWare's orbit
Casey Hudson, longtime BioWare employee and executive producer of the Mass Effect series, has departed the company, Studio General Manager Aaryn Flynn revealed on the BioWare Blog. It doesn't sound like Hudson is leaving to join another company or, as is becoming increasingly common these days, forming his own studio, as a letter to his colleagues merely mentions the need to "hit the reset button." "While I feel that the time has come, this is without a doubt the most difficult decision of my career," Hudson wrote. "BioWare is as magical a place today as it was when I started. The projects we are working on are some of the most exciting and prestigious in the world. The talent in our teams is second to none. And the people here are some of my closest friends. I've spent more time with many of you than my own family, and I have enjoyed every day of it." As Hudson moves on to fulfill his own goals, BioWare is moving forward with Dragon Age: Inquisition, a new Mass Effect game, and consistently teasing us with short videos about super-powered teens. We look forward to learning more about all of the above. [Image: BioWare]
SWTOR's Rakghoul Resurgence event is back
Star Wars: The Old Republic's Rakghoul Resurgence event is back, and as of this morning it's live on Tatooine. Dulfy reports that it will likely run through August 12, and she also has an extensive guide for navigating the event's mess of dailies, rewards, and rare spawns.
Hyperspace Beacon: First impressions of SWTOR's Galactic Strongholds expansion
It's been an exciting weekend: I've spent many hours just absorbing the contents of the new expansion for Star Wars: The Old Republic. Of course, the largest part of Update 2.9 is Galactic Strongholds. I'll come right out to say that the SWTOR livestreams do not do it justice. I'm finally glad that I could get my hands on it to see exactly what the hook system feels like, where I can find all the furniture, and mostly importantly, how much it is going to cost. Beyond the strongholds themselves, BioWare also introduced a new planet and flashpoint this weekend. I took some time to also visit Manaan, and I know I'm going to sound like a fanboy when I say that it blew me away. I was absolutely not expecting something that gorgeous for a simple flashpoint. We have a lot to talk about, and if you've spent some time on the SWTOR PTS, I'd like to read your opinions in the comments. But first here are a few of my thoughts.
Dark Age of Camelot adjusting New Frontiers again
Sometimes adjustments seem like a good idea right up until they're implemented. That's the case with Dark Age of Camelot's recent changes to New Frontiers. The game's most recent producer's letter states that they were made and quickly proved to not have the desired effects, which means that several elements need to be tweaked and re-balanced. This includes several rollbacks -- Relics will return to Relic Temples, docks will be returned to their original location, and players will no longer be able to port to shore-keeps. The updates to the game in the near future won't be limited to PvP, however, as the development team is also looking for ways to spruce up PvE content by modernizing mechanics and adding in new loot. In the longer term, there are also plans to revamp the game's LFG interface and provide a Champion Level increase. Check out the full producer's letter for all the details.
The next Mass Effect might be about you and yours
The next Mass Effect will not revolve around Commander Shepard and crew, according to a BioWare Comic-Con panel. However, Phil Hornshaw of GameFront tweeted that the game's hero will have "something to do" with N7, the military designation for special forces soldiers with the highest levels of proficiency in badassery, which Shepard was a part of before becoming savior of the galaxy. So if the game isn't about Shepard, who is it about? Andrea Rene of The Escapist snapped some offscreen pics of a customizable hero labeled "your hero," as well as a picture of a new version of the Mako landrover from the original Mass Effect. Interestingly, this Mako was referred to as "your Mako." Does the "your" imply customization options? Are we playing as ourselves? Unfortunately, such questions won't be answered for awhile, if ever. Hornshaw reports that the BioWare panelists caution that the game is years away, and things can change between now and then.
BioWare's teaser linked to 'Seeking Henna' ARG mystery
Mass Effect and Dragon Age developer BioWare teased fans with a brief trailer that may or may not be a new project named "Shadow Realms." The developer sent emails with the teaser video and a link to a "You've Been Chosen" website owned by EA that featured the phrasing "The time is near. They are watching. Your power is rising. Cologne, Germany. You've Been Chosen." That website isn't the only one registered to EA, however, as BioWare's teaser has been linked to a "Seeking Henna" alternate-reality game of sorts. As detailed by Dulfy.net, the Seeking Henna website includes a police report and a blog with some letters being underlined, indicating a code of some sort for fans to crack. The other site in question is for the "Woods-Watson Institute of Higher Learning."
SWTOR will charge a cool 50 million credits for guild ships
We hope Star Wars: The Old Republic players have been saving up their credits for a rainy day because that rainy day is here and it wants its money. BioWare Community Manager Eric Musco announced on today's livestream that guild ships, expected in next month's Galactic Strongholds expansion, will cost a whopping 50 million credits, making it arguably the most expensive single item in the game as it surpasses the cost of the ST-7 Recon Walker and Dathomir Rancor. Massively's SWTOR expert Larry Everett notes that while it's not uncommon for a lone player to have a tenth that amount and the 'wealthy' title is granted for amassing 10 million credits, small guilds might struggle summoning the funds for these ships.
SWTOR's lead writer teases future story updates
BioWare writer Charles Boyd has posted a blurb on the Star Wars: The Old Republic website that talks about the game's story and how it will move forward. Boyd says that the first chapter of the next major storyline is currently available via the Assault on Tython and Korriban Incursion flashpoints. This three-part Forged Alliances arc will lead "directly into our next major story expansion, our largest since Rise of the Hutt Cartel," Boyd teases. He says more info will be coming soon.
Leaderboard: How much time do you spend customizing avatar outfits?
OK, I'm spending entirely too much time customizing my avatar outfits in Star Wars: The Old Republic. I originally re-upped my sub in order to polish off my last couple of class stories, but now I've gotten sucked into crafting and, by extension, the substantial outfit collection minigame. Which is bizarre because in meatspace my fashion sense boils down to the first pair of jeans and corresponding t-shirt/sweatshirt that tumbles out of my closet. What about you, Leaderboard readers? How much time do you spend customizing your MMO avatar outfits? Vote after the cut! Ever wish that you could put to rest a long-standing MMO debate once and for all? Then welcome to the battle royal of Massively's Leaderboard, where two sides enter the pit o' judgment -- and only one leaves. Vote to make your opinion known, and see whether your choice tops the Leaderboard!
Dragon Age: Inquisition delayed to November
Dragon Age: Inquisition will launch on November 18 in North America, a delay from the previous launch date of October 7, Executive Producer Mark Darrah announced today. In Europe, Inquisition will now launch on November 21. "We appreciate the enormous support we've received from all of you to get to this point, and while this extra few weeks may not seem like a lot, I know the game you'll play will be all the better for it," Darrah says. He continues, "I'm privileged to be a part of a team that has been working very hard to surpass every measure they've set for themselves. That has meant completing huge amounts of game content, fixing bugs both big and small, and improving the overall experience. This last bit of time is about polishing the experience we want you to see. Ensuring that our open spaces are as engaging as possible. Strengthening the emotional impact of the Hero's choices. And ensuring the experience you get is the best it can be in the platform you choose to play on." Dragon Age: Inquisition was part of what we called "The Video Game Industry's $300 Day," a lineup of five major games slated to launch on October 7. This is the first game on that list to change release dates, and a few of our contributors totally called it. EA also announced today the delay of Battlefield Hardline from October 21, 2014, to some time in 2015. [Image: EA]
The Daily Grind: Do you craft for fun?
Yesterday I spent an hour or so crafting a full set of gear and mods for one of my Star Wars: The Old Republic alts. I guess I could have farmed slightly better equipment in the lowbie flashpoints, but it would have taken longer and relied on the RNG gods, so it seemed more satisfying to hop on my main(s) and trick out the new guy with homemade armor mods, enhancements, stims, and weapons. Plus, I just like to make stuff, you know? What about you, Massively readers? Do you like MMO crafting enough to do it for fun? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
Report: SWTOR fourth biggest sub MMO, Elder Scrolls has over 770k subscribers
Market intelligence firm Superdata says that Star Wars: The Old Republic earned $165 million in worldwide revenue last year. This would make SWTOR the fourth biggest sub MMO in the world (behind World of Warcraft, Lineage, and TERA). Superdata's report also says that the pay-to-play MMO market has been in a constant decline since 2010, with monthly active worldwide subscribers bottoming out at 23.4 million. "Despite the overall decline, this category has so far managed to maximize their ability to monetize a shrinking yet loyal player base," the firm says. Finally, Superdata says that Elder Scrolls Online has a subscriber base of 772,374 while WildStar is seeing "four to five times" as many concurrent users as it saw during open beta. Superdata's information is purportedly "pulled directly from publishers and developers."