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Finally, Bioware unveils a SWTOR multiplayer combat video
You have got to be kidding! Star Wars: The Old Republic is a multiplayer game? It is! Bioware has finally given us a taste of what that multiplayer action feels like. In this first-glimpse video Dallas Dickinson, the Director of Production, examines the core roles for SWTOR group missions. Dickinson explains the possible functions each class can have: the Trooper can be a tank, the Jedi Knight as an off-tank, the Jedi Consular works primary healing, with the Smuggler covers the DPS and alternate healing. This video shows us that SWTOR does, in fact, contain the elements of your typical MMO, but there are also tiny hints that each classes does not have to serve the same role in every battle. If you watch the video closely, you will notice as leader of the group begins to speak to the Mon Calamari trooper, a green ring encircles a wide area, and the whole group steps in. This is the first video to expose this little tidbit of information. The ring transports the group into the dialogue instance. This way no other people in the area interrupt the dialogue sequence by jumping up and down like a rabbit on speed, over the NPC who is talking. (You know what I'm talking about, don't lie.) The most extraordinary part about this dialogue instance system is the lack of noticeable transition. Watch the full video after the break, and let us know: Is the Force with SWTOR group combat or does it fall to the Dark-side?
Hyperspace Beacon: Fires of Hope from E3 2010
The Hyperspace Beacon is a weekly guide and discussion by Larry Everett about the yet-to-be-released game Star Wars: The Old Republic. No matter where you were this week, if you are a Star Wars fan, you saw the new SWTOR trailer: Hope. I'm sure you also read the Daily Grind asking, "Do cinematics make you want to play?" It's an honest question. Lots of times these over-the-top trailers mask some of the things producers aren't telling you about the game you are interested in playing. In fact, it may give you greater expectations than the game has to offer. There have been quite a few comments about Star Wars Galaxies' trailers which have caused some players of the seven-year-old MMO to ask rhetorically, "I want to play that game. Where is that game?" So let me tell you up front, Star Wars: The Old Republic does not look like either of the cinematic trailers, but that does not mean it is not a great game. I believe as a fan of this game and as a reporter for this website that I would be doing you, the reader, an injustice by totally giving into the (albeit mostly fan-created) hype that surrounds this game. So this week I want to take things back a notch and hopefully give you a realistic outlook on a couple of announced aspects of the game.
Captain's Log: Should Star Trek Online fans fear the competition?
Good afternoon, cadets and admirals. Welcome to this week's edition of Captain's Log, your ever-expanding guide to Star Trek Online. Last time, we discussed some basics of ground combat, and I promised more to come. But I've decided to change course a bit, so we'll cover those next week. Instead, I thought it might be fun to discuss what's on every Earth nerd's mind right now: E3! The Electronic Entertainment Expo has engines on full impulse this week in Los Angeles, and amid all the grand news we don't care about -- I was counting on the 3DS to not be totally awesome so I wouldn't have to replace my DSiXL! Curses! -- the MMO news is flying fast and furious. With all the news and shiny images of forthcoming space-based MMOs, should fans worry that STO's days are numbered?
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.
Global Chat: The column where you get to be heard
We don't blame you if you get tired of hearing our opinions. After all, when you visit our site, you're bound to come across one of our opinion columns sooner or later. There are certainly enough of those types of columns here! But, what about a column in which print what you guys have to say? We don't have many of those at all! Enter Global Chat -- our newest column where we'll highlight some of the best comments and discussions of the week from here on our site. When you guys respond to us, you always have some really great things to say and it's about time that we moved over a bit and gave some space to you. So, each week, we'll dive into our comment section and point out some of the very best of what the Massively.com community has to offer. This week we have three great discussions to point you towards, and they include such various things as Lord of the Rings Online, Star Wars Galaxies, and boobs. Seriously.
New Star Wars online game revealed: Clone Wars Adventures [Update]
While we've heard the rumors of a third Star Wars online title coming our way, today it's confirmed: Clone Wars Adventures will launch this fall! Unlike Star Wars Galaxies and Star Wars: The Old Republic, Clone Wars Adventures is aimed at a younger demographic (but may appeal to the older as well), in the vein of what SOE did with Free Realms. Sony is shying away from calling this an "MMO," preferring the term "virtual world" instead as there won't be leveling or quests. Capitalizing on the Clone Wars TV series' popularity, CWA offers a pick of three playable classes (Jedi, Padawan and Clone Trooper) and will be more minigame focused. Players will socialize in hubs, meet iconic Star Wars characters, and head off together or solo for a variety of activities, including spaceship battles, tower defense, card games, droid programming and speeder bike racing. Destructoid is reporting that about 20 minigames will be present at launch. Fun amenities, such as pets and player housing, will be offered as well. Clone Wars Adventures will be free to play with an optional membership, so everyone will be able to sample the goods without worry. The official website is chock-full of info and screenshots, although a lot of the smaller details are obviously forthcoming. We'll be able to get a closer look at this title when we travel to E3 later this month, so stay tuned! [Update: We've gotten our hands on a trailer for the game! Follow along after the break to check it out!]
Does this mean there will be vehicles in SWTOR?
Further insight into the wondrous world of Star Wars: The Old Republic whisked its way to us via a teaser trailer GameSpot posted about the Sith Warrior Class. In this revealing tease, the Sith apprentice relives his training under his master and threatens the Jedi of the galaxy. Wicked lightsabers clash atop a bridge overlooking a glorious rocky canyon calling back to the epic duel between Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi. Our ominous warrior effortlessly deflects blaster bolts from four enemies, sending the deadly plasma flashing back towards his adversaries. Then in a fit of Force rage the dark apprentice slams full-force into his Jedi opponent, tossing the gallant foe over the edge of the bridge many stories to his death. The armored tank of the Sith Warrior is not one to cross lightly. As nail-biting as the trailer is, that is not all. Notice at 1:15 of this exciting video trailer, the Sith Warrior is driving a speeder bike. What does this mean? Are players going to have vehicles in SWTOR? We do not have the answer, but given the footage in this trailer, the answer looks positive. Continue after the break and judge for yourself. [Update] The official site has added more to the Sith Warrior class page. Unfortunately, there is nothing about vehicles.
Hyperspace Beacon: Community guide to SWTOR
The Hyperspace Beacon is a weekly guide and discussion by Larry Everett about the yet-to-be-released game of Star Wars: The Old Republic. Welcome, Massively readers! You, too, must be itching like a freshly shaved Wookiee for the latest news about the greatest thing to hit the MMO world since Al Gore invented the internet: Star Wars: The Old Republic. This game hopes to be the pinnacle of modern storytelling and gameplay. Of course, you can count on me -- along with the rest of the Massively team -- to be on the lookout for the latest news and producer propaganda. But the Hyperspace Beacon will take you beyond the hype and hoopla and delve deeper into the story behind the story, the people behind the production, and the meaning behind the mechanics. (Is that enough alliteration for you?) So if you're ready, angle the deflector shield while I make the calculations for the jump to lightspeed. Hyperspace beacons are unmanned outposts in space which freighters and other starships use to traverse the reaches of the known galaxy in Star Wars. Just like one of those buoys in the black, this first installment will guide your Internet-class cruiser past the space debris to what I believe to be some of the best places to find the SWTOR information currently available for your consumption. Okay, Chewie, punch it.
Species and advanced careers unleashed in Star Wars: The Old Republic
Okay fans, you can finally sit back and quit wearing out the the edge of your seat. Star Wars: The Old Republic has revealed its first species. That's right! In an exclusive play session with TheGalacticStruggle.com Bioware revealed the first non-human species whose story you will be able to tell: Rattataki. This pale-skinned Near-Human species from the Guter Wade system in the Outer Rim is the same as the infamous Asajj Ventress of the Clone War series. Although Jake Neri, SWTOR producer for Lucasarts, admitted that the customization options will not be as in-depth as features found in Star Wars: Galaxies but there will be some variety for players. In another exclusive -- this time from Eurogamer -- Bioware unveiled information regarding "Advanced Classes". It seems each of the 8 major classes will be split into 16 advanced career choices. According to Eurogamer, "Each Advanced Class will have its own skills and abilities that define its role on the battlefield, and in some cases grant access to new weapon and armour types." For instance, the Sith Warrior class is broken into either the Juggernaut or Marauder careers. This will not affect the story of your character, but it will determine the role your character plays in group combat. [Update: Advance Classes information is now on the official site]
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.
Getting communal with Star Wars: The Old Republic
Star Wars as a franchise is not exactly unfamiliar with the idea of opposing sides, so it's kind of understandable that Star Wars: The Old Republic would eventually talk about the opposing forces in MMO design. No, not Mages versus Warlocks -- freeform or sandbox gameplay versus structured or themepark gameplay. And as BioWare seems to like doing whenever they talk about their game, the answer to these extremes comes down to "neither." Systems Designer Damien Schubert takes the opportunity in the most recent developer blog to talk about trying to place the game in tune with what he considers the most unique defining feature of MMOs -- the community. Schubert affirms that the game's design goals are to reinforce group play and external interaction not by forcing players to group, but making them want to group. Options such as more community-oriented crafting are explored, as well as letting multiple people take part in the game's dialogue trees. After all, nothing builds interaction like a party member accidentally driving a quest contact into a rage through a poorly-timed interjection. The full entry contains more information on both design goals and their implementation in Star Wars: The Old Republic -- and even a year out, it seems the game itself is already doing quite a bit of community development.
SWTOR testing portal discovered, confirmed by BioWare
No other community is perhaps more enthusiastic about their upcoming MMO than the one surrounding Star Wars: The Old Republic. Recently, they found what appeared to be a testing portal for the game and coupled with the countdown clocks on every other BioWare site (except for Star Wars: The Old Republic's site) the discovery created a fervor of speculation and discussion on the official forums -- mostly surrounding whether or not beta was near. Shortly after these events, SWTOR community manager Sean Dahlberg confirmed that yes, this page is in fact a "Game Testing Portal". While we don't have even the slightest clue as to what this means, it may be a good time to update your hardware scan for the game's beta application. As for us? We'll be keeping our eyes locked on the game and perhaps we'll even stalk BioWare staff at PAX East like an Imperial Agent ready to strike.
