Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2015 AOL, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Hyperspace... beacons]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/hyperspace-beacon-hyperspace-beacons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/hyperspace-beacon-hyperspace-beacons/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/04/hyperspace-beacon-hyperspace-beacons/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon: Hyperspace... beacons
A hyperspace beacon in Star Wars lore guides a space traveler from one safe lightspeed jump to the next. Basically, a nav computer communicates with a hyperspace beacon, requesting jump points to its intended destination, and the hyperspace beacon, being in contact with other hyperspace beacons, replies with the fastest route to that star system. Explorers, like Gav Daragon, would take risky jumps in directions beacons didn't point to. That is how they found Korriban.

By the time period of Star Wars: A New Hope, hyperspace beacons were no longer in service. However, we know for certain that less than 300 years before Star Wars: The Old Republic, hyperspace beacons were still in use. Since technology appears to advance quite slowly, I can only assume that they are still used in some capacity during SWTOR.

As evident by the galaxy map that BioWare launched this past Friday, the worlds of this time period are strongly divided into territories. The planets of the movies appeared to be united under one banner (although that's not entirely accurate). What I'd like to do today is give you a little tour of the galaxy, comparing this map to something you may be a bit more familiar with: the Star Wars movies. So strap yourself in, kid -- we gotta make the jump to hyperspace!

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Hyperspace... beacons

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Hyperspace... beacons originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 04 Oct 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alderaanbalmorrabelsavisBioWarecore-worldscorelliaCoruscantDavid-WallaceEAElectronic-ArtsEssential-Altasfeaturedgalaxy-mapHothJason-FryLucasArtsord-mantellouter-rimplanetsStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-lore-guidetatooinethe-old-republictortythonTue, 04 Oct 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What's your favorite winter zone?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-winter-zone/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-winter-zone/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/21/the-daily-grind-whats-your-favorite-winter-zone/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

OK, how weird is the whole "Christmas in July" thing, anyway? Are people jonesing for sleigh bells and mistletoe so badly they can't wait for a few months? Who thought it would be a smashing idea to make us think of the cold, dark days of winter in the middle of 90-degree weather?

So if we're already at the weird point of thinking about snow while our thermometers are melting, we might as well go the whole hog and talk about winter zones in MMOs. I've always been partial to a good snow-and-ice-themed area, whether it be Winterspring in World of Warcraft, Forochel in Lord of the Rings Online or, y'know, Hoth.

What's your favorite winter zone in MMOs? Which areas make you want to wrap a warm fur cloak about you as you venture forth into the fluffy powder and pristine icefields? And what makes that zone special for you?

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!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What's your favorite winter zone? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 21 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>christmas-in-julyforochelhothicelord-of-the-rings-onlinelotroopinionsnowstar-wars-galaxiesswgtdgthe-daily-grindwinterwinter-zonewinterspringworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 21 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR's Ilum a crystal-clear win for the Sith]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/08/swtors-ilum-a-crystal-clear-win-for-the-sith/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/08/swtors-ilum-a-crystal-clear-win-for-the-sith/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/08/swtors-ilum-a-crystal-clear-win-for-the-sith/#commentsFiled under: , ,

While Hoth may take the spotlight whenever someone wants to interview a winter-bound planet in the Star Wars universe, the scrappy planet of Ilum is out to make a name for itself. Star Wars: The Old Republic's 16th announced planet is a remote ball of ice that just so happens to be a major source of lightsaber crystals. Ilum used to be owned by the Republic, but the Sith have since made great headway in conquering the planet and hogging all of those saber-licious crystals all to themselves. BioWare's also hinted at a mystery that goes well beyond a mere resource grab.

Although we hate to invoke Hoth in comparison, if you liked the Rebel's base in The Empire Strikes Back, then you're going to feel right at home in Ilum's ice-and-crystal outposts. You can read up on Ilum at TOR's Holonet, and watch the quick flyby video after the jump.

Continue reading SWTOR's Ilum a crystal-clear win for the Sith

MassivelySWTOR's Ilum a crystal-clear win for the Sith originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareholonethothilumlightsaber-crystalsplanetrepublicsithstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-empitorFri, 08 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: SWTOR's hidden messages]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/02/hyperspace-beacon-swtors-hidden-messages/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/02/hyperspace-beacon-swtors-hidden-messages/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/02/hyperspace-beacon-swtors-hidden-messages/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon: SWTOR's hidden messages
"Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future," were Yoda's words from The Empire Strikes Back, but contrary to the Jedi Master's belief, most of the time there are clues to what our future holds. Like the smell right before a rain storm, or little ticks of involuntary action that give away when someone is bluffing in poker, or that face your mother used to give you which said you were in trouble, clues to what the future holds are everywhere. Star Wars: The Old Republic is no exception. Clues to what the game holds are hidden all over its website.

Alyssa Gobelle is the web designer for SWTOR. She has done a beautiful job of constructing a site that is entertaining as well as interesting to look at. Although the busy lettering, Aurebesh, entices the eyes, it also gives away secrets to the game. In April, Gobelle was interviewed by the Holonet Project fan site, where she revealed that the messages are totally intentional: "When they first brought me on, our first major task was to design the HoloNet. We wanted the HoloNet's voice to be as much 'within the lore of the game' as possible so we planned to add some generic Aurebesh to start. But we also wanted to add some hidden teases and notes for you guys to devour and ponder upon and play with. Give some more fuel to the speculation festivities."

Continue after the break to find out what some of these "hidden teases" are. Perhaps you can help me figure out what the rest of them mean.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: SWTOR's hidden messages

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: SWTOR's hidden messages originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Aug 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alderaanalyssa-gobelleAurebeshbalmorrabelsavisBioWareComic-concoruscantczerka-corporationdromund-kaase3EAea-biowareeaster-eggsElectronic-ArtsfeaturedholonetHolonet-projectHothhuttajames-ohlenLucasArtsNar-Shaddaaord-mantellOrganaplanetssecret-messageStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-lore-guidetarisTatooinethe-old-republicThultortythonvossvrbltherswebsiteWookieepediaMon, 02 Aug 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Blaster at my side]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/05/hyperspace-beacon-blaster-at-my-side/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/05/hyperspace-beacon-blaster-at-my-side/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/05/hyperspace-beacon-blaster-at-my-side/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Hey, kids, the name's Han Solo. I've been asked to step in here because I know a thing or two about smuggling. I know many of you are lookin' to jump into this line of work, and I'm going to tell you right now: it ain't gonna be easy. You gotta live by your guts, kids. You hav'ta be smooth, and you can't let crazy green Rodians get under your skin. In fact, if a Rodian does come lookin' for you, I suggest you shoot him first. It'll save you some trouble in the long run, but don't forget to pay for the mess.

Maybe I should start with some of the greatest smugglers out there. That should help detour you from the insanity of this profession. Although none of 'em is as good as I am, Lando Calrissian, Dash Rendar, and even an old smuggler named Hylo Visz made their marks on history. Their lives were wrought with risky maneuvers, near-misses, and some damned good luck. So I guess if you think you've got what it takes, keep reading -- I'll meet you after the break.

[Thank you to Lois van Baarle for letting us use her artwork for the main banner. You can see more of her work at Loish.net.]

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Blaster at my side

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Blaster at my side originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bespinBioWareboba-fettChewbaccacloud-citydash-rendarEAhan-solohothHydian-wayhylo-viszlando-calrissianlorelucas-artsLucasArtsmandaloriannerf-herderoutriderrole-playrole-playingroleplayRolePlayingsabaccsmugglesmuggledsmugglersmugglerssmugglers-rulesmugglingStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstorystorytellingswtorswtor-lore-guideMon, 05 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Celebrate the Empire Strikes Back anniversary on Hoth]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/23/celebrate-the-empire-strikes-back-anniversary-on-hoth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/23/celebrate-the-empire-strikes-back-anniversary-on-hoth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/23/celebrate-the-empire-strikes-back-anniversary-on-hoth/#commentsFiled under: , ,

1980 was an exciting year for many. For some it was the Phillies beating the Royals (even though my team didn't win, thus ruining baseball for me forever), for others it could have been Reagan defeating Carter in the presidential election, or maybe they were just excited about someone shooting J. R. Ewing. This all pales compared to what happened at the beginning of the summer. Even at the ripe old age of four, I recall going to see Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back in the theater. Forever it dominated my destiny.

A Force beyond my control compelled me to celebrate this monumental day, the 30th Anniversary of the release of The Empire Strikes Back. I had to relive the memories; relive the fun of the day I went to see this great movie. I already had my Star Wars rockband boxers and watched the movie through, but I still felt empty. Then it hit me: I could actually go to Hoth to live out the scene of the great battle between General Veers' AT-ATs and Echo Base. I could log into my Star Wars: Galaxies account and just have some fun.

I encourage you to find the Star Wars Fanboi/gurl in you and follow me in my adventure to the snowy dunes of Hoth after the break.

Continue reading Celebrate the Empire Strikes Back anniversary on Hoth

MassivelyCelebrate the Empire Strikes Back anniversary on Hoth originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 23 May 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>empire-strikes-backfanboifangurlhothSOESONYsony-online-entertainmentStar-Warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgSun, 23 May 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR players will trek across Hoth [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/20/swtor-players-will-trek-across-hoth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/20/swtor-players-will-trek-across-hoth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/20/swtor-players-will-trek-across-hoth/#commentsFiled under: , ,


This morning's breaking news of twitter feeds, email, blog posts included a story from videogamer.com about a hands-on preview of Star Wars: The Old Republic. (It's an informative article. A SWTOR fan should read it.) However, the items that drew attention away from the article were the unrelated images scattered throughout the post. After clicking about for a while it was determined they were not just any images, but rather paintings and screenshots of a yet-to-be-announced playable planet of Hoth. This was confirmed by Stephanie Bayer, a community manager for the game, via Twitter, "Have you checked out Videogamer.com today? No? Thar be #SWTOR exclusive stuff there! It's totally HOT(h)! "

Who would have guessed the planet named after the famous Jedi Master Lord Hoth will be explorable in SWTOR? For those who may have skipped the best Star Wars movie of all time, this is a frozen wasteland made famous at the beginning of the Empire Strikes Back. Although in the Old Republic time period there is not much interest in the planet. It is mostly the home of tauntauns, wampas, and the occasional crashed spaceship. Fringe members of both the Imperial and Republic factions will conduct their nefarious business on this frozen desert.

To read the whole article about Hoth or view the paintings and screenshots hop over to videogamer.com.

[Update: the official SWTOR site has updated their Holonet entry with Hoth -- check it out past the break!]

Continue reading SWTOR players will trek across Hoth [Updated]

MassivelySWTOR players will trek across Hoth [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 May 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>announcementhothplanetstar-wars-the-old-republicstephanie-bayerswtorswtor-screenshotsvideogamer.comThu, 20 May 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars Galaxies strikes back, 30 years later]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/01/star-wars-galaxies-strikes-back-30-years-later/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/01/star-wars-galaxies-strikes-back-30-years-later/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/01/star-wars-galaxies-strikes-back-30-years-later/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If someone walked up to you on the street and told you that, this month, The Empire Strikes Back is 30 years old, how would you respond? Weeping at the ravages of time? A proud salute to one of the pinnacles of scifi cinema? A quick step away from a stranger who is now looking at you with shifty eyes?

For the crew over at Star Wars Galaxies, the response to Empire's anniversary is to lavish players with gifts and goodies. In a recent Producer Note, dev Teesquared was pleased to announce that the entire month of May would be devoted to celebrating this milestone. Each week, all characters over 10 days old will be the recipient of a collection item and an in-game gift -- get all four gifts, and a fifth gift will be tossed in absolutely free! (Wait, is this starting to feel like an infomercial?) You'll also want to swing over to Hoth, obviously, and check out a few special loot drops, including a mystical snow globe that contains the spirit of the Wampa.

Other highlights of this article include plans to tune up the Jedi and Beast Master professions, a switch of many no-trade items to make them tradable, and future events such as SWG's 7th Anniversary and the return of Empire Day. Head on over to the Star Wars Galaxies forum for the full broadcast!

MassivelyStar Wars Galaxies strikes back, 30 years later originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 May 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beast-masterempire-dayhothjediproducer-notesoestar-wars-galaxiesswgteesquaredthe-empire-strikes-backwampaSat, 01 May 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New SWTOR video explores Trooper class development]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/30/new-swtor-video-explores-trooper-class-development/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/30/new-swtor-video-explores-trooper-class-development/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/30/new-swtor-video-explores-trooper-class-development/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


BioWare offers us a look into the development and philosophy behind the Trooper class for Star Wars: The Old Republic in their latest Developer Dispatch video. They explore the different looks a Trooper can sport, which is everything from Hoth stormtrooper inspired snow gear to the Rebel forces' reds, oranges and whites. Of course, there's plenty of fresh looks as well, for players desiring a less traditional look.

The video also goes into the animation of the Trooper and reveals a little of the motion capture sessions complete with prop miniguns. It's quite easily one of the most interesting videos to come out of the Star Wars: The Old Republic project, so we hope that BioWare sees fit to do the same for each of their classes in the coming months. You can find the full video after the break.

Continue reading New SWTOR video explores Trooper class development

MassivelyNew SWTOR video explores Trooper class development originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 30 May 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaredeveloper-dispatcheaelectronic-artshothrebelsstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstormtrooperswtortrooperSat, 30 May 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars Galaxies Dev Diary and video: Behind the scenes at Echo Base]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/star-wars-galaxies-dev-diary-and-video-behind-the-scenes-at-ech/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/star-wars-galaxies-dev-diary-and-video-behind-the-scenes-at-ech/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/21/star-wars-galaxies-dev-diary-and-video-behind-the-scenes-at-ech/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


The Star Wars Galaxies developers have been neck-deep in snow for months now, it seems. Since the launch of the Hoth heroic encounter in late November of last year, the SOE Austin devs have been tweaking and fine-tuning the experience for the enthused playerbase.The actual encounter is massive, and introduces a number of new roles and play opportunities for even longtime SWG players. We've talked about that before, with a highlight being a look at the encounter from the dev viewpoint at SOE Fan Faire.

Today we have the pleasure of offering up a brand-new developer diary from SOE designer Stephen Wyckoff, all about the "engineering support" required to put players in massive Imperial vehicles! Join Stephen below the cut as he talks AT-STs, design, development, and tuning encounters to meet high player expectations. We also have a fantastic new video from the developers that will give you just a taste of what it's like to experience the frozen fury of the Hoth battle. All that and more is beyond the cut.

Gallery: Star Wars Galaxies - Hoth

Continue reading Star Wars Galaxies Dev Diary and video: Behind the scenes at Echo Base

MassivelyStar Wars Galaxies Dev Diary and video: Behind the scenes at Echo Base originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>dev-diaryfeaturedgame-update-6heroic-encountershothpatchsoe-austinstar-wars-galaxiesswgWed, 21 Jan 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[How Hoth was made pt. 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/20/how-hoth-was-made-pt-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/20/how-hoth-was-made-pt-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/20/how-hoth-was-made-pt-2/#commentsFiled under:


Making It Real

Jesse: Shadowbrak worked closely with CancelAutoRun to bring a sense of speed and firepower that mirrored the movie snowspeeders into the game. I think they did an amazing job. I really feel like I am flying around in a snowspeeder just like in the movies. Flying a snowspeeder elicits a real strong feeling of excitement - especially when gunning down all those Imperials. Setting up a pass on the AT-AT's while trying to avoid taking heavy damage from the AT-ST and snowtrooper escorts is very addictive and fun.

Meanwhile, the rest of the team worked on the other game-play elements. Michael "Fiasco" Farone was recruited to start working on our Wampa Valley area of the encounter. I remember sitting in my office brainstorming all the fun things we could have our wampas do. We came up with some really exciting attacks that bring a lot of fun and personality into the Hoth encounter.

When we had our first play test in Wampa Valley we could tell immediately that the fun factor was already there. There were bugs to address, and tuning to implement, but everybody came out of that play test smiling. Following the first game-play test Fiasco came up with a list of more things to add to the encounter. I don't want to spoil the surprises, especially since you have to figure out how to enter the valley to begin with, but there are a lot of cool aspects waiting to be discovered in that area.

Continue reading How Hoth was made pt. 2

MassivelyHow Hoth was made pt. 2 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hothsoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesswgswg-chapter-11Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Star Wars Galaxies devs on how Hoth was made]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/20/the-star-wars-galaxies-devs-on-how-hoth-was-made/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/20/the-star-wars-galaxies-devs-on-how-hoth-was-made/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/20/the-star-wars-galaxies-devs-on-how-hoth-was-made/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Just a bit ago we noted the launch of the Hoth heroic encounter in Star Wars Galaxies. Chapter 11, as it is also known, has been a long time coming. It's a project the developers have put a lot of work into, and they were eager to share with us some of the background on the mega-patch's development process. The folks at SOE Austin were kind enough to send over a document detailing just that, written up by the game's former Lead Designer Thomas "Blixtev" Blair and its current Lead Designer, Jesse Benjamin.

Join the two developers as they walk through the challenges of fully exploring the Empire Strikes Back movie, the thorny issue of one side being guaranteed to lose, and the critical need for detail and finesse in this difficult development challenge.

Gallery: Star Wars Galaxies - Hoth

Continue reading The Star Wars Galaxies devs on how Hoth was made

MassivelyThe Star Wars Galaxies devs on how Hoth was made originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>featuredhothjesse-benjaminlucasartssoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesswgswg-chapter-11thomas-blairThu, 20 Nov 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hoth goes live in Star Wars Galaxies!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/20/hoth-goes-live-in-star-wars-galaxies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/20/hoth-goes-live-in-star-wars-galaxies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/20/hoth-goes-live-in-star-wars-galaxies/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


The SOE Austin team may not be working on an expansion for Star Wars Galaxies, but today it sure feels like the players have gotten one. The enormous content drop, Chapter 11 in the SWG saga, hit the live servers early today like the main blaster on an AT-AT walker. The Hoth heroic encounter is now live on the servers for all players to enjoy. The complete patch notes for The Battle of Echo Base are available in the official forums, and there's an informational press release included below the cut.

Highlights from the patch include:
  • The expansive battle itself, which pits Rebel and Imperial heroes against NPC opponents in a timed experience. The Imperials seek to destroy as much of the ragtag fighting force as they can, while the Rebels aim to flee the battle with as many resources as they can. This is easily the most ambitious offering in SWG history, and we explored it thoroughly in a feature from Fan Faire 2008.
  • A new holo-pet system, which will allow players to add fun holographic creatures to their homes.
  • New collections and other side-elements were added to the game to suppor the addition of Hoth.
  • Several classes recieved slight gameplay tweaks and balancing fixes.
  • The character transfer service recieved a big upgrade in advance of next year's free transfer initiative.
  • The Aurilia Guildhall, which serves as the hub for heroic encounter play, has a new memorial to former SWG developer Jeff Freeman.
It's great to see a much-anticipated chunk of content go live in a game like this. Check out the developer insight SOE passed on to us as a developer diary, and read on below for the official release for the patch.

Gallery: Star Wars Galaxies - Hoth

Continue reading Hoth goes live in Star Wars Galaxies!

MassivelyHoth goes live in Star Wars Galaxies! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakinghothlucasartssoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesswgswg-chapter-11Thu, 20 Nov 2008 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars Galaxies producer letter previews Hoth, Christmas events]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/08/star-wars-galaxies-producer-letter-previews-hoth-christmas-even/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/08/star-wars-galaxies-producer-letter-previews-hoth-christmas-even/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/08/star-wars-galaxies-producer-letter-previews-hoth-christmas-even/#comments
The latest Producer's Letter from the head of Star Wars Galaxies development is in! Chris 'Dotanuki' Fields offers up some encouraging words about the team's plans for Hoth, which is now on the Test Center server. The Imperial side arrived first for intensive testing, and the Rebel portion of the instance should now be online for debugging as well. There's still no ETA on the new content going live, but testing on TC means it won't be long now before Hoth goes live. Fields compliments players on the fun seen during the Halloween live event, and notes we may see it as a template for future events in-game. Fields also takes a moment to reiterate statements we heard from SOE CEO John Smedley: Sony Online has no intention of shutting down Star Wars Galaxies any time soon. Star Wars: The Old Republic is still some time off, and they have content planned out for SWG well through 2009.

Other future plans for Galaxies include a new 'promo drop' weekend for TCG cards. That'll be going on this weekend, and the drop rate for the cards has been increased to allow more players to participate! Fields' last note for the month is on Life Day, coming to the Galaxy Far, Far Away next month. Giant tress, gift-giving, a new speeder, and some wackiness inspired by the Star Wars Holiday Special will all be in the offing. Look for the giant wroshyr trees in Dearic (Talus), Doaba Goerfel (Corellia), and Wayfar (Tatooine). Good time to be a Galaxies player, for sure.

MassivelyStar Wars Galaxies producer letter previews Hoth, Christmas events originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 08 Nov 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hothpatchessoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesswgSat, 08 Nov 2008 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars Galaxies looks to the future with Hoth, BioWare]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/25/star-wars-galaxies-looks-to-the-future-with-hoth-bioware/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/25/star-wars-galaxies-looks-to-the-future-with-hoth-bioware/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/25/star-wars-galaxies-looks-to-the-future-with-hoth-bioware/#commentsFiled under: , ,


The upcoming release of the Hoth Heroic Encounter for Star Wars Galaxies has been dominating the official site for the last few weeks. For a plethora of details on the new content, you need look no further than right here. They've got a great look at what 'secrets' players will able to delve into once the patch goes live. New collections, hidden locations, and a massive super-wampa are all in the offing. They also have a piece examining the new high-end loot you'll be able to obtain by successfully completing the encounter. Tokens found in the aftermath of the battle will be tradeable fro whatever piece of equipment a player might want. Plus! They have a fun rundown on the new additions to the holo-pet system, something every Creature Trainer is really going to enjoy.

Of course, there's been a lot of Star Wars-related news in the last week, and that's worth addressing too. LucasArts producer Jake Neri and online group senior director Tom Nichols sat down with IGN to explain the future of Galaxies as it relates to the newly announced Old Republic game from BioWare. As far as LucasArts is concerned, SWG and SWTOR can happily co-exist if everything goes as they want it to. Said Neri, "When we launch the game we'll see exactly what will happen. Nobody has a crystal ball. I think the games are clearly different enough that the market can support both of them together." For more details on Galaxies' vitality and capitalizing on movie moments, read into the full article.

MassivelyStar Wars Galaxies looks to the future with Hoth, BioWare originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 25 Oct 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarehothlucasartssoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicswgswg-chapter-11swtorSat, 25 Oct 2008 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Rumors of new Star Wars Galaxies expansion most likely false]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/rumors-of-new-star-wars-galaxies-expansion-most-likely-false/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/rumors-of-new-star-wars-galaxies-expansion-most-likely-false/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/16/rumors-of-new-star-wars-galaxies-expansion-most-likely-false/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We received a tip from a reader named Lateris, pointing the way over to a discussion on MMORPG.com about a possible new expansion for Star Wars Galaxies. A video originally posted to YouTube purports to show footage of new content coming to the game, and labels the expansion "City of the Skies". The expansion would supposedly allow players to explore the Tibanna Gas Mines of Bespin, introduce two new player races, and raise the game's level cap to 100.

Despite the somewhat-convincing video, this rumor seems to be false. When contacted by Massively, an SOE representative stated flatly that the company had nothing to do with the film. He went on to note the enthusiasm of SWG fans, and that the video appears to be assets and video from a number of other Star Wars games edited together. In doing our own brief investigation, we noted several assets that seem to be pulled from the title Jedi Knight II: Jedi Outcast. The voiceovers used in the video appear to be pulled directly from that game, as does the imagery of the cloud city itself.

Read on below the cut for screenshots from the video and an examination of what appars to be a fan-made forgery - entertaining though it is.

Continue reading Rumors of new Star Wars Galaxies expansion most likely false

MassivelyRumors of new Star Wars Galaxies expansion most likely false originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingexpansionhothsoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesswgThu, 16 Oct 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars Galaxies team prepping for Hoth, welcome new lead designer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/01/star-wars-galaxies-team-prepping-for-hoth-welcome-new-lead-desi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/01/star-wars-galaxies-team-prepping-for-hoth-welcome-new-lead-desi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/01/star-wars-galaxies-team-prepping-for-hoth-welcome-new-lead-desi/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


There's been big news in the Star Wars Galaxies community in the last week. Last week's Friday Feature hints at the progress the development team is making in bringing to you a huge addition to the Galaxies experience: the Battle of Hoth. The "choose a side" feature highlights the different experiences the Rebels and Imperials will be having on opposing sides of the instance. While the Rebels try desperately to protect their transports and get away, the Imperials will be advancing on Echo Base laying waste to all they see. While full details on the experience aren't yet out, the feature gives a nice taste of what's to come in the next chapter of Star Wars Galaxies.

Meanwhile, word from the official forums is that long-time lead designer for the game Thomas Blair will be moving on to another position at SOE-Austin. Blair has accepted the position of Design Systems lead on the DC Universe Online project. In his place will be stepping Jesse "Loche" Benjamin, the assistant lead designer for Galaxies. Player reaction seems to be generally positive, and Blair's 'goodbye' to the community is well worth reading. With a new lead designer and a new senior producer on the game within the space of a few months, it will be interesting to see where the future of the game goes from this point on.

MassivelyStar Wars Galaxies team prepping for Hoth, welcome new lead designer originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hothsoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesswgthomas-blairWed, 01 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars Galaxies producer says Hoth is coming next month!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/05/star-wars-galaxies-producer-says-hoth-is-coming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/05/star-wars-galaxies-producer-says-hoth-is-coming/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/05/star-wars-galaxies-producer-says-hoth-is-coming/#commentsFiled under: ,

In an open letter to the players of Star Wars Galaxies, producer for the title Christopher "Dotanuki" Field gave fans a heads up on what's coming down the pipe in the next six months or so. He lays out a timeline for upcoming patches, revealing that the Halloween event called "The Galactic Moon Festival" as well as The Battle of Echo Base will be released sometime next month! There will be a new Life Day event, along with the first expansion to the Champions of the Force game, sometime during the winter months. Beyond that, the next professions to see updates and patches will be Politicians and Spies, followed by Domestics/Structural Traders.

He also notes that they are moving ahead full-force on a plan to deal with the game's many servers with relatively low populations. SWG players have been long asking for a solution in the form of server merges; as we've discussed before, the unique topography of the game's cities and planets makes that difficult. Field states in his letter that "We met with Marketing yesterday to discuss the timeframe of the program as well as the announcement timeframe. All the details are being finalized now. DevH is still hard at work on his tasks." He has no further specifics to offer, but notes that their interactions with marketing mean an announcement will be coming sooner rather than later.

MassivelyStar Wars Galaxies producer says Hoth is coming next month! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>hothlucasartsproducer-letterserver-populationssoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesswgswg-chapter-11Fri, 05 Sep 2008 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Exploring SWG heroic encounters pt. 2]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/exploring-swg-heroic-encounters-pt-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/exploring-swg-heroic-encounters-pt-2/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/exploring-swg-heroic-encounters-pt-2/#commentsFiled under: , ,


The 'Tusken Army' encounter was originally intended to be the 'middle-of-the-road' instance, between IG-88 and Axkva. Instead, players kept losing to the onslaught of raiders because too many citizens would die. "Essentially we'd created the world's most obnoxious escort quest." Still, it was very popular because it allowed players a lot of choice. Even if they didn't have the 'right' classes, having enough players to cover the city sufficiently meant you could successfully complete the encounter. Despite the challenge, it was a very well-received experience.

The map used in the Encounter is actually a streamlined version of Mos Espa, with many elements taken out to ensure NPCs would path well through the area. From a technical perspective, Tusken Army was the most advanced of any of the Encounters. They really pushed their tools to the limit getting the experience together, and it was a great use of the quest manager in a new and unique way. It's something they really like as a tool to aid player understanding of what's going on - they expect to use it more in the future.

Hoth is modeled very closely after the Tusken Army - small teams will be running around taking on encounters individually, rather than 'tank and spank' boss fights. The quest manager will be used in Echo Base much as it's used in the Tusken encounter, to keep players all 'on the same page.'

Many components of the "ISD", or Imperial Star Destroyer, were completed some time ago. It was created at the maximum size of the instance, but the original creator never noted that anywhere. The result is that a lot of their work on the instance to begin with was figuring out why things just weren't working. Camera issues plagued hallway encounters, and so most of the action is restricted to larger rooms. Krix, the first encounter, is the most challenging boss in the Encounter. Once you're past him, the rest of the event is comparatively easy - this was on purpose, but resulted in a lot of frustration when the event first came out. To somewhat placate frustrated players, they added a badge for defeating Krix in a specific circumstance.

Imperial Grenadiers, a mob that participates in the encounter, throw their charges faster as the event goes on. The fewer Grenadiers there are, the lower Krix's health, the faster they throw. The developers joked that "there should be a badge" for defeating Krix with just one Grenadier standing, because they estimate that devoted solider is throwing about ten grenades a second. Questions from the audience touched on various bugs and quirks about the encounter. The team is always open to this information, they stated, and it was obvious someone was taking notes as these issues were raised.

Exar Kun, the most recent and advanced of the Heroic Encounters, was obviously a point of pride for the attending developers. The dev team had a better understanding of what the players could accomplish, and very deliberately created a space where they could showcase several different bosses in evocative lairs. The goal was to create an encounter that 'felt' unbeatable but was still something that could be completed.

New technology was implemented for the Encounter as well, that allowed NPCs to attack players through surrogate objects. This tech comes into play in the final encounter with Kun himself. It was completed more quickly than other encounters as well, due to experience with past encounters and development of Encounter tools.

MassivelyExploring SWG heroic encounters pt. 2 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>exar-kunheroic-encountershothsoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesswgtuskenMon, 25 Aug 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Fan Faire 08: Exploring Hoth and the Star Wars Galaxies heroic encounters]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/fan-faire-08-exploring-hoth-and-the-star-wars-galaxies-heroic-e/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/fan-faire-08-exploring-hoth-and-the-star-wars-galaxies-heroic-e/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/fan-faire-08-exploring-hoth-and-the-star-wars-galaxies-heroic-e/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

SOE's Fan Faire had a number of excellent events and panels that had nothing to do with the new EverQuest expansions. One such panel was a chance for the makers of Star Wars Galaxies to lay out some background on the high-end experience for all players in the game: Heroic Encounters. These unique missions were added in Chapter 7, and feature some of the most 'Star-Warsy' moments players can experience inside the SWG game world. They pit players against everything from the assassin droid IG-88 to the deadly Sith Lord Exar Kun ... and there are more on the way.

The newest of these Heroic Encounters will be released to the game soon, and is centered on one Star Wars lore's most epic battles: the Battle for Echo Base on the planet Hoth. Portrayed countless times in single-player videogames, the SWG designers are thrilled to be able to bring that experience to players within the next few months. Join us below the cut for a lengthy look at designing and developing the Heroic Encounters, and a look ahead to the upcoming Hoth Encounter!

Continue reading Fan Faire 08: Exploring Hoth and the Star Wars Galaxies heroic encounters

MassivelyFan Faire 08: Exploring Hoth and the Star Wars Galaxies heroic encounters originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>fan-faire-2008featuredheroic-encountershothsoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesswgMon, 25 Aug 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Exploring SWG heroic encounters pt. 3]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/exploring-swg-heroic-encounters-pt-3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/exploring-swg-heroic-encounters-pt-3/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/25/exploring-swg-heroic-encounters-pt-3/#commentsFiled under: , ,


"There's no getting around the fact that the Rebels lose at Echo Base. We had to work out how badly they lost, as a question of what's fun for the Rebel players." The base, the developers offered up, is just ridiculously large. It's sort of silly. The Tusken Army Encounter will fit into the Echo Base map four times over.

They have drivable AT-STs and drivable Snow Speeders. First time in Star Wars Galaxies. It's not true atmospheric flight, unfortunately, as they had to cheat a bit to create ground collision for the vehicles. You get to zip around a blow up Snowtroopers though, so there's a lot of fun to be had there. They're trying to develop the AT-ST as a two-player mechanic, but there's no guarantee it will make it into the Encounter when it launches.

One thing that you've seen in the movies but won't make it into the game is the 'tow cable'. The Snow Speeders tripping up the AT-ATs is really excellent to see, but from a mechanics perspective is just too hard to do in an MMO. "This time the AT-AT shields are not too strong for blasters." They're the primary targets in the field for the Rebels.

Loot and badges and collectibles will all be explored very fully in the new Encounter. Snowtrooper armor and Rebel Cold-Weather armor are both going to be available as a result of this new content. Rideable Tauntauns are in the works, you'll be able to fight off vicious wampas, and Rebels will be getting a new rifle skin: the AT-28. The E-Webb is out, as it's just out of scale for all the other weapons in the game.

The instance is factional-only. If it launches 'for' the Rebels, all of the plotlines and encounters for players are made assuming you're a Rebel. The same is true for Imperials. There is no 'neutral' version of the instance. They're hoping to do something like with the space encounters, where neutrals could join a group on either side and temporarily have their faction over-written. Objectives from either side pit players against notable elements of this frenetic experience. One of the Imperial objectives in the instance is to stop the Ion Cannon from firing, for example.

The designers noted that multi-group instances might eventually be in the works, but there are a lot of thorny balance issues to deal with there. For the time being, they have no plans for space-based instances or multi-group instancing. What they're focusing on now is more of these single-group story-driven encounters that tap deeply into the lore of the Galaxy Far, Far Away.

To finally conclude the presentation, the developers and designers showed off a fantastic preview video showcasing the new content coming with the encounter. Check it out below!



MassivelyExploring SWG heroic encounters pt. 3 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Aug 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>battle-of-echo-baseheroic-encountershothsoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesswgMon, 25 Aug 2008 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars Galaxies Producer Letter previews upcoming content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/07/star-wars-galaxies-producer-letter-previews-upcoming-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/07/star-wars-galaxies-producer-letter-previews-upcoming-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/07/star-wars-galaxies-producer-letter-previews-upcoming-content/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Dotakuni, the relatively-newly minted Producer for Star Wars Galaxies, dropped into the forums in anticipation of next week's Fan Faire event to let players know a bit about what's coming down the pipe. He talked up the panels aimed at SWG players next week, singling out the Galactic Assembly on Saturday night as the must-see event for the Faire. The TCG, Champions of the Force, is also mentioned, and he goes over a few of the 'types' of loot cards players will be receiving in their regular booster back ration. Speeders, Wearables, Paintings, Vendors, and even permanent buffs will be available in the first card set.

The Battle of Echo Base is also on Dotanuki's list, likely the most-anticipated content coming to Galaxies in some time. He describes the environment as massive, with the base being a 'labyrinth of tunnels and rooms'. Vehicle combat was something John Smedley mentioned in our talk with him back at E3, but Dotanuki notes he'll tell us precisely what vehicles will be involved in the battle next week. The Producer closes out his note with some intriguing hints about future events ... including one based around the Star Wars Holiday Special? Next week's Fan Faire will offer up plenty of great information for expectant fans.

MassivelyStar Wars Galaxies Producer Letter previews upcoming content originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>champions-of-the-forcecotffan-faire-2008hothlucasartssoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesswgThu, 07 Aug 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The battle of Hoth is coming to Star Wars Galaxies]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/02/the-battle-of-hoth-is-coming-to-star-wars-galaxies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/02/the-battle-of-hoth-is-coming-to-star-wars-galaxies/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/05/02/the-battle-of-hoth-is-coming-to-star-wars-galaxies/#commentsFiled under: , ,

At this year's Galactic Gathering community event, the team behind Star Wars Galaxies announced big news for the coming year: the battle of Hoth will be added to the game as the next Heroic encounter! The ice planet Hoth was originally seen in the movie Empire Strikes Back. That film has always been in the future of SWG's continuity, and thus perpetually out of reach. The advancement of the game's timeline has been requested by players for years. Even though this isn't a traditional expansion with a full new planet, the implications of moving forward in the Star Wars universe's timeline are endless.

Whether that movement is actually happening is still a question, though, as precious few details were available at the event. The developers did say that the instance will focus around the fight at Echo Base. According to this week's Friday Feature, the Heroic Encounter should feature Snowspeeders, AT-ATs, and snowtroopers - as well as many of the main protagonists from the original Star Wars movies. Other future highlights touch on things we've heard about before: re-confirmation of the Meatlump theme park for Chapter 10, the Droid Commander expertise system, and promises to examine Beast Masters and traders in Game Update 5.

This is some amazing news, with the possibility of some big implications for the game. We'll be sure to keep you posted as we get further details.

MassivelyThe battle of Hoth is coming to Star Wars Galaxies originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 May 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingempire-strikes-backhothlucasartssoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesswgFri, 02 May 2008 13:30:00 EST