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 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[EVE Evolved: Setting the universe on fire]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/26/eve-evolved-setting-the-universe-on-fire/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/26/eve-evolved-setting-the-universe-on-fire/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/26/eve-evolved-setting-the-universe-on-fire/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

EVE Evolved title image
This week CCP Games announced the name and focus of EVE Online's upcoming summer expansion. The Inferno expansion aims to re-invigorate PvP with some long overdue gameplay changes. CONCORD-sanctioned wars will be iterated on for the first time in half a decade, and faction warfare will hopefully be getting the updates it should have received in 2008. Following on from the success of the Crucible expansion with its hundreds of small features and gameplay changes, Inferno will also contain dozens of small gameplay changes, usability fixes, and minor improvements.

We'll hear more about DUST 514 in the coming months as CCP reveals more concrete details of the game's link to EVE Online and the motivations behind planet-bound wars. Incarna fans will apparently also see some movement, with Team Avatar focusing on avatar-based updates for this release. While Inferno is a rather uninspired name and coincidentally would make three of the last four expansions start with the word "in," the expansion's content is genuinely exciting. Fundamental changes are coming to EVE's PvP mechanics for the first time in several years. CCP hasn't revealed the exact changes, but that hasn't stopped players from speculating on what might be heading their way.

In this week's EVE Evolved, I speculate on the changes coming in the upcoming Inferno expansion and what changes I think might be coming to EVE's PvP.

Continue reading EVE Evolved: Setting the universe on fire

MassivelyEVE Evolved: Setting the universe on fire originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apocryphabounty-hunterbounty-huntingccpccp-gamesconsolecrucibledustdust-514empyrean-ageeveeve-evolvedeve-fanfesteve-fanfest-2012eve-onlineexpansionexpansionsfanfestfeaturedfirefpsgame-mechanicsincarnainfernommofpson-fireopinionplaystationplaystation-3ps3pvpsandboxsci-fishooterspeculationsummerwarwardecSun, 26 Feb 2012 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dominus reveals its bounty hunting mechanics]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/05/dominus-reveals-its-bounty-hunting-mechanics/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/05/dominus-reveals-its-bounty-hunting-mechanics/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/05/dominus-reveals-its-bounty-hunting-mechanics/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Dominus - this dude may or may not be a bounty hunter
We're not sure what it is about bounty hunters that makes them cooler than cool, but there's no denying the appeal of a profession that characters like Boba Fett, John Marston, and Rick Deckard call their own.

Dominus is hoping to capture some of that badassery in a bottle via its bounty hunting system, and a new update on the game's official website has all the details. In a nutshell, players are able to place bounties on four of their enemies at a time, and the only other consideration is the amount of money you're willing to put toward your revenge.

Hunting a bounty involves accepting a contract via an NPC, and you'll be alerted as to your target's zone location if he's online. After you make the kill, you'll be paid on the spot, and any other players who accepted the same bounty contract will find it removed from their mission log. There's more, but you'll need to head to the Dominus website to read it.

MassivelyDominus reveals its bounty hunting mechanics originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bountiesbounty-hunterbounty-huntingdominusgame-mechanicspitchblackpitchblack-gamesprime-battle-for-dominuspvprevengesci-fiThu, 05 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR: So you want to play a Bounty Hunter]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/swtor-so-you-want-to-play-a-bounty-hunter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/swtor-so-you-want-to-play-a-bounty-hunter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/swtor-so-you-want-to-play-a-bounty-hunter/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

SWTOR - The Bounty Hunter
So you're thinking of being a Star Wars: The Old Republic Bounty Hunter, are you? It's a fine choice of profession. Challenging work, definitely. Requires a lot of travel, a quick draw, and a willingness to take on impossible odds. Some Hunters might see themselves as the avenging hand of the law, some just want to get paid, and some of them genuinely care about the Sith cause. But at the end of the day, every Bounty Hunter lives according to the same code: Find the mark and get paid for the job.

Of course, the in-game Bounty Hunter has all the tools needed to make that happen. With a plethora of tricks in his suit of armor, Hunters can do everything -- provide field medical support, keep targets occupied long enough for others to take them down, or even just waste everything with a plethora of missiles. There are a lot of options available to players who go down the route of the Bounty Hunter, and it doesn't hurt that the entire class oozes with style and intrigue from the start.

Continue reading SWTOR: So you want to play a Bounty Hunter

MassivelySWTOR: So you want to play a Bounty Hunter originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-austinbounty-hunterclassclass-mechanicsclassesdpseaea-biowareelectronic-artsfeaturedgame-mechanicsguideguideshealerhealingloremechanicsopinionrolesstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-class-guideswtor-guideswtor-launchswtor-launch-guidetanktankingthe-old-republictorMon, 12 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR asks who's better: Jedi Knight or Bounty Hunter]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/swtor-askes-whos-better-jedi-knight-or-bounty-hunter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/swtor-askes-whos-better-jedi-knight-or-bounty-hunter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/swtor-askes-whos-better-jedi-knight-or-bounty-hunter/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

SWTOR: Choose your side #1
In the latest Friday update, the developers at BioWare ask one of the ultimate questions: Which class is better? In this three-and-half-minute video, the Jedi Knight and the Bounty Hunter of Star Wars: The Old Republic are pitted against each other. The criteria for winning ranges between the best story to the most powerful weapons, but ultimately, it's up to you. According to the video, it's time to choose your side.

Senior Writer Hall Hood expresses that although the Jedi are typically good guys, "you get to be whatever kind of Jedi Knight you think is best. You don't necessarily have to follow the Jedi Code. In fact, you can violate it pretty regularly." On the other side, Writer Randy Begel explains that the Bounty Hunter does not have to be the most evil all the time. "The Bounty Hunter can live by a code as much as the Jedi does. It's just that they don't always see eye to eye on how that plays out," Begel explains.

Decide for yourself after the break; we have the complete video for your enjoyment.

Continue reading SWTOR asks who's better: Jedi Knight or Bounty Hunter

MassivelySWTOR asks who's better: Jedi Knight or Bounty Hunter originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWarebounty-hunterclassesEAElectronic-ArtsHall-Hoodjedi-knightLucasArtsRandy-BegelStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictortrailervideoFri, 07 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The MMO Report: Oh come on can we please just drop it already edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/08/the-mmo-report-oh-come-on-can-we-please-just-drop-it-already-ed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/08/the-mmo-report-oh-come-on-can-we-please-just-drop-it-already-ed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/08/the-mmo-report-oh-come-on-can-we-please-just-drop-it-already-ed/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Welcome to this week's edition of The MMO Report.

The first order of business on The MMO Report this week is Age of Conan: Unchained. Funcom's bloody MMO went free-to-play last week, and also released their new Blood and Glory PvP servers yesterday.

Next up we have BioWare's latest class video for Star Wars: The Old Republic. It focuses on the Bounty Hunter class and details the progression options available to Boba Fett wannabes.

And then it's... Oh, not again. Monocle-gate, okay? Do we really need to say anything else?

Lastly, we come to the announcement that Blizzard's project Titan is going to be a casual MMO. Considering the fact that, as Casey puts it, many players consider World of Warcraft to be casual as it is, what this means for Titan is ambiguous at best.

For the full MMO Report, including (for the first time in a while) Uncle Casey's Mailbag, jump on past the cut.

Continue reading The MMO Report: Oh come on can we please just drop it already edition

MassivelyThe MMO Report: Oh come on can we please just drop it already edition originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Jul 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conan-unchainedbounty-huntercasey-schreinereve-onlinemmo-reportmonocle-gatemonoclegateproject-titansorry-caseythe-mmo-reporttitanvideoFri, 08 Jul 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Man in the mirror]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/05/hyperspace-beacon-man-in-the-mirror/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/05/hyperspace-beacon-man-in-the-mirror/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/05/hyperspace-beacon-man-in-the-mirror/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

On Friday, our friends on the BioWare community team gave us a second progression video for the Bounty Hunter in Star Wars: The Old Republic. As with anything on the internet, the video wasn't above scrutiny and complaint by followers. The complaints ranged from "we already have a Bounty Hunter progression video" to "why don't we have a Jedi Consular video yet?" But that doesn't hit on the real issue: There were no fiery explosions for the Bounty Hunter to walk away from in slow motion! He just can't be cool unless he turns his back on the destruction like he just doesn't frelling care.

Despite the lack of carnage in the class progression video, we did glean insight into many of the class powers, some of which mirror its Republic counterpart: the Trooper. I know for marketing reasons and to keep from confusing the potential player, it's not a good idea to use the word "mirror" when describing The Old Republic classes. But it's hard to deny that the Imperial Bounty Hunter and the Republic Trooper are very much mirrored insofar as combat roles and abilities. After the break, I will explain to you what I see that is the same and what is different between the two classes. Then, in the end, I will let you decide whether the classes are truly mirrored or not.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Man in the mirror

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Man in the mirror originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Jul 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWarebounty-hunterclassescomparisonDamage-Per-SecondDPSEAeletronic-artsempirefeaturedgameplayhealerhyperspace-beaconLucasArtsmechanicsmirroredmirrored-classesprogression-videorepublicStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicStephen-Reidswtortankthe-old-republictortrinitytrooperTue, 05 Jul 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic reintroduces the Bounty Hunter progression]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/01/star-wars-the-old-republic-reintroduces-the-bounty-hunter-progr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/01/star-wars-the-old-republic-reintroduces-the-bounty-hunter-progr/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/01/star-wars-the-old-republic-reintroduces-the-bounty-hunter-progr/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Those wondering whether Mandalorians would be involved the in the Bounty Hunter storyline need look no further than the latest progression video released for Star Wars: The Old Republic. In it, the BioWare community team displays the class armor progression but also shows us parts of the Bounty Hunter story. Based on the image above with the Mythosaur-like skull, it could easily be said that Mandalorians throw some sort of tournament for your character to participate in. You can decide whether this is a class story you are interested in by watching the character progression video after the break.

Also, as with all the progression videos TOR as released thus far, we see five possible looks for the character beyond the initial set of armor. Most importantly, we bear witness to many of the powerful gadgets in the Bounty Hunter arsenal. Powertechs appear to specialize in short-ranged AoEs like the carbonite blast and flamethrower, whereas the Mercenary is clearly about ranged power with his dual pistols and wrist-rockets.

The full progression video follows after the break, and to read more about the Bounty Hunter, be sure to visit the official Star Wars: The Old Republic website.

Continue reading Star Wars: The Old Republic reintroduces the Bounty Hunter progression

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic reintroduces the Bounty Hunter progression originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 01 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWarebounty-hunterEAElectronic-ArtsLucasArtsmandalorianmercenarypowertechprogression-videoStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictortrailervideoFri, 01 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars Galaxies ages eight years gracefully]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/23/star-wars-galaxies-ages-eight-years-gracefully/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/23/star-wars-galaxies-ages-eight-years-gracefully/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/23/star-wars-galaxies-ages-eight-years-gracefully/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Much like the current Star Wars MMO in development, Star Wars Galaxies had a very active forum community before the game even launched. Many of those who were a part of that original community still play the game. Although I was not an active member of that first community, I certainly read what was happening and was extremely excited when the game launched on June 23rd, 2003. For the first time in history, a player was allowed to create his own character to live in the Star Wars universe. And despite the issues that would come a couple of years later, the community in the game is still strong and active.

I logged into my old stomping grounds of Starsider on a character that some people would recognize. Since I am an avid roleplayer and that community is still very active in SWG, I joined one of the chat channels I knew and asked where I could possibly find some RP events for the evening. It was still early, so I was not expecting much. To my surprise, I received an immediate reply. The members of the channel said there were not any events that they were aware of, but I may be able to find some RP in a couple of player-owned cities. One of these cities was the city I used to spend all my time in: Red Sands. I had to see what was going on there after years of being away. I was take aback when I arrived. The leaders of the town had placed an invading force of NPCs about the city and were having a stand-off with the citizens, a scene that appeared to be right out of a western.

The story continues after the break. Find out why Star Wars Galaxies is still active after eight years from Pilot Senator Anishor, the developers, and the active players.

Gallery: 8 years of Star Wars Galaxies

Continue reading Star Wars Galaxies ages eight years gracefully

MassivelyStar Wars Galaxies ages eight years gracefully originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Jun 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>8-year-anniversary8-yearsAnishoranniversarybounty-hunterbounty-hunting-in-spaceentertainerentertainer-updatefeaturedhackno-tradepilot-senatorplayer-bountiesplayer-bountyrare-lootRed-sandssoesoe-hackSonysony-hackSony-Online-Entertainmentspace-bounty-huntingStar-Warsstar-wars-galaxiesstarsiderswgwitches-of-dathomirThu, 23 Jun 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Human High Culture]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/17/hyperspace-beacon-human-high-culture/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/17/hyperspace-beacon-human-high-culture/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/17/hyperspace-beacon-human-high-culture/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

BioWare games are notorious for interweaving allegories on racism in their plotlines. If you take Mass Effect, for example, Navigator Pressly was a human who had major issues with aliens -- especially Turians. Inversely, the Citadel Council was definitely prejudiced against humans because the human species was rather new to Citadel space and rising to power too quickly by the Council's standards. These undertones help give the Mass Effect story depth and real-world relevance.

Although it's not an overt plot point in the Star Wars series of movies, speciesism does sometimes play a heavy hand in the Expanded Universe. In the Galactic Empire, this is known as Human High Culture. In the high political offices of the Galactic Empire under Emperor Palpatine, humans were regarded as superior to other species of the galaxy. Humans were, after all, most numerous, and they also did not originate from a single planet like most species. But the roots of the Human High Culture date back further than the events in Star Wars: The Old Republic. They may date all the way back to the first Dark Jedi to rule over the Sith people on Korriban.

With this idea of Human High Culture in mind, I would like to talk about the species available to the SWTOR Imperial classes. In the May edition of PC Gamer UK, an over-ambitious reporter incorrectly announced a list of species and class combinations. What I would like to do today is make my own list based on what I know of Star Wars lore and announced species in the game. Continue after the break as I compile the list.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Human High Culture

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Human High Culture originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 May 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWarebounty-hunterChissclassesEAElectronic-ArtsEmpirefeaturedhuman-high-cultureImperial-AgentLucasArtsPC-Gamerpc-gamer-ukpureblood-sithRattatakiSithSith-Empiresith-inquisitorsith-purebloodsith-warriorspeciesStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-lore-guidethe-old-republictorTue, 17 May 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Predictions for The Old Republic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/07/the-perfect-ten-predictions-for-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/07/the-perfect-ten-predictions-for-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/07/the-perfect-ten-predictions-for-the-old-republic/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I'm going to share with you a deep secret about the Massively staff: Pretty much all of us hate Larry. Oh, as a person he's likable enough, and he showers regularly, so no complaints there. He even saved the President's dog once and earned the Merit of Patriotic Pooches. Women swoon at his feet, and men occasionally throw their billfolds at him just so that he can afford to live the luxurious lifestyle that he obviously deserves.

No, we hate him for a different reason entirely. You see, Larry gets the privilege and honor of being the Star Wars: The Old Republic reporter in these here parts, which has earned him no end of envy from the rest of us. Whenever we're all talking about TOR, Shawn will come in the room and tell all of us to cut it out -- except Larry. "Larry, it's your job to talk about The Old Republic. Keep on truckin', pal! You're the best!"

And then Larry sticks his tongue out at us and makes pretend lightsaber noises for an hour or so while we grit our teeth.

But then I remembered: I have a top ten column! In which I can talk about anything! And if that subject so happened to be TOR, then for one glorious week I could actually talk about BioWare's upcoming MMO without fear of reprisal from upper management! So today is all about my predictions for The Old Republic. Nine of them will come true; one will not. Have fun guessing which one!

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Predictions for The Old Republic

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Predictions for The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebounty-hunterchewiechuck-norriscompanionscraftingea-biowarefeaturedflashpointforce-usergeorge-lucasgreedohan-shot-firsthan-soloimperial-agentjabba-the-huttjawajawa-jedijedikashyyyklarrylarry-everettlightsaberlukemerit-of-patriotic-poochesrancor-pitreturn-of-the-jedisarlaccsmugglerstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictime-traveltortrooperunionswedge-antilleswookieeworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 07 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR says BAM! is the word for today's update]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/04/swtor-says-bam-is-the-word-for-todays-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/04/swtor-says-bam-is-the-word-for-todays-update/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/04/swtor-says-bam-is-the-word-for-todays-update/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Big news exploded from the Star Wars: The Old Republic camp today. We knew BioWare was going to be at PAX East this year, but we knew nothing of the team's specific plans. In today's updates, the SWTOR devs not only revealed more about the Bounty Hunter profession as we predicted from yesterday's IGN video reveal but also told us that visitors to their PAX booth would be the first of the general public to play the Taral V flashpoint.

The Bounty Hunter page has been overhauled to reflect the advanced classes of Powertech and Mercenary. On the starships page, catch the detailed specs of the Kuat Drive Yards D5-Mantis Patrol Craft -- or the D5-Mantis, for those who think KDYD5MPC is a silly acronym. Mako, the Nar Shaddaa slicer, was officially revealed as a companion for the Bounty Hunter. Also, don't forget the Rattataki species on the inhabitants page.

SWTOR fans who were waiting on endgame reveals will hopefully be going to PAX East this year. You will be able to play a Trooper, Smuggler, Jedi Knight, or Jedi Consular in the Republic Taral V flashpoint, with Lead Designer James Ohlen and Lead Writer Daniel Erickson in the booth to answer all your questions. While you're at booth 912, don't forget to ask for your invitation to the Community Meet and Greet, which starts directly after the booth closes Saturday night -- the event's at the Westin Boston Waterfront hotel right next to the convention center.

Gallery: SWTOR Bounty Hunter reveal

MassivelySWTOR says BAM! is the word for today's update originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advanced-classesBioWarebounty-hunterclassclassescompanionsdaniel-ericksonEAElectronic-ArtsFlashpointjames-ohlenLucasArtsPAXPAX-EastPAX-East-2011Star-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstarshipstarshipsswtorTaral-Vthe-old-republictorFri, 04 Mar 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic -- BOOM! Goes the Bounty Hunter]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/03/star-wars-the-old-republic-boom-goes-the-bounty-hunter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/03/star-wars-the-old-republic-boom-goes-the-bounty-hunter/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/03/star-wars-the-old-republic-boom-goes-the-bounty-hunter/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Boba Fett, eat your heart out. Nothing compares to the tricks and tactics of the Star Wars: The Old Republic Bounty Hunter class. IGN was able to give us a sneak peek at the latest class video for BioWare's Star Wars MMO. The Bounty Hunter was the first class to be revealed for SWTOR about two years ago, but it still generates the excitement it always has.

As the video shows us, the Bounty Hunter is all about gadgets -- Holy kriff! Did he just flash-freeze someone in carbonite?! -- right, gadgets. From flamethrowers to jetpacks, these devices are what keeps the Bounty Hunter in business. From the moment we first heard Boba Fett say "As you wish" in the Empire Strikes back, we knew the definition of awesome in the Star Wars universe was "Bounty Hunter."

Catch the full video after the break, check out the IGN interview, then stay tuned to Massively tomorrow as -- most assuredly -- more information will be released on this powerful class.

Continue reading Star Wars: The Old Republic -- BOOM! Goes the Bounty Hunter

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic -- BOOM! Goes the Bounty Hunter originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWareboba-fettbounty-hunterclassclassesEAElectronic-Artsflash-freeze-in-carbonite-babyLucasArtsStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictortrailervideoThu, 03 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[One Shots: Woohoo Naboo]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/one-shots-woohoo-naboo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/one-shots-woohoo-naboo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/27/one-shots-woohoo-naboo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

With the Galactic Moon Festival in full swing, players are enjoying all manner of spooky shenanigans in Star Wars Galaxies. However, if you're not in the mood for tricks or treats, there's always nice scenery and large out-of-the-way areas to enjoy! One such example of a non-spooky treat comes to us from Joshua O., who wrote a quick note about a recent day of playing Star Wars Galaxies: "Such a beautiful day to be a Bounty Hunter on Naboo!"

One Shots needs your screenshots -- no matter what MMO you're playing! Gather some up and email them to us here at oneshots@massively.com along with your name and the game it's from. We'll post your screens and give you credit for capturing the moment.

Gallery: One Shots: Gallery II

MassivelyOne Shots: Woohoo Naboo originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Whether you're a groundpounder or a space jockey, The Old Republic is gunning your way, big-time. Fans of either (or both!) aspects of the game have a little more to look forward to this week, as BioWare released additional information on the advanced classes and rolled out the first two starfighters for the public to see.

In its recent Fan Friday, BioWare clarified the 16 class specializations by listing each of their top three attributes. For example, bounty hunter players have the choice between powertech or mercenary paths. Powertechs will assume more of a tank role, with flamethrowers and defense shields at the ready. Mercenaries, on the other hand, are to be the ranged DPS version of the class, dealing out the pain with dual guns and missiles.

If the recently revealed space combat has you itching to jump into the cockpit, you can check out the first two starships (out of six) that will take pilots through the midst of adrenaline-pumping battles. The Fury is an Imperial interceptor (which looks like a predecessor of the TIE Interceptor), designed with speed and firepower in mind. Its counterpart, the Defender, is a standard Republic corvette that's been upgraded with turbolasers and shields for quick combat missions. Hopefully, we'll find out the remaining four fighters before too long!

MassivelyThe Old Republic clarifies advanced classes' roles, unveils first two combat ships originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advanced-classesbiowarebounty-hunterclassesdefendorea-biowarefurymercenariespowertechspace-combatstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictie-interceptortorSun, 22 Aug 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gamescom 2010: BioWare reveals 10 new advanced classes for TOR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/18/gamescom-2010-bioware-reveals-10-new-advance-classes-for-tor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/18/gamescom-2010-bioware-reveals-10-new-advance-classes-for-tor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/18/gamescom-2010-bioware-reveals-10-new-advance-classes-for-tor/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We've known for a while now that Star Wars: The Old Republic is planning to offer players two different specializations for each class, but up until now we've only heard of a couple of them. Today at Gamescom, however, BioWare unloaded the names and loose descriptions of ten advanced classes. The best part? No Bothans died for this information.

Darth Hater reports that imperial agent characters will have the choice between specializing as snipers (long-range DPS) or operatives (who use stealth and short-range weapons to get up close and personal). If a bounty hunter is more to your liking, then the choice between a powertech and a mercenary should get your imagination racing. Over on the Republic side, troopers will sign up for either commando or vanguard training. Commandos are the tanking line, although we don't know much about vanguards yet. SWTOR-Station spied a Zabrak trooper at the BioWare booth, indicating another possible race for the class.

Force-users are also in store for powerful upgrades. The villainous Sith inquisitors choose their path between a more Force-happy sorcerer or the twin lightsaber-using assassin. Their counterpart, the Jedi consular, has a similar decision to make: that of a shadow, who can use double-bladed lightsabers, or a wizard, who uses a single lightsaber but can heal. Are Star Wars fans ready for wizards and sorcerers in their MMO? Somehow, we think so.

MassivelyGamescom 2010: BioWare reveals 10 new advanced classes for TOR originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advanced-classesassassinbiowarebioware-mythicbothansbounty-hunterclassescommandocounsulardarth-haterea-biowaregamescomgamescom-2010i-find-your-lack-of-specialization-disturbingimperial-agentmercenaryoperativepowertechshadowsith-inquisitorsnipersorcererstar-wars-the-old-republicthe-old-republictortroopervanguardwizardWed, 18 Aug 2010 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: The bald and the blue]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/26/hyperspace-beacon-the-bald-and-the-blue/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/26/hyperspace-beacon-the-bald-and-the-blue/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/26/hyperspace-beacon-the-bald-and-the-blue/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

As some of you may be aware, I love the whole idea of roleplaying and storytelling in an MMO setting. Also -- which should be more than evident -- I am a huge fan of the Star Wars franchise. As a roleplayer, I always like the idea of being able to do whatever I want in an MMO -- truly creating my own story. I like it when a developer gives me the blocks, and I stack them the way I want to. I build my castle the way I envision it. So you can imagine when I heard there were class restrictions on races in Star Wars: The Old Republic, I said (and I quote), "LOLOMGWTGDairyQueen-LOLOMGBBtheQ![TM]" I thought it was a really, really bad idea. How was I going to make my pink, cybernetic, Nightsister Wookiee? Then I realized that particular Wookiee would totally be unimmersing, which is exactly what I despise about a good chunk of MMOs.

So after dealing with my temporary bout with insanity, I realized immersion was more important than my desire to play with blocks, but I still wanted to make these characters the best they could be. Now it was time to find out as much as I could about the species I will be able to play. Follow me after the break to see what I found.

[TM] LOLOMGWTGDairyQueen-LOLOMGBBtheQ! is the trademarked (not really) catch phrase of Morte of the Oxhorn Brand Machimina

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: The bald and the blue

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: The bald and the blue originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aayla-securaAidusAsajj-VentressBib-fortunaBioWarebounty-hunterchissclone-warsCount-dookuCsillaDarth-kraytEAea-biowareElectronic-ArtsfeaturedGalactic-Empirehigh-human-culturehuman-high-cultureJabba-the-huttlekkuLucasArtsmission-vaooolaorn-free-taapink-cybernetic-nightsister-wookieeRattatakirylothsevrance-tannsmugglerStar-Warsstar-wars-legacystar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-lore-guidethe-old-republicThrawnTimothy-Zahntortwi-lekMon, 26 Jul 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose my Adventure: The force is strong in this one]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/14/choose-my-adventure-the-force-is-strong-in-this-one/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/14/choose-my-adventure-the-force-is-strong-in-this-one/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/14/choose-my-adventure-the-force-is-strong-in-this-one/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Join me as I brave my way through lands unknown in an adventure dictated entirely by you, the Massively readers! Vote for everything from game played to character creation to ultimate goal and watch it unfold in a series of posts and galleries here on the site. Then, as our two months are up, we'll do it all over again in a new game!

Last week, our readers voted on various different things that would shape the course of my adventure in Star Wars Galaxies. At the close of the polls, the winning combination turned out to be a male Twi'lek on Starsider. In terms of profession, we had a tie between Jedi and bounty hunter at the close of the poll with 310 votes each, which made it a bit of a toss-up. (Note: there's a bug, thus the additional votes.) Dutifully, I rolled one of each and played them for a few levels, but in the end, decided on Jedi between the two as I'm much more used to melee-based characters when it comes to my previous MMO experience and tastes.

Mind you, I also realize that in the time period that Star Wars Galaxies is set in, there's really only supposed to be one Jedi running around (depending on whether or not Yoda and Obi-Wan have shuffled off their mortal coils as yet) and a handful of force-latent folks scattered out. But let's face it -- who hasn't watched the movies and wanted to be a lightsaber-wielding Jedi or Sith? I freely admit I was that dorky kid waving around a wrapping paper tube and making lightsaber noises. I still do it on occasion: only I have an iPhone lightsaber now.

Anyway, enough with my reminiscing on where I was when Episodes 4, 5, and 6 came out, let's get on with the advenure!

Continue reading Choose my Adventure: The force is strong in this one

MassivelyChoose my Adventure: The force is strong in this one originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>apketh-xanwatbounty-hunterchoose-my-adventurecmafeaturedjedilegacy-questmos-eisleysoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstarsiderswgtutorialtwilekWed, 14 Jul 2010 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Fett's threads: The progression of SWTOR's bounty hunter armor]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/22/fetts-threads-the-progression-of-swtors-bounty-hunter-armor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/22/fetts-threads-the-progression-of-swtors-bounty-hunter-armor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/22/fetts-threads-the-progression-of-swtors-bounty-hunter-armor/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Star Wars: The Old Republic did not exactly keep a low profile at E3 this year. Between another slam-bang cinematic trailer and the revelation of player ships and war zones, the razzle dazzle of news kept us all hopping. However, BioWare did drop a few smaller bits of TOR goodness for us to snatch up, including a nifty video showing armor progression for the bounty hunter.

As with most MMOs, the look, bulk and "cool" factor of armor increases as one levels up and gets his or her hands on the latest and greatest gear. In this video, a bounty hunter is taken through the paces fighting enemies as he goes through five iterations of armor, each more threatening than the last. A sharp-eyed viewer can even spot a couple unfortunate souls frozen in carbonite in the background.

Check out the video after the jump!

Continue reading Fett's threads: The progression of SWTOR's bounty hunter armor

MassivelyFett's threads: The progression of SWTOR's bounty hunter armor originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Jun 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Welcome, fans of Star Wars and Star Wars: The Old Republic. Some would say you cannot be a true Star Wars fan unless you are a fan of Mandalorians. Followers of these space-Spartans bury themselves deep in the warrior culture. The bearers of the iconic T-shaped visor have inspired costume after costume, scores of fan sites, collections of comic books, and bunches of books. The author of many of those books, Karen Traviss, created a whole independent language called Mando'a.

The Mandalorians' history starts with a species called the Taung, who were renowned throughout the galaxy for their amazing conquests and advanced war technology. Calling themselves Mandalorians after their leader, Mandalore the First, these crusaders conquered all of what would be known as the Mandalore Sector, assimilating the native species into the culture of war and honor.

The depth of the Mandalorian culture cannot be covered in one article, but I would like to take a few key figures from the culture, study them, and contemplate their role in shaping Star Wars: The Old Republic. Let us explore this together after the break.

Ib'tuur jatne tuur ash'ad kyr'amur!

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Enter the Mandalorians

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Enter the Mandalorians originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>artusBioWareboba-fettbounty-hunterCanderous-Ordodaniel-ericksonEAElectronic-ArtsFandalorianfetts-vetteKaren-Travissmandaloremandalore-the-lessermandalorianmandaloriansMC-Chrisstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-lore-guideTaungMon, 07 Jun 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR video interview covers final two classes and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/03/swtor-video-interview-covers-final-two-classes-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/03/swtor-video-interview-covers-final-two-classes-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/03/swtor-video-interview-covers-final-two-classes-and-more/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The guys at Giant Bomb have thrown up a ten minute long video interview with BioWare's Blaine Christine that covers topics ranging from details on the Jedi Consular and Sith Inquisitor to how companion characters work in grouping situations. Much of the new info is blended into stuff that's already been covered, but it servers as a nice refresher course on Star Wars: The Old Republic with some new stuff peppered in for good measure.

More than anything else, it sounds like the Consular and Inquisitor are support classes with some offensive capability. The notion makes a lot of sense, considering the Trooper and Bounty Hunter likely perform quite well as ranged DPS classes. Of course, until BioWare begins revealing specific abilities of the classes the best we can do is guess.

Find the video after the break.

Continue reading SWTOR video interview covers final two classes and more

MassivelySWTOR video interview covers final two classes and more originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blaine-christinebounty-huntereaelectronic-artsjedi-consularlucasartssith-inquisitorstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictrooperThu, 03 Dec 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: SWTOR's 'inquistoring' Consular conundrum]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/30/the-digital-continuum-swtors-inquistoring-consular-conundrum/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/30/the-digital-continuum-swtors-inquistoring-consular-conundrum/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/30/the-digital-continuum-swtors-inquistoring-consular-conundrum/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The revealing of Star Wars: The Old Republic's final two classes has incited much discussion amongst the community and inside my own brain. On one hand, lots of people are happy to have more Sith and Jedi classes to choose from. However, on the other hand, some people are disappointed in the lack of creative and unexpected class options.

In all reality, BioWare probably made the right choice, but let's look at the view of both sides for the sake of argument and to have a little fun.

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: SWTOR's 'inquistoring' Consular conundrum

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: SWTOR's 'inquistoring' Consular conundrum originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareboba-fettbounty-hunterconsulareaelectronic-artsfeaturedhan-soloinquistorjedi-consularknights-of-the-old-republickotorlucasartsopinionsith-inquisitorstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-digital-continuumthe-old-republicMon, 30 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Everybody loves a good cantina fight in Threat of Peace, issue #20]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/20/everybody-loves-a-good-cantina-fight-in-threat-of-peace-issue/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/20/everybody-loves-a-good-cantina-fight-in-threat-of-peace-issue/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/20/everybody-loves-a-good-cantina-fight-in-threat-of-peace-issue/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

And so the plot thickens, as the identity of the man attempting to dissolve the peace treaty between the Republic and the Empire is now closer to being revealed. Yes, this week BioWare continues their free online comic Threat of Peace with issue number 20, which largely focuses on the Bounty Hunter known as Braden.

The developer's propensity for seeding hints at future in-game content through this series continues, and in that statement we mean to say Nar Shadda is most likely going to be a playable planet in Star Wars: The Old Republic. We also wouldn't be surprised to see Dantooine become an in-game destination as well, since it's both a classic location and apparently the future site of some intrigue for Threat of Peace readers.

We suppose it'd be easy enough to assume most planets featured from the movies and previous KOTOR games will end up in Star Wars: The Old Republic. Nonetheless, it's fun to play the guessing game when it comes to a highly anticipated MMO. We're hoping the next official planet announcement goes to Nar Shadda, as it's just such a lovely place to visit.

MassivelyEverybody loves a good cantina fight in Threat of Peace, issue #20 originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebounty-hunterbradendantooinedarkhorseeaelectronic-artsempirelucasartsnar-shaddarepublicstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republicthreat-of-peacewebcomicFri, 20 Nov 2009 23:00:00 EST<![CDATA[EVE's Council of Stellar Management chairman interviewed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/26/eves-council-of-stellar-management-chairman-interviewed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/26/eves-council-of-stellar-management-chairman-interviewed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/26/eves-council-of-stellar-management-chairman-interviewed/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

One of the things that sets EVE Online apart from most other MMOs running is its Council of Stellar Management (CSM) -- player-elected representatives who work with developer CCP to improve the game. Garret Fuller at MMORPG.com recently sat down for an interview with CSM Chairman Dierdra Vaal (coincidentally a man with fine taste in ships) to discuss player input on EVE Online and how the CSM helps to make this happen.

Although his comments do not confirm what's on the way in future EVE Online expansions, Vaal also discusses an interesting expansion concept CCP Games is knocking around. Vaal tells MMORPG.com: "It's basically a big expansion idea focusing on low sec and gameplay on the wrong side of the law. I feel this could tie in quite well with my proposal for a new bounty hunter system. Overall, low sec may be the most neglected part of the game [...] and I think it would be great if it got the attention and bits of unique gameplay it deserves."

Beyond this idea of better supporting underworld gameplay in the future, Vaal explains how EVE Online is evolving into a more complex environment, namely through avatar interaction in Incarna, and social networking in New Eden (formerly "COSMOS").

Have a look at the MMORPG.com interview with Dierdra Vaal for more on how the CSM functions and what the council does for EVE Online's playerbase.

MassivelyEVE's Council of Stellar Management chairman interviewed originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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If nearly 20 minutes of Star Wars: The Old Republic gameplay footage narrated by BioWare developers themselves is the kind of thing you get excited about, then today is a very exciting day for the both of us.

IGN is hosting the video that's so huge it comes in four parts. Here's where it gets awesome: It'll show you lengthy gameplay for the Bounty Hunter, Smuggler and Sith Warrior classes in addition to some of the game's planets. Plus, BioWare gives you something of a director's commentary of what's happening with each of the classes. In effect, it's almost pure nerdnip.

Even at almost 20 minutes long, we found ourselves feeling like it all went by far too quickly and there's a definite possibility we may re-watch it again. That seems like a good sign of things to come, at least for BioWare and not so much for our social lives. Check out all four videos after the break.

Continue reading Nearly 20min worth of SWTOR gameplay video

MassivelyNearly 20min worth of SWTOR gameplay video originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I've been holding off on this for a little while, but it's the kind of subject that is impossible for me to avoid indefinitely. Classes were the last topic I touched upon, and there was quite a lot of conversation. In fact, there was a whole bunch of it to follow. So let's discuss the potential races for Star Wars: The Old Republic and, as usual, feel free to toss in your thoughts and picks in the comments. It wouldn't be the same without them.

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: Let the Star Wars races begin

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: Let the Star Wars races begin originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebounty-hunterdroiddroidseaelectronic-artsfeaturedkotorlucasartsopinionstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-digital-continuumthe-old-republictrandoshantwilekwookieezabrakMon, 17 Aug 2009 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Free the Bounty Hunter in Threat of Peace issue 12]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/03/free-the-bounty-hunter-in-threat-of-peace-issue-12/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/03/free-the-bounty-hunter-in-threat-of-peace-issue-12/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/03/free-the-bounty-hunter-in-threat-of-peace-issue-12/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


It's not always the best idea to bet on a Bounty Hunter when no money is involved, but such is the case in the newest issue of Star Wars: The Old Republic's Threat of Peace. We suppose freedom is payment enough for this particular Bounty Hunter, assuming he doesn't get caught up in something else.

Besides, by freeing the Bounty Hunter we get to see his awesome Tie Fighter-like ride, as seen above. Meanwhile, our Empire droid and Jedi seem to have fumbled their way into being saved from their tight spot adrift in the depth of space. Although, not everything is as it seems.

Unfortunately, there aren't any signs or hints at a new class this week, as has been the case in previous installments. No, this week just moves the story along. We could experience a dry spell of really exciting information up until PAX, but our hope is that won't be the case.

MassivelyFree the Bounty Hunter in Threat of Peace issue 12 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Looking at the official Star Wars: The Old Republic class page reveals four slots on both factions, with three total filled thus far. Of course, you'll notice that Jedi and Sith aren't shown here, but it's a forgone conclusion that they'll be filled sooner or later. While nobody but BioWare can be sure what the final classes actually, half the fun is trying to figure them out before they're announced.

So with that said, it's time to take a few educated guess stabs at potential classes, and formulate our wish lists. I'm sure you've all got ones of your own as well, so feel free to share!

Continue reading What are SWTOR's three final classes?

MassivelyWhat are SWTOR's three final classes? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebounty-huntereaelectronic-artsempirefeaturedgalactic-republicjedilucasartsopinionrepublicsithsmugglerstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtortrooperThu, 30 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: SWTOR turns up the heat]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/09/the-digital-continuum-swtor-turns-up-the-heat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/09/the-digital-continuum-swtor-turns-up-the-heat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/09/the-digital-continuum-swtor-turns-up-the-heat/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


E3 2009 has come and gone, with it came new information on Star Wars: The Old Republic -- and fresh concerns. To call BioWare ambitious would be an understatement of vast proportions. Every NPC receiving full voice acting ratcheted up my curiosity as much as it did my eyebrows. We may need a new word to describe the depths of this game's ambition.

As if the voice acting news wasn't enough, BioWare revealed a cinematic trailer that reminded me how powerful this property can truly be, in the right hands. The excitement was so immediately potent that it caused some people to cry "over-hyped!" in the few short minutes between the trailer's beginning and ending.

I think it's time to asses the current situation, and maybe ponder a few things about Star Wars and BioWare.

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: SWTOR turns up the heat

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: SWTOR turns up the heat originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocbiowarebounty-huntere3-2009eaelectronic-artsfeaturedfuncomhypejedilucas-artsmythicsithsmugglerstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtortoboldtrooperwarwarhammer-onlineTue, 09 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Threat of Peace issue 8 could be dropping hints]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/07/threat-of-peace-issue-8-could-be-dropping-hints/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/07/threat-of-peace-issue-8-could-be-dropping-hints/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/07/threat-of-peace-issue-8-could-be-dropping-hints/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Star Wars: The Old Republic's free online comic, Threat of Peace, has reached issue number eight and finally introduced one of those lovable droids. It's safe to say that so far throughout this storyline, many of the prominent characters and their prospective races featured in this comic have the potential to be in-game racial options. Humans, Twi'leks and Wookiees have all been popular thus far, and now it looks like droids may in fact be a possibility. It's positively delightful!

Of course, races that have seen the limelight in Threat of Peace aren't the only signs of things to come. Bounty Hunters and Troopers both received notable attention. Whether or not this sets any kind of reasonable precedent is something we'll leave up to you, however.

MassivelyThreat of Peace issue 8 could be dropping hints originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 07 Jun 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The trailer for Star Wars: The Old Republic blew nerds around the world away, and has managed to build some of the greatest hype possible for an MMO in just a few short days. The question has been asked whether or not a trailer which contains absolutely no gameplay footage should be producing that sort of hype, but that trailer wasn't all that we saw of the upcoming MMORPG at E3. A panel dedicated to The Old Republic had much more to say.

The panel opened up with the stage being set: The Old Republic begins 3,000 years before the rise of Darth Vader, 300 years after the events of Knights of the Old Republic, which would give BioWare an excellent opportunity to define and expand upon key events of Star Wars "pre-history."

The entire presentation laid a significant emphasis on story and story elements. Right from the beginning, the developers lay out it: RPGs have four primary elements. Exploration, combat, progression, and story. The story element is the one most overlooked in MMOs, and The Old Republic intends to address that head on. They intend to embrace story right alongside the other RPG elements. It will be a major player, and not something just used to justify the other elements.

Gallery: Star Wars: The Old Republic Screenshots

A HuttCantina of the Hutt PalaceDroids with blastersTomb Lightsaber Duel Trooper opens fire

Continue reading E3 2009: Star Wars: The Old Republic demonstration

MassivelyE3 2009: Star Wars: The Old Republic demonstration originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 21:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We know about the basics of the Bounty Hunter class in Star Wars: The Old Republic, but not the finer details of the how and why. That's where BioWare's first developer blog on classes comes into the picture. The focus of the piece is to explain the reasoning behind choices made concerning the Bounty Hunter, and in its mission to do so a little bit more of the game is revealed.

For instance, since each class will have its own story and both the Republic and Sith Empire are to have different quest experiences entirely, a character class will only exist on one side. This means that Bounty Hunters are Sith Empire only -- so we hope those who're planning on rolling this class aren't too set on being on printing business cards with "The Republic" on them.

What excites us most is the bevy of choices BioWare is attempting to make available to players. "Does your honor come from getting the job done or being a good person? Is your loyalty to your crew, your conscience or your credits?" It's questions like these that perk the ears on our heads. And our hope is that delivery will be made so that our precious time can be ticked away on a galactic battle between forces of good and evil.

MassivelyBounty Hunter is Sith Empire only and full of choices in latest BioWare dev blog originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Apr 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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With the first class page for Star Wars: The Old Republic, the fact that this game is really happening seems to have further solidified in our brains. It certainly helps that the first class profile also happens to be for the glorious Bounty Hunter -- a class for the player looking to strike fear into the hearts of anyone with a mark on their head.

The class page is full of screens and concept art, which we've put into our galleries. There are also three short clips showing off an advanced blaster, a twin-jumppack attack and that classic wrist flamethrower we all know and love. We're definitely looking forward to future class reveals, if this is the standard to which BioWare is going to hold themselves to.

Gallery: Star Wars: The Old Republic Screenshots

A HuttCantina of the Hutt PalaceDroids with blastersTomb Lightsaber Duel Trooper opens fire

Gallery: Star Wars: The Old Republic Concept Art

MassivelyOld Republic's Bounty Hunter class detailed with screens, art and video clips originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebounty-huntereaelectronic-artslucas-artsstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorFri, 20 Mar 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Bounty Hunter class revealed in second The Old Republic video documentary]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/15/bounty-hunter-class-revealed-in-second-the-old-republic-video-do/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/15/bounty-hunter-class-revealed-in-second-the-old-republic-video-do/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/15/bounty-hunter-class-revealed-in-second-the-old-republic-video-do/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


The second video documentary from BioWare focuses heavily on how Star Wars: The Old Republic is approaching story. While that may sound like retreading old ground -- and a little of it is -- there's actually some very new information held within the video.

The biggest of which is the official acknowledgment of the Bounty Hunter class who, according to BioWare, will have "his own movie trilogy" story told to players in the shape of enormous quest lines. And this is in addition to the game's overall story, which puts the amount of story in this game well over a metric ton.

Additionally, we learn that the so-called peace treaty between the Republic and Sith Empire is really more of an agreement to avoid all out war. Or in other words, players of light and dark side will be facing off against each other in plenty of skirmishes throughout the entire game. The news isn't that surprising, especially considering an MMO's got to have its conflict play -- or PvP play, if you like.

Check out the video after the cut.

Continue reading Bounty Hunter class revealed in second The Old Republic video documentary

MassivelyBounty Hunter class revealed in second The Old Republic video documentary originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 15 Mar 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NetDevil recently unleashed a ton of new images from Jumpgate Evolution, including both concept art and screen shots. And while the new screens are full of amazing space battles, we had to put the spotlight on this concept piece you see above. Are primary reason is because this early captial ship sketch is pretty amazingly designed, and there was no way we couldn't point out how impressive it'll be to see it fully rendered in-game come launch this June.

Still, our favorite newest screen is easily this shot of the spacecraft with the wing-design. Now, is it just us, or is that ship one 90 degree wing-turn away from highly resembling bounty hunter Boba Fett's Slave I spacecraft? Hmm, seems like the guys and gals over at NetDevil are letting their Star Wars geek show. Groovy!

Gallery: Jumpgate Evolution Gallery

MassivelyNewest Jumpgate Evolution screens would make Boba Fett proud originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 28 Feb 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This morning marked a small update to Star Wars Galaxies as the development team updated the servers to the new update 7.1.

7.1 doesn't mark any major changes coming to the galaxy -- instead it focuses on just a few fixes and updates to the game. The bounty hunters and officers will enjoy having the restrictions of armor expertise removed, so they aren't stuck in battle armor or assault armor.

The main update, update 7, added in the Ewok Festival of Love to celebrate the Valentine's Day season. All the standard fixings of food, chocolate fountains, and dancing Ewoks are back for another appearance, and this year you can even play Cupid! In addition, update 7 provided some really hefty changes to the spy class, but we'll leave that for you to read over.

MassivelyStar Wars Galaxies releases update 7.1 to live servers, includes dancing Ewoks originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armor-restrictionbounty-hunterholoshroudsofficersoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesswgupdate-7.1Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Picking apart the first Star Wars: The Old Republic video piece by piece]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/12/picking-apart-the-first-star-wars-the-old-republic-video-piece/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/12/picking-apart-the-first-star-wars-the-old-republic-video-piece/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/12/12/picking-apart-the-first-star-wars-the-old-republic-video-piece/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


The first video for Star Wars: The Old Republic is out now, and with its release comes the first of many posts and features wherein we look at every possible angle or detail in the new information and try to discern what it could all really mean. So let's take a look at the list we've put together for the very first in-game footage:

  • Kel'dor are playable. (possible)
  • Bounty Hunter is a player class. (possible)
  • Companions fight with you in combat. (confirmed)
  • The art style picked by BioWare works much better in motion than in screens. (confirmed)
  • BioWare is holding back on a big game feature yet to be revealed. (speculation)
  • Combat similar to KOTOR, but much faster-paced and with a lot more "Whoa" attacks and effects. (confirmed/possible)
  • Players who go extreme lightside or darkside may not be able to play with each other. (speculation)
  • BioWare is totally psyched to be working with LucasArts on making another Star Wars game. (confirmed, like totally)
We're anxiously awaiting the next video so that we may once again devour it with a geeky hunger like no other.
Star Wars: The Old Republic BioWare has finally unveiled Star Wars: The Old Republic, their new MMO! Massively's got you covered on all the details. Check out our comprehensive guide on everything we know so far about the game, or just peruse our screenshot/concept art galleries. Join us in the Galaxy far, far away!

MassivelyPicking apart the first Star Wars: The Old Republic video piece by piece originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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They say pet owners look like their pets. There are enough people who put stock in their horoscope to see it put in the daily newspaper. Heck, even which Hogwarts House you identify with probably says something about you. So why not your Massively Multiplayer game of choice? Over the next few weeks we at Massively are going to do our level best to help you make holiday gift giving easy. We'll run down some of the player archetypes you might have among your friends, based on the games they play. We'll give you gift ideas perfect for that type of player and (if it seems right) even some in-game presents that might fit well with their play style.

Today I've got a pile of gift ideas for that rare breed: the Star Wars Galaxies player. Playing a much-maligned game can be hard, but the folks still participating in the story of the galaxy far, far away have their reasons. Maybe it's the crafting, maybe it's the twitch combat ... maybe it's the awesome player housing. For that player - be they Jedi or Bounty Hunter, Sith or Savior - we have an idea that'll keep them happily humming John Williams music on December 25th.

Read on for our gift ideas, and (please) toss out your own in the comments!

Continue reading Massively's gift guide for the Star Wars Galaxies player

MassivelyMassively's gift guide for the Star Wars Galaxies player originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 Dec 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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