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[Star Wars: The Old Republic hit with layoffs [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/star-wars-the-old-republic-hit-with-layoffs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/star-wars-the-old-republic-hit-with-layoffs/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/05/22/star-wars-the-old-republic-hit-with-layoffs/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Star Wars: The Old Republic - Sith cinematic
BioWare doctors Greg Zeschuk and Ray Muzyka have posted a blurb on the official Star Wars: The Old Republic website confirming the downsizing of the game's development team. The update is short on details and long on superlatives relating to the sci-fi MMO's successful launch, so we're not sure who was laid off at this point.

The docs say that it's business as usual going forward for SWTOR and that the game will continue to grow over time. "We still have a very substantial development team working on supporting and growing the game, and we feel we are in a strong position, with your continued involvement and feedback, to continue to build Star Wars: The Old Republic as one of the most compelling and successful online experiences in the world today," the statement reads.

[Update: SWTOR Community Manager Stephen Reid has today changed his LinkedIn page indicating that his tenure with the studio ended in May 2012, suggesting that he might be one of those affected by these layoffs. We'll keep you posted as we learn more.]

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic hit with layoffs [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 May 2012 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-layoffsbreakingeaelectronic-artsgreg-zeschuklucasartsray-muzykasci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstar-wars-the-old-republic-layoffssubsubscription-feeswtorswtor-layoffsthe-old-republictortor-layoffsTue, 22 May 2012 12:20:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR extends free game time promotion beyond level 50 characters]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/swtor-extends-free-game-time-promotion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/swtor-extends-free-game-time-promotion/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/13/swtor-extends-free-game-time-promotion/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

SWTOR
If the news of yesterday's Star Wars: The Old Republic promotion to give level 50 players a month of free game time rubbed some members -- the non-50s, specifically -- the wrong way, then BioWare's on the scene to make amends. The studio announced that it's expanding its Legacy promotion to include a wider range of players.

In addition to applying to any player who's reached level 50, the 30 days of free game time will now be applied to the account of anyone who has reached Legacy Level 6 in the game. This condition requires that a player has unlocked his or her Legacy at the end of Chapter 1 and then achieved six levels across any number of toons (Legacy XP is shared across an account).

Another change to this promotion is that players have over a week to hit either one of these goals. Players now have until 1:00 p.m. EDT on April 22nd to achieve either level 50 on a character or Legacy Level 6 on an account to receive the free month of play.

Following news of yesterday's Legacy promotion, the SWTOR forums exploded with discussion over the topic, with the main discussion thread reaching over 250 pages on the subject.

MassivelySWTOR extends free game time promotion beyond level 50 characters originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1.2-patch1.2-updatebiowareeaelectronic-artsfree-game-timefree-gametimefree-play-timeGreg-Zeschuklegacylegacy-levellegacy-promotionlucasartspatch-1.2promotionsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubsubscription-feeswtorthe-old-republictorupdate-1.2Fri, 13 Apr 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: The inevitable Mass Effect MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/the-soapbox-the-inevitability-of-a-mass-effect-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/the-soapbox-the-inevitability-of-a-mass-effect-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/03/13/the-soapbox-the-inevitability-of-a-mass-effect-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Mass Effect - The Normandy (SR1)
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

I don't know about you, but I've yet to play Mass Effect 3. This is not by choice, mind you, and now that I've returned from the wilds of last week's GDC, it's time to settle in for another 30-hour tour with Shepard and company.

What does this have to do with MMOs? Well, nothing really, except that BioWare hasn't exactly closed the door on a Mass Effect title. On the contrary, the company's dynamic doctor duo have hinted at the fact that this, ahem, theoretical game would need to be somewhat different from the firm's maiden MMO voyage.

At this point I think an ME MMO is inevitable, so join me after the cut to discuss whether BioWare can really break the mold with its second effort as well as what that effort could look like.

Continue reading The Soapbox: The inevitable Mass Effect MMO

MassivelyThe Soapbox: The inevitable Mass Effect MMO originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-comfort-zonecomfort-zonecutscenesdesignea-biowareeditorialelectronic-artsfeaturedfourth-pillargreg-zeschukmass-effectmass-effect-mmommo-comfort-zonemmo-industrymmo-storyop-edopinionplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentpossibility-spacerantrantsray-muzykasandboxsandparksci-fisoapboxsoapbox-jef-reahardstorythe-fourth-pillarthe-soapboxthemeparkuser-generated-contentTue, 13 Mar 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare doctors discuss Mass Effect MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/27/bioware-doctors-discuss-mass-effect-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/27/bioware-doctors-discuss-mass-effect-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/27/bioware-doctors-discuss-mass-effect-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Mass Effect - Commander Shephard
The fast-approaching Mass Effect 3 hype bomb doesn't have much to do with MMOs, except maybe it does. Gamespot cornered BioWare doctors Greg Zeschuk and Ray Muzyka and asked the duo point-blank about a Mass Effect MMO, and the answer might surprise you.

"It's daunting, but the neat thing is it would lend itself to a different type of gameplay. It's fun to think about," Zeschuk told the website. Does that mean that the so-called fourth pillar of MMO story won't factor as heavily into the theoretical title as it does in Star Wars: The Old Republic?

It's anyone guess at this point, but Muzyka offers a further fanboy nugget that hints at the possibility of a new direction for BioWare MMOs. "When you deliver a game, and you deliver it for a player, you have to capture what they think is the possibility space," he explains. "You need to let them do everything they think they should do, and you can't block them from doing anything they think they should be able to do. You have to nail all the features and content that should be in that possibility space."

MassivelyBioWare doctors discuss Mass Effect MMO originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareea-biowareElectronic-Artsgreg-zeschukinterviewmass-effectmass-effect-mmoray-muzykasci-fiMon, 27 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare: Average SWTOR play session tops four hours]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/bioware-average-swtor-play-session-tops-four-hours/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/bioware-average-swtor-play-session-tops-four-hours/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/24/bioware-average-swtor-play-session-tops-four-hours/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Star Wars: The Old Republic - Twi'lek Smuggler girl
Star Wars: The Old Republic players are consuming game content in four- to six-hour sessions on average, according to Kotaku and BioWare bigwig Greg Zeschuk. "When they play, their sessions are absurd," he said recently.

Zeschuk goes on to say both that the retention is a sign of the title's addictive "just-one-more" gameplay and that the firm is pulling an "intense amount of analytics and telemetry" from the title.

Finally, he hints at the theory that most SWTOR players are happy due to a general drop in forum tomfoolery. "You can tell when things are going really well in the game," Zeschuk explains. "The amount of forum chatter drops. People don't go to forums. They just play."

Take that as you will, and let us know how long your average SWTOR session lasts.

MassivelyBioWare: Average SWTOR play session tops four hours originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>analyticsbiowareeaea-biowareElectronic-Artsgreg-zeschukinterviewmetricsmmo-industrysci-fistar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorFri, 24 Feb 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Force is with SWTOR: EA stock bounces back, budget revealed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/20/the-force-is-with-swtor-ea-stock-bounces-back-budget-revealed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/20/the-force-is-with-swtor-ea-stock-bounces-back-budget-revealed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/20/the-force-is-with-swtor-ea-stock-bounces-back-budget-revealed/#commentsFiled under: , ,

SWTOR
It seems like everyone is obsessed with the exact amount of money EA spent creating its most expensive title ever, but the Los Angeles Times may have a final number to end the discussion: Apparently, Star Wars: The Old Republic cost $200 million. Other interesting details from the Times' investigation into what it calls a "galactic gamble" include the fact that it was made by 800 people on four continents with an additional 1,000 voice actors (doing three languages) handling 4,000 characters.

The project was such a massive undertaking that BioWare co-founder Greg Zeschuk likened it to "teaching elephants to do ballet." One of the interesting details of this behind-the-scenes expose is that BioWare said that certain movies and TV miniseries influenced class storylines, such as Big Trouble in Little China for the Smuggler and Band of Brothers for the Trooper.

There's also some good news following yesterday's word of EA's stock hit. MarketWatch reports that several brokers have defended the title, resulting in a 2% bounce back in EA's stock. As part of that, a Pacific Crest analyst raised his predictions of quarter sales for SWTOR from 1.5 to 2.2 million, with 800,000 subscribers. Another analyst claims that over two million units of SWTOR have been sold since launch with an expectation that 75% to 90% of players will stay on as paid subscribers following the first free month.

MassivelyThe Force is with SWTOR: EA stock bounces back, budget revealed originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 20 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>band-of-brothersbig-trouble-in-little-chinabiowarebudgeteaea-biowareelectronic-artsGreg-Zeschukla-timeslos-angeles-timesmarketwatchpacific-creststar-wars-the-old-republicstockstock-analystsstock-brokersswtorvoice-actorsFri, 20 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Rakghouls and raging Hutts with SWTOR's Gabe Amatangelo]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/rakghouls-and-raging-hutts-with-swtors-gabe-amatangelo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/rakghouls-and-raging-hutts-with-swtors-gabe-amatangelo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/rakghouls-and-raging-hutts-with-swtors-gabe-amatangelo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , ,

A month after Star Wars: The Old Republic began its official journey in the public eye, the developers of this game-changing MMO are ready to extend the story, which they call the fourth pillar of the MMO genre. In patch 1.1, which also brings the usual round of bug fixes, players will be introduced to a brand-new level 50 flashpoint as well as a completed version of the Karagga's Palace 8-to-16-man operation.

In the official press release for 1.1, BioWare founder Greg Zeschuk notes, "A month ago when we launched the Early Game Access program for Star Wars: The Old Republic, we promised our fans that this would just be the beginning of our journey together." That's all well and good, but we want details. So we rang up BioWare's Gabe Amatangelo to discuss the new flashpoint, Karagga's palace, Ilum, and the future of SWTOR PvP.

Be aware that there will be some minor spoilers, but we'll warn you in advance!

Continue reading Rakghouls and raging Hutts with SWTOR's Gabe Amatangelo

MassivelyRakghouls and raging Hutts with SWTOR's Gabe Amatangelo originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWareEAElectronic-Artsemmanuel-lusinchifeaturedflashpointgabe-amatangelogame-update-1.1greg-zeschukiluminterviewkaraggas-palaceLucasArtsoperationsoutlaws-denPatch-1.1PvEPvPraidsRise-of-the-Rakghoulssci-fiStar-WaStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicSWTORthe-old-republicTORvideovideosThu, 12 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dr. Greg Zeschuk talks about the launch of Star Wars: The Old Republic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/dr-greg-zeschuk-talks-about-the-launch-of-star-wars-the-old-re/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/dr-greg-zeschuk-talks-about-the-launch-of-star-wars-the-old-re/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/09/dr-greg-zeschuk-talks-about-the-launch-of-star-wars-the-old-re/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

An army of one. Plus companion.
It's been just about a month since Star Wars: The Old Republic began its early access period, throwing open the doors for players all around the world. But the release wasn't just an interesting point for the many players anticipating the game -- after all, it had been BioWare's big project for many years. Fan site TORwars recently had a chat with Dr. Greg Zeschuk about his thoughts on the game at launch and a look back at what could have gone differently.

As Zeschuk says, there were definitely some aspects of the development that he would do differently if he could go back in time, including expanding the testing schedule and roster. He also shares his stories of getting his character going once the game went live, something that wound up being unexpectedly problematic. It's not filled with world-shattering revelations about the future of the game, but for players who are starting to look back over their first month with the game, it's certainly a nice look at the other side of the fence.

MassivelyDr. Greg Zeschuk talks about the launch of Star Wars: The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaredevelopmentdr-greg-zeschukgreg-zeschukinterviewnewsopinionretrospectivestar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorMon, 09 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare: Mac version of Star Wars: The Old Republic is something it's 'looking at next']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/bioware-mac-version-of-star-wars-the-old-republic-is-something/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/bioware-mac-version-of-star-wars-the-old-republic-is-something/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/02/bioware-mac-version-of-star-wars-the-old-republic-is-something/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

BioWare co-founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk are quite dedicated to their fans. At least that's a recurring theme for them when talking about their company's moves in new directions, to which both repeatedly referred during a recent interview in midtown Manhattan. "We know there's a big Mac audience of BioWare fans ... we know that's an important and large audience. And we want to serve that audience," Muzyka told me when asked about a potential Mac version of the his company's latest major release, Star Wars: The Old Republic.

"I'd say 'not yet,'" Zeschuk assured me when I told him that, as a BioWare fan, I'm unable to play The Old Republic on my less than two-year-old MacBook. Though Muzyka was quick to remind me that I can technically play the game on a Windows partition, he also admitted that it wasn't an ideal situation. "We've done a lot of Mac ports before of our games. We haven't announced any details yet for The Old Republic, but we know that's an important and large audience."

Neither would offer a strict timetable on the Mac version, but Zeschuk did note, "That's definitely one of the things we're looking at next. We want to get this launch under our belt and everything stabilized and happy, and then we'll look at other platforms, and that's obviously one of the first ones."

MassivelyBioWare: Mac version of Star Wars: The Old Republic is something it's 'looking at next' originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Jan 2012 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-labeleaea-biowareelectronic-artsgreg-zeschukmacosxpcportray-muzykastar-wars-the-old-republicMon, 02 Jan 2012 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare's docs: Free-to-play can't invest and create at our level]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/biowares-docs-free-to-play-cant-invest-and-create-at-our-leve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/biowares-docs-free-to-play-cant-invest-and-create-at-our-leve/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/28/biowares-docs-free-to-play-cant-invest-and-create-at-our-leve/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

BioWare Docs
If BioWare's not in a war against the free-to-play business model, it certainly is skirmishing with the notion that F2P is the only way to go. In speaking with our sister site Joystiq, BioWare co-founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk defended the traditional subscription model by saying that it not only works but allows dev teams to achieve games on a larger scale.

Zeschuk mentioned that it was simply a case of the right business model for the right game: "I'm not saying it's better or worse. It just doesn't supplant the other things. 'Cause we can do some things no one else can. The free-to-play people can't invest to the level we can invest, and can't create something of the size and scale of something we can create."

Even with its love of the subscription model for Star Wars: The Old Republic, BioWare is open to free-to-play where it sees fit. Muzyka dropped a tantalizing hint as to the company's F2P aspirations: "We have some other stuff we haven't announced yet coming from our play-for-free team that I'm really excited about. It's gonna bring back some IP that people have a lot of fond memories around."

MassivelyBioWare's docs: Free-to-play can't invest and create at our level originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 28 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-mythicbusiness-modeldocsdoctorsdoctors-whoeaea-biowaref2pfree-to-playGreg-ZeschukinterviewjoystiqmythicRay-Muzykastar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-two-docsthe-two-doctorswarwarhammerwarhammer-onlinewrath-of-heroesWed, 28 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Emperor is stuck in a queue? BioWare shall redouble its efforts!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/23/the-emperor-is-stuck-in-a-queue-bioware-shall-redouble-its-eff/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/23/the-emperor-is-stuck-in-a-queue-bioware-shall-redouble-its-eff/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/23/the-emperor-is-stuck-in-a-queue-bioware-shall-redouble-its-eff/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

SWTOR
Is it a wonderful problem to have when your MMO is so popular that everyone trying to crush through the door at the same time is causing painful queues? Or is it a problematic wonder? Either way, the BioWare live team has been struggling to keep up with demand for Star Wars: The Old Republic access -- but the team may be getting closer to winning the war on wait time.

BioWare's Greg Zeschuk stopped by the forums to assure players that the company is "redoubling its efforts" in tackling the issue. As a result, players should already be seeing quicker access to SWTOR:
We've also being doing our best to get every little bit of possible performance on our servers to increase capacity: We've "turned them up to 11" to do our very best to get you in and playing as quickly as possible. As a result - you should now be seeing significant improvement versus waiting times at the end of last week.
The team is also working on a way to hold players' places in the wait queue in the event of a disconnect.

MassivelyThe Emperor is stuck in a queue? BioWare shall redouble its efforts! originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-live-teamea-biowareforumforumsGreg-Zeschuklive-teamqueuequeuesserverserver-capacityserversstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorturn-it-up-to-11turned-up-to-11wait-timeFri, 23 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic's hype train barrels onward]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/20/star-wars-the-old-republics-hype-train-barrels-onward/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/20/star-wars-the-old-republics-hype-train-barrels-onward/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/20/star-wars-the-old-republics-hype-train-barrels-onward/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Screenshot -- Star Wars: The Old Republic
December 20th is finally here, and Star Wars: The Old Republic is as live as it's going to get. The title's official launch has sent ripples through the interwebs, and MSNBC, Gamasutra, and Kotaku all have new features highlighting various facets of the new title. Gamasutra has a few words with BioWare co-founder Greg Zeschuk and creative director James Ohlen regarding the game's post-launch strategy. Zeschuk claims that the team is "really busy working on future SWTOR content as well as continuing to improve the service. This will never end." Never is quite a long time, we think, but we'll see how that goes.

Meanwhile, MSNBC sits down with SWTOR's Lead Writer, Daniel Erickson, about BioWare's much-touted story pillar. He claims that the game's 20 writers worked together for a total of over 60 man-years of labor on the game's story and writing. And lastly, Kotaku has another few words with Zeschuk. When asked if SWTOR could potentially make a move to F2P like, say, DC Universe Online, Zeschuk replied, "Free-to-play works best when a game is built that way from the ground up... We're not saying never ever, but we certainly have no plans like that in the foreseeable future." For the full features, click on through the links below.

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic's hype train barrels onward originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebusiness-modeldaniel-ericksoneaelectronic-artsfuturegreg-zeschukjames-ohlenlaunchpost-launchstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republicwritingTue, 20 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare co-founder and live producer get SWTOR launch day tattoos]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/bioware-co-founder-and-live-producer-get-swtor-launch-day-tattoo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/bioware-co-founder-and-live-producer-get-swtor-launch-day-tattoo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/bioware-co-founder-and-live-producer-get-swtor-launch-day-tattoo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

SWTOR launch day tattoos
How do you know if a game studio is committed to a title? What if the studio co-founder gets a big ol' tattoo inked on his bicep? Words are cheap, after all; tattoos show you mean business.

This is exactly what BioWare's Greg Zeschuk did recently, and he hopped onto Twitter to show off his new Star Wars: The Old Republic "launch beard and tattoo" to the populace. The tattoo is the hybrid Republic-Empire logo, and was done in full color.

Not to be outdone, Live Producer Cory Butler also took the plunge and got the tattoo as well.

Star Wars: The Old Republic's early access begins today, with the game's official launch slated for December 20th. Don't forget to read up on the game with Massively's SWTOR Launch Guide!

Star Wars: The Old Republic is finally here, and the Force is with Massively! We've prepared a Hutt-sized feast of class introductions, gameplay guides, lore roundups, and hands-on previews to help you navigate the launch period and beyond. And don't forget our weekly SWTOR column, the Hyperspace Beacon!

MassivelyBioWare co-founder and live producer get SWTOR launch day tattoos originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareCory-Butlerea-biowareearly-accessGreg-Zeschuklaunchstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-tattootattootattoostwitterTue, 13 Dec 2011 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR lifts NDA and reveals Legacy system, new flashpoint, art book]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/18/star-wars-the-old-republic-lifts-nda-bothan-spies-spared-furth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/18/star-wars-the-old-republic-lifts-nda-bothan-spies-spared-furth/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/18/star-wars-the-old-republic-lifts-nda-bothan-spies-spared-furth/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

SWTOR
Do you hear that? That's the sound of a million voices who were silenced suddenly freed to share their experiences with Star Wars: The Old Republic. That's because BioWare has officially lifted the non-disclosure agreement (NDA) allowing testers to talk about the game.

BioWare VP Greg Zeschuk posted the announcement just minutes ago on the forums:
As of now, the non-disclosure portion of our Game Testing Agreement is officially lifted. While all players must still accept the Game Testing Agreement, from this point on testers may now freely talk about their experiences this past weekend in the game, as well as post screenshots and gameplay videos of their testing experiences. We encourage you to come join us on the official Star Wars[TM]: The Old Republic[TM] Forums to share your experiences!

The Star Wars: The Old Republic community site will have a copy of this message on the forums and it will also appear in the Patcher. Players may not talk about nor reprint posts from our testing forums as they are still fully covered by the confidentiality portions of our Game Testing Agreement. And all players who want to participate in the upcoming Beta Test Weekends still have to accept all terms of the Game Testing Agreement. So, other than that, free feel to talk about and share your experiences in Star Wars: The Old Republic.
If all that wasn't exciting enough, the dev team also released articles covering the flashpoint Bringing Down the Hammer, the book, The Art and Making of The Old Republic, and the Legacy system, which allows for a family last name shared across characters.

MassivelySWTOR lifts NDA and reveals Legacy system, new flashpoint, art book originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 18 Nov 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-testingbiowarebringing-down-the-hammerea-biowareflashpointgame-testinggame-testing-agreementGreg-Zeschukndanon-disclosure-agreementstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-art-and-making-of-the-old-republicFri, 18 Nov 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR beta participants log one meeeeellion hours of testing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/16/swtor-beta-participants-log-one-meeeeellion-hours-of-testing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/16/swtor-beta-participants-log-one-meeeeellion-hours-of-testing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/16/swtor-beta-participants-log-one-meeeeellion-hours-of-testing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Dr. Evil says one meeellion testing hours is quite a lot
If it seemed like everyone and their dog got in on last weekend's Star Wars: The Old Republic beta event, well, they did. BioWare invited tens of thousands of Star Wars fans to the TOR testing party, and probably a few Star Trek fans and the blue glowy spirits of dearly departed Jedi Knights as well. The mass invites are designed to strain the servers prior to the game's December 15th launch date, and BioWare co-founder Greg Zeschuk says this is just the beginning.

"One crazy number is we had over a million hours of testing over the weekend. It was a huge test, and there are even bigger ones coming. The key thing is for us to take those learnings, apply them and make the service really stable. We're happy with the game," Zeschuk told Eurogamer.

Zeschuk and his BioWare cohorts aren't exactly raising pinkies to lips like an overconfident supervillain, though. "Everyone's cautiously optimistic. We're all very paranoid," Zeschuk said, before going on to explain how BioWare will carefully control TOR's launch availability to ensure a smooth experience.

MassivelySWTOR beta participants log one meeeeellion hours of testing originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Nov 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-testingbeta-weekendbiowareea-biowareElectronic-Artsgreg-zeschuksci-fistar-warsstar-wars-mmostar-wars-the-old-republicstress-testswtortestingtorWed, 16 Nov 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare says gamers find it hard to go back to other MMOs after playing SWTOR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/17/bioware-gamers-find-it-hard-to-go-back-to-other-mmos-after-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/17/bioware-gamers-find-it-hard-to-go-back-to-other-mmos-after-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/17/bioware-gamers-find-it-hard-to-go-back-to-other-mmos-after-play/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Star Wars The Old Republic - some dudes fighting or something
As Star Wars: The Old Republic's release date looms larger on the calendar, BioWare co-founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk are starting to be seen with increasing frequency on the PR circuit. The latest sighting comes courtesy of The Gaming Liberty, and the dynamic doctor duo offers up some interesting commentary on SWTOR and the logic behind setting up BioWare's new customer service center in Ireland rather than Canada or the U.S.

There's a "fair, reasonable tax and regulatory structure the government here [in Ireland] has provided for us which creates an entrepreneurial environment [...] which is a big bonus," Muzyka explains.

The interview also touches on lore inspirations for both The Old Republic and the classic single-player Knights of the Old Republic RPG, as well as the team's confidence in its new massively multiplayer product. "One of the most common things we're already hearing is that people seem to find it hard to go back to other MMOs once they play The Old Republic," Muzyka said.

MassivelyBioWare says gamers find it hard to go back to other MMOs after playing SWTOR originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareea-biowareelectronic-artsgreg-zeschukinterviewoutsourcingray-muzykasci-fiscifistar-warsstar-wars-mmostar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorMon, 17 Oct 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare founders: We make the decisions, not EA]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/03/bioware-founders-we-make-the-decisions-not-ea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/03/bioware-founders-we-make-the-decisions-not-ea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/03/bioware-founders-we-make-the-decisions-not-ea/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

BioWare co-founders
BioWare has a message for critical fans who blame the company's perceived inadequacies on its corporate overlords at Electronic Arts. "I always chuckle because we are EA, we're BioWare -- we're both, and we still have huge autonomy in terms of what we do," co-founder Greg Zeschuk recently told Eurogamer.

Zeschuk and partner Ray Muzyka cover a lot of ground during the sit-down, and the docs indicate that they still play BioWare's games despite delegating day-to-day development duties to various project leads. "Most of our games, before we ship them, we finish them several times. The Old Republic, we're probably at that level or higher, in terms of hours," Zeschuk says.

Times have changed though, as both men acknowledge that today's BioWare is not the same company that made Neverwinter Nights or MDK2. "Way, way back, years ago, we didn't even consider those [commercial elements], we just made stuff," Zeschuk explains.

MassivelyBioWare founders: We make the decisions, not EA originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareeaea-biowareelectronic-artsgreg-zeschukinterviewray-muzykasci-fiscifistar-wars-mmostar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorMon, 03 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare open to the possibility of a Mass Effect MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/30/bioware-open-to-the-possibility-of-a-mass-effect-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/30/bioware-open-to-the-possibility-of-a-mass-effect-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/30/bioware-open-to-the-possibility-of-a-mass-effect-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Mass Effect 2
If you've been among the vocal crowds demanding that BioWare stop fiddling around with that "Star Wars thing" and get on a Mass Effect MMO as soon as possible, today might be your day of vindication. It turns out that BioWare's co-founders are very much open to the possibility of an online edition of its popular Mass Effect franchise.

Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk recently fielded the ever-popular question in a much more upbeat tone than ever before. Zeschuk says the studio will evaluate a potential Mass Effect MMO in the near future: "You never know. I think once The Old Republic is done, we'll take a fresh look at the market."

"We're focused very much on The Old Republic, Mass Effect 3 and Wrath of Heroes, and all the other things we've announced, and haven't announced, but we also have the opportunity to look at our franchises in a way we haven't ever before. There are lots of new platforms and lots of new business models," Muzyka added.

Mass Effect: The MMO is one of those speculative rumors that seems to never die. Analysts have predicted that such an MMO could top Star Wars: The Old Republic's numbers.

MassivelyBioWare open to the possibility of a Mass Effect MMO originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareea-biowaregreg-zeschukinterviewmass-effectmass-effect-3mass-effect-mmoRay-Muzykarumorstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorwrath-of-heroesFri, 30 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare's Doctors: 'We have an aggressive post-launch plan']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/27/biowares-doctors-we-have-an-aggressive-post-launch-plan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/27/biowares-doctors-we-have-an-aggressive-post-launch-plan/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/27/biowares-doctors-we-have-an-aggressive-post-launch-plan/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

BioWare Doctors
With the question of "When will Star Wars: The Old Republic ever launch?" finally answered, inquiring minds have turned to the future of the as-of-yet unreleased MMO. In an interview with Gamesindustry.biz, BioWare's Dr. Ray Muzyka and Dr. Greg Zeschuk covered many topics, including the studio's plans following December 20th. "We have a really aggressive plan post launch to build content and take the feedback to heart that we're getting from players and what they want for continued expansions, and use that feedback to build new content," Muzyka promised.

The conversation also included a probing question about the decision to limit initial sales of the game. Muzyka says that stability and service are high priorities in the company: "You have to build the infrastructure to support a certain size launch and we're also thinking really long term at Bioware EA for this, there are going to be many, many consumers coming to the game over time and we're going to be expanding it out."

Other topics covered include the funny exploits that players have discovered in beta, the challenges and joys of working on the Star Wars IP, and the issue of free-to-play business models versus subscriptions. In regards to the latter, Zeschuck isn't worried that SWTOR decided to go the sub route. "The trend for free-to-play doesn't supplant great top quality premium games that support a subscription," he said, while going on to laud the flexibility of F2P formats.

MassivelyBioWare's Doctors: 'We have an aggressive post-launch plan' originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareea-biowaref2pfree-to-playgamesindustry.bizgreg-zeschukinterviewlaunchpost-launch-plansray-muzykareleasestar-wars-the-old-republicsubssubscriptionswtorthe-old-republictorTue, 27 Sep 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare: The Old Republic will be 'one of the biggest launches ever in the history of gaming']]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/26/bioware-the-old-republic-will-be-one-of-the-biggest-launches-e/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/26/bioware-the-old-republic-will-be-one-of-the-biggest-launches-e/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/26/bioware-the-old-republic-will-be-one-of-the-biggest-launches-e/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Star Wars: The Old Republic
While Star Wars: The Old Republic looks to be on track for a holiday release, BioWare's Dr. Greg Zeschuk admits to being "daunted" by the size and scope of the project. "This game's launch is going to be one of the biggest launches ever in the history of gaming," he said.

When talking with Eurogamer, Zeschuk said that the studio is trying to make sure that everything is "solid" enough before it pulls the trigger and releases the game, but it is also trying to get the game out the doors as fast as it can. Currently, the game is being tested by thousands of players daily, a number that is expected to increase dramatically once September's expanded testing cycle hits. "It's literally live right now," he said.

Whether The Old Republic will stand or fall, it won't be for a lack of preparation on BioWare's behalf. Zeschuk paints a picture of the hectic work being done behind the scenes: "It's one thing to get the game done, another to ensure you can login thousands of people a minute. It's a different sort of requirement. The things you need to get done to ship this are very different from a standard game. A standard game, this is like five of them, right? Our job is really simple: making sure it's great when it comes out."

MassivelyBioWare: The Old Republic will be 'one of the biggest launches ever in the history of gaming' originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>behind-the-scenesbeta-testingdauntedeurogamerGreg-Zeschukinterviewlaunchreleasesolidstar-wars-the-old-republicswtortestingthe-old-republictorFri, 26 Aug 2011 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Interview with BioWare's Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk details studio philosophy and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/interview-with-biowares-ray-muzyka-and-greg-zeschuk-details-stu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/interview-with-biowares-ray-muzyka-and-greg-zeschuk-details-stu/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/19/interview-with-biowares-ray-muzyka-and-greg-zeschuk-details-stu/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

BioWare holds a reputation in the gaming community for consistently releasing polished, high-quality games, especially when it comes to in-depth narratives. Have you ever wondered about the studio's philosophy in regard to game creation? Ever wondered what it is that drives BioWare, and moreover -- since this is Massively, after all -- how it influences the ongoing development of Star Wars: The Old Republic? In a rather lengthy interview with Gamasutra, BioWare's Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk give gamers a peek behind the curtain at what really makes BioWare tick.

There's a plethora of interesting information in the interview, ranging from the company's philosophy of imbuing each game with emotion -- leading to the strong narratives for which BioWare is so renowned -- to the qualities Ray and Greg think will separate The Old Republic from the elephant in the room that is World of Warcraft. The interview itself is far too lengthy to adequately summarize in the length of a news post, but one point that stands out is that, despite being an absolute powerhouse in the gaming industry, BioWare still focuses heavily on humility. Being able to admit when mistakes have been made and learning from the experience is something that many studios could certainly learn from. For the full, information-packed interview, head on over to Gamasutra.

MassivelyInterview with BioWare's Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk details studio philosophy and more originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 May 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-mmobioware-mmorpgbioware-star-warsbioware-swtoreaelectronic-artsgreg-zeschukinterviewlucas-artslucas-arts-mmolucas-arts-mmorpgray-muzykastar-wars-gamestar-wars-mmostar-wars-mmorpgstar-wars-the-old-republicstar-wars-torstarwarsstarwars-the-old-republicsw-torswtorthe-old-republicThu, 19 May 2011 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Rule of many]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/01/hyperspace-beacon-rule-of-many/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/01/hyperspace-beacon-rule-of-many/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/01/hyperspace-beacon-rule-of-many/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It feels a bit meta to respond to my own column, but my last article caused quite a stir. I would be vainglorious to believe that my point of view is the only one or that it is the best one. Given the 68 responses to my article in the comments section here and over 17 pages on the official Star Wars: The Old Republic forum -- at least half of which completely disagreed with me -- I would be ignorant to believe that there is room for only one approach to the subject. On top of that, Principal Lead Combat Designer Georg Zoeller offered a compelling argument that counters my stance in a completely unrelated thread.

In this issue of the Hyperspace Beacon, I'm going to give voice to the opposition. I would hope that everyone who responded to the last article wants SWTOR to succeed as much as I do. (I realize that what I said previously could be construed as not wanting this game to be great, but that's untrue. I want the game to be the best it can be.) Many of the comments I received can be categorized together, so following the break, I will summarize the other positions. Let's see how SWTOR is keeping the MMO in the MMORPG.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Rule of many

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Rule of many originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>define-an-MMOEAElectronic-Artsfeaturedgeorg-zoellergreg-zeschukMMOmultiplayerpersistent-worldPvPRP-in-the-MMORPGStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicSWTORthe-old-republicTORTue, 01 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare: WoW is the "touchstone" for The Old Republic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/10/bioware-wow-is-the-touchstone-for-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/10/bioware-wow-is-the-touchstone-for-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/02/10/bioware-wow-is-the-touchstone-for-the-old-republic/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Debate has raged long and hard in fan circles as to whether or not BioWare's upcoming Star Wars: The Old Republic MMORPG is a "WoW clone." Speaking on the keynote panel at the DICE Summit in Las Vegas, BioWare co-founder Greg Zeschuk added a bit of fuel to that particular fire by outlining how SWTOR is treading the path laid down by the current king of the genre.

"It [World of Warcraft] is a touchstone. It has established standards, it's established how you play an MMO. Every MMO that comes out, I play and look at it. And if they break any of the WoW rules, in my book that's pretty dumb," Zeschuk said.

Zeschuk also addressed the social gaming trend, saying that triple-A projects are still alive and kicking thanks to Blizzard's success. "Bigger does work. Big has worked and frankly, WoW is the biggest. On a pure revenue basis it's probably the biggest game ever by a country mile. It generates so much revenue it's an incredible international business unto itself," he said.

MassivelyBioWare: WoW is the "touchstone" for The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebusiness-modelsdicedice-summitfantasygreg-zeschukmmo-industrysci-fistar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republicWorld-of-Warcraftwowwow-cloneThu, 10 Feb 2011 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare doctors "disappointed" in EA Louse]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/05/bioware-doctors-disappointed-in-ea-louse/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/05/bioware-doctors-disappointed-in-ea-louse/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/05/bioware-doctors-disappointed-in-ea-louse/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,


BioWare founders Greg Zeschuk and Ray Muzyka recently sat down for a lengthy interview with Eurogamer. The doctors discussed Dragon Age II, Mass Effect 2, and more importantly for MMORPG fans, Star Wars: The Old Republic. In terms of a release window, Muzyka confirmed 2011 for the Star Wars opus but wouldn't commit to the first half, second half, or any other portion of the year.

The interview also addressed the recent rant by EA Louse that, in part, predicted The Old Republic would be "one of the greatest failures in the history of MMOs" and that also decried working conditions at BioWare-Mythic. Zeschuk and Muzyka mentioned the fact that BioWare recently won a top 100 employers award and invests both time and money into bettering the workplace environment for employees. When pressed as to the credibility of the anonymous poster, the doctors dismissed the posting as difficult to act upon. "We sit down and do an open forum with all the employees and get feedback from them. We welcome one-on-one feedback. When we get stuff we can improve and act on we do it," Muzyka said.

Finally, the interview touches on the financial gamble that TOR represents for BioWare and Electronic Arts, and neither founder comes across as particularly concerned. "We know millions and millions of people out there love this universe, and we're delivering a great game experience in that universe," Muzyka said. Head to Eurogamer for the full article text.

MassivelyBioWare doctors "disappointed" in EA Louse originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Nov 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-eaBioware-MMObioware-mythiceaea-louseelectronic-artsgreg-zeschukray-muzykaStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republicFri, 05 Nov 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Baldur's Gate was almost an MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/16/baldurs-gate-was-almost-an-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/16/baldurs-gate-was-almost-an-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/16/baldurs-gate-was-almost-an-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , ,

For those of you who remember Baldur's Gate, we want you to close your eyes and imagine it as an MMO. For the time it released (the mid-90s), it quite possibly could have been the first MMO, at that.

At a recent GDC Europe panel for BioWare, studio founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk had some fun with the audience, reminiscing on what might have been. The original game's title was Battleground Infinity and was pitched to five publishers as a massively multiplayer online game that revolved around mythological gods.

Interplay are the ones who pushed the doctors toward the Dungeons & Dragons RPG route, which I'm pretty sure worked out for them in the end.

MassivelyBaldur's Gate was almost an MMO originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baldurs-gatebattleground-infinitybiowaredungeons-and-dragonsgdc-europe-2010greg-zeschukpanelray-muzykarpgMon, 16 Aug 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare "aggressively" exploring new MMO development]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/14/bioware-aggressively-exploring-new-mmo-development/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/14/bioware-aggressively-exploring-new-mmo-development/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/14/bioware-aggressively-exploring-new-mmo-development/#commentsFiled under: , ,

BioWare's ongoing success in the games industry is something that can't be argued, but the company is anxious to keep things moving forward.

BioWare co-founder Dr. Greg Zeschuk spoke at the Develop Conference this morning, and had some very interesting things to say about what the minds behind BioWare have been up to. They explored some options that didn't work so well, and some other options that they were very pleased with: "We learned the hard way. The learning there was you have to iterate. The team went back and made some more games that we never released that were way better. Large scale MMOs. Small scale MMOs. We're going to continue to do triple-A console, but we're also going to be exploring pretty aggressively."

The fact that BioWare has created both large and small scale MMOs that were "way better," combined with the company's plans to continue exploring beyond the range of consoles raises the possibility of great things to come for MMO fans. From the sound of things, BioWare plans to remain one for the MMO community to keep an eye on well past the launch of SWTOR.

MassivelyBioWare "aggressively" exploring new MMO development originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaredevelop-conferencegreg-zeschuklarge-scale-mmosmall-scale-mmostar-wars-the-old-republicswtorWed, 14 Jul 2010 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[E3 reveal: Player spaceships and PvP Battlegrounds in SWTOR!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/14/e3-reveal-player-spaceships-and-pvp-battlegrounds-in-swtor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/14/e3-reveal-player-spaceships-and-pvp-battlegrounds-in-swtor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/14/e3-reveal-player-spaceships-and-pvp-battlegrounds-in-swtor/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

A new door has been opened today in Star Wars: The Old Republic: the door to your very own customizable spaceship! Mary Bihr and Dr. Greg Zeschuk, of LucasArts and Bioware respectively, stood on the stage at E3 to shock Star Wars fans everywhere. Since the first movie with the Millenium Falcon, the starship has been the center of every character's personal story. Friendships were built, and characters even fell in love, on starships. What story will your character build in his or her starship, and what personal touches would you like to see?

Battlegrounds will be the primary focus of PvP combat in SWTOR. Indeed, the new trailer called "Hope" alludes to the fact that one of the primary battlegrounds will be on the planet Alderaan. We know from the official site that Alderaan is a planet estranged from the Republic. This Core planet is the first announced area which will be hotly contested by both the Republic and Imperial forces. So gear up your Trooper and ready your lightsaber, the battle for the Old Republic is about to begin!

MassivelyE3 reveal: Player spaceships and PvP Battlegrounds in SWTOR! originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Jun 2010 19:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alderaanbattlegroundbattlegroundsBioWarebreakinge3e3-2010EAElectronic-ArtsfeatureGreg-ZeschukLucasArtsmary-bihrpvpspaceshipsStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorMon, 14 Jun 2010 19:15:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare talks Warhammer Online's forthcoming expansions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/19/bioware-talks-warhammer-onlines-forthcoming-expansions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/19/bioware-talks-warhammer-onlines-forthcoming-expansions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/19/bioware-talks-warhammer-onlines-forthcoming-expansions/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In a recent GDC 2010 interview with UGO, BioWare's Dr. Ray Muzyka said of Warhammer Online, "Right now it's [a] really profitable business unit within my group." Muzyka went on to say they've actually seen more people come into the game since enacting the free-to-play model on the game's earlier levels, and that he personally felt they were working.

In fact, by the sounds of it, Warhammer Online is due for some interesting announcements in the future. Another of Muzyka's comments on the title was, "We have new content planned and all kinds of cool expansions for it." We don't know how much more clear cut a message can be than that. And hey, it's good news! We're looking forward to our playable Skaven and Lizardmen, Mythic and BioWare.

MassivelyBioWare talks Warhammer Online's forthcoming expansions originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareea-gamesea-mythicea-warhammerea-warhammer-onlineelectronic-artsgdcgdc-2010gdc10greg-zeschukmythicmythic-eamythic-entertainmentray-muzykatracey-johnugowarwar-eawarhammerwarhammer-eawarhammer-onlinewarhammer-online-eaFri, 19 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare's Greg Zeschuk on the Mythic merge]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/30/biowares-greg-zeschuk-on-the-mythic-merge/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/30/biowares-greg-zeschuk-on-the-mythic-merge/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/30/biowares-greg-zeschuk-on-the-mythic-merge/#commentsFiled under: ,

The merging of BioWare with Mythic Entertainment announced in June created a combined RPG and MMO group within Electronic Arts, and since then we've been wondering what will come of this pairing. Chris Remo at Gamasutra interviewed BioWare co-founder Greg Zeschuk about his role as a Creative Officer for the new RPG/MMO group, which sheds a little more light on the inner workings of this new division.

The interview subject matter is heavier on RPG discussion than it is on MMOs, but Zeschuk gives readers a look into how the BioWare-Mythic "merger" is working out so far. It also touches upon the company's continued focus on the PC platform. Check out "Building Experiences the BioWare Way: Greg Zeschuk Speaks" at Gamasutra to read about BioWare's approach to making games in a constantly changing industry.

MassivelyBioWare's Greg Zeschuk on the Mythic merge originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarechris-remogamasutragreg-zeschukinterviewsmmo-industrymythicmythic-entertainmentWed, 30 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare says Mythic will help with Star Wars: The Old Republic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/08/bioware-says-mythic-will-help-with-star-wars-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/08/bioware-says-mythic-will-help-with-star-wars-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/08/bioware-says-mythic-will-help-with-star-wars-the-old-republic/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


We told you a couple of weeks ago about Mark Jacobs' departure from EA and the formation of a new (as yet unnamed) studio which will absorb BioWare and Mythic. Well, Eurogamer got the chance to talk to Greg Zeschuk, who has revealed Mythic will help out with Star Wars: The Old Republic but BioWare might not reciprocate on Warhammer Online:

"Ray (Muzyka) and I (have) both played Warhammer, and actually I've still been playing it on and off for a while, so I think for us it's not to much a popularity boost as just the fact that we can probably bring perspectives to the table that will be new and perhaps helpful to the guys from Mythic in the same way from an online perspective they can certainly share with us. To give credit to the Austin team [making Star Wars: The Old Republic], we have a number of serious MMO veterans on there, so it's certainly not neophytes, but there's absolutely opportunities to share and learn things back and forth."

MassivelyBioWare says Mythic will help with Star Wars: The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-austineurogamergreg-zeschukmark-jacobsmythicmythic-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicwarhammerwarhammer-onlineWed, 08 Jul 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Mythic's Mark Jacobs leaves EA]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/24/mythics-mark-jacobs-leaves-ea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/24/mythics-mark-jacobs-leaves-ea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/06/24/mythics-mark-jacobs-leaves-ea/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Mark Jacobs, the former General Manager of Mythic Entertainment and Lead Designer of Warhammer Online, has left EA on 23rd June, the company announced today. This comes as part of restructuring plans within EA which includes both Mythic and BioWare and have culminated in the formation of a new, as-yet-unnamed, studio which will focus on RPGs and MMOs.

The new studio will be led by BioWare co-founder and General Manager Ray Muzyka, who will become Group General Manager. BioWare's other co-founder Greg Zeschuk will become Group Creative Officer while Rob Denton will succeed Jacobs as General Manager.

You can certainly expect more from us as this story develops.

[Via The Examiner]

MassivelyMythic's Mark Jacobs leaves EA originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-mmobreakingbreaking-newsbreakingnewselectronic-artsgreg-zeschukmark-jacobsmergersmythic-entertainmentray-muzykarob-dentonWed, 24 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare's founders emphasize the importance of storytelling in their games]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/15/biowares-founders-talk-about-the-importance-of-storytelling-in/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/15/biowares-founders-talk-about-the-importance-of-storytelling-in/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/05/15/biowares-founders-talk-about-the-importance-of-storytelling-in/#commentsFiled under: , ,

BioWare co-founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk were the keynote speakers at Game Developers Conference Canada in Vancouver, British Columbia yesterday. Their speech was titled Emotionally Engaging Narrative: Gaming's New Frontier. Given BioWare's huge portfolio of successful story-driven games, it's no surprise they had a lot to talk about.

Not all game-types need a good narrative to be successful or fun (e.g., Bejewelled, Tetris, etc.), but MMORPGs could probably benefit from a greater emphasis on compelling and engaging storytelling. Both Ray and Greg talked about various types of narrative, including linear and non-linear, active and passive, and internal and external.

We know that story will be the fourth pillar of design in Star Wars: The Old Republic and here's an example of external narrative they say we'll see when it releases: "Manipulation of world server data based on a broad range of user activities can actually change the game world." We're not quite sure what that means, but here are a couple guesses: Online voting to determine the next expansion race or fan fiction making it into the game's narrative.

MassivelyBioWare's founders emphasize the importance of storytelling in their games originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 15 May 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaregamasutragreg-zeschuknarrativeray-muzykastar-wars-the-old-republicstorystorytellingswtorFri, 15 May 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic to have choreographed combat]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/10/star-wars-the-old-republic-to-have-choreographed-combat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/10/star-wars-the-old-republic-to-have-choreographed-combat/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/10/star-wars-the-old-republic-to-have-choreographed-combat/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

For some MMO players, nothing kills immersion more than the constant reminder that your avatar is a hollow, ephemeral character model, with every weapon strike that passes right through your ghostly form driving that point home. Star Wars: The Old Republic has a new take on MMO combat that should come as welcome news to anyone who faults the way combat looks in most massively multiplayer online titles.

Bioware president Greg Zeschuk has told videogaming247 that combatants in SWTOR won't be 'swinging through each other', largely due to the fact that choreography will play a major role in the forthcoming title's combat system. "Star Wars is choreographed, it's elegant; it's big, powerful moves and lightning bolt flashes, but in a way that makes sense visually and aesthetically. One of the goals we have is to create this choreographed type of combat that looks as though it could be taking place in a Star Wars movie," he recently commented to videogaming247.

Is this a welcome change for you as an MMO player, or is the way avatar combat presently looks in most massively multiplayer titles fine for you?
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 -- from liveblogging the announcement to screenshot galleries and more. Join us in the Galaxy far, far away!

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic to have choreographed combat originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 10 Nov 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarechoreographycombatgame-mechanicsgreg-zeschuklightsaberlightsaberspvpsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtortorMon, 10 Nov 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[First look at Star Wars: The Old Republic in PC Gamer magazine]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/07/first-look-at-star-wars-the-old-republic-in-pc-gamer-magazine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/07/first-look-at-star-wars-the-old-republic-in-pc-gamer-magazine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/11/07/first-look-at-star-wars-the-old-republic-in-pc-gamer-magazine/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

If ever there was a thing to go all googly-eyed over, it's the first look a Star Wars: The Old Republic. While it's a shame that such information isn't being released onto the web, at least we've got it earlier than most people were expecting. PC Gamer magazine has gotten an exclusive first look at BioWare's incubating MMO, including interviews with creative director James Ohlen, principal lead writer Daniel Erickson, and BioWare co-founders Dr. Ray Muzyka and Dr. Greg Zeschuk.

The issue also apparently has exclusive screenshots for anyone brave enough to look. We're sure that what we've seen so far are very early conceptual designs, but it still pains us to see log-sized lightsabers -- even if BioWare is willing to laugh at themselves over it.

MassivelyFirst look at Star Wars: The Old Republic in PC Gamer magazine originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaredaniel-ericksoneaelectronic-artsgreg-zeschukhalloweenjames-ohlenkotorlightsaberlightsaberspc-gamerray-muzykastar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorFri, 07 Nov 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare likes WoW but thinks it can do better]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/27/bioware-likes-wow-but-thinks-it-can-do-better/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/27/bioware-likes-wow-but-thinks-it-can-do-better/http://massively.joystiq.com/2007/11/27/bioware-likes-wow-but-thinks-it-can-do-better/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

GameInformer published an interview with BioWare President Greg Zeschuk and CEO Ray Muzyka in its December 2007 issue. Most of the questions in the interview focused on the EA acquisition, Mass Effect, and Dragon Age, but one did probe for information on the (KotOR?) MMO in development at BioWare's Austin studio.

Both Zeschuk and Muzyka admitted to being players and fans of World of Warcraft, but expressed dissatisfaction with the way that making progress in the game is so time-consuming that "it's almost like having another job." They said they are thinking about ways to make the genre more accessible and easier to "pick up and play and have fun."

"We certainly like the games," said Muzyka, "but the staying power hasn't been as strong. They totally enthrall a certain set of people, but we thought about how to make it an experience where you don't have to have a massive investment of itme."

Blizzard had similar aspirations with World of Warcraft, and it succeeded in its goal; WoW is far more accessible than previous entries in the genre. Can BioWare expand the appeal of MMOs even further?

MassivelyBioWare likes WoW but thinks it can do better originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Nov 2007 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>austinbiowarebioware-mmoblizzarddragon-ageeagameinformergreg-zeschukinterviewkotorkotor-mmomass-effectray-muzykaworld-of-warcraftTue, 27 Nov 2007 19:30:00 EST