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[BioWare stages SWTOR freeze mob event in New York City's Times Square]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/23/bioware-stages-swtor-freeze-mob-event-in-new-york-citys-times-s/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/23/bioware-stages-swtor-freeze-mob-event-in-new-york-citys-times-s/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/23/bioware-stages-swtor-freeze-mob-event-in-new-york-citys-times-s/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Darth Malgus vs. Jedi cosplay
If you happened to be walking around Times Square on the night of December 20th, you may have witnessed one of the more unique MMO launch day promotions in recent memory. BioWare enlisted the help of Darth Malgus and a cadre of heavily armored Jedi (or at least, their cosplay equivalents) to stage a Star Wars: The Old Republic freeze mob event complete with lightsabers and bewildered onlookers.

What's a freeze mob? Well, it's just what it sounds like, and fortunately for those of you who didn't get to see it live, there's a video of the shenanigans after the cut.

Continue reading BioWare stages SWTOR freeze mob event in New York City's Times Square

MassivelyBioWare stages SWTOR freeze mob event in New York City's Times Square originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Dec 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Now that The Old Republic has hit the shelves, it seems like everyone has something to say about it. Cryptic seems to acknowledge it in its own unusual way: by lampshading it.

Enter the Unleashed, Champions Online's newest free archetype. No, you're not misreading me here; the Unleashed is not a gold archetype. If you make an account right now, you can play the Unleashed from the moment you enter the character select screen, without spending a dime. Since it's the ninth free archetype, you'd think that he'd be a stable, bread-and-butter class. However, the Unleashed is nothing but. His wackiness approaches the Impulse, but where the Impulse is kind of ineffectual, the Unleashed is deadly efficient.

Interested in a sword-wielding knight who slings force blasts? Hit the jump and we'll see what Cryptic's take on a Jedi can do.

Continue reading Behind the Mask: The Force Unleashed

MassivelyBehind the Mask: The Force Unleashed originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>archetypebehind-the-maskbrawlerchampionschampions-onlinechampscocrypticcryptic-champions-onlinecryptic-cocryptic-studiosfeaturedforce-unleashedjedilightsaberlightsabersmelee-dpsperfect-world-entertainmentpwesithstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicthe-old-republicThu, 22 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR: So you want to play a Jedi Knight]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/swtor-so-you-want-to-play-a-jedi-knight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/swtor-so-you-want-to-play-a-jedi-knight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/swtor-so-you-want-to-play-a-jedi-knight/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

SWTOR - The Jedi Knight
If it's true that gamers would rather play Luke Skywalker than Uncle Owen, then the Jedi Knight is the class to put that claim to the test in Star Wars: The Old Republic. The Knight is the Republic side's melee specialist and classic tank-mage, who supplements her melee attacks with taunts, buffs, and Force powers. She operates on the front lines of the war against the Sith, protecting her allies and representing the Jedi Order across the galaxy.

Also, lightsabers. Two of them.

Continue reading SWTOR: So you want to play a Jedi Knight

MassivelySWTOR: So you want to play a Jedi Knight 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]]>biowareclassclassesdpseaElectronic-Artsfeaturedfocusguardianguideguidesjedijedi-guardianjedi-knightjedi-sentineljedi-templeknightloremeleemelee-dpspreviewragesentinelstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-class-guideswtor-guideswtor-launch-guidetanktankingthe-old-republictortythonwarriorWorld-of-WarcraftwowMon, 12 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR's Friday update features a Jedi Consular video]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/25/swtors-friday-update-features-a-jedi-consular-video/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/25/swtors-friday-update-features-a-jedi-consular-video/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/25/swtors-friday-update-features-a-jedi-consular-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Star Wars The Old Republic - Jedi Consular
BioWare's PR team must've missed the memo about long Thanksgiving weekends, as there's a new Star Wars: The Old Republic video up for grabs on the game's official website. The Jedi Consular is the star of the day, and the class is "both a revered ally to the Republic and a dangerous adversary to the Empire," according to BioWare's marketing blurb.

If you've been following the game for a while, the clip probably won't tell you anything you don't already know. For new and/or hopelessly addicted fans, though, there's a good amount of in-game footage and some glimpses of the class's advancement paths.

MassivelySWTOR's Friday update features a Jedi Consular video originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advancementclassclass-trailerclasseseaea-biowareelectronic-artsgame-mechanicsjedijedi-consularsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtortrailervideoFri, 25 Nov 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Lifting the beta curtain: Larry's hands-on with SWTOR's beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/lifting-the-beta-curtain-larrys-hands-on-with-swtors-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/lifting-the-beta-curtain-larrys-hands-on-with-swtors-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/lifting-the-beta-curtain-larrys-hands-on-with-swtors-beta/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Hands-on: Lifting the SWTOR beta curtain
Many of my friends in gaming media have speculated as to why BioWare has allowed some media outlets to report on the heavily veiled Star Wars: The Old Republic beta, but frankly, I don't care. It doesn't matter to me that BlizzCon happens to be tomorrow or that there is a possible connection between the start of that event and the lift of this embargo. All I really care about is that I can finally tell you about actual gameplay for this new Star Wars MMO that I've been personally following for over three years now. However, it will be extremely difficult to contain all my experience of SWTOR within the confines of this one article. However, I will do my darnedest.

Over the past couple of weeks, BioWare allowed us access to the Republic side of this highly anticipated MMO and pretty much set us free. We can report on nearly every gameplay aspect within the first two planets. Two weeks -- that's enough time for me to run more than one class! And that's exactly what I did. Originally, I wanted to run through two classes that weren't going to affect me much when the game goes live. I accomplished this goal with the Jedi Consular. However, when I started to play the Smuggler class, I just could not stop. I was completely engaged in the story.

Jump past the break and I'll tell you all about that -- and more.

Continue reading Lifting the beta curtain: Larry's hands-on with SWTOR's beta

MassivelyLifting the beta curtain: Larry's hands-on with SWTOR's beta originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SWTOR
"Peace between Republic and Empire is crumbling. Every world, signs of war."

Thus begins a two-minute journey through Star Wars: The Old Republic's setting, as the narrator takes us to a half-dozen worlds where conflict is brewing, people are being stabbed in the back, Bantha raiders are waving sticks above their heads, and players' mouths are salivating.

This new trailer, Signs of War, is being shown this weekend at the New York Comic Con. While it might not be packed with new information, it's certainly a pulse-pounding buildup to this December's launch. From Jedi to Agents, every class gets its little moment to shine in it, packaged between explosions and large-scale conflict.

You can watch the full trailer after the jump!

Continue reading SWTOR trailer revels in the signs of war

MassivelySWTOR trailer revels in the signs of war originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Wars The Old Republic - force choke
Grab yourself a tall glass of blue milk, Star Wars fans, as BioWare has released a lengthy new edition of its Studio Insider feature to carry you through your Friday afternoon.

The update features principal lead animator Mark How talking about -- wait for it -- animation! To be more precise, How tells us all about The Old Republic's combat animation, and he even tosses in an interesting video clip that features different stages in the development of a Jedi force leap and a Republic trooper full auto firing animation.

How also gets into the challenges inherent in melding the lightsaber battles from the Star Wars films with the design limitations of an MMORPG. "Players do not enjoy having character control taken away from them because of an action or animation," How explains. "It was particularly challenging to develop animations that allowed for visually appealing combat while still allowing the players complete control over their characters." How successful were BioWare designers in this regard? That remains to be seen, but you can get a feel for their approach by reading How's blog.

Finally, this week's Community Q&A feature continues the combat focus, and lead PvP designer Gabe Amatangelo has the answers to a few burning questions from the TOR faithful.

MassivelyBioWare devs talk SWTOR combat animations, answer PvP questions originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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 hate MMORPG combat.

It's not because I'm a carebear. It's not because I'm bad at it. It's not because I dislike parsing, being a min/maxer, or solving equations and comparing spreadsheets when I'm supposed to be having fun. OK, maybe it is because of those last four things. Mainly, though, it's because MMORPG combat completely and unequivocally sucks. MMORPG combat is not combat. It's high school math.

And it's the same in every damn MMORPG. Twenty years into the genre here, guys, aren't we ready to grow up even a little bit?

Continue reading The Soapbox: Why MMO combat sucks, and how BioWare could've made it suck less

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Why MMO combat sucks, and how BioWare could've made it suck less originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Sep 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some fans have wondered if the rumors about a the Jedi Consular video were just vapor. Thankfully, the community team at BioWare has proven that wrong. This afternoon, we were introduced to the Jedi Consular class for Star Wars: The Old Republic.

This keeper of Force tradition is split up into two advanced classes: The Sage and the Shadow. As their names imply, the Sage is a healer and ranged Force wielder, and the Shadow is a stealth and melee class.

As we have seen in past screenshots, the Trandoshan hunter Qyzen Fess will join the Consular on his travels across the galaxy. This reptilian humanoid has hunted all the galaxy's most deadly beasts from the swamps of Belkadan to the Tatooine deserts, according to his bio on the official website.

Witness all the wonder of this class in the screenshots below, and be sure to catch the full Consular trailer after the break!

Gallery: SWTOR: Consular

Continue reading SWTOR's meet the Medic -- er, Consular

MassivelySWTOR's meet the Medic -- er, Consular originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Aug 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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With E3 last week, I really considered devoting this article to opinions regarding the latest news for Star Wars: The Old Republic. Then I realized that Massively already published a ton of SWTOR related articles about E3 this week. During the show itself, Dan gave his impressions of playing the game, and all four of our attendees delivered impressions yesterday. It's good to read impressions from people who love MMOs but aren't necessarily die-hard fans of BioWare or Star Wars -- you'll get a different perspective than you would reading this column.

So instead, this week I'll examine the announced abilities for the Jedi Consular class. The majority of this information stems from the advanced class page, but there is a little bit that comes from MMORPG's interview with Georg Zoeller. Hop past the break as we explore the abilities of this powerful Force-user.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Find the Force

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Find the Force originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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I don't know about you, but this Friday's update surprised me. After the freighter-full of information we have been receiving, I was kind of expecting a meager morsel of facts from Star Wars: The Old Republic in this most recent update. However, just knowing that the update was written by Lead Combat Designer Georg Zoeller, I was excited about it. Zoeller is surely the most active developer on the SWTOR forums, and he always has some incredible nuggets of information to share with the community.

This week, I want to talk about combat roles. Although BioWare mentioned that it supports the standard trinity, it was refreshing to read that the team is mixing things up a bit based on advanced classes. For instance, your Bounty Hunter easily slips into the DPS or the tank role, but developers have thrown healing into the equation, too. This week, I want to talk about another role I did not expect to see: the Stealth Tank.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Your eyes can deceive you

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Your eyes can deceive you originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Apr 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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[Hyperspace Beacon: Ready to face the Trials]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/29/hyperspace-beacon-ready-to-face-the-trials/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/29/hyperspace-beacon-ready-to-face-the-trials/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/29/hyperspace-beacon-ready-to-face-the-trials/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

We are often inspired by the Star Wars: The Old Republic videos released on Fridays. I'm not exactly sure why the community team started these weekly treats, but I'm going to speculate that it's a way to show the future players that the team will be there for them when the game releases. It's a kind of comfort. Many newer MMOs have increased community involvement in post-launch game design. Maybe the SWTOR team is looking to tell us, "We want you actively involved in our game development now and after the game is released." Good for the team.

This week's video of Jedi progression definitely inspired my colleague on Gamebreaker, Gary Gannon, as evident in Sunday's broadcast. I thought he was going to jump out of his chair. I have to agree with him that there is a lot of stuff packed into that two-and-a-half-minute video; for example, we were shown some of the armor progression milestones for the Jedi Knight class. This inspired me to investigate the story side of Jedi Knight progression. After all, BioWare is all about story, right?

So follow me after the break as I set a side my conscious self and let the Force flow through me.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Ready to face the Trials

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Ready to face the Trials originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 29 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWaredaniel-ericksonEAElectronic-ArtsfeaturedinitiateJedijedi-knightJedi-MasterKnightloreLucasArtsMasterpadawanroleplayStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republicThe-TrialstortrainingTrialsTue, 29 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare releases Jedi armor progression video]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/25/bioware-releases-jedi-armor-progression-video/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/25/bioware-releases-jedi-armor-progression-video/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/25/bioware-releases-jedi-armor-progression-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Due to what could be considered a lack of hard info on everyone's favorite Star Wars archetype, BioWare has had many fans crying out in terror. Today, said fans were suddenly silenced, though not because something terrible has happened. On the contrary, the traditional Star Wars: The Old Republic Friday update brings us a breathless look at glowstick-powered combat footage courtesy of the new Jedi Knight armor progression trailer.

The clip runs a smidge over two minutes and features ample opportunity to feast our eyes on various animations, attacks, and of course armor sets and outfits. There's no voiceover, and those of us who haven't played the game at the various cons may not know exactly what we're looking at, but it nonetheless looks (and sounds) pretty cool. Don't take our word for it, though, see for yourself after the cut.

Continue reading BioWare releases Jedi armor progression video

MassivelyBioWare releases Jedi armor progression video originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 25 Mar 2011 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>armorarmor-progressionbiowareeaelectronic-artsglowstickglowsticksjedijedi-knightleetsci-fismugglers-are-betterstar-wars-mmostar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictortrailersvideoFri, 25 Mar 2011 11:15:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Death penalties]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/24/the-perfect-ten-death-penalties/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/24/the-perfect-ten-death-penalties/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/24/the-perfect-ten-death-penalties/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Death penalties belong in that tier of MMO discussion topics that is reserved for the most controversial subjects, along with skimpy armor and the New Game Enhancements. Death, as we know well, comes for us all with big, nasty, pointy teeth. But for some reason, we are not fans of it, neither in real life nor in online games.

One of the reasons death penalties continue to be a divisive subject is that they used to be brutal beyond belief in MMOs back in the olden days of yore. As the MMO genre progressed, the penalties were lightened and experimented with in an effort to avoid driving players barking mad because of them. So we've ended up with two camps: one group of gamers who campaign for harsh death penalties to make the world seem exciting and dangerous, and another group that campaigns for lenient penalties in the interests of sanity.

So today we're going to go through 10 of the most-used types of death penalties in MMOs, starting with the most brutal and ending with the most lenient. Stay for the after-column party as well, as you'll get a taste for this debate in the comments section!

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Death penalties

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Death penalties originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaoccity-of-heroescohdarkfallde-levelingdeathdeath-penaltiesdeath-penaltydelevelingdiablo-2diablo-iidofuseveeve-onlineeverquestfeaturedfinal-fantasy-11final-fantasy-xigrim-reaperguild-warsgwhot-pocketitem-repairjedinew-game-enhancementsngeparagon-studiosperfect-10perfect-tenpermadeathpermanent-deathporchepre-trammelresurrection-sicknessrez-sicknessskimpy-armorstar-wars-galaxiesthe-perfect-10the-perfect-tentrammelultima-onlinexp-debtThu, 24 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX East: BioWare reveals new Old Republic trailer]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/11/bioware-reveals-new-old-republic-trailer-at-pax-east/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/11/bioware-reveals-new-old-republic-trailer-at-pax-east/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/11/bioware-reveals-new-old-republic-trailer-at-pax-east/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Fans were expecting a big showing out of Star Wars: The Old Republic at this weekend's PAX East. BioWare didn't disappoint, as the renowned RPG maker released the newest (and best) trailer for its upcoming Star Wars MMORPG opus.

The two-minute short consists entirely of in-game footage and is titled Fate of the Galaxy, an appropriate moniker given that the video is crammed full of epic Star Wars moments from start to finish. Whether you're into space combat, Jedi combat, or pleasingly retro sound effects from the Lucasfilm library (we dare you not to crack a smile at the signature sound of a tauntaun or the squeal of a Jawa as he's shown the business end of a Sith lightsaber), there's something here for just about every fan.

Check out all the pyrotechnics after the cut and let us know what you think in the comments.

Continue reading PAX East: BioWare reveals new Old Republic trailer

MassivelyPAX East: BioWare reveals new Old Republic trailer originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebreakingfate-of-the-galaxyjedinew-titlespaxpax-2011pax-eastpax-east-2011sci-fispace-combatstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictrailervideoFri, 11 Mar 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Sithing up for PAX East]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/08/hyperspace-beacon-sithing-up-for-pax-east/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/08/hyperspace-beacon-sithing-up-for-pax-east/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/03/08/hyperspace-beacon-sithing-up-for-pax-east/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

If you haven't been paying attention, then you wouldn't know that Star Wars: The Old Republic is going to make a huge appearance at PAX East this year. However, unlike past appearances, this presentation is all about giving the fans a first-hand experience with the game. The SWTOR community team has promised Flashpoints, Jedi classes, and origin worlds that the fans can see, hear, touch, and feel. For a fan who has been following the game since before October of 2008, this is far more exciting than any on-stage performance.

With all of the hoopla, it may be difficult to know every single thing that is going on. And as your guide through the vastness of hyperspace, I should give you a guideline so you do not miss a vital piece of the event. Follow me after the cut for a breakdown of the planned events and some suggestions for things to do while attending PAX.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Sithing up for PAX East

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Sithing up for PAX East originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWaredamion-schubertdaniel-ericksondavid-bassEAElectronic-ArtsfeaturedflashpointHands-onjames-ohlenJediJedi-ConsularJedi-KnightLucasArtsPAXpax-eastpax-east-2011Star-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicStephen-ReidSWTORTaral-vthe-old-republicTOrTue, 08 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: A mystical energy field controls my destiny]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/11/hyperspace-beacon-a-mystical-energy-field-controls-my-destiny/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/11/hyperspace-beacon-a-mystical-energy-field-controls-my-destiny/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/01/11/hyperspace-beacon-a-mystical-energy-field-controls-my-destiny/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

I find it extremely interesting that the most poignant and memorable lines spoken in the original trilogy are not said by the primary protagonist, Luke Skywalker. Instead, the majority are spoken by Yoda or Ben Kenobi, and in this case, Han Solo quipped this line: "Kid, I've flown from one side of this galaxy to the other. I've seen a lot of strange stuff, but I've never seen anything to make me believe there's one all-powerful Force controlling everything. There's no mystical energy field that controls my destiny. It's all a lot of simple tricks and nonsense." When I watch the first in this series of memorable films, I find it extremely fascinating how this bit of exposition was seamlessly woven into the the movie's narrative, especially given that, in the later films, exposition was set aglow with neon lights and explosive fireworks.

Although an earlier scene set up what the Jedi were, this conversation between Han and Obi-Wan while the latter trained Luke really shows what the Force is: a mystical energy field that can control your actions or obey your commands. The premise was the set-up for many hokey religions and ancient weapons to be birthed in the Star Wars universe. I would like to take some time to explore the other religions born from the Force. Granted, this will not be exhaustive, but it should give you a taste of some of the possible "simple tricks and nonsense" (as Han Solo called it) that we may run into in Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: A mystical energy field controls my destiny

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: A mystical energy field controls my destiny originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Jan 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWareDathomirDathomiriEAElectronic-ArtsfeaturedforceForce-usersjediLucasArtsPotentiumprophetsreligionStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-lore-guidethe-forcethe-old-republictorWitchesTue, 11 Jan 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on with SWTOR's Jedi Knight on Tython]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/15/hands-on-with-swtors-jedi-knight-on-tython/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/15/hands-on-with-swtors-jedi-knight-on-tython/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/15/hands-on-with-swtors-jedi-knight-on-tython/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Last month, Massively was invited to LucasArts for a whole day's experience with BioWare's Star Wars: The Old Republic. One of the perks of living on the West Coast is that I get to attend all these awesome in-depth Silicon Valley events and really expand on Massively's sessions at various conventions!

For all my enthusiasm, I have to admit I approached this hands-on with no small amount of trepidation. I'm a huge Star Wars fan (I still play Star Wars Galaxies!), but I fell out of "expert" range on the saga a decade ago. Like many of you readers, I've been wary of the hype and even warier of delusions of grandeur on the part of game companies trying to do justice to the IP. I was really afraid that it wouldn't be as good as I'd hoped and that I'd walk away disappointed.

And given the parts I saw, SWTOR's not as good as I'd hoped. It's better.

Gallery: SWTOR Jedi Immersion Day

Continue reading Hands-on with SWTOR's Jedi Knight on Tython

MassivelyHands-on with SWTOR's Jedi Knight on Tython originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWarebioware-eaclassescodexcombatdaniel-ericksondialogueeaElectronic-Artsexclusivefeaturedgallerygroup-dialoguegroupinghand-onhands-onjedijedi-knightlightsaberLucasArtsmoviemusicpadawanpreviewpreviewsscreenshotscreenshotsStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicStephen-Reidswtorswtor-hands-onthe-old-republictortrailertythonvideovoiceoverWed, 15 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hands-on with SWTOR's next book: Deceived]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/13/hands-on-with-swtors-next-book-deceived/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/13/hands-on-with-swtors-next-book-deceived/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/13/hands-on-with-swtors-next-book-deceived/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

The Star Wars universe probably has the richest and most collaborative lore of any fictional world. Literally, thousands of artists and authors have taken George Lucas' creation and turned it into the books, movies, paintings, comic books, and video games we know today. Paul S. Kemp, an author and corporate lawyer from Michigan, added his name to that list with his first Star Wars book, Crosscurrent. On March 22nd, 2011, Kemp's second Star Wars book will hit the shelves. Deceived will also be the second book to deal directly with the lore leading up to LucasArts' and BioWare's MMORPG (maybe you've heard of it): Star Wars: The Old Republic.

The wildly popular Deceived trailer for SWTOR shows us how a Sith named Darth Malgus led the assault on the Jedi Temple during the Sacking of Coruscant. Darth Malgus and his Twi'lek companion rather quietly walk through the front doors of the temple to be surrounded immediately by Jedi who are rather uncertain about what to make of the situation until a stolen transport full of Sith warriors comes crashing through the main hall. A battle of light and dark ensues, which culminates with Maglus facing off with and killing Jedi Master Ven Zallow.

As with everything Star Wars, we only get a piece of the actual story with the trailer. This four minute trailer is the spark which eventually turns into the forest fire. Deceived tells the immediate and personal effects of this battle on Darth Malgus, his Twi'lek companion, a Smuggler, and a Jedi Knight.

The novel hardback will retail for $27 U.S. ($31 Canadian) when it releases, but Massively received an advanced copy of Deceived. Continue reading to scoop up our impressions of the latest in what looks to be a series of SWTOR-related novels. (Oh, there maybe a couple of spoilers to tease you in there, too.)

Continue reading Hands-on with SWTOR's next book: Deceived

MassivelyHands-on with SWTOR's next book: Deceived originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Aryn-LeneerBioWarebook-reviewdarth-malgusdeceivedDelReyeaElectronic-Artsgeorge-lucashands-onJediloreLucasArtsnovelpaul-kempPaul-S-Kemprandom-houseSacking-of-CoruscantSithSmugglerStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorven-zallowZeerid-KorrMon, 13 Dec 2010 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic -- Warzones and Wizard's rename]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/05/star-wars-the-old-republic-warzones-and-wizards-rename/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/05/star-wars-the-old-republic-warzones-and-wizards-rename/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/05/star-wars-the-old-republic-warzones-and-wizards-rename/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,


A few months back at Gamescom, BioWare announced the names of all the advanced classes for Star Wars: The Old Republic, and one name in particular stood out to fans for all the wrong reasons. A Jedi Consular sub-class was called Wizard, and fans decided that the name was not Star Wars-y enough because SWTOR is a science-fiction game, not fantasy. However, the creators at BioWare wanted to stick to the name by justifying the name on the official forum and in interviews. But now, it seems they have caved. The ranged and healing sub-class will be renamed to Jedi Sage, Jedi Seer, or Jedi Adept. The best news is that you, the fans, get to choose. Head to the SWTOR forums and place your vote for your favorite name.

Continuing the trend of giving the fans what they asked for, BioWare created a new video of Warzone ingame footage. For those who are unfamiliar, the Warzones are the PvP areas announced at E3. Alderaan is the only planet we know of that has a Warzone, so they weren't shy about showing some of that off in the new trailer. The Imperial forces have invaded a Republic outpost in an attempt gain control of Alderaani skies. Will you help the Republic or the Empire? Catch the video after the break.

Continue reading Star Wars: The Old Republic -- Warzones and Wizard's rename

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic -- Warzones and Wizard's rename originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alderaanBioWareeaElectronic-ArtsJedijedi-adeptjedi-consularJedi-sagejedi-seerJedi-wizardLucasArtsPvPStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-fan-fridaythe-old-republictorwarzonewarzonesFri, 05 Nov 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR devs dive deep in Jedi design in this week's dispatch]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/17/swtor-devs-dive-deep-in-jedi-design-in-this-weeks-dispatch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/17/swtor-devs-dive-deep-in-jedi-design-in-this-weeks-dispatch/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/09/17/swtor-devs-dive-deep-in-jedi-design-in-this-weeks-dispatch/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The character type that will likely be played the most in Star Wars: The Old Republic will be the Jedi. BioWare has been conscious of this from the early stages of the game. This is evident in the fact that there are two distinct Jedi classes: the knight and the consular. Yet, the designers have been the most tight-lipped about these two classes. They have said this is because they wish to get it just right before talking about it. But with this week's Fan Friday, things have changed.

On the official SWTOR website, a new Developer Dispatch called Designing the Light Side has popped up. In the five-and-a-half-minute video, SWTOR writers, artists, and animators discuss the most important things it takes to create the two light side factions. "We want to give players the opportunity to be the heroic Jedi like Luke Skywalker or the darker, more avenging type of Jedi like his father, Anakin," Hall Hood, a senior writer, explains in the video.

On which side of the moral spectrum do you fall? Are you a hero-of-the-ages light sider, or a ends-justifies-the-means gray Jedi? Watch the video after the break and let us know.

Continue reading SWTOR devs dive deep in Jedi design in this week's dispatch

MassivelySWTOR devs dive deep in Jedi design in this week's dispatch originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 17 Sep 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>animationArnold-JorgensenBioWareBryan-erckcombat-animationconsulardeisgnDesigning-the-light-sidedeveloper-dispatcheaHall-HoodJason-Attardjedijedi-consularjedi-knightJo-Berryknightlight-sideLucasArtsStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstorytellingswtorthe-old-republictorwritingFri, 17 Sep 2010 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR announces green, red, blind, and horny Force species]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/06/swtor-announces-green-red-blind-and-horny-force-species/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/06/swtor-announces-green-red-blind-and-horny-force-species/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/06/swtor-announces-green-red-blind-and-horny-force-species/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

To the elation of fans of Star Wars: The Old Republic, the developers at BioWare announced that the Sith "pure blood" and Miraluka will be playable species for the Sith warrior and Jedi knight classes, respectively. On top of that, the Mirialan species will be available to Force push as Jedi consulars, and the Sith inquisitor can slash his dual-bladed lightsaber as an acrobatic Zabrak.

In case these species names mean very little to you, here is a brief catch-up. The Sith species is a red-skinned race from the planet Korriban. They were made mention of in this Hyperspace Beacon a little while back. Miraluaka are blind humanoids who see via the Force. The KOTOR II character Visas Marr was Miraluka. Mirialan are a bit less familiar to the casual fan, but two of them are found in the Episodes II and III of the Star Wars movies, Luminara and Barriss. Finally, everyone should be familiar with the devilish face of Darth Maul, the Sith apprentice who killed Qui-Gon Jinn. He was the quintessential Zabrak.

Perhaps this writer is the only one excited about this announcement, but it is doubtful. What are Massively reader's thoughts?

MassivelySWTOR announces green, red, blind, and horny Force species originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BarrissBioWarebreakingDarth-Mauleaea-biowareElectronic-Artsjedijedi-consularjedi-knightLucasArtsLuminaramiralukaMirialansithsith-inquisitorsith-pure-bloodsith-warriorStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorVisas-MarrZabrakFri, 06 Aug 2010 14:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Choose my Adventure: A wretched hive of scum and villainy... and quests]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/21/choose-my-adventure-a-wretched-hive-of-scum-and-villainy-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/21/choose-my-adventure-a-wretched-hive-of-scum-and-villainy-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/21/choose-my-adventure-a-wretched-hive-of-scum-and-villainy-and/#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!

It's been two weeks since I stepped foot in the lands of Star Wars Galaxies, and as surprising as it may be to many to hear this: not only have I managed to avoid lag, but I've also been having quite a lot of fun. Yes, believe it or not, one actually can have fun in Star Wars Galaxies! That's not to say the game is entirely without problems. Let's face it, the core of the game is seven years old, and I don't know any games that old that don't have some issues. However, the age doesn't stop the game as it is now from being fun. Whether or not it's your particular flavor of fun, well, that's for you to decide. I'm certainly not going to convince anyone by essentially going "woohoo! fun!" at you over the internets.

With that out of the way, if you're curious as to what the last week held, and what this week's request for help is, then join me after the break. I can definitely use some sage advice from the active Star Wars Galaxies vets on this week's question!

Gallery: Choose my Adventure: Star Wars Galaxies

In a strange new place, looking for the scum and villainy.Bantha! Don't try to run them over in your landspeeder. It doesn't work very well.If the terminator was Mon Calamari...Say hello to Bintall. He's very handy with a blaster!Mo'ag and I had to put the Tuskens in their place.

Continue reading Choose my Adventure: A wretched hive of scum and villainy... and quests

MassivelyChoose my Adventure: A wretched hive of scum and villainy... and quests originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>choose-my-adventurecmafeaturedjedimos-eisleysoesony-online-entertainmentStar-Warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgtwilekWed, 21 Jul 2010 13:00:00 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[The Game Archaeologist and the Star of the Galaxies: The players (part 1)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/08/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-star-of-the-galaxies-the-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/08/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-star-of-the-galaxies-the-players/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/08/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-star-of-the-galaxies-the-players/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I think we can put to bed the rumor that Star Wars Galaxies is dead on its feet, considering the avalanche of emails sent my way asking to be interviewed. Last week's history retrospective sparked a desire in many players to share their experiences and personal epics, and it was not uncommon to read emails longer than this column from players excited to reminisce. There's a lot of love for SWG, both out among MMO players and here in the Massively office (we have at least three confirmed SWG addicts on the team).

When I began this series, I thought that it would be dominated by NGE and nothing else, yet the responses I've read tend to focus on the positives of the title instead of that one ugly month. It might not have been the Star Wars experience everyone wanted, but if one looks hard enough, apparently there's something for everyone in SWG. Sam Schneider encapsulated many opinions perfectly with this: "Despite its problems, and what I believe people mostly remember it for (and I certainly do), the game did allow you do truly create your own Star Wars experience. You weren't Han Solo, you weren't Luke Skywalker, you weren't Leia -- you were YOU."

Unfortunately, I could only interview a small fraction of the people who wrote in, so I randomly chose a handful of players to represent the (mostly) pre-NGE crowd for this week, and a handful of (mostly) post-NGE gamers for next week's column. This week we're talking with Adam "Vayde" Mostel, Jaume "Tsotha Lanti" Sabater, Kate "Syena Runningrider" and Paris "Iweos" Wright.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the Star of the Galaxies: The players (part 1)

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the Star of the Galaxies: The players (part 1) originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 08 Jun 2010 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cueverquestfeaturedhan-soloi-could-use-a-good-kissinterviewjedijump-to-lightspeednew-game-enhancementsngeretrospectiveroleplayingsandboxsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstormtrooperswgthe-game-archaeologisttwilekTue, 08 Jun 2010 12:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Game Archaeologist and the Star of the Galaxies: The history]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/01/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-star-of-the-galaxies-the-history/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/01/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-star-of-the-galaxies-the-history/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/01/the-game-archaeologist-and-the-star-of-the-galaxies-the-history/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Each month, the Game Archaeologist dusts off one MMORPG of yesterday and investigates while hanging on to his hat.

From the ancient lands of Ultima to a galaxy far, far away, the Game Archaeologist is always on the move, looking for the next treasure trove to uncover. Some say that covering Star Wars Galaxies is a moot point: that the true game as it was is dead, and that with The Old Republic on the horizon, SWG is all but passé. Yet through the steamy jungles of Kashyyyk to the dangerous dunes of Tatooine, there is evidence of passion, play and Imperial Stormtroopers shooting all willy-nilly.

It's weird to think that in early 2003, the MMO genre was almost an entirely different creature. World of Warcraft was still over a year away, and the most successful developer at the time (Sony Online Entertainment, along with Verant) had teamed up with LucasArts to create a Star Wars game above all other games. A killer IP, a beefy development team, and incredible fan-fueled hype made Star Wars Galaxies THE game to watch as it raced toward launch -- even IGN crowed in 2000 that SWG could become "one of the biggest games of all time."

Join us now as we hop back to the wild frontier of the early 2000s and peruse the first seven years of Star Wars Galaxies' run. It's had its highs, its lows, and a three-letter acronym that became one of the most infamous MMO events ever -- but no matter what your opinion, the Force has been strong with this title indeed.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist and the Star of the Galaxies: The history

MassivelyThe Game Archaeologist and the Star of the Galaxies: The history originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Jun 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ancient-weapons-are-no-match-for-a-good-blasterbattle-of-echo-basecombat-upgradecuevequestjedijump-to-lightspeedlucasartsmonika-tsarnnew-game-enhancementsngerage-of-the-wookiessoestar-wars-galaxiesstation-accessswgtashi-stationthe-game-archaeologistthe-old-republicthe-trials-of-obi-wantrading-card-gameultima-onlineverantworld-of-warcraftTue, 01 Jun 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[New Star Wars online game revealed: Clone Wars Adventures [Update]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/01/new-star-wars-online-game-revealed-clone-wars-adventures/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/01/new-star-wars-online-game-revealed-clone-wars-adventures/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/01/new-star-wars-online-game-revealed-clone-wars-adventures/#commentsFiled under: , ,

While we've heard the rumors of a third Star Wars online title coming our way, today it's confirmed: Clone Wars Adventures will launch this fall! Unlike Star Wars Galaxies and Star Wars: The Old Republic, Clone Wars Adventures is aimed at a younger demographic (but may appeal to the older as well), in the vein of what SOE did with Free Realms. Sony is shying away from calling this an "MMO," preferring the term "virtual world" instead as there won't be leveling or quests.

Capitalizing on the Clone Wars TV series' popularity, CWA offers a pick of three playable classes (Jedi, Padawan and Clone Trooper) and will be more minigame focused. Players will socialize in hubs, meet iconic Star Wars characters, and head off together or solo for a variety of activities, including spaceship battles, tower defense, card games, droid programming and speeder bike racing. Destructoid is reporting that about 20 minigames will be present at launch. Fun amenities, such as pets and player housing, will be offered as well.

Clone Wars Adventures will be free to play with an optional membership, so everyone will be able to sample the goods without worry. The official website is chock-full of info and screenshots, although a lot of the smaller details are obviously forthcoming. We'll be able to get a closer look at this title when we travel to E3 later this month, so stay tuned!

[Update: We've gotten our hands on a trailer for the game! Follow along after the break to check it out!]

Continue reading New Star Wars online game revealed: Clone Wars Adventures [Update]

MassivelyNew Star Wars online game revealed: Clone Wars Adventures [Update] originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Jun 2010 13:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingcard-gameccgclone-trooperclone-warsclone-wars-adventuresfree-realmsjedilucasartsmini-gamepadawanpetsplayer-housingsoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-clone-wars-adventuresstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-mmostar-wars-the-old-republictower-defenseTue, 01 Jun 2010 13:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Return of the Jedi]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/31/hyperspace-beacon-return-of-the-jedi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/31/hyperspace-beacon-return-of-the-jedi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/31/hyperspace-beacon-return-of-the-jedi/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

"For over a thousand generations the Jedi Knights were the guardians of peace and justice in the Old Republic, before the dark times, before the Empire," Obi-wan Kenobi explained to a young Luke Skywalker and the audience for the first time in Star Wars: A New Hope. This started the never-ending quest of finding out what exactly it means to master the seemingly limitless power of the Force. On that life-transforming statement, we begin in this week's Hyperspace Beacon.

The Jedi Knight places Star Wars beyond every other science fiction story in world. The mix of science and mysticism takes us to a place that challenges not only our mind but our spiritual beliefs as well. The Jedi Order asks us to, "unlearn what you have learned," and to, "do or do not. There is no try." Then, as if to defy greater logic, they brandish a sword made completely of light.

Let us take a few moments to rediscover these lightsaber-wielding wizards, find out a little of how they came to be, examine what differences arose over the thousands of years they existed, and investigate what you can expect from the Jedi in Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Return of the Jedi

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Return of the Jedi originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 31 May 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWaredaniel-ericksondark-sideEAElectronic-Artsjedijedi-knightKnights-of-the-Old-Republiclight-sideluke-skywalkerobi-wan-kenobiold-republicStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-lore-guideyodaMon, 31 May 2010 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Blood of the Empire may reveal the secrets of The Old Republic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/05/blood-of-the-empire-may-reveal-the-secrets-of-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/05/blood-of-the-empire-may-reveal-the-secrets-of-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/05/blood-of-the-empire-may-reveal-the-secrets-of-the-old-republic/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The always-analytical team over at Darth Hater have turned their attention -- and magnifying glasses -- on the new TOR webcomic in the hopes of discovering hints for the MMO. The first issue of Blood of the Empire, entitled "Shades of the Sith," went up on The Old Republic's website a couple weeks ago, and as with the previous Threat of Peace comic, BioWare's cooperation with the project may be a subtle delivery mechanism for TOR secrets.

So what have they uncovered so far? As with any exercise in speculation, maybe something, maybe nothing. The comic mentions "cacophinzer rounds" as a type of ammo that lightsabers cannot block, which may provide a logical excuse why lightsaber-wielding players may not always be able to deflect blaster fire. Darth Hater also points out the use of Teräs Käsi, an unarmed combat form that some Jedi use, which could have a role in the game. Above all of these details, they note that the comic seems to reinforce the BioWare edict that "choices matter" -- choices in quests, choices with companions and choices with conversations.

Head on over to Darth Hater for the full read!

MassivelyBlood of the Empire may reveal the secrets of The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 May 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

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

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

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

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>beast-masterempire-dayhothjediproducer-notesoestar-wars-galaxiesswgteesquaredthe-empire-strikes-backwampaSat, 01 May 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Old Republic cracks open the files on the galaxy's most notorious figures]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/30/the-old-republic-cracks-open-the-files-on-the-galaxys-most-noto/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/30/the-old-republic-cracks-open-the-files-on-the-galaxys-most-noto/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/04/30/the-old-republic-cracks-open-the-files-on-the-galaxys-most-noto/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Sometimes it feels as though the Sith and Jedi get boiled down to two primary emotions: scowly and smug. It kind of makes it hard to root for one side or the other when that's all there is. Happily, Team BioWare's decided to graduate past these stereotypes as they flesh out the complex leaders in the struggle for intergalactic domination.

Three new biographies have been posted on The Old Republic's website, representing the three main factions of the game: Darth Malgus for the Sith, Mandalore for the Independents, and General Garza for the Republic. You may remember Darth Malgus as the seething bad guy from the Deceived trailer, and it turns out that he's now the star of his own book as well: Star Wars: The Old Republic: Deceived. The novel -- which just received a first look over at StarWars.com -- promises to reveal insights into just why Malgus led the assault to sack the Jedi temple on Coruscant.

More exciting than these biographies are the introduction of a brand-new section of TOR's Holonet: Inhabitants! This page covers droids, creatures and humanoids that players will encounter on a regular basis in the game, and currently has six records to choose from: the Gundark, the AR-34 Enforcer Droid, Gormak, Trandoshan, Salky Hounds, and the X2-C3 Imperial Astromech. Each of the records is accompanied by a description and a trio of screen shots to enjoy.

It's a lot to absorb in one sitting, so head on over to The Old Republic to check out these new Biographies and Inhabitants!

MassivelyThe Old Republic cracks open the files on the galaxy's most notorious figures originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Apr 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebreakingdarth-malgusdeceiveddroidea-biowareempiregeneral-garzaimperialjedimandaloreracesrepublicsiththe-old-republictorFri, 30 Apr 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Latest dev blog for Star Wars: The Old Republic looks at Jedi Consular]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/05/latest-dev-blog-for-star-wars-the-old-republic-looks-at-jedi-co/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/05/latest-dev-blog-for-star-wars-the-old-republic-looks-at-jedi-co/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/05/latest-dev-blog-for-star-wars-the-old-republic-looks-at-jedi-co/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The development team for Star Wars: The Old Republic is hard at work these days, and most of us love to hear what they're up to while we wait for the game. One of the many resources that Bioware has given us are the developer blogs. The newest edition comes to us courtesy of writer Joanna Berry, who takes a closer look at the Jedi Consular.

The Jedi Consular has a balance to maintain, walking that line between the light and dark sides of the Force, and Berry's thoughts on that sense of balance contributed quite a bit to how she chose to write the Jedi Consular class: "For me, the challenge - and the fun - of writing the Jedi Consular is keeping a sense of balance between intelligence and arrogance, between what's right and what could win the war against the Empire."

Take a look at the full entry here -- it's well worth a read for anyone interested in SW:TOR.

MassivelyLatest dev blog for Star Wars: The Old Republic looks at Jedi Consular originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWaredeveloper-blogjedijedi-consularjoanna-berrystar-wars-the-old-republicswtorFri, 05 Mar 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Threat of Peace issue #23 goes beneath Dantooine]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/09/threat-of-peace-issue-23-goes-beneath-dantooine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/09/threat-of-peace-issue-23-goes-beneath-dantooine/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/09/threat-of-peace-issue-23-goes-beneath-dantooine/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In the newest entry of Threat of Peace -- the webcomic prequel to Star Wars: The Old Republic -- it seems like Jedi and Sith will fight just about anywhere. They'll even make battle under Dantooine, especially if there's some degree of revenge involved in the fight. To be fair, Sith Lords Baras and Master Dar'Nala aren't simply fighting in a cave, they're fighting in ancient crystal caves that make for a much more spectacular setting. Of course, none of this would even be happening if the Jedi didn't blame the Sith for upsetting the peace treaty.

Ah, Jedi, always blaming the Sith for their problems. Well, at least it makes for great showdowns beneath Dantooine! If not for that, well... we're not really sure what these comics would be about. Jedi picnics?

MassivelyThreat of Peace issue #23 goes beneath Dantooine originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarecomicdarkhorseeaelectronic-artsjedijedi-picnicslucasartssithstar-warsswtorthe-old-republicthreat-of-peaceSat, 09 Jan 2010 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare on developing the Dark Side of SWTOR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/27/bioware-on-developing-the-dark-side-of-swtor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/27/bioware-on-developing-the-dark-side-of-swtor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/27/bioware-on-developing-the-dark-side-of-swtor/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Would you like to know more about BioWare's lengthy effort of creating the dark side classes in Star Wars: The Old Republic? Well, of course you would! We mean, who wouldn't really? Well, probably Jedi, but nobody really listens to those guys anyhow. Except maybe for angst-ridden youth who've just recently discovered their father is a dark lord of the Sith. Oh, wait, nevermind.

In this video glimpse into the game's development, we're treated to some insight on the Sith Warrior and Inquisitor's overall design. BioWare details their thought process behind the various aspects of each class, including lightsaber hilt styles, armor styles and of course overall story focus within the game. Our collective jaws were on the floor during the shots of all the concept art for Sith armor. Players definitely won't find Star Wars: The Old Republic to be a game lacking in depth and breadth of loot.

Check out the full video after the break.

Continue reading BioWare on developing the Dark Side of SWTOR

MassivelyBioWare on developing the Dark Side of SWTOR originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 27 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowaredeveloper-dispatcheaelectronic-artsjedilucasartssithsith-inquisitorsith-warriorstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republicvideoSun, 27 Dec 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare opens the Jedi Consular's class page]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/04/bioware-opens-the-jedi-consulars-class-page/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/04/bioware-opens-the-jedi-consulars-class-page/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/04/bioware-opens-the-jedi-consulars-class-page/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Emphasis on non-melee abilities? Check. Robes? Check. Hm, if it weren't for those lightsaber moves, we'd almost have to say Star Wars: The Old Republic's Jedi Consular is a "magic" class. BioWare's released the official page for the newly revealed class, and looking through it proves that even in a galaxy far, far away you can find clothies.

The primary difference between the Knight and Consular is how they fight; one gets up close, while the other prefers to hang back a bit. Sure, the Consular can throw down in melee if need be, but when you command a significant degree of force powers why bother? Check out the new Consular screens below, and check out the official class page for all your lore related goodness.

Gallery: Star Wars: The Old Republic Screenshots

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

MassivelyBioWare opens the Jedi Consular's class page originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareconsulareaelectronic-artsjedijedi-consularjedi-knightknightlucasartsstar-war-the-old-republicstar-warsswtorthe-old-republicFri, 04 Dec 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The balance of force in Star Wars: the Old Republic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/15/the-balance-of-force-in-star-wars-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/15/the-balance-of-force-in-star-wars-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/15/the-balance-of-force-in-star-wars-the-old-republic/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


It might be a slight exaggeration to say that everyone in the world is looking forward to Star Wars: the Old Republic... but only slight. With the latest class reveal, the Imperial Agent is poised to give an excellent sneak-and-snipe playstyle to the Sith side of the game. All well and good... but as Kill Ten Rats notes, how is this game going to get any PvP balance? To the best of everyone's knowledge there's no equivalent ability in the Smuggler's arsenal, the Republic's counterpoint to the Agent, and it's not much of a matchup when one side is invisible and the other side isn't.

Overly Positive recently made a few observations regarding the class balance, noting that BioWare seems to be taking an approach a la Warhammer Online -- each class has a loose equivalent on the other side, but they don't result in being direct copies of one another. However, the downside to this approach is that you can easily wind up with one side's class being overpowered in relation to the other. Direct equivalencies leech some of the flavor, but they ensure that the game remains perfectly balanced for both factions. It's a question worth considering and keeping an eye on as the game moves through development -- after all, if a Jedi and a Sith Warrior can't face off in fair combat, it'll be a sad day for many players.

MassivelyThe balance of force in Star Wars: the Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>balancebiowareclass-balanceclassesgame-mechanicsimperial-agentjedikill-ten-ratsktrlucasartsnew-titlesopinionpvpsith-warriorstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorwarwarhammer-onlineSun, 15 Nov 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Jedi Knight officially steps into The Old Republic spotlight]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/30/jedi-knight-officially-steps-into-the-old-republic-spotlight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/30/jedi-knight-officially-steps-into-the-old-republic-spotlight/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/30/jedi-knight-officially-steps-into-the-old-republic-spotlight/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Rumors and speculation have been floating around this week about the Jedi Knight, so no big surprise when BioWare reveals that, yes, Knights of the Jedi persuasion are in fact a player class in Star Wars: The Old Republic. The news comes with all the expected class page accoutrements such as screens, concept art and a few videos showing off three Jedi Knight attacks. It's all standard practice information release at this point, which only slightly dilutes the excitement of the announcement.

The videos all show the proper level of Jedi powerhousing that you'd expect, although we're not entirely cool with all the droid destroying that's happening. Sure, we're aware that unlike Sith, Jedi are limited to disabling droids and pushing things around but that's no excuse to pick on the little helpless mechanical people. Yes, we said people -- robots are people too!

In all seriousness, this is probably the class reveal everyone has been waiting for and/or expecting all along. Jedi and Sith were a given, so from here on out it's almost entirely anyone's guess. Spy? Rogue? Droids? Wookiees? Albino Ewoks? Okay, that's a little silly, nobody wants to play a rogue over a spy.

Gallery: Star Wars: The Old Republic Concept Art

Gallery: Star Wars: The Old Republic Screenshots

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

MassivelyJedi Knight officially steps into The Old Republic spotlight originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareclasseaelectronic-artsewokewoksjedijedi-knightjedi-knightslucasartsroguesithspystar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorwookieeFri, 30 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Old Republic timeline video chronicles heroic last stand at The Battle of Bothawui]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/23/the-old-republic-timeline-video-chronicles-heroic-last-stand-at/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/23/the-old-republic-timeline-video-chronicles-heroic-last-stand-at/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/23/the-old-republic-timeline-video-chronicles-heroic-last-stand-at/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


One of the things we like about the lead up to the Star Wars: The Old Republic launch is BioWare's series of timeline videos that explains the political and military background of the upcoming MMO. The fifth holorecord from the Jedi Archive is The Battle of Bothawui which recounts a major Republic victory against the Sith. It also chronicles the last stand of a heroic group of Jedi knights and Republic troopers, who became martyrs in the struggle against the Sith Empire.

If you're following along with the lore of Star Wars: The Old Republic you'll want to watch "The Battle of Bothawui" on the game's official site.

MassivelyThe Old Republic timeline video chronicles heroic last stand at The Battle of Bothawui originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Oct 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backstorybiowareholorecordjedilance-henriksenlorenew-titlessci-fisithstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictimelinevideoFri, 23 Oct 2009 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic fills up the city planet]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/10/star-wars-the-old-republic-fills-up-the-city-planet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/10/star-wars-the-old-republic-fills-up-the-city-planet/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/10/star-wars-the-old-republic-fills-up-the-city-planet/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Think for a minute about what it means to have a city taking up an entire planet. No, really, think about it. Think about the scope involved, the huge numbers of people involved, the sheer scale of any kind of project or even the most humble buildings. It's a massively dwarfing concept, which makes it all the more interesting to see the latest trailer for Star Wars: The Old Republic which discusses the creation of Coruscant, capital of the Republic and home to a single, massive city.

In the trailer, the designers mention many of the issues that they faced with designing the planet, chief among them the absolute lack of any terrain on the planet due to its nature and the difficulty of relating it to real-life places and things. It also discusses the events that lead into the beginning of Star Wars: The Old Republic -- the Sith sacking of Coruscant that leaves some portions of the planet still damaged and rebuilding. Coruscant is being set up to help establish the role of the Republic and the Jedi in the larger galaxy, a symbol of everything positive in the galaxy. We also see still more vistas of the city, which retain the polish that Bioware has been long known for.

On the very real chance you're hungry for more visions of the universe after the trailer, the latest installment of Threat of Peace has also been added to the site. But that's only enough to whet our appetites for what's shaping up to be a truly massive and immersive game.

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic fills up the city planet originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarecoruscantjedistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthreat-of-peacetrailerswebcomicsSat, 10 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST