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[Hyperspace Beacon: Top five SWTOR launch day secrets]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/20/hyperspace-beacon-top-five-launch-day-secrets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/20/hyperspace-beacon-top-five-launch-day-secrets/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/20/hyperspace-beacon-top-five-launch-day-secrets/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Hyperspce Beacon: Top 5 launch day secrets
It's official: The year's most highly anticipated MMO is no longer anticipated. As of today, Star Wars: The Old Republic has officially launched in both North America and Europe (and our Australian friends have had it shipped from the US). Despite some earlier issues about the time of delivery, everyone who pre-ordered can play on launch day thanks to the 48-hour grace period and the adjusted shipping date for most retailers. I guess that'll teach BioWare not to release so close to Christmas.

Now that you have the game in your hands, what do you do? Of course, you enter in the code to your SWTOR account, but I mean, what do you do once you get into the game? First, if you have absolutely no clue which direction to go, you should read a couple of the class introductions in Massively's giant SWTOR pre-launch guide. Once you've decided on a class, hop past the break as I give you my top five things you must watch out for very early on in the game -- things that will make your launch day experience just a bit more interesting.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Top five SWTOR launch day secrets

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Top five SWTOR launch day secrets originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AurebeshAverage-brown-wookieeBastila-ShanBioWarecodexDatacronsEAElectronic-Artsfeaturedgalactic-basichungry-eyesJaesa-WillsaamJedi-ExilejukeboxKnights-of-the-Old-RepublicLaunchlaunch-dayloreLucasArtsRevanRevanitessatele-shansith-warriorStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicSWTORthe-old-republicTORTue, 20 Dec 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR: Ten things you need to know about companions]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/swtor-ten-things-you-need-to-know-about-companions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/swtor-ten-things-you-need-to-know-about-companions/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/swtor-ten-things-you-need-to-know-about-companions/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

SWTOR Guide to Companions
For those of you who have never played a BioWare RPG before (or any single-player RPG, really), the concept of "companions" may initially strike you as strange. After all, in MMOs we're so used to jaunting off into the wilderness solo without some semi-intelligent NPC tagging along for the ride, so for a game to inform us that we not only will have them but will have to use them all the time may feel odd. If so, we're guessing you've never been into pet classes, either.

Companions are one of the long-standing features of BioWare RPGs; they're both useful fighters who help keep you alive and persistent beings whom you get to know, develop relationships with, and affect in significant ways. In the past, BioWare companions have often been cited as the most memorable parts of the studio's games, from Baldur's Gate II's Minsc to Mass Effect 2's Mordin (to name two of my all-time favorites).

Yet in MMOs, companion NPCs aren't that common, and if you're feeling a little bewildered at the thought of having one at your side at all times in Star Wars: The Old Republic, then we're here to lay out for you 10 reasons why companions are as useful as all get out -- and why you're going to love them like crazy before too long.

Continue reading SWTOR: Ten things you need to know about companions

MassivelySWTOR: Ten things you need to know about companions 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]]>baldurs-gate-iibiowarebonusbonus-companionscompanioncompanion-listcompanionscraftingcrew-skillsdroideaea-biowareelectronic-artsfeaturedguideguideshk-47hk-51knights-of-the-old-republiclucasartsmass-effect-2petpetspreviewpreviewsromancesci-fiskillsstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstrategy-guideswtorswtor-companionsswtor-gameplay-guideswtor-guideswtor-launch-guidethe-old-republictorMon, 12 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Ways to prepare for the coming of SWTOR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/24/the-perfect-ten-ways-to-prepare-for-the-coming-of-swtor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/24/the-perfect-ten-ways-to-prepare-for-the-coming-of-swtor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/24/the-perfect-ten-ways-to-prepare-for-the-coming-of-swtor/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Perfect Ten
Welcome to a very special edition of The Perfect Ten, the column that my two toddlers contribute to with their awe-inspiring counting abilities! With last week's dropping of Star Wars: The Old Republic's NDA, the internet has exploded with information, testimonials, and poorly spelled flamewars between the camps of believers and non-believers alike. It's a good time to be alive, eh?

In the spirit of the NDA drop and the upcoming December 20th launch -- less than a month! -- I've put together a list of 10 excellent ways that a SWTOR fan can prepare him or herself for the coming MMOcalypse. I totally understand that it can be frustrating to be waiting for an anticipated game launch, feeling impotent with your inability to speed up time. However, taking action in other ways can help with the wait and make us feel like we're being productive. That's what I'm here for today.

It's OK, there's no need to thank me. I get Light Side points for this.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Ways to prepare for the coming of SWTOR

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Ways to prepare for the coming of SWTOR originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 24 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>a-new-hopebetabiowarecomic-bookcomic-booksfeaturedguildknights-of-the-old-republicKnights-of-the-Old-Republic-2kotorlight-sidelistlistsmoviesndanovelizationsnovelsperfect-tenpre-orderreturn-of-the-jedistar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicswgswtorthe-art-and-making-of-the-old-republicthe-empire-strikes-backthe-perfect-tenThu, 24 Nov 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Illusion of choice]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/02/hyperspace-beacon-illusion-of-choice/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/02/hyperspace-beacon-illusion-of-choice/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/02/hyperspace-beacon-illusion-of-choice/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Before I begin this little rant about Star Wars: The Old Republic, there are a couple things I want to make clear: This edition of the Hyperspace Beacon will have a lot of spoilers, and I really like SWTOR as a whole.

First off, the spoilers mentioned here will be about the DragonAge and Mass Effect series of games. If you have not played through either one of those games and do not want to know how some of that story turns out, then you may not want to read this article. Secondly, SWTOR is a wonderful game. I have played it on a couple of occasions, and I believe it exhibits some of the qualities that have been missing from many of the current MMOs -- specifically, story. By no means do I want to discourage anyone from playing or pre-ordering this game, so if you're on the fence about this game, you may not want to read on because this article is not for you.

Surely, fans of BioWare have played games like Mass Effect and DragonAge, and I hope you have played Knights of the Old Republic. These games really define what BioWare is and the types of games it can make. However, given some of the most recent announcements, I have to wonder if some of the staples that made these BioWare games great are going to be missing in Star Wars: The Old Republic. Have BioWare games gone from having choice to just the illusion of choice?

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Illusion of choice

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Illusion of choice originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWarechoicedaniel-ericksonDragon-AgeDragon-Age-2EAElectronic-ArtsfeaturedGame-Mechanicshyperspace-beaconIllusion-of-choicejames-ohlenKnights-of-the-Old-RepublicLucasArtsMass-EffectMass-Effect-2opinionStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstoryswtorthe-old-republictorTue, 02 Aug 2011 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare links SWTOR and KOTOR in a new novel]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/22/bioware-links-swtor-and-kotor-in-a-new-novel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/22/bioware-links-swtor-and-kotor-in-a-new-novel/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/22/bioware-links-swtor-and-kotor-in-a-new-novel/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Just about everyone who has played Knights of the Old Republic wants to know what happened to Revan after the game was done. After all, he was the main character for 60-plus hours of gameplay. Who wouldn't be attached? BioWare announced today that those fans will get their wishes fulfilled. Drew Karpyshyn, a principal writer for Star Wars: The Old Republic and author of the Bane novels, has set his pen to another Star Wars book. This one simply titled after its primary protagonist: Revan.

In an interview on the official SWTOR website, Karpyshyn gives us a tease as to how this novel will relate to the new MMORPG.
I think the novel will give them a much better understanding of the Sith Emperor and the Empire, for one thing. The Old Republic Sith Empire is very different from what people know from the movies, or even from the Great Hyperspace War comics that focus on characters like Naga Sadow and Ludo Kressh.

The novel will also give them some very direct background and detailed information that ties in directly with key Flashpoints in the game. I can't say too much, of course, but like any great prequel the books will give you the details of what came before to add an extra layer of depth to the experiences in the game.
Although he does not mention an exact date for the book's release, we do know that it will come later this year. This reporter hopes that it is before the release of SWTOR.

MassivelyBioWare links SWTOR and KOTOR in a new novel originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 22 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWarebookdarth-revandel-reyDel-Rey-BooksDrew-KarpyshynEAElectronic-ArtsKnights-of-the-Old-RepublickotorLucasArtsnovelprequelRevanStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorFri, 22 Apr 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: The BioWare schtick]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/hyperspace-beacon-the-bioware-schtick/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/hyperspace-beacon-the-bioware-schtick/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/07/hyperspace-beacon-the-bioware-schtick/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

I'm going to dote a little on BioWare for a bit. Specifically, I would like to dote on Knights of the Old Republic, the precursor to Star Wars: The Old Republic. I want to accentuate the positive up front here, because in a moment I will say things that may be construed as negative. However, they're not. I have complete respect for what BioWare has done and is doing.

KOTOR was built on an original gaming engine (the Odyssey Engine). This gaming engine was designed as a 3-D version of the Infinity Engine, which is video game engine specifically designed to emulate mechanics found in the Dungeons and Dragons pen and paper game. In 1998, Baldur's Gate (Infinity Engine) -- which was said, at the time, to be like Diablo but more story-driven -- won the Origins Award for Best Roleplaying Computer Game. KOTOR, using a 3-D version of the same engine, is not lacking in its awards. It won game of the year from the Game Developers Choice Awards, Computer Gaming World, IGN, GMR Magazine, PC Gamer, Xbox Magazine, and G4, among other awards too long to list here.

The point of this is to show BioWare's track record and to show that BioWare went so far as to build a story-making game from the ground up. Now, based on reports from Gamasutra, BioWare is using the HeroEngine for SWTOR, but that, obviously, does not mean there will be less focus on storytelling in the game.

But has BioWare's storytelling energy finally run out? Have the original ideas presented in KOTOR and Baldur's Gate diminished to monotony? Has BioWare become -- dare I say it -- predictable? If it has, is that a bad thing? Continue reading to explore these ideas.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: The BioWare schtick

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: The BioWare schtick originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Dec 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In SWTOR's Deceived trailer, there was an odd shot of the Jedi leader giving a signal to an astromech droid. Per usual, the writers at BioWare do not put anything into their trailers without a specific reason. This past Friday, that little droid was revealed to be a companion for the Jedi knight class, named T7-O1 (tee seven - oh one). This little bot calls back to both T3-M4 of Knights of the Old Republic and, of course, R2-D2 of the Star Wars movies. In fact, his attitude is very similar to R2-D2's. According to the companion page on SWTOR's official site, he considers his owners to be more like partners and less like masters.

T7-O1 was activated over two centuries before the Treaty of Coruscant and has yet to be memory-wiped in that whole time. He remembers every organic he has ever worked with, from the petty smugglers, to Senator Oodora of Manaan, to Captain Nico Okarr, and to Jedi Master Ven Zallow, whom we witnessed being killed by Darth Malgus in the previously mentioned trailer. For your Jedi knight character, you can expect this droid to be an invaluable source of information. His surveillance, cartography, and data-slicing skills are unmatched.

BioWare has not revealed where your Jedi knight will meet T7-O1, just like every other companion mentioned for this game, but rest assured, he's waiting for you somewhere in that galaxy far, far away.

MassivelySWTOR finds a companion for the Jedi knight originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 15 Aug 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>astromechBioWarebwooocompanioncompanionsdarth-malgusdeceiveddroidEAea-biowareeletronic-artsfan-fridayjedi-knightKnights-of-the-Old-RepublickotorLucasArtsR2-D2Star-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-fan-fridayt3-m4t7-o1the-old-republictortreaty-of-coruscantven-zallowSun, 15 Aug 2010 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Forced species]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/10/hyperspace-beacon-forced-species/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/10/hyperspace-beacon-forced-species/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/10/hyperspace-beacon-forced-species/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon: Forced species
The Hyperspace Beacon is a weekly guide and discussion by Larry Everett about the yet-to-be-released game Star Wars: The Old Republic.

This week I was excited about the new species introduced to Star Wars: The Old Republic, and the lore-lover in me is still extremely elated despite what some of the commenters said on the announcement article. However, I've had time to think about a few things, and the seed of internal conflict sowed itself in my fanboy psyche. It did not break me, but I do question some of the decisions BioWare has made regarding species-to-class choices.

I do not like to draw attention to negative posts because I believe arguments can be made without berating other people and defiling the English language. But one of the posts in the recent space-combat-on-rails article reflected some of the fans' sentiment towards the game when the poster said this about BioWare's developers: "They have their formula and every new game is just fresh paint." Although I don't think it is exactly that simple, there is a bit of truth in that statement. But that does not, by any means, destine this game for failure (right, Final Fantasy?). BioWare does have a formula, but when it sticks to this formula, it usually produces something very successful.

BioWare's mantra is "story." The company has chanted this from the first day SWTOR was announced, yet for me something still seems a bit amiss. Upon examining past BioWare games, I am not quite sure the reasons for tying species to a specific class actually make sense -- at least not for the reasons the company offers. Perhaps when you follow me through the rest of this article you can help me resolve this inner conflict.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Forced species

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Forced species originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Aug 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWarechissclasseseaea-biowareElectronic-ArtseverquestfeaturedKnights-of-the-Old-Republiclord-of-the-rings-onlineLucasArtsmass-effectMirialanoptionsprofessionsracesroleplayRolePlayingspeciesStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstorystorytellingswtorthe-old-republictorunique-snowflakeTue, 10 Aug 2010 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Cats invade Star Wars: The Old Republic in this week's Fan Friday]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/23/cats-invade-star-wars-the-old-republic-in-this-weeks-fan-frida/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/23/cats-invade-star-wars-the-old-republic-in-this-weeks-fan-frida/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/23/cats-invade-star-wars-the-old-republic-in-this-weeks-fan-frida/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The community of Star Wars: The Old Republic did not quite make the Twitter and Facebook goals, so the developers decided to punish us by announcing another species that we will not be able to play. (Just kidding, it wasn't punishment.) In addition to spotlighting fan art and video, this week's Fan Friday column mentions Cathar as being another species players of SWTOR will bump into on their travels across the galaxy. The feline species from the planet bearing the same name was first mentioned by name in Tales of the Jedi: Dark Lords of the Sith, but gamers are probably more familiar with it from the other BioWare game, Knights of the Old Republic. Although the devs did not say where or how the players will run into this highly anticipated species, fans are hoping for a Cathar companion character.

As mentioned above, the social media goal was not reached. Even so, the community team did give the fans some gifts. The Fan Site Kit has been updated with more digital goodies. New avatars, screenshots, and biographical images can now grace your SWTOR fan site. Not to mention, the team has included six new desktop wallpaper images straight from the exciting "Hope" trailer.

Be sure to check out all of this and the amazing new fan art on the official SWTOR site.

MassivelyCats invade Star Wars: The Old Republic in this week's Fan Friday originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWareCatGirlcatgirlsCathardark-lords-of-the-Sithdesktop-wallpaperEAea-biowareElectronic-Artsfacebookfan-fridayfan-sitefan-site-kitfan-sitesKnights-of-the-Old-RepublicKOTORLucasArtsStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorTales-of-the-Jedithe-old-republictortrailertwitterwallpaperFri, 23 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: SWTOR hype in hyperspace]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/28/hyperspace-beacon-swtor-hype-in-hyperspace/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/28/hyperspace-beacon-swtor-hype-in-hyperspace/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/06/28/hyperspace-beacon-swtor-hype-in-hyperspace/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Hyperspace Beacon is a weekly guide and discussion by Larry Everett about the yet-to-be-released game Star Wars: The Old Republic.

In a world where MMOs are now commonplace, it seems as though he who has the hippest hype wins. E3 was all about convincing the media that your game or toy was the latest and greatest thing to hit the electronics industry since Pac-man. The media, being the attention-fiends they are, ate it all up. Even Massively wasn't exempt from basking in the spoils of temporary celebrity. I mean, really, did we do a featured news story on Gaia? Yes -- one. But we did no less than ten articles featuring SWTOR coming out of E3. According to some, we're now "Massively: Your daily news about SWTOR and some of these other games over here."

So with all this hippity-hype everywhere, pouring from all the latest sites popping up and just longing to be the your best source of SWTOR news, how do you determine which is the best? What do you read? What do you ignore? Which is rumor? Which is truth? Who is that masked man? And did you find the Sith Inquisitor in the midriff top as cute as I did? I know, right?! The answers to these questions aren't easy. Sometimes you need a guide to help you through the hype, a hype(rspace) beacon, if you will. This Beacon is here help you calculate the jump. So strap yourself in, kid. It's going to be a bumpy ride.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: SWTOR hype in hyperspace

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: SWTOR hype in hyperspace originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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"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.

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Welcome, space traveler to another addition of the Hyperspace Beacon. Gear yourself up, and you may want to take out a notepad. We are delving deep into Star Wars lore this week. This will set the stage for future additions of the Hyperspace Beacon. I hope to not only answer some of your questions but also bring more questions to mind.

Sith Empires have always played a huge role in Star Wars history. In fact, with few exceptions, any time there was a major threat to the galaxy it came in the form of a Sith Empire. Sith Empires can be traced back as far as one hundred thousand years before the destruction of the first Death Star with the first Sith'ari, Adas. Adas was the first to unite the red-skinned Sith race under one banner. But these first Sith were not Force-wielders in the same vein as the Dark Jedi who followed them.

Following the break I will share how the Great Sith Empires came to be, the wars that surround them, how they are tied to the Empire in Star Wars: The Old Republic, and some of my speculation on what will be revealed in the game.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Empires strike back

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Empires strike back originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 24 May 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Beral-Ovairdaniel-ericksondarth-malakdarth-revandarth-sidiousempireexal-kresshKnights-of-the-Old-Republiclorenaga-sadowstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-lore-guideteneb-kelMon, 24 May 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Is The Old Republic heading to Xbox 360?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/29/is-the-old-republic-heading-to-xbox-360/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/29/is-the-old-republic-heading-to-xbox-360/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/03/29/is-the-old-republic-heading-to-xbox-360/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Is the Force so strong with BioWare's Star Wars: The Old Republic that it may accomplish what many MMORPGs promise yet could not do: to come out on a console as well as the PC? According to an internal Xbox 360 release list procured by VG247, TOR is listed as one of the upcoming titles (with a release date of "TBC-2011") for the 360.

While several MMORPG developers state that a console version of their title is in the works for a future release (and in many cases, fail to realize it), BioWare certainly has an exceptional track record of bringing their past RPGs to both PC and consoles, including the first Knights of the Old Republic and their recent Mass Effect 2. Speculation about a possible console version of TOR has run rampant since the game's announcement. Back in 2008, EA's Frank Gibeau hinted at it saying, "We're definitely looking at the opportunity to bring the MMO experience to console, without question."

True or not, a console presence for TOR would definitely be a great boon for EA, and an opportunity to grasp a larger share of the subscriber market.

[Thanks Sharuk!]

UPDATE: Sean Dahlberg on the TOR forums said today that TOR is currently being made for PC only: "Star Wars: The Old Republic is currently being developed for the personal computer (PC) using the Microsoft(R) Windows(R) operating system. While we recognize that there are other operating systems and platforms available for games today, our development is specific to the personal computer using the Windows operating system at this time."

MassivelyIs The Old Republic heading to Xbox 360? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 29 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebreakingconsoleknights-of-the-old-republicmass-effect-2star-wars-the-old-republicthe-old-republictorXbox360Mon, 29 Mar 2010 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: SWTOR's 'inquistoring' Consular conundrum]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/30/the-digital-continuum-swtors-inquistoring-consular-conundrum/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/30/the-digital-continuum-swtors-inquistoring-consular-conundrum/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/30/the-digital-continuum-swtors-inquistoring-consular-conundrum/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

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

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

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

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareboba-fettbounty-hunterconsulareaelectronic-artsfeaturedhan-soloinquistorjedi-consularknights-of-the-old-republickotorlucasartsopinionsith-inquisitorstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-digital-continuumthe-old-republicMon, 30 Nov 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare Producer on heroism and villainy in Star Wars: The Old Republic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/20/bioware-producer-on-heroism-and-villainy-in-star-wars-the-old-r/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/20/bioware-producer-on-heroism-and-villainy-in-star-wars-the-old-r/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/10/20/bioware-producer-on-heroism-and-villainy-in-star-wars-the-old-r/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


BioWare Producer Blaine Christine recently sat down for a Star Wars: The Old Republic interview with Steven Crews at The MMO Gamer. The interview hits on a number of facets of SWTOR's gameplay and the process of creating the title. They also discuss how BioWare is designing the game to dissuade everyone from (only) running around wielding lightsabers through the unique strengths of each class, but their talk really focuses on the game's story.

Blaine discusses how the story for SWTOR players, whether they choose to be good or evil, will always be more than kill ten rats or "collect ten boxes for some random vendor." That story you play through fits the role you've chosen for yourself. Blaine likens a player's story progression to Knights of the Old Republic. He tells The MMO Gamer, "If you look at KOTOR and how that worked out, if you played light side versus dark side, there were distinct differences in the story, and distinct differences in how your character developed. It's going to be very similar to that."

Continue reading BioWare Producer on heroism and villainy in Star Wars: The Old Republic

MassivelyBioWare Producer on heroism and villainy in Star Wars: The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareblaine-christineclassesgame-mechanicsinterviewsknights-of-the-old-republickotorlorenew-titlesquestssci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsteven-crewsstoryswtorthe-mmo-gamerTue, 20 Oct 2009 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMOs top Steam and Direct2Drive weekly charts]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/15/mmos-top-steam-and-direct2drive-weekly-charts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/15/mmos-top-steam-and-direct2drive-weekly-charts/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/15/mmos-top-steam-and-direct2drive-weekly-charts/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We told you September was going to be a crazy month for MMOs! It seems that for the week of 9/6 to 9/12, MMOs topped both the Steam and Direct2Drive sales charts. Aion: Collector's Edition was first and Champions Online second on Steam and and it was the same for D2D, except they swapped first and second positions. Fallen Earth (preorder) was third on D2D, while not for sale on Steam. The Aion: Standard Edition took tenth on Steam and fifth on D2D.

It's also worth mentioning that Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, while not an MMO, ranked highly for the week as well (third on Steam and fourth on D2D). BioWare announced a special $10 deal for KotOR at PAX last week for fans of their upcoming MMO, Star Wars: The Old Republic. People buying KotOR through D2D will receive a 25% discount on SWTOR when it releases. Speaking of D2D, you should keep your eye on their special Five Year Anniversary page because next Monday ten RPG/MMOs will be going on sale for $5.00 each!

Update: Thanks for the fix, cb!

MassivelyMMOs top Steam and Direct2Drive weekly charts originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 15 Sep 2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aionchampions-onlinefallen-earthknights-of-the-old-republickotorpax-2009sales-chartsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorTue, 15 Sep 2009 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2009: BioWare offers Star Wars: The Old Republic fans discount on KOTOR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/07/pax-2009-bioware-offers-star-wars-the-old-republic-fans-discou/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/07/pax-2009-bioware-offers-star-wars-the-old-republic-fans-discou/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/09/07/pax-2009-bioware-offers-star-wars-the-old-republic-fans-discou/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We're all about MMOs at Massively (shocker), but once in a while something from our RPG past resurfaces and captures our attention again. Clearly we've got a number of Star Wars fans among our readers looking at how many people are following our Star Wars: The Old Republic coverage, and for many gamers the original Knights of the Old Republic (circa 2003) was a memorable experience. BioWare announced at PAX 2009 that they're handing out $10 doses of nostalgia by offering KOTOR downloads for PC through both Direct2Drive and Steam.

Getting back to the MMO angle, there's another 25% off of that for Star Wars: The Old Republic community members who download the game from Direct2Drive. Sure, PAX attendees get their KOTOR downloads for free -- damn you, Kyle Horner! -- but seriously, it's only $10 to begin with. If you missed Knights of the Old Republic the first time around, this is as good a time as any to catch up. Check out the announcement over on the official SWTOR site and create your account before September 15th if you're really adamant about saving a few bucks.

MassivelyPAX 2009: BioWare offers Star Wars: The Old Republic fans discount on KOTOR originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Sep 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Player housing seems to be an oft requested feature for generally any MMO, but the last place we expected to hear rumors about it was for Star Wars: The Old Republic. Granted, this rumor stems from a BioWare employee at Gamescom being a little too tired and letting "housing" slip as one of the many features of the game. Of course, it's also just as likely that said person was so tired they simply misspoke.

Rumors have a way of digging into the brain, though, and this one is no different. If you think back to KOTOR and Mass Effect, both games had a kind of home base for the game's main characters. Wouldn't housing be pretty much the same thing? Yeah, we just went there.

MassivelyRumor: The Old Republic to have player housing? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareeaelectronic-artsknights-of-the-old-republickotorlucasartsmass-effectstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republicThu, 27 Aug 2009 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic to launch in October 2010?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/11/star-wars-the-old-republic-to-launch-in-october-2010/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/11/star-wars-the-old-republic-to-launch-in-october-2010/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/11/star-wars-the-old-republic-to-launch-in-october-2010/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Star Wars: The Old Republic has been causing waves since it was first announced. The revelation that it would be the world's first fully-voiced MMO made people sit up and pay even more attention. Well now a French fan site, Star Wars-Universe.com, is reporting (in French of course, but you can read it in English here) that the game will see a release date in Q3 2010, specifically September. This date is attributed to what they call 'a reliable source' within LucasArts itself. If this is true, it means there is just over a year until the game -- an MMO version of the classic Knights of the Old Republic -- is launched. Excited yet?

We're not sure how accurate this is (making it pinch of salt time, folks) and we'd really love it to be true. Particularly as the wait is not intolerable, but it also allows a nice period for beta testing. We've contacted LucasArts to confirm the release date and we will let you know what they say as and when. Until then, check out that awesome cinematic trailer below.

[via Gamerzines and MMORPG.com]

Continue reading Star Wars: The Old Republic to launch in October 2010?

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic to launch in October 2010? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>knights-of-the-old-republiclucasartsrumourrumour-millsci-fistar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstar-wars-the-old-republic-launchstar-wars-universe.comTue, 11 Aug 2009 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Old Republic's timeline as voiced by Lance Henriksen]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/28/the-old-republics-timeline-as-voiced-by-lance-henriksen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/28/the-old-republics-timeline-as-voiced-by-lance-henriksen/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/03/28/the-old-republics-timeline-as-voiced-by-lance-henriksen/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


If there's one thing a self indulging Star Wars fan knows, it's that lore is bountiful in our favorite science fiction pastime. So it comes as little surprised that a series high quality weekly webcomics just isn't enough for Star Wars: The Old Republic. BioWare has gone the distance and begun to put forth an audio timeline leading up to the current peace between the Galatic Republic and Sith Empire.

The historical record will be spoken by Master Gnost-Dural, Keeper of the Jedi Archives, who is in turn voiced by actor Lance Henriksen. BioWare fans will recognize him as the voice of Mass Effect's Admiral Hackett of the Human Systems Alliance. As for how many of these we should plan for, looking at the timeline reveals several more historical points (we counted 18) that took place before this inaugural first.

We'll try to feign a little surprise when "history" from the Knights of the Old Republic RPGs crops up somewhere in here, although hopefully it'll be more than a recap of those game's storylines.

MassivelyThe Old Republic's timeline as voiced by Lance Henriksen originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 28 Mar 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

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

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

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Even though Star Wars: The Old Republic is now officially a real game, we still know very little about it aside from slivers of information BioWare has been able to share with us. What we know even less about is the combat system, which has simply been described as "choreographed" much like the battles featured in the Star Wars films. Thankfully, this little nugget of information gives us a springboard into what combat in the online Old Republic could be like, and while it's not much, it's definitely a start.

Continue reading Speculating on combat in Star Wars: The Old Republic

MassivelySpeculating on combat in Star Wars: The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Blizzard executive Paul Sams has a lot of things to say about BioWare and Star Wars: The Old Republic in an interview with Eurogamer. And while he starts off with, "I wouldn't bet against them, that's for sure." Sams doesn't stop there. He goes on to point out his reasons, stating that not many MMOs have both the strength in IP and development team that BioWare possess. He also points out the deep wallets of Electronic Arts, which will most certainly play an important role in getting Star Wars: The Old Republic just right via BioWare's "It's done when it's done" approach.

Still, Sams is quick to point out that building, running and maintaining an MMORPG is a very difficult task and that "time will tell" if the house that built KOTOR is able to react to the various situations that can erupt. A perfect example of this would be the server issues World of Warcraft has been facing for the past couple of days. Will BioWare be up to a job of that magnitude? Well, Sams is right, only time will tell.

MassivelyBlizzard exec: I wouldn't bet against BioWare originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 12 Nov 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardbiowareblizzardeaelectronic-artseurogamerknights-of-the-old-republickotorpaul-samsstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorworld-of-warcraftwowWed, 12 Nov 2008 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: Will The Old Republic beat World of Warcraft?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/30/the-daily-grind-will-the-old-republic-beat-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/30/the-daily-grind-will-the-old-republic-beat-world-of-warcraft/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/30/the-daily-grind-will-the-old-republic-beat-world-of-warcraft/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

There have been many arguments in the Massively offices -- some bordering on heated (hey, we're passionate people, alright?) -- about today's question. We don't all agree. Some think it's definite, some think it's definitely not, and some folks are on the fence, but here goes: will Star Wars: The Old Republic surpass World of Warcraft by any measure of success -- particularly in subscriber numbers?

Sure, reps from LucasArts and EA said so, but they kind of have to, right? We'd love to hear your opinions, but here are a couple points that have been brought up: WoW opened the door for new MMOs -- people are comfortable with them now. Doesn't that mean the chances are ripe for a huge, established franchise like Star Wars to sweep in and take it to the next level? On the other hand, since Knights of the Old Republic and Mass Effect sold substantially fewer copies than WoW, does the BioWare / KotOR pedigree really matter for this question?

Star Wars is neither a star nor a war -- discuss!

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: Will The Old Republic beat World of Warcraft? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareblizzarddiscussioneaelectronic-artsfranchiseipknights-of-the-old-republiclucasartsopinionspeculationstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicsubscriptionsswtortdgthe-daily-grindthe-old-republictorworld-of-warcraftThu, 30 Oct 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: Is the force strong with The Old Republic?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/25/the-digital-continuum-is-the-force-strong-with-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/25/the-digital-continuum-is-the-force-strong-with-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/25/the-digital-continuum-is-the-force-strong-with-the-old-republic/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Lightsabers, Jedi and Sith; all things that come to mind the moment someone says Star Wars: The Old Republic. BioWare probably pops up into most of our minds as well. It hasn't even been a week yet, but I'm already starting to see the potential greatness lying within BioWare's Austin, Texax studio's walls.

It's not surprising that Lucas Arts and Electronic Arts both think that this particular MMO could be bigger than World of Warcraft -- they've got invested interest in seeing that come true. My reasoning is a bit less financially induced ( In fact, I'll probably end up buying the super-limited edition and of course there's the monthly fees) and instead a matter of desire to see one of my favorite franchises both succeed in and expand upon one of my favorite genres.

Gallery: Star Wars: The Old Republic Screenshots

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

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: Is the force strong with The Old Republic?

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: Is the force strong with The Old Republic? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 25 Oct 2008 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The hotly anticipated MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic (SWTOR) from BioWare has only just been announced, but they've already given us a clear picture of the game's setting and a bit of the lore as well. From what we can tell, you won't need to be a die-hard fan of Star Wars to appreciate the title, which is good news as there's a daunting amount of Star Wars canon out there. That said, it'll certainly help to have at least some grounding in what's going on in Star Wars: The Old Republic. To that end, Massively's put together a brief primer on the lore of SWTOR.

Who is this written for? People who've seen the films but may not necessarily have played Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (KotOR) on PC or console, and especially those who haven't read the novels or various comic book lines released over the years. Read on, and we'll introduce you to the backdrop and factions of Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Continue reading The Lore of Star Wars: The Old Republic

MassivelyThe Lore of Star Wars: The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 22 Oct 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You've waited. We've waited. The wait is over. Join Joystiq.com and Massively.com for a liveblog of the LucasArts / BioWare announcement below the cut! In the meantime, check out our post on the announcement from earlier today for more context on this momentous occasion

4:57PM ET - We're live from the Letterman Digital Arts Center in San Francisco! Event should get under way in just minutes.

5:04PM ET - We're still in the holding pen outside the theater. There's a life-size Boba Fett staring at us! .

Star Wars: The Old Republic is here! 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!

Continue reading Massively and Joystiq liveblog the Star Wars / BioWare announcement!

MassivelyMassively and Joystiq liveblog the Star Wars / BioWare announcement! originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Oct 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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We're just hours away from the highly anticipated announcement of the BioWare/LucasArts project most gamers expect to be a Knights of the Old Republic MMO. We here at Massively has been waiting for this day ... oh, for years. More recently, though, we've had some more concrete elements to talk about. Ever since the July confirmation of the project by EA's head, we've been very busy thinking, plotting, and planning. Our own Kyle Horner has explored theorycrafting, wondering about planets that might appear in the game and ways that non-Jedi might counter their force-using fellow players. Craig Withers explored the game's possibilities as well, talking about what he wants to see.

We've also heard quite a bit from you! We've asked you what class you want to play, and what game design components you want to see. We'll finish this quickie wrapup with IGN's "Top Ten Things We All Want to See in a KOTOR MMO", and ask that you come back in about six hours to follow along with Massively's coverage of this fantastic event!

MassivelyThe Star Wars / BioWare announcement is just hours away originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Oct 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareknights-of-the-old-republickotorkotorolucasartsstar-warsswtorTue, 21 Oct 2008 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[LucasArts and BioWare confirm impending announcement]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/06/lucasarts-and-bioware-announce-impending-announcement/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/06/lucasarts-and-bioware-announce-impending-announcement/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/10/06/lucasarts-and-bioware-announce-impending-announcement/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

LucasArts and BioWare have invited members of the press to attend an event later this month at which the two companies will finally officially announce the game they've been working on together. They did not say what the game is, of course -- then how could they officially announce it at the event? Obviously we're suspicious that it will be the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic MMO (or just Star Wars: The Old Republic, as the rumored title goes).

EA's John Riccitiello already confirmed the existence of that game under the table way back at E3, and other tidbits of news have only supported it since then. But hey, we suppose it could be something else. It was suggested in the Massively offices that maybe LucasArts bought the rights to He-Man, and it is in fact a He-Man MMO. Or maybe GI Joe. Yeah, we're a-stretchin'. More likely: a Willow game.

According to Worlds in Motion, the invitation says it's "the game that's been rumored about for years." Uh-huh. The announcement will come October 21st, so hold your horses. Or your speeders. Whatever.

MassivelyLucasArts and BioWare confirm impending announcement originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The site ComputerandVideogames reported earlier this week that new information may be coming soon about BioWare's Knights of the Old Republic MMO. We do know that the company is working on such a title, thanks to commentary from John Riccitiello during this year's E3. Unfortunately, the words don't stem from the most reliable source. The UK's Daily Star is the source of the claim, with the tabloid's site stating that it will be traveling to San Francisco to see the game in person.

We sent word to LucasArts, asking if they'd be willing to confirm or dismiss their intentions to make an announcement this month. The PR Manager we spoke to stated, specifically, that "LucasArts doesn't comment on unannounced games." We'll keep you updated when (and if) the annoucement is made.

MassivelyKotOR MMO announcement rumored to be coming soon originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 04 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareknights-of-the-old-republicknights-of-the-old-republic-onlinekotorkotororumorswtorSat, 04 Oct 2008 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What do you want in the KotOR MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/30/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-want-in-the-kotor-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/30/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-want-in-the-kotor-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/30/the-daily-grind-what-do-you-want-in-the-kotor-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

LucasArts' Star Wars: The Force Unleashed has sold like, a bajazillion copies since it launched a couple weeks ago. The Star Wars franchise definitely sells video games, even when they get lukewarm reviews. But we're not going to talk about sales today. We're going to talk about quality.

Since this site is about MMOs, and since we're going on about Star Wars, you've probably guessed that today's Daily Grind is about the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic MMO in development at BioWare's Austin studio. We want to know: what do you think the KotOR MMO needs in order to achieve greatness? It can't just be World of Warcraft with lightsabers and sociopathic droids. It needs to be radical.

So what's it gonna take? What are you expecting -- nay, demanding -- from BioWare in perhaps the most hotly anticipated MMO since WoW or possibly of all time?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What do you want in the KotOR MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 30 Sep 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>austinbiowarediscussionknights-of-the-old-republickotorkotor-mmokotor-onlinekotorolucasartsopinionstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-daily-grindthe-force-unleashedthe-old-republicTue, 30 Sep 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Top 10 things we all want in a KotOR MMO]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/19/top-10-things-we-all-want-in-a-kotor-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/19/top-10-things-we-all-want-in-a-kotor-mmo/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/19/top-10-things-we-all-want-in-a-kotor-mmo/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

The Knights of the Old Republic MMO concept has been laid out there, despite no "official" announcement, and excitement is brewing everywhere. What would this MMO bring to the table? How would they successfully create another Star Wars-based online world and make it at least competitive in today's crowded MMO market?

Enter IGN's "Top 10 Things We Want in a KOTOR MMO" list. This list was compiled by the folks on IGN's PC Team to let us know what they think would make the game exciting and successful. Some of the features they've cited include space combat comparable to TIE Fighter, player-run territories (planets?) and no over-saturation of Jedis. Check out the complete list at their site for more, and let us know what you'd add to that list.

MassivelyTop 10 things we all want in a KotOR MMO originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareeaignknights-of-the-old-republickotorkotor-mmokotorolucasartsstar-warsswtortop-10Fri, 19 Sep 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[LucasArts looking for PC and console MMO testers]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/05/lucasarts-looking-for-pc-and-console-mmo-testers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/05/lucasarts-looking-for-pc-and-console-mmo-testers/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/05/lucasarts-looking-for-pc-and-console-mmo-testers/#commentsFiled under: , ,


If you somehow still weren't convinced -- or in denial -- about the reality of a KOTOR MMO, here's some further proof of the matter. It's very compelling evidence but what's most interesting about the job requirements is this bit, "Strong familiarity and experience with gaming consoles, and Windows based PC's." Should we be expecting to hear the eventual announcement of an Xbox 360 or Playstation 3 KOTOR MMO? Seems like.

The good side of this news is you could meet the criteria LucasArts has set for a tester and be one of the first people to play the game. The bad news is that a new single-player KOTOR seems unlikely to be in anyone's current future. So if you're not initially sold on a massively multiplayer KOTOR, hopefully BioWare will actually own up to their claim of trying something different and change your mind in the long-run.

MassivelyLucasArts looking for PC and console MMO testers originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebreakingeaelectronic-artsknights-of-the-old-republickotorkotor-mmokotorolucas-artslucasartsmicrosoftplaystation-3ps3rumorsonystar-warsswtorxboxxbox-360Tue, 05 Aug 2008 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Daily Grind: What class do you want to play in KotORO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/05/the-daily-grind-what-class-do-you-want-in-kotoro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/05/the-daily-grind-what-class-do-you-want-in-kotoro/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/08/05/the-daily-grind-what-class-do-you-want-in-kotoro/#commentsFiled under: , ,

A few weeks back, in the midst of the E3 hoopla, we got the news that BioWare is officially working on a Knights of the Old Republic MMO. If you're anything like the Massively staffers, you've had the Star Wars theme running through your head since then. Next week's release of the Clone Wars feature-length CG movie isn't helping matters any. Back then, our own Kyle Horner threw out some suggestions for playable characters he'd like to see. From Sith to sentient droids, it's an evocative list.

We want to know, though, what do you want to play? Are you looking to fill the shoes of Boba Fett's ancestors and take up the helm of a Mandalorian bounty hunter? Perhaps you're more of a traditionalist and seek to add your voice to those on the Jedi council? Or are you more like this blogger, and simply want the chance to survive with your wits and a good blaster at your side? What role do you want to play if and when Knights of the Old Republic Online ever comes out?

MassivelyThe Daily Grind: What class do you want to play in KotORO? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>knights-of-the-old-republickotorostar-wars-mmoswtortdgthe-daily-grindTue, 05 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EST<![CDATA[E308: BioWare says there is no KOTOR MMO (wink)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/e308-bioware-says-there-is-no-kotor-mmo-wink/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/e308-bioware-says-there-is-no-kotor-mmo-wink/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/16/e308-bioware-says-there-is-no-kotor-mmo-wink/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We just saw BioWare show off their new Dragon Age: Origins here at E3, and while that singleplayer game looks great (imagine a Mass Effect game set in the world of Baldur's Gate), we did spring the requisite massively multiplayer question on them for you. At the very end of the Q&A session with developer Dan Tudge after the demo, the PR rep told us there was just "time for one more question," and we threw it out there: "So, how's the Knights of the Old Republic MMO coming?"

There was silence in the room for a moment. Tudge quietly said, "I... have no idea what you're talking about," and then everyone laughed as the PR rep nervously said, "Good answer." Tudge added, "You're asking me that in front of my boss?" And so we revised the question: Dragon Age has a very MMO-style design -- there's a minimap in the upper right, party portraits in the upper left, and a bar with icons for skills across the bottom. Does BioWare really want to make an MMO? "The interface looked like Baldur's Gate to me," said Tudge cooly. "The real question is, how much of the MMOs did Baldur's Gate influence?"

Touché. But we left the press conference with a smile, a special secret that we'll share with you now. As much as Tudge was thrown off by the question, as much as the PR flack was aghast that we asked it, we did leave with this satisfactory piece of information: they didn't, in point of fact, deny.
Did you enjoy this? Check out all of our E3 coverage as the week rolls forward!

MassivelyE308: BioWare says there is no KOTOR MMO (wink) originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Jul 2008 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>baldurs-gatebiowarebreakingdragon-agedragon-age-originse3e3-08e3-2008e308featuredjoystiqfeaturesknights-of-the-old-republicKOTORkotor-mmokotorommoprswtorWed, 16 Jul 2008 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[New Lucasfilm trademarks sound suspiciously KotOR MMO-like]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/12/new-lucasfilm-trademarks-sound-suspiciously-kotor-mmo-like/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/12/new-lucasfilm-trademarks-sound-suspiciously-kotor-mmo-like/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/12/new-lucasfilm-trademarks-sound-suspiciously-kotor-mmo-like/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Lucasfilm has registered a number of new trademarks, including Star Wars: The Old Republic, The Old Republic, Star Wars Legends, and Star Wars Sagas. This news is interesting as is, but it gets really juicy when you read the type of patent and its description: "Entertainment services provided on-line by means of global and local area networks, namely, providing interactive computer game software, interactive video game software and interactive computer games and interactive video games, all on-line by means of global and local area networks ... "

That sounds awfully MMO-like, doesn't it? It's not even remotely conclusive though. It could be another kind of multiplayer, or it could even be some kind of web-based community service connected to a single-player game; the patent description suggests that it's also for news and "fan club services."

That said, it could be the fabled, BioWare Austin-developed Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic MMO. We suppose it all depends on just how badly you want to believe!

[Via Kotaku]

MassivelyNew Lucasfilm trademarks sound suspiciously KotOR MMO-like originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 Jul 2008 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-austinknights-of-the-old-republickotorkotor-mmolucasartslucasfilmrumorrumorsstar-warsstar-wars-knights-of-the-old-republicstar-wars-legendsstar-wars-sagasstar-wars-the-old-republicthe-old-republictrademarkSat, 12 Jul 2008 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare MMO release window revealed, KotOR rumors persist]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/19/bioware-mmo-release-window-revealed-kotor-rumors-persist/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/19/bioware-mmo-release-window-revealed-kotor-rumors-persist/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/06/19/bioware-mmo-release-window-revealed-kotor-rumors-persist/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Total Video Games has a new scoop about BioWare's mysterious MMO project. The site reports that Electronic Arts' CEO told investors that his company is funding an MMO in Austin. Of course, that's a no brainer. Since BioWare is owned by EA now, we assumed that much. But he want on to say that the MMO is slated for a release in "the fiscal 2010/2011." That means it's coming between April 2010 and March 2011. It'll be a long wait; how sad! That's not all, though.

There's also the rumor that will not -- cannot die. An alleged disgruntled ex-LucasArts employee (the "ex" bit because of the recent layoffs) e-mailed gaming blog Kotaku saying that one of the projects "in the pipeline" at LucasArts is Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 3. That alone is no surprise, since LucasArts and BioWare announced a new collaboration months ago, but ... he also said that KotOR 3 is an MMO.

Oh noes! Not that rumor again! Well, anyway, we're sure our very intelligent readers know to take with a kilogram of salt the paraphrased words of an alleged disgruntled former employee. Right?

MassivelyBioWare MMO release window revealed, KotOR rumors persist originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Jun 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>20102011biowarebioware-mmoeaelectronic-artsknights-of-the-old-republickotorkotor-3kotor-mmolucasartsrelease-daterumorstar-warsThu, 19 Jun 2008 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[1UP thinks the Force is with the BioWare MMO (again)]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/07/1up-thinks-the-force-is-with-the-bioware-mmo-again/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/07/1up-thinks-the-force-is-with-the-bioware-mmo-again/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/03/07/1up-thinks-the-force-is-with-the-bioware-mmo-again/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

We cannot foresee the details of BioWare's MMO; shrouded in mystery they are. The biggest rumor has always been that it's based on the Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic IP. And what a ride that rumor has been. Just since the beginning of this year it's already been falsely confirmed once and denied twice.

It's the most popular nonexistent game in the known universe, but is it really nonexistent after all? Oh no, here we go again! As our own Mike Schramm commented after the most recent denial: "If you strike this rumor down, it will only come back more powerful than you can possibly imagine." Prophetic words, those.

A tipster sent 1UP an excerpt from an MMO script, allegedly from within BioWare. The script doesn't sound very MMO-like, but according to 1UP's Steve Watts, it resembles dialogue in previous BioWare works, and it's "set in the historical past of the Star Wars universe." Sounds like KotOR to us! 1UP poked LucasArts for a comment, and basically got the "no comment" comment.

Massively1UP thinks the Force is with the BioWare MMO (again) originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Mar 2008 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1upaustinbiowareknights-of-the-old-republickotorkotoroleaklucasartsrumorrumorsscriptstar-warsswtorFri, 07 Mar 2008 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare strikes down latest KotOR rumor]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/14/bioware-strikes-down-latest-kotor-rumor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/14/bioware-strikes-down-latest-kotor-rumor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/14/bioware-strikes-down-latest-kotor-rumor/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Yesterday we ran a story about an EA report that appeared to quietly announce that BioWare is working on a new Knights of the Old Republic game. That was pertinent to MMOs because BioWare is making an MMO at its Austin studio, and people have been speculating that it might be based on the KotOR IP.

Well, BioWare got in touch with the Joystiq network to let us know that everyone's been jumping the gun; it turns out that the EA report was referring only in a general fashion to the KotOR IP (to demonstrate "the pedigree of the studio"). EA did not intend to imply that any specific new title is in development. So there goes the basis for the latest KotOR rumor.

Continue reading BioWare strikes down latest KotOR rumor

MassivelyBioWare strikes down latest KotOR rumor originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 14 Feb 2008 20:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>austinbiowareeajoystiqknights-of-the-old-republickotorkotor-3kotororumorstar-warsswtorThu, 14 Feb 2008 20:30:00 EST<![CDATA[More evidence that BioWare's MMO isn't KotOR [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/more-evidence-that-biowares-mmo-isnt-kotor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/more-evidence-that-biowares-mmo-isnt-kotor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/13/more-evidence-that-biowares-mmo-isnt-kotor/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Joystiq reported today that an EA investor report listed a new Knights of the Old Republic title and the "New MMO" separately. This is not a logical certainty, of course, but it seems unlikely that the Austin-developed MMO is KotOR if there's already another KotOR title in development, given that the LucasArts/BioWare collaboration announcement implied only one title.

This comes after an industry insider specifically named BioWare as a company that's not developing a Star Wars MMO. So our hopes have become a mere whimper by now. Tragic.

Well, BioWare's Ray Muzyka will be talking about the future of MMOs at the Game Developers Conference this month. Maybe he'll mention what it is now that we're fairly confident it's not KotOR. Probably not, but we can hope.

[EDIT: BioWare has contacted us and informed us that the EA investor report is referring only in a general fashion to the KotOR IP; EA did not intend to imply that any specific new title is in development. The listing of "KotOR" does not speak to the existence or nonexistence of a new KotOR title. We apologize for the error.]

MassivelyMore evidence that BioWare's MMO isn't KotOR [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 13 Feb 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareeajoystiqknights-of-the-old-republickotorkotorolucasartsray-muzykastar-warsswtorWed, 13 Feb 2008 17:00:00 EST