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[The Soapbox: The Uncle Owen paradox]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/the-soapbox-the-uncle-owen-paradox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/the-soapbox-the-uncle-owen-paradox/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/21/the-soapbox-the-uncle-owen-paradox/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

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.

This week, the venerable Star Wars Galaxies celebrates its eighth year of existence. I was there in the beginning -- before the beginning, in fact. I did what a lot of you early SWG players probably did: I had a guild and a guild city, multiple accounts, a booming business as a chef, and a character who could entertain and fight. Even then, we realized how different SWG was from its immediate predecessors like EverQuest and Dark Age of Camelot. We'd returned to the earlier age of Ultima Online, of persistent worlds (as the term was used back then). It was more a world than a game, and in it we could roleplay whatever we liked, to a point. Nowadays, we'd call it a sandbox.

Old-school MMO gamers know well that the sandbox is under attack. Some will blame it on EverQuest, some on World of Warcraft, some on the free-to-play phenomenon. Among the Massively commenters, there's a large contingent of gamers who consider SWG's own NGE to be the beginning of the end of the classic sandbox. I can't say they're wrong when it comes to the philosophy governing new MMOs, but the sandbox isn't dead yet.

Continue reading The Soapbox: The Uncle Owen paradox

MassivelyThe Soapbox: The Uncle Owen paradox originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>craftingeighth-anniversaryfeaturedgalaxiesgame-developmenthaters-gonna-hatejohn-smedleylucasartsluke-skywalkernew-game-enhancementsngenostalgiaopinionpersistent-worldpre-ngepwsandboxsmedleysoapboxsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesswgtcgthe-soapboxthemeparktrading-card-gameuncle-owenuncle-owen-experienceveteranswhinersTue, 21 Jun 2011 13:00:00 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[Star Wars Galaxies Update 12 patch notes released]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/11/star-wars-galaxies-update-12-patch-notes-released/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/11/star-wars-galaxies-update-12-patch-notes-released/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/11/star-wars-galaxies-update-12-patch-notes-released/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

While attention might be shifting towards Star Wars: The Old Republic, Star Wars: Galaxies is still going strong and SOE yesterday released an extensive set of patch notes for Update 12, focusing primarily on Engineering Traders. These include an obscene number of new droids for you to play with. Some are now craftable by Engineers, there are droids for battle and some (but not all) even have decals, allowing you to change how your mechanical companions will look.

On top of this, Engineers will now be able to craft cybernetic parts including hands, arms, legs and torsos. To commemorate this addition, every player will get an odd little gift when they log on: a holographic display depicting the cybernetic arm of everybody's favourite Jedi, Luke Skywalker. Weird but also kind of cool. The update will also contain new quest content for level 50 characters, two new vehicles and various bug fixes. For a full list, we suggest you head on over to the official site and check out the patch notes for yourselves.

MassivelyStar Wars Galaxies Update 12 patch notes released originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cyberneticsdroidsjediluke-skywalkerstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-galaxies-patch-notesstar-wars-galaxies-Update-12star-wars-the-old-republicTue, 11 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Digital Continuum: Sci-fi geeks need to experience Jumpgate Evolution]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/03/the-digital-continuum-sci-fi-geeks-need-to-experience-jumpgate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/03/the-digital-continuum-sci-fi-geeks-need-to-experience-jumpgate/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/01/03/the-digital-continuum-sci-fi-geeks-need-to-experience-jumpgate/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


Spring is right around the corner and with it comes warmer weather, rain showers, blossoming fauna and Jumpgate Evolution. As much as I'd love to think there are thousands of you out there that know all about the game, I get the feeling that in actuality the number is significantly lower. Granted, real-time action space shooter MMOs aren't exactly a mass market genre, so it's probably a fair shake overall.

But what's really worrying me is that even those who should be excited for Jumpgate Evolution are seemingly unaware of it's forthcoming release. This won't do, and so I present to you the essentials of why a sci-fi fan should give this game some serious consideration for their 2009 MMO budget.

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: Sci-fi geeks need to experience Jumpgate Evolution

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: Sci-fi geeks need to experience Jumpgate Evolution originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 Jan 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>auto-assaultccpcodemasterseve-onlinefeaturedhermann-peterscheckjgejoystiqfeaturesjumpgate-evolutionluke-skywalkerncsoftnetdevilpax-08pax08starbuckthe-digital-continuumSat, 03 Jan 2009 09:00:00 EST