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's Freed talks Wookiees, relatability, and story-based MMOs]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/biowares-freed-talks-wookiees-relatability-and-story-based-mm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/biowares-freed-talks-wookiees-relatability-and-story-based-mm/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/04/biowares-freed-talks-wookiees-relatability-and-story-based-mm/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Princess Leia would just as soon play a wookiee
What's up with the lack of Wookiee player-characters in Star Wars: The Old Republic? BioWare scribe Alexander Freed says it has to do with both development costs and a concept called relatability.

"There are enormous technical obstacles, there is building all the lip synching, all the emotion into the face of the human is incredibly difficult and time consuming, doing that for something like a Wookiee -- and we couldn't half do it, we couldn't let Wookiees be only a third as expressive as humans," Freed explains in an interview at VideoGamer.com. He also touches on the fact that BioWare (and Star Wars) stories have traditionally revolved around human characters due to the ease with which most gamers relate to more familiar avatars.

Freed also mentions TOR's grand scope, and opines that other companies looking to follow BioWare's lead may have a rough time. "Even we didn't know what we were getting into at the start. I think it will be difficult for people to attempt it the same way. I kind of hope they do -- it will be interesting to see," he says.

[Thanks to Emily for the tip!]

MassivelyBioWare's Freed talks Wookiees, relatability, and story-based MMOs originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alexander-freedbiowareeaea-biowareElectronic-Artsid-just-as-soon-play-a-wookieeinterviewsplayer-wookieesrage-of-the-wookieesrelatabilitysci-fistar-wars-the-old-republicstoryswtorthe-old-republictorwookieesWed, 04 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: We hope this never makes it into SWTOR, but knowing our luck, it probably will, again]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/24/hyperspace-beacon-we-hope-this-never-makes-it-into-swtor-but-k/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/24/hyperspace-beacon-we-hope-this-never-makes-it-into-swtor-but-k/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/24/hyperspace-beacon-we-hope-this-never-makes-it-into-swtor-but-k/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Like a kowakian monkey-lizard in heat, Larry Everett is back again with another edition of your guide to EA-BioWare's yet-to-be-released game Star Wars: The Old Republic. Welcome to the Hyperspace Beacon.

Every once in awhile, the Star Wars universe produces the strangest plot devices or game items. Some of these concoctions should never see the light of day, but unfortunately, they do. I like to highlight these malformed ideas in a segment of the Hyperspace Beacon called "We hope this never makes it into SWTOR, but, knowing our luck, it probably will" or WHTNMIISWTORBKOLIPW, for short.

This week's column revolves around the prequels. Although there are many, many, many things wrong with the prequels, I would like to take a look at some of the highlights. To help those who may not know what is being discussed, I will give you a brief explanation of what each item is, then explain what is wrong with it, and follow that with a humorous explanation of how BioWare will ruin SWTOR by implementing it in our beloved game. Let's see what creative blunders we have in store this week.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: We hope this never makes it into SWTOR, but knowing our luck, it probably will, again

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: We hope this never makes it into SWTOR, but knowing our luck, it probably will, again originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AmidalaARCBioWareclone-warsClone-Wars-AdventurescloneseaElectronic-Artsfacepalmfeaturedgeneral-grievousgunganJar-jar-binksJedi-starfighterkatarn-armorKohlsLucasArtsmagicmidi-chlorian-countmidi-chloriansmitochondriaMortqui-gon-jinnrage-of-the-wookieesscienceStar-Warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicstereotypesswtorthe-forcethe-old-republictorTrials-of-Obi-wanWHTNMIISWTORBKOLIPWTue, 24 Aug 2010 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ride in style with the Star Wars Galaxies Premium Adventure Pack]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/22/ride-in-style-with-the-star-wars-galaxies-premium-adventure-pack/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/22/ride-in-style-with-the-star-wars-galaxies-premium-adventure-pack/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/11/22/ride-in-style-with-the-star-wars-galaxies-premium-adventure-pack/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Sony Online Entertainment has a Star Wars Galaxies package available for purchase now that offers some pretty compelling incentives. Of course you get the game and all three expansions: Jump to Lightspeed, Rage of the Wookiees, and The Trials of Obi-Wan, but the in-game bonus items are what really make it worth the purchase of the Premium Adventure Pack.

Each account includes a free AT-RT to give to one of your characters. Even better, you will also get the sleek Queen Amidala transport ship. That one is one per character, so no need to choose -- even the alts can enjoy some new toys. We saved the coolest for last, though: you may well be parking the transport ship for a while in favor of the General Grevious wheel bike. That one is also one per character, and even better, it's a two seater with room for a friend.

SOE put together a fun little video of the wheel bike in action, so take a look. More information on the Premium Adventure Pack can be found here.

MassivelyRide in style with the Star Wars Galaxies Premium Adventure Pack originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>jump-to-lightspeedrage-of-the-wookieesSOEsony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-galaxies-premium-adventure-packthe-trials-of-obi-wanSun, 22 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST