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[Behind the Mask: The Force Unleashed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/22/behind-the-mask-the-force-unleashed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/22/behind-the-mask-the-force-unleashed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/22/behind-the-mask-the-force-unleashed/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

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 Sith Warrior]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/swtor-so-you-want-to-play-a-sith-warrior/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/swtor-so-you-want-to-play-a-sith-warrior/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/swtor-so-you-want-to-play-a-sith-warrior/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

SWTOR - The Sith Warrior
No class embodies the Sith philosophy so completely as the Sith Warrior. Inquisitors hide and scheme, but Warriors let their passion run rampant. It's not that they lack in subtlety, merely that they are capable of channeling their passion into destructive force so effortlessly that careful manipulation is often unnecessary. In the army of the Sith Empire, they are the lords and the commanders, the highest aspirations of those with Force sensitivity, and the natural-born masters of nearly everyone else.

Sith Warriors are correspondingly limited in their options on the field. They can tear apart armies or hold said armies off single-handed, but they certainly can't help patch the wounds of their comrades. But the whole class philosophy is built around the best defense being a strong offense, and the plethora of Force abilities and agile lightsaber strikes in the Warrior's arsenal give you several options while you're breaking everything that stands before you. It's a talent that comes in handy as you progress through the class questline, a story of expectations, betrayal, and the survival instincts necessary for someone to be a true Sith.

Continue reading SWTOR: So you want to play a Sith Warrior

MassivelySWTOR: So you want to play a Sith Warrior 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]]>biowarebioware-mmobioware-mmorpgbioware-star-warsbioware-swtordpseaelectronic-artsfeaturedguideguideslucas-artslucas-arts-mmolucas-arts-mmorpglucasartsopinionpreviewpreviewssci-fisithsith-warriorstar-warsstar-wars-gamestar-wars-mmostar-wars-mmorpgstar-wars-the-old-republicstar-wars-torstarwarsstarwars-the-old-republicsw-torswtorswtor-class-guideswtor-guideswtor-launch-guidetankthe-old-republictorMon, 12 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare releases Sith Inquisitor progression video, forums gather launch statistics [Updated]]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/bioware-releases-sith-inquisitor-progression-video-forums-gathe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/bioware-releases-sith-inquisitor-progression-video-forums-gathe/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/bioware-releases-sith-inquisitor-progression-video-forums-gathe/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Screenshot -- Star Wars: The Old Republic
Star Wars: The Old Republic is just a matter of days from beginning its early start program, but BioWare is continuing the news drip right up to the last minute. Today, the studio released a new video detailing the progression of the wicked Sith Inquisitor. For a lovely display of Force Lightning and other neat Inquisitor tricks, click on past the cut for the full video.

But first, we have some interesting launch-time statistics for you folks, courtesy of a massive thread over on the official SWTOR forums. In The Poll to end all Polls, over one million players have reported on the factions, races, and classes they plan to play at launch. Faction balance is surprisingly even, with a slight slant (53.82%) in favor of the Empire. Classes are almost evenly quartered (though the survey doesn't take advanced class into account). For the full statistics, click on over to Disdain Gaming.

And one more thing! Don't forget that BioWare will be hosting launch events in New York City, Austin, TX, London, and Paris. So if you're nearby, head on over and join up with your fellow fans to celebrate the launch of The Old Republic.

[Update: Continuing its deluge of Friday info, BioWare has also just released a forum post explaining why the Unify Color to Chestpiece system will not make it in for launch. But on a happier note, the SWTOR team just Tweeted that Guild HQ updates are coming Monday!]

Continue reading BioWare releases Sith Inquisitor progression video, forums gather launch statistics [Updated]

MassivelyBioWare releases Sith Inquisitor progression video, forums gather launch statistics [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareeainquisitorlaunchlaunch-eventslaunch-partiesprogressionprogression-videosisithsith-inquisitorsith-inquisitor-progressionstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicstatisticsswtorthe-old-republictorvideovideosFri, 09 Dec 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Backstabbing galore: Daniel Erickson talks about the Sith Inquisitor's story]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/backstabbing-galore-daniel-erickson-talks-about-the-sith-inquis/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/backstabbing-galore-daniel-erickson-talks-about-the-sith-inquis/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/01/backstabbing-galore-daniel-erickson-talks-about-the-sith-inquis/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

SWTOR
The blog Sith Inquirer wrote in to BioWare to, well, inquire about Star Wars: The Old Republic's Sith Inquisitor class story and received a response from none other than head writer Daniel Erickson.

In the interview, Erickson said that the story for the Sith Inquisitor was entirely written by Rebecca Harwick, who drew inspiration from Emperor Palpatine as well as Alex Freed's Blood of the Empire series. Inquisitor players will begin their saga by investigating "forgotten regions" on different worlds as they look for the secret of ancient Sith power.

The team had a few issues writing around Purebloods being portrayed as slaves, although this was ironed out as BioWare placed a priority on allowing players to pick the race they wished. the class is being voiced by Euan Morton (male) and Xanthe Elbrick (female).

Will there be plenty of backstabbing, political or otherwise, as part of the storyline? "More than you can possibly imagine," Erickson replies.

When it comes to the Sith Inquisitor's companions, Erickson tantalized fans by saying, "Khem has one of the most amazing storyline developments for a companion and the (as yet unseen) Inquisitor romances are not your normal fare at all."

MassivelyBackstabbing galore: Daniel Erickson talks about the Sith Inquisitor's story originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Nov 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alex-freedalexander-freedbiowareblood-of-the-empiredaniel-ericksonEuan-Mortonkhempurebloodpureblood-sithpurebloodsRebecca-Harwicksithsith-inquisitorsith-sorcerersith-sorceressstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-sith-inquirerXanthe-ElbrickTue, 01 Nov 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Timeline]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/27/hyperspace-beacon-timeline/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/27/hyperspace-beacon-timeline/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/27/hyperspace-beacon-timeline/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon: Timeline
When I started the Holocron Files last week, it slipped my mind that I have been doing this column for a year and a half and that not everyone has been following every issue. When I wrote about the Pureblood Sith, it was really meant to be a refresher course, not a comprehensive chronicle. It's extremely difficult to capture the full history of a species in about a thousand words. That being said, I understand that not everyone has a perspective on the Star Wars timeline, especially the time leading up to Star Wars: The Old Republic.

I don't think it's any secret that BioWare stories are extremely deep, and Lead Writer Daniel Erickson has a nerdgasm every time someone interviews him about Star Wars history. The established history leading up to TOR will play a major role in the story that unfolds in the game, otherwise the development team would not have had the wherewithal to create the timeline videos for the website.

Following the break, I would like to set you up for future, more comprehensive articles about the Star Wars lore. Although this column is certainly not exclusively about lore, when I bring up another Holocron File, I want reader to have a decent understanding of when these events fall in Star Wars history. So rev up your time machine to 88 miles per hour! This Hyperspace Beacon is about to go back in time -- way back!

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Timeline

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Timeline originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Sep 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AdasAjunta-PallAleema-KetoBioWareCorelliacoruscantdaniel-ericksondromund-kaasEAElectronic-Artsexar-kunfeaturedFirst-Great-SchismFreedon-Naddgalactic-republicgreat-hyperspace-warhistoryHuttaHuttsInfinite-empireJedi-ExileKarness-MuurkorribanKrathloreLucasArtsMalakMandalor-the-ultimateMandalore-theFirstmandaloriannaga-sadownomi-sunriderOnderonord-mantellOssusrakataRevanSacking-of-CoruscantSatal-KetoSecond-Great-SchismSithStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-lore-guidethe-old-republicThird-Great-SchismtimelinetorTythonVultarXoXaanYavin-IVTue, 27 Sep 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Holocron Files - Pureblood Sith]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/hyperspace-beacon-holocron-files-pureblood-sith/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/hyperspace-beacon-holocron-files-pureblood-sith/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/20/hyperspace-beacon-holocron-files-pureblood-sith/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon: Holocron File, Pureblood Sith
Moreso than any other MMO intellectual property, the Star Wars IP carries a rich, deep history, shaped not only by its creator, George Lucas, but also by the many artists, writers, and directors of the many television series, games, books, and comics. When you step into Star Wars: The Old Republic, you are weaving yourself into a story with over 30 years of constant growth and development. Unlike other fictional histories, this one was guided by many hands, and much of the lore has been muddled over years of retcons and rewrites.

Every so often until the release of the game, I will explore the important bits that lead to the launch of Star Wars: The Old Republic. Unlike other MMOs, this game is developed specifically to draw the player into the story. To help ease you into this rich lore, I am creating a series I call the Holocron Files. And first, I begin with the mysterious TOR species know as the Pureblood Sith. Where do these beings come from? Why are they important to SWTOR lore? And what can we expect to see from them in game? Leap past the break to find out.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Holocron Files - Pureblood Sith

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Holocron Files - Pureblood Sith originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Sep 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AdasBioWareEAElectronic-Artsfeaturedhistoryholocron-filesHundred-Year-DarknessHyperspace-WarkorribanloreLucasArtsMassassinaga-sadowSecond-Great-SchismSithSith-PurebloodStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-lore-guidethe-old-republictorTue, 20 Sep 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[PAX 2011: SWTOR Alderaan PvP session captured on video]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/28/pax-2011-swtor-alderaan-pvp-session-captured-on-video/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/28/pax-2011-swtor-alderaan-pvp-session-captured-on-video/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/28/pax-2011-swtor-alderaan-pvp-session-captured-on-video/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Star Wars The Old Republic - Alderaan PvP
Darth Hater has posted a new Star Wars The Old Republic clip direct from this year's Pax Prime. The clip was captured on a hand-held camera, so the quality isn't the greatest, but we do get a good long look at the Alderaan warzone PvP (as well as some dancing Sith Inquisitors, if you're into that sort of silliness).

The video runs for around 10 minutes, and we get to see quite a lot of action as well as a good bit of the layout of the Alderaan warzone. Also of note is TOR's unique take on respawning after death. There's no annoying countdown timer like in your standard online PvP match. Instead, you'll spawn on your ship and have to fly a speederbike back to the battle zone in real time, which gives you a tactical view of what's going on as well as the feeling of still participating in the game as opposed to watching a clock for several seconds. Check out the clip after the cut.

Massively's on the ground in Seattle during the weekend of August 26-28, bringing you all the best news from PAX Prime 2011. Whether you're dying to know more about SWTOR, Guild Wars 2, City of Heroes, or any MMO in between, you can bet we'll have it covered!

Continue reading PAX 2011: SWTOR Alderaan PvP session captured on video

MassivelyPAX 2011: SWTOR Alderaan PvP session captured on video originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 28 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alderaanbiowareeaea-biowareelectronic-artspaxpax-primepax-prime-2011sci-fisithsith-inquisitorstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorwarzoneSun, 28 Aug 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[E3 2011: Hands-on with SWTOR's Imperial Agent Operative]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/e3-2011-hands-on-with-swtors-imperial-agent-operative/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/e3-2011-hands-on-with-swtors-imperial-agent-operative/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/07/e3-2011-hands-on-with-swtors-imperial-agent-operative/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

E3 officially kicked off today in Los Angeles, and I was lucky to be one of the first in line for the latest hands-on demo of Star Wars: The Old Republic at the enormous Electronic Arts booth. There were two different types of demo stations awaiting us: level 1 Galactic Republic characters for those who were new to the game and level 26 Sith Empire characters for those of us who were more comfortable with MMOs. I was hot to play the mid-level Sith characters, but first we had to watch a 10-minute instructional video on how to play each advanced class.

Continue reading E3 2011: Hands-on with SWTOR's Imperial Agent Operative

MassivelyE3 2011: Hands-on with SWTOR's Imperial Agent Operative originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Jun 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareclassclassescompaniondemoe3e3-2011eaelectronic-artshands-onimperial-agent-operativenightsisteroperativesithsith-inquisitorstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-hands-ontatooinethe-old-republictoruiuser-interfaceventressTue, 07 Jun 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Human High Culture]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/17/hyperspace-beacon-human-high-culture/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/17/hyperspace-beacon-human-high-culture/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/17/hyperspace-beacon-human-high-culture/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

BioWare games are notorious for interweaving allegories on racism in their plotlines. If you take Mass Effect, for example, Navigator Pressly was a human who had major issues with aliens -- especially Turians. Inversely, the Citadel Council was definitely prejudiced against humans because the human species was rather new to Citadel space and rising to power too quickly by the Council's standards. These undertones help give the Mass Effect story depth and real-world relevance.

Although it's not an overt plot point in the Star Wars series of movies, speciesism does sometimes play a heavy hand in the Expanded Universe. In the Galactic Empire, this is known as Human High Culture. In the high political offices of the Galactic Empire under Emperor Palpatine, humans were regarded as superior to other species of the galaxy. Humans were, after all, most numerous, and they also did not originate from a single planet like most species. But the roots of the Human High Culture date back further than the events in Star Wars: The Old Republic. They may date all the way back to the first Dark Jedi to rule over the Sith people on Korriban.

With this idea of Human High Culture in mind, I would like to talk about the species available to the SWTOR Imperial classes. In the May edition of PC Gamer UK, an over-ambitious reporter incorrectly announced a list of species and class combinations. What I would like to do today is make my own list based on what I know of Star Wars lore and announced species in the game. Continue after the break as I compile the list.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Human High Culture

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Human High Culture originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 May 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWarebounty-hunterChissclassesEAElectronic-ArtsEmpirefeaturedhuman-high-cultureImperial-AgentLucasArtsPC-Gamerpc-gamer-ukpureblood-sithRattatakiSithSith-Empiresith-inquisitorsith-purebloodsith-warriorspeciesStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-lore-guidethe-old-republictorTue, 17 May 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR's Sith Inquisitor shows unlimited power!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/swtors-sith-inquisitor-shows-unlimited-power/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/swtors-sith-inquisitor-shows-unlimited-power/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/12/swtors-sith-inquisitor-shows-unlimited-power/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

In the new video released by BioWare, we are shown that brute force is not the ultimate power in the universe. Sometimes the power of the mind carries far greater dominion over your enemies than a physical assault. The Sith Inquisitor commands the Force with a thought and defeats her foes with a wave of her hand.

The Sith Inquisitor is one of the most diverse classes in Star Wars: The Old Republic. Not only can she wield the Force to destroy her opponent, but she can also use it to heal and deflect incoming attacks, making her great for tanking.

Gamespot revealed the latest class trailer from SWTOR, which you can catch after the break. Follow the journey of the Sith Inquisitor from her humble start on the Sith homeworld of Korriban to her influence over political leaders of the galaxy. Then hop over to read Lead Combat Designer Georg Zoeller's words about this class-that-fills-all-roles.

Continue reading SWTOR's Sith Inquisitor shows unlimited power!

MassivelySWTOR's Sith Inquisitor shows unlimited power! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 May 2011 23:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWareBreakingNewsclassclass-trailerEAElectronic-Artsgamespotgeorg-zoellerLucasArtsSithsith-inquisitorStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictortrailervideoThu, 12 May 2011 23:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The MMO Report: Bears and UFOs and explosions, oh my!]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/the-mmo-report-bears-and-ufos-and-explosions-oh-my/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/the-mmo-report-bears-and-ufos-and-explosions-oh-my/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/05/the-mmo-report-bears-and-ufos-and-explosions-oh-my/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

This week on The MMO report, Casey's lead story is about the absurdly adorable Cenarion Hatchling pet now for sale on the Blizzard Store. The wee bird-deer-thing costs $10 with 100% of the proceeds benefiting the Red Cross efforts in Japan, therefore making it, as Casey puts it, "good for something other than your own surreally twisted ego."

Next up is RIFT's patch 1.2, The Spoils of War. Introducing myriad new features and content, the patch is one of RIFT's largest yet.

He also gives Massively a shout-out for delivering information on the newly confirmed Marvel Universe Online. Details so far include the ability to play as iconic Marvel characters to face off against Doctor Doom with a story penned by none other than Brian Michael Bendis.

Last up is BioWare's Sith Warrior progression trailer for Star Wars: The Old Republic, which compares the Sith Marauder -- described by Casey as "quick, agile, and a real bastard of a Rogue" -- and the Juggernaut, the Sith Warrior's tanking option.

Hit the jump below for all this plus Uncle Casey's Mailbag and a decidedly awesome picture involving Casey, a bear, and flying saucers on The MMO Report.

Continue reading The MMO Report: Bears and UFOs and explosions, oh my!

MassivelyThe MMO Report: Bears and UFOs and explosions, oh my! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 May 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bears-and-ufos-and-explosionsbendisblizzardbrian-michael-bendiscaseycasey-schreinerg4g4tvmarvel-universe-onlinemmo-reportmuoriftrift-planes-of-telarasithsith-warriorspoils-of-warstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-mmo-reporttorworld-of-warcraftThu, 05 May 2011 20:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The path of the Dark Side: The Old Republic shows Sith Warrior progression]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/29/the-path-of-the-dark-side-the-old-republic-shows-sith-warrior-p/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/29/the-path-of-the-dark-side-the-old-republic-shows-sith-warrior-p/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/29/the-path-of-the-dark-side-the-old-republic-shows-sith-warrior-p/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Can't wait until Star Wars: The Old Republic comes out so you can get your Darth Vader or Darth Malak on? BioWare's here to help with a tantalizing new video that shows the progression of a Sith Warrior in TOR.

While the Sith Warrior begins as an unskilled neophyte with a lightsaber substitute, he soon grows in power and chooses one of two advanced classes: the Sith Marauder or Sith Juggernaut. The video shows off a range of each class' skills from stealth attacks to lightsaber flinging. The Sith Warrior's not about a subtle appearance, of course; both advanced classes are shown wearing truly wicked-looking armor and intimidating masks.

If you want even more TOR news, take a look at the new dev blog from lead UI artist Michael Voigt, all about designing the UI for the game. You can check out the Sith Warrior in all his glory after the jump!

Continue reading The path of the Dark Side: The Old Republic shows Sith Warrior progression

MassivelyThe path of the Dark Side: The Old Republic shows Sith Warrior progression originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 29 Apr 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advance-classesarmorbiowarejuggernautlightsabermaraudermichael-voigtsithsith-juggernautsith-maraudersith-warriorstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictortrailervideowarriorFri, 29 Apr 2011 10:00:00 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[BioWare releases new TOR inhabitants entries]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/bioware-releases-new-tor-inhabitants-entries/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/bioware-releases-new-tor-inhabitants-entries/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/11/26/bioware-releases-new-tor-inhabitants-entries/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It may be the biggest shopping day of the year, but that hasn't stopped BioWare from coming through with its traditional Friday update for The Old Republic. Today's calibrated leak focuses on some new inhabitants made available in the Holonet database: the terentatek, the vine cat, the Sith pureblood, the M3-M1 med droid and the S3-F5 probe droid.

Staying true to our fanboy training, we jumped right to the Sith pureblood page and found out that this humanoid is a descendant of the original Sith species and features a long history of involvement with the dark side of the Force. The rate of Force sensitivity among purebloods is near 100 percent, and these individuals exhibit many of the visual characteristics of the original Sith race. Check out the Holonet inhabitants page for more info.

MassivelyBioWare releases new TOR inhabitants entries originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 26 Nov 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWarebioware-eaBioware-MMObioware-mmorpgbioware-star-warsbioware-swtordroidseaElectronic-Artsholonetlorem3-m1mobss3-f5sci-fisithsith-pure-bloodSith-Purebloodstar warsstar-wars-the-old-republicStarWarsswtorterentatekvine-catFri, 26 Nov 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars Insider share the secrets it learned from SWTOR designer James Ohlen]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/26/star-wars-insider-share-the-secrets-it-learned-from-swtor-design/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/26/star-wars-insider-share-the-secrets-it-learned-from-swtor-design/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/26/star-wars-insider-share-the-secrets-it-learned-from-swtor-design/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

BioWare and LucasArts have not always been very forthcoming with secrets of Star Wars: The Old Republic, but Star Wars Insider Magazine has learned a few tidbits of information that may give us a tingle in the Force.

In the article, James Ohlen talks about nearly every major aspect of the game: starting levels, space combat, armor progression, and even the sounds and score of the game, most of which we have covered in here in some way or another. However, he did give a very interesting quote regarding casual gameplay. "A lot of people are scared of massively multiplayer games because a lot of MMOs can become a grind... We've chosen to avoid that. We always give the player a story to drive the game forward."

The most interesting part of the article is when Ohlen outlined the Sith storyline. He explains in the article that one of first Sith Warrior missions is to kill your master as well as other students. When that is complete, you are tasked with tracking down and corrupting a very important Jedi Knight. He continues later to explain that the choices a player makes is reflected in his storyline, the light/dark side system, the rewards received, as well as your character's appearance. He explains, "If you're familiar Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, one of the things that we showed was how the dark side started to corrupt you. Your appearance started to change, your flesh started to age and become more like Palpatine from the movies, and your abilities started to change as well. This also occurs in The Old Republic."

Go to your local newsstand (do they still have those?) or comic book store and pick up the latest issue of Star Wars Insider to nab more detailed information.

MassivelyStar Wars Insider share the secrets it learned from SWTOR designer James Ohlen originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWarecasual-gameplaycorruptiondark-sideeaElectronic-Artsjames-ohlenlight-sidelucasArtssithsith-warriorStar-Warsstar-wars-insiderstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorTue, 26 Oct 2010 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR's Ilum a crystal-clear win for the Sith]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/08/swtors-ilum-a-crystal-clear-win-for-the-sith/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/08/swtors-ilum-a-crystal-clear-win-for-the-sith/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/10/08/swtors-ilum-a-crystal-clear-win-for-the-sith/#commentsFiled under: , ,

While Hoth may take the spotlight whenever someone wants to interview a winter-bound planet in the Star Wars universe, the scrappy planet of Ilum is out to make a name for itself. Star Wars: The Old Republic's 16th announced planet is a remote ball of ice that just so happens to be a major source of lightsaber crystals. Ilum used to be owned by the Republic, but the Sith have since made great headway in conquering the planet and hogging all of those saber-licious crystals all to themselves. BioWare's also hinted at a mystery that goes well beyond a mere resource grab.

Although we hate to invoke Hoth in comparison, if you liked the Rebel's base in The Empire Strikes Back, then you're going to feel right at home in Ilum's ice-and-crystal outposts. You can read up on Ilum at TOR's Holonet, and watch the quick flyby video after the jump.

Continue reading SWTOR's Ilum a crystal-clear win for the Sith

MassivelySWTOR's Ilum a crystal-clear win for the Sith originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Oct 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareholonethothilumlightsaber-crystalsplanetrepublicsithstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-empitorFri, 08 Oct 2010 11:00:00 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[SDCC 2010: A SWTOR Managing Editor who doesn't solve problems by killing all the kittens]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/26/interviewing-a-swtor-managing-editor-who-doesnt-solve-problems/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/26/interviewing-a-swtor-managing-editor-who-doesnt-solve-problems/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/26/interviewing-a-swtor-managing-editor-who-doesnt-solve-problems/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

We all know that know that story is the fourth pillar for The Old Republic. We also know BioWare has the reputation for having some of the most compelling stories in the gaming industry. In fact, story is written into its mission statement: "BioWare's vision is to deliver the best story-driven games in the world." So it is no surprise at all that when the team came to Comic-Con this past weekend, it consisted of mostly writers.

Massively's Dan O'Halloran nabbed the Managing Editor on SWTOR, Alexander Freed, for a conversation. Freed has scribed much of the story and dialogue for this epic MMO, as well as been the writer for the exciting adventures of Teneb Kel in The Blood of the Empire webcomic.

Continue on after the break to catch Alexander Freed's insight into what the different types of quests will be available in SWTOR, what compelling choices players have to make, and what it takes to write for a project of this magnitude.

Continue reading SDCC 2010: A SWTOR Managing Editor who doesn't solve problems by killing all the kittens

MassivelySDCC 2010: A SWTOR Managing Editor who doesn't solve problems by killing all the kittens originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alexander-freedBioWareblood-of-the-empireEAea-biowareeden-studiosElectronic-Artsfeaturedguardians-of-orderimperial-agentinterviewjohn-ostranderkilling-kittenslucas-artssdcc-2010sithStar-Warsstar-wars-legacystar-wars-the-old-republicstorystory-tellingstorytellingswtorthe-old-republicTORwebcomicwhite-wolfwriterwritingMon, 26 Jul 2010 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR reveals the Emperor in webcomic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/21/swtor-reveals-the-emperor-in-webcomic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/21/swtor-reveals-the-emperor-in-webcomic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/21/swtor-reveals-the-emperor-in-webcomic/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Today marks the 30th anniversary of the release of the Empire Strikes Back. Just as in that monumental movie, the newly-revealed Emperor gives deadly instructions to his kneeling servant in Star Wars: The Old Republic's issue #3 of Blood of the Empire.

Bioware's ingenious marketing campaign of webcomics drags us to the edge of our seats again. The issue begins explosively as Sith Warrior Teneb Kel faces off against his former Master, one he claimed to love as a father. This frantic and fear-filled lightsaber duel is cut short by the Sith Council just before Kel removes his Master's head, although this does not end Kel's trials for the day. A white-robed Emperor awaits with a final test: Exal Kressh. You may recall her in the last issue as the "pure blood" Sith. Her connection to Kel is yet to be revealed, but there is no mistaking the shock on his face when the yellow-eyed Emperor asks him to kill her.

The pacing and art of this whole comic captures the audience much better than the Threat of Peace, but information just is not being revealed fast enough for the fans. To judge for yourself check out this week's edition.

MassivelySWTOR reveals the Emperor in webcomic originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 21 May 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWareblood-of-the-empireemperorexal-kresshsithstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-fan-fridayteneb-kelthreat-of-peacewebcomicFri, 21 May 2010 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: the Old Republic expands Blood of the Empire]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/07/star-wars-the-old-republic-expands-blood-of-the-empire/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/07/star-wars-the-old-republic-expands-blood-of-the-empire/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/05/07/star-wars-the-old-republic-expands-blood-of-the-empire/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

If there's one difficult task that Star Wars: The Old Republic has set for itself -- well, it's set several, but if there's one difficult lore task it would be transforming the Sith into a sympathetic and likable player faction. After all, they've got years and years and years of fiction painting them as unrelentingly evil bastards, while BioWare wants them to be heroic in their own way. It's no surprise, then, that the most recent installment of Blood of the Empire continues to show both the brutality of the Sith as well as their more compassionate side.

Expanding the focus from the young Teneb Kal from the first issue, this installment shows us what happens to Sith who decide to strike out on their own -- successfully or not. It also gives a look into some of the morality of the Sith, where attempts to seize power are expected, but failure to do so means you overstepped your bounds. With a closer look inside Dromund Kaas at the heart of the empire, the latest installment should be of interest to every Star Wars: The Old Republic lore scholar.

MassivelyStar Wars: the Old Republic expands Blood of the Empire originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 May 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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.

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The big announcement out of Star Wars: The Old Republic came ahead of time this week, with the release of a surprise video documentary detailing combat. On the other hand, the game isn't only about combat. Having completed the Threat of Peace storyline in comic form, the site has launched a new comic to continue exploring the game's lore in more personal terms. Blood of the Empire has gone live, taking the exact opposite approach to the prior comic by focusing on a young Sith during the conquest of Republic worlds for the growing empire.

True to form, the comic presents the Sith in the most straightforward fashion possible, leaving plenty of room for the moral ambiguity that classically defines BioWare's games. If that doesn't quite grab your fancy, the team's fan roundup has gone live, along with new concept art and a short trailer for the game. The former shows off some of the technology designs at work, while the latter highlights environmental effects from sparking generators to rippling water. It's a somewhat more contemplative look at Star Wars: The Old Republic compared to non-stop lightsabers and laser blasts, and it might prove a welcome contrast after the earlier announcements

MassivelyEnvironmental effects and new comics for Star Wars: The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 25 Apr 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The looks we've gotten inside the planets of Star Wars: The Old Republic paint a number of different pictures, but for most of them the conflict is fairly cut-and-dry. There are objectives for Imperial Sith forces or the Republic, but there haven't been things that are external to both forces. But Voss, the latest world revealed, is a bit different. There is already an intelligent species living there, and they face utter annhilation even as both the Empire and the Republic try to curry their favor.

The eponymous Voss are isolated against the other natives, the Gormaks, and have been fighting a long and losing war in which Gormak assaults have all but destroyed them. But the reclusive Voss are powerful natural Force users, an asset to either major galactic power. Both are trying to gain the allegiance of these potentially powerful allies, even as they stare one another down.

The possibility for diverse adventures are obvious -- do you try and talk the Voss into helping your faction? Wipe out the Gormak? Attack your enemies when they're distracted? Ensure that if you don't get the aid of the Voss, no one does? The full reveal talks more about what looks poised to be a divisive part of Star Wars: The Old Republic, whatever path you would take.

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic reveals Voss originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Apr 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fans of Star Wars: The Old Republic are most likely veterans of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, for reasons that should be immediately obvious. So the announcement of Taris on the official site is no doubt going to bring back some warm feelings of nostalgia... or irritation at the planet that you had to spend roughly seven years on to find Bastilla. Maybe a little of both.

Of course, by the same token players might remember that Taris didn't exactly make it through the end of the game intact. Being leveled by an orbital bombardment left the planet a smoldering ruin for the rest of that game, and according to the planet's official dossier, the better part of three hundred years. The Republic is attempting to re-colonize the planet in a show of defiance against the Sith, but they're running into a few problems.

The rakghouls and plagues that marked the planet's lowest sectors remain amidst the ruins, along with the Sith attempting to block the Republic from the obvious symbolic victory of retaking the world. We're still a year out from Star Wars: The Old Republic, but with a few of the sites we can look forward to visiting, some players might feel as if they've never left.

MassivelyTaris announced for Star Wars: The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 13 Feb 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Sith Inquisitor is not meant as just another Force-using class. That's one of the central themes behind the most recent developer blog from Star Wars: The Old Republic. Saying even that the Inquisitor is meant as a Palpatine to the Sith Warrior's Darth Vader is only a fraction of the whole story. No, the Inquisitor exists as someone whose diet of dark secrets and forbidden knowledge is as much a survival mechanism as anything, the manipulator and scholar, the calm and reason to balance against the Warrior's bravado and power.

Where the Warrior begins as a member of high society, the Inquisitor begins life as a slave, sent to either become a part of the Empire's almost monastic order of Sith or die unknown and unmourned. Inquisitors face the difficulties of choice, not only of morality but of their personal desires weighed against the needs and demands of the Empire. And through it all, they are the keepers of secrets and mystical knowledge of the Force, learning and studying into the otherworldly aspects it posseses. While we're still more than a year out from the expected launch of Star Wars: The Old Republic, fans should still enjoy this look at one of the game's most devious classes.

MassivelyThe development of the Sith Inquisitor in Star Wars: The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Feb 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-mmobioware-mmorpgbioware-star-warsbioware-swtordeveloper-blogeaelectronic-artsforcelucas-artslucas-arts-mmolucas-arts-mmorpgsithsith-inquisitorstar-wars-gamestar-wars-mmostar-wars-mmorpgstar-wars-the-old-republicstar-wars-torstarwarsstarwars-the-old-republicsw-torswtorthe-old-republicFri, 05 Feb 2010 21:00:00 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[Star Wars: The Old Republic reveals Dromund Kaas, seat of imperial power]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/08/star-wars-the-old-republic-reveals-dromund-kaas-seat-of-imperi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/08/star-wars-the-old-republic-reveals-dromund-kaas-seat-of-imperi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/01/08/star-wars-the-old-republic-reveals-dromund-kaas-seat-of-imperi/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's another Friday, and the recent pattern has shown, Star Wars: The Old Republic has posted a new update on the official site. As we've heard a full reveal of all the playable classes, the site has been focusing more on backstory and locations of late. And we see an important location indeed -- the heart of the Sith Empire that has been obliterating much of the eponymous republic's power base.

Dromund Kaas, a jungle planet, was discovered by the Sith quite some time ago, but the location was lost and the planet forgotten in the recesses of history. That is, until the Sith suffered a horrendous defeat some thousand years back, at which point the remnants of the fleet happened upon the forested world. They spent generations building their force back up, which included turning the atmosphere into a nonstop electrical storm (how that helps with launching an attack on a larger entrenched military is somewhat questionable, but let's not sweat the details).

Even with the Sith powerbase expanding, Dromund Kaas remains the center of intrigue, politics, and all that goes along with the above. No doubt there are a large number of future Star Wars: The Old Republic players already thinking about what adventures might take place on the planet's surface, so take a look at the official update, which includes further screenshots, concept art, and a video flythrough of the planet.

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic reveals Dromund Kaas, seat of imperial power originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One of the frequently-voiced concerns about Star Wars: The Old Republic is the possibility that the non-Force classes will wind up becoming almost irrelevant. Who's going to pay attention to being a spy when you can wield an energy sword and fling lightning, right? As a matter of fact, the Imperial Agent would like very much if no one ever notices they exist. They're quite happy to stand in the background and never be observed, because as the latest developer's entry explains, that's precisely what the Agent does best. They exist in the shadow, the man of many faces and a hundred names, a presence whose influence is strongest when it isn't evident at all.

Star Wars: The Old Republic faces the difficult task of making the Sith -- traditionally the villains of the franchise -- into a playable and likable faction rather than monolithic evil. As the developer entry points out, the Imperial Agent is a major part of that, of giving the chance to look at someone who is quite possibly a proud citizen of the Empire and happy to serve in keeping the peace and bring down the Republic. It's also a look at the parts between the lines of the films, the spies and intel operators whose role was important but whose faces were rarely seen. But you might decide not to look at the full discussion of the class anyway -- and as we've mentioned, really, that's what the agent would want.

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic releases more intel on the Imperial Agent originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 02 Jan 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Everyone is worried about the Jedi player population when it comes to Star Wars: The Old Republic, but the Sith are in every way a likely -- if not moreso -- threat. With franchise analogs like Vader and Maul, there's going to be a lot of people auto-running around the game to the tune of Imperial March.

Even BioWare seems to think the Sith are kind of a big deal in this new developer blog promoting the greatness of embracing the darkness within us all. We're not even exaggerating in this case, the blog really does go on for quite some time about how awesome dark Jedi are -- so don't be too shocked when legions of Sith roam the battlefield looking for Republic blood.

MassivelyEmbracing the Sith in Star Wars: The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A few of us on the Massively team are fans of the Lance Henriksen-narrated lore updates for Star Wars: The Old Republic that explain the MMO's timeline in video. The guy was Bishop, after all! So far these videos have given us a good idea of the game's backstory and have dropped some clues as to what we may see in the title. One of the more recent episodes was Return of the Mandalorians which focused on the independent warrior nomads who rose to challenge even the Jedi. While they aren't evil, war is their way of life and they thirst for conquest. According to the latest timeline update, "The Empire Changes Strategy", the Mandalorians had some help along the way from the Imperial spies who orchestrated their ascent to power.

Henriksen narrates a tale of Imperial intelligence operatives pulling strings from the shadows for their Sith masters, and of the rise and fall of Mandalore himself. We think this continuation of the Star Wars: The Old Republic story is worth a look, and you can find it on the game's official site.

MassivelyLatest lore update for The Old Republic chronicles shadowy Imperial spies originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 05 Sep 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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While not entirely unexpected -- especially since it was playable, but unnamed, at this year's E3 -- Star Wars: The Old Republic's Sith Warrior class has now been officially revealed and discussed by BioWare. We're expecting an official class page by Friday, but for now this Gamespot interview from GamesCom will have to sate our curiosity.

It'll come as no surprise that in their effort to emulate classic iconic movie characters, BioWare has decided to make the Sith Warrior a physically aggressive front line fighter who dons somewhat heavy armor. So, if your aspiration as a little boy or girl was to grow up and become just like Darth Vader, here's your chance.

Interestingly, while abilities such as Force Choke will be present in the Sith Warrior's skill set, the class leans between pure offense or a balanced defensive-offensive build. With such an emphasis on nitty gritty physical combat, many are starting to wonder if another Sith class will represent something akin to Emperor Palpatine, a heavy force user. We think there's a good chance that may happen, although it's all speculation until the actual reveal.

MassivelySith Warrior officially the next SWTOR class originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 19 Aug 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Continue reading What are SWTOR's three final classes? part 2

MassivelyWhat are SWTOR's three final classes? part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Looking at the official Star Wars: The Old Republic class page reveals four slots on both factions, with three total filled thus far. Of course, you'll notice that Jedi and Sith aren't shown here, but it's a forgone conclusion that they'll be filled sooner or later. While nobody but BioWare can be sure what the final classes actually, half the fun is trying to figure them out before they're announced.

So with that said, it's time to take a few educated guess stabs at potential classes, and formulate our wish lists. I'm sure you've all got ones of your own as well, so feel free to share!

Continue reading What are SWTOR's three final classes?

MassivelyWhat are SWTOR's three final classes? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Well that didn't take very long. The second act for Star Wars: The Old Republic's Threat of Peace is now live over at the official BioWare site and it starts off with a classically delicious Jedi vs Sith fight. The comic is still adhering to the four pages per installation approach but at least this week they're really good pages. You can never really go wrong with lightsabers and a battle.

Ever since the series first began several weeks ago we've noticed that forcing the creators into four pages sometimes caused odd panel transitions. That doesn't seem to be the case here, as the story is well conveyed from start to finish. It seems like the writer and artist are finally figuring what works in this small space, so it should be interesting to see how act two develops over time.

MassivelyThe Old Republic's free online comic Threat of Peace begins act two originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One of the most common questions asked regarding Star Wars: The Old Republic and the easily accessible Jedi is, "Who's going to take on an army of Jedi?" We've long since had the answer tucked away here at Massively, but now BioWare has been kind enough to illustrate it for us in their latest timeline update, which features the fearsome Mandalorians.

The nomadic Mandalorians are strikingly unique and much like the Jedi and Sith in that sense they're not an actual species; yet war is their singular goal in life. Their mantra is that strength is not merely good, it is great, it brings honor through battle. Thus, it's no surprise that Mandalorians are generally opposed to the Jedi and get along better with the power hungry Sith. At this point, the Republic Trooper's coutnerpart is pretty obvious. That powerful Jedi army doesn't seem so intimidating against legions of Sith, Bounty Hunters and bred-for-war Mandies, now does it?

We highly recommend you check out the timeline video. It's not only informative, but quite entertaining if you've got even the slightest amount of interest in Star Wars: The Old Republic.

MassivelyMandalorians smack down the Jedi in SWTOR's new timeline update originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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E3 2009 has come and gone, with it came new information on Star Wars: The Old Republic -- and fresh concerns. To call BioWare ambitious would be an understatement of vast proportions. Every NPC receiving full voice acting ratcheted up my curiosity as much as it did my eyebrows. We may need a new word to describe the depths of this game's ambition.

As if the voice acting news wasn't enough, BioWare revealed a cinematic trailer that reminded me how powerful this property can truly be, in the right hands. The excitement was so immediately potent that it caused some people to cry "over-hyped!" in the few short minutes between the trailer's beginning and ending.

I think it's time to asses the current situation, and maybe ponder a few things about Star Wars and BioWare.

Continue reading The Digital Continuum: SWTOR turns up the heat

MassivelyThe Digital Continuum: SWTOR turns up the heat originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 09 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Who broke the Mandalorian blockade on Coruscant? Why, it was those wily Smugglers, that's who! The Sith weren't expecting the Galactic Republic to find assistance with that particular criminal aspect, but find it they did -- and you can learn all about it through the latest Star Wars: The Old Republic timeline update.

Of course, if this second update doesn't just scream, "Smuggler class!" then we're not sure you were paying close enough attention. Then again, BioWare could just be trying to throw us off the trail by making the Smugglers such an obvious component to the back story. The problem is that, either way, you really cany have Star Wars without these guys somewhere in the story. Who knows, maybe they'll be called Scoundrels instead?

And of course there's the possibility that Mandalorians will be featured as an Empire class, or at least the new update seems to loosely imply as much. Either way, we should expect some kind of shady character classes to be announced sometime in the near future.

MassivelyHints of the Smuggler class in new SWTOR timeline update originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 17 May 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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