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[MV Guide: February 6-12, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/06/mv-guide-february-6-12-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/06/mv-guide-february-6-12-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/06/mv-guide-february-6-12-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Global Agenda
MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively TV.

Every week, the Massively staff logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of titles to take a look at. During our streamed events, you can participate in the live chat, ask questions to learn about the game, and simply spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, streaming is subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.)

Follow along after the jump to see what's on this week's schedule!

Continue reading MV Guide: February 6-12, 2012

MassivelyMV Guide: February 6-12, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 06 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>anetarenanetarenanet-guild-warsbiowarebioware-mmobioware-mmorpgbioware-star-warsbioware-swtorccpccp-eveccp-gamescloud-ninecode-clubeaelectronic-artseveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlineglitchglobal-agendaglobal-agenda-hi-rezguild-warsguildwarsgwhi-rezhi-rez-global-agendahi-rez-stdioes-global-agendahi-rez-studiosliden-labs-second-lifelinden-labslivestreamlivestreaminglucas-artslucas-arts-mmolucas-arts-mmorpgmv-guidemv-tvncsoftnetgamenexusnexus-the-kingdom-of-the-windsrolf-jannsonryzomsecond-lifesecond-life-linden-labsslsl-liden-labsstar-wars-gamestar-wars-mmostar-wars-mmorpgstar-wars-the-old-republicstar-wars-torstarwarsstarwars-the-old-republicsw-torswtorthe-old-republictiny-specktwitch-tvvirtual-worldwurmwurm-onlineMon, 06 Feb 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MV Guide: January 30-February 5, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/mv-guide-january-30-february-5-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/mv-guide-january-30-february-5-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/30/mv-guide-january-30-february-5-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Runes of Magic
MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively TV.

Every week, the Massively staff logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of titles to take a look at. During our streamed events, you can participate in the live chat, ask questions to learn about the game, and simply spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, streaming is subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.)

Follow along after the jump to see what's on this week's schedule!

Continue reading MV Guide: January 30-February 5, 2012

MassivelyMV Guide: January 30-February 5, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>activision-blizzardall-points-bulletinall-points-bulletin-gameall-points-bulletin-reloadedanetapbapb-eaapb-gameapb-reloadedarenanetarenanet-guild-warsatomic-bluebiowarebioware-mmobioware-mmorpgbioware-star-warsbioware-swtorblizzardccpccp-eveccp-gamesd3dc-universe-onlinedcuodiablo-3diablo-iiidiiieaelectronic-artseveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlinefrogsterfrogster-runes-of-magicglitchglobal-agendaglobal-agenda-hi-rezguild-warsguildwarsgwhi-rezhi-rez-global-agendahi-rez-stdioes-global-agendahi-rez-studiosjagexliden-labs-second-lifelinden-labslivestreamlivestreaminglucas-artslucas-arts-mmolucas-arts-mmorpgmv-guidemv-tvncsoftplaneshiftromrunes-of-magicrunescaperyzomsecond-lifesecond-life-linden-labsslsl-liden-labssoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-wars-gamestar-wars-mmostar-wars-mmorpgstar-wars-the-old-republicstar-wars-torstarwarsstarwars-the-old-republicsw-torswtorthe-old-republictiny-specktiny-speck-glitchvirtual-worldMon, 30 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MV Guide: January 23-29, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/23/mv-guide-january-23-29-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/23/mv-guide-january-23-29-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/23/mv-guide-january-23-29-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively TV.

Every week, the Massively staff logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of titles to take a look at. During our streamed events, you can participate in the live chat, ask questions to learn about the game, and simply spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, streaming is subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.)

Follow along after the jump to see what's on this week's schedule!

Continue reading MV Guide: January 23-29, 2012

MassivelyMV Guide: January 23-29, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>arenanetarenanet-guild-warsbiowarebioware-mmobioware-mmorpgbioware-star-warsbioware-swtorbrowser-basedccpccp-eveccp-gamesdisneydisneys-toontowneaelectronic-artseveeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlinef2pfeaturedfree-to-playfrogsterfrogster-romglitchglobal-agendaglobal-agenda-hi-rezguild-warsguildwarsgwhi-rezhi-rez-global-agendahi-rez-stdioes-global-agendahi-rez-studiosjagexjagex-game-studiosjagex-runescapeliden-labs-second-lifelinden-labslivestreamlivestreaminglucas-artslucas-arts-mmolucas-arts-mmorpgluvinia-onlinemassively-livestreammassively-tvmv-guidemv-tvoutsparkromrunes-of-magicrunescaperyzomsecond-lifesecond-life-linden-labsslsl-liden-labssoesonySony-Online-Entertainmentstar-wars-gamestar-wars-mmostar-wars-mmorpgstar-wars-the-old-republicstar-wars-torstarwarsstarwars-the-old-republicsw-torswtorthe-old-republictiny-specktoontownurban-rivalsvanguardVanguard-Saga-of-Heroesvirtual-worldMon, 23 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MV Guide: January 16-22, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/16/mv-guide-january-16-22-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/16/mv-guide-january-16-22-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/16/mv-guide-january-16-22-2012/#commentsFiled under: , ,

APB: Reloaded
MV Guide is a weekly rundown of the MMO gaming events planned on Massively TV.

Every week, the Massively staff logs in to play various MMOs live and in person, and we'd love for you to drop by the channel and visit. We have a combination of regular weekly games and new surprises, so you'll find a variety of titles to take a look at. During our streamed events, you can participate in the live chat, ask questions to learn about the game, and simply spend some time with Massively staff and readers. (Of course, streaming is subject to the whims of outside forces like server-side gremlins once in a while.)

Follow along after the jump to see what's on this week's schedule!

Continue reading MV Guide: January 16-22, 2012

MassivelyMV Guide: January 16-22, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>all-points-bulletinall-points-bulletin-gameapb-gamebiowarebioware-mmobioware-mmorpgbioware-star-warsbioware-swtorccpccp-eveccp-gameschampions-onlinecodc-universe-onlinedcuoeaelectronic-artsEVEeve-ccpeve-mmorpgeve-onlinef2pfeaturedfree-to-playfrogsterfrogster-interactiveg1gamersfirstglobal-agendaglobal-agenda-hi-rezhi-rezhi-rez-global-agendahi-rez-stdioes-global-agendahi-rez-studiosjagexkabamliden-labs-second-lifelinden-labslucas-artslucas-arts-mmolucas-arts-mmorpgmilmommortsmv-guideperfect-worldperfect-world-entertainmentpweromrunes-of-magicrunescaperusty-heartssecond-lifesecond-life-linden-labsslsl-liden-labssoesony-online-entertainmentst-onlinestar-trek-mmostar-trek-onlinestar-wars-gamestar-wars-mmostar-wars-mmorpgstar-wars-the-old-republicstar-wars-torstarwarsstarwars-the-old-republicstosw-torswtorthe-old-republicthirst-of-nighttrek-onlinevirtual-worldMon, 16 Jan 2012 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Previously on MV TV: Week of January 9th, 2012]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/15/previously-on-mv-tv-week-of-january-9th-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/15/previously-on-mv-tv-week-of-january-9th-2012/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/15/previously-on-mv-tv-week-of-january-9th-2012/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Fallen Earth, aka Good God in Heaven, shoot it!
Welcome to the brand-new Previously on MV TV! Our livestreaming schedule has picked up a lot over the past few weeks, and our readers have busy lives, so we know it's impossible to watch every single streaming event live. Fortunately for you, we save all of our streams all for posterity on Massively's Twitch TV channel, so you can view them at your leisure. Even better, we've got a roundup of a few of last week's MV TV highlights from the livestream team. Follow along after the jump for the best of the best!

Continue reading Previously on MV TV: Week of January 9th, 2012

MassivelyPreviously on MV TV: Week of January 9th, 2012 originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 15 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-mmobioware-mmorpgbioware-star-warsbioware-swtoreaelectronic-artsf2pfallen-earthfeaturedfree-to-playg1gamersfirstleague-of-legendsliden-labs-second-lifelinden-labslivestreamlivestreaminglollucas-artslucas-arts-mmolucas-arts-mmorpgmassively-tvmv-tvpreviously-on-mv-tvriotriot-gamessecond-lifesecond-life-linden-labsslsl-liden-labssoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-gamestar-wars-mmostar-wars-mmorpgstar-wars-the-old-republicstar-wars-torstarwarsstarwars-the-old-republicsw-torswtorthe-old-republicvanguardVanguard-Saga-of-Heroesvirtual-worldSun, 15 Jan 2012 10:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR UK sales take a dive]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/swtor-uk-sales-take-a-dive/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/swtor-uk-sales-take-a-dive/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/03/swtor-uk-sales-take-a-dive/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Star Wars: The Old Republic - Coruscant hangar
Just when you thought we couldn't have any more Star Wars: The Old Republic articles (because three out of 15 per day is a lot, amirite?), here's one more for your reading pleasure.

MMOCrunch has sussed out what appears to be a decent-sized drop in TOR's UK sales numbers. According to Chart-Track, BioWare's new MMO fell from the number 10 spot to number 38 in its second week on the market. MMOCrunch speculates that the drop-off in post-holiday shopping is the primary culprit, and we've also yet to see a true advertising blitz like we've seen for games like RIFT and World of Warcraft.

What do you think, Massively folk? Is trouble brewing in a galaxy far, far away, or is it far too early to tell?

MassivelySWTOR UK sales take a dive originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareea-biowareElectronic-Artsmmo-industrysalessales-performancesci-fispeculationstar-wars-mmostar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorukuk-salesTue, 03 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Analyst claims that Star Wars: The Old Republic points to a healthy MMO market]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/27/analyst-claims-that-star-wars-the-old-republic-points-to-a-heal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/27/analyst-claims-that-star-wars-the-old-republic-points-to-a-heal/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/27/analyst-claims-that-star-wars-the-old-republic-points-to-a-heal/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It's healing lightning. Or something.
The gaming industry is pretty morbid when you get right down to it. 2011 has seen several people predicting the death of the MMO market and the death of subscription games, often times in the same sentence. But according to analyst Colin Sebastian, the launch of Star Wars: The Old Republic makes it clear that these reports of death have been greatly exaggerated. As Sebastian puts it, the unprecedented growth of SWTOR's player figures indicates that the market still possesses a demand for new games and still responds favorably.

Sebastian goes on to predict that the game will likely move around three million units by March 2012, the end of the fiscal year, although he believes that staying power is a bit more questionable. He believes that predictions of up to two million paying users by the end of 2012 might be overly optimistic. That having been said, the game has certainly come out of the gate with real strength; it only remains to be seen if it can maintain that.

MassivelyAnalyst claims that Star Wars: The Old Republic points to a healthy MMO market originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Dec 2011 19:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>analystanalystsbiowarebioware-mmobioware-mmorpgbioware-star-warsbioware-swtorcolin-sebastianeaelectronic-artsfinancialgame-industryindustryindustry-opinionslaunchlucas-artslucas-arts-mmolucas-arts-mmorpgmarketmmo-industrystar-wars-gamestar-wars-mmostar-wars-mmorpgstar-wars-the-old-republicstar-wars-torstarwarsstarwars-the-old-republicsw-torswtorthe-old-republicTue, 27 Dec 2011 19:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Newest patch notes Star Wars: The Old Republic highlight bug fixes]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/27/newest-patch-notes-star-wars-the-old-republic-highlight-bug-fix/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/27/newest-patch-notes-star-wars-the-old-republic-highlight-bug-fix/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/27/newest-patch-notes-star-wars-the-old-republic-highlight-bug-fix/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Patches are a lot like starship maintenance, albeit with slightly less vaccuum.
Bugs are frustrating, and inevitably some of them seep through to launch with a new MMO. Star Wars: The Old Republic produced a fairly polished end product, but there were still issues, most notably certain memory problems with Taris and some harvesting nodes that couldn't be harvested. As a result, the game's first patch has been rolled out following this morning's maintenance, and the first set of patch notes have gone live detailing the bugfixes and minor updates provided.

Aside from the two obvious changes, there has been a handful of balance adjustments. Slicing has seen a slight downgrade to bring its rewards more in line with those of other gathering professions, and the Mandalorian Raiders flashpoint has seen several enemies lose their immunity to crowd control. Players can look forward to more steady adjustments as the game continues, but some quick fixes to noteworthy issues are always good to see -- especially so close to the holidays.

MassivelyNewest patch notes Star Wars: The Old Republic highlight bug fixes originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Dec 2011 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-mmobioware-mmorpgbioware-star-warsbioware-swtorbugfixeseaelectronic-artsgame-updateslucas-artslucas-arts-mmolucas-arts-mmorpgnewspatchpatchessmall-patchesstar-wars-gamestar-wars-mmostar-wars-mmorpgstar-wars-the-old-republicstar-wars-torstarwarsstarwars-the-old-republicsw-torswtorsystem-updatesthe-old-republicupdatesTue, 27 Dec 2011 19:25:00 EST<![CDATA[The Soapbox: Adding story to SWTOR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/27/the-soapbox-adding-story-to-swtor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/27/the-soapbox-adding-story-to-swtor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/27/the-soapbox-adding-story-to-swtor/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Star Wars: The Old Republic - show me the story
Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

I'd like to take a few moments this week to prognosticate about story in The Old Republic. I'm not talking about the story that's already there, mind you, as I've barely scratched the surface (a 20 Sage, a 15 Gunslinger, and a beta-flavored Trooper are the extent of my experience thus far).

No, what I'm more interested in talking about is what's going to happen story-wise when I get to level 50 on one of these guys. The easy answer is, of course, roll an alt! There are seven other classes after all, each reportedly featuring 200 hours worth of single-player story content.

What happens if I were to get to level 50 on all eight classes, though? Is The Old Republic's gameplay still going to revolve around the heavily hyped story angle at that point?

Continue reading The Soapbox: Adding story to SWTOR

MassivelyThe Soapbox: Adding story to SWTOR originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 27 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarecutsceneseaea-biowareelectronic-artsfeaturedfourth-pillarmmo-industrymmo-storyopinionsoapboxsoapbox-jef-reahardstar-warsstar-wars-mmostar-wars-the-old-republicstoryswtorthe-old-republicthe-soapboxthemeparktorTue, 27 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic launches Android authenticator and upcoming test server]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/star-wars-the-old-republic-launches-android-authenticator-and-u/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/star-wars-the-old-republic-launches-android-authenticator-and-u/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/21/star-wars-the-old-republic-launches-android-authenticator-and-u/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Pictured: not security.
If analyst predictions hold true, Star Wars: The Old Republic is going to be big. And that means that it's going to be heir to the natural problem of account hackings, the sort of thing that goes hand in hand with every major MMO. Luckily, the game has launched with security authenticators already available, with a physical version and an Apple app available right out of the gate. The mobile authenticator for Android devices is also now available, meaning that you have a multitude of ways to ensure that the only threats to your characters are those of the blaster-wielding variety.

Once you've gotten through the authenticator stage, however, perhaps you'd like to see what's coming next for the game? Ask a Jedi reports that it looks like BioWare is in the process of setting up a public test server, giving every subscriber a chance to enjoy the upcoming patches and updates before they go live. While players will not be able to copy characters from the live servers to the test environment at this time, the team behind Star Wars: The Old Republic seems to be polishing up the game on a daily basis even though it's just launched, so that likely won't remain the case for long.

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic launches Android authenticator and upcoming test server originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Star Wars Galaxies - Tatooine twin sunset
Eulogizing Star Wars Galaxies is difficult. In fact, I've written some 2,200 articles since signing on with Massively a couple of years ago, and none of them has come close to being as painful as this particular wall o' text.

The fact that I even used the word eulogy in reference to a video game says it all, really. Join me after the cut for as brief a remembrance as I can manage.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: One last jump to lightspeed

MassivelySome Assembly Required: One last jump to lightspeed originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closingcraftingeconomyeuologyfeaturedgame-closinghousingopinionplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentsandboxsci-fiserver-closingserver-shutdownshutdownsoesome-assembly-requiredSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-mmosunsetswgtradeskillingwe-will-miss-you-swgFri, 16 Dec 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Final SWG producer's letter thanks community]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/final-swg-producers-letter-thanks-community/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/final-swg-producers-letter-thanks-community/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/16/final-swg-producers-letter-thanks-community/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Star Wars Galaxies - YT2400 Blue Harvest over Mos Eisley
Community was one of many things that set Star Wars: Galaxies apart from your average MMO, and Sony Online Entertainment's Tony "Teesquared" Tyson took a moment to thank the game's faithful in what serves as the final producer's letter for the shuttered sandbox title.

Tyson touches on several highlights including housing, crafting, entertaining, and space-sim mechanics that were unique to SWG, and he ultimately concludes that the game "was, and will always be, a meaningful and memorable part of my life, an experience I'll treasure and share with anyone who wants to hear a good story."

SOE launched SWG on June 26, 2003 and powered down the servers one final time early this morning.

MassivelyFinal SWG producer's letter thanks community originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>communitycraftinghousingproducers-lettersandboxsci-fishutdownsoeSony-Online-Entertainmentspacestar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-mmoswgteesquaredtony-tysonFri, 16 Dec 2011 11:30:00 EST<![CDATA[SOE gears up for Star Wars Galaxies' closing events]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/soe-gears-up-for-star-wars-galaxies-closing-events/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/soe-gears-up-for-star-wars-galaxies-closing-events/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/13/soe-gears-up-for-star-wars-galaxies-closing-events/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Star Wars Galaxies - Jumping to lightspeed
A long time ago, in a game industry far, far away, there was an MMORPG called Star Wars Galaxies. It made a lot of people happy (and sad), hung around for eight plus years, and is now being forced into an early retirement by the next big thing.

Before it rides off into the twin sunset, SWG is holding a series of farewell events. According to the patch notes for today's update, the Galactic Civil War score will be frozen on Wednesday, December 14th at midnight EST, at which time Jabba's event kicks off near the Sarlacc Pit in the deeps of the Tatooine desert

Three more events will begin at server restart on Thursday, December 15th, sometime around 7:00 a.m. EST: one near the Research Outpost on Endor, one in the Nub Shanda zone of Coronet, Corellia, and one in the city of Theed on the planet Naboo.

Massively's Karen Bryan and the rest of the SWG-fans among the Massively staff will be livestreaming the final countdown on the Starsider server on Thursday, starting at 11 p.m. EST. Join us as we reminisce about and salute this groundbreaking sandbox.

MassivelySOE gears up for Star Wars Galaxies' closing events originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 13 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>closing-eventsend-of-the-worldin-game-eventslivestreamsandboxsci-fisoeSony-Online-Entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-mmostarsiderswgTue, 13 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic preps for guild imports, server list takes shape]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/star-wars-the-old-republic-prepping-for-guild-imports-server-l/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/star-wars-the-old-republic-prepping-for-guild-imports-server-l/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/star-wars-the-old-republic-prepping-for-guild-imports-server-l/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

No word yet on the riots that will ensue for each player who doesn't get an access pass tomorrow.
At 7:00 a.m. EST tomorrow morning, the coveted early access invitations will be sent out for Star Wars: The Old Republic. Some of them, anyway. (Some players will have to wait a little bit longer.) If you're in one of the many guilds that prepared and recruited prior to the game's launch via the on-site recruitment feature, you're also in line to start in on the early guild deployment, which is outlined in detail on the official site. Long story short, you'll be given your guild's server assignment, and if you're unhappy with it, you're going to have to start up on a different server rather than using the automated joining.

Unfortunately, players aren't being given a full preview of servers ahead of time, but based on the deployment messages, a list is taking shape over on Ask a Jedi. The list is, of course, not absolute -- it's simply what servers are known that have been passed along -- but it's certainly extensive, with several different PvE, PvP, and RP servers for both US coasts and Europe. Keep checking back for more information, and keep your eyes on your mailbox early tomorrow morning.

Star Wars: The Old Republic is finally here, and the Force is with Massively! We've prepared a Hutt-sized feast of class introductions, gameplay guides, lore roundups, and hands-on previews to help you navigate the launch period and beyond. And don't forget our weekly SWTOR column, the Hyperspace Beacon!

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic preps for guild imports, server list takes shape originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-austinbioware-mmobioware-mmorpgbioware-mythicbioware-star-warsbioware-swtoreaearly-accessearly-game-accesselectronic-artsguild-importguild-launchlaunchlauncheslucas-artslucas-arts-mmolucas-arts-mmorpgnewsserver-listserversstar-wars-gamestar-wars-mmostar-wars-mmorpgstar-wars-the-old-republicstar-wars-torstarwarsstarwars-the-old-republicsw-torswtorthe-old-republictorMon, 12 Dec 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR: So you want to play a Jedi Consular]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/swtor-so-you-want-to-play-a-jedi-consular/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/swtor-so-you-want-to-play-a-jedi-consular/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/12/swtor-so-you-want-to-play-a-jedi-consular/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

SWTOR - The Consular
Peace. Serenity. Harmony. These are some of the touchstones of the Jedi order, and they are the values that the Consular embodies. Where the Jedi Knight is meant to be the military and defensive might of the Jedi Order, the Consular is instead a teacher, a defender, and a scholar of the mysteries of the Force. If a Knight can be seen as a paladin, then the Consular is the gentle monk, teaching others and seeking out new mysteries for spiritual purposes.

Of course, the war against the Sith Empire means that there is no opportunity for these scholars to remain passive, but the Jedi Consular does not act with rash and overt motion. Instead, Consulars remain subtle, either slipping through the shadows or calling upon the raw might of the Force. In battle, they may specialize in a variety of roles, but all Consulars take a more cerebral approach. For them, the war is not their truest focus -- what matters is learning and understanding. This war will end, and afterwards, the Consular will teach those who remain what has been forgotten in the ravages of battle.

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

MassivelySWTOR: So you want to play a Jedi Consular 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-swtoreaelectronic-artsfeaturedguideguidesjedi-consularlucas-artslucas-arts-mmolucas-arts-mmorpglucasartspreviewpreviewssci-fistar-warsstar-wars-gamestar-wars-mmostar-wars-mmorpgstar-wars-the-old-republicstar-wars-torstarwarsstarwars-the-old-republicsw-torswtorswtor-class-guideswtor-guideswtor-launch-guidethe-old-republictorMon, 12 Dec 2011 12:00:00 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[Some Assembly Required: SWG housing extravaganza]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/some-assembly-required-swg-housing-extravaganza/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/some-assembly-required-swg-housing-extravaganza/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/12/09/some-assembly-required-swg-housing-extravaganza/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required header
The sunsetting of Star Wars Galaxies. Beyond the obvious, that statement holds more meaning for me, something deeper and more personal. See, throughout my years in SWG, I would often stop whatever I was doing just to sit and watch the Tatooine suns set. Honestly. Just a simple act of sitting upon the plateau -- sometimes alone, sometimes with friends -- quietly watching one of the universe's greatest pleasures inside an MMO. It was amazing to me how vibrant this galaxy was, filled with so many little details that breathed life into it in a way that I think is still unmatched. Details such as sunsets made the world real, but what really made it "home" was the housing.

Few, if any, games can claim the mastery of housing that Galaxies attained. Quite frankly, it is still the standard by which I measure housing. And there is almost no way to sum it up and do it justice in one short article. Despite this challenge, Some Assembly Required dedicates this 12th issue to immortalizing (and hopefully prodding future developers to emulate) one of the greatest housing systems ever and highlighting the very thing that made this great feature phenomenal: incredible player ingenuity and creativity.

But don't just take my word for it. A number of readers joined in and sent in screenshots of and waypoints to these expressions of creativity. So step on over the threshold for our tribute in word and image to SWG housing and the player creativity it engendered.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: SWG housing extravaganza

MassivelySome Assembly Required: SWG housing extravaganza originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 09 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>city-buildingcreativitydecoratingfeaturedgalleriesgalleryhouseshousinghousing-tourpgcplayer-creativityplayer-generated-contentsandboxscreenshotscreenshotssoesony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-mmosunsetswgswg-sunsettourFri, 09 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic approaching the final phase of testing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/star-wars-the-old-republic-approaching-the-final-phase-of-testi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/star-wars-the-old-republic-approaching-the-final-phase-of-testi/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/23/star-wars-the-old-republic-approaching-the-final-phase-of-testi/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Republic agents preparing to beta test The Even Older Republic. It's pretty meta.
It's hard to believe that after all this time, Star Wars: The Old Republic is launching in less than a month. As you would expect, the game is making its final testing pushes for players. According to Stephen "Rockjaw" Reid's Twitter feed, players selected for the final testing weekend will be seeing schedules sent out over the next 12 hours, with players allowed to start testing either Friday or Saturday, starting at 11:00 a.m. EST. Existing testers and visitors to the site will also have to contend with some degree of maintenance trouble, as the site is experiencing an understandable groundswell of traffic.

The final push also means that the deadline is approaching for players to get in on the Pre-Launch Guild Program, which ends at 11:59 p.m. PST on December 2nd. This means that players who fulfill all the requirements will be able to transfer their guilds straight into the live game -- but they'll have to finalize everything before the deadline. So if you're a guild leader with a few things left to finish up before launch, the holiday weekend might be an ideal time.

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic approaching the final phase of testing originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 23 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-conclusionbeta-testingbeta-weekendbiowarebioware-mmobioware-mmorpgbioware-mythicbioware-star-warsbioware-swtoreaelectronic-artslucas-artslucas-arts-mmolucas-arts-mmorpgpre-launch-guild-programrockjawstar-wars-gamestar-wars-mmostar-wars-mmorpgstar-wars-the-old-republicstar-wars-torstarwarsstarwars-the-old-republicstephen-reidstephen-rockjaw-reidsw-torswtortestingtesting-conclusionthe-old-republicWed, 23 Nov 2011 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR beta participants log one meeeeellion hours of testing]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/16/swtor-beta-participants-log-one-meeeeellion-hours-of-testing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/16/swtor-beta-participants-log-one-meeeeellion-hours-of-testing/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/16/swtor-beta-participants-log-one-meeeeellion-hours-of-testing/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Dr. Evil says one meeellion testing hours is quite a lot
If it seemed like everyone and their dog got in on last weekend's Star Wars: The Old Republic beta event, well, they did. BioWare invited tens of thousands of Star Wars fans to the TOR testing party, and probably a few Star Trek fans and the blue glowy spirits of dearly departed Jedi Knights as well. The mass invites are designed to strain the servers prior to the game's December 15th launch date, and BioWare co-founder Greg Zeschuk says this is just the beginning.

"One crazy number is we had over a million hours of testing over the weekend. It was a huge test, and there are even bigger ones coming. The key thing is for us to take those learnings, apply them and make the service really stable. We're happy with the game," Zeschuk told Eurogamer.

Zeschuk and his BioWare cohorts aren't exactly raising pinkies to lips like an overconfident supervillain, though. "Everyone's cautiously optimistic. We're all very paranoid," Zeschuk said, before going on to explain how BioWare will carefully control TOR's launch availability to ensure a smooth experience.

MassivelySWTOR beta participants log one meeeeellion hours of testing originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 16 Nov 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>betabeta-testingbeta-weekendbiowareea-biowareElectronic-Artsgreg-zeschuksci-fistar-warsstar-wars-mmostar-wars-the-old-republicstress-testswtortestingtorWed, 16 Nov 2011 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Wings Over Atreia: TORn away]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/14/wings-over-atreia-torn-away/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/14/wings-over-atreia-torn-away/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/14/wings-over-atreia-torn-away/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Wings Over Atreia header
*suits up in full firefighters gear* Alrighty, now I am ready!

The topic for this week's Wings Over Atreia presented itself when I logged into Aion at prime-time on Thursday night and found the very odd occurrence of both an empty legion list and an empty friends list. Considering how full the latter is (plug for larger lists here), I've never seen both be completely empty simultaneously, even when I pop in during my odd super-late hours. While I saw some life over the rest of the weekend, overall numbers stayed pretty low, even during the hours of the new arena instances. To what do I attribute this? In some cases it was the usual attack of the Real Life (tm) that got ahold of people, but two extra factors contributed to the population insta-decline: the release of Skyrim and more weekend beta invites from Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Now in the case of Skyrim, it can't be helped (but maybe we can have a little spacing between the release of so many games?!). We know that once the game is played through, people will wander back to their MMOs. TOR, however, is another matter: Besides the shininess of of a new game and the fact that it is both Star Wars-based and made by BioWare, does Aion have a future of vast, empty lands to look forward to at the release of the latest OMG-it's-the-second-coming-of-games title? Some are certainly screaming doom-and-gloom, but we hear that from dissenters about nearly every little thing. Is it possible that there is room enough for both games to survive after the initial hype has passed?

*checks and readjusts all gear again* Come on and join me past the cut for some thoughts on the matter.

Continue reading Wings Over Atreia: TORn away

MassivelyWings Over Atreia: TORn away originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 14 Nov 2011 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No, Dad, I'm not a psycho killer, I'm an assassin! ...well the difference is that one's a job and the other's mental sickness!
It's been a day for news about Star Wars: The Old Republic as we move still closer to release. The latest character progression video has been unveiled for the Agent, showing both the differences in equipment and abilities players can expect as they level up as one of the subtle hands of the Sith Empire's will. As players grow in power, they can either take the route of the stealthy and aggressive Operative or the resourceful ranged Sniper.

On the Operative route, armors tend toward hooded attire as the character employs a variety of blades, bombs, and short-range blaster attacks to keep enemies pinned. Snipers, meanwhile, are sleekly armored ranged dispensers of death, with their abilities culminating in a large-scale orbital strike to take out inconvenient enemies. If you're itching to play an Agent, you'd be well-served to take a look at the full trailer to see all that the class is capable of doing in the name of the Empire.

Continue reading Agent progression revealed for Star Wars: The Old Republic

MassivelyAgent progression revealed for Star Wars: The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 18:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agentbiowarebioware-mmobioware-mmorpgbioware-star-warsbioware-swtorclassclasseseaea-biowareelectronic-artsimperial-agentlucas-artslucas-arts-mmolucas-arts-mmorpgpreviewsprogressionprogression-trailersith-agentstar-wars-gamestar-wars-mmostar-wars-mmorpgstar-wars-the-old-republicstar-wars-torstarwarsstarwars-the-old-republicsw-torswtorthe-old-republicFri, 04 Nov 2011 18:45:00 EST<![CDATA[A certain point of view: Jef's hands-on with SWTOR's beta]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/a-certain-point-of-view-jefs-hands-on-with-swtors-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/a-certain-point-of-view-jefs-hands-on-with-swtors-beta/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/20/a-certain-point-of-view-jefs-hands-on-with-swtors-beta/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

Star Wars The Old Republic - Trooper with BFG 9000
Hey Star Wars fans, what say we recap my recent beta experiences in The Old Republic? I know what you're thinking (because it's the same thing I thought after BioWare's marketing folks sent along an unsolicited invitation): Here comes a giant anti-themepark rant and zomgwtf call someone who cares!

Surprisingly though, I had a decent time. I managed to get a Republic Trooper off the Ord Mantell starter planet and firmly entrenched in a few Coruscant quest lines, and I logged over 10 hours of gameplay in the process (in the comfort of my own home, mind you, and not under the watchful eye of a PR droid at a convention).

To be frank, TOR's not half bad. It's had a lot of money thrown at it, there's a ton of what passes for modern-day MMO content, and if you're into that sort of thing, you'll no doubt enjoy yourself for a time.

Continue reading A certain point of view: Jef's hands-on with SWTOR's beta

MassivelyA certain point of view: Jef's hands-on with SWTOR's beta originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 20 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>aurebeshbetabiowarecodexeaea-biowareelectronic-artsexclusivefeaturedfierfekfourth-pillargrindkill-10-separatistskill-ten-separatistsmassively-exclusivemmo-storynot-the-mmo-youre-looking-forord-mantellrepublic-troopersci-fiscifistar-warsstar-wars-mmostar-wars-the-old-republicstoryswtor-codexswtor-hands-onswtor-impressionsthe-old-republicthemeparktor-impressionstrooperThu, 20 Oct 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare says gamers find it hard to go back to other MMOs after playing SWTOR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/17/bioware-gamers-find-it-hard-to-go-back-to-other-mmos-after-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/17/bioware-gamers-find-it-hard-to-go-back-to-other-mmos-after-play/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/17/bioware-gamers-find-it-hard-to-go-back-to-other-mmos-after-play/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Star Wars The Old Republic - some dudes fighting or something
As Star Wars: The Old Republic's release date looms larger on the calendar, BioWare co-founders Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk are starting to be seen with increasing frequency on the PR circuit. The latest sighting comes courtesy of The Gaming Liberty, and the dynamic doctor duo offers up some interesting commentary on SWTOR and the logic behind setting up BioWare's new customer service center in Ireland rather than Canada or the U.S.

There's a "fair, reasonable tax and regulatory structure the government here [in Ireland] has provided for us which creates an entrepreneurial environment [...] which is a big bonus," Muzyka explains.

The interview also touches on lore inspirations for both The Old Republic and the classic single-player Knights of the Old Republic RPG, as well as the team's confidence in its new massively multiplayer product. "One of the most common things we're already hearing is that people seem to find it hard to go back to other MMOs once they play The Old Republic," Muzyka said.

MassivelyBioWare says gamers find it hard to go back to other MMOs after playing SWTOR originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Oct 2011 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareea-biowareelectronic-artsgreg-zeschukinterviewoutsourcingray-muzykasci-fiscifistar-warsstar-wars-mmostar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorMon, 17 Oct 2011 18:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Star Wars: The Old Republic talks instanced regions and hubs at NYCC]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/17/star-wars-the-old-republic-talks-instanced-regions-and-hubs-at/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/17/star-wars-the-old-republic-talks-instanced-regions-and-hubs-at/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/17/star-wars-the-old-republic-talks-instanced-regions-and-hubs-at/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

The original Republic flashpoint of Jedi Meditation and Posing has sadly been sent back to the drawing board.
Last weekend's big convention, New York Comic Con, hosted another panel on Star Wars: The Old Republic. And perhaps to the surprise of the fans, this panel was all about numbers. Specifically, it was all about the numbers for upcoming content in the game, such as Flashpoints, Operations, and Warzones. Stephen Reid took his time to lay out what players can expect from this content and how many different areas players can expect, starting with 15 different Flashpoints at launch.

The Flashpoints will not all be story-focused, according to Reid, with some focused more heavily on the puzzle or gameplay aspects. All of them, however, can be replayed at higher difficulties in the endgame. In addition, Reid showed off the upcoming fleet hubs for the game, the central gathering areas for players that feature vendors, auction systems, and a special "VIP Lounge" for people who purchased the Collector's Edition. With only a little over two months remaining until the game's launch, there's not much more time before these promised features become a reality.

MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic talks instanced regions and hubs at NYCC originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 17 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-mmobioware-mmorpgbioware-star-warsbioware-swtoreaelectronic-artsflashpointshubsinstanced-areaslucas-artslucas-arts-mmolucas-arts-mmorpgnew-york-comic-connew-york-comic-con-2011nyccnycc-2011operationsplayer-hubsspecial-featuresstar-wars-gamestar-wars-mmostar-wars-mmorpgstar-wars-the-old-republicstar-wars-torstarwarsstarwars-the-old-republicsw-torswtorthe-old-republicupdateswarzonesMon, 17 Oct 2011 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Some Assembly Required: Quest building with SWG's Chronicles]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/14/some-assembly-required-quest-building-with-swgs-chronicles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/14/some-assembly-required-quest-building-with-swgs-chronicles/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/14/some-assembly-required-quest-building-with-swgs-chronicles/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Some Assembly Required header
What? A tease you say? No I'm... OK, maybe just a little. But that's really not to be helped. If you wonder why we are seeming to delve into Star Wars Galaxies a bit more than other games right now, it is because we have to cover it before the lights go out, else how would you have a chance to go in and explore it for yourself? And the fact that the suns are going to permanently set over Tatooine in a couple of months does not negate the fact that there are some impressive features in the game worth highlighting! Hopefully, by doing so, not only will players be able to take some time to enjoy them while they can, but other developers will get the hint and start incorporating more into their titles.

What feature is the focal point of this eighth edition of Some Assembly Required? In case you missed it hidden so sneakily in the title, it's SWG's Chronicles system. You can't define player-generated content any better than with sharable quests created by the players themselves. Sure, other games have quest builders (the question is why don't more?!), but Galaxies has some unique elements.

If you have been gone from the game so long that you have no idea what I am talking about, take heart: Today's guide will explore this feature and walk you through exactly how to get started. If you have an active subscription to take advantage of the final months of this epic sandbox, you can hop into game and tinker with Chronicles before it is gone for good. Trust me, it is worth it.

Hop a landrover and zoom past the cut for a look at SWG's version of build-a-quest.

Continue reading Some Assembly Required: Quest building with SWG's Chronicles

MassivelySome Assembly Required: Quest building with SWG's Chronicles originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 14 Oct 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Chronicle-Masterchroniclesfeaturedplayer-contentplayer-generated-contentplayer-generated-missionsprofessionquest-creationquest-makerQuestssandboxsandbox-gamesSARsoesome-assembly-requiredsony-online-entertainmentstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-mmosubmission-requestFri, 14 Oct 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The Old Republic playable at New York Comic Con]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/the-old-republic-playable-at-new-york-comic-con/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/the-old-republic-playable-at-new-york-comic-con/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/07/the-old-republic-playable-at-new-york-comic-con/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Star Wars The Old Republic - Republic trooper with BFG9000
Mark October 13th through the 16th on your calendars, Star Wars: The Old Republic faithful, especially if you'll be anywhere in the vicinity of New York City.

BioWare's Hutt-sized Star Wars MMO will be hogging the spotlight at this year's New York Comic Con, and you'll have a couple of opportunities to get some hands-on time with the highly anticipated sci-fi title. The Alderaan and Huttball warzones will be playable at SWTOR's booth, while a few of the developers will be featured on three separate panels over the course of the event.

If you like a little alcohol with your Star Wars, you'll also want to make note of a dev-hosted meet-and-greet at District 36 on Wednesday, October 12th. All the details are available at the official site, so what are you waiting for?

MassivelyThe Old Republic playable at New York Comic Con originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 07 Oct 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alderaan-warzonebiowarecomic-conconventionsea-biowareelectronic-artshuttballnew-york-comic-connyccreal-world-eventssci-fiscifistar-warsstar-wars-mmostar-wars-the-old-republicFri, 07 Oct 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare founders: We make the decisions, not EA]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/03/bioware-founders-we-make-the-decisions-not-ea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/03/bioware-founders-we-make-the-decisions-not-ea/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/03/bioware-founders-we-make-the-decisions-not-ea/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

BioWare co-founders
BioWare has a message for critical fans who blame the company's perceived inadequacies on its corporate overlords at Electronic Arts. "I always chuckle because we are EA, we're BioWare -- we're both, and we still have huge autonomy in terms of what we do," co-founder Greg Zeschuk recently told Eurogamer.

Zeschuk and partner Ray Muzyka cover a lot of ground during the sit-down, and the docs indicate that they still play BioWare's games despite delegating day-to-day development duties to various project leads. "Most of our games, before we ship them, we finish them several times. The Old Republic, we're probably at that level or higher, in terms of hours," Zeschuk says.

Times have changed though, as both men acknowledge that today's BioWare is not the same company that made Neverwinter Nights or MDK2. "Way, way back, years ago, we didn't even consider those [commercial elements], we just made stuff," Zeschuk explains.

MassivelyBioWare founders: We make the decisions, not EA originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 03 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowareeaea-biowareelectronic-artsgreg-zeschukinterviewray-muzykasci-fiscifistar-wars-mmostar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorMon, 03 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[MMO impressions from Eurogamer Expo 2011]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/01/mmo-impressions-from-eurogamer-expo-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/01/mmo-impressions-from-eurogamer-expo-2011/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/10/01/mmo-impressions-from-eurogamer-expo-2011/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Eurogamer Expo
Some of the industry's biggest names were at Eurogamer Expo last week, including BioWare, NCsoft and Trion Worlds. I was on the floor at the expo to get some hands-on experience with several upcoming MMOs and countless singleplayer games. Guild Wars 2 and Star Wars: The Old Republic stole the show, with hands-on gameplay sessions and in-depth developer talks. BioWare also made the bold move of announcing SWTOR's official release date during its talk at the convention. In addition to promoting the heck out of RIFT, Trion showed off upcoming MMORTS End of Nations with a hands-on demo and encouraged attendees to sign up to the End of Nations newsletter.

RIFT and World of Tanks were both playable on the show floor for the entire weekend, but nothing new was being shown. Hack-and-slash adventure RPG Dark Souls and the beautifully zen Journey both demonstrated incredibly innovative multiplayer aspects that I'll likely cover in my weekly Not So Massively column, but neither falls neatly into the MMO box. OnLive had a spectacular showing at the expo, giving away free home consoles to every attendee and demonstrating the system's surprisingly lag-free gameplay on the floor. We discovered that although there are no MMOs in OnLive's current lineup, this isn't due to technical infeasibility, so we may yet see MMOs launched on the service.

Skip past the cut for my in-depth hands-on impressions of Guild Wars 2, Star Wars: The Old Republic and End of Nations from Eurogamer Expo 2011.

Continue reading MMO impressions from Eurogamer Expo 2011

MassivelyMMO impressions from Eurogamer Expo 2011 originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 01 Oct 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Craig Morrison
Funcom's Craig Morrison is one of the more outspoken MMO devs on the planet, and the Age of Conan game director has weighed in with a lengthy personal blog update that reflects on the state of the industry, the future, and the impending success of Star Wars The Old Republic.

Morrison, who goes by the handle Silirrion on Funcom's various forums, touches on the freight train that is SWTOR as well as why MMO veterans have been getting the cold shoulder from development companies in recent years.

Vets are "yearning for the next advance in technology at a time when the industry itself is still refining the experience offered by the first generation of games," he says. "The formula for an MMO is still pretty much the same, in terms of structure, as it was a decade ago, and that frustration at a perceived lack of progress is what fuels a deal of the complaints."

Is there any hope for the future, though? Morrison seems to think so, but he's not holding his breath on a timeframe. "I also think that those advances the veterans yearn for will come, and the genre will become more dynamic and community focused again, but maybe not in the near future, and almost certainly not with the upcoming generation of games," he writes.

MassivelyFuncom's Craig Morrison on SWTOR and MMO industry advances originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 26 Sep 2011 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>age-of-conanaocbiowarecraig-morrisonea-biowareelectronic-artsfuncommmo-industtrymmo-veteransmmo-vetsopinionsilirrionstar-wars-mmostar-wars-the-old-republicveteransMon, 26 Sep 2011 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare releases more SWTOR companion info]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/bioware-releases-more-swtor-companion-info/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/bioware-releases-more-swtor-companion-info/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/bioware-releases-more-swtor-companion-info/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Star Wars The Old Republic - Corso Riggs companion
"Go for the eyes, Boo!"

Er, sorry, wrong BioWare RPG. You'll have to forgive us, though, as the firm's latest dev blog references dear old Minsc in the very first sentence. Yep, it's another treatise on companions in Star Wars The Old Republic, and this time senior game designer William Wallace (really) treats us to a lengthy entry explaining a bit about companion customization and combat.

The latter presentation takes the form of a few short videos showing off the fighting prowess of one Corso Riggs, a heavily armored blaster specialist who functions as one of the Smuggler class companions. Head to the official SWTOR website for all the goods.

MassivelyBioWare releases more SWTOR companion info originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Sep 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarecompanion-combatcompanion-customizationcompanionscorso-riggscustomizationdev-blogdev-diaryea-biowareelectronic-artsfreeeeeeeeeedomgame-mechanicsgo-for-the-eyes-boominscpetssmugglerstar-warsstar-wars-mmostar-wars-the-old-republicswtorwilliam-wallaceFri, 23 Sep 2011 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare talks SWTOR testing, post-release content]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/bioware-talks-swtor-testing-post-release-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/bioware-talks-swtor-testing-post-release-content/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/09/23/bioware-talks-swtor-testing-post-release-content/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

Star Wars The Old Republic - Jedi and droid
BioWare project director James Ohlen is apparently on the PR circuit of late, as a new interview at Gamasutra marks his second major gaming publication appearance in the last two days. This time around, there's nary a mention of Star Wars: The Old Republic's companions.

There is, however, some interesting chit-chat about polish, post-release content plans, and the necessity of MMORPG playtesting. Ohlen downplays the notion that large-scale fan testing is paramount to a game's success, saying that "the big changes that we've been making were planned from way before."

He acknowledges that beta testers have their uses, but says that the BioWare devs would be "terrible game designers" if they didn't figure things out on their own. "It's good for fans to feel like they're having an impact, and sometimes they do," Ohlen says. "There [have] been surprises on the project, but mostly they've come from us playtesting this stuff."

MassivelyBioWare talks SWTOR testing, post-release content originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 23 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week's writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you're afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column.

I hate MMORPG combat.

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

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

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

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

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>action-combatbalancebiowareboring-combatcombatcombat-sucksconsequencesdice-rollingea-biowareelectronic-artsfeaturedgame-mechanicsiconicin-my-experience-theres-no-such-thing-as-balancejedimmo-combatmmo-combat-sucksopinionparadigm-shiftplayer-jedirealistic-combatsci-fisoapboxsoapbox-jef-reahardsoesony-online-entertainmentstar-warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-mmostar-wars-the-old-republicstar-warsystar-warsy-and-iconicswgswtorthe-old-republicthe-soapboxtorTue, 13 Sep 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR Alderaan warzone playable at Gamescom]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/05/swtor-alderaan-warzone-playable-at-gamescom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/05/swtor-alderaan-warzone-playable-at-gamescom/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/08/05/swtor-alderaan-warzone-playable-at-gamescom/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

It's no secret that Star Wars: The Old Republic will be making a big splash at this year's Gamescom. What we didn't know prior to today, however, was the fact that one of the title's PvP warzones will be playable in a dedicated area "away from the rest of the hustle and bustle of the show floor."

BioWare's Chris Collins gives us the details on the official SWTOR boards, and you'll need to sign up via email ahead of time if you and your mates want to get in on the action. The warzone matches will feature eight vs. eight teams and will pit Republic forces against their imperial counterparts in the Alderaan Civil War scenario.

Whether your taste runs to the clumsy randomness of a blaster or elegant weapons from a more civilized age, you'll need to get your signups in by Monday, August 8th.

MassivelySWTOR Alderaan warzone playable at Gamescom originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Aug 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alderaanalderaan-civil-warbiowarechris-collinseaea-biowareelectronic-artsgamescomgamescom-2011pvpreal-world-eventssci-fistar-warsstar-wars-mmostar-wars-the-old-republicswtorwarzonewarzonesFri, 05 Aug 2011 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Ask Massively: Early access pre-order hooray edition]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/28/ask-massively-early-access-pre-order-hooray-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/28/ask-massively-early-access-pre-order-hooray-edition/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/28/ask-massively-early-access-pre-order-hooray-edition/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

We could pretend that the important story of last week was something other than the launch of pre-orders for Star Wars: The Old Republic, but that would be a lie. I know I went straight down to pre-order my copy as soon as I was done with some work in the morning. As usual, it wasn't without controversy -- issues over staggered pre-order releases, limited quantities, and my personal favorite, the fear that it might include some sort of microtransactions in its business model. You know, like every other major subscription game on the market.

Before you ask, I got the regular edition. I'm not paying three times the price for a statue.

Anyway, this week's Ask Massively is pretty heavily tied into the pre-order talk, what with questions about release dates and the state of no-trial launches. As always, you can feel free to ask a question for a future installment of the column via mail to ask@massively.com, or you can just toss your question in the happy comment field below.

Continue reading Ask Massively: Early access pre-order hooray edition

MassivelyAsk Massively: Early access pre-order hooray edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 28 Jul 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ask-massivelybiowarebioware-mmobioware-mmorpgbioware-star-warsbioware-swtorcolumneaelectronic-artsfeaturedgame-trialslucas-artslucas-arts-mmolucas-arts-mmorpgopinionpre-ordersreleaserelease-datesstar-wars-gamestar-wars-mmostar-wars-mmorpgstar-wars-the-old-republicstar-wars-torstarwarsstarwars-the-old-republicsw-torswtorthe-old-republictrialsThu, 28 Jul 2011 14:30:00 EST<![CDATA[BioWare hopes SWTOR lasts for decades]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/25/bioware-hopes-swtor-lasts-for-decades/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/25/bioware-hopes-swtor-lasts-for-decades/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/07/25/bioware-hopes-swtor-lasts-for-decades/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Those of you worried about The Old Republic's longevity (all three of you) can rest easy according to BioWare. Game director James Ohlen told Comic-Con attendees that the company hopes the game will stand the test of time.

"And our goal -- this being an online game that we're hoping is going to last for decades -- we're going to be, obviously, adding more to the galaxy map as the game progresses," he said. Ohlen went on to say that BioWare plans to add lots of content over the game's lifespan. "In 2025, we'll hopefully have 500 worlds," he remarked.

Star Wars: The Old Republic officially unveiled its pre-order packages last week, and the game is expected to release before the end of 2011.

MassivelyBioWare hopes SWTOR lasts for decades originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarecomic-concomic-con-2011ea-biowareelectronic-artsjames-ohlenlongevitysci-fistar-warsstar-wars-mmostar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorMon, 25 Jul 2011 19:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Duel of the fates: Two class previews outline the positives and negatives of SWTOR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/14/dual-of-the-fates-two-class-previews-outline-the-positives-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/14/dual-of-the-fates-two-class-previews-outline-the-positives-and/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/14/dual-of-the-fates-two-class-previews-outline-the-positives-and/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Star Wars: The Old Republic previews are coming fast and furious in the afterglow of E3, and PC Gamer adds to the mix a pair of them that focuses on extensive (and class-specific) play sessions. First up is a 17-hour session with the Bounty Hunter, and the reviewer has nice things to say about BioWare's story-telling prowess (and a whole lot of meh for TOR's MMORPG elements).

The lengthy piece touches on combat, grouping (which is described as quite awkward due to the narrative focus), and BioWare's infamous penchant for NPC romance. The author concludes that TOR is worth playing if you're into single-player storytelling. "If BioWare had sacrificed the story-driven aspect of their game, there wouldn't be much reason to play The Old Republic. Other MMOs have better combat models and more impressive worlds," the magazine says.

The second preview (by a different author) also features a 17-hour stint, this time at the controls of an Imperial Agent. The piece focuses on the specifics of the Agent questing experience and also paints TOR in a more positive light. "The quest design feels reminiscent of World of Warcraft's Burning Crusade expansion [...] and the game's PvP system feels like a refined and upgraded version of Warhammer Online's," the author says. You can read the full text of both articles at PC Gamer.

MassivelyDuel of the fates: Two class previews outline the positives and negatives of SWTOR originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Are you curious about endgame in Star Wars: The Old Republic? GameTrailers has a couple of E3-related videos that you'll want to check out, both of them focused on raiding content in a galaxy far, far away.

First up is a 10-minute clip featuring an interview with BioWare's Gabe Amatangelo as well as various bits of new footage. Amatangelo tells us about a raid that takes place on the outer rim planet of Belsavis. The clip centers on a prison facility in an icy environment, and we get a good look at the approach as well as some combat inside the complex. Amatangelo also talks a bit about raid difficulty levels before reiterating that SWTOR will release in 2011 (though no firm date is given).

The second video expands on some of the snippets in the interview clip, and BioWare shows us a minute and 20 seconds of action from the Belsavis raid. Check out both trailers after the cut and let us know what you think in the comments!

Massively's on the ground in Los Angeles during the week of June 6-9, bringing you all the best news from E3 2011. Whether you're dying to know more about Star Wars: The Old Republic, RIFT, or any MMO in between, you can bet we'll have it covered!

Continue reading E3 2011: BioWare shows off The Old Republic Belsavis raid

MassivelyE3 2011: BioWare shows off The Old Republic Belsavis raid originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 08 Jun 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BioWare holds a reputation in the gaming community for consistently releasing polished, high-quality games, especially when it comes to in-depth narratives. Have you ever wondered about the studio's philosophy in regard to game creation? Ever wondered what it is that drives BioWare, and moreover -- since this is Massively, after all -- how it influences the ongoing development of Star Wars: The Old Republic? In a rather lengthy interview with Gamasutra, BioWare's Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk give gamers a peek behind the curtain at what really makes BioWare tick.

There's a plethora of interesting information in the interview, ranging from the company's philosophy of imbuing each game with emotion -- leading to the strong narratives for which BioWare is so renowned -- to the qualities Ray and Greg think will separate The Old Republic from the elephant in the room that is World of Warcraft. The interview itself is far too lengthy to adequately summarize in the length of a news post, but one point that stands out is that, despite being an absolute powerhouse in the gaming industry, BioWare still focuses heavily on humility. Being able to admit when mistakes have been made and learning from the experience is something that many studios could certainly learn from. For the full, information-packed interview, head on over to Gamasutra.

MassivelyInterview with BioWare's Ray Muzyka and Greg Zeschuk details studio philosophy and more originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 May 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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You may have heard about the fact that BioWare is banking heavily on story as a selling point for its Star Wars: The Old Republic MMORPG. Narrative has arguably been the focus of BioWare's marketing campaign over the past year, and by all accounts, TOR will have story in spades. How will individual players keep track of the sprawling mythology? And how will they keep track of how their particular class-flavored vignettes fit in with the larger whole?

Enter the codex. If you're familiar with BioWare's single-player RPG titles, notably the Mass Effect and Dragon Age series, you'll likely feel right at home with TOR's version of the codex. In a new dev blog, TOR lead designer Damion Schubert explains how BioWare devs borrowed from Mass Effect's encyclopaedia-style codex and Dragon Age's chronicle-style codex to arrive at the perfect system for The Old Republic.

Aside from being a lore dissemination tool, the codex also functions as something of a questing system, with many entries locked behind requirements such as exploring certain locations in the game world. "All of these features combine to make a nice little collection game for the player, where the reward for the act of collecting is more lore and context offering insights and depth into the world of Star Wars: The Old Republic," Schubert explains. Check out more of his codex-related insights on the game's official website.

MassivelyThe Old Republic dev blog outlines codex system, exploration mechanics originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 May 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarecodexcollecting-minigamecollectionsdamion-schubertdesigndev-blogdev-diaryeaea-biowareelectronic-artsexplorationexplorersloremechanicsmmo-industrysci-fistar-wars-mmostar-wars-the-old-republicstoryswtorthe-old-republicFri, 06 May 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Old Republic expected launch window confirmed]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/04/the-old-republic-expected-launch-window-confirmed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/04/the-old-republic-expected-launch-window-confirmed/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/05/04/the-old-republic-expected-launch-window-confirmed/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

EA's financial results report was released to the public today, and alongside the various bits of fiscal information is one important tidbit for fans of Star Wars: The Old Republic. On page 17 of the document, we find "The Packaged Goods title release schedule excludes Star Wars: The Old Republic, which is expected to launch in either Q2 FY12 or Q3 FY12," where Q2 FY12 and Q3 FY12 correspond to July through September and October through December, respectively, of this year.

This is obviously excellent news for those who are anticipating The Old Republic's release, and it's aptly timed to boot, coming to light on Intergalactic Star Wars Day. Given that the last piece of information we heard regarding The Old Republic's launch was back in March, we're heartened to see that EA is still holding strong for a 2011 release. If you're the sort of person who likes numbers and financial information for some unholy reason, the document in its entirety is available for your perusal.

Fan site Darth Hater has parsed the earnings call itself, noting that EA has also confirmed that SWTOR will be launched as a "Digital Service" under a subscription model.

MassivelyThe Old Republic expected launch window confirmed originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 04 May 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebioware-mmobioware-mmorpgbioware-star-warsbioware-swtoreaelectronic-artslucas-artslucas-arts-mmolucas-arts-mmorpglucasartsstar-wars-gamestar-wars-mmostar-wars-mmorpgstar-wars-the-old-republicstar-wars-torstarwarsstarwars-the-old-republicsw-torswtorthe-old-republictorWed, 04 May 2011 18:00:00 EST