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[One Shots: Can you believe they put that in an MMO?]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/01/one-shots-can-you-believe-they-put-that/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/01/one-shots-can-you-believe-they-put-that/http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/04/01/one-shots-can-you-believe-they-put-that/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Move!
This is a screenshot of one of the most amazing things ever seen in any MMO. When I first saw it, I couldn't believe that it was actually happening. Is it a glitch? An easter egg? Has some disgruntled developer thrown this in to get back at his boss just before leaving the industry for good?

Unfortunately, my character stepped in the way at the last second, but that shouldn't matter, right? Oh well. It was amazing, I swear!

Do you have a picture of the one that got away? The very first thing you should do is not send it in to us at oneshots@massively.com, along with your name, the game, and a description of the scene, and we won't publish it. Bring back One Shots!

MassivelyOne Shots: Can you believe they put that in an MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 01 Apr 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SWTOR - The Trooper
Whether you're attracted to Star Wars: The Old Republic's Trooper class because of the iconic Stormtrooper/Clone Wars trooper look, the ability to dish out massive damage without any pamby-namby "Force" crutches, or the chance to hop on board a sci-fi military saga, you're in for a treat. While it may lack the grace of the Jedi, the sophistication of the Imperial Agent, and the swagger of the Smuggler, the Trooper gets it done with heavy armor, heavy firepower, and heavy quips.

The Trooper a strong contender for just about any role in the game except for melee combat (and even there it has a few moves). It can heal, deal ranged damage, and tank alike, so I'm not surprised to hear that there are all-Trooper guilds forming up for the game. If you like having wide-open possibilities for your character's future roles, the Trooper is the way to go.

The Trooper begins his journey on the war-torn world of Ord Mantell (alongside the Smugglers), where he's been recently recruited by the elite Havoc squad to tackle the toughest missions out there. You may not feel elite at the beginning, with light armor, an aged blaster rifle, and only a small handful of skills backing you up, but trust me -- by the end of your journey on Ord Mantell, you'll be ready to rock with the big boys.

Continue reading SWTOR: So you want to play a Trooper

MassivelySWTOR: So you want to play a Trooper 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]]>biowareclassclassesdpseaElectronic-Artsfeaturedfemshepguideguideshavoc-squadhealingheavy-armorjennifer-haleloreord-mantellpreviewpreviewsranged-dpsstar-warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-class-guideswtor-guideswtor-launch-guidetatankthe-old-republictortrooperMon, 12 Dec 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR pits the Trooper against the Inquisitor]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/12/swtor-pits-the-trooper-against-the-inquisitor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/12/swtor-pits-the-trooper-against-the-inquisitor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/11/12/swtor-pits-the-trooper-against-the-inquisitor/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

SWTOR
The second of the four-part Choose Your Side video series has been released over at Star Wars: The Old Republic, and this time it creates a hypothetical showdown between the Republic's Trooper and the Empire's Inquisitor. In it, four BioWare devs jaw about who would win in a fight and what each of these classes has going for it. These videos are proving to be a great way to get a better feel for classes' strengths and weaknesses, particularly in a PvP setting.

On one hand, the Trooper is said to have an advantage in terms of health, armor and range, with plenty of tricks to keep the Inquisitor at bay and, er, dead. On the other hand, the Inquisitor's Force powers and double-bladed lightsaber may make for a completely unfair fight against the Force-less Trooper.

The devs reveal a few tidbits about the two classes' philosophy while they're calmly laying out the smack talk. The Trooper comes off as a "shoot first and ask questions later" type of character, while the Inquisitor is portrayed as a mastermind pulling the strings from behind the stage.

You can watch the full video after the jump!

Continue reading SWTOR pits the Trooper against the Inquisitor

MassivelySWTOR pits the Trooper against the Inquisitor originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 Nov 2011 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SWTOR
He won't play favorites between the choice of builds, but BioWare's Georg Zoeller is remarkably open otherwise when it comes to talking about Star Wars: The Old Republic's Trooper in action.

In an interview on RepublicTrooper.com, Zoeller fields a number of questions about the Trooper's capabilities in combat, especially in regard to how a ranged class can function as a tank. After struggling with these unique problems, BioWare tuned the Vanguard (the Trooper's advanced tanking spec) to be a mid-ranged tank with visual effects to show when the class was warding off melee attacks.

"Statistically, their tanking ability is based more upon absorption and shielding and less about avoidance, making them the slightly more predictable tanks (Medics love that)," he wrote. "Finally, they are visually very different when in action, as most of their abilities are themed around technical attacks "

Zoeller said that all-Trooper guilds are entirely possible, given the flexibility of the advanced class roles, as Troopers cover the gamut of the Holy Trinity. He sees Trooper healers as being extremely desirable: "Commandos are the only medic class capable of increasing their target's mitigation and receptivity to heals. They are also the only Advanced Class that features a 'smart heal,' an auto-response heal that triggers on the target when they take damage."

MassivelySWTOR's Georg Zoeller salutes the Trooper class originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarecommandoeaelectronic-artsgeorg-zoellerholy-trinityinterviewmedicrepublictrooper.comstar-wars-the-old-republicswtortankingthe-ol-republictortroopervanguardFri, 04 Nov 2011 15:30:00 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.

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Star Wars The Old Republic - force choke
Grab yourself a tall glass of blue milk, Star Wars fans, as BioWare has released a lengthy new edition of its Studio Insider feature to carry you through your Friday afternoon.

The update features principal lead animator Mark How talking about -- wait for it -- animation! To be more precise, How tells us all about The Old Republic's combat animation, and he even tosses in an interesting video clip that features different stages in the development of a Jedi force leap and a Republic trooper full auto firing animation.

How also gets into the challenges inherent in melding the lightsaber battles from the Star Wars films with the design limitations of an MMORPG. "Players do not enjoy having character control taken away from them because of an action or animation," How explains. "It was particularly challenging to develop animations that allowed for visually appealing combat while still allowing the players complete control over their characters." How successful were BioWare designers in this regard? That remains to be seen, but you can get a feel for their approach by reading How's blog.

Finally, this week's Community Q&A feature continues the combat focus, and lead PvP designer Gabe Amatangelo has the answers to a few burning questions from the TOR faithful.

MassivelyBioWare devs talk SWTOR combat animations, answer PvP questions originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Sep 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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On Friday, our friends on the BioWare community team gave us a second progression video for the Bounty Hunter in Star Wars: The Old Republic. As with anything on the internet, the video wasn't above scrutiny and complaint by followers. The complaints ranged from "we already have a Bounty Hunter progression video" to "why don't we have a Jedi Consular video yet?" But that doesn't hit on the real issue: There were no fiery explosions for the Bounty Hunter to walk away from in slow motion! He just can't be cool unless he turns his back on the destruction like he just doesn't frelling care.

Despite the lack of carnage in the class progression video, we did glean insight into many of the class powers, some of which mirror its Republic counterpart: the Trooper. I know for marketing reasons and to keep from confusing the potential player, it's not a good idea to use the word "mirror" when describing The Old Republic classes. But it's hard to deny that the Imperial Bounty Hunter and the Republic Trooper are very much mirrored insofar as combat roles and abilities. After the break, I will explain to you what I see that is the same and what is different between the two classes. Then, in the end, I will let you decide whether the classes are truly mirrored or not.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Man in the mirror

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Man in the mirror originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Jul 2011 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As many of you know, BioWare revealed the Trooper progression video for last week's Friday update. This surprised me because I was expecting a light update -- after all, E3 is next week, and Star Wars: The Old Republic is going to have a major presence at the expo. During the video, we witnessed many of the different Trooper abilities. The AoE of the gatling-like blaster, the heals from remote droids, the root from the carbonite grenade, and all the other abilities attest to the range of roles the Trooper can play in a group.

The Trooper is not the only class that can possibly fill every role of the group dynamic. In fact, we know four of the eight classes have the choice of being full DPS, healer, or tank: Trooper, Consular, Bounty Hunter, and Inquisitor. There is much debate on what this means for group dynamics and boss fights as well. Although most of the community would agree that having these hybrid classes isn't going to stop anyone from buying or playing the game, they might have an impact on the staying power of the MMO.

For me, it boils down to a couple of different schools of thought. On the Galactic Underground, an internet radio show, the hosts and the IRC audience spoke about the differences between a hard and soft trinity gameplay and which they preferred. For me, how the hybrid works depends on whether the game is set up with a hard or soft trinity. The definition of hard and soft trinity is a bit subjective. After the break, I will outline what I mean by hard and soft trinity and detail how I think the hybrid classes fit in Star Wars: The Old Republic...

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: The hybrid

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: The hybrid originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 May 2011 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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With E3 just around the corner, many fans are surprised at the level of updates the community team at BioWare has given us these last few weeks. Some fans speculate that this level of activity could mean a large reveal during the expo for the highly anticipated MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic. Last week, the developers gave us the Studio Insider about sound design, and just the week before that the Sith Inquisitor class trailer made its debut. This week the story is the Trooper progression trailer.

SWTOR Troopers are divided into two major advanced classes: the Vanguard and the Commando. As demonstrated in the video, the Commando is there to deal high amounts of damage or call on medical droids to revive allies. The Vanguard displays his prowess as a fortified wall between the his comrades and Sith opponents.

The full video is available after the break, so take note of the differences not only in the armor but in the abilities of the two advanced classes. It will be very interesting to see whether the fabled all-Trooper guild can be pulled off effectively.

Continue reading SWTOR Trooper progression video lays on the hurt

MassivelySWTOR Trooper progression video lays on the hurt originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 May 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Before getting to the meat of this article, I want to give a shout out to Sam, Musco, Kimi, Fo, and even Brandon of TOROcast. This week marked their 100th week of recording a podcast dedicated to Star Wars: The Old Republic. I am extremely excited for them; I know they put a lot of work into their show each week. The team there has created a community of gamers you will find no where else. Congratulations, guys -- I cannot wait for your 200th episode. Hopefully the game will be released by then. (Crap, I forgot I'm supposed to hate these guys. Nevermind what I just said!)

As we get closer to the launch of Star Wars: The Old Republic, I am suddenly hit with the fact that I will have to nail down exactly what I want to do when the game launches. I mean, I spend so much time talking about it that you'd think I'd have it narrowed down, right? Unfortunately, that's not the case. The more I talk about the game, the more I find that there are some really incredible things I can do when the game actually launches.

What I figured I would do in this article is talk about some of the more off-the-wall ideas I'd like to try (I mean, do. Do or do not; there is no try.) Let me know if you think any of them are any good. Maybe you'd like to try them out yourself or even join me when the game launches. Follow me after the break and we'll talk about them.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: There is no try

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: There is no try originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 26 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BioWareclassesclassicsEAElectronic-ArtsfeaturedgameplayLucasArtssith-inquisitorSmugglerStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictorTOROcastTroopertwi-lektwilekTue, 26 Apr 2011 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[The Perfect Ten: Predictions for The Old Republic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/07/the-perfect-ten-predictions-for-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/07/the-perfect-ten-predictions-for-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/04/07/the-perfect-ten-predictions-for-the-old-republic/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

I'm going to share with you a deep secret about the Massively staff: Pretty much all of us hate Larry. Oh, as a person he's likable enough, and he showers regularly, so no complaints there. He even saved the President's dog once and earned the Merit of Patriotic Pooches. Women swoon at his feet, and men occasionally throw their billfolds at him just so that he can afford to live the luxurious lifestyle that he obviously deserves.

No, we hate him for a different reason entirely. You see, Larry gets the privilege and honor of being the Star Wars: The Old Republic reporter in these here parts, which has earned him no end of envy from the rest of us. Whenever we're all talking about TOR, Shawn will come in the room and tell all of us to cut it out -- except Larry. "Larry, it's your job to talk about The Old Republic. Keep on truckin', pal! You're the best!"

And then Larry sticks his tongue out at us and makes pretend lightsaber noises for an hour or so while we grit our teeth.

But then I remembered: I have a top ten column! In which I can talk about anything! And if that subject so happened to be TOR, then for one glorious week I could actually talk about BioWare's upcoming MMO without fear of reprisal from upper management! So today is all about my predictions for The Old Republic. Nine of them will come true; one will not. Have fun guessing which one!

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Predictions for The Old Republic

MassivelyThe Perfect Ten: Predictions for The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biowarebounty-hunterchewiechuck-norriscompanionscraftingea-biowarefeaturedflashpointforce-usergeorge-lucasgreedohan-shot-firsthan-soloimperial-agentjabba-the-huttjawajawa-jedijedikashyyyklarrylarry-everettlightsaberlukemerit-of-patriotic-poochesrancor-pitreturn-of-the-jedisarlaccsmugglerstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorthe-old-republictime-traveltortrooperunionswedge-antilleswookieeworld-of-warcraftwowThu, 07 Apr 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Trooper info explodes from Star Wars: The Old Republic]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/24/trooper-info-explodes-from-star-wars-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/24/trooper-info-explodes-from-star-wars-the-old-republic/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/12/24/trooper-info-explodes-from-star-wars-the-old-republic/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Yesterday, Gamespot delivered us a surprise Christmas present of the Trooper classes trailer. So it comes as no surprise that the official Star Wars: The Old Republic website launched a whole slew of information this morning about that Republic class.

First, we have the Weequay, Tanno Vik, who impressed his military instructors by always planting explosives where they would do the most damage. The Republic army considered him for the Special Forces division, but his attitude and disregard for authority always held him back. Vik will eventually run into you and become a part of your crew if you pick the Republic Trooper class.

We have already learned that the Sith Inquisitor can be played as a Zabrak, but the team at SWTOR has now officially announced that this species will be available for the Trooper class as well -- even though we played one at PAX already. This determined and confident species fits right with the other hard-nosed characters of Havoc Squad.

Lastly, we can take a look at the Rendili Hyperworks BT-7 Thunderclap. This is the Republic's elite rapid assault ship. The shape reminds this reporter of his T-16 back home, except much, much bigger and more guns.

To get the full scoop on this assault class, check out the article on the official website and don't miss the updated Trooper class page. For the Republic!

MassivelyTrooper info explodes from Star Wars: The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Troopers aren't in it for glory. They are protecting the Republic. They are protecting freedom. And according to the newest trailer from Star Wars: The Old Republic, the Troopers' duty is to defend the people and the principles of the Republic no matter the sacrifice.

Today, Gamespot posted the latest class video from SWTOR, this one highlighting the Republic Trooper. Videogame voice-over legend Jennifer Hale lends her talent to this exciting trailer, which briefly outlines the Trooper's role in the overarching Star Wars story. The video showcases the incredible weapons and devices the Troopers use to defeat their enemies, even ones as powerful as the Force-wielding Sith Warriors.

If you weren't interested in playing a Trooper class in The Old Republic, you may be now. Take a look after the break for the full video and pop over the SWTOR website tomorrow for the official update from BioWare. For freedom; for the Republic!

Continue reading SWTOR Trooper video kicks some serious -- shut yo mouth!

MassivelySWTOR Trooper video kicks some serious -- shut yo mouth! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyperspace Beacon: Testing the SWTOR waters
If you didn't know already, just over a week ago three writers from Massively, including me, traveled to Seattle, Washington for PAX Prime. During that time, besides catching the flu, we were able to catch a glimpse of some of the games that have yet to be released. We were able to play games like TERA, The Force Unleashed II, Guild Wars 2, RIFT, End of Nations, and many, many others. Some were pretty good; others, not-so-much -- but most seemed very polished and perfect for presentation.

Of course, you all know I was there to see Star Wars: The Old Republic. I caught a lot of it. There were six of the eight classes available for demo at the gorgeous LucasArts booth. (BioWare did have a booth there, too, but the team was displaying some small game it was trying to get off the ground called Dragon Age 2.) Visitors had a chance to try out the smuggler, trooper, agent, bounty hunter, and both Sith classes. Because of the enormous lines that constantly encircled the booth, I was only able to play three of the classes: smuggler, trooper, and Sith inquisitor.

For this edition of the Hyperspace Beacon, I will give you my impressions of the gameplay for those classes. However, I want to take a slightly different look at them. At E3, Massively's editor Seraphina Brennan was able to give her impressions of the smuggler class -- she covered the mechanics and so on. Although I will touch on the combat mechanics, I have decided to focus on some of the features BioWare is famous for: cinematics, character development, and overall storytelling. Follow after the break, and I will give you an honest breakdown of how SWTOR measures up to its predecessors.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Testing the SWTOR waters

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Testing the SWTOR waters originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 14 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alyson-bridgeBioWareblaine-christinecinematiccinematographyclassesdaniel-ericksondialoguedialogue-designeaElectronic-Artsfeaturedfire-extinguisherhands-oninquisitorjennifer-halelaglatencyLucasArtsopinionoverhead-mappax-2010pax-prime-2010QuestsrpgsmugglerStar-Warsstar-wars-the-old-republicswtorswtor-hands-onthe-old-republictortroopervoice-overswarpingTue, 14 Sep 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Gamescom 2010: BioWare reveals 10 new advanced classes for TOR]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/18/gamescom-2010-bioware-reveals-10-new-advance-classes-for-tor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/18/gamescom-2010-bioware-reveals-10-new-advance-classes-for-tor/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/08/18/gamescom-2010-bioware-reveals-10-new-advance-classes-for-tor/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We've known for a while now that Star Wars: The Old Republic is planning to offer players two different specializations for each class, but up until now we've only heard of a couple of them. Today at Gamescom, however, BioWare unloaded the names and loose descriptions of ten advanced classes. The best part? No Bothans died for this information.

Darth Hater reports that imperial agent characters will have the choice between specializing as snipers (long-range DPS) or operatives (who use stealth and short-range weapons to get up close and personal). If a bounty hunter is more to your liking, then the choice between a powertech and a mercenary should get your imagination racing. Over on the Republic side, troopers will sign up for either commando or vanguard training. Commandos are the tanking line, although we don't know much about vanguards yet. SWTOR-Station spied a Zabrak trooper at the BioWare booth, indicating another possible race for the class.

Force-users are also in store for powerful upgrades. The villainous Sith inquisitors choose their path between a more Force-happy sorcerer or the twin lightsaber-using assassin. Their counterpart, the Jedi consular, has a similar decision to make: that of a shadow, who can use double-bladed lightsabers, or a wizard, who uses a single lightsaber but can heal. Are Star Wars fans ready for wizards and sorcerers in their MMO? Somehow, we think so.

MassivelyGamescom 2010: BioWare reveals 10 new advanced classes for TOR originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>advanced-classesassassinbiowarebioware-mythicbothansbounty-hunterclassescommandocounsulardarth-haterea-biowaregamescomgamescom-2010i-find-your-lack-of-specialization-disturbingimperial-agentmercenaryoperativepowertechshadowsith-inquisitorsnipersorcererstar-wars-the-old-republicthe-old-republictortroopervanguardwizardWed, 18 Aug 2010 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Hyperspace Beacon: Loyal to their cause]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/12/hyperspace-beacon-loyal-to-their-cause/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/12/hyperspace-beacon-loyal-to-their-cause/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/07/12/hyperspace-beacon-loyal-to-their-cause/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , , ,

As some of you may know, I love roleplaying in MMOs. Most of the MMOs I've played have had RPG tagged at the end. Even though it's not required to roleplay to enjoy an MMORPG, immersion is compounded when you do, therefore fun is compounded, too. In the Star Wars universe, I could not help but wrap myself in lore when I played a soldier or agent of the Galactic Empire. From line and formation to order and procedure -- all of this was in service to His Majesty, the Emperor. Of all the characters I made over my seven years of Star Wars Galaxies, my Imperial characters were the most purpose-driven.

When Bioware announced the trooper class for Star Wars: The Old Republic, many players asked who would want to play a clone. There's no personality there, no motivation or character development, right? I disagree very strongly. In fact, I will go so far as to say I believe there is only one binding factor between soldier types: loyalty. Even then there are different types of loyalties and different motivations behind an individual character's loyalties.

Step past the break and watch as I contrast the loyalty of famous factions of existing Star Wars soldiers and compare them to the trooper and agent classes of SWTOR.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Loyal to their cause

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Loyal to their cause originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>agentagent-classBioWarebioware-swtorboba-fettCaridacloneclone-trooperclone-warscompnorEAElectronic-ArtsEmpirefeaturedgeorge-lucasHumanImperialimperial-intelligenceimperial-security-bureauinquisitorinquisitoriusIsardisbJango-fettKaminoloyaltyLucasArtsroleplayroleplayerRolePlayingStar-Warsstar-wars-galaxiesstar-wars-the-old-republicStormtrooperstormtroopersswtorswtor-lore-guidetortroopertrooper-classMon, 12 Jul 2010 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[SWTOR video interview covers final two classes and more]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/03/swtor-video-interview-covers-final-two-classes-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/03/swtor-video-interview-covers-final-two-classes-and-more/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/12/03/swtor-video-interview-covers-final-two-classes-and-more/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The guys at Giant Bomb have thrown up a ten minute long video interview with BioWare's Blaine Christine that covers topics ranging from details on the Jedi Consular and Sith Inquisitor to how companion characters work in grouping situations. Much of the new info is blended into stuff that's already been covered, but it servers as a nice refresher course on Star Wars: The Old Republic with some new stuff peppered in for good measure.

More than anything else, it sounds like the Consular and Inquisitor are support classes with some offensive capability. The notion makes a lot of sense, considering the Trooper and Bounty Hunter likely perform quite well as ranged DPS classes. Of course, until BioWare begins revealing specific abilities of the classes the best we can do is guess.

Find the video after the break.

Continue reading SWTOR video interview covers final two classes and more

MassivelySWTOR video interview covers final two classes and more originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 03 Dec 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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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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Star Wars: The Old Republic's free online comic, Threat of Peace, has reached issue number eight and finally introduced one of those lovable droids. It's safe to say that so far throughout this storyline, many of the prominent characters and their prospective races featured in this comic have the potential to be in-game racial options. Humans, Twi'leks and Wookiees have all been popular thus far, and now it looks like droids may in fact be a possibility. It's positively delightful!

Of course, races that have seen the limelight in Threat of Peace aren't the only signs of things to come. Bounty Hunters and Troopers both received notable attention. Whether or not this sets any kind of reasonable precedent is something we'll leave up to you, however.

MassivelyThreat of Peace issue 8 could be dropping hints originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 07 Jun 2009 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BioWare's lead combat designer Damion Schubert discusses creating the Trooper class today over at the official Star Wars: The Old Republic website. It's not too difficult to understand the heart of the Trooper: he's got a huge gun and makes everything in his path explode. The difficult part of the Trooper was making it something that could go toe-to-toe with Sith both in the actual game and in players' minds. It had to be cool, exciting and a whole lot of fun to play.

Of course, as Damion points out at the end of his journal, the Trooper isn't all about massive amounts of firepower. The class packs an assortment of morale-themed party buffs too, which are able to strengthen himself and the party. While this feature was assumed on our part, this is the first we've heard of morale-based class abilities. Consider us curious to find out more in the future.

In case you missed its debut over the weeked, we've embedded the dev video on The Trooper after the jump.

Gallery: Star Wars: The Old Republic Screenshots

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

Continue reading SWTOR's Trooper development and morale abilities

MassivelySWTOR's Trooper development and morale abilities originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BioWare offers us a look into the development and philosophy behind the Trooper class for Star Wars: The Old Republic in their latest Developer Dispatch video. They explore the different looks a Trooper can sport, which is everything from Hoth stormtrooper inspired snow gear to the Rebel forces' reds, oranges and whites. Of course, there's plenty of fresh looks as well, for players desiring a less traditional look.

The video also goes into the animation of the Trooper and reveals a little of the motion capture sessions complete with prop miniguns. It's quite easily one of the most interesting videos to come out of the Star Wars: The Old Republic project, so we hope that BioWare sees fit to do the same for each of their classes in the coming months. You can find the full video after the break.

Continue reading New SWTOR video explores Trooper class development

MassivelyNew SWTOR video explores Trooper class development originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 30 May 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BioWare seems to have planned the announcement of their newest class for Star Wars: The Old Republic at just the right time. A character -- presumably a Trooper himself by his appearance -- in the latest issue of the free online comic Threat of Peace proves that the class is quite up to the task of dealing with strong enemies in its own right. While the newest issue is a little light on story, the message is still clear: Troopers are cool, m'kay?

The few-pages-every-week-or-two free online comic structure isn't an entirely new concept, but it's proven to work fairly well and seems to be doing the lore of Star Wars: The Old Republic decent justice. Now we've just got to sit tight for more of those voiced archives for the real meaty info while we get our visual fix from Threat of Peace.

MassivelyA Trooper featured in Threat of Peace issue six originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 10 May 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The fourth Star Wars: The Old Republic class has been revealed today, and it's the Republic Trooper. An initial pang of worry struck our minds at the name until we began perusing the official class page, then saw the image above. Oh, and let's not forget the videos depicting three glorious special attacks. Weapon butts? Sticky Grenades? High-Powered Rifle Grenades? Sold.

Reading through the class description provides further clarification as to why a player would consider this career over a Jedi. These aren't just cannon fodder soldiers, but highly trained and specialized men and women not to be trifled with -- which gives us pause. Why are these people so impressive, but not named in a way that lets you know this verifiable truth?

It seems as though, considering the severity of their battle prowess presented on the official website, naming this class simply "Trooper" is a bit of a misnomer. We're sure there has been plenty of internal debate over at BioWare concerning this matter, and we'd just like to take this moment to point out that the incorrect side seems to have won the argument. Still, at least the class looks quite awesome.

Gallery: Star Wars: The Old Republic Screenshots

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

Gallery: Star Wars: The Old Republic Concept Art

MassivelyGun toting Trooper class revealed for The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 08 May 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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In previous developer letters from NCsoft, we learned about some of the entry-level Mechanaughts available in Exteel, their free-to-play robotic wargame MMO. In the most recent letter, we learn much more about the advanced Mechanaught known as the Trooper. This bipedal robot is the successor to the Frontliner and can absorb more damage, use energy more efficiently, regenerate energy faster, is much more responsive, and is a lot more accurate.

Also in this letter we get some detailed information on the Last Stand battle mode. This is an extremely useful mode where players can battle against scores of AI opponents and hone their skills, winning matches and accumulating hard-earned money for PvP battles. Plus, Last Stand matches can be played with a fewer group of players without the concern for finding enough people for balanced teams. All you need is some friends and that's it!

MassivelyA look at Exteel's Trooper Mechanaught originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Jun 2008 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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