Tag: Star Wars: The Old Republic
Want to know what I think about some people’s thoughts on the Sith and Empire being overmarketed to the gaming public for Star Wars: The Old Republic? Could we be seeing deja vu with one faction being compensated for anticipated faction imbalances? Find out at my latest writeup at Darth Hater:
http://darthhater.com/2009/09/21/sith-sexiness-and-faction-balance/
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=bddb7975-b0eb-4ee7-9ca9-08658dc46044)
Over at Darth Hater you can check out my latest post about recent issues players on the SW:TOR forums have been having about Bioware’s updates. Are players in the right when they are saying that they deserve more about the nitty-gritty details, or is it too soon to tell? Check it out below:
http://darthhater.com/2009/09/20/a-disturbance-in-the-update-force/
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=0c638fec-039c-45ce-82e7-5251c9b82678)
Over at Darth Hater, you can check out my latest missive about Universe vs. Character in SW:TOR. If you’re interested in an IP, especially one of the Star Wars nature, do you play for the whole of the Universe or to be a hero in it? Leave a comment!
http://darthhater.com/2009/09/19/universe-vs-character-in-swtor/
Various blogs around the Net are referring to a new interview posted by GamesReactor for GamesCom in which Rich Vogel of Bioware “confirms” the existence of battlegrounds and other things in Star Wars: The Old Republic. I use the air quotes because if there’s anything I’ve learned over the years talking to developers, it’s that offhand mentions aren’t necessarily confirmations. The context of the question was that Rich was asked about various elements from MMOs that might make an appearance in SWTOR in addition to the unique stuff. Rich ticked off a few items, with battlegrounds among them.
Really, what we’re hearing here is not really new information. There’s a lot that Star Wars: The Old Republic has to offer, but this interview was good for confirming that the things that players expect are going to make an appearance. One of the big concerns is that SWTOR is going to be a glorified single-player MMO, and to see at least the consideration of battlegrounds is at least a bit of comfort there.
To be honest, I think there are expectations of this nature that have always been in the back of our minds. We know there’s going to be a grind, we know there’s going to probably be crafting, and we know there will be grouping. These are essentials that make an MMO an MMO, and I doubt SWTOR will be any different. I think the thing to understand and of course, be positive about is the expectations. Having realistic expectations about the usual things we expect in MMOs being in Bioware’s upcoming title is a lot less stressful than expecting world-changing, massively amazing things.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=38040e27-cfa8-493e-be74-44c2ac87b109)
Normally when it comes to MMOs, the backstory and lore is more of, well, background noise that it is something that comes to the forefront in terms of marketing for the game. The story behind why there is a conflict between factions, or why a certain race or character class motivated in a specific way, is usually not something that is paid attention to in light of the game’s reveals about more concrete details about gameplay.
In selling the element of “Story” to potential players, Bioware is seeking to draw more attention to this oft-ignored pillar with Star Wars: The Old Republic. While they’ve made it a point to tell people about their grand storytelling ability, and their history of games in which players have enjoyed playing through the plot as much as the gameplay, there are a few folks who aren’t quite sold on the idea just yet.
So it is that Bioware has resorted a bit to subtlety to draw more attention to the storytelling elements behind the game. If you look at the Star Wars: The Old Republic Timeline, you’ll see that the various historical videos narrated by a Jedi Master might just have bits and pieces of the game’s current or to-be-revealed details. Here are some examples:
Hindsight is 20/20, meaning that months from now, we’ll be seeing more of the details about the game revealed as early as the 1st or 2nd entries in the Timeline. But that’s really my point – Bioware is taking a subtle, yet interesting approach to revealing more of their detail while prominently featuring the story, making people who would normally not pay attention to lore-centric details take notice. If they’re looking to attract the bees with a little bit of nectar, then it’ll be a strategy that pays off for them in the long run.
So what are you waiting for? Get to those Jedi archives, and check out some of the history of The Old Republic. You might just be pleasantly surprised.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=b8bc4e7e-21ee-4bdc-91f4-0fcce605a2e1)
With a few small details leaking out of the various Q&A’s and videos from PAX, Star Wars: The Old Republic has had quite a bit more to speculate about lately, which is a good thing for bloggers like me who need fodder to opine about. Perhaps one of the more curious things to come out of the show was a little bit more of a reveal about the morality and choice system in the game. One of the Q&A’s had someone talking about what kind of tone the choices were going to take, to which Bioware answered that choices would be “difficult” to make to entice players to take the path of variety instead of the path of safety. On SWTORCore, there’s a developer’s interview in which Tim Temmermann and Dallas Dickinson talk about how the traditional Light and Dark Side point system from KOTOR will create variations in player’s choices. Ayane from Moon Over Endor even has a bit of a mini-rant about her feelings regarding the Sith Warrior‘s apparent inability to choose Light Side powers.
All of this points to a system in which the choices are, at least at first, not going to be terribly clear-cut, which I frankly can only see as a good thing. While min-maxers will inevitably write the leveling and gear guides to create the most efficient way to get through SWTOR’s story, the fact that there will be quest chains that have these “shades of grey” will mean that if Bioware pulls it off, it won’t matter which way the player chooses – they’ll still get the gear/levels/experience needed to advance. The variety in rewards depending on what choices you make will also add another layer of complexity, making the player ponder which choices will lead to the best rewards – both in an immediate or long-term sense.
Light-side slanting vs. Dark-side slanting will seem to also add to the story element of SWTOR, while at the same time creating a level of character customization. The SWTORCore interview has Dallas and Tim stating that your leaning and the number of points you have towards that leaning will land you exclusive powers along that path. It’s killing two birds with one stone – advancing story (a game design goal) and giving players customization choices (a gameplay goal). Not bad, if I can say so myself. Admittedly, it’s small consolation to Ayane that, because of the iconic “good vs. evil” nature of the main Star Wars universe, Light Sith Warriors may not use Light Side powers. But, because the game isn’t out yet, and more importantly, that we don’t know many specifics, things could change. So keep up some of that healthy hope, Ayane!
Overall, it seems that in this case, grey is a good thing, and while endgame and even the mid-to-high level progression is yet to be fleshed out, it’s a prospective beginning to a story that only Bioware can craft. Here’s to seeing more grey in the future of SWTOR!
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=a91a9660-78b5-47c5-a1d5-d5f2e41b1f88)
If you haven’t checked out the transcription I created of Darth Hater’s Day 1 Q&A at PAX with Bioware for Star Wars: The Old Republic, I’d suggest you do so – it’s a long, but good read.
One thing I wanted to point out in that text was almost halfway in, where a particularly spirited individual asking whether or not SWTOR’s environments would be sandboxed (Audience Member 10 in my transcript). This guy clearly loved his Fallout 3 and Oblivion, as he referred to not wanting to be boxed in by SWTOR’s linear story as well as the environment. He argued a bit with the developers, perhaps with enough passion to draw the ire of the audience, but it was interesting to hear about someone who really wanted a galaxy and planets to explore without the restrictions normally placed on MMOs.
While a lot of people will probably assume that this guy won’t find the sandbox environment he wants in Star Wars: The Old Republic, I’m not so sure about that. Part of why I didn’t feel like the wholesome Wayne Brady hearing this guy, is that in any good MMO there is something to scratch that itch you’re feeling about what to do. As a matter of perspective, you may be able to find the sandbox that you’re looking for in SWTOR.
For right now, the morality system is probably the only place we know of right now to get that sandbox feel. While there are only a couple of set paths, there are still multiple choices, leading to a variety of changes that could have possible impact later on in your career. There’s the idea that the story is your heroic story, free for you to do as you please in making decisions about the Companion characters you keep and the quests you do. With this sort of branching, there are 8 unique storylines for 8 classes but also multiple paths within the class stories as well. The idea is to create more variety by allowing players to make choices within their own storylines, leading to a different experience among the players of the same class.
Besides, MMOs in general are a sandbox if you choose to make it that way. Roleplaying, the oft-forgotten part of MMORPGs these days, is the most obvious way to do this. Using existing mechanics, settings, and lore, there are many players who have created real, actual characters and backgrounds for them, acting out conflicts, romances, and adventures. From a gameplay mechanic, people play with specialization systems for MMOs all the time, creating builds that are unique and interesting, or cookie cutter and efficient, as they see fit. Well-designed zones are places to quest and advance levels, but also a place to explore and find the more interesting easter eggs and landmarks in the game. The list goes on.
So while Mr. Sandbox might not get the exact experience he’s looking for in Star Wars: The Old Republic, if he looks hard enough, he can find something quite a bit similar, and more akin to the reason for enjoying such open worlds. Like with a lot of things, your gaming experience is what you make of it – and players should take a more active role in making it enjoyable.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=1da5da54-140a-4378-8ea5-916bf84fa4ed)
In honor of Darth Hater‘s coverage over at PAX, out comes the Darth Vader parody images!
Darth Hater’s been hard at work at PAX 2009 this weekend, sending a couple guys to check out the latest in the Bioware world of news for Star Wars: The Old Republic. You can check out the Darth Hater page for all the dirty details – including interviews, videos and more.
Here at Overly Positive, we’re not above helping out a fellow site and spreading the love around, so for a few of the selected bits of their coverage, I got Darth Hater’s blessing to fully transcribe some of their interviews. Over the next few days, you can expect textual translation of some of the latest SWTOR reveals.
I’ve got a full transcription of the Day1 Q&A that Darth Hater attended, where Bioware answered the community’s burning questions about SWTOR. You can check the read more link for the full text – there’s a ton of great info. Note that I skipped some of the non-Q&A related banter, but you can see from what I did transcribe that they were havin’ a good time.
Send corrections or questions into my comments! And thanks again to Darth Hater for the coverage and permission to assist.
So the pre-PAX hype is upon us in full swing, and there are going to be tons of games and developers for the unwashed masses to meet this weekend. Sadly, plans didn’t come together and I won’t be at PAX, but I’ll definitely be following all the news about my favorite games from the show for sure.
One thing I’m definitely keeping my eye on is Bioware‘s public demo of Star Wars: The Old Republic. While this demo is probably one that fans have probably heard about from the press for a while (the Smuggler PvE quests and the Star Destroyer Captain quest), I’m pretty happy about this happening for a variety of reasons. The first is attached to, simply, pure guts on the part of Bioware. It’s something to put out a gameplay video and drop a bit of playtime for the press. It’s entirely another to open up your game, however tiny that hole is, to the masses to have a look at it, criticize it, and play it. The fact that Bioware is this far along in development to provide a work demo of their game is a heartening thing to see.
Another reason is simply for the fact that Bioware, even though they are going to be kicking it into high gear at PAX, is essentially playing the wait and see game. With other titles already out, like WAR, AoC, and others, and new games like Champions and Aion, Bioware can reap the benefits of not being first out of the gate with MMO releases, allowing them to get a leg up on how the community perceives successful launch and a post-launch product. All indications seem to point to a release late next year, considering no one is even in beta yet, so this gives Bioware ample time to not only pimp the game at PAX but elsewhere as well.
PAX is in many ways a perfect venue for Bioware to showcase their game. Unlike others, they don’t have to waste time trying to draw people in or familiarize them with the content. The kind of audience that attends PAX is surely the kind that has heard of Star Wars, if not Bioware themselves, so there will be plenty of opportunity to grab new converts to the fold and hold them close until the game is in a state where others can play it beyond the show floor.
There’s going to be a ton of great stuff on the PAX floor this weekend – but I think Bioware is going to have a good time presenting their product to the public and the fansites for the first time. I look forward to all the fan impressions.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=d39e69b9-db31-4b88-b33e-3f981df9f081)
Those of you who’ve been following the latest about Star Wars: The Old Republic are well aware that last Friday was the official reveal of the Sith Warrior – the brutal, aggressive, ass-kicking lightsaber wielder with a penchant for violence. The 20 minute gameplay video saw plenty of the Sith Warrior in action, as he impaled, choked, and generally destroyed his way through challenges in his way. For those who’ve had a bit of an inkling towards the Dark Side, and find goody-goody Jedis boring, this is probably at least one of the classes you’d be considering.
There’s been a lot of speculation about where the Sith Warrior fits in the whole archetype system that MMOs tend to follow. Some people want to say that there are two Force-wielding classes per side, and that the Warrior is a precursor to introducing a more Force-focused character class. Some people disagree, saying that Jedi and Sith lightsaber vs. Force use was more of a personal choice rather than affinity towards one or the other.
To be honest, Bioware is, to me, on the cusp of possibly making something of a class system that doesn’t fall into traditional archetypes or any kind of “trinity” system. This could be wildly successful or be terribly inefffective, but either way, to no surprise of anyone reading, I’m excited and happy about the possibility. Fueling my thought is the latest descriptions of the Sith Warrior, which basically call it a heavily armored class that beats opponents into submission with powerful attacks. Such a description, putting aside the marketware, doesn’t seem to fit into any one archetype. When people think about “warrior” in the traditional MMO sense, typically they are referring to a tank class, known to be more defensive and less of an attacker. But the Sith Warrior appears to be able to do damage as well as take a beating. You could say that this is “too good to be true”, but I actually wonder if Bioware is trying to break a mold here and do something different.
Part of the appeal of the Bioware system of character advancement, especially in KOTOR, was that by using more traditional pen-and-paper methods of distributing stats and talents, you could be whatever character you wanted yourself to be. While there were broad, simple archetypes, the amount of customization you could do to your character in the course of his or her journey was simply nothing short of amazing. These sorts of things aren’t big visual elements, but more of an under-the-hood kind of tuning that made things appealing. You wonder if Bioware is doing the same thing with these classes, creating character classes based on iconic figures but allowing the player to shape the character how they want. In an MMO, it’s a potential recipe for disaster, but for those looking to fulfill unique roles not known or expected in your typical MMO party, it might actually end up being interesting. Really, one can only wait and see what the latter half of the classes will bring us (as now 4 of the 8 classes have been revealed), but if they’re anything like the Sith Warrior reveal, the class discussion is going to get a lot more interesting and exciting the next few months.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=e117e01b-269c-4633-842e-6a51b264ca01)