Darth Hater

Star Wars: The Old Republic News, Interviews, Media & Podcast

  • Official Guild Summit Panel Videos Now Available

    While the Star Wars: The Old Republc Guild Summit panels were live streamed as they happened, players who were unable to attend or watch live have been waiting for videos of the event to be posted. David Bass made a post on the official forums announcing the availability of the first two panel videos and indicating more videos would be coming this week.

    David BassWe've launched a new YouTube playlist featuring the Guild Summit panels, which were held on March 5th in Austin, TX. Today we are releasing the Operations/Flashpoints panel and the Player Vs. Player panel, and we'll be posting more next week.

    You'll find the playlist for these videos on YouTube here:

    http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLF60542CBEE892F02

    Since this was our first Guild Summit, we're very interested in hearing your feedback about the entirety of the event (as well as the content within the panels themselves). Let us know your thoughts below!

     

  • James Ohlen Teases Post Launch Content: Flashpoint and Expanded Operation

    With Star Wars: The Old Republic past its initial launch day, James Ohlen took the opportunity to tease upcomming post-launch content in the form of a new Flashpoint and an expansion to an existing Operation (Kragga's Palace). Ohlen relayed his comments through the new community news feature that has seen a spree of posts today stating the following:

    James OhlenNext month we're going to be releasing a new Flashpoint and an expanded Operation. The new Flashpoint involves a plague that could have significant repercussions across the galaxy. It takes place on a brand new world and involves some pretty epic battles. I can’t go into much detail, but be prepared for something different. The expanded Operation takes the existing Karagga’s palace scenario and more than triples it in size. It includes three new boss monsters and some pretty epic set pieces. 

    Ohlen also included a little teaser image of one of the bosses which can be viewed after the jump. For the community news feature in full, visit the official SWTOR site.

  • Fan Site Summit 2: Gabe Amatangelo Q&A

    During the first day of the Fan Site Summit, Gabe Amatangelo answered questions about Ilum's Open World PvP zone, Voidstar, Flashpoints, and Operations. We include a transcript below in the order of the questions asked; there are some repeated questions with expanded answers as well as follow-ups out of immediate order.

    Is there a size limit for guild vs. guild, could you theoretically be in a party of, a couple hundred if you have a big guild against a couple hundred, if you're all in parties?

    Gabe Amatangelo: No. Right now, it is the Operations group limit which is going to be 24. We're going back and forth on that, but it's 24 right now.

    In the open world zones, how are you doing population balance? For example, one side is really outnumbered than the other.

    So that's why the mechanics is what it is. We went through and tested a bunch of different mechanics. It's five captures so you have to keep all five. If you're 100 vs 20, that 20 is going to get in somewhere. You have to spread out to keep them off, and the sort of war effort buff that you get. You get stacks and it gradually increases. How much you get for killing and how much you can get out of Warzones happens from defending at a place that you have and you can keep stacking it when you take new ones. So if there is a group of 20 vs. 100, they're sitting at one, they're keeping one, and if that whole 100 decides, hey, they're at the northern assault, they all start moving there, you guys can move elsewhere, so keep it spread out. But obviously we want to keep killing players because that's where the Valor is coming from.

    More after the jump.

  • Friday Update: Signs of War Trailer and Operations Game Systems Page



    This week's Star Wars: The Old Republic Friday update is quite a huge one and can best be described as a four parter. The first two have us drooling over a new trailer named "Signs of War" and Operations Game Systems page.

    In the Signs of War trailer, the Trooper that most prominently received a facelift from Malgus in the Hope trailer is seen for the first time in-game. The trailer, narrated by Satele Shan, features several locals from the game that players can expect to visit when they get their hands on the game. The new Operations Game Systems page contains information on all of the current Operations along with images and video. On a side note but almost just as important, originally first revealed during the main panel at New York Comic Con, the global launch date is now December 20. BioWare also reminds fans to attend Paris Games Week, which they will be in attendance of in full force.

    Our dissection is now available in the media gallery below. As with all of our dissections, things mentioned in prior dissections will not be mentioned unless otherwise needed for context. Feel free to mention stuff that you see in the comments section of this post and we will credit you with the find.

    Hit the jump for the Signs of War embed trailer and official DevTracker posts.

    Gallery: Signs of War Trailer Dissection

    Signs of War Dissection Image 5
    Signs of War Dissection Image 4
    Signs of War Dissection Image 3
    Signs of War Dissection Image 2

  • Operation Size and Loot Distribution



    In recent months, BioWare developers finally began sharing information about their take on raids, which they call Operations. BioWare announced details about the different group sizes and the loot distribution system for normal-mode operations, both of which will have great impact on what raiding will be like in Star Wars: The Old Republic. What do these details mean for those of us who plan on raiding in TOR?

  • PC Gamer Interview With Gabe Amatangelo On Operations

    Yesterday, we reported on the GameStar magazine issue of Star Wars: The Old Republic involving Operations, Warzones, and more. Now we have PC Gamer UK's August issue that discusses the points in more detail and confirms some of the items mentioned in GameStar magazine.

    The items that do not drop for you (or do not appear in your loot bag) from boss kills can all be bought from the commendation vendor.

    To access new flashpoints you have to clear beginner ones.

    There will be no pre-raid armor grind. You will enter low-level raids in the armor you finished your story in.

    Loot bags can contain upgrades for weapons and armor.

    SWTOR's landscapes have had a graphical overhaul.

    We will update you if any more items of note come in from the issue. Thanks to Shrivenx for the tip and the points from the article. Make sure to pick up PC Gamer UK on news stands for the article in full.

    Update: Stephen Reid responded to the thread with some extra detail.

    Stephen Reid
    'Loot containers' (name is still a work in progress!) do indeed exist and are designed to alleviate the frustration some feel around high-level loot drops.

    As it's currently implemented, at the end of a key encounter within an Operation, upon looting a high-level opponent, everyone in the Operations group will get an individual container which has a chance to give you a random piece of loot that's specific to your class. It could be part of an armor set, a weapon, and so on. If you don't get loot, you'll get commendations which can be used to purchase gear.

    Please note, this feature is currently in Game Testing and may well be modified before launch.

  • GameStar Magazine Interview With Gabe Amatangelo On Operations

    In this month's issue of GameStar magazine, there is an interview with Gabe Amatangelo on operations, PVP, and more. As part of the interview, Gabe Amatangelo gives us some new insight on the operation sizes players will have a chance to take part in The Old Republic.

    Each Raid has 2 sizes, for 8 and 16 heros, as well as ajustable [sic] difficulty levels. The quality of the loot is based on the difficulty setting of the instance." After every bossfight EACH player gets a bag of Rewards", says Lead designer Gabe Amatangelo. "Inside that Bag you can find class specific Items, or Badges which can be used to buy items. You don't have to fight for your rewards."


    Credit on the quote goes to Cebo and his thread on the official forum. We'll alert you on any translation updates regarding the magazine as they happen.

    Update: More translated for the article on PVP:

    There will be no companion characters in PvP fights, at least not in the Warzones, where teams of both factions battle each other. The game modes in pvp will be along the lines of classical pvp variants such as capturing and holding control points and Capture the flag. Thus far we have seen four and eight player warzones.Although there are tests for mass pvp fight going on Georg Zoeller didn't comment on mass pvp fights at that moment.

    Furthermore BioWare is working on a warzone where players from the same faction can fight faction each other, but only as a backup solution in case the enemy can't provide enough players. There will also be open world pvp fights in which each faction can pursue missions objectives. Several planets will offer special pvp assignments, which could be something like capturing enemy buildings or eliminating enemy leaders.According to Zoeller this ensures that pvp oriented players can focus on certain areas and it gives them a bit more structure. The question concerning armed combat vehicles, Georg Zoeller answers with a promising maybe... So, chances are the players might be able to ride into combat in vehicles, maybe not in open world pvp but in Warzones. Apart from this, players will be able to fight against other players during some of their regular quests, similar to Warhammer Online, where some quests lead intro enemy territory making an pvp encounter more likely.

    Credit to Shellcracker on the translation. There are also three new exclusive images from GameStar - one showing off combat in the Eternity Vault, another showing the inner walls of the Eternity Vault, and an active lava flow area.

  • BioWare TV SWTOR Preview

    During this years E3, BioWare is showcasing their upcoming games via BioWare TV, a video livestream direct from the show floor. They are showing exclusive interviews with developers, trailers, and live demos for both Mass Effect 3 and Star Wars: The Old Republic. Today at 3PM PST, BioWare TV will have an all-access showing of Star Wars: The Old Republic, including a live demo of a boss fight. Be sure to tune in and see an advanced preview of an battle in Star Wars: The Old Republic.



    Update: Ended up being a very short demo of Tatooine showing off the quest we experienced at E3.

  • E3 2011: Eternity Vault Trailer Added to Official Site

    After debuting yesterday at E3, BioWare added the Eternity Vault trailer to the Star Wars: The Old Republic official site. For players that have yet to check the trailer out, it includes new footage on the recently announced Eternity Vault raid. For convenience for our users, an embed of the video is located below.



    The Official DevTracker posts are contained after the jump. Our Working Dissection is available in the Media Gallery below. As with all dissections, content that received mention in prior dissection material will not appear again here. Feel free to jump in the comments below and tell us what you find. If we use one of your submissions, we will credit you with the find.

    Gallery: Eternity Vault Trailer Dissection

    Eternity Vault Dissection 5
    Eternity Vault Dissection 4
    Eternity Vault Dissection 3
    Eternity Vault Dissection 2

  • Gamespot E3 Preview: Interview & Video



    Head over to Gamespot for a preview of what we can expect to see reveals of at E3, as they have an in-game trailer (we're working on a dissection) and an exclusive interview with Lead Writer Daniel Erickson, Lead PvP Designer Gabe Amatangelo, and Lead Systems Designer Damion Schubert. Some of the features BioWare will unveil at E3 include a new Blur-produced CG trailer, hands-on with the planet Tatooine, mounts, Warzones, and our first look at raids -- or what BioWare calls "Operations."

    Gabe Amantangelo: What you'd know as raids in other MMOs, we're calling "operations" in Star Wars: The Old Republic. Operations will be epic, multi-group events with settings and immersive gameplay inspired by scenes in the Star Wars movies. For examples, players will have to navigate the environment as a powerful Force wielder brings down the room around them; they'll have to work together to solve a code and fend off enemies while they're cornered, and so on.

    Additionally, players will be able to enjoy operations as soon as they hit level 50. There will be varying difficulty modes, much like what is found in other BioWare games. The challenge, mechanics, and rewards will vary with the modes. So both the casual and hardcore player will be able to enjoy epic content alongside multiple groups of friends.

    Damion Schubert discusses the use of speeders and vehicles in game. He says they were originally torn between animal mounts and vehicles, but ultimately decided with vehicles as it fit better with the overall iconic feel of Star Wars. He also discusses the approach behind crafting and creating a system that either a casual or dedicated crafter can enjoy. Gabe Amatangelo talks about the open-world feel, and how players will be able to attack each other on sight on PvP servers, or on PvE servers if they toggled on their PvP flag.

    The interview also touches on Crew Skills, space, boss fights, world story arcs, and more. This year looks to be the biggest yet for BioWare and Star Wars: The Old Republic, and we'll be there to cover it all.

    Our Working Dissection is in the Media Gallery below. As with all dissections, we will not cover things seen in the past unless it is important. Feel free to join us in the comments section and let us know what you find. If you find something and we decide to use it, we will credit you. Make sure to keep checking back for more throughout the weekend.

    Gallery: E3 Trailer Working Dissection

    E3 Trailer Dissection 5 v2
    E3 Trailer Dissection 23
    E3 Trailer Dissection 21
    E3 Trailer Dissection 22
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