Be The Gamer » Star Wars http://www.bethegamer.com Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:00:00 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 Hyperspace Beacon: Mos Eisley Radio part 2 http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/02/07/hyperspace-beacon-mos-eisley-radio-part-2/ http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/02/07/hyperspace-beacon-mos-eisley-radio-part-2/#comments Tue, 07 Feb 2012 20:00:00 +0000 Larry Everett http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/07/hyperspace-beacon-mos-eisley-radio-part-2/ Filed under: , , , , , ,

Hyperspace Beacon: Mos Eisley Radio Part 2
Last week, I introduced to you again to the crew at Mos Eisley Radio. This podcast and web site launched itself to the Star Wars: The Old Republic community in 2009 and has been growing strong ever since. In fact, it's hard not to be shocked at the growth in viewers and content since SWTOR launched. Some of the other fan sites have actually streamlined their content to compensate for the fact that their crews are busy playing the game. But Mos Eisley Radio's producers have actually expanded its reach -- so much that I had to talk with them about what they are doing.

Executive producer Zach Brown, host Evan Lewis, and guild leader Alan Nauman joined me in a chat about the site, the guild, and the future of the community they are building. If you missed the first part of the conversation, be sure to read that first, then jump past the cut for the rest.

Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Mos Eisley Radio part 2

MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Mos Eisley Radio part 2 originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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    ]]>     http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/02/07/hyperspace-beacon-mos-eisley-radio-part-2/feed/ 0     The Guild Counsel: SWTOR is stealing my (character) identity! http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/02/02/the-guild-counsel-swtor-is-stealing-my-character-identity/ http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/02/02/the-guild-counsel-swtor-is-stealing-my-character-identity/#comments Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:00:00 +0000 Karen Bryan http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/02/02/the-guild-counsel-swtor-is-stealing-my-character-identity/ Filed under: , , , , , ,

    SWTOR Jedi Ghost
    Guild leading is often as much about managing personalities as it is about managing the nuts and bolts of the game. In previous columns, we've looked at all sorts of issues that guild leaders have to solve, and at the root of almost all of them is some sort of personality clash. Show me a nice blend of personalities, and I'll show you a happy guild that will stick together for years.

    What makes guild leading so difficult, though, is that unlike real-life leaders, guild leaders need to manage two identities for every member. There's the real-life identity of the player, and then there's the identity of the in-game character, and they aren't always the same. If you talk to a guild that's met at a guild gathering or convention, one of the things you'll always hear is how a particular member is so different from his in-game character. In game, for example, he might be a rough-around-the-edges general, but in real life he's a quiet teddy bear.

    MMOs give us the opportunity to be someone completely different from who we are out of game, and even non-roleplayers will sometimes behave differently when they're playing. But Star Wars: The Old Republic has taken away some of our power to construct our own identities in game. In this edition of The Guild Counsel, Let's look at how that's happened and whether it will affect the way we game.

    Continue reading The Guild Counsel: SWTOR is stealing my (character) identity!

    MassivelyThe Guild Counsel: SWTOR is stealing my (character) identity! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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      ]]>       http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/02/02/the-guild-counsel-swtor-is-stealing-my-character-identity/feed/ 0       Hyperspace Beacon: Wretched radio of scum and villainy http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/31/hyperspace-beacon-wretched-radio-of-scum-and-villainy/ http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/31/hyperspace-beacon-wretched-radio-of-scum-and-villainy/#comments Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:00:00 +0000 Larry Everett http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/31/hyperspace-beacon-wretched-radio-of-scum-and-villainy/ Filed under: , , , ,

      Hyperspace Beacon: Wretched radio of scum and villainy
      Many fan sites pull back just a bit when the game launches to absorb the traffic dip, especially when it's as large a game as Star Wars: The Old Republic. It's expected, right? All the fans are playing the game; why put work into something might not be read or listened to? However, the guys over at Mos Eisley Radio did the exact opposite. The MER crew expanded the number of podcasts and created one of the largest guilds in the game. (They hit the member cap pre-launch and had to turn people away.)

      This week, I appeared on the site's weekly broadcast, and in exchange, I sat down to interview three of the leads for the site: Executive producer Zach Brown, MER co-host and producer Evan Lewis, and producer of Alan Shot First and guild leader Alan Nauman. We talked about everything -- what has happened since launch, what they think of the game so far, and what they see for the future of the site and the game itself.

      Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Wretched radio of scum and villainy

      MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Wretched radio of scum and villainy originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        ]]>         http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/31/hyperspace-beacon-wretched-radio-of-scum-and-villainy/feed/ 0         Activists target SWTOR’s future same-gender romances http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/27/activists-target-swtors-future-same-gender-romances/ http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/27/activists-target-swtors-future-same-gender-romances/#comments Fri, 27 Jan 2012 23:30:00 +0000 Matt Daniel http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/27/activists-target-swtors-future-same-gender-romances/ Filed under: , , ,

        I'm sorry, Nalen, we just can't be like this anymore. What would my parents think!?
        It looks like the notorious Family Research Council has decided that it's again time to dust off its pitchforks and light some torches, and this time the organization has Star Wars: The Old Republic in its sights. In a post on the Family Research Council's website, president Tony Perkins announced that "in a galaxy not so far far away, Star Wars gamers have already gone to the dark side."

        Why are SWTOR players seeing a sudden influx of dark side points? Because, as the group states, "the new video game, Star Wars: The Old Republic, has added a special feature: gay relationships." Well, not quite -- fans of the game know that same-gender romance arcs have been slated to be a post-launch feature since last fall but are still not part of the live game. The FRC is calling on players to think of the children and claims that parents and forum-goers alike are bothered by this "Star Warped way of thinking," asking them to "show companies who the Force is really with!"

        Massively addressed the topic in a 2010 opinion column. You can read the organization's full statement at the link below.

        MassivelyActivists target SWTOR's future same-gender romances originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 27 Jan 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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        ]]>         http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/27/activists-target-swtors-future-same-gender-romances/feed/ 0         Hyperspace Beacon: Roleplayer’s rant http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/24/hyperspace-beacon-roleplayers-rant/ http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/24/hyperspace-beacon-roleplayers-rant/#comments Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000 Larry Everett http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/24/hyperspace-beacon-roleplayers-rant/ Filed under: , , , , , ,

        Hyperspace Beacon: Roleplayer's rant
        I don't like to rant. Really! Usually, ranting is full of emotionally charged rhetoric, and oftentimes it's riddled with inaccurate statements. I especially don't like to rant about something that I like a lot. For instance, Star Wars: The Old Republic has, by far, exceeded my personal expectations for any MMO; however, some missteps in production have tainted its perfection. (No, I'm not going to talk about Ilum again.) Of course, we are all looking for our version of perfection in an MMO, right? Unfortunately, no MMO will live up to that expectation. In fact, if I did find my version of MMO perfection, I would probably be the only one playing it. But I do believe I have ideas that those in my community could latch on to. They are also relatively simple. Yes, yes, I know nothing is ever as simple as it seems, but indulge me for a few moments.

        As many of you know, I enjoy roleplaying in my MMOs -- character creation, really. I'm not one of those roleplayers who hang out in a pub all day never experiencing any gameplay. Although there's nothing wrong with that, I find it a be a waste of $15 a month.

        I have complied what I believe will make the experience of SWTOR more enjoyable for those who enjoy playing the game like I do, and I think that those of you who don't necessarily like to roleplay per se but do like to create unique characters in the MMO space will agree that these are a must. I did set some personal criteria when compiling the list. For instance, I didn't want to break BioWare's general vision for the game. I also wanted to use existing items in the game so that my expectations were realistic -- no guild capital ships or image design system. And all of these items have been mentioned in print someplace before, so I'm not the only one who believes these should be implemented.

        Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Roleplayer's rant

        MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Roleplayer's rant originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          ]]>           http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/24/hyperspace-beacon-roleplayers-rant/feed/ 0           The MMO Report: Shut up, that’s why edition http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/19/the-mmo-report-shut-up-thats-why-edition/ http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/19/the-mmo-report-shut-up-thats-why-edition/#comments Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:00:00 +0000 Brianna Royce http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/the-mmo-report-shut-up-thats-why-edition/ Filed under: , , , , ,

          The MMO Report - Minecraft
          Why does The MMO Report cover Minecraft? "Shut up, that's why," says Casey with a smile. In addition to chronicling Minecraft's newest FarmVille-esque update, the Beard meanders through the Dark Millennium Online cancellation rumors, The Secret World's Illuminati trailer, and TERA's upcoming May release date ("your cue to start claiming it's better than WoW, internet"). Finally, Casey touches on the patch delays suffered by Star Wars: The Old Republic, excusing the tardiness by suggesting the promised dates are more like guidelines, and besides, "Only a Sith deals in absolutes."

          All this and a quick dip into Uncle Casey's Mailbag can be found in the full HD video behind the cut.

          Continue reading The MMO Report: Shut up, that's why edition

          MassivelyThe MMO Report: Shut up, that's why edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          ]]>           http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/19/the-mmo-report-shut-up-thats-why-edition/feed/ 0           Electronic Arts stock drops because of SWTOR fumbles http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/19/electronic-arts-stock-drops-because-of-swtor-fumbles/ http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/19/electronic-arts-stock-drops-because-of-swtor-fumbles/#comments Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:30:00 +0000 Matt Daniel http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/19/electronic-arts-stock-in-danger-thanks-to-swtor-fumbles/ Filed under: , , , ,

          Screenshot -- Star Wars: The Old Republic
          Electronic Arts' stock appears to be in a bit of trouble following Star Wars: The Old Republic's launch. The company's shares fell by almost 3% to $17.75 US this morning after a stock analyst working with Brean Murray Carret & Co. "cut his price target on the stock to $22 [US] from $28 [US]." In a note to his clients, analyst Todd Mitchell wrote that he felt some "creeping concerns" regarding The Old Republic's performance so far; he added that "initial sales appear to be below expectations, and casual observation of early play is causing us to rethink our churn assumptions." Now we just get to sit back with some popcorn and see whether BioWare can get its business together in time to make a recovery, so take a seat.

          [Thanks to Chum for the tip!]

          MassivelyElectronic Arts stock drops because of SWTOR fumbles originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Jan 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          ]]>           http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/19/electronic-arts-stock-drops-because-of-swtor-fumbles/feed/ 0           SWTOR’s new patch makes a mess, BioWare looking into it [Updated] http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/18/swtors-new-patch-makes-a-mess-bioware-looking-into-it-updated/ http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/18/swtors-new-patch-makes-a-mess-bioware-looking-into-it-updated/#comments Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:30:00 +0000 Jef Reahard http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/18/swtors-new-patch-makes-a-mess-bioware-looking-into-it/ Filed under: , , , , , , ,

          Star Wars: The Old Republic - Ilum PvP
          Welp, Star Wars: The Old Republic's 1.1 patch has arrived, and it's brought a bit of baggage with it. Imperial PvPers have been taking advantage of faction imbalances to farm hapless Republic players on the level 50 world of Ilum, and BioWare has responded to the resulting outcry with a discussion thread and a plea for sanity.

          "We're currently investigating potential issues related to the Ilum open world PvP area post-1.1. We understand that this is a topic of much discussion and we ask that you please direct all discussions to this thread," writes Joveth Gonzalez on the official SWTOR forums.

          The devs adjusted both daily and weekly missions to require the killing of factional enemies, and they also increased the PvP currency rewards for doing so. As of right now, it's anyone's guess what the fix will entail, and we'll keep our eyes on it as the situation develops.

          [Update: BioWare has issued a formal statement, which we've posted in its entirety after the break.]

          Continue reading SWTOR's new patch makes a mess, BioWare looking into it [Updated]

          MassivelySWTOR's new patch makes a mess, BioWare looking into it [Updated] originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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          ]]>           http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/18/swtors-new-patch-makes-a-mess-bioware-looking-into-it-updated/feed/ 0           The Soapbox: On MMO negativity http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/17/the-soapbox-on-mmo-negativity/ http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/17/the-soapbox-on-mmo-negativity/#comments Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:00:00 +0000 Jef Reahard http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/the-soapbox-on-mmo-negativity/ Filed under: , , , , , , , ,

          Unhappy cat
          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.

          Last week I was given a link to an op-ed piece at Thade's place, and in lieu of posting a comment there, I figured I'd do it on the Soapbox and hopefully generate some discussion (and traffic) for all concerned.

          In a nutshell, Thade questions whether MMO pundits actually like MMOs, and he comments on a perceived rise in negativity amongst what are assumed to be fans of the genre.

          I don't know if the blogosphere has taken a turn toward the negative, but if so, there's a pretty simple explanation for it. The games have changed, and the old guard who grew up with MMOs (and are willing/able to devote time to blogging about them) have to try a little bit harder to enjoy themselves as each new title gets further and further from what they like. That's OK, though, and it's also OK -- and even essential -- for the disaffected to speak up.

          Continue reading The Soapbox: On MMO negativity

          MassivelyThe Soapbox: On MMO negativity originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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            ]]>             http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/17/the-soapbox-on-mmo-negativity/feed/ 0             Hyperspace Beacon: Star Wars zombies http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/17/hyperspace-beacon-star-wars-zombies/ http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/17/hyperspace-beacon-star-wars-zombies/#comments Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:00:00 +0000 Larry Everett http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/17/hyperspace-beacon-star-wars-zombies/ Filed under: , , , , ,

            Hyperspace Beacon: Star Wars zombies
            Tomorrow, Star Wars: The Old Republic will launch its first content update, and you will most like be up to your eyeballs in Rakghouls and Hutts... or maybe you've not made it to 50 yet because you've been absorbed in the story and leveling alts. According to BioWare developers, there are 200 hours of gameplay in each class story, so even if someone were to have played eight hours a day every day over the last month, he would only have one level 50. I say, don't feel bad if you haven't hit 50 yet. It means that you are enjoying the game the way it was meant to be enjoyed and not skipping anything.

            That said, it's not going to hurt to learn about this new update, although I suggest that, if you're into the story as much as I am, you don't read the patch notes... spoilers! Dang, BioWare, could you be a bit more ambiguous about the PTS patch notes next time? It's like someone leaning over halfway through the first screening Empire Strikes Back and saying, "Oh, by the way, Darth Vader is Luke's father." NOOOOO! It's impossible!

            Being someone who is interested in the story revolving around SWTOR, I do love the continued use of Rakghouls in the newest update. Sure, some would call it an easy storytelling trope (zombies and all that). I'll admit it. I'm not going to hide behind "these are ghouls, not zombies." I love the story, but in truth these are Star Wars zombies. But I do find the history of the Rakghouls interesting. Honestly, I don't know how much of the story has been retcon'd after their first appearance in BioWare's first venture into the Star Wars IP, Knights of the Old Republic, but the roots of the Rakghouls stem from the birth of the Sith Empire. I love the way it all comes together.

            [Update: BioWare postponed the patch to the 18th after the column was written. The first paragraph has been changed to reflect that.]

            Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Star Wars zombies

            MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Star Wars zombies originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              ]]>               http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/17/hyperspace-beacon-star-wars-zombies/feed/ 0               Star Wars: The Old Republic highlights upcoming Kaon Under Siege flashpoint http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/13/star-wars-the-old-republic-highlights-upcoming-kaon-under-siege-flashpoint/ http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/13/star-wars-the-old-republic-highlights-upcoming-kaon-under-siege-flashpoint/#comments Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:00:00 +0000 Matt Daniel http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/13/star-wars-the-old-republic-highlights-upcoming-kaon-under-siege/ Filed under: , , , , , , ,

              Screenshot -- Star Wars: The Old Republic
              Despite only having launched about a month ago, Star Wars: The Old Republic is already gearing up for its next content update. As BioWare ramps up to release the update, it wants its fans to be getting excited for it as well. In that vein, the studio has released a new video highlighting Kaon Under Siege, one of the new flashpoints in the upcoming patch,

              The story behind this flashpoint continues the game's current storyline, this time giving players a glimpse at the Tion Hegemony sector of the galaxy. Prior to the flashpoint, the Rakghoul plague has spread across multiple world in the system, killing the lucky and transforming those less fortunate into Rakghouls themselves. A few lucky survivors on the planet of Kaon have managed to hold out against the Rakghoul menace, and of course both the Empire and the Republic wish to rescue these survivors, eradicate the Rakghoul plague, and ultimately negotiate an alliance with the Tion Hegemony. For the full video preview of Kaon Under Siege, just click on past the cut.

              Continue reading Star Wars: The Old Republic highlights upcoming Kaon Under Siege flashpoint

              MassivelyStar Wars: The Old Republic highlights upcoming Kaon Under Siege flashpoint originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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              ]]>               http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/13/star-wars-the-old-republic-highlights-upcoming-kaon-under-siege-flashpoint/feed/ 0               The Guild Counsel: Star Wars guilds need more love! http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/12/the-guild-counsel-star-wars-guilds-need-more-love/ http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/12/the-guild-counsel-star-wars-guilds-need-more-love/#comments Thu, 12 Jan 2012 21:00:00 +0000 Karen Bryan http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/the-guild-counsel-star-wars-guilds-need-more-love/ Filed under: , , , ,

              swtor group
              A few weeks back, I wrote about the impressive pre-launch guild system in Star Wars: The Old Republic, pointing out that not only is it wildly popular but that it indicates that BioWare recognizes the validity of guilds. So it surprised me when I began to slowly notice the absence of various guild features and tools that I've grown accustomed to seeing in other games, tools that are almost a necessity in this day and age.

              In fact, at one point, I had to ask myself if there was any benefit at all to being in a guild other than having guild chat and a cool tag. I'm certainly haven't lost hope yet because after all, it's only a few weeks into the game, and features like the guild capital ship have already been mentioned as being on the way. But this week, I'm playing amateur developer and adding my list of guild-friendly features that are must-haves for SWTOR (and for all MMOs, actually!).

              Continue reading The Guild Counsel: Star Wars guilds need more love!

              MassivelyThe Guild Counsel: Star Wars guilds need more love! originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                ]]>                 http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/12/the-guild-counsel-star-wars-guilds-need-more-love/feed/ 0                 Rakghouls and raging Hutts with SWTOR’s Gabe Amatangelo http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/12/rakghouls-and-raging-hutts-with-swtors-gabe-amatangelo/ http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/12/rakghouls-and-raging-hutts-with-swtors-gabe-amatangelo/#comments Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:00:00 +0000 Larry Everett http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/12/rakghouls-and-raging-hutts-with-swtors-gabe-amatangelo/ Filed under: , , , , , , , , , ,

                A month after Star Wars: The Old Republic began its official journey in the public eye, the developers of this game-changing MMO are ready to extend the story, which they call the fourth pillar of the MMO genre. In patch 1.1, which also brings the usual round of bug fixes, players will be introduced to a brand-new level 50 flashpoint as well as a completed version of the Karagga's Palace 8-to-16-man operation.

                In the official press release for 1.1, BioWare founder Greg Zeschuk notes, "A month ago when we launched the Early Game Access program for Star Wars: The Old Republic, we promised our fans that this would just be the beginning of our journey together." That's all well and good, but we want details. So we rang up BioWare's Gabe Amatangelo to discuss the new flashpoint, Karagga's palace, Ilum, and the future of SWTOR PvP.

                Be aware that there will be some minor spoilers, but we'll warn you in advance!

                Continue reading Rakghouls and raging Hutts with SWTOR's Gabe Amatangelo

                MassivelyRakghouls and raging Hutts with SWTOR's Gabe Amatangelo originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  ]]>                   http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/12/rakghouls-and-raging-hutts-with-swtors-gabe-amatangelo/feed/ 0                   BioWare responds to The Old Republic performance issues http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/10/bioware-responds-to-the-old-republic-performance-issues/ http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/10/bioware-responds-to-the-old-republic-performance-issues/#comments Tue, 10 Jan 2012 22:00:00 +0000 Matt Daniel http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/bioware-responds-to-the-old-republic-performance-issues/ Filed under: , , ,

                  Screenshot -- Star Wars: The Old Republic
                  Many Star Wars: The Old Republic players have raised complaints on the official forums about the game's technical performance. A disconcertingly large number of users report poor framerates despite lowering the game's graphic settings or running the game on a high-end PC. BioWare, however, is not convinced that there's anything wrong with the game, and instead the company asserts that users' lame rigs must be to blame.

                  OK, not really. But game director James Ohlen told Eurogamer that "most players aren't really having performance concerns" and chalks the reported performance issues up to low-end hardware. He goes on to add that "[the team] knows that it's important that there is a smaller group of people usually with lower end machines that are having problems in some areas. And one of the most important things for [the team is] to grow [its] service is to continue to bring in more players, including those players who only have low-end machines." In light of this, the studio has a team of developers who are devoted to fixing performance-inhibiting bugs, so if all goes well, we poor low-end-rig-users will be able to play the game comfortably soon enough.

                  MassivelyBioWare responds to The Old Republic performance issues originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                  ]]>                   http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/10/bioware-responds-to-the-old-republic-performance-issues/feed/ 0                   Hyperspace Beacon: Cheating vs. poor design http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/10/hyperspace-beacon-cheating-vs-poor-design/ http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/10/hyperspace-beacon-cheating-vs-poor-design/#comments Tue, 10 Jan 2012 20:00:00 +0000 Larry Everett http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/10/hyperspace-beacon-cheating-or-poor-design/ Filed under: , , , , ,

                  Hyperspace Beacon: Cheating or poor design?
                  Recently, Ilum took center stage in an argument about exploits, and I honestly cannot say which side of the fence I'm on. When do the intentions of the designers take precedent over the players taking advantage of poor design? Well before Star Wars: The Old Republic even crossed the mind of BioWare's creative brain-trust, exploiters have been taking advantage of unintentional game design. Even more interesting about the situation with Ilum was that the design was not exactly flawed; instead, players did not respond to the designs the way the developers intended. The game was "working as intended," but the players weren't.

                  At what point do we blame the designers? In a game as large as SWTOR, we know that if someone is allowed to do something, he will. At the same time, players are lazy efficient when playing the game: They will find the fastest and easiest way to level or gear up despite the intended path. Designers should know this. I remember in Ultima Online when players would raise skills by poking each other with low-level swords for hours on end. I am sure the designers intended that players would earn skills by actually battling each other, but the simplest solution was to prod one another with a dull stick. I honestly don't know if that was ever fixed, but I certainly don't remember a GM tossing out a ban hammer for it.

                  Continue reading Hyperspace Beacon: Cheating vs. poor design

                  MassivelyHyperspace Beacon: Cheating vs. poor design originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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                    ]]>                     http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/10/hyperspace-beacon-cheating-vs-poor-design/feed/ 0                     The MMO Report: Cool balloon bro edition http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/05/the-mmo-report-cool-balloon-bro-edition/ http://www.bethegamer.com/2012/01/05/the-mmo-report-cool-balloon-bro-edition/#comments Fri, 06 Jan 2012 02:00:00 +0000 Brianna Royce http://massively.joystiq.com/2012/01/05/the-mmo-report-cool-balloon-bro-edition/ Filed under: , , , , , ,

                    The MMO Report
                    This week on The MMO Report -- where everyone prefers "a blaster over hokey religions and ancient weapons" -- Casey tries to make the most of a slow MMO news week. He reports that the fallout over Fallout Online has settled, Multiverse (the Buffy/Firefly MMO platform) is dead in the water, CCP is launching EVE Online character avatars into orbit via balloon, and Star Wars: The Old Republic is boasting 350,000 concurrent users.

                    There's no mailbag this week, he relates, because everyone's too busy playing lightsabers with their friends, which is probably true.

                    He also thanks BioWare for teaching him how to /getdown... and I think you should tune in at the five-minute mark to see his moves for yourself. The video's tucked behind the break for your amusement!

                    Continue reading The MMO Report: Cool balloon bro edition

                    MassivelyThe MMO Report: Cool balloon bro edition originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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