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[lsslave]

Lots and lots of words going on in here

Dolphin fucking aside you are definitely in my top 15 posters now because of this. Your whole post is really great.

 

[BrokenSymmetry]

I'm reading an interview with Bioware's Greg Zeschuk in the most recent EDGE magazine, about The Old Republic:

One of the things we appreciate is that in some ways Blizzard and others have set the standard of what you expect from an MMO and what we wanted to do was add a layer of Bioware stuff on top of that.

We always want to be differentiated, but we're not trying to push the envelope the nth degree. We're just trying to be succesful, and we think one of the routes to success is that, you know, people like something they're familiar with.

So Bioware is explictly saying they're creating a WoW clone, with some extra Bioware-type story/conversation stuff.
Ah well, I will be playing Guild Wars 2 next year...

 

[subversus]

It's auto attack, if that's what you mean. You click on a enemy, and when you are close enough, you can use your attacks by pressing the keyboard, 1, 2, 3, 4, and so on... The attacks come with a little delay(dice roll), and then sometimes your character hits or misses, and crits and all that. That's at least what I have pictured it.
From what I have seen you can strafe, but it does look jerky and clunky during combat. I blame the animations. They are very, very lacking. From death animations, to sword fighting while running.
The animations are one of the best parts about WoW I think.

So, is it pure stat-based? No aiming at all?

 

[LAUGHTREY]

So, is it pure stat-based? No aiming at all?

Welcome to MMOs.

 

[Spire]

this game looks good but during combat everybody stays glued to the ground, no strafing or whatever. Is it sort of turn-based?

The AI isn't fully in the game yet.

 

[Shrennin]

A new interview is up at DarthHater:

http://darthhater.com/2010/08/16/interview-bioware-lead-concept-artist-arnie-jorgensen/

It's mostly about wearables and how TOR won't feature the "Mad Max" shoulderpads that WoW became infamous for. It also seems to confirm that the level cap in TOR will end at 50 initially. Also the concept art for all the wearables in TOR fills up what is essentially the size of a football stadium.

One of the other interesting things I learned from that interview deals with the class I am most likely going to be when the game ships: The Imperial Agent. Apparently the wearables for the imperial agent will be in such a way that the things you can equip to him will disguise him so people can't recognize that he's from the empire and when he takes all that stuff off then he becomes clearly imperial. Apparently this becomes really interesting in PvP and I think it may be a great way to replace the invisibility of rogues (this is speculation on my part).

Those were the interesting things I saw but there's probably a lot more one could dissect from that interview.

 

[CzarTim]

One of the other interesting things I learned from that interview deals with the class I am most likely going to be when the game ships: The Imperial Agent. Apparently the wearables for the imperial agent will be in such a way that the things you can equip to him will disguise him so people can't recognize that he's from the empire and when he takes all that stuff off then he becomes clearly imperial. Apparently this becomes really interesting in PvP and I think it may be a great way to replace the invisibility of rogues (this is speculation on my part).

Team Fortress Style? Awesome!

 

[Shrennin]

Team Fortress Style? Awesome!

That's what I was thinking and that's what it sounds like but it's still speculation on my part.

Originally the concept artists were creating stuff that looked clearly imperial for the imperial agent to wear, but then the writers said that's not at all how they envisioned the agent and so they went back and pretty much figured out that disguises are what differentiates the imperial agent. He's all about secrecy.

However, sometimes you can go all out and take off your disguise, make known you are an imperial agent, and intimidate the enemy with your presence. Or at least that's how it sounded like.

It would just be awesome if the Imperial Agent didn't use some type of invisibility and, instead, his disguises were his invisibility (in PvP, for example, the enemy couldn't tell that you were Imperial and may even mistake you as apart of his team).

That still sounds like wishful thinking on my part as I do know that cloaking devices are in the game but that interview makes my wishful Team Fortress style thinking sound less wishful and more realistic.

 

[Jibber Hack]

Space combat vid up. Don't know if want...

Honestly it looks fun, but I don't know if it will make up for being not freeform.

 

[Shrennin]

Space combat vid up. Don't know if want...

Honestly it looks fun, but I don't know if it will make up for being not freeform.

I think it does its job: It looks like a fun distraction to the main game.

That's what BioWare seems to intend space combat to initially be. PC Gamer did mention something about PvP being available in the future and I can only imagine that when the rails are taken off the space combat. I think space combat is in the game right now so, when BioWare decides to develop it further, the basics will have already been in the main game.

 

[Vigilant Walrus]

Space combat vid up. Don't know if want...

Honestly it looks fun, but I don't know if it will make up for being not freeform.

Damn...:O

I really don't know what to say other than damn.

 

[Shrennin]

Damn...:O

I really don't know what to say other than damn.

Is that...a good or bad thing?

 

[cabottemp]

this has the potentia; to be the last game ill ever need

 

[Spire]

Space combat vid up. Don't know if want...

Honestly it looks fun, but I don't know if it will make up for being not freeform.

Well it certainly looks pretty, I'll give it that.

 

[BattleMonkey]

Space combat vid up. Don't know if want...

Honestly it looks fun, but I don't know if it will make up for being not freeform.

Looks great. Freeform was nice in SWG but it also was pretty much a completely new game they had to add on to the old game. This seems like a great compromise and quite cinematic.

 

[Shrennin]

Newish interview with Daniel Erickson by Gamespot:

http://gamescom.gamespot.com/video/6273952/

The most interesting thing from that interview is that apparently we can customize the AI of our companion characters. That and space combat may not be entirely optional because it has to be weaved into the entire game, though it will most likely be "mostly optional". There will also be rewards you can only get from space combat making it a good incentive to do so.

 

[syoaran]

Space combat vid up. Don't know if want...

Honestly it looks fun, but I don't know if it will make up for being not freeform.

So basically from what I gather, this is Bioware making the gryphon ride from IF to SW a bit more interesting by having your transport shooting between asteroids, dodging killer mines and engaging massive starships.

Yeah - This; I want.

 

[water_wendi]

Looks great. Freeform was nice in SWG but it also was pretty much a completely new game they had to add on to the old game. This seems like a great compromise and quite cinematic.

i have to say this. i would love for there to be a free-roaming part but im not adverse to having a very pretty Rebel Assault as the gryphon ride to another planet. It can allow for some really cool scripted story space battles to take place.

The best thing about seeing this is that this looks nothing like the dogshit mini-game that was in KotOR. Biowares history hasnt been so good with the mini-games (space combat KotOR, shooter levels in Jade Empire, whatever that thing people complained like all hell about in ME2).

 

[Shrennin]

New interview with James Ohlen - bad quality, but great questions and information.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDSwNCwkFSI

Some notable aspects:

- Guild Ships are coming later (not at launch)
- Crafting will include harvesting but changes are being made from the traditional crafting seen in most MMOs to fit the "Star Wars" feeling. Darth Vader won't be seen crafting an item in an open field, etc.
- The Warhammer team is working on the PvP aspects of the game
- Achievement system heavily hinted at, although not confirmed. Something that is pretty much confirmed are player titles (Darth, etc.).
- Apparently the Legacy System was confirmed in this interview but I didn't hear it so I can't confirm it personally.

Another interview with Hall Hood that confirms, among other things, cross-faction communication and even hints at certain quests/instances/whatever that allows both factions to team up against a common enemy.

http://www.askajedi.com/2010/08/17/hall-hood-interview-star-wars-celebration/

 

[Shrennin]

Apparently the presentation today at PAX for both TOR and TFUII will include a big reveal for TOR. I'm not sure what, but I'm going to keep my expectations low and assume it's probably *one* reveal of a core gameplay mechanic rather than many reveals around the gameplay. I assume this because TOR is the one MMO that I have followed where we know so little about it and it's releasing early next year. I expect most of the information to come out when the marketing time hits for the game (so earliest being November-December). Of course I could be wrong since this is the last major conference before the game ships.

So if anyone wants to watch the conference today, they can do so thanks to TOROCAST:

http://www.coveritlive.com/index.ph...&altcast_code=e235ba9fa5&height=600&width=700

Also, IveDefected, of the DarthHater forums, posted this nice little gem of a screenshot:

I think it speaks for itself.

Original Source: http://darthhater.com/forum/topic/406/post/5379#5379

 

[IcedTea]

It's amazing how good a huge draw distance can make a game look.

 

[Vlodril]

Any idea what time is that for gmt? (i suck at converting times )

 

[Spire]

That screenshot gave me a boner.

Any idea what time is that for gmt? (i suck at converting times )

It's in about 3 hours, no idea what that is in GMT.

 

[Vlodril]

hm 3 am where i am at , i think ill have to wait for tommorow to watch it.

 

[Outdoor Miner]

I have high hopes for this game. If it's just WoW with a Star Wars coat of paint I will be hugely disappointed and probably won't go past the free month.

 

[Door2Dawn]

I know this is a pointless question, but can we assume that this game will have a monthly fee if this hasn't been confirmed already?

 

[Takeda Kenshi]

I know this is a pointless question, but can we assume that this game will have a monthly fee if this hasn't been confirmed already?

Without question.

 

[Shrennin]

Forgot to mention something:

For anyone who wants a great PAX compilation thread to look for any information that comes from PAX (up until now and through the rest of PAX) then this thread on the official forums is your place:

http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?t=197699

 

[Spire]

I know this is a pointless question, but can we assume that this game will have a monthly fee if this hasn't been confirmed already?

I think they've hinted that it will. Given that this is the most expensive game EA has ever made, I don't think they're going to be taking any chances with a new or experimental model.

 

[Spookie]

Without question.

I should hope not. How I've had it explained to me is that the game is instanced like Guild Wars. :/

If it's just WoW with a Star Wars coat of paint I will be hugely disappointed and probably won't go past the free month.

I've been told the combat is very WoW like.

 

[Spire]

I should hope not. How I've had it explained to me is that the game is instanced like Guild Wars. :/

That's not true at all. Areas where story events take place are phased but the vast majority of the world is open and persistent.

 

[Spookie]

That's not true at all. Areas where story events take place are phased but the vast majority of the world is open and persistent.

Ah, I was getting impressions from the beta. I guess they haven't opened the world up yet.

 

[antonz]

Ah, I was getting impressions from the beta. I guess they haven't opened the world up yet.

Very specific testing goals at the moment. and unlike galaxies there is no mass drop everyone outside Bestine and say test heh

 

[Shrennin]

Well, technically BETA hasn't started yet. The developers made it clear that this is a "Game Testing" program so it's likely the very last stages of alpha (it's also less than a thousand players testing in this program, I believe) so it's very small and concise. Only the starter worlds are being "tested" at this moment.

It seems like a BETA testing phase will happen later down the road, to the mass public.

I believe BioWare has actually stated that 90% of the world was open and 10% of the world was instanced. The game is going to be a persistent world, not like Guild Wars in the least.

 

[Spire]

Channel is offline

FFFFFFFFFFFFUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

 

[Door2Dawn]

I think they've hinted that it will. Given that this is the most expensive game EA has ever made, I don't think they're going to be taking any chances with a new or experimental model.

T_T

 

[Shrennin]

Apparently the "reveal" is the gameplay they showed (they showed the first uncut footage of PvP, another flashpoint, and they revealed various minor things - HK-47 is in the game, something about Revan's mask and complex, crafting, raids, guilds, various spectrum of lightsaber colors available, etc.).

We *should* get footage of the presentation soonish, hopefully. I think some people recorded it (TOROCAST among them).

 

[Takeda Kenshi]

http://www.swtor.com/media/trailers/mysteries-knights-old-republic

New 'trailer' with some interesting stuff in it. HK-47, new armors, Revan's complex, and some other things.

 

[Shrennin]

Was that HK-47's original voice? It sounds...different? Maybe because he's so old? Or is it because it's a different voice actor?

 

[Takeda Kenshi]

Was that HK-47's original voice? It sounds...different? Maybe because he's so old? Or is it because it's a different voice actor?

It's sounds about right from what I could gather. Maybe it's because he's talking somewhat faster than usual.

 

[Shrennin]

It's sounds about right from what I could gather. Maybe it's because he's talking somewhat faster than usual.

It's probably because I haven't played the games in a while and I imagined his voice being a little deeper.

Anyway, it was an awesome video either way. The armor shown for every class was, simply put, awesome looking. One of the cooler aspects of a bounty hunter's armor may possibly be voice modulation with the helmet - I think the bounty hunter had a more mechanized sounding voice than when he had it off in that video.

 

[Takeda Kenshi]

It's probably because I haven't played the games in a while and I imagined his voice being a little deeper.

Anyway, it was an awesome video either way. The armor shown for every class was, simply put, awesome looking. One of the cooler aspects of a bounty hunter's armor may possibly be voice modulation with the helmet - I think the bounty hunter had a more mechanized sounding voice than when he had it off in that video.

Yep exactly. I'm hoping they release the vid of the PvP at some point in the near future. The PAX feed must be redeemed!

 

[Spire]

Does anyone know if the pvp they showed was open world or instanced?

 

[Shrennin]

Yep exactly. I'm hoping they release the vid of the PvP at some point in the near future. The PAX feed must be redeemed!

Ask a Jedi and TOROCAST are both recording the footage, TOROCAST mentioned that they didn't record the whole thing but recorded all the important parts without the fluff and Ask a Jedi said that they should have their recording up later tonight. In other words: We should see the PvP that debuted today at this event.

EDIT: Apparently there is no PvP footage because no PvP occurred. I think it was only an announcement of Alderaan being the first battle between the imperial and republic forces, I guess. BioWare shut the video off right before the players were about to engage in PvP combat.

Does anyone know if the pvp they showed was open world or instanced?

I doubt they showed Alderaan, which was the first warzone PvP arena announced, I think. So it's either that (I doubt it because I think there's more to warzones than they announced so far) or open world PvP (I believe one of the only other PvP videos we've seen was that cut video of people fighting on Tatooine and that looked open world).

 

[Zinga]

That latest video made me very excited for the game, seriously can't wait to play this

 

[gillty]

I think they've hinted that it will. Given that this is the most expensive game EA has ever made, I don't think they're going to be taking any chances with a new or experimental model.

A shame really because I think this game could do really well f2p with episodic mission packs. WoW combat (not even sure what this means anymore tbh) is getting very long in the tooth and this game looks like a carbon clone in that regard to the point where I'm not even sure if it would be playing more than a month at a time.

also those animations look jank as hell but its early so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt

 

[Takeda Kenshi]

EDIT: Apparently there is no PvP footage because no PvP occurred. I think it was only an announcement of Alderaan being the first battle between the imperial and republic forces, I guess. BioWare shut the video off right before the players were about to engage in PvP combat.

Arg what a total cock tease. Well at least I got to see some badass Imperial Agent armor.

 

[Shrennin]

Well at least I got to see some badass Imperial Agent armor.

Heh, since I'm going to be an Imperial Agent, I don't mind seeing some awesome IA armor at all.

I still want to see more gameplay though, I can't wait to see the recordings of the presentation to see just some walkthrough type gameplay.

 

[Speculator]

Recorded videos of the presentation on Askajedi and Torocast:

http://torocast.com/index.php/news/swtor-news/item/298-swtor-pax-2010-presentation-video
http://www.askajedi.com/2010/09/05/pax-presentation-video-screens/

 

[BattleMonkey]

The armor designs are a bit ridiculous and looking kinda WoW like in that regard, especially odd shoulderpads. Though it kind of fits the Tales of Jedi era, but then Kotor went with a more OT style of design instead of following the comics.

Guess 300 years later, big is in!

Also saw in one of the videos, a Kaleesh sith being shown, though it was an npc I think. Would be awesome if they make the Kaleesh playable race to choose from.