Assistant Designer David Staats, responded to an issue with Tatooine Stronholds. Apparently they are getting a higher maximum hook count from 500 to 1100 on the PTS. New stronghold hook limit is way too high | 06.11.2015, 02:17 PM Hi all, First and foremost, thank you for your feedback regarding the updates to the Tatooine Homestead hook increase. While this was something we did not officially post about, we are interested in your thoughts regarding the update. Let me take a moment and give some insight as to why we are looking at increasing the allotted hook cap for the Tatooine Homestead. While reviewing our Stronghold hook limits across all Strongholds, we discovered that Tatooine in particular was drastically lower in regards to the available hooks to total hooks ratio than the other Strongholds. This means that those who owned the Tatooine Homestead actually had far less hooks to utilize compared…
Changes to the Cartel Market — Tuesday June 09 –16. 2015
Here are the weekly cartel market items on sale for the week of June 02 – June 09 2015. New Items Price Helpful links HYPERCRATE: MID RIM EXPLORER’S PACKS 5400 MID RIM EXPLORER’S PACK 250 APPEARANCE OPTION: UNDERCUT 50 Price Change Old Price New Price Percent Change Normal Price Helpful links APPEARANCE OPTION: PIGTAILS 100 50 –50% 100 CYBER ASSAULT CANNON 600 300 –50% 480 STRONGHOLD LUXURY DECORATION BUNDLE 1632 1020 –38% 1326 R-30017 AIKION BLASTER 400 200 –50% 400 CAVERN VARACTYL 1200 2400 +100% 2400 Information from TOR FASHION UNLOCK: GUILD BANK ACCESS 300 600 +100% 600 VINDICATOR’S LIGHTSABER 200 400 +100% 400 Information from TOR FASHION GOING PLACES BASIC BUNDLE 250 375 +50% 375 VINDICATOR’S SABERSTAFF 200 400 +100% 400 Information from TOR FASHION
Star Wars Battlefront gets Anthony Daniels on board for C-3P0 duties
The famous Anthony Daniels, who played and voiced for C-3PO ever since the beginning of Star Wars, has stated that he will be involved in Star Wars: Battlefront. Mr. Daniels tweeted out recently: One day it’s the hilarious YODA CHRONICLES: the next, the astounding BATTLEFRONT! (Just the ying and yang of being C-3PO at the microphone). — Anthony Daniels (@ADaniels3PO) 5. juni 2015 Adding to this confirmation was @EAStarWars sharing Mr. Daniels tweet and stating, “We’ve got #C3PO.” Finding out that Daniels decided to play as C-3PO in the new game is not much of a surprise since he has acted as every single version of C-3PO from the very beginning. He was there in the main films, The Lego Movie, the Yoda Chronicles, and he will also be making an appearance in the upcoming Disney Infinity 3.0 as the Golden Robot character. The most surprising part of all is…
Update on 3.3 PTS Sorc/Sage Healing Changes
Due to player feedback, the SWTOR Combat Team has a few changes comming up for Sorcerer and Sage on the public test servers. Check it out below: Update on 3.3 PTS Sorc/Sage Healing Changes | 06.08.2015, 10:48 PM Hey everyone, Thank you all for the continued feedback over the weekend. We wanted to take a moment to give you all a preview of Sorcerer/Sage changes that we have planned for the next PTS patch based on your feedback. Below are our intended changes. Sith Inquisitor Sorcerer Consuming Darkness now activates instantly, restoring 50 Force (up from 30). The healing component has been removed. The original design of the ability was never intended to provide significant healing, and by removing the healing component entirely, we are able to restore a greater amount of Force (which helps us address concerns over low Force return). We also hope that removing the healing component from this…
Who Will Billie Lourd Play in The Force Awakens?
A lot of people were excited when we found out that Billie Lourd, the 22-year-old daughter of Carrie Fisher, would be in The Force Awakens. There have been a few rumors about her role, but we still don’t know a whole lot about what she’ll be doing. One of the first rumors was that she would play a young Princess Leia in a flashback scene, but that was debunked in an interview in May. Then there was some hearsay that she’d be playing Leia’s daughter, but she stated in a recent interview that this was wrong, too. Her statement that “[she] can’t tell you about [her] character, or lack of character” has some people wondering if her role will be a minor one, more of a cameo or even a role behind a mask. Considering that this will be her first professional acting role, this seems like a safe bet. But I’m…
SWTOR Dev Post – About Warzone Legacy Boxes
BioWare are now changing the current 99 warzone commendation legacy boxes to 100, 500, and 1000 commendation boxes. Apparently this has not been possible before dude to tech limitations. From Alex’s 2nd post, it seems like they converted WZ comms into a currency and so these boxes can hand out as many Comms as the devs would want them to give since its like basially a lockbox you get for credits. Instead of being randomized, its 1 set amount. Why they didnt make Comms a currency sooner is beyond me. Check it out below: About Warzone Legacy Boxes… | 06.08.2015, 02:42 PM We agree! The 99 limit is too low and it is that way because of tech limitations. Good news though! We got some new tech that is going to allow us to change things up. In an upcoming PTS refresh you will see the 99 Lockbox removed and…
SWTOR Dev Post – Let’s Play Some Warzones
BioWare will be hosting a 3 sessions of warzone testing, with the game developers on the Public Test Servers. People who are participate in the matches will get a small grant of cartel coins as a form of payment. Check it out below: Let’s Play Some Warzones | 06.08.2015, 03:54 PM Hey folks, One of the things we really wanted to make sure gets tested on PTS for 3.3, Warzones! With the first full weekend behind us, it is our goal to kick up the participation. So, let’s all get together later this week and play some Warzones together. When: Thursday, June 11th – 2PM – 5PM PDT Friday, June 12th – 2PM – 5PM PDT Saturday, June 13th – 11AM – 2PM PDT Where: Warzones! Queue up solo, or with some friends, for regular, non-ranked Warzones. What: Help us test PTS! In order to spice things up a bit… Multiple…
Star Wars: Battlefront will allow you to select different character heads
One of the biggest changes that we see so far in the upcoming Star Wars: Battlefront game is that it will allow for more customization options, when compared to the older games. After watching the reveal trailer we found out that it will offer customizable loadouts to give you a specific playing style and it will also offer emotes for your use. EA Star Wars tweeted out that not only will there be loadouts and emotes but you will also be able to customize your character heads. In the reveal trailer we see the Ishi Tib, Human Rebels, and the Sullustan, and all of these will most likely be customizable. However, we wonder if The Empire will be part of the customizable group. How will it work if they are customizable? It would not seem too real if you see a stormtrooper walking around with an imperial commander hat on. Many…
BioWare Writer Talks Gay Romances and Sexual Diversity in Gaming
BioWare’s lead writer and developer for Mass Effect and Dragon Age, David Gaider, has decided to address the popular topic of sexual diversity in video games. Gaider is a 16-year veteran of the RPG studio and he recently wrote for Dragon Age: Inquisition. He began his interview by going over his reaction after he learned that BioWare’s 2005 RPG Jade Empire would allow gamers to have gay romances. “I remember hearing about when they made that decision to put it in and I was floored,” Gaider told Video Game Sophistry. “I mean, I’m gay myself, so I felt it kind of odd when I heard about it, how shocked I was because I just never thought that part of my life had a role to play in work. Like I said, it just wasn’t done. I didn’t even really consider the idea, so when they made that decision it was…
Voss Shrine Sculpture to be available in SWTOR Game update 3.3
The decoration that has been missing since the release of Star Wars: The old Republic: strongholds – the Voss Shrine Sculpturewill be available in patch 3.3 from the reputation vendor: “Voss Shrine Sculpture” is it in game? | 06.05.2015, 03:23 PM Originally Posted by Ulytau This item is seen on decors list as an achievement reward so i searched all achievements i can see in the game but i was able to see this particular piece as a reward for any of them. Will there be an hint on how to get it? Hey Ulytau, I got some information on this from the team, and here are the details… The Voss Shrine Sculpture is incorrectly listed as coming from an achievement currently in the game. Here is the plan on where you can find it and how to get it: The Voss Shrine Sculpture will be available on the Voss Reputation…
SWTOR Patch notes for Game update 3.3 PTS version
BioWare is aiming to get game update 3.3 on PTS tomorrow, Thursday the 4th. Below are the patch notes: Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ PTS Game Update 3.3 All content and features on the Public Test Server are not final and are subject to change. Classes + Combat Jedi Consular Sage Noble Sacrifice has been redesigned and renamed Vindicate: Vindicate restores 30 Force and heals a friendly target. The cooldown has been removed and a 2 second activation time has been added. All Sages will need to visit their class trainer to attain Vindicate. Benevolence now has a base Force cost of 65 (up from 50) and its healing has been significantly increased. Rejuvenate now has a base Force cost of 45 (up from 30) and its healing has been increased. Force Mobility now additionally allows Vindicate to be channeled while moving. Seer Deliverance now has a base Force cost…
Creating the graphics of Star Wars Battlefront
DICE’s Technical Art Director, Ken Brown, received the news that he would be responsible for the upcoming design of Star Wars: Battlefront, he had mixed feelings. He was excited but also wondering how he could possibly create such a complex universe on screen. Once DICE told him their main goal was to replicate the universe as close to the original as possible, all of his worries vanished. “Doing it true to the source was the only way. Being respectful to Star Wars™ and doing it right was something I wanted to be a part of,” Brown says. Brown and his team have a hefty job of making Star Wars: Battlefront look as perfect as humanly possible. With the help of a technology called Physical Based Rendering and Brown’s passion to create this detailed world, Star Wars: Battlefront’s outlook is amazing. “From a rendering and a technical perspective, PBR refers to…
Yavin 4 Stronghold and Togruta Reveal First Look – SWTOR Dev Stream Recap
On 3rd of June the SWTOR Developer Stream showed to the gamers for the first time the new playable Species coming with Update 3.3 – Togruta. They also walked us through the new Stronghold on Yavin 4. Here are some of Vulkk’s notes. For more, check the video below. * The event was hosted by Community Manager Eric Musco and the Designer Tobby * There will be male and female Togruta. At this point the team is not ready to show Character Creation and details. * Togruta is targeted for release in Patch 3.3. Its date for now is 21st July 2015. * The new Yavin 4 Stronghold is very very big. Has decoration slots both inside and outside and many, many hooks. * The limitations related to GSH remain the same, meaning players with 4 Strongholds will have to deactivate one if they want to have Yavin 4. *…
An Update on Squelching and Credit Spam in SWTOR
Eric Musco passed on a fairly elaborate explanation around the credit spam that has been happening, and what BioWare are doing, right from a member of the Security Team: Hey everyone, I’m a developer attached to our security team, and that includes fighting credit farmers, exploiters, sellers, and spammers. Unfortunately we have to be pretty tight lipped about any of our security work because we don’t want ‘The Baddies’ knowing what we’re doing. The best kind of work we do is where players don’t realize we’ve done anything at all. I promise you, though, we do work hard at ensuring the game experience is fun from all sides, and that includes cutting down on spam wherever viable. One of the more frustrating kinds of spam players have reported recently was a new approach: Tell Spam. We noticed spammers sending massive numbers of tells to players around the server. The rate…
Star Wars Battlefront tease reveals Han Solo following E3 gameplay pledge
A recent picture of Han Solo’s DL-44 heavy blaster pistol was posted by the official EA Star Wars Twitter account and the comment “Keep it on the DL… 44,” was posted along with it. The heavy blaster pistol is seen wielded by Solo in the Star Wars movies and it seems like it will be featured in Star Wars: Battlefront. Solo also used it in Battlefront 2 but it seemed to not be as effective against the Sith character roster. The only confirmed characters for Star Wars: Battlefront so far are Boba Fett and Darth Vader. However, DICE developers have told fans that they will be revealing more characters in the next few months. It seems possible that there will be more heroes at this year’s E3 event in June and it could possibly even feature Han Solo himself. The Design Director of Star Wars: Battlefront, Niklas Fegraeus, confirmed during…
Changes to the Cartel Market — Tuesday June 02 – 09. 2015
Here are the weekly cartel market items on sale for the week of June 02 – June 09 2015. Items No Longer Available Helpful links HYPERCRATE: ACOLYTE’S SHADOW PACKS ACOLYTE’S SHADOW PACK Price Change Old Price New Price Percent Change Normal Price Helpful links APPEARANCE OPTIONS: HUMAN HAIRSTYLES 1 120 240 +100% 240 ADVANCED GREEN CORE INDESTRUCTIBLE CRYSTAL 250 500 +100% 500 Information from TOR FASHION CAVERN VARACTYL 2400 1200 –50% 2400 Information from TOR FASHION UNLOCK: GUILD BANK ACCESS 600 300 –50% 600 VINDICATOR’S LIGHTSABER 400 200 –50% 400 Information from TOR FASHION GOING PLACES BASIC BUNDLE 375 250 –34% 375 VINDICATOR’S SABERSTAFF 400 200 –50% 400 Information from TOR FASHION
Interview with BioWare’s Manager of Analytics – Stats and Game Design Decisions
Every now and then we get the privilege of hearing from representatives of BioWare quote player engagement stats in order to back up their game design. However, we have never been lucky enough to delve into the deep insight concerning their usage. If you have been curious or just flat out frustrated, Alex Tremblay from BioWare has all the answers you need in a recent interview. Olib: Can you tell us a little about yourself? Alex: Hi, my name is Alex Tremblay. I’m the Manager of Analytics here at BioWare Austin. I’ve been working on SWTOR since well before the launch of the game. This is the first time I’ve been asked to talk about the game and I have to say, I’m excited. Through data, I feel very, very connected to both our game and players, but rarely do I get to directly interact.
PvP Economy and Ranked Rewards Restructure for Game Update 3.3
The SWTOR Combat Team published a new blog post today about the upcoming PvP Economy and Ranked Rewards change for patch 3.3: 06.01.2015 PvP Economy and Ranked Rewards Restructure for Game Update 3.3 Hello PvPers! As some of you may have heard on the Bad Feeling Podcast, we are making a few changes to Warzones and Ranked Warzone Arenas. Alex covered several of these changes in the interview but for clarity, and as an official jumping-off point for discussion, we wanted to go over the changes and the reasoning behind them here. Please feel free to join us in the discussion thread linked below. Let’s get started! PvP Gear Cost We think that getting a full set of PvP gear is too much of a grind. This is so much the case that only about 2% of PvP players have a full Dark Reaver set. Having at least Exhumed gear is a barrier…
SWTOR GUIDE – Marauder Annihilation and Sentinel Watchman (Patch 3.2.1)
Greetings, Ladies and Gentlemen This is the 3rd Guide for Sith Marauder Annihilation and Jedi Sentinel Watchman Disciplines I make in a never-ending struggle to always cover the latest changes with my favourite class. We all know Patch 3.2.1 can easily be called “The Broken Marauder and Sentinel”, but in every evil and sadness, there’s goodness and positivity! In this over 35 minutes long video I have shared everything I could think of. This doesn’t mean there’s nothing to be added or maybe even corrected in the future if test results show better approach. I have structured it in 3 major parts: – Overview of the Changes to the Advanced Class in Game Update 3.2.1 – Gearing and Stat Priority, Skill Priorities (rotation is a bad word :P) – Personal Opinion, Analysis, Suggestions, Tips and Tricks It is the longest video guide I have ever produced. Even though some of the basics…
Upcoming PvP Changes comming to SWTOR
The bad feeling podcast had the chance to sit down with Alex Modny and discuss PCP changes comming with game update 3.3 I encourage you to listen to the podcast, as it includes more stuff then in the notes below. There are some discussions on how new warzone maps get designed from start to finish for example. Podcast link to listen (1hr long) Notes: General Alex Modny (Systems Designer) and Eric Musco are present from Bioware Most of these changes will be coming with Game Update 3.3. No new PvP maps coming anytime soon. GSF is not dead, they might be doing some balance changes in the future but no plans for new game modes or new maps. They are changing AoE in warzones – they can no longer interrupt captures. No more force storms, Death from Above, Death Field etc. AoE CC still work to interrupt captures. This change is…
Bioware need your feedback on Strike Fighters
Alex Modny took on the official forums, asking for feedback on Galactic Strikefighter expansion, beginning with the Strike Fighter class: Let’s talk about Strike Fighters | 05.28.2015, 08:36 PM Howdy Flygirls and Flyboys! I’ll be blunt. Strike Fighters need lots of love. The original design is that they are the Jack-of-All and Master-of-None but they have filled out this role too well and because of it are rarely a compelling option. We want to talk about how Strike Fighters can be made into a good option to bring in any match, by any skill level. We have some ideas of what we want to do with them but because this community is always very impressive with communication and feedback we want to get your thoughts on what you think is the best course of action. We know there are some fantastic threads and posts aplenty that already covered this information…
Maybe it should not be called Star Wars: Battlefront?
EA and DICE seem intent on breaking my heart. First there’s the announcement that their upcoming Star Wars: Battlefront title won’t feature any prequel content. Understandable. Then there was the neglecting of a single player campaign, Galactic Conquest Mode, space battles, and drivable AT-AT walkers: basically unforgivable. But I still held out hope. “This is a Star Wars Battlefront title, I have to believe…” Recently, DICE announced that the new game title will be replacing the class system of the older Star Wars games that have unlockable weapons and gear. We want you to ask yourself a question, what parts of this new Star Wars game makes you think it’s a Battlefront title? The title of the game, that’s it. Besides the fact that you will be shooting things in the Star Wars setting and landscape, this game does not have any features that made fans fall in love with…
Sims 4 Patch Adds More Star Wars Costumes
After The Sims 4 was released in September of last year, it was criticized for having little content, which includes toddlers, swimming pools, and family trees. After a few updates quite a bit has been added to the game, making it the game it was hoped to be. The latest patch fixes bugs, and adds new features, including several new Star Wars costumes to celebrate Star Wars Day. The new Star Wars costumes that have been added to the game are Boba Fett, Aayla Secura, and Darth Maul. You will find these new costumes under “Styled Looks” in Create a Sim.
See How the First Lightsaber Was Designed
You can’t think about Star Wars without thinking of lightsabers. Even non-fans will think of sabers when they hear “Star Wars”“. Yahoo Movies has an interesting piece for us, complete with video, that tells how the first lighsaber was designed. Gwynne Watkins tells us: Star Wars set decorator Roger Christian always knew that the lightsaber would be one of his most important creations. It was the Excalibur of George Lucas’s universe, the weapon that would save the galaxy. There was just one problem: He had no idea what it should look like. In this exclusive behind-the-scenes clip from the Star Warsdigital collection (available on multiple platforms Friday), Christian demonstrates how a discarded piece of camera equipment led to his iconic design for the lightsaber. Christian, who won an Oscar for his work on Star Wars, tells Yahoo Movies that the special effects department’s early designs for the lightsaber looked like…