Will there be a Star Wars Knights of the Old Republic movie? Many fans would be ecstatic to hear this is true but we can’t find any evidence that it’s valid. With Star Wars spinoff rumors in the mix, it’s easy to see how some could quickly believe this one might be true but Karpyshyn himself said on Twitter that he knows nothing about it. @agentjaspor @headgeek666 this would be awesome, but I haven’t heard anything about a #KOTOR movie. But I’m not at #bioware anymore so… — Drew Karpyshyn (@DrewKarpyshyn) February 23, 2013 Ain’t It Cool News, cited sources at BioWare and said that Karpyshyn was secretly working on a screenplay for a Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic feature film being developed by Lucasfilm. It’s a nice thought but doesn’t seem to be true. However, this wouldn’t be the first time a rumor was denied when it was leaked too…
Joveth Gonzalez leaves BioWare
Bioware Community Manager for Star Wars: The old republic, Joveth Gonzalez took the forums last night with a farewell speech. We do’t know who will take his place yet, or what it will mean for the SWTOR Community, but this is the 3rd community manager Star Wars: The old republic have had since it was first announced. We don’t know either if more BioWare layoffs is on the way, but Joveth Gonzalez tweets he is leaving his position at BioWare to follow new opportunities. And for those of you asking, I’m moving on to a new opportunity. More details, as always, SOON (TM) — Joveth Gonzalez (@Joveth) February 25, 2013
SWTOR Voice Actors Video
Do you want to learn more about the voice actors who play in SWTOR? Want to see who plays what and the other previous roles they have held? You might be surprised to see some of the people taking part in SWTOR. Here’s an awesome video (you may have seen before) that shows the voice actors for each playable class. Trooper – Jennifer Hale, Brian Bloom Smuggler – Kath Soucie, Maury Sterling Jedi Consular – Athena Karkanis, Nolan North Jedi Knight – Kari Wahlgren, David Hayter Bounty Hunter – Grey DeLisle, Tom Spackman Imperial agent – Jo Wyatt, Bertie Carvel Sith Inquisitor – Xanthe Elbrick, Euan Morton Sith Warrior – Natasha Little, Mark Bazeley music used in the video: Faster Does It from Kevin MacLeod’s
New world boss spotted on Corellia in 2.0
It looks like a new world boss have been added to Corellia in patch 2.0. The big guy goes by the name of Lucky and is a “Dread-Seeded Rancor”. Not much is known about him yet, but it’s apparently a pretty straight up tank-and-spank fight. So far there is no reports of any good loot. A few greens and level 9 mats. Hopefully they’ll fix that when 2.0 drops. Below is his stats: It looks like maybe 8 competent raiders could kill it in 63-66 gear? If so, it might be just a fun thing for casuals to be able to experience without having to gear grind. I find it strange though that it’s out on Corellia, when there’s no new content out there and nothing else for level 50-55 players on the planet. Maybe be course he is a “Dread-Seeded Rancor” and there is a bunch of evil growth, around the area were he…
BioWare Doctors to Speak on Sex and Video Games at GDC
BioWare writer David Gaider plans to tackle the issues of sex in video games at this year’s Games Developers Conference (GDC). He will be holding a talk called “Sex in Video Games”, which is explained below: Games have reached the point where realistic portrayals of sex and adult relationships are possible, but what does this mean to us as developers? How much responsibility do we have in addressing issues of sexism and sexuality, and are we inadvertently making statements about what is acceptable, even when we don’t mean to say anything at all? Our industry is struggling with a conflict between the desire to be taken seriously as an art form, and the desire to avoid addressing social issues because what we make are “just games.” These things have implications on our sales, and while they can be addressed, it can only happen if we are willing to acknowledge that…
The Gree Event and Star Wars Canon
If you’ve been enjoying the Relics of the Gree event, you’re not alone. However, this event has sprung some great conversation about the Gree and whether or not they are portrayed correctly within the game and the storyline in SWTOR. Is it accurate and keeping with the story and the timeline of events? Some players have questions about the legitimacy of the story and the rewards that come from these events. For example, we know that the Gree as a people are supposed to be far advanced but many of the galactic weapons and quest rewards don’t’ see all that amazing. It looks nice, yes, but it doesn’t seem to fall under the very rare and powerful that the Gree are best known for. And then there is the issue of the droids. In story, the Gree are known for disliking droids. In fact, it can almost be called a…
BioWare Doctors to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award at GDC
GDC 2013 is coming up soon and word has it the BioWare founders Dr. Ray Muzyka and Dr. Greg Zeschuk are getting a very special recognition- the lifetime achievement award. Personally, I’m happy to see them be recognized since the docs have really contributed a great deal to the gaming world, including SWTOR. BioWare founders Dr. Ray Muzyka and Dr. Greg Zeschuk have been responsible for the formation of one of the top RPG studios in the world. That creation has led to some truly fantastic games such as Knights of the Old Republic, the Mass Effect series, Baldur’s Gate, the MMORPG Star Wars: The Old Republic, and many more. Suffice to say, BioWare has crafted some of the greatest RPGs in gaming history, and at this year’s Game Developer’s Choice Awards at GDC, the founding doctors will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for their contributions to the art and…
UPDATE: SWTOR 2.0 Armor sets
With game update 2.0 – Rise of the Hutt Cartel live on the public test servers, we finally get the chance to see all the awesome new armor and weapon artwork. The Smuggler armor is sweet. The agent is cool, but I LOVE that Bounty Hunter helmet. Looks like the helmet from old Boba Fett concept art. If you haven’t already done so, you can read all about yesterdays update on Rise of the Hutt Cartel here, and check out the NEW 55 level Class Abilities Video here Update: Lightsaber from the-old-republic.ru mailed us a new video showing all the Arkanian gear sets in action. This is live demonstration:
Jawas gone wild! Hooded little creatures invade Xenoanalyst boss encounter!
It was supposed to be yet another Xenoanalyst hard mode operation for the Gree World event that ends soon… Most of the Alpha Strike Force guild group had never done this fight before and was in the process of figuring out its mechanics. The operation was on its third try and controlling the additional monsters (i.e. adds) attacking the group during the main fight was becoming the main issue.
SWTOR-RP Interviews Damion Schubert and Charles Boyd
They guys over at swtor-rp.com got a chance to do an Exclusive Q&A with Damion Schubert and Charles Boyd. The interview is of course about the upcoming Rise of the Hutt Cartel expansion, and being a Star Wars: The old Republic Role playing community, the interview covers mostly story and RP questions. Reading through the interview Interveiw we get the feeling the developers answered answered the questions prior to patch 1.7 as they speak about a major new system coming “sooner than you think””. The Q&A Also get’s around Makeb and the new Cathar race. Below is a snippet: SWTOR-RP: Is the planet Makeb a pre-existing planet in Star Wars canon, or is this a completely new planet in lore to be uncovered by players as they travel through it for the first time? Charles Boyd: Makeb is a completely new invention of the Star Wars: The Old Republic team, and personally as a writer, I can’t tell you what an honor it is to have a chance to add something…
Star Wars Rumor: Mark Hamill on Spinoff Movies and Returning to Star Wars
Mark Hamill’s movie “Sushi Girl” just went to DVD and Blu-ray this week and ET Online did an interview and talked to him about this release as well as his involvement in the upcoming Star Wars films. Specifically, they asked him what he thinks about those proposed spinoff movies. “It’s all very, very exciting and so unexpected,” says Hamill. “I think that’s the quality I like about it most – it’s like getting a pair of pants out of the closet you haven’t worn in three years and finding a $20 bill in the pocket. It’s just so unexpected.” They go on to ask him questions about whether or not he will appear in Star Wars Episode VII and he says “They’re talking to us” and that “George [Lucas] wanted to know whether we’d be interested. He did say that if we didn’t want to do it, they wouldn’t cast…
Stat Scaling for 2.0- Are Your Stats Lower on the PTS?
If you’ve logged into the PTS recently, you probably have already seen that the scaling is different from what is live in the game. Stats are usually around 50-70% of the character sheet value in live. Everyone on the PTS was aware that BioWare would be changing the scaling formula but we didn’t know exactly what that would be. Now with 2.0, you can tell what these changes are going to look like. One user on the forum has taken the time to work from the old formula and try to build new co-efficients that will govern the stat scaling (yes, lots of math involved but it’s really interesting.) Here are some of his breakdowns: Defensive Defense Rating – Now scales roughly 118% slower Shield Rating – Now scales roughly 50% slower Absorb Rating – Now scales roughly 127% slower Armor – Now scales 2.5% slower, but remains on a linear progression HP – Buffed…
Galactic Reputation System
Should you bother getting your Galactic Reputation up in SWTOR? The Galactic Reputation System was introduced to the game with the 1.7 update and it seems to have some interesting qualities. This new system offers two reputation groups that are shared by both factions and then both the Republic and the Empire have two more groups that are faction specific. Shared Factions Reputation Groups The Gree Enclave and the The Voss are the names of the reputation groups that are shared by both factions. The Gree is actually a new race of individuals. Gaining reputation with this race and becoming allies is something that both factions want and for good reason. Their technology is so advanced that it’s way above the existing technology the Galactic now possesses. Located throughout the “Relics of the Gree”, you’ll need to complete missions in IIum’s Western Ice Shelf to earn reputation with the Gree…
Two Spawn Locations for Droid: Ancient Gree Defender and Destroyer
You may not be aware that the droid that spawns near the pylon of the PvP area will also spawn in the southern section of the Western Ice Cliff. This image created by Clopsy of Jeddit will show you exactly where to find it, including coordinates. This is a great find since it makes it easier to catch the spawn. There are eight confirmed spawn locations here and the spawn rate is 7 minutes. Check out the graphic to see for yourself. Thank you Clopsy!
SWTOR 2.0 level 55 Class Abilities Video
The guys from the-old-republic.ru mailed us a bad ass movie showing off the new level 55 class abilities. There is no denying that the Russian guys have been quick capturing this video, so kudos for their work! Electro Net, Force Barrier and Double Saber throw look pretty awesome, and its great that agents and smugglers finally get real mobility. The sith sorcerer defensive bubble animation is also exactly how I’d imagine it–as the sith sorcerer uses all their energy to repel all attacks. Good stuff! Check it out below:
Patch 2.0 is now on Public Test Servers!
You got to give it to Bioware! Just when we thought we were done with Patch 1.7 and the Gree world event, they announced patch 2.0 is now available at the Public Test Servers for us to test. Newly-released screenshot from the new level 55 operation For (the few) who don’t know, patch 2.0 is part of the upcoming digital expansion: Rise of the Hutt Cartel. Among other things the new patch incorporates: New legacy achievements New level cap set at 55 New level 55 gear A new level 55 operation Upgraded level 55 flashpoints (Athiss, Hammer Station, Cademimu, and Mandalorian Raiders) Terror from beyond Nightmare Mode Class combat changes
Cartel Market – New Market Items with Relics of Gree
Are you looking to see which new items have gone live with the new update Relics of Gree? There are some new items on the Cartel Market. So here’s an overview of what the update brought. Classic Looks for Armor BioWare has listened to the players when it comes to classic looks on the armor and streamlining the appearance of gear and they are bringing back some classic versions of armor sets that many players really liked. You can now find classic versions of Spymaster, Phantom, and Trailblazer armor sets. Space Pirate Cartel Pack The Cartel Pack’s description: Extraordinary items appropriated from pirates all across the galaxy. Packs contain rare bonus items found nowhere else. Features a wider variety of exclusive items than any previous pack. Other Stuff! We also had Jawagrams for Valentine’s Day which seemed to be a big hit at only 20 Cartel Coins and new customization…
Sith Talk Episode 48: Wait were recording Oh we are
Sith Talk Episode 48 is now live with the title: “Wait were recording Oh we are””. This time they talk about what they have been doing while out of commission. their in game time as well as a bit of the news you may have missed out on. Sudo is back with a new episode. This time they covered so much we just can not list it all here. Check it out below: Also remember to folow them on Youtube, Facebook , Twitter and podomatic
BioWare Says Repair Costs Being Recalculated Due To Community Concerns
Online Community Manager Joveth Gonzalez made a post on the official swtor forums about the raise in repair cost we saw with Game Update 1.7. Many players were frustrated about this issue, as it was increasing repair costs by at least 33%. Before game update 1.7, repair costs were based on the shell of the item, and didn’t account for the level of the mods inside. Now they fixed it to properly account for all components. This made running operations very expensive for people with high end gear, and some people including some of my guild mates had to stop doing this content due to this. Clearly there is room for improvement, and it needed re-evaluated. Good on them for that. Hi everyone, Thank you all for your feedback on the changes to repair costs introduced with Game Update 1.7. Upon review, we agree with you that repair costs did become too high with this…
SWToR Gree Event analysis…or taking a closer look at gamer personalities.
The SWToR community never seizes to amaze me… Even though some limited negative examples tend to grab our attention every now and then (these exist in every community after all), there are certainly moments that you’re proud to be a SWToR gamer. A recent example of this is Ardonorrin who posted an interesting analysis over the official SWToR forums dealing with the recently launched Gree event as well as the types of gamers the event appeals to. What type of gamer are you? An explorer, an achiever, a socializer, or a killer? His analysis is based off the Bartle test, a character theory based on the observations of Richard Bartle, the father of online multiplayer gaming and takes a closer look at the different types of gamers and essentially what makes an in-game event successful. It’s definitely a very interesting read and offers a different perspective on gaming as a whole….
Relics of the Gree: World Event Guide
If you’re excited about the Relics of Gree world event or still trying to work your way through the quests, you’re in luck because there are guides available to help you see it through to completion. I’m all about writing guides for SWTOR but for this world event, Dulfy beat me to the punch and there are no better guides than Dulfy’s. She spends so much time in the game and test servers that her guides are thorough and complete. So with that said, rather than type up my own Relics of Gree world event guide, I’m going to point you in the direction of hers. You can find it on her website: Dulfy.net Here is her navigation, complete with links to take you to each section of the guide to allow you to jump forward or backward as needed. Navigation How do I get there? Gaining Reputation Missions World…
What are we fighting for?
Image by F0rmaldehyde Yes we here at SWTORStrategies know, Valentine’s Day is over. But that Hallmark/Nestle money making day has no ownership over love! Love exists throughout the entire year, at every hour, boundless, at the whim of our collective hearts. True lovers don’t need a special day to love. So too does this video which came out the day after Valentine’s. You’ll love it regardless of what day of the year it is. It’s a story of lovers, with in the empire, who dare ask the question: “What are we fighting for?” Thanks King Théoden, for your work. It was awesome.
Harrison Ford will Return to Star Wars in Episode VII
A new update in the Star Wars Episode VII scene is that Harrison Ford will be returning as Han Solo. We’ve told you about all the spin-off movie rumors, many featuring a young Han Solo and while though do sound interesting, for Episode VII, many fans are excited to hear that Ford himself will be back to play Solo. USA Today gives us the original source: Latino Review reporter Umberto “El Mayimbe” Gonzalez appeared on Fox News Latino today to break the news that Harrison Ford will definitely be back to reprise the role in Star Wars VII, slated for 2015. Rumors have been swirling since November, but Gonzalez is the first to claim he has confirmation. “I found out yesterday. I did my due diligence, like I do with everything. Triple checked. Legitimate sources…His deal is done,” Gonzalez said. Late last year when the news of Episode VII was first released, Ford did…
Relics of Gree New Updates
Patch 1.7.0b was deployed this morning. This small patch was to correct an issue with several Return of the Gree missions that would allow players to skip steps by accepting shared missions from groupmates (so no more shortcuts, peeps!) The hotfix also corrected the following Legacy issue: In order to prevent players from running into an unresolved issue with Legacy unlocks for Improved Priority Transport: Personal Starship from Global Unlocks > Other > Convenience, the ability to purchase them has been temporarily disabled until we find a permanent solution. These unlocks will be enabled again in a future patch, and players are still able to purchase and use the Legacy Character Perk for Priority Transport: Personal Starship. While many were disappointed the downtime didn’t correct some other (possibly more serious) issues and bugs, at least the servers were back up and running without too much delay. Via: Patch Notes Stay…