Friday Update Triple Blast

This Friday we see 3 updates in on shot.


First up is the long awaited Imperial Agent character progression video.







The operative looks like the rouge assassin using stealth, stuns and plenty of DOT's to get close and personal with there enemy's.
The sniper on the other has is just that a sniper mixed with the ability's you may find on an archer in other mmo's. 


Both these types of game-play I find highly enjoyable. They normally take a little longer to get used to, but once you master these classes you are a force to be reckoned with.




Early Game Access Details Revealed


The time set aside for early access will be up to 5 days a subject that has had a lot of speculation from the time the pre-orders were announced. 
And no sooner what this reveal up that the new speculation was when the game would be ready to download. Well at least the forums are consistent you can find the full update here. 

Friday Update - Voidstar And Warzone

This weeks update is the PvP warzone Voidstar.

 Its an assault type scenario like those found in Unreal Tournament. Two side one attacking the other defending a number of game or checkpoints if you will.

Once a checkpoint has been taken from the attacking team a everyone moves to the next checkpoint.

Now I do have to admit I live this type of game-play in UT and most are very entertaining with fast combat and ever changing objective.
Jet not all maps where that way some just down right sucked .

I've played mmo's in the past that had this very same thing. Mostly the checkpoints where castle games, walls and keeps. Get a little bit of this wrong and it can change a great game mechanic into a dead horse in seconds.

Unlike capture the flag scenarios which can run without much of a hitch assault maps can be totally screwed when just one part of the puzzle is lacking.

Its a very bold move to this type of play in TOR and I'm sure BioWare has put a lot of thought into the voidstar and how it plays.
This short clip shows us the smallest glimpse of what to expect.

Friday Update - OH BioWare You Tease !!!

Not happy with trolling e-mails BioWare has shown off a short glimpse of my soon to be CE box goodies.





All I can think of now (and have for some time) is it wont be long before I can run rampant in TOR none stop.

But teasing aside its nice to get a quick look at the items that come with the box. Not that I will care for them for some time as I live that Star Wars dream inside the game. Only another 59 days to go - early access.

Friday Update - Signs Of War Trailer And More

I did not think I would enjoy anther trailer with out some punted Jawa appearing somewhere with in the video. I'm somewhat pleased to say I enjoyed this one without the need to see Blizz getting shot off into the distance.

I can only hope that this is some how linked to in-game footage for these are the type of PvP battles that everyone I'm sure would want to be part of.

Web Page Update.

The SWTOR web page has got a new lick of paint with the addition of Game Systems. This brings in a new feature that is the operations. The page looks more user friendly and has a slicker cleaner feel to it.


Other stuff.

This Fridays update gave us the news that 20-12-11 would be the new global release date for TOR for all the EU players as well as the US. We also get a small heads up for the Paris Games Week.
This happens in just a weeks time and kicks off on the 21st of Oct.


The next event is a month away and that is DREAMHACK, on Nov 24th. No other dates have been pegged for this year as yet. So these two could reap lots of information and may be your last chance to test run the game before that all important launch. 

Release Date 20-12-11 For ALL

At long last the TOR release date is now going global and along with the US the EU will now share in the 20-12 release date.

I'm not sure why this seemed to be a problem with many game company's in the past, and they thought it was a necessity to have a split launch.

Let this be a lesson to all game company's that you do have to come up with half truths, for reasons why you can't push a games out in every country on the same day. It has long be known by gamers and retailers alike that there is no reason that a split launch is needed.

Its taken some time for the game company's to catch up to the thinking that the rest of us have. Yet this is a positive move from BioWare to shun the norm when it come to this outdated way of thinking.

Friday Update - Choose Your Side

This weeks Friday update brings us some very nice game footage of the  Jedi Knight and the  Bounty Hunter as they got head to head in a 1v1 battle. 


Both these classes have very different fighting styles one of close range the other like to damage from afar. 


Both have skills to take advantage of there chosen fight styles the Jedi can close the gap and the Bounty Hunter has stuns to gain some distance. 

Friday Update - Maps In Space

The final spot in the HoloNet has been filled with a space map.

Unlike the last map update this offering is good, in fact it's darn good. It may not offer any good usable new info but on the cool factor it score 9/10.

 

With planet views, ships with a quick overview coupled with the stunning gfx this is a very welcome addition to the site. 

If only BioWare could do this for the classes and other aspects of the HoloNet I think I would loose my freaking mind.

It's a huge step forward to making the TOR site look more like a gaming site that the fans want.

On This Day The EU Gets TOR Invites

Mark it off all on your calenders you EU people, today we got word that some of the 500,000,000+ living in the EU have been sent the TOR testing invite.

Chris Collins

 Today, we’re excited to announce that we are sending out a batch of invites! In particular, this initial batch marks the start of a series of invites to our larger European player base, who get the chance to join the Star Wars: The Old Republic Game Testing program and provide feedback during the months up until launch.

In other exciting news, we’ll be making further announcements in the coming days and weeks, as we update you on Game Testing on the European service. On top of that, we’ll also be announcing details around the upcoming Beta Testing Weekends!

With the launch drawing ever-closer, we’re more excited than ever to receive your feedback on the game to help make the launch as smooth as possible.

At long last the time has arrived that we here in the EU can check our E-Mails every hour and have  real hope that at sometime we may get the golden ticket from BioWare.

It's been a very long road to this point watching and hoping that we would be included in trying to make the game that we have followed for the last three years, just that little bit better.

It was not too long ago we found out we did not have localised servers here in the EU. This may have diminished your chances a little bit more of getting that invite. But now we are on an even footing with NA.

Sure the chance is still very low but now we have a very real chance. This is better news for me than that of the release date. After all we knew it was coming this year. And BioWare stayed true to there word, but they did manage to squeeze as much time out of 2011 as possible.

Gratz to all those that got in and good luck to all those still waiting.

See you in-game soon I hope :)

20.11.2011 NA 22.11.2011 EU Release date

At long long last just a little over 3 years from the announcement TOR has a a release date.


BioWare and LucasArts are pleased to announce that Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ will launch on December 20, 2011 in North America and on December 22, 2011 in the European Launch Territories! The announcement was first made by BioWare co-founders Dr. Ray Muzyka and Dr. Greg Zeschuk during their keynote address at the 2011 Eurogamer Expo in London, England. Speaking to a packed room of press and fans alike, Dr. Muzyka acknowledged the weight of the moment and the patience of the fans.

“This is an incredible moment for everyone at BioWare and our partners at LucasArts who have dedicated their lives to build this extraordinary game. We appreciate the patience from the millions of fans who have been waiting for the game’s release.”

Each copy of Star Wars: The Old Republic will come with 30 days of subscription time, after which you have the option to continue playing with one of the following monthly subscription fees:

• 1 Month Subscription: $14.99 (£8.99/€12.99)
• 3 Month Subscription: $13.99 per month (one-time charge of $41.97/£25.17/€35.97)
• 6 Month Subscription: $12.99 per month (one-time charge of $77.94/£46.14/€65.94)

Those who have pre-ordered the game and entered their pre-order code on StarWarsTheOldRepublic.com are eligible for Early Game Access. If you haven’t yet reserved your copy of the game, be sure to visit our Pre-Order page and secure your place in the Old Republic now!
We want to thank you for your continued passion, dedication and support. Though one part of this incredible journey is coming to an end, we are confident that you all share our excitement for this new beginning. Be sure to check back to StarWarsTheOldRepublic.com as well as our Twitter and Facebook pages for all the latest news and updates on Star Wars: The Old Republic.


So that's it, cancel your plans for now your time at this time of the holiday season has been fully booked.

The sub plan is on par with that of WOW's which many thought would be the case. Glad to see BioWare just rolled out the MMO norm on this one as anything more would of turned off a heap of potential players.

Now all that's left to do is book my holidays at work and I'm set. See you all in-game soon :)

Friday Update - The BioWare Bus

It's seems that lately that updates on TOR are like buses, you wait ages for one then 3 turn up at the same time. Though truth be told you only needed one of them and the other two just ain't going your way.

Well it's something new at least BioWare has left it's ground-hog-day that was GamesCon behind and moved forward.



The Smuggler Character Progression Video has to be one of the coolest around you do get the feeling that this class is going to be loads of fun to play. Being that he is going to be in way over his head for most if not all his game-play time.
It's going to be very compelling to play this class as your likely to be kept on your toes constantly trying to outwit the Sith.