8/20/10 5:59 PM -
by Staff
, posted August 20th, 2010 at 5:59 PM
This week's Friday update is now online:

Whether you're looking to dominate the galaxy in the name of the Empire or rescue it from darkness as part of the Republic, you wont get very far without a starship. In Star Wars: The Old Republic, your starship will be your base of operations, and it might even be your best friend. Ship models are specially designed to match the needs and tastes of each of the class types, so even though all the starships are outfitted for traveling the galaxy, each has its own character.

Study the style and specifications of the various Starships by accessing the HoloNet now!

You will notice these Starships have been dissected from the Space Combat Video that came out earlier this week. As well as Starships there are new polls available for your perusal. The poll questions are:


As always, we look forward to seeing the results of the new polls.

There is also a Fan Friday featuring artwork from community members Wraloa and Kiuas, a fan-created video from Tukor, a showcase of a community RP thread, and more new avatars.

But most importantly, the Developer Corner outlined everything announced during our Gamescom presention about Advanced Classs (where we failed the "let's see how many data points we can write down in 20 seconds and if we can read our own handwriting" test -- self-depreciating humor there folks, but you can now see why we had some stuff missing), and new concept art that seems to show HK-47, or at the least a model of his same type.

Aurebesh translations after the jump.
 
7/8/10 1:20 AM -
by Dover
, posted July 8th, 2010 at 1:20 AM
A few weeks ago the Darth Hater team descended on E3 with a ravenous desire to learn about Star Wars: The Old Republic. With so many hands on deck, we were able to gather large quantities of data for the TOR fan community, and we shared much of this information in our articles, a group podcast, and even a packed live Q&A. The best part of this entire experience is that, after all of our coverage, there is still more to share.

 
6/28/10 1:46 PM -
by sado
, posted June 28th, 2010 at 1:46 PM
Our dissection of the Star Wars: The Old Republic content released during E3 is now online. As in our prior dissections, we will add new content in as we find it, so keep checking back. Feel free to let us know if you notice something we missed, and we will be happy to add it to our dissection with credit. Note: If something is mentioned in a prior dissection, then we do not reiterate it again here. Low bandwidth users should note there are numerous images contained in this article.
 
6/16/10 1:58 PM -
by Zenkei
, posted June 16th, 2010 at 1:58 PM
To kick off the start of E3 BioWare showcased their new cinematic trailer, "Hope." Since BioWare seemingly never releases content without gameplay hints or marketing designs inside their message, it is appropriate to dissect. Below you will find what we saw and thought and for now, without pictures to ease the load on the site.

1:28- Trooper fires green lasers with two-handed gun, contrary to the normal red, perhaps indicates the modifiers last seen in the combat video dissection.
1:33- Grenade launcher confirmed as a possible weapon choice for Trooper?
1:40 - Malgus uses a Force Pull ability
1:56 - Malgus, a Sith Warrior, using Force Lightning
1:59- Trooper seemed to be able to resist the Force Lightning and actually press forward, attempting to attack with a knife.
2:34 - Sith wearing a mask, perhaps an indication of end-game gear
2:40 - Jedi Consular using Force Repulse (or something similar) and it only affects enemy targets, not friendly
2:49 - Jedi Consular using a staff lightsaber, lightsaber engravings
3:19 - Jedi Consular using the force to affect the environment (tree)
3:35 - Lightsaber snaps in half, and general damage to armor of main characters hints at an equipment damage/repair system
3:39 - Jedi Consular seemingly solidifying Malgus' lightsaber (you can see the cracks) and the lightsaber isn't passing through her hand
3:41 - The lightsaber Malgus is using has an unusual extension that covers part of the lightsaber at the base
3:52 - The grenade explosion is blue, non-lethal at close range. Is it the cryoban genade we have seen before in the combat video dissection?
4:02 - Malgus' armor blackened and severly damaged from grenade explosion (perhaps wear & tear on gear is visible)
4:17 - Jedi Consular using charged up Force Push
4:19 - Force powers affecting the environment again (rocks) similar to what we noticed in the combat video dissection.
 
6/16/10 2:56 AM -
by Misenus
, posted June 16th, 2010 at 2:56 AM
Here at Darth Hater, we are known for our painfully thorough dissections of the nuts and bolts that make up Star Wars: The Old Republic. During our hands on time this Tuesday, we furiously scrambled to record as many facts as possible. Our own personal impressions will be coming shortly, but first we wanted to make sure the theorycrafters could get some real facts to sink their teeth into. Here are some of the key facts we discovered with our hands on time with the Imperial Agent, Trooper, Smuggler, Sith Warrior, Sith Inquisitor, and Bounty Hunter.
 
6/11/10 8:55 PM -
by sado
, posted June 11th, 2010 at 8:55 PM
Gamespot posted an exclusive hands-on article of Star Wars: The Old Republic. The link to the article is located below.

Highlights after the jump.
 
5/28/10 10:02 AM -
by Misenus
, posted May 28th, 2010 at 10:02 AM
As previewed yesterday, another Game Systems menu item appeared this morning: Companion Characters.

Every Star Wars hero needs a companion. Han has Chewie, Luke has R2-D2 -- even Jabba has the cackling monkey lizard Salacious B. Crumb. These characters will compliment your strengths or weaknesses, and provide company for the epic journey you will inevitably undertake. Whether they're combative, friendly, flirtatious, or even just good for a laugh, they always contribute to your development and serve as a sounding board for your choices. In Star Wars: The Old Republic, a variety of these Companion Characters will join your cause.

Learn more about Companion Characters and how they can shape and enhance your game play by visiting the Game Systems section!

Read up on Vette, a female Twi'lek companion you might meet up with in game if you roll a Sith Warrior.

Aurebesh: A Gift From Lord Baras, Risha's Sister, Star of Kala'uun (credit to Drom)

And speaking of the Sith Warrior, the class' HoloNet section is revamped with a new class icon, animations, a different layout, and expanded information:
Wondering how you will be able to customize the Sith Warrior to fit your specific play style? We are excited to confirm the two Advanced Classes for the Sith Warrior: The Juggernaut and the Marauder! Whether you want to charge into the fray as a Juggernaut, punishing your adversaries while protecting your allies, or slice through enemy ranks with two Lightsabers and unmatched aggression, the Advanced Classes system in Star Wars: The Old Republic will give you the power to match your play style.

In conjunction with the Companion Character section released today, we present you with one of the Sith Warrior's Companions -- Vette! You can learn more about this known associate on the Sith Warrior page or by accessing Vette's biography.

Check out the newly updated HoloNet to get details about the Advanced Classes available to the Sith Warrior. Also be sure to visit the media section for a new video featuring the Sith Warrior as well as some screenshots showing the Juggernaut and Marauder in action!

Sean Dahlberg's response to the spoiling aspect of revealing companions:
Solar is correct. As in the Companions section, each class has a completely unique set of Companions. That said, we will not be telling you about each of them right now. Some of them are surprises and might ruin the fun in learning who can and who can't be your companion. The ones we do highlight are generally the companions you will meet early on in your adventures.

And yes, Vette is indeed a companion available for the Sith Warrior.
 
5/27/10 3:04 PM -
by emlaeh
, posted May 27th, 2010 at 3:04 PM
Head over to IGN for a preview of tomorrow's Star Wars: The Old Republic update and an interview with BioWare's James Ohlen on Companions.

IGNPC: Can you give us a few specific examples of how companions might impact a particular player's experience?

James Ohlen: Companion characters have a significant impact on the player's experience. They are integral to the player's storyline. They interject during conversation to give the player their view on things. They give commentary as the player explores the world. They are an important part of combat, providing extra DPS, healing, tanking abilities or even crowd control.

IGNPC: Companions play an important part in the story, but they also impact the player's gameplay options. What types of tactical contributions will companions be able to make?

James Ohlen: Companions add a lot to a player's combat capabilities. Each companion has a specific role, whether it be additional DPS, tanking, healing or crowd control. Companions also have special abilities that can be activated to significantly change what's going on during a battle. One companion might lay down suppressing fire, giving the player some breathing room to escape or turn the tide of the battle. Another companion might trap a tough enemy in an energy bubble, allowing the player to use a divide and conquer strategy in a battle. Players can also equip items to his companion character. This includes standard gear such as armor and weapons. Additionally, what a player equips to his companion can change the companion's behavior.

The screenshots included in the article feature a Trandoshan paired with what appears to be a Jedi Consular and a Jedi Knight paired with a Republic T-7 Astromech.

UPDATE: Earlier today Gamespot published another quick look at the Sith Warrior. The video included in the article reveals minor story spoilers and also shows multiple Sith Warrior abilities in action, all while enjoying the classic "Duel of Fates" music. We also appear to see the Sith Warrior operating a speeder bike at 1:14.


In addition to the new video, the article appears to reveal a few game play facts including a companion character name Vette who is a Twi'lek pirate, and possibly that Nar Shaddaa will be an included location. Highlights below.

One of the Sith Warrior's companions will be Vette, a wisecracking pirate of the Twi'lek race (the humanoids with those crazy tentacles growing out of their heads, like Bib Fortuna from Return of the Jedi) with a dark past.

...the young pirate found a new lease on life on the smuggler planet of Nar Shaddaa, where she meets your character and comes across as a character who has both a cynical side as well as a lighter side that comes out when people around her take themselves too seriously...

Sean Dahlberg on all of the 'Sith Love':
Both the Allegiance and Class polls have shown things to be pretty even at this point. Granted, this is only a segment of the community but it's a good sampling.

We also plan on giving the Republic their moment to shine. I can't get into the exact reasons as to why some things are released before others (and there is a variety of reasons for different assets) but we also have a lot of "Republic" people on the team, too.

So, while the proof will be in the pudding (an expression, we're not actually giving out pudding. Sorry.), the Republic will definitely get their due. And Soon(TM)

Working Dissection after the jump.
 
5/14/10 10:08 AM -
by sado
, posted May 14th, 2010 at 10:08 AM
Sean Dahlberg sends word of this week's updates:

Principal Lead Writer Daniel Erickson talks about creating the world of Voss in Star Wars: The Old Republic!

In the latest developer blog, "Creating Worlds," Daniel Erickson goes into detail about the process behind creating Voss. He includes some of his notes collected during the process and expands on the sheer amount of documentation that is generated for each of the worlds created for the game.

In addition to the new developer blog, the Game Systems section of the official website has been launched. The Advanced Class System is the first entry in this new section.

Today we are revealing a new area of the website called Game Systems. This area talks about various features from a gamer's perspective. Our first section in this new area discusses the Advanced Class System.

The Advanced Class System grants you access to unique skills and abilities, and is designed to allow you the flexibility to customize your characters to fit your play style. For example, all Smugglers are lucky, opportunistic swindlers. But, do you want to be the kind of Smuggler that sneaks into the middle of a firefight and quickly blasts away at an opponent from point-blank range? Or do you want to be the kind that keeps to the outskirts of the battle, strategically picking your targets from a distance?

These are just some of the meaningful choices that the Advanced Class System offers you to personalize and advance your character in Star Wars: The Old Republic!

This new section gives a summary of the concept behind the Advanced Classes and emphasizes how important choosing an Advanced Class will be in defining a player's character.

Images and things of note after the jump.
 
5/13/10 4:10 AM -
by sado
, posted May 13th, 2010 at 4:10 AM
A UK Press event took place during this week revealed quite a bit about the game's classes, trees, and more. Along with the hands on is information about the Advanced Classes, Species, and more. Listed below are links to the various outlets that attended:

Eurogamer: Advanced Classes, Hands on, Video
The Galactic Struggle: Hands on, Interview with Jake Neri
Strategy Informer: Interview with Daniel Erickson
Gamespot: Hands on, Interview with Daniel Erickson
VG247: Interview with Jake Neri
Edge Online: Interview with Daniel Erickson

As a caveat, you might want to read our class speculation article and the chart we made back in December.

Update: New high quality version of the Advanced Classes:


...each Advanced Class will have a further three branches of skills to specialise in (equivalent to World of Warcraft's talent specialisation options on a single class). The first two skill trees are particular to your Advanced Class, while the the third is a shared set of skills which expand on the core abilities of the main class. (Eurogamer)

Note: We will add other articles about the press event as we find them.
 
12/25/09 2:36 PM -
by Sleeper
, posted December 25th, 2009 at 2:36 PM
Today is quite a Holiday Present We get another Developer Dispatch showing how BioWare came up with the Sith Warrior and Sith Inquisitor, and we also get to see some PvP

Sean posted:

Inspired by notorious characters such as Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader, the Sith Inquisitor and Sith Warrior take different approaches to their rise to power. The Sith Warrior achieves victory through pure aggression and might while the Sith Inquisitor excels by cunning ambition and Force manipulation.

From storyline, to art style, to combat tactics, each design decision was made to support the dark side themes of power, domination, and destruction.

Watch Developer Dispatch: Designing the Dark Side, and learn how Star Wars: The Old Republic developers created this dominating force
.

Happy Holidays everyone
 
12/15/09 11:55 PM -
by Dover
, posted December 15th, 2009 at 11:55 PM
The history of the audio department at LucasArts is full of iconic video game moments. From Monkey Island to Knights of the Old Republic, the sounds coming from this studio tend to stand out. Thanks to Jake Neri, we were lucky enough to meet a few members of the LucasArts Audio Team while in California. In addition to a brief clip that will be featured on next week's podcast, they agreed to give us a written interview. We are pleased to bring you our interview with LucasArts on the audio of Star Wars: The Old Republic.