Let’s Blame Walt Disney For the Inferior Star Wars Prequel Trilogy!

It seems we have Walt Disney, or more appropriate his corporation to blame for the relative poorness of the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy thanks to their forceful backing of a 1998 change in copyrighting law that saw the period of copyright protection extended to “the lifetime of the author plus 70 years” (having originally been just 28 years). Because of that change, George Lucas was able to continue his vice like grip on the Star Wars universe, like a beardy Darth Vader, only with more success in the taking-over-the-galaxy stakes. According to the excellent, enigmatic CP Grey: George Lucas was completely within his rights to make those movies into the sterile, toy-marketing vehicles they were. He owned Darth Vader and could tell the origin story as he wished – and that’s the only version you’ll ever get to see. He goes on to muse about what fantasy world delights would…

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PAX Prime 2011: Open World PvP Announced

Another big announcement from the BioWare Sunday panel at PAX was Open World PvP on the ice planet Ilum featuring a war torn battlefield where players take down turrets to invade the enemy base. While is has been mention before that there would be some kind of open world PvP, it’s the first time it was addressed by BioWare officially. Here is a rundown: Open world pvp: Ilum first. Objectives, bases to capture. Players can take over turrets Side that gets control will get Valor and other things. Ask A Jedi uploaded a video of the big reveal:

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Game testing weekends begin next week – September 2nd!

You properly already head it, but BioWare revealed that the Beta Testing Weekends are beginning on September 2nd for a select few who registered on the game’s website. This news was announced earlier today at PAX Prime, including the fact that even those who didn’t pre-order can have an equal chance to participate. That’s next weekend guys! Senior Live Producer Blaine Christine told the crowd that they will be adding a brand new testing server and inviting a whole new group of people, who haven’t been testing before. He also mentioned that if you don’t get in next weekend “you should be getting in very soon.” Ask a Jedi Uploaded a movie with the announcement:

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Another Update on the Star Wars Collection Blu-Ray

The release date is now so close I can almost taste it, and following last week’s revelations surrounding the specifics of the Blu-ray extras, we now have a little more detail as to what we will be getting when the collection arrives on shelves next month. So, here’s a handy list of stuff we now know, thanks to TheDigitalBits and StarWars.com: The image size has been increased According to TheDigitalBits, the original DVDs of the Prequel Trilogy used a reduced frame size thanks to the limitations of technology at the time, and that has now been addressed, as the images below indicate. The first is of the DVD image, and the second of the new Blu-ray: the size difference may not be huge, but it is definitely noticeable. 2. The image quality of the Prequels will naturally be bettered thanks to improvements in the technology of transferring from the source….

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PAX Prime 2011: Gabe Amatangelo interview

The Totally Rad Show has uploaded an interview with with Lead PVP and Endgame Content Producer Gabe Amatangelo (My god he has a long title these days). The interview contains a lot reconfirming stuff, but also has some new info on social mechanics in the game, that BioWare is working on right now. Basically we can expect to see stuff like Space Station Hubs to gather your team before you jump into Flashpoints or Operations. Not a bad idea that I actually like  rather than LFG+Teleport type approaches many other MMORPG’s use. Though he did mention they may look at queuing if needed after launch Seasoned WoW player Alex Albrecht reviews the upcoming Star Wars MMORPG, The Old Republic. But what we really are interested in is the specially-created endgame content, and we’ve got all the details!

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SWTOR vs. WoW – How They’re Similar, and How They’re Not (Infographic)

We often compare SWTOR With World of Warcraft. Some might ague that this is wrong as it is two different games in two different settings. While I agree with that argument, it’s only fair to say that World of Warcraft is the dominating MMORPG in the world and there for the only game to compare against when we talk new MMO’s, and there is no question that these two games will come head-to-head in the MMO battle of the decade. Gamefront.com has put together this chart showing some prevalent features and which of the two titles possess them. Check it out:

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Pax Prime 2011: Sith Sorceror PvP Gameplay

Darthhater captured some Alderaan Warzone PvP action showing some Sith Sorceror PvP Gameplay in SWTOR. If you pay attention to the movie, it looks like he only use the same two skills over and over. This is not the case though – He uses every skill that’s available to him. It’s just that they all have some kind of lightning animation, so they all look the same. Madness spec almost gets worse higher up in the talent tree. A lot of people will just spam Force Lightning (3s channel, dd/snare,power return, two hand anim) and then a bunch of instants when they are up. I still think it looks fun, especially with Corruption hybrid spec. Check it out below:

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Jedi Knight Vs Sith Inquisitor Video = EPIC!

The boys over at TGN.TV are hard at work making SWTOR videos pre-launch. They just released their first installment of the new “Versus” series in which Advanced Classes get compared side by side in a “Deadliest Warrior” type of format. The graphics were made from scratch by the team at Red Rancor (a fellow SWTOR Fansite) and the intro music was custom made by Music Drake. I hope that they make one of these videos for every advanced class, especially Smuggler and Imperial Agent 🙂 Let us know in the comments below what classes you want to see pitted against each other in the future episodes. Do you think that the Guardian would easily take down the Sorcerer 1v1? It is hard to tell pre-launch, but sure is fun to speculate. Enjoy the video below friends!

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Dr. Ray Muzyka: We are Beta Testing the crap out of SWTOR

pcgamer.com spoke to Bioware co-founder Dr. Ray Muzyka at Gamescom this year about Bioware’s impressive lineup of upcoming games. Apparently BioWare are “testing the crap” out of Star Wars: The Old Republic, trying to squash every bug and glitch that they can find in TOR’s enormous world before it’s eventually released. Send over a few Beta test and we will be happy to help out:) Checfk out the full interview below:

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Intergalactic Intel: Community

Looking for Friends! Rafe is a 20 year old, who lives in Tennessee. He plays complex characters and always challenges people to do their best. Zach is a college senior in digital animation, from California, his nick name Heal-bitch-2000. Gene is single mother of three. She spends her time in Stormwind recruiting for her guild while working full time. What do these people have in common? Every week we’re willing to sit down in front of a computer The key to having fun with any MMO, or any game for that matter, is community. Everyone starts off with the one real life friend on their buddy list. Maybe one or two people they’ve been introduced with. But usually they are on their own. While not a bad way to start an MMO, but when I tell people you should try an MMO. I really mean is gather a group of…

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PAX Prime 2011: Alderaan Warzone PVP Videos

Pax has been on for a day now, and the first videos has hit youtube. TORWARS, have been really active already and uploaded 3 movies showing different battles from the Alderaan Warzone. The first one, uploaded 20 min ago, shows Commando vs Mercenary pvp combat: This next one showes s Jedi Sentinel vs s Marauder, and later fighting a Sith Juggernaut: And finally this video shows a Trooper vs an Assassin:

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BioWare: The Old Republic will be “one of the biggest launches ever in the history of gaming”

Eurogamer explains how EA is waiting to make the announcement of a release date for when they are sure the game is ready to “pull the trigger” after they spoke with them at Gamescon last week. BioWare co-founder Dr. Greg Zeschuk explained that it was vital from day one – whenever that may be – to ensure the game was “available, reliable, [and] really solid”. He said: “We’re doing our very best to get it out as fast as we can. With a game like this, getting it all right, getting all the server stuff right is just as important as getting the game right.”” Thousands of people are waiting to play the game and while we are all super excited to finally have it for ourselves, we share the sentiments that we don’t want a launch until it’s properly prepped and ready to go. But just how much longer…

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Classes, Advanced Classes and Roles

We stumbled across this great photo from Star Wars MMO Leveling Guide that shows the classes, advances classes and roles. It’s a great visual although we don’t really agree with the class popularity and faction popularity though. As this photo shows, there is the complete breakdown for each class, including what their role is and the weapons that they get and more. If you still were not sure what you wanted to play, this little guide rocks for helping you get the perfect visual and helping you to figure out what class is the best choice for your needs. So what do you think? Does this change what you had in mind to play or solidify the choice you had already made?

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No same sex relationships with companions in SWTOR

SWTOR won’t have same sex relationships with its “companions”, but what’s the big deal? To some people, it is a very big deal. This piece on MMORPG.com discusses the topic in full detail. The big news came from Gamescon and some fans were not too happy about it at all where others were asking “What’s the big deal anyway?” For some people, it was a very big deal indeed. Here is a portion of the article: “I won’t go into the reasons BioWare has for not including this option (did they give one?), but I’d like to comment on why it’s such a big deal in the first place. I’m straight, not narrow. And while there wasn’t (that I know of) any same-sex relations in either trilogy, I’m willing to bet there have been a few instances of such things in the bazillion books which have been written. Is there…

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Friday Update: Eternity Vault Developer Walkthrough

Today’s Friday update comes in the form of a developer walk throug of the Eternity Vault. Once again Dallas Dickinson is the host – this time of a high level Operation in Star Wars: The old Republic. During this video Dallas Dickinson provides commentary on the encounters players will face in this large endgame Raid. Throughout the video we see multiple class abilities, from the Bounty Hunter firing rockets, to what seem to be combat rez. A prison discovered buried in the ice on Belsavis is thought to house an ancient and deadly evil that could threaten the galaxy. To counter this threat, General Threnoldt dispatches Imperial forces to investigate the prison and confront the dangers within. Watch as a group of players work their way towards the prison gates in the opening section of the Eternity Vault, one of the high-level Operations in Star Wars™: The Old Republic™. Check…

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SWTOR will not require Origin

It’s been a topic tossed around the SWTOR communities for some time and Stephen Reid, Senior Online Community Manager for SWTOR finally clarified it once and for all on the official forums. SWTOR will not require Origin to be played: “Regardless of what other games may choose to do in their integration with Origin’s desktop client, here’s what our situation is: You are not required to use the Origin desktop client to download, patch or play the game client for Star Wars: The Old Republic. This applies whether you purchase The Old Republic via Origin.com or from a retailer in boxed form. You will not be forced to install the Origin desktop client. There are still various consumer benefits to the client itself, but it’s not required for The Old Republic.”   So there we have it, folks! The issue is done but surely, some people will still find something…

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LucasArts Post Job Openings for New Open World RPG

It’s been awhile since we’ve heard anything about a new game from LucasArts but it appears that could be about to change. Metro.co.uk talks about a job listing that indicates there is a new “open world” RPG in the making. This is exciting news but it also raises a lot of questions and peaks the curiosity of all types of gamers. The last title released by LucasArts was “Star Wars: The Force Unleashed II”, which seemed to leave a lot to be desired for many gamers. The idea of a new game is exciting for many. There’s no way to know if this will be something related to Star Wars, Indiana Jones or something completely different. Job ads are the most dependable source when it comes to leaning about new games but they’re very vague about the information they provide. It simply states that LucasArts is looking for more people…

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The Guild Sphere: The Force Reapers

Today I have to pleasure introducing a real role playing guild with own guild story. Check out the interview with  The Force Reapers below: Where did your guilds name come from? I am a Mass Effect and BioWare fan. So took Reapers. Then the force. Force Reapers. Right simple but it became popular and suits us. Can you give me a quick 2-3 sentence description of your guild? Our guild is for role players. We have our own story. We have ranks. We want nice and loyal players. Each class has its role in our Guild. People who can Star Wars and want to take a role in the story. We support the Empire but we don’t like the Sith and they don’t like us that much. How did your guild come about? Me and some friends were longing for the game and wanted to role play and I love to fiddle…

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Beta tester/Former professional game tester reviews SWTOR

Here is one of the most interesting SWTOR beta reviews I have read yet. This Beta tester/Former professional game tester posts their experience with SWTOR on Reddit. It begins: “I’ve been in beta for about two and half weeks and I used to work for a large and famous video game company as a game tester. I would like to think I know a little bit about testing games, but this is just a general outline of what I think of the game and where it’s heading.” The review goes on to tell us what SWTOR is: “A really solid MMO that will be successful. Simply put, there is nothing that WOW does better, and the baseline for TOR leaves a lot of room for improvement and fun. Unless something insane happens and the game goes off the deep end, I don’t see it failing like most MMOs.” And then,…

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Facebook Image of The Week #26

BioWare relased this weeks Facebook image late today, but here it is: The Jedi Shadow stands alone after an intense battle inside an Imperial encampment. There is a pretty interesting comment on Facebook regarding the picture: I wish the sentinel and shadow switched weapons, it just seems more appropriate for a stealth character to have two singles rather than a double I totally agree.

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SWTOR: Why it Must Succeed but Why It Must Also Fail

Over on Massively, we found an excellent read on why The Old Republic must succeed, but also why it must fail. It’s a Soapbox column with some very valid points about TOR. It begins: “Disclaimer: The Soapbox column is entirely the opinion of this week’s writer and does not necessarily reflect the views of Massively as a whole. If you’re afraid of opinions other than your own, you might want to skip this column. So there’s a game coming out called Star Wars: The Old Republic. Maybe you’ve heard about it once or twice. It’s no secret that a lot of people are excited to see what BioWare’s long-anticipated title will do once it’s finally released. The title has had a huge amount of time and money poured into its production, extensive voice acting, countless demos and revelations and debates… all without having yet amassed a substantial playerbase. What happens…

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James Arnold Taylor’s One Man Show

James Arnold Taylor is an amazing voice impersonator and voice-over actor who has a long and talented career. You can take a look at the “Talking to Myself” video he did (Obi-Wan & Beyond“.) when performing at Disney’s Star Wars Weekends 2011, to see for yourself just how talented he is. It’s amazing how he can be the voice of so many well-known characters and sound so different. If you’re not familiar with the name James Taylor, you’re sure to recognize many of the voices he portrays. Throughout his career, he was the voice of many favorite cartoon characters such as Fred Flintstone and Johnny Test but his talent stretches far beyond cartoons. He is the voice you hear on many commercials and video games and you might not even know it. He is the voice of the famous Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars. One of the most well known…

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