Posted by Kraevin | 0 comments

A Path to Success: Maps, and their Making

As our game testers play The Old Republicâ„¢ and we track their characters, they produce a lot of data – on everything from how long it takes them to move across a planet, to where they stop and look at the scenery. We bundle all this data together into what we call ‘metrics’.

Our design team loves metrics.

We love them because when designing a game, it’s one thing to say how things should be, but it’s quite another to see how things actually are. When we see metrics, we see exactly how the game is being played in pure numerical form. Getting this level of insight into what you’ve designed is often vindicating, invigorating and sometimes even humbling. Of course it can also be panic-inducing at times, too!

Let me give you an example. Some time ago, resident metrics enthusiast (and Lead Combat Designer) Georg Zoeller posed a simple question to the design team: “Which part of the user interface is opened more than any other when playing Star Warsâ„¢: The Old Republicâ„¢?” It was a simple question, but the answer wasn’t any of the UI parts you might expect: not our character sheet, inventory or the Crew Skills window. No, the winner was the World Map. And it won easily – by more than an order of magnitude. Let me tell you why.

To read the full article click on the Read More button below.

Posted by Evel | 0 comments

Friday Update: Sith Warrior Character Progression ...

Finally! A Friday Update worthy of a “update”. Today’s Friday Update features the Sith Warrior as he progresses in power in The Old Republic. This example provides a small glimpse of the armor progression for both the Marauder and Juggernaut Advanced Classes. Check out the video and sound off in the comments section or the official forums.

Additionally, Bioware has released a Developer Blog by Lead UI Artist Michael Voigt detailing the work that goes into creating the user interface in Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Posted by Evel | 0 comments

Friday Update: Advanced Classes Update

This week’s Star Wars: The Old Republic Friday Update is the Advanced Classes Update Developer Blog by Principal Lead Combat Designer Georg Zoeller. The update includes a deep dive from Georg Zoeller on the Advanced Classes in general, talent trees, abilities, and a few interesting metrics gathered from the testing program.

Posted by Evel | 0 comments

Friday Update: New Playable Species and New Timeli...

The Friday update is live and it is a real whopper!

Four new playable species including:  Sith Pureblood, Miraluka, Mirialan and Zabrak.  Here are a few screenshots that detail some of the announced species and what classes they can be.

Sith Pureblood Sith Warrior

Miraluka Jedi Knight

Mirialan Jedi Consular

Zabrak Sith Inquisitor

This weeks update also features a new Timeline based on The Madalorian Wars featuring Master Gnost Dural.

BTC 311 – Too often, the Mandalorian Wars are characterized solely as a prelude to the Jedi Civil War, but the events surrounding the conflict itself bear close examination. When Mandalore the Ultimate called together the clans and began augmenting his armies further with Neo-Crusaders, his intention was to pull the Jedi Order into open conflict. As is the tradition in their culture, the Mandalorians sought to establish themselves as the most powerful faction in the galaxy by defeating the faction they considered to be their greatest rivals. Though the Jedi Council resisted the Mandalorian challenge, the splinter group led by Revan and Malak eventually joined the fray and won the war. Though there has never been a hint that the Sith were involved in the Mandalorian Wars, new analysis from Jedi Master Gnost-Dural suggests that the influence of the dark side was involved. The bittersweet victory in the Mandalorian Wars took a toll on the Republic for which the price is still being paid to this day…