TT Volume 1.7 Concepts

“Never will you find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy”

Concept Art in Star Wars: The Old Republic

It is almost been a year since I was able to partake in the fun and mayhem that is Star Wars Celebration.  This was my second time being able to attend this event and I was overwhelmed once again by outpouring of fans that are always there to greet Star Wars with open arms.  Although living in Florida makes you somewhat immune to most heat, especially after having grown up in the corn fields of Central Illinois, the week of Star Wars Celebration was one of the hottest, stickiest, and nastiest that I have expierenced since moving to Florida, which with the crush of attendees almost gave it that lovely Comic-Con or PAX funk.

On Friday and Saturday we were treated to dual presentations on the Art and Writing in The Old Republic, hosted by Drew Karpyshyn, Hall Hood, Arnie Jorgensen, and Clint Young.  This presentation really revolved around Arnie or Clint doing live concept art for the game on an enourmous digital screen while the rest talked about aspects of the game from a story and writing perspective. 

Follow the flow of the show after the jump

Clint took the stage on Friday working on a planetary landscape that he did live during the event.  During this time they talked about a lot of stuff we already knew after E3 with the release of advance classes and player ships. Below you will see a progression of the artwork that they worked on from start to finish.

 

Saturday was just as crazy as Friday with a whole slew of fans waiting in line to get into the auditorium to see the presentation.  Once again we were treated to the “Hope” cinematic on a giant High Def screen with the sound cranked up to 11.  Once again the guys took the stage but this time with a twist.  Arnie took over the artist’s brush for the day and worked on a character concept piece.  This was never released through the SWTOR website and Arnie did make mention at the end “I might get in trouble for this”  Check out the shots below and I will let you draw your own conclusions to the race and outfitting of the concept.

Each day after the presentation the developers also did a meet and greet with the fans at the “G4” Hoth Ice Bar.  Needless to say I think they were a bit overwhelmed by how many of us fans and fansites showed up to check it out.  Also included in this round were Rob Cowles (Marketing for LucasArts) and Leo Olebe (Marketing for BioWare).  With the lines and the queue to get in I got to spend a little time with Rob and Leo and was able to ask them a few questions.  Being a from a business background we talked more about the logistics and marketing than anything else.  First I learned that BioWare and LucasArts work hand in hand on everything from the “Friday updates” to “packaging” and “marketing design”.  Everything that we see come out on a weekly basis as well as what we see in the final product is gone over with a fine tooth comb to make sure we are only seeing the things that are ready.  Are there some things that have slipped by, “Yes.”   When you have a bunch of rabid fans looking for anything and everything we are bound to find something that maybe wasn’t supposed to be seen yet.  

Also in talking to Rob we will see a “major marketing push before launch” as well as hopefully some “new products” in addition to some of the shirts, hats, and figures that have been slowly leaked into the mainstream. 

In addition this weekend I will also try to live blog from the opening weekend of Walt Disney World's Star Wars Weekends

I know we probably won't see any new information from SW:TOR but there should be some cool reveals none the less.  I will keep you updated as best I can.

T5-B3 Holonet Reconnaissance Droid

So in working with the things I noticed I need a little help.  I've purchased a new droid to help with the mundane task of searching the Holonet to find old information. So I would like to introduce T5-B3 Holonet Reconnaissance Droid, T5 will collate data from the Holonet and other sources to bring you the information hopefully relevant to the game he does tend to be kind of eccentric.

Transmission 2.1 Tython

Tython is the ancestral home of studies of Force by the precursors of the Jedi and the Sith.   Renowned as where the Force was first discovered, this lush world holds many mysteries and treasures, but also many dangers.  After the Sacking of Coruscant and the Treaty on Alderaan the Jedi Council chose to relocate the Temple and training facility of the Jedi Order to Tython.  Located in the Deep Core with limited access via Hyperspace lanes this makes for a bastion of hope for the Republic.  

Indigenous species roam the much of this verdant landscape but dangers arise none the less.  From issues with Twi’lek colonists to the vicious Flesh Raiders, the Jedi Knight’s and Jedi Consular’s trials are just the beginning with an unknown dark energy that persists through the entire planet.

End Transmission....

TT Volume 1.6 Account Safety and Security in SWTOR

“Our shields can’t repel firepower of that magnitude!”

One thing that has become increasingly clear over the past several years in the gaming industry as well as most other aspects of the world is that your digital footprint is there and it isn’t going away.  The worst part is that there are people just waiting to prey on others the way a Imperial Agent sits with a sniper scope awaiting her target.  A vast majority of gamers either have had or will have their online identities stolen at one point or another.  I for one can vouch for this as I had my account hacked for “The Game That Shall Not Be Mentioned” a couple of years back and I will tell you right now the fear and shock that ripped through me were horrible.  Luckily I caught the intrepid thief while he was trying to do it and I was able to recover my account but the sheer weight of having someone tamper with something you have worked so hard on is a very intrusive and heart wrenching experience.  I have also seen fellow gamers and friends go through this as well and it is no easier watching them have to take the time and wait to have their accounts restored to them.

With the recent attack on the Sony Playstation Network it is once again clear that no matter how large or small you are we are all vulnerable to this kind of attack.  We have already seen the developers letting us know that there are already scams in the works for “Beta Keys” and “Credit Vendors” that are starting up before the game is launched.  So I will almost guarantee that we will see this continue into the launch of SWTOR.

continued after the jump

There are a few simple ways to make sure that your account is not easily attacked.  First let me state that are these ways in no way of making your account un-hackable but I have found that they do help.  (PS Talion-Thoughts is not liable if an expert hacker does get through your systems and sells off all your loot and your companions into slavery)

• First choose wisely when picking your username, even making this a little bit difficult makes it a little bit tougher to crack as people can use searches to try and find you username

• Alpha/Numeric Passwords, use a combination of numbers and letters (uppercase and lowercase), if the site will let you through in a symbol for good measure.  The more permutations that are available on your password the harder it is for a program to crack

• DON’T use a husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend, or child’s name.  Your digital footprint will have all this information as well, Names of your character or server don’t work well either.  Find something obscure or even a made up word and make it your own.

• If SWTOR offers an authenticator service I encourage you to get it.  Be it a Mobile Authenticator, or a Smartphone Authenticator these are invaluable to the protection of your account. 

• I know it may sound silly but don’t give your username or password to anyone…..even someone claiming to be an employee of the company. Chances are they are phishing for something.

Hopefully these tips and tricks will help you stay as secure in your gaming as a Smuggler’s Lockbox and you can enjoy your gaming expierence without fear or dread of having to call in an Admin to restore your account.

TT Volume 1.5 Crafting Away Again in Mos Eisley

“But I was going to Tosche Staion to pick up power converters.”

Crafting in Star Wars The Old Republic will be a little bit different than anything we have ever seen before.  Introduced as Crew Skills, crafting and gathering in the Old Republic may not be what you are normally used to in most of the genre.  

The Old Republic looks to lessen the grind and provide more of a “Heroic” experience as it deals with crafting.  How often do you see Darth Vader harvesting DNA strands from a beast he has just slain, or Luke Skywalker enhancing bio-molecular structures to come up with a better Stim-pack?  

TOR has come up with something unique in that by using your companion characters to assist you in these endeavors, you can immerse yourself in the action and stay away from the mundane.  This is not to say that if you are out on a mission and find some rare materials along your route you can’t stop to “gather Sith artifacts” or “slice important intelligence from an Imperial computer.”  What they have added is a whole layer to the process where you can command your companions to do the work for you.  Since all of your companions will be based out of your starship they can’t just sit around kick up their heels and watch the Vid Screen all day long.  

continued after the jump

Each ship comes equipped with a crafting station which you can keep you companions occupied at throughout your adventures.  You will also be able to contact your companions remotely via your Holocom access, to issue orders for them as well.  So even while you are off questing you can send your minions off do a little exploring for you.  Just remember each mission take time so you may not have access to that companion while they are off on the mission for you.  Also important to note is that you can have your companions continue to work while you are not there, so after a long night of gaming and catching a couple hours of sleep they will still be working on projects for you.

Your crew will be able to be versed in three crafting skills.  Also note that depending on your relationship and the innate ability of the crew they may be better at some skills than others.   You will have to make choices on who you want to send out on missions.  For example sending a droid on a Diplomacy mission may not be the best option but sending them off to do a little slicing into the planetary database may work out rather well.

First of these are the Gathering Skills, all three of your crew skills can be gathering skills if you so choose.

• Bioanalysis-collecting DNA and Genetic material from plants and creatures you encounter
• Scavenging- technological recovery from damaged or antiquated technology
• Slicing-the ability to crack computers, open lock boxes, and secure information and schematics
• Unknown-One ability that has not been revealed yet.

Second we have Crafting Skills, these skills are very unique and you will be able to choose one of the following for your Crew to use. Armormech-personal armor constructed of hard metals and electronic shielding for those in need of heavy armor in dangerous situations.

• Artifice-Painstaking and very delicate work, reconstructing lost relics of the Jedi and Sith cultures
• Biochem-Bio engineering at it’s finest, combing and restructuring chemical compounds to enhance bio engineered implants, stim packs, and possible adrenal buffsu
• Unknown-3 other skills have yet to be revealed

Last we have the Mission Skills, send one of your companions out after different sets of missions and goals.

• Diplomacy-Send a member of your crew out to either sow good will or plant the seeds for corruption.
• Treasure Hunting-One of your crew can head out to find lost items scattered throughout the known universe.
• Unknown-2 skills have yet to be revealed

With the flexibility that is involved in the crew skills system it made be hard to make a decision.  Also with the current inclusion of “Crits” for crafting makes this an interesting proposition. This post will be updated as more details become available about the crafting system.