Today we receive a rather nice and lengthy post by Emmanuel Lusinchi which details all the changes regarding the item modification system. Throughout the course of the explanation we learn how over the course of the beta the Bioware team has changed the system, a lot of it undergoing drastic updates.
These changes are based upon the feedback and through the use of the modification system throughout the beta. To sum it up, it's been made simpler and easier to manage, while at the same time retaining all the benefits it had originally begun with.
Things to note are:
- Color Coded Gear: Orange (Fully Modifiable), Blue (Rare), Purple (Epic), & Green (Common)
- Orange Gear can be obtained around level 8 through class quests, space quests and social gear
- Modifications are removable
- Modifications can be done anywhere (a workbench is no longer required)
- Looted / Quest Modifications can now be reverse engineered
- 4 standardized slots
Based on a recent quote from Steven Reid, we are given some clarification as to what Early Game Access entails. As most of us maybe used to, when you pre-order a game, typically you'll be able to login and play a few days early.
Bioware is taking a slightly different approach, while yes all of the pre-orders will be able to login early, it's being based upon a first come first serve strategy. This many seem a bit frustrating to some folks, but don't worry. We are given a clarification as to why in the following quote.
While we understand all of you want to be in Early Game Access on Day One, part of the point of a head start program like this one is to allow us to gradually ramp up the population of our servers so that on launch day, the general play experience is as pleasant as possible. While we're going to be allowing a lot of people into Early Game Access at regular intervals, we cannot allow everyone who pre-orders in at once. That would defeat the point of a gradual head start.What does this exactly entail? Glad you asked! By gradually letting in an influx of players, we'll be given less server side issues hopefully and with that a smoother first day experience. I'm sure we can all recount a few mmorpg's in the past where day one, was riddled with bugs. Let's hope that this strategy works and we'll have a grand experience in a galaxy far, far away!
The next obvious question is "I pre-ordered on Day X, when do I get access?" While we cannot answer that for everyone, I will say (as I did in July) that those who pre-ordered early will be getting Early Game Access, well, earliest. At this point we still have pre-orders available and therefore, anyone who pre-orders will still gain Early Game Access, but as they're redeeming their code later, they'll get Early Game Access later. As I've said before the difference between 'early' and 'later' should be a matter of days, not weeks
Source:swtor.com
Today Bioware pulls back the curtain and we are presented with an official release date for Star Wars: The Old Republic. It's been a long few years and the hype extremely high for this major mmorpg. Finally now we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
The launch date is set for December 20, 2011. We also learn of the pricing structure and model in which it's subscription based. The pricing is fairly standard for the industry with a $14.99/mo subscription and discounts for larger time segements.
Source: swtor.com
Today during SDCC, the cover for Drew Karpyshyn's upcoming book, Revan was revealed. This is the third book set within The Old Republic. The story follows in the footsteps of Revan and the events transpiring towards the end of Knights of the Old Republic
We are curious to hear what your thoughts on the new cover are, let us know!
Source: StarWars.com
Financial analysts have leaked information about TOR in the past. Most remember when we heard on a financial conference call that TOR's expected release was Spring 2011. Well spring as come and gone, but the financial side of EA still likes to tell their investors when to expect profits from this massive project they are working on. It seems like EA was waiting to see if they could do a September release, and have instead gone for a November release. Quote below.
We are updating our model accordingly. EA also pre-announced fiscal 1Q (June) positively. It gave disappointing initial 2Q EPS guidance. We are officially moving the expected Star Wars launch from September to November. PopCap is not the key to getting ERTS right. We like this acquisition, but this is not going to make or break your ERTS trade this year. The success of Star Wars and Battlefield, on the other hand, will. All eyes now shift to them.Read the full quote at:http://online.barrons.com in the "Electronic Arts" section