Nov 15, 2012

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A Trip Down SW:TOR Memory Lane – Hang A Left At Free-To-Play Parkway

Ah, the memories.

Chances are you’re reading this post now because you were a fan or follower of Ask A Jedi back in the day. I started this site back in 2010 because, quite simply, I couldn’t get enough of Star Wars: The Old Republic! There were already plenty of great sites like Darth Hater, Mos Eisley Radio, TOROcast, Corellian Run Radio and soon TORWars, Republic Trooper and more, but that wasn’t enough for me! I wanted to be fused at the hip with the next great MMO, which by the way was set in the STAR WARS UNIVERSE and made by BIOWARE!

The next 20-some odd months that followed were nothing short of amazing, and running this site while following the game’s development was one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had in my life. Obviously, it was great getting so close to the game in its early stages of development, but you know what made it really special? The people!

Over the course of that time, I got to meet a lot of great peeps from all of the fan sites above (and more!) What was so special about all of these folks is that what they were doing, they were doing out of passion. Everyone traveled to every corner of the map, from conventions like E3, PAX and more. And they did so on their own dime and their own time. I can tell you from personal experience that it was hella expensive being a TOR groupie for a few years, but it was worth every penny.

Not only that, I had the great fortune of getting to meet many designers, developers, marketing and community folks from BioWare, Electronic Arts and LucasArts. It was my first real exposure “inside” of the game industry, and I have to say everyone was absolutely awesome. The hospitality shown by each of those companies and especially individually by all of the folks we met was incredible. I felt like they really cared about the fans and the fan sites, and they did. The Fan Site and Guild Summits held at BioWare in Austin… I’ll never forget it!

And of course, there’s no way I could forget the peeps who helped me run this site… You think everyone running by you on Tatooine is some random gamer until you get to know them. We had a special team keeping the wheels greased at AAJ – dare I say the best in the business.

No, I’m not getting the band back together, but felt like I wanted to do a special post here to commemorate the occasion that today is, especially for those of us who were so close to the game!

Looking Forward

It’s hard to believe that this time last year, we were all eagerly anticipating the launch of a brand-new Star Wars MMO. It’s even harder to believe that very same game is relaunching today, less than a year later, as a free-to-play title. So on this dawn of a new era for Star Wars: The Old Republic, I just wanted to take a minute to remember what is so great about this genre we all love – the people we play with.

Anyway, there’s a lot of Light side mushiness going on here, so I’ll start to wrap it up.

While I don’t have a lot of time to devote to gaming these days, I’ll be joining my buddies from TORWars, along with *many* other community members over in the newly formed TORWars guild on The Shadowlands server. Yes, they went Empire, but don’t hold that against them – they’re good peeps! :)  I’m looking forward experiencing TOR this time around casually and socially in the best possible way – with friends!

– Bill (Lethality)

http://www.wildheap.com/en/item/40087

P.S. Some folks have asked what I’ve been up to, so I figured I’d give a quick update!

  • I’m still working my day job as an interactive producer at a large advertising agency, desperately trying to make the jump to the game industry (If you’re hiring, let me know! :)
  • I’ve also taken up as a news editor for ZAM Networks, and you can find my stuff there every day! By the way, you should keep an eye on ZAM… big things ahead.
  • I’m also doing some blogging over on my MMOpinion site. If you know me, you know that I’m never short for words when it comes to how MMOs “should” work and be played, so you can find some commentary and discussion over there! You can also follow me on Twitter, which is the old Ask A Jedi feed, except re-named!
  • Finally, I’ve joined forces with Andy and the fine chaps from Republic Trooper to form a new site called Titan Everything dedicated to following Blizzard’s upcoming MMO, code-named Project Titan. Right now, “following” is a loose term as I’m sure we’ll be AARP members by the time it releases, but stop by, join the community and chat it up a bit!

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Mar 8, 2012

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Game Update 1.2: Legacy – HD Trailer Now Available

Yes, we’ve seen it by now, but for posterity’s sake, I just wanted to post a pristine copy here for all of us to revel in. And if you find yourself pausing it every frame to look for hidden secrets, let me know if you find any! Enjoy.


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Mar 7, 2012

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Guild Summit: Roundup!

We thought it was time to make a “roundup” post as we usually do after an important event for Star Wars: The Old Republic, and the Guild Summit certainly qualified!

Not only did we learn what to expect in Game Update 1.2: Legacy, the developers seemed more open than in the past about things that they might be working on but not announced – a very different posture from the pre-release chatter.

So what follows is a roundup of content here on Ask A Jedi, but also things from around the web. If you find something you think should be added, by all means let me know!

Ask A Jedi

TORWars

Darth Hater

Massively

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Dec 20, 2011

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Start Here: Launch Guide Palooza!

Everybody knows that there is no better way to celebrate something than under ‘palooza‘ conditions. And conditions could not be more palooza-conducive than they are right now, with the long awaited launch of Star Wars: The Old Republic!

With that in mind, we’ve compiled the best and most critical articles from Ask A Jedi, designed to get you up and running and answer your FAQ’s as quickly as possible! We’ll be adding to this guide in the coming days, so if something appears incomplete below, it’s coming soon!

Keep this guide handy as a bookmark to help as you kick off your adventures is that galaxy far, far away!

BioWare:

Class Starter Kits:

Origin Worlds:

General:

Crew Skills, Crafting & The Galactic Trade Network:

Damage Dealing:

Tanking:

Healing:

PvP:

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Nov 29, 2011

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Raid Forming: Ask A Jedi + Torhead = Win!

Good news everyone!

I’m very excited and proud to announce today a new partnership between Ask A Jedi and Torhead, the newly launched TOR database site from the developers of Wowhead!

Torhead was created by ZAM which, among other popular MMO sites, runs Wowhead, the industry-leading database site for World of Warcraft. Over the years, Wowhead has become the absolute definitive resource for WoW players to consult when they’re in need of planning their gear, class guides or other progression for their characters. In fact, even Blizzard links to Wowhead from its very own armory!

Ask A Jedi (along with our good buddies over at TORWars) will provide news and content for visitors of Torhead, and together with R2-Db‘s social features, will create a solid knockout punch for Star Wars: The Old Republic players around the globe! Here on Ask A Jedi, you can look forward to tooltips and features direct from the Torhead database embedded within our articles.

So when it’s time to look up that new piece of gear or figure out which abilities you should take on your Advanced Class, don’t mess with the rest, go to the best – Torhead!

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Nov 25, 2011

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Gift Ideas For The TOR Fans On Your List!

While we wait for BioWare to crank out one of the final Friday Updates before the official launch of Star Wars: The Old Republic, we have a different kind of Friday update for you: Black Friday Update!

As many of you know, the day after Thanksgiving in the US has come to be known as “Black Friday” due to being the largest shopping day of the holiday season and leaving retailers “in the black” on the balance sheet. We thought this would be a great time to dig up a list of things bound to be found on the wish-list of every TOR fan – even if that fan is yourself! :)

Star Wars: The Old Republic

I would be remiss if I didn’t list the game itself here. While the Collector’s Edition may or may not be available at retail launch, you can still order the regular edition and get some Early Game Access. There’s still a chance TOR will be sold out, so pre-ordering may be the only way you get to play! Don’t get left behind – do eet now! $59.95 – Pre-Order Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Star Wars: The Old Republic 60-day Game Card

Star Wars: The Old Republic 60-Day Game Card

Game time cards are a great way for people to pay for their time without having to use a credit card and needless to say they also make a great gift! We didn’t yet see any evidence of other denominations such as 30-day or others, but we have to assume they will be coming soon. $29.99 – Pre-Order Star Wars: The Old Republic 60-Day Game Card.

 

The Art And Making of Star Wars: The Old Republic

Usually found as part of the Collector’s Edition, BioWare elected to instead make this book available only through a separate purchase. For the hardcore fan and those who like a peek behind the curtain, this is a great gift! $26.40 – Order The Art And Making of Star Wars: The Old Republic.

Star Wars The Old Republic Explorer’s Guide

The nature of MMO games is that they change. Often. So sometimes it seems that these strategy guides don’t make a whole lot of sense to buy. However, for the completionist fan this too will be a must have. $19.49 – Order the Star Wars: The Old Republic Explorer’s Guide.

 

Razer Gaming Keyboard

Experience ultimate power and attain absolute control with the technologically revolutionary Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ Gaming Keyboard by Razer. Ten dynamic adaptive tactile keys intuitively present all your skills, macros, and hotkeys with matching iconography straight from The Old Republic™ MMO for faster key-bind accessibility. And the multi-touch full-color LCD track-panel below can be set to either respond to direct gesture input or display interactive in-game information for an exciting new way to experience the game. $249.99 – Order Razer’s SW:TOR Gaming Keyboard

Razer Gaming Headset

Hear the ambient noises of an alien world, the chaotic explosions in battle on Alderaan, or the iconic buzz of a lightsaber powering up behind you, thanks to the positional 5.1 surround sound power of the Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ Gaming Headset by Razer. Get clear, precise three-dimensional audio for the tactical advantage, preventing backstabs and pinpointing hotspots of action all around you. $129.99 – Order Razer’s SW:TOR Gaming Headset 

Razer Gaming Mouse

The Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ Gaming Mouse by Razer is also built with cutting-edge gaming grade dual wired/wireless technology to allow greater freedom of maneuverability when unwired without compromise on control or accuracy within the game. When the battery needs charging, switch the mouse to wired mode and jump back into the fray with zero downtime. $139.99 – Order Razer’s SW:TOR Gaming Mouse

Razer Gaming Mouse Mat

Power and talent for the Force™ are nothing without focus. A hero without allegiance has no place in the galaxy. With the Star Wars™: The Old Republic™ Gaming Mouse Mat by Razer, choose to swipe either for the righteous good of the Galactic Republic or the ruthless domination of the Sith Empire. And secure your revered or feared status in the universe. $49.99 – Order Razer’s SW:TOR Gaming Mouse Mat

Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan

The latest novel from author and BioWare Senior Writer Drew Karpyshyn is perhaps the most anticipated item on this list (other than the game of course!) If you’ve played Knights of The Old Republic and were curious what really happened to Revan, this book will bridge the gap between that game and TOR. $15.13 – Order Star Wars: The Old Republic: Revan

Star Wars: The Old Republic: Deceived

Once Star Wars fans caught a glimpse of the Deceived trailer, easily one of the best video game trailers of all time, there was no turing back. Our introduction to Darth Malgus set the stage for an epic story. $16.46 – Order Star Wars: The Old Republic: Deceived

Star Wars: The Old Republic: Fatal Alliance

Fatal Alliance by Sean Williams was our very first voyage into The Old Republic set around the timeline of the game. Of note, it highlights some Empire and Republic cooperation – will we see the same in-game? $7.99 – Order Star Wars: The Old Republic: Fatal Alliance.

 

The Jedi Path

While not technically a TOR-related item, this is a virtual must-have for any Star Wars fan, particularly those of the Jedi. This is an excellent collector’s piece that features a handwritten journal edited by many Jedi masters over time.  It explains the history and hierarchy of the Jedi Order, and what Jedi must know to take their place as defenders of the peace in the galaxy—from mastery of the Force to the nuances of lightsaber combat.   $62.99 – Order The Jedi Path Vault Edition.

The Book Of Sith

Counterpoint to The Jedi Path above, the Book Of Sith lets you explore your darker side and get the full story on some of the most famous Sith Lords along with their teachings. Of note for TOR fans, this tome does include writings of Darth Malgus. $62.99 – Order The Book Of Sith

All of these items are not only cool, but if you buy them through these links you are also helping support Ask A Jedi… and these Jedi robes ain’t cheap!

Happy shopping, and don’t get trampled out there. See you on Cyber Monday!


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