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About David

David Holloway has been involved with gaming since the early 1970′s and with virtual worlds since heavy use of a MOO in 1993 – he even admits to having owned a Vic 20 and used it heavily to play cassette-based roleplaying games. As far as Star Wars goes, he still owns his original set of Star Wars figures and can vouch for the fact that a 1978 Stormtrooper can be blown to bits by shooting it with a slug gun from a distance. He’s also played Star Wars games as far back as the Super Nintendo console and to this day is devastated by the accidental erasure of all his progress on Lego Star Wars on the Wii.

Oceanic Soap Box: Rise Of The Hutt Cartel

December 21, 2012 by

oceanic-soap-box

This week it’s hard to go past the announcement of Star Wars: The Old Republic‘s first expansion, Rise Of The Hutt Cartel.
It’s big news for a game that’s had some struggles over the first year of its existence, so it’s the perfect opportunity to get your thoughts.

Are you excited by the announcement? Is it the story direction you expected the game to go and does it sound like an epic storyline? If you’re a lapsed SWTOR player, is this announcement enough to make you give it another try?

Let fly with the opinions!

Filed Under: General News, Op-Ed

The Secret World Issue #5 Is Live

December 19, 2012 by

I tell you what, I’m starting to wonder if the folks at Funcom ever sleep. The Issue #5 content update for The Secret World is now live.

Titled ‘The Vanishing of Tyler Freeborn’, this update has a number of new bits and pieces for you. Lots of new story content, a new weapon and some nice interface improvements. It’s all showcased pretty nicely by a preview vid that Funcom have released:

I love the look of the new Quantum Brace weapon, and am hanging to start the new story arc. That said, the highlight for me is a simple one: hotkeys for inventory items. I’d argue it’s well overdue and I know it’ll help me improve my gameplay considerably.

The casual player in me hopes that the TSW crew are taking a little break so I have time to catch up with all the new content!

What about you – what catches your eye the most with this update?

Filed Under: General News, The Secret World Tagged With:

SWTOR: Rise of the Hutt Cartel Announced

December 18, 2012 by

SWTOR - ROTHCWe should have expected a big announcement to coincide with SWTOR’s first anniversary, and BioWare have delivered it in spades with the announcement of the game’s first expansion, Rise of the Hutt Cartel.

Slated for ‘Spring 2013’ (gee I love the US-centric language), which means between March and May 2013, the expansion includes:

1. An increase in the level cap to 55

2. The long touted new planet, Makeb, makes its debut

3. More missions (as you’d expect with a level cap rise)

Subscribers can pre-order for US$9.99, which includes 5-days early access – everyone else can buy it for US$19.99.

The FAQ is already up to answer any other questions you might have.

Filed Under: General News, SWTOR Tagged With:

‘End Of Days’ In-Game Event for TSW

December 18, 2012 by

End of DaysFuncom have just posted a developer blog post detailing the in-game events for the ‘End Of Days‘ fun occurring at the moment.

There are going to be three Harbingers spawning in-game that will require some teamwork to bring down:

The Mayans called this Age’s Harbinger Bolon Yokte’ K’uh. The Mayans envisioned this as an anthropomorphic “God of Nine Destructions”. This may have simply been a way to cope with the incomprehensible. We’ve gone all the way with the “big dude with attitude” interpretation, and he’ll be a boss fight available for a limited time at two different difficulties in a corrupted El Dorado, run amok with blood sacrifices and dark storms.

Sounds like a bit of fun! There’s a contest running for players who knock over a bunch of Harbingers alongside El Dorado and the odd zombie, with the prizes being a unique pet and title.

Will you be going for the prize?

Filed Under: General News, The Secret World Tagged With: ,

Flash Point 48: Lawnmowers Farting Snow

December 16, 2012 by

flashpoint-podcastSimon, Kristy and myself are back to take a bit of a look back at the first year of SWTOR plus a closer look at The Secret World’s F2P move.

Points of discussion:

SWTOR
– 1.6 live
– Grade 7 spaceship upgrades
– Review of the first year of SWTOR

TSW
– sudden move to F2P
– one of our most dedicated listeners views on TSW
– ARG game: ‘End of Days‘

Other
– Simon’s love for Firefall
– Kristy’s love for A Walk In The Dark indie game

– Shout outs for our forums, Facebook page, Twitter account, Simon’s Twitter account and Kristy’s Blog.

Please review or rate the podcast on iTunes if you can – it makes a huge difference!

Listen via iTunes or right here:

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 56:06 — 25.7MB)

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

Filed Under: General News, Podcast Tagged With:

Start Your End of World Missions

December 16, 2012 by

TSW End of WorldAs we reported last week, The Secret World’s Alternate Reality ‘End of Days’ game is coming on December 21st. In the lead-up the fun’s already started, with two missions released to date. It doesn’t matter if you own TSW or not, although if you don’t own it you won’t be able to claim your in-game prizes.

Having done both missions so far I have to say it’s a lot of fun and the atmosphere of things syncs beautifully with the game. One shameful admission though, for Mission 2 I had to resort to spoilers to solve the investigation mission (and I’m so rubbish at maths morse code I gave up on those routes as well). Shame on me.

If you want to jump in and check it out, here’s where you go.

Now it’s over to you: have you enjoyed the missions so far? With mission two, which route did you choose and did you try to do them all?

Filed Under: General News, The Secret World Tagged With:

Oceanic Soapbox: Highlights and Lowlights

December 14, 2012 by

oceanic-soap-box

This week’s topic is one that may generate some debate. It’s been a huge year for MMOs and gaming more broadly, so I’m interested in what has been the highlight and lowlight for you this year gaming-wise.

For me the highlight was my first few hours playing The Secret World and seeing MMOs from a totally different perspective. A lowlight is a little more difficult but I’d have to say it’d be the struggles SWTOR has had this year – like a lot of people who’ve followed the game for years I was relatively confident of huge success. That may still occur though but at the very least here’s hoping we have SWTOR on the playing field for a lot more years to come.

So what about you: what’s taken you to the most highs and lows during 2012?

Filed Under: General News, Op-Ed

The Secret World Goes Free To Play

December 12, 2012 by

TSW F2PWell knock me over with a feather. After recently saying how I doubted TSW was about to go F2P, that’s just what it’s done*.

Funcom have announced that as of now, a TSW subscription is optional. All you have to do is buy the game up-front and that is your last cost if you so choose. A subscription is still an option, at the same price as it currently stands, which nets you:

  • Time Accelerator (Clickable item which increases experience gain for defeating monsters by 100% for 1 hour, 16 hour cool-down – only usable by Members and Grand Masters)
  • $10 worth of Bonus Points (given out every month)
  • Item-of-the-month gift (given out every month)
  • 10% discount to everything in the in-game store

As a lifetime subscriber I was worried how things would work, but apparently lifetimers get the bonus points etc each month, which is more than is needed to be able to purchase the downloadable content. Game Director Joel Bylos has confirmed this:

You get points which will more than cover the DLC. The reason that we give you points rather than giving the DLC is because the DLC will cost *less* than the points you get.

Which means instead of getting nothing as a lifetimer except free content, you get the content and whatever you want to spend the points.

Also consider if we were to slip in delivery by a month – you still get real tangible value that can be spent.

There’s an FAQ for the changes, and I expect there’ll be lots of further clarifications in coming days. Funcom have also released a 2-minute trailer to coincide with the F2P launch:

So it’s over to you – What’s your take: is this a good move for TSW?

*Yes I know that the model isn’t strictly F2P as you need to buy the game up front, but I take a broader interpretation and it’s also a more commonly used term than Buy To Play.

Filed Under: General News, The Secret World Tagged With:

SWTOR 1.6 Full Patch Notes

December 11, 2012 by

SWTOR 1.6

The SWTOR servers are now back up – early even – and SWTOR 1.6 is there in its shiny glory. While you’re downloading the patch, why not browse the goodies that 1.6 contains right here:

Game Update 1.6: Ancient Hypergate

12/11/2012

Highlights

  • Ancient Hypergate, a new Warzone, is available for play! Travel to an ancient ruin built around a Gree Hypergate and battle to control the precious technology for your faction.
  • New incredibly challenging Weekly [HEROIC] Space Combat Missions are now available!
  • All-new Grade 7 Artifact Quality Starship Upgrades are now available from the Fleet and Mission Support vendors!

Cartel Market

New Items

      • A new collection of rare goods, freshly smuggled in by the Hutt Cartel is now available! The Blockade Runner Cartel Pack can contain Rare bonus items not found in any other Cartel Market Pack! Cost: 360 Cartel Coins.
      • The Grade 7 Starship Defensive Bundle contains defensive upgrades that will protect your ship during the most difficult missions! Cost: 400 Cartel Coins.
      • Purchase the Grade 7 Starship Offensive Bundle to give your ship enhanced firepower! Cost: 550 Cartel Coins.
      • The Grade 7 Starship Tactical Bundle contains powerful upgrades for your personal starship. Cost: 350 Cartel Coins.

Life Day Items

      • The following items are available for a limited time only!
        • Purchase the Life Day Robes, an adaptive armor set containing Life Day Vestments, Lower Robe, and Boots, to show your Life Day spirit! Cost: 960 Cartel Coins.
        • The Czerka LD-1 Celebrator, an adaptive speeder, combines the convenience of travel with the joy of the Life Day celebration! Cost: 1800 Cartel Coins.
        • Use the Life Day Tinsel Bomb to spread cheer to anyone it hits with a blast of shiny tinsel. Cost: 300 Cartel Coins.
        • The Life Day Orb is a commemorative orb used to celebrate Life Day. Cost: 60 Cartel Coins.
        • The Life Day Holo-Tree brings the joy of Life Day anywhere in the galaxy! Cost: 600 Cartel Coins.
        • Get the most Life Day cheer with the Life Day Bundle, which includes the Life Day Orb, Life Day Holo-Tree, Life Day Tinsel Bomb, Czerka LD-1 Celebrator, and the Life Day Vestments, Lower Robe, and Boots for the discounted price of 2400 Cartel Coins.

Fireworks

      • The following items are available for a limited time only!
        • Celebrate the conquests of the Empire with Imperial Fireworks! Each box contains 10 Fireworks. Cost: 125 Cartel Coins.
        • Celebrate the victories of the Republic with Republic Fireworks! Each box contains 10 Fireworks. Cost: 125 Cartel Coins.
        • Create a dazzling display of colorful sparks with Fountain Fireworks. Each box contains 10 Fountain Fireworks. Cost: 75 Cartel Coins.
        • Complete your Fireworks display with impressive Finale Fireworks and send a series of large, colorful explosions high into the air! Each box contains 10 Finale Fireworks. Cost: 50 Cartel Coins.
        • Celebrate in style with the Fireworks Bundle! This bundle contains all four Fireworks boxes with an additional 2 Fireworks per box at a discounted price! Cost: 300 Cartel Coins.

Bugfixes

    • One-handed blasters and Lightsabers found in Cartel Packs can now be used in both the main hand and off-hand equipment slots.

Crew Skills

  • Players who previously unlearned a Crew Skill no longer lose schematics when learning new schematics from reverse engineering.

Group Finder

  • A new “Introduction to Group Finder” mission has been added to the Daily Mission Terminal on the Republic and Imperial Fleets. This mission is granted when players complete the Advanced Gear mission.
  • Group Finder categories have been updated with tooltips that provide a recommended gear rating and an outline of the rewards available from the content.
  • 10 Black Hole Commendations are now awarded by Story Mode Operations in Group Finder (up from 5).

Items

  • Elite War Hero Items are now available on the new Elite War Hero vendor. These items can be purchased using Ranked Commendations.
  • War Hero Items can now be purchased with Warzone Commendations.
  • Battlemaster Items are no longer available for purchase.
  • Ancient Artifact Storage Boxes can now be purchased for 25 Tionese Crystals from all Tionese vendors.
  • Tionese items available from the Tionese vendor no longer require Tionese Crystals, and most of their commendation costs have been reduced.
  • Companion gear no longer alters player character stats when modified.
  • A tooltip issue that caused identical items in the inventory to appear to count towards a set bonus (even when not equipped) has been corrected.

Missions and NPCs

  • A new “Advanced Gear” mission for each class has been added to the Daily Mission Terminal on the Imperial and Republic Fleets.

PvP

  • The requirements for offense and defense bronze medals have been lowered. Players now receive each medal the first time they receive associated objective points, regardless of the value.
  • New Rated bracers and belts are now available on the War Hero vendor. These items are unmodded items similar to other Rated items. The old bracers and belt are no longer available.
  • Bolster now appears as a positive effect that cannot be removed by the player (instead of as a negative effect).

Space Combat

  • The ammo count for missiles and proton torpedoes now includes the missile or torpedo in the chamber.
  • Imperial Agents, Sith Inquisitors, and Jedi Consulars can now swap Power Conversion Modules by right-clicking them.

UI

  • The tooltips for several currencies now explain how they can be acquired and what they can be used to purchase. These currencies include: Tionese Commendations, Columi Commendations, Black Hole Commendations, Daily Commendations, and Tionese Crystals.
  • The Flashpoint Commendations category in the currency window is now named “Elder Game Commendations.” Daily commendations now appear in this category.
  • The friends list no longer occasionally shows some friends as always offline.

Miscellaneous Bug Fixes

  • Players no longer occasionally see other players on their personal starship.
Filed Under: General News, Patch Notes, SWTOR

It’s The End Of The World: TSW To Go F2P?

December 11, 2012 by

Regular readers will know that to a tee the team here who have played The Secret World love it. For the first time I think I have some more insight into why it’s so good: the sense of humour in the team behind it.

TSW’s Game Director Joel Bylos (link to our podcast interview with him here) has created part 1 of a video log, and I have to say it’s a hell of a lot of fun:

There’ll be lots of talk about the scene where Joel argues for the subscription fee to be dropped from TSW. To me it seems part of the humour and context of the piece rather than a very obvious int on a near-term move to Free-To-Play. It could also mean a period of time of free access for everyone to attract more players.. Finally, it could be the start of the move to F2P done in a funny way, but my money’s on one of the first two options.

Do you agree?

Filed Under: General News, The Secret World Tagged With: ,

WoW Zone by Zone Achievement Guide Part 3: Ironforge, Dun Morogh, Wetlands

December 10, 2012 by

WoW Zone-by-Zone Achievement GuideWelcome to ZAGGARAT ( Jetsai’s Zone-by-Zone Achievement Guide for Getting Across the Realm with Alliance Toons), a comprehensive zone by zone guide to wrapping up every achievement you need. You can view all instalments by clicking here. The printer and screen friendly guides can be downloaded at the bottom of this post.

Aaah, the low countries: Ironforge, Dun Morogh, Loch Modan and the Wetlands. Land of sheep and velcro gloves, land of gnomes, dwarves and all things close to the ground.

I must admit I’ve always found it interesting that this area is just filled with Rams, but in order to find a Ewe, you have to go to an entirely different planet. Even then, there’s only one. No wonder Farmer Griffith in Shattrath keeps her locked up tight.

Jokes aside, I’m hard-pressed to find very much of interest in these areas. Outside of a few rare pets – the Little Black Ram in Loch Modan and the Tiny Bog Beast and Razormaw Hatching in Wetlands – there’s a few recipes to collect, a few fish to catch and A LOT of exploration.

So rather than regale you with “Caught on the Horns of Giants“ – one Draenei’s epic struggle with small doors and pendant-style light fittings, I will instead discuss some of the mods that have made my achievement-hunting much easier.

NPC Scan is a clear winner. No mod will assist you better in completing the suite of achievements to kill all the rares in WoW. You can also program it to scan for any NPC with an ID and that comes in handy quite often.

PetBattleMaster is another thumbs up. Aside from allowing you to create several different teams of pets, it adds a handy reference to your tooltip telling you whether you’ve caught that pet and its quality.

Overachiever is marginally useful, but I must admit I’m not as impressed as the 5,017 people who’ve voted this up on Curse. Since 5.05 this mod has largely been broken and it’s no better in 5.1. I originally downloaded this for its tooltips but even when they are working, they’re just not comprehensive enough. For example, my tool tip will indicate whether or not I’ve fished a school for one of the many fishing achievements, but not whether I need to catch a fish and cook it for a cooking achievement. I use the Watch List function more, especially when I’m working on a few different daily/faction achivements at one time. It’s handy to be able to go to my own list and just tick track, track, track on the things I’m about to work on for the next 45 mins.

Ackiss Recipe List is great for letting you know which recipes you already have and don’t. However, it is performance-intensive, so I don’t tend to keep it loaded all the time.

Skillet is my trade skill mod of choice. It was created by one partner of the original Advanced Trade Skill Window development team and I’ve found it a lot more stable. I especially like that I can create custom lists of recipes to view at a glance.

People rave about Fishing Buddy and it’s good, but I don’t find it an essential mod. Granted. I’m not WoW’s most avid fisherman by any stretch. In fact, I’d rather stab myself in the eye with a Trout than fish one up. But for those masochists who like to be accurate in their complaint letters to Blizzard over the rarity of Old Ironjaw, it’s fantastic.

And finally the all-time best mod ever for completing low-level achievements…

Crap Away! Does exactly what it says – gets rid of all your crap at the vendor without clicking a thing. And no, it wouldn’t be nearly as great a mod without the exclamation mark in its name.

Next week, it’s northward into Horde Territory with Arathi Highlands, Hillsbrad, Silverpine and The Hinterlands.

Download the screen-friendly version here

Download the printer-friendly version here

(Editor’s note: I just wanted to say what an amazing feat Jemima has pulled off with these Zaggarat guides – if you find them as incredibly useful as I have already, please use the donate link below – proceeds will be forwarded onto Jem for her work)

 




Filed Under: General News, Maps, WoW Tagged With:

SWTOR 1.6 Launches: Server Downtime Details

December 8, 2012 by

SWTOR 1.6

Tuesday December 11th sees SWTOR 1.6 launch, with a six-hour downtime to coincide. We’ll have the full 1.6 patch notes for you as soon as the servers are back up.

The local time conversions for your convenience:

AEDT: 7pm-1am

AWST: 4pm-10pm

NZDT: 9pm-3am

The official blurb from BioWare:

Hello everyone, we wanted to let you know that we will be performing scheduled maintenance for six hours on Tuesday, December 11th, 2012 from 2AM CST (12AM PST/3AM EST/8AM GMT/9AM CET/7PM AEDT) until 8AM CST (6AM PST/9AM EST/2PM GMT/3PM CET/1AM AEDT). All game servers will be offline during this period. This maintenance is expected to take no more than six hours, but could be extended.

Game Update 1.6 introduces a new Warzone, Ancient Hypergate, where you can team up with other players to fight for control of powerful energy pylons to unleash the power of the ancient Gree hypergate against your enemies. Six new Heroic Space Missions are also available for each faction. These missions will be a challenge even for the greatest pilots in the galaxy!

Please Note: PvP Warzones and Space Missions are available to Subscribers at no additional cost. Players without a subscription have limited free access per week and may purchase additional access in the Cartel Market.

After this maintenance is over, restart the game launcher to patch to Game Update 1.6: Ancient Hypergate.

Scheduled Maintenance

Date: Tuesday, December 11th, 2012

Time: 2AM CST (12AM PST/3AM EST/8AM GMT/9AM CET/7PM AEDT) until 8AM CST (6AM PST/9AM EST/2PM GMT/3PM CET/1AM AEDT)

All game servers will be offline during this period. This maintenance is expected to take no more than six hours.

Thank you for your patience as we maintain service for Star Wars™: The Old Republic™.

Filed Under: General News, Patch Notes, SWTOR Tagged With:
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