SWTOR

[Modern Angel]

How long did it take him to download?  Doing a little math it should of taken at least:

138 GB -
FIOS 25 MBIT 12.6 hours
UVERSE 12 MBIT 26 hours
Generic 8 MBIT 40 hours

My guess is he was reading "amount patched" and it kept patching the same huge data file over and over with a slew of incremental updates.   Either that or a display bug.

14 hours. REDACTED: I think this skirts the NDA too much, even if I'm not under it.

[Amaron]

of

Haha thanks for that actually.

14 hours. REDACTED: I think this skirts the NDA too much, even if I'm not under it.

So unless he has really fast internet that sounds like 28 gigs to me.

[eldaec]

There are people who have no intention of playing SWTOR who are salivating at that keyboard apparently. 

Keyboard looks decent enough and Razer generally make good shit. I would unironically consider this if looking for a keyboard.

[Murgos]

I'm just waiting for the toy tie ins when this thing is successful.  Lego version of my spaceship?  Yes, please.

[Malakili]

There are people who have no intention of playing SWTOR who are salivating at that keyboard apparently. 

Keyboard looks decent enough and Razer generally make good shit. I would unironically consider this if looking for a keyboard.

The only problem I can see with it is that its way over on the right side of the keyboard.  I like the idea of a dynamic screen like that, but the positioning seems really odd.  IN principle though, I could imagine a decade from now all keyboards just being like across their entire surface.

[DraconianOne]

I'm just waiting for the toy tie ins when this thing is successful. 

http://shop.starwars.com/catalog/product.xml?topcatID=461;product_id=1321306

[Pezzle]

The Tron keyboard on Razor's site is slick.  Not worth $150, but slick. 

[luckton]

If anyone's going to Comic Con, BW's setting up a demo for ya'll.  Maybe we'll get more info then too?

[pxib]

Bounty Hunter Figurine

Fail. She's not poseable and that is not a Star Wars pose.

[eldaec]

The Tron keyboard on Razor's site is slick.  Not worth $150, but slick. 

I'll tell you what I really like about both of them. They somehow avoid the temptation of giant Tron/StarWars/Disney/Lucasarts/EA logos.

On closer examination, the Star wars one has no keypad, and the mousepad/programmable section on the right should really be detachable.

[Sky]

The only thing I use a keypad for are Civ IV and work. Not sure I'd want it detachable, given my unique gaming setup, but having on the right side does hamper usefulness, especially the hotkeys. Be nice if they were programmable number keys or, better yet, a row of programmable keys between the number keys and function keys.

[VainEldritch]

'Cake > pie

[Malakili]

This screenshot is nice, the graphics are unimpressive, but it captures the right tone IMO

[Murgos]

It's hard to tell how graphics are going to age before you actually get the passage of time.  Team Fortress 2, for example, still looks fine 4 years later but other games from around the same period already look dated.  For me, personally, WoW looks so dated that I find it very difficult to appreciate it.

Currently I like the look of SWTOR so I hope that this was a good decision and it ages gracefully so that several years from now when they introduce some new expansion I can find it in me to load it up and enjoy it without being distracted by it's appearance (assuming it's actually, you know, good).

Also, these graphics apparently have the benefit that the game runs pretty well on low end hardware, according to internet rumor.

[Malakili]

It's hard to tell how graphics are going to age before you actually get the passage of time.  Team Fortress 2, for example, still looks fine 4 years later but other games from around the same period already look dated.  For me, personally, WoW looks so dated that I find it very difficult to appreciate it.

Currently I like the look of SWTOR so I hope that this was a good decision and it ages gracefully so that several years from now when they introduce some new expansion I can find it in me to load it up and enjoy it without being distracted by it's appearance (assuming it's actually, you know, good).

Also, these graphics apparently have the benefit that the game runs pretty well on low end hardware, according to internet rumor.

I don't mean the graphics are bad for their style, I just think they could have a few spiffier things like nicer shadows or something.  Not really worried about it though, graphics aren't going to be what makes or breaks it

[luckton]

I don't mean the graphics are bad for their style, I just think they could have a few spiffier things like nicer shadows or something.  Not really worried about it though, graphics aren't going to be what makes or breaks it

Oh don't even (re)start that debate...

And yes, they are designing the game so that circa 2008ish graphic cards can handle this game.  DX9 isn't dead yet, at least not until WinXP dies in a fire.

[SnakeCharmer]

The sooner XP dies, the better.

[Murgos]

Gabe at Penny Arcade has been allowed by Bioware to break his NDA and talk about the SWTOR Beta.

http://www.penny-arcade.com/2011/6/22/

So I was actually able to get into the current friends and family beta for Star Wars: The Old Republic. It wasn’t too hard since technically I do have a friend over there. The tricky part is that Bioware, like a lot of places thinks of PA as “media” and they don’t want media playing it yet. I explained that we aren’t media, we prefer to think of ourselves as “enthusiasts”. They let me in but I had to pinkie swear that I wouldn’t talk about the game here on the site, or anywhere else for that matter. I’ve been playing it for a little over a month now and last week I asked if I could share some of my impressions with you all. It took some begging but finally they agreed and to their credit they didn’t ask to see what I was going to write first. Honestly they had no idea what I was going to say which must have been a little scary considering this is PA, but lucky for them I actually really like their game. So this isn’t a review or anything even close. What I’m playing is the beta and honestly changing all the time. I just wanted to share some of my impressions.

e: more permanent link.

[palmer_eldritch]

Gabe at Penny Arcade has been allowed by Bioware to break his NDA and talk about the SWTOR Beta.

http://www.penny-arcade.com/

So I was actually able to get into the current friends and family beta for Star Wars: The Old Republic. It wasn’t too hard since technically I do have a friend over there. The tricky part is that Bioware, like a lot of places thinks of PA as “media” and they don’t want media playing it yet. I explained that we aren’t media, we prefer to think of ourselves as “enthusiasts”. They let me in but I had to pinkie swear that I wouldn’t talk about the game here on the site, or anywhere else for that matter. I’ve been playing it for a little over a month now and last week I asked if I could share some of my impressions with you all. It took some begging but finally they agreed and to their credit they didn’t ask to see what I was going to write first. Honestly they had no idea what I was going to say which must have been a little scary considering this is PA, but lucky for them I actually really like their game. So this isn’t a review or anything even close. What I’m playing is the beta and honestly changing all the time. I just wanted to share some of my impressions.

He makes it sound like a great game.

I'm actually pretty excited about it now.

[Malakili]

I don't mean the graphics are bad for their style, I just think they could have a few spiffier things like nicer shadows or something.  Not really worried about it though, graphics aren't going to be what makes or breaks it

Oh don't even (re)start that debate...

And yes, they are designing the game so that circa 2008ish graphic cards can handle this game.  DX9 isn't dead yet, at least not until WinXP dies in a fire.

I don't think anything I said was particularly controversial there, just that it seemed like some of the normal graphics options we see these days weren't turned on there, like nice shadows.  I didn't mean to start anything.  In fact, I LIKE the screenshot, as I said.

[Merusk]

Goddamnit why isn't this game out yet. /whinge.

Also, Holoprojector quest acceptance sounds awesome.

[Sky]

No kidding. I mean, "when it's "done"" and all, but....

Should be interesting to see if they can maintain my fanboy at 11, it was at a cautious 10 for years...so maybe.

[Murgos]

No kidding. I mean, "when it's "done"" and all, but....

Should be interesting to see if they can maintain my fanboy at 11, it was at a cautious 10 for years...so maybe.

I wish they would announce pre-orders so I could just give them my money and (try to) forget about it until it comes in the mail.

[luckton]

I don't mean the graphics are bad for their style, I just think they could have a few spiffier things like nicer shadows or something.  Not really worried about it though, graphics aren't going to be what makes or breaks it

Oh don't even (re)start that debate...

And yes, they are designing the game so that circa 2008ish graphic cards can handle this game.  DX9 isn't dead yet, at least not until WinXP dies in a fire.

I don't think anything I said was particularly controversial there, just that it seemed like some of the normal graphics options we see these days weren't turned on there, like nice shadows.  I didn't mean to start anything.  In fact, I LIKE the screenshot, as I said.

Apologies, I inferred your mentioning of graphics 'making or breaking a game' as the typical war-cry of the never-ending debate between graphics and gameplay.    I too am excited about the game, and it's a great screenshot for sure.  Will probably look better on my DX11 card with everything cranked too 

@PA preview: Yeah, there's nothing really NDA ground-shaking there.  BW took the gamble of having PA speak about there stuff openly to their masses of fans, and it looks like they're winning right now.

And if you're got PA onboard, that's an easy, what, 500k subscribers right there? 

[Rasix]

Hey buddy, we don't "@" around here.  Trippy will kill you dead for it.  As I tell my son, "use your words". 

I'm way too psyched for this game.  I should know better.  I haven't said "Bioware AUSTIN" in a while, have I?   

[LK]

Gabe pointing out that you can join in quest cinematics via Holoprojector is, I think, brilliant on Bioware's part. That is a pretty significant "little touch" there.

[Samprimary]

Okay. Between the blatantly NDA busting bits I've watched, the Q&A's, the discussions I've had with people actually making the game, the general consensus of beta testers, and what's been released by way of outlets like PA (as well as the fact that it seems like the only negative reviews/commentary that's been released in a while seems to all be universally shit writing by shit commenters) I think I'm in for sure now.

I would have never imagined I would be in on launch day, given all I know and say about MMO's.

[caladein]

Gabe pointing out that you can join in quest cinematics via Holoprojector is, I think, brilliant on Bioware's part. That is a pretty significant "little touch" there.

Pretty sure they've had that as part of earlier demos/walkthroughs/whatever.  It does lead to some awkwardness because you still do "Kill him."-type actions in dialogue through the hologram.

Awesome holograms are awesome apparently.

[Reg]

I've spent the last few years here laughing my ass off at the F13ers not bright enough to wait 3 months before diving into a new MMO. Oh well, so much for that.

I think we need someone to bring us all back down to reality.  Paging Margalis!

[luckton]

Pretty sure they've had that as part of earlier demos/walkthroughs/whatever.  It does lead to some awkwardness because you still do "Kill him."-type actions in dialogue through the hologram.

Awesome holograms are awesome apparently.

Not true, from what I understand.  If a holo-player wins the roll to kill someone, a player that's actually there in the real will execute the action, even if that person chose to spare the NPC.

[Murgos]

What I read was that was a 'humorous bug' that was long since squashed and now Holograms can not even select any option that results in a physical action.

[caladein]

Yeah, from a quick search a mention of killer holograms has the disclaimer that that's supposed to get/is patched out.  So we'll go with that.

[Riggswolfe]

I'm ready to preorder this myself. I only have a few remaining worries at this point:

1) End game. All they've mentioned is raiding or pvp. Both of them have little long term interest for me.
2) Expansions, how the hell will they successfully do expansions to this game?
3) Other players. I want to do the story. I won't be skipping cutscenes or anything of the sort. I worry that the game will be filled with typical MMO players going "hurry up dude and just click kill him" or whatever. For this reason I suspect I will pug much less in this game than in previous games.

[luckton]

I'm ready to preorder this myself. I only have a few remaining worries at this point:

1) End game. All they've mentioned is raiding or pvp. Both of them have little long term interest for me.
2) Expansions, how the hell will they successfully do expansions to this game?
3) Other players. I want to do the story. I won't be skipping cutscenes or anything of the sort. I worry that the game will be filled with typical MMO players going "hurry up dude and just click kill him" or whatever. For this reason I suspect I will pug much less in this game than in previous games.

1) Daily repeatables are in there too.  But they claim that their PvP and raiding will be "sooooooo awsome".
2) Probably just like any other MMO at this point...but with a story 
3) The consensus I'm seeing is BW wants those typical MMO players to go DIAF.  Story is what's driving this game, and they aren't bending just yet to those people.

[Murgos]

2) Expansions, how the hell will they successfully do expansions to this game?

This is something I have been sort of wondering about myself.  Do they have all their VAs on extended contracts so that no one can back out in three years?  What happens if someone gets hit by a bus?  

I guess the only thing I can think of is that they have made a conscious decision to cross that bridge when they get to it.  It will be a little weird to have your characters voice change when you ding 51 if you've just spent a year or more listening to him/her but if they can swap Darrens or Beckys between seasons without everyone freaking out maybe it doesn't really matter.