Hello TORWarriors and welcome back to the TORWars Podcast #166: Everything Else. This is the show where we talk about everything else! That’s because there’s nothing going on in the world of SWTOR, that is, if you count the lack of informative information about what we all know as, the SSSP or Super Secret Space Project. Yes, that’s right, we have a video, but not much else. We also have a broken in-game Cartel Coin purchase mechanism (fixed?), the accidental release of GU 2.4 (which is now fixed) and some other bugs that need fixing. But, why focus on the negatives, let’s enjoy some positives.

This Week’s News: 

1.  Warhammer Online is closing down -

EA Mythic and Games Workshop are shutting down this epic MMO late this year.  The producers had this to say:  “We here at Mythic have built an amazing relationship working with Games Workshop creating and running Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning over the last 8 years. Unfortunately, as with all licensing deals they do eventually  come to end and on December 18th, 2013 we will no longer be operating Warhammer Online.”   Executive producer Carrie Gouskos had this to say:  “However, like all things – our contract has come to an end. Both Games Workshop and Mythic agreed to part ways, despite how hard it is emotionally on us to let the game go. It has been a tremendous honor to work with Games Workshop and even though we may be parting ways, our relationship with them remains strong.”

2.  Chewbacca ‘lined up for return on Star Wars VII’ -

Casting website Spotlight is looking for somebody who fits a similar description, appealing for a “male, 7 ft to 7.3 ft tall with a slim/thin build and upright posture. Not too worked out or too thick set especially in the shoulders. Broad facial features would be a bonus”.

The advert is yet to name the film, claiming the role is for an “Untitled Studio Feature”, but the producers listed include J. J. Abrams, Kathleen Kennedy, Bryan Burk and Tommy Harper, who are all working on Star Wars VII.

3.  From George Lucas’ Red Tails, David Oyelowo is the first confirmed, “signed and sealed” cast member for both Star Wars VII and Star Wars Rebels -

Now, as part of what they’re calling “BIG EPISODE VII NEWS!”, Jedi News is reporting that their source, “Jedi Master SQL,” has “confirmed the first signed and sealed casting” of Oyelowo. But here’s the kicker: He’ll be in both Episode VII and Rebels, thus seemingly verifying both of the earlier rumors bearing his name.

Oyelowo, an English actor who has been on stage, on TV, and on the big screen, recently appeared in Lee Daniels’ The Butler. He was also in Lincoln and George Lucas’ Red Tails.

“[T]he plan is for him to also be in Rebels playing a character that sets up his Episode VII character!” JN’s source wrote. The source also called this synergy “part of the major EpVII co-ordinated push being pulled together by Simon Kinberg and the first major sign that Rebels will be the vehicle to setup the masses for EpVII fever!!”

4.  JJ Abrams keeping it real by staying home -

When Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy announced in May that production for Star Wars: Episode VII would take place in the U.K., there was one decidedly less-than-happy camper: director J.J. Abrams.

He voiced his disappointment at the Produced By conference a few weeks later, noting that the move to London, expected at year’s end, would be an inconvenience to his wife and kids. “When you’re 13 and 14, it’s like, f— that, I don’t care what the movie is,” he joked in June.

Now it appears that the director is building a work-around designed to keep at least a portion of the movie’s production closer to home. According to one insider, Abrams — who has shot all of his films in Los Angeles (he even personally covered some of Star Trek Into Darkness‘ costs in order to keep production local) — is converting a portion of his Bad Robot headquarters into production spaces built specifically for the Star Wars project.

A green room, sound studios and other new facilities will be developed within the three-story, 18,000-square-foot Santa Monica building, which already includes editing bays, a workshop for making props, a screening room that can double as a set and Abrams’ personal suite of offices. Star Wars: Episode VII is set to be released in 2015 by Disney. Bad Robot and Disney declined comment. – The Hollywood Reporter

5.  EA Appoints Matthew Bromberg Head Of The BioWare Label!

General Manager of BioWare Austin, Matthew Bromberg has been given a promotion of sorts by parent company EA. Bromberg has now been appointed, head of the BioWare label. For those that were unaware, Bromberg joined EA in 2012 just as Star Wars: The Old Republic was getting revamped after a series of layoffs and prior to that he was the CEO and president of the eSports company, Major League Gaming.

This week’s Discussion Topic #1:  Update 2.4, The Dread War!

The highly anticipated update 2.4 is finally going live, and it’s chock full of SWTOR goodness.  Of course, as the title suggests, this update follows the Dread Masters theme we’ve seen elsewhere in the game.  There is a new story area (Oricon), and two new operations (The Dread Palace and The Dread Fortress) to keep everyone busy.  In addition this update introduces 4v4 Player-vs-Player Warzone Arenas (ranked and unranked), a “new form of gladiatorial entertainment that’s drawing spectators galaxy-wide”.  As always, we share our thoughts on these topics and more!

This week’s Discussion Topic #2:  Questions from fans!

One:  From Roger Sanderson:  “I’ve been playing SWTOR since launch, leveled  countless characters, and played on two servers. However, the guild I play with, which I started with in another game (STO) has kind of disspersed from TOR and it is pretty much impossible to do anything as a group. As such I have begun considering joining another Guild. But as I said I have been playing a very long time, and in that time I have played all 8 class stories, unlocked all the Legacy powers, reached Legacy level 50, and have my Marauder in purple 66 gear.  So if I decided to join the TORWars guild I would have to start a new toon on the Shadowlands server, which would mean I would lose everything above and have to level to 55 again. Admittedly, for me that would take about 2 weeks. Therefore, I ask to be convinced.”  Our answer:  Since character transfers have been live for months, we’d rather convince you to simply transfer your favorite toon over and join the TORWars guild.  It’s just oh so much easier. 

Two:  From Devon Dawson:  “I returned to SWtOR a week ago and I have a question I wanted to ask. Can the group content required for obtaining HK-51 be soloed now that the level cap is 55? If possible, is their a particular class/advanced class needed to do this?”  Our answer:  Yes you can, but you probably won’t enjoy it.

Three:  From Charles/Mr. Monkey:  “Last year I participated in the Extra Lifeâ„¢ 24 hour straight gaming event. Basically I played SWTOR for 24 hour straight to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network hospital in Los Angeles.  It was a lot of fun, and I raised some cash for them, but I really didn’t have that many people on my team.  So this year I’m starting early to gather a team of SWTOR players for a special event.  The only requirement: Be willing to play SWTOR for 25 hours straight beginning November 2nd, 2013 at 8:00 pm.  Just so you know, there’s nothing in this for me at all.  I don’t get any cash or prizes or a big poster of women clad in metallic slave bikinis for doing it. It’s all for the love of the game and to help a few kids out with donations.  Can you lend us your support?”  Our answer:  Yes we can!  Anyone that wants to donate to help can do so by clicking this link.  If, instead, you want to join the team and play for 24 hours, you can do so at that same link.

This Week’s Shout Outs: 

1. 
   
2. Enjin.com
   
3. TORWars Guild
   
4. PayPal Donations – Rich and Michael! Thank you!
   
5. Corellian Run Radio
   
6. Werits Blog
   
7. Gamersaurs
   
8. Walk For Autism Speaks
   

As always, we enjoy your responses. Please put all thoughts, opinions, questions or ideas in the comments section below or you can reach us via email at staff [at] torwars [dot] com. Also, please follow Jeff (@TORWars) or myself (@DMarieHollis) via twitter for the latest updates and happenings at TORWars orbital command.