SWTOR is getting its first digital expansion for Star Wars: The Old Republic this spring. Rise of the Hutt Cartel will raise the level cap to 55, includes all new story-based missions, and introduces the new planet of Makeb for players to explore. The personal Star Wars saga will feature the same fully-voiced conversations that the original game launched with and will allow players to uncover the nefarious plans of the Hutt Cartel.

Rise of the Hutt Cartel is set for a spring 2013 release and players can begin pre-ordering now. If you pre-order by January 7, you will receive 5 days early access. The expansion is priced at $9.99 for subscribers and $19.99 for anyone else.

Source: http://www.swtor.com/rothc

Star Wars: The Old Republic Update 1.6 is live on all servers, and it was time for me to come back to SWTOR to check out the recent changes. Over the last couple of days, I explored the new Section X Dailies area, completed my HK-51 companion quest, tried the new Ancient Hypergates PvP warzone and explored the new Cartel Market Store. All in all I enjoyed myself quite a bit and will probably continue to play for at least the next month.

However in a few months my subscription will expire and I am seriously considering the free-to-play option. This does not mean I will not pay to play, its just I don't want to pay a subscription during my absences from SWTOR as I play or try other games. This is why over the last few days I have looked very hard to make sure I am ready for my subscription to expire. Here is what I have learned so far.

As a current subscriber I have been given 2350 cartel coins thus far and will receive 600 per month until my subscription expires in February (3550 total cartel coins). However before that happens I want to make sure I unlock some of the more annoying restrictions:

• Authorization: Artifact Equipment (1200) (You need this to wear any good gear)
• Customization Control: Display Titles (100) (I think you need this to display Darth title)
• Customization Control: Unify Colors(350)
• Customization Control: Hide Head Slot (350)

Optionally I may need to unlock the following depending on my future needs

• Access Authorization: Section X (600)
• Authorization: Event Equipment Requisition (175)
• Unlock: Inventory Module (175)

This means that at a minimum I will need 2000 cartel points for my must haves, leaving me with 1550 cartel coins I can use on optional purchases or weekly Operations/Flashpoints/Warzone passes (240 each).

However I recently found out that you can purchase some of these unlocks at the galactic trade network (auction house) from other players. Honestly I have not seen this in other f2p titles and I find this very interesting. Since I will be limited to having only a maximum of 350K credits as a Preferred player (somewhere between f2p and subscribed player) I will have to spend some of my extra credits anyways. So far I managed to purchase Authorization: Artifact Equipment and I have seen both Authorization: Section X and Unlock: Inventory Module for reasonable prices.

This means I can potentially end up with 2750 cartel coins to use on weekly passes for Operations/Warzones or Flashpoint (240 each) allowing me to say do operations for 11 weeks before I pay anymore money.

What happens after I run out of cartel coins? Its very likely that for the vast majority of the year the 3 flashpoints/warzones per week will be sufficient for me. However once a while I get in the mood to go back to SWTOR hard for a month or 2 and I can always re-subscribe for that short period. I can also buy 2400 cartel coins for $19.99. This would allow me to purchase an additional 10 weekly unlocks for Flashpoints/Warzones/Operations.

The biggest issue with going f2p is what happens next, will I have to unlock access to the next expansion or new content, I am guessing yes. This happens allot in other f2p titles like Dungeons & Dragons Online or Lord of the Rings Online. f2p players have to either re-sub to get the new content or buy access to it (often for a large price). This usually splits the server populations between those who have access to free or early content and those that subscribe and have access to everything. I am not saying that we should get everything for free, however I want to make sure that f2p or buy what you want game play style is feasible in this game beyond the 1-50 content.

PlanetSide 2 is a free-to-play, massively multiplayer online first person shooter (MMOFPS) that has recently launched, promising battles take place between thousands of troops along side air and ground vehicles, with the territorial control meta-game. If this sounds like something you may be interested in check out this great trailer recently released to celebrate the games launch.

World of Warcraft turns eight on November 23. To celebrate players who log in between November 18th and December 1st will receive special Feat of Strength achievement. They'll also be gain a Celebration Package that will give them access to fireworks, a cosmetic tabard, and an eight percent bonus to experience and reputation points from kills while it's active.

Bilizzard also released a celebratory anniversary video that takes you through the years from the original release of World of Warcraft to the newly revealed shores of Mists of Pandaria.

Star Wars: The Old Republic Update 1.5 is now live. Now players can experience the complete story-lines of all eight Star Wars classes, all the way to level 50 for free. Also with Update 1.5 comes a new Section X,area to explore, a new long awaited HK-51 Companion character and Explosive Conflic Operation (Raid) Nightmare Mode.

I am currently in the process of completing my HK-51 companion and will be posting a video guide as soon as I complete the quests.

Source: http://www.swtor.com/info/news/press-release/20121115

Over the next few months, I will be creating and posting video guides for World of Warcraft heroic dungeons in the Mists of Pandaria expansion. This is the first video in the series for the Temple of the Jade Serpent. This dungeon located in The Jade Forest on Pandaria is one of the first MoP dungeons accessible to players at level 85. The Jade Serpent Temple has been taken over by the Sha of Doubt. To reclaim the temple on her behalf, players must defeat several of the inhabitants of the temple who have been become corrupted before finally defeating the Sha of Doubt.

If you have been following World of Warcraft recently or read the Jaina Proudmoore Tides of War book you know that Theramor was recently destroyed by a Massive Horde Mana bomb. Blizzard has introduced a scenario into the game that allows you to visit the now destroyed Theramor. Here is a video of one of my adventures in Theramore set to Orbital Halycon On and On from the Hackers soundtrack.

If you have not seen it yet I want to share this documentary-style video on The Elder Scrolls Online featuring a first look at the game’s combat system, PvP, Megaserver technology and questing content.

I am very excited about the Star Wars: The Old Republic Free-to-Play launch on November 15th. I am not only counting on seeing some of my old friends come back to SWTOR, I am also hoping to see some new players give this great game a chance.

So what does November 15th mean to you as a player? Well if you are already a SWTOR subscriber you will now get a slew of Cartel Coins, a new currency that will allow you to buy some cool cosmetic or faster leveling items. You should see way more players on your server, which should mean faster queue times, and hopefully faster content releases (every 2 months)

If you are a new or returning player, you will get a chance to start or complete your character story by getting free access to level 1-50 content and a good portion of the end game. There are some criticized restrictions such as limited hot-bars, inventory and bank space, however similarly to other free-to-play offerings you can remove all of these restrictions with a small investment in the Cartel Store, and remain a free player long term

Although there are many critics of SWTOR in my opinion many of the original issues with the game have been resolved and it is still a very solid game. Perhaps SWTOR could not compete with other subscription MMOs such as World of Warcraft however it is a solid offering when compared to other free-to-play titles such as Dungeons & Dragons Online, Everquest II and Lord of the Rings Online

So regardless if you are a returning player, or have never left, I hope you all join me in SWTOR for our next epic adventure together.

Recently I have been spending quite a bit of time in World of Warcraft playing the Mists of Pandaria expansion. On the whole I am really enjoying the new content, even though leveling from 85-90 took a bit longer than I expected, it was a matter of a week casual game-play. I did the first LFR raid released and all of the heroic dungeons. They all well made, bug free and allot of fun.

My only issue so far are the dailies. Oh my god there are a ton of dailies. You may ask why this is a problem? If you don't like dailies simply do not do them. Well the issue is that in MoP you cannot buy any Valor level gear without having achieved at least Honored reputation 4 factions (Revered for most gear). In its self Honored is not that hard to get, so I was able to unlock Honored with 2 of the factions so far, which allows me to buy a Valor Ring and Necklace. However I cannot unlock dailies for a Shado-Pan faction unless I first reach Revered with the Golden Lotus. With about 100-150 reputation per daily quest and 12000 reputation needed (80-120 dailies). To unlock all of the valor gear I need to do around 400 daily quests (adjusting for various rep gains fro.

So I like many players have some build up Valor points and nothing to do with it. At this point running Scenarios & Dungeons have very diminishing returns. I basically need to roll up my sleeves and do my dailies.

See you in Pandaria