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Why I am not excited ..... at least not yet
Draccan
Member Posts: 1,050
I am not excited yet. I think the official website is poorly designed from a web design as well as art direction standpoint.
Is this level based or skills? My guess is level based, but I don't think they confirmed that yet.
What about professions? Player housing? Player Cities? What sort of pvp do they indend on?
So far all we have is an announcement of the game and vague remarks about it. No meat.
I would be more excited if they announced that SWG would get revamped, new graphics and spirit of pre cu/nge recaptured.
The problem with storybased mmos are that they will lead you into forced patterns.
Real story based mmos are sandbox, where you create your own story in full freedom.
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CASUAL CONFESSIONS - Draccan's blog
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Comments
Im sorry to hear that you're not excited yet, i know its hard to take hold on the thought of a new Star Wars MMO, i really do. I hope you finally do catch on and see the good side of it: Its new, made by BioWare, SOE is no where to be found, and its published by EA who can throw a lot of money at the development of the game.
The reason I am not excited is: the game is theme park. The gfx are made for kids, and I fear how deep the gameplay will be...
Well .... SOE is not around you say, but what if all Bioware want to do is a new cookiecutter mmo?
I am not convinced about this new mmo being a great addition to the genre (that is hurting already).
Time will tell, but it seems to go sith/jedi-heavy with emphasis on the hero part. And with emphasis on story. Some pvp aspects incl. in many forms. Raids included too. All these are very worrying pieces of information.
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CASUAL CONFESSIONS - Draccan's blog
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Valid points Draccan, but we're talking about Bioware here. A company that has prooven itself time and time again by the games they've made so that being said, I have faith that even if they dont have alot of those factors you mentioned yet that they will impliment them into the game when enough players have requested it. They are one of the few companies that listen to their fans, otherwise they wouldn't be making the mmo in the first place, heh.
All very good questions that I want to know answers to as well. I think it would be wise to hold off on the visions we dream up in our heads of pre-NGE SWG for the time being.
Proven themselves? Their last two games are action-story games. Mass effect doesn't even really have many choices, and humor is missing completely. And their combat systems were pathetic at best.
The way i heard and comprehended it my mind was that they were taking Kotor and making it into a MMO. All i can really say is, pick up Kotor 2 and play it and get a taste of what possibly will be SWTOR. I don't believe it will be anything like SWG.
I don't see the point of your post! Sorry.
Or rather: you seemed to fail to understand what this thread was about.
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CASUAL CONFESSIONS - Draccan's blog
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I see you as a die hard SWG fan who is dying for a revived SWG in the form of SWTOR.
Facts:
Raids
Classes
Story-driven
Focus on the hero aspect
Jedis and Siths as starter classes.
Probable:
Levels
So far the little information they have revealed is all leading towards the big fear I had:
This is World of StarWarsCraft
They like to use words like groundbreaking new entertainment product, innovative - but they have yet to show it will be.
No details about the combat system too.
I don't want to rant against the game, but it seems like they are doing the mmo genre another bad favor, by doing things the way everyone else does these days.
I am sure there will be new stuff and features - but nothing ground-breaking so far. They are going for multiplatform, low end computers, so no pushing boundaries there, classes and two obvious factions (probably will include neutral too).
The way I see it, storydriven combined with classes usually mean that there is one way to play each role. There is a limit to the freedom the player will feel. What about replayability?
Concerns keep piling up and little information that goes the other way and give me that "yea" feeling.
I could point out many flaws about their website too: Stills moving around the page. Floating lightsabers coming from nowhere, no real info. Overall not looking great or super professional.
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CASUAL CONFESSIONS - Draccan's blog
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In response to this post, I simply say NO. KOTOR 2 was not even made by bio-ware so don't do what this guy is suggesting....
I will tell you what my biggest concern so far is NOT the game, it is the community. The thing is everyone wants some different we are all asking for aspects of the game that we personally want and to be honest they cannot please us all. It seems like they are trying to REALLY add some awesome things to the MMO. They flat out say they have all the great things that the MMO's today have and then they have added an awesome story line to the game that will be very unique to your class and choices you make as you play. I hope you all have looked at the video posted. I lost the link sorry but i think I watched it at IGN.
They say the content of this ONE game is more than every single Bioware game everr made PUT TOGETHER. To me that means this game will be massive and lots of fun. The problem with MMO's today is not the designers IMO it is how the community decides that a game is going to be terrible while it is in PRE ALPHA stages. Come on man, give it a chance and wait to see how it goes. They are going to take out suggestions hopefully and make some changes while still following their original design plan.
And as far as the graphics go I do not CARE if it is slightly cartoonish. I would sacrifice some graphics for smooth gameplay and if you think that the majority of people out there want a game that cannot run on their PC you are wrong. Once again I will say the game is in PRE ALPHA stages, and that means that the graphics and probably everything else is still going to be changed.
If you followed WAR as it was going through its stages you will know that they still upgraded graphics in open beta, so the graphics have a long way to go still I am assuming. Fixing graphics is a polishing aspect and they are simply not there yet.
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Just because other companies have somewhat failed at incorperating good stories into MMOs that dosen't mean it can't be done. From what they said in the interview it will be more like and additional KOTOR installment, but a lot of sequals bunched together into one giant story. Each class will have their own story and there will be NPCs available to take with you that may get angry with you and deciede to leave the party. They will have their own personalities and you will talk to them throughout the game like in the KOTOR games. It's pretty obvious that this game will be a story to play thorugh and not a sandbox to explore. Most people knew that if a KOTOR MMO was made that it would be very story driven. That does not mean the story will be bad. It doesn't mean that the quests will involve killing 10 wolves or dilivering a note to some person in the next town. I have faith in Bioware to develop a good story for everyone to play through and have fun with.
i see your point. They didnt give any specifics at all in the game play. thats why i think this game is a long ways from finished.
Yes and no!
Truth is I just want to have a MMORPG where there the game is actually MASSIVE. Where there is ROLEPLAYING.
Lately the industry is failing hard on this.
Why charge 15$ a month for something that is essentially a singleplayer game with multiplayer capabilities - where you just follow the same straight lines of single player games?
It seems odd. No one dares to try to tackle a real sandbox mmo anymore. And it has never been done right.
Take raids for example; the just removes players away from the social interaction with the world and places them in a little group. It takes away from the world when the endgame often centers around this aspect.
Or if the main idea of endgame is to take the same controlpoint over and over - what is the point?
If mmo companies really care about retention of their players - they should look to other options than what we have seen lately.
SWG actually did get a lot right (before the nge/cu). They offered a variety of careers, some form of consequence of death, social interaction due to need of abilities of other players. And they had all those little quirky details like camps and skinning etc. The game actually offered a really cool crafting system. And shifting ressources. And non - combat classes.
SWG said: you can play your way - be who you want to be - you could mix "classes" because it was a skillsystem and many had fun doing that.
Why build a large 3d world if all you want to do with it is to play an arcade style game where everyone has the same agenda (getting super item XX and a few more levels)??
Is this type of game giving us a social platform that actually warrants the amount of time and money we spent on the game?
So yes - I do prefer old style SWG, but I too want a new experience, a new graphical update, more skills, less bugs, better storyline (without it being something that holds my hand) - the rvr definitely could be improved. More focus on rewards and endgame. But when all that is said and done, pre cu/nge SWG was a very advanced game that today has not been surpassed by any game on the marketplace.
Sometimes evolution becomes regression.
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CASUAL CONFESSIONS - Draccan's blog
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I think everyone hears what you are saying. I agree that it would be nice to have non combat classes in an MMO. I also like the idea of being able to explore.
With that said Bioware doesn't make those kind of games. Personally I enjoyed the KOTOR games a lot more then any MMO I have yet to play and am willing to pay a monthly fee for a very large and enhanced version of this game.
The typical sandbox lover, fed up with all MMO guys most likely won't like this one. It's not going to be anything resembling a sandbox if they have thier own story lines to follow, and good thing too cause I hate sandbox/no content.
Levels and classes SUCK. If this game has levels and classes, it will SUCK on a fundamental level.
CH, Jedi, Commando, Smuggler, BH, Scout, Doctor, Chef, BE...yeah, lots of SWG time invested.
Once a denizen of Ahazi
Bioware had nothing to do with Kotor 2, they gave the publish rights to Obsidian (aka some of Black Isle).
Does that mean you aren't going to play it?
Because I am ok with that.
They just announced the game today, it hasn't been released, you realy should check your expectations at the door.
Thats because sandbox games are not fun. They drop you in the game and say have fun.. Then you wander aimlessly with your tumb in your bum trying to figure out were to go. Its boring when you have to search for something to do, Its boring when you have no idea on were to go, This whole crap about make your own story sorry.. If i wanted to make my own story i would write a freaking book. I agree games need more to them or choices of were i want to quest, not this islad is for lvls 1-10 this one is for 10- 20.. screw that make 3 or 4 places to level for 1-10 3 or 4 more for 10-20, but dont say hey look at this desert now go find something to do.
Does that mean you aren't going to play it?
Because I am ok with that.
They just announced the game today, it hasn't been released, you realy should check your expectations at the door.
Not really... becuase having expectations at this stage is a good way to get things changed for the better before this becomes a wow clone (just using that as an example)
Hell they would be so lucky to have a bunch of us sandboxers to help them change the game to be better...
Well that is.. if you guys really want another freedomless class based, linear game... then by all means flame away.
"Do not fret! Your captain is about to enter Valhalla!" - General Beatrix of Alexandria
"The acquisition of knowledge is of use to the intellect, for nothing can be loved or hated without first being known." - Leo da Vinci
Does that mean you aren't going to play it?
Because I am ok with that.
They just announced the game today, it hasn't been released, you realy should check your expectations at the door.
Not really... becuase having expectations at this stage is a good way to get things changed for the better before this becomes a wow clone (just using that as an example)
Hell they would be so lucky to have a bunch of us sandboxers to help them change the game to be better...
Well that is.. if you guys really want another freedomless class based, linear game... then by all means flame away.
I trust Bioware to make a good game. I know a good game differs for the person who is playing the game. In my ways I am sick of linear MMOs, but from what I've heard so far this game is going to be closer to a single player KOTOR type game then a multiplayer MMO where your actions can't effect the game world at all. If it's like the original KOTOR then I will be content. Bioware does story better then most companies in the buisness. At least IMO.
Well, then you'll be happy with what I find to SUCK on a fundamental level for a multiplayer game.
I want a virtual reality. One where I have the freedom to make my own story. Not be dictatated to by people who imagine that they know what I think is fun. One where I can be a Jedi AND a smuggler. One where I can be a Bounty Hunter who uses Teras Kasi to get his bounties. One where I can be a Creature Handler who plays the slitherhorn on the side.
SWG gave me that. Infinite possiblities. Unlike the paint-by-the-numbers sameness of MMOs in the post WoW market.
You're the NGE target audience...the WoW players. Now I've played WoW, but damn, it's fundamentally a very limited game in a lot of ways. They give you this huge world to play in, then they guide you through this world by the hand...and all you do is grind grind grind in very predictable ways that get boring, fast.
Mind you, KOTOR and KOTOR 2 are great waysto burn up 40 or so hours. But the thing is, they don't allow you really to explore. You're guided everywhere. The GTA series at least gives you a playground to explore and just hang out in quite aside from the primary plot.. The KOTOR series doesn't do that. Apparently BioWare just doesn't do anything sandbox. Theyr'e doing video games as movies. They control the plot. You just stumble your way through their story.
I'm sure whatever BioWare serves up will be very polished, and very playable, and a lot of fun. But it will have certain assumptions about how the game is to be played, and won't allow you to move outside that predetermined script. I don't see how this works in an open ended format of an MMORPG, except to wind up with the same old same old: raids, looting, getting gear, and doing it again. For some, that's enough. Because the entire genre is stuck with this damn class/level paradigm and they can't break out of it, mainly because they're not allowed to even try by beancounting mediocrities like Smedley and the LEC marketing department.
One of the fundamental problems with the MMO genre right now is that they are first and foremost GAMES. They're not trying to explore the possiblities of massively multiplayer games, by dropping the game and making it a second life where the rules of THIS universe are tossed aside to give the possibilites of imaginary universe a full airing. SWG used to be like that, at least potentially. The problem is limited people took it over and drove it into the ground. Once again putting short term gain over long term profit.
CH, Jedi, Commando, Smuggler, BH, Scout, Doctor, Chef, BE...yeah, lots of SWG time invested.
Once a denizen of Ahazi
Does that mean you aren't going to play it?
Because I am ok with that.
They just announced the game today, it hasn't been released, you realy should check your expectations at the door.
Not really... becuase having expectations at this stage is a good way to get things changed for the better before this becomes a wow clone (just using that as an example)
Hell they would be so lucky to have a bunch of us sandboxers to help them change the game to be better...
Well that is.. if you guys really want another freedomless class based, linear game... then by all means flame away.
Well I feel that since the game was just announced, and we have little to no information about what will and will not be in the game, unreasonable expectations should be withheld untill more is known about the game. Pretending that you know more than the developers at this stage is just a tad redicules
You should be emailing LEC and Bioware all the ideas and suggestions that you have about how you want the game to work. Wasting all your creativity and insight here in the MMORPG forums is a little pointless, isn't it? The developers could probably care less about unfounded criticism from any posts made by anonymous posters here on the MMORPG forums.
I just want a game that is entertaining, fun and based on one of the most popular IPs in the world
As far as "sandboxers" go...
I know what can be found in Sandboxes (children, broken toys, germs and cat poop). If you want a real "sandbox" game play pen & paper RPGs, then you can use your imagination and creativity to it's fullest extent, you can design your own adventures, and play in open environments, with no limitations.
In tentonhammer (i think) interview they said there will be levels, so i guess there will also be your standard "heroic" classes..