The Old Republic vs Star Trek Online (cmon you knew this thread was coming)

admriker4

It seems like another wow vs eq2 battle is coming for our hearts and minds. Both games are pretty deep into development and will probably launch in 2010. I know its early but already some info has surfaced that warrants comparisons...

Developers - Cryptic for Trek and Bioware for TOR. Cryptic has the edge in MMO experience but Bioware always makes a great game.

Its unknown how involved Paramount will be with the development and direction of Star Trek. We do know LA will be heavily involved with TOR based on the past.

Format - very early so this is pure speculation based on limited info....Star Trek will be more sandboxish with no levels and an emphasis on exploration. TOR will be more of the Linear Theme park type of game with a ton of quests and emphasis on storyline (you being the hero)

graphics - ironically both games have similiar cartoonish graphics that have already stirred many complaints. Many seem to prefer more photo-realistic graphics. I think both dev teams have taken a lesson from WoW and Age of Conan (cartoon low pixel vs high pixel graphics)

Gameplay - cryptic says we'll captain our own ship and have npc crewmen to assist us. Bioware says we'll have npc companions to assist us on our quests.

Community - where will the community likely come from for either game ?

Star Trek - I think we may get a very small percentage from CoH as they'll hear it through the grapevine (even though cryptic doesnt own CoH anymore).

I doubt we'll get even a hundred players new to the MMO industry for Star Trek.

The KOTOR fans who dont normally play MMO's might take up the game. Keep in mind though that KOTOR gamers were predominantly console players so its a mystery how many will likely cross over to PC subscription play.

What about the WoW gamers, will they be tempted to leave blizzcraft for Trek or KOTOR ? If WoW gamers were to leave, my guess would be KOTOR is more appealing as its similiar style (linear theme park).

What about EVE gamers ? I think a small minority there might be tempted by Star Trek. I doubt any will leave for KOTOR though unless Bioware adds in space flight content.

Most obvious will be the SWG vets who quit over the NGE fiasco and current SWG players. There are many thousands more SWG vets compared to NGE players so clearly the community will be dominated by them. Go check out the TOR forums, 90% of the posts are from ex swg players. I believe Star Trek and TOR will attract most of its community from these players.

I suspect that Trek will actually appeal to the swg vets while the NGE players will prefer TOR (those happy with nge anyway).

Overall - there seems to be quite a few similarities between these two games. Launch dates are likely within a yr at most of each other. graphics are similiar. we get npc companions in both games. community will come mostly from the same core gamers (swg). The difference is gameplay and it will be interesting to see if the swg vet crowd that despises NGE for its linear theme park style of content will be lining up to play TOR.

Time will only tell

 

Abrahmm

I'll be trying TOR simply because I love Star Wars, and don't care for Star Trek at all.

DuraheLL

I just despise anything Star Trek related by nature. So it will take a small miracle or a REEEEALLY good game for me to choose that one. And I have not yet gotten that impression from doing a little research about ST:O

achesoma

Star Wars>Star Trek

Enough said.

Techleo

   I'm more of a Star Trek fan then a Star Wars fan but Id like to try TOR first. The fact its being made by Bioware is the main reason. After Baldurs Gate and the following games they basically have my trust.  I never did play Kotor more then a few hours though.. I just didnt have time.

xbellx777

i think  star wars is better than star trek although i do like both universes.  however i think star trek will win out in the mmo department bc they have a experienced team making it and its a sandbox which makes me ( and im guessing alot of other ppl) happy

miagisan

show me the gameplay mechanics of both games and i will then tell you which is better....

 

OH WAIT YOU CANT

neilh73

Well it is very simple for me.  I love Star Wars and I wouldn't say that I hate Star Trek, but I do find it very meh.

I played SWG from launch up until the NGE and I would prefer SW:TOR to be skillbased and sandbox, but really it isn't a game breaker for me that it is not. 

I have every faith that BioWare will create a great game, I have enjoyed every one of their previous games and even though they have no previous MMO experience  I still think that they can pull one off with no problems.

The original KotOR is my favourite single-player RPG and maybe even my favourite ever single-player game full-stop.  I am looking forward to this game a LOT.

 

Narshe

Originally posted by xbellx777


i think  star wars is better than star trek although i do like both universes.  however i think star trek will win out in the mmo department bc they have a experienced team making it and its a sandbox which makes me ( and im guessing alot of other ppl) happy

 

I disagree. I really think STO will turn into a niche game, while TOR will take on at least double the subscription numbers. Even though Bioware hasn't made an MMO, they have a lot of talent on their team including people who've worked on some before. I love Star Trek, I've been waiting for STO for years now, but I honestly don't think it will ever do better than TOR.

I hope they both do well though, and I know I'll be trying both out whenever they launch.

athynz

Personally I plan on trying both out. I am a die hard fan of both and have many game titles from both including both the KOTOR releases for windows that I still play on occasion. I feel that the Star Trek universe lends itself to more strategy type games and the Star Wars universe is more of a MMORPG IMHO. I'm actually curious - having not read much on the game to this point - if it will pick up either timeline in the console/ PC single game KOTOR campaigns or go it's own way. But back to the topic for me it depends on gameplay - IF KOTOR MMORPG incorporates some of the things developed by the PC community for the single player games - such as the variety of robes/ lightsabers/ etc. then I'm already hooked.... Until both come out we can all give our opinions on what should be/ what we want things to be.

jinxit

Originally posted by athynz


Personally I plan on trying both out. I am a die hard fan of both and have many game titles from both including both the KOTOR releases for windows that I still play on occasion. I feel that the Star Trek universe lends itself to more strategy type games and the Star Wars universe is more of a MMORPG IMHO. I'm actually curious - having not read much on the game to this point - if it will pick up either timeline in the console/ PC single game KOTOR campaigns or go it's own way. But back to the topic for me it depends on gameplay - IF KOTOR MMORPG incorporates some of the things developed by the PC community for the single player games - such as the variety of robes/ lightsabers/ etc. then I'm already hooked.... Until both come out we can all give our opinions on what should be/ what we want things to be.

 

What he said

Karahandras

for me it will depend on which is more grown up with greater depth and freedom

Deathstiny

Originally posted by achesoma


Star Wars>Star Trek
Enough said.

 

QFT

admriker4

i'll definitely try both.

I can see myself playing TOR for 6 months, maybe a year. They would need to continually add fast content to keep me interested though since its a storline linear type game. I burn those type of games fast

Star Trek if it does place emphasis on exploration and remains skill based might appeal to me long-term.

Im just happy we have some decent options coming within the next yr or two. the last year+ was pretty awful for MMO's

PunisherX

hmmm... both games have their advantages. I will probably end up playing both. lol. i love star trek and star wars.

whpsh

I like both for entirely different reasons.

I like Star Wars for the conflict. I like Star Trek for the exploration. Star Wars for the Action. Star Trek for its mental and moral dilemmas.

In the end though, the difference between either game being a success or hosting a few fanbois is how each game compares to our expectations.

And, of course, nobody ever really knows that until the end of their first 30 days.

PunisherX

Originally posted by whpsh


I like both for entirely different reasons.
I like Star Wars for the conflict. I like Star Trek for the exploration. Star Wars for the Action. Star Trek for its mental and moral dilemmas.
In the end though, the difference between either game being a success or hosting a few fanbois is how each game compares to our expectations.
And, of course, nobody ever really knows that until the end of their first 30 days.

 

i agree.

Khalathwyr

I'm a fan of both IPs. I'd have to say Star Wars more than Trek but both are in my top 5 favorite IPs.

That said, based on the information we have about both games at this point I'm more likely to try Star Trek Online than SW:TOR. While not my ideal setup for a MMO, ST:O is at least mixing it up a little and approaching an MMO with a universe that interests me. SW:TOR, from what has been said, looks to be another similiar offering to the recent releases with more quests and quest dialogue to read.

admriker4

Originally posted by achesoma


Star Wars>Star Trek
Enough said.

 

Im not comparing IP's

why is it half the posts seem to think that ?

Im comparing the games themselves. I get the impression that some people will play either one of the two regardless if the other is better. Reminds me of the NGE crowd who play SWG for the IP despite the game mechanics being total garbage

I love star wars more than star trek. But if Star Trek has better gameplay with sandbox elements Im not going to waste my money on TOR simply because its IP

Smilex0311

I think that the Star Trek people are more interested in exploration of  a fake universe based on real and theoretical science. Than there are the Star Wars people who are more interested in lightsabers and magic. 

For me, I have more interests in exploration.  Make it so.

John.A.Zoid

Star Trek isn't realistic......



For one theres no sound in space and another thing is the explosions wouldn't be so big because theres no Oxygen in space so they would be much smaller as the only Oxygen the fire could feed on is the ships.

admriker4

Originally posted by John.A.Zoid


Star Trek isn't realistic......



For one theres no sound in space and another thing is the explosions wouldn't be so big because theres no Oxygen in space so they would be much smaller as the only Oxygen the fire could feed on is the ships.

 

there is plenty of oxygen on those ships when they explode. If a photon torpedo hits and penetrates the hull of course there's going to be an explosive fireball.

achesoma

Originally posted by admriker4

Originally posted by achesoma


Star Wars>Star Trek
Enough said.

 

Im not comparing IP's

why is it half the posts seem to think that ?

Im comparing the games themselves. I get the impression that some people will play either one of the two regardless if the other is better. Reminds me of the NGE crowd who play SWG for the IP despite the game mechanics being total garbage

I love star wars more than star trek. But if Star Trek has better gameplay with sandbox elements Im not going to waste my money on TOR simply because its IP

It was just more of a tongue-in-cheek comment.

But seriously, TOR sounds far more interesting to me.  Besides being a SW fan, I am also a big fan of Bioware.  I have really enjoyed every game I've tried from them.  However, it I think the game sucks I'm sure as heck not going to play it just because of the title.  That's just silly. 

STO seems a little too space combat oriented for me.  Which is fine but personally I'm just not into that.  I have no desire to captain my own ship.  Space/flight is just boring for me.  The only thing in ST that would interest me is if I could be a doctor/chief medical officer and run a sick bay. 

Distopia

I definitely prefer Star Wars, never been into Star Trek. However if STO turns out to be a better gaming experience, I'll be playing that. If not it's going to be TOR for sure, that of course depends on how good Fallen Earth turns out to be. I'm a one game kind of guy, if I settle into one I'm there for a good long while.

smugglapro

STO = Bridge Commander......Online with the possible chance to see "redshirts" die "in person".

That is all.

admriker4

I never played Bridge Commander so I cant tell if thats a valid comparison. Ive played Voyager Elite Force and Birth of the Federation (great game).

Im excited because there arent levels and exploration is important. If they can build on that, we might have ourselves a genuine sandbox virtual world.