While I most certainly applaud your enthusiam, I am afraid that I do not share it. The main reason being that Bioware is but a few months shy of going to Beta testing stage and they have yet to discuss much about the game besides a small bit of its combat style and its epic storylines. Little else has been revealed, let alone discussed. Of the small information that has been released, I find little to be overly enthusiastic about. My biggest hang up? NPC controlled party "companions". Then you could also wonder: 'Is that really different from other games?". Most games reveal a lot about the 'focus' of their game, and not a lot about other things, which is perfectly normal. The details and how they work together are meant to be tested in beta, that's also when they can still be changed and remember: BW doesn't release any non-finalized info on the game, that means you won't see any things like PvE encounters and PvP mechanics until close to release (although the general idea might be given). But is that strange? I don't think so: in what game were the non-beta testers given the fine details about the workings of the game before release? I can't think of any. Fact is: through the friday featurettes, we're given far more updates than most games out there ever get. If you take the SW:tOR predecessors, KotOR, you will see games that are awesome for their stories, and good in their combat, but little else of them stands out. Will SW:tOR resemble KotOR heavily? One can only assume, and that is not something I like to do. I rely on the information given, but as we have seen, that's not much. So they're awesome for story and combat according to you, what else do they need to stand out in then? I worry about SW:tOR in many areas. First and foremost would be the areas of the game that have nothing to do with combat and story. Where are the other things that really help to make MMOs great? Where is the crafting at? Will it be there at all? They say yes, but I am extremely fearsome of it, because of the way they did describe their vision of it. What little they did talk about. I'm not going to dig for it, but they said something along the lines of "simple" and "easily accessable". That really does scare me. I'm deeply afraid it is going to go the way of WoW crafting and be so overly simplified as to become down right stupid. If they do it like WoW, you will have a crafting system where you combine one piece of metal, a tube, a wooden stock, some other random item and after 5 seconds of crafting time, you have a brand new T-21 rifle. I'm sorry, but no thanks. Not to mention, after you make enough of the T-21's to get to the next level of crafting, you will NEVER make one again. Let's also not forget the fact that nearly every other rifle you can get from a loot drop will be significantly better than any crafted version you could make. Is that the way it will be? I most certainly hope not, but they have not given out any other information besides "simple" and "easily accessable" that could possibly lead me to a different conclusion. Crafting in this game won't be super complex, it won't result in a player driven economy or anything like that. It was stated: "We don't want to see Sith Lords crafting shoes." So if you are going to be majorly disappointed by the lack of that, expect to be majorly disappointed. Yet crafting is going to be there, and it might work within the context of the game. In light of that possibility in the scheme of crafting, what does that mean for the economy? Are we again going to be relgated to an Auction House only system, like WoW's, where the only interaction between players will take place via a market screen in some random building in major cities? Again, I hope not. But unless they come out with some other information besides "simple" and "easily accessable", this will be another area that I have great concern for. Auction houses have been confirmed, so yes. This is again a matter of opinion; personally, having to browse hundreds of small personal shops and having to deal with gathering thread, bolts and leather / metal plates to craft a piece of armour makes my skin crawl. What about things not having anything to do with crafting, combat or story? I'd love to speculate on those, but there is nothing to speculate on. They have said the worlds will be "large and open". But to what extent? Will it be like WoW and SWG where the worlds are large and open? Or will they be like Guild Wars and Dungeons and Dragons Online, where once outside of a major city or town, you now exist in some instance made specifically for you and your avatar or your party. It won't be like Guild Wars (official), the world will be open, for the rest, some planets will be larger than others. But that's all we know. Again, this is not something that is usually discussed in great detail before an MMO launches (no one says: "Our world is 2000x1000 square yards big, with 3 main roads travelling through a desert a forest and a grassy plain."). Let's not even begin to talk about my fears for the "multiplayer" aspect of it. One phrase... "NPC companions" This phrase in and of itself causes me GREAT concern. I am by no means a stickler for forced grouping. Not no way, not no how. But I am one of those types of players that likes to see a slight need to rely on my fellow player. Of course this carries over into far more things than combat, like mainly the crafting and the economy. I don't mind if the game is soloable from start to end-game. I could care less. But when they make the game not soloable, then allow for NPC controlled companions, it kind of kills the whole MMO aspect to it, does it not? I mean seriously? What is the difference, in combat only, between an MMO that allows NPC controlled companions, and a game like, say, "Dungeon Siege"? You will be able to have 1 NPC companion with you at all times (from a pool of multiple, and unique for each class), they're meant to enhance certain abilities the player already has, and depending on the companion, make it easier to get through some situations that would be hard to do otherwise (example given, use a force-absorbing guy to get through an encounter with a lot of powerful force users) and to make it easier to get all the roles represented in groups (if you don't have a healer, pick your healing companion). If anything, they'll make it easier to get groups for the group content in the game. You don't ask the most valid and concerning question concerning them (that hasn't been answered): how will they work together with pvp?
This would be a good sceptical post, but as you can see, most of the trouble you have with the game is subjective (which is fine) and most of the questions you pose have already been answered.
There's more info out there on the game than many people seem to think, but it is kind of spread out.
So I urge people to read the mini-holo posted by greed0104 and the information thread here on mmorpg.com, or even the stickies on the official website.
Feel free to use my referral link for SW:TOR if you want to test out the game. You'll get some special unlocks!
While I most certainly applaud your enthusiam, I am afraid that I do not share it. The main reason being that Bioware is but a few months shy of going to Beta testing stage and they have yet to discuss much about the game besides a small bit of its combat style and its epic storylines. Little else has been revealed, let alone discussed. Of the small information that has been released, I find little to be overly enthusiastic about. My biggest hang up? NPC controlled party "companions". If you take the SW:tOR predecessors, KotOR, you will see games that are awesome for their stories, and good in their combat, but little else of them stands out. Will SW:tOR resemble KotOR heavily? One can only assume, and that is not something I like to do. I rely on the information given, but as we have seen, that's not much. I worry about SW:tOR in many areas. First and foremost would be the areas of the game that have nothing to do with combat and story. Where are the other things that really help to make MMOs great? Where is the crafting at? Will it be there at all? They say yes, but I am extremely fearsome of it, because of the way they did describe their vision of it. What little they did talk about. I'm not going to dig for it, but they said something along the lines of "simple" and "easily accessable". That really does scare me. I'm deeply afraid it is going to go the way of WoW crafting and be so overly simplified as to become down right stupid. If they do it like WoW, you will have a crafting system where you combine one piece of metal, a tube, a wooden stock, some other random item and after 5 seconds of crafting time, you have a brand new T-21 rifle. I'm sorry, but no thanks. Not to mention, after you make enough of the T-21's to get to the next level of crafting, you will NEVER make one again. Let's also not forget the fact that nearly every other rifle you can get from a loot drop will be significantly better than any crafted version you could make. Is that the way it will be? I most certainly hope not, but they have not given out any other information besides "simple" and "easily accessable" that could possibly lead me to a different conclusion. In light of that possibility in the scheme of crafting, what does that mean for the economy? Are we again going to be relgated to an Auction House only system, like WoW's, where the only interaction between players will take place via a market screen in some random building in major cities? Again, I hope not. But unless they come out with some other information besides "simple" and "easily accessable", this will be another area that I have great concern for. What about things not having anything to do with crafting, combat or story? I'd love to speculate on those, but there is nothing to speculate on. They have said the worlds will be "large and open". But to what extent? Will it be like WoW and SWG where the worlds are large and open? Or will they be like Guild Wars and Dungeons and Dragons Online, where once outside of a major city or town, you now exist in some instance made specifically for you and your avatar or your party. Let's not even begin to talk about my fears for the "multiplayer" aspect of it. One phrase... "NPC companions" This phrase in and of itself causes me GREAT concern. I am by no means a stickler for forced grouping. Not no way, not no how. But I am one of those types of players that likes to see a slight need to rely on my fellow player. Of course this carries over into far more things than combat, like mainly the crafting and the economy. I don't mind if the game is soloable from start to end-game. I could care less. But when they make the game not soloable, then allow for NPC controlled companions, it kind of kills the whole MMO aspect to it, does it not? I mean seriously? What is the difference, in combat only, between an MMO that allows NPC controlled companions, and a game like, say, "Dungeon Siege"? Okay, I think I have gone on long enough. I do hope I have not rained on anyone's parade too much. That MOST CERTAINLY was not my intent. I do sincerely hope that SW:tOR turns out to be a phenomenal game. If it does, I will MOST CERTAINLY be playing it. But again, I have not seen enough yet, or i've seen a little bit too much of stuff that gives me pause, to declare this game to be "the second coming". But as always... "Your mileage may vary." Sincerely, Me
Don't let the forums get you down. I see the game almost the exact way at the moment. I do not doubt that they can make a great MMO, but with the information we have now, is there any need for all the hype?
The people that will devote their life to this game have no clue what it has to even offer, other than a few tidbits of information here and there. So what happens when the game does not deliver?
i love bioware, its my favorite game comopany, and every game they have put out i have loved.
I believe that this game will be great, however, bioware does not have any real experience with mmorpg's, so this game has that against them, although, you are right, i think that they will sitck with this game and make it a quality product.
again, fail on your part. coming to conclusions on something you dont know anything about. the devs said one thing and could totally change everything. this game has not even reached a finalized state and by coming to a conclusion based on a few tid bits of information to you means it is. like i said previously, this game is over a year away for release if not more. i dont play wow so i have no clue how their crafting is done.
I'm sorry, but it is you who are the one who has failed. Your failure to speculate on and to discuss the ideas and statements put out by the game developers has helped to lead us to the situation we are in now with the MMORPG genre. Constantly I hear statements from folks like you that follow the line, or something similar to it, of, "Just wait and see what they do." or my personal favorite, "They are the game developer, they know what they are doing.". How many failed games, or rather, how many failed potential games have we had in the past because we as gamers sat by and said nothing, or did nothing, while the developers put out short one liners like, "Simple" and "Easily Accessable", or maybe "Innovative" and "Ground Breaking".
Too many people like you have taken the developers at their word and silenced other concerned gamers with your "You fail for speculating" rhetoric. People like you have allowed developers free reign to drop whatever trash they want on the market, and then you buy it, because you'd rather have crap to play then nothing at all. Thus perpetuating the cycle. So again, you have failed. You have failed for not questioning their ideas. You have failed for not speculating on what they will do. And you have failed for not getting out there and voicing your concerns to the developers. Whether or not they listen to them is irrelevant. You will at least know that you can proudly stand up and say, "Hey! I tried to tell them." or maybe "I tried to help make it a good game." Or would that be too difficult for you? Is it easier for you to just sit here and post "You fail!!" and "Stop speculating!!", then to actually stop and think for yourself, and try to make a concerted effort to improve gaming?
i love bioware, its my favorite game comopany, and every game they have put out i have loved.
I believe that this game will be great, however, bioware does not have any real experience with mmorpg's, so this game has that against them, although, you are right, i think that they will sitck with this game and make it a quality product.
I am with you on this. Knights of the Old Republic 1&2, Mass Effect 1&2, Dragon Age, and Jade Empire are some of my favorite games. These games sold millons btw. If you do not like Bioware style games go found your "sandbox" in Eve or whereever.
Hello, Just wanna say a few things about this game and the developer, Bioware. Flame, troll or say whatever you want in response, just be sure to read to the bottom before you do. 1) SW:TOR is not and will not be "another WoW clone". To suggest this is an insult to Bioware, who has done nothing but go out of its way to show everyone the complete opposite. 2) It's not Star Wars Galaxies. It won't be Star Wars Galaxies. Period. 3) "The graphics are crap!" "It doesn't look fluent" "WTFBBQ there's only one hairstyle". Use a brain people. You were lucky enough to be given a detailed look into a game in such an early development stage - an act which most developers wouldn't dare do precisely because of people who complain about such nonsense! It's still in development and should be blatantly obvious that the game will have significant graphical differences in Alpha and Beta, which by the way is over a year away! 4) Bioware is one of the highest grossing, most successful, and trusted video game developers out there. They don't mess around and make crappy games that would tarnish their reputation. This is business 101. They have had a working relationship with LucasArts since the first KOTOR and know what they are doing. Most of all, they listen to their customers. Simply put, they are not in the business of disappointing.
That's really all I have to say. Don't feed the trolls.
Past performance is no guarantee of future success. If its dumb to hate on it before launch, its dumb to fanboi on it before launch.
Comments
This would be a good sceptical post, but as you can see, most of the trouble you have with the game is subjective (which is fine) and most of the questions you pose have already been answered.
There's more info out there on the game than many people seem to think, but it is kind of spread out.
So I urge people to read the mini-holo posted by greed0104 and the information thread here on mmorpg.com, or even the stickies on the official website.
Feel free to use my referral link for SW:TOR if you want to test out the game. You'll get some special unlocks!
Don't let the forums get you down. I see the game almost the exact way at the moment. I do not doubt that they can make a great MMO, but with the information we have now, is there any need for all the hype?
The people that will devote their life to this game have no clue what it has to even offer, other than a few tidbits of information here and there. So what happens when the game does not deliver?
i love bioware, its my favorite game comopany, and every game they have put out i have loved.
I believe that this game will be great, however, bioware does not have any real experience with mmorpg's, so this game has that against them, although, you are right, i think that they will sitck with this game and make it a quality product.
But the Conclusion that this will be an amazing game is much better...or?
[Mod Edit]
I'm sorry, but it is you who are the one who has failed. Your failure to speculate on and to discuss the ideas and statements put out by the game developers has helped to lead us to the situation we are in now with the MMORPG genre. Constantly I hear statements from folks like you that follow the line, or something similar to it, of, "Just wait and see what they do." or my personal favorite, "They are the game developer, they know what they are doing.". How many failed games, or rather, how many failed potential games have we had in the past because we as gamers sat by and said nothing, or did nothing, while the developers put out short one liners like, "Simple" and "Easily Accessable", or maybe "Innovative" and "Ground Breaking".
Too many people like you have taken the developers at their word and silenced other concerned gamers with your "You fail for speculating" rhetoric. People like you have allowed developers free reign to drop whatever trash they want on the market, and then you buy it, because you'd rather have crap to play then nothing at all. Thus perpetuating the cycle. So again, you have failed. You have failed for not questioning their ideas. You have failed for not speculating on what they will do. And you have failed for not getting out there and voicing your concerns to the developers. Whether or not they listen to them is irrelevant. You will at least know that you can proudly stand up and say, "Hey! I tried to tell them." or maybe "I tried to help make it a good game." Or would that be too difficult for you? Is it easier for you to just sit here and post "You fail!!" and "Stop speculating!!", then to actually stop and think for yourself, and try to make a concerted effort to improve gaming?
Maligar Kelison
Threat Removal
I am with you on this. Knights of the Old Republic 1&2, Mass Effect 1&2, Dragon Age, and Jade Empire are some of my favorite games. These games sold millons btw. If you do not like Bioware style games go found your "sandbox" in Eve or whereever.
Past performance is no guarantee of future success. If its dumb to hate on it before launch, its dumb to fanboi on it before launch.