Not to step on any toes here, but is there a point to ANY MMORPG? Take no criticism from that question; I play these games quite a bit, and I love them, but there's no boss character to kill at the end, no cutscene to tell us how the story ends. There's really to point. Of course that is the beauty of these games IMHO. I think that too many people see the MMO and think that we must become raving socialites to qualify for enjoyment of these games. But remember, SWG and all the others out there at least attempt to be persistent worlds, worlds that change in ways that single player offline games never have. I'm drawn to a persistent world. If I meet people, great, but don't force me to just because of the MMO in the genre title. Let me come to that at my own pace. I'll get there, but that's not the ONLY thing I'm here for.
-------------------------------------------
"This is the way the world ends, this is the way the world ends, this is the way the world ends, not with a bang but a whimper." -- T.S. Eliot
"Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate" -- Dante Alighieri
Agreed, SWG is another RPG. My problem is mostly that it just doesn't feel like Star Wars when I play. That's my single biggest hangup with it. I had this hangup during beta and I had it after buying the game in final. I felt... cheated somehow...
As to PVP comparisons....
Yes, Shadowbane blows. But their concept for PVP is probably one of the best ones out there. Unfortunately the game sucks DAOC has the best currently implemented PVP system in place and AO is a close 2nd, if not tied. Both those games incorporate conquest of territory. As to the PA cities in SWG the reason they're empty is because there just aren't enough people in the game to really populate them.
SWG has some great ideas. And, as I stated repeatedly, hopefully many of those will get addressed in the expansion.
But, as you said, we differ in our opinion. To me SWG has too many flaws for it to be fun. If I PAY FOR a Star Wars game then it needs to FEEL to me as if it is a STAR WARS game, not some AO with a Star Wars setting.
Oh, as to the game list I've played every one of the MMO's you listed as well, plus some others (as I'm sure you did too) and I actually agree with you somewhat on EQ. It was a great game. Unfortunately it's outlived itself.
Currently Playing: Dungeons and Dragons Online. Sig image Pending Still in: A couple Betas
That's interesting... You played for 5 months with 2 accounts yet you thought it sucked? That's is VERY interesting... Anyways, I have found that this game has been a victim of .... well rumors.. People hear this game sucks from someone, and go into the game thinking its going to suck. The play it for 5 seconds with out even checking out it's content, then go on message boards like this and say that the game sucked. I doubt you guys even tried half the content. Did you build a house and join a city? Join a guild? Get a mount and a vehicle? Fight a Krayt or a kimo? Explore at all? I don't think so...
Sorry bud, not every game is for every person. SWG suffers from 1 thing: It's got a Star Wars title. That means that MOST players who try the game out are expecting something along the lines of the other Star Wars game titles they've played. FPS shootem ups or FPS Space Combat Sims. They are not looking for yet-another-freaking-mmo-eqstyle.
While SWG has some significant differences from EQ, DAOC, AO etc it also has a VAST number of striking similarities. One of the problems facing the MMO player today is that any game you play is SO much like every other MMO that they get boring faster and faster the longer the market is out there.
IE: UO players enjoyed UO for YEARS then went to EQ and, since the market was still young, enjoyed that one for YEARS... AC did well as did DAOC. Then the "3rd Generation" games started coming out... SWG, EVE, E&B, Shadowbane, AC2, etc. And they didn't really offer anything dramatically NEW so the "Long time" MMO players (who are pretty burned out on the hack-slash-xp till you drop-killthis-getthat-craftthis) get bored very quickly.
Those who are finding SWG boring fall into 1 of 3 categories: 1) It was NOT what they expected at all (FPS/SIM online seekers) 2) It WAS what they expected but didn't offer enough NEWNESS to the genre (myself included in this one) 3) They came in with preconceived notion that it sucked.
So, while your premise strikes me as somewhat correct it doesn't address the whole issue.
1) SWG, by it's very title, implies that it is a SPACE game. SWG is not, however, a space game. When I hear "Star Wars Galaxies" I expect to be able to hop in my YT-1300 and smuggle goods across the galaxy. When I check the game out it doesn't have that... HMMMM not what I wanted (I not being the customer, mind you, not me in particular).
2) SWG claims to revolutionize the genre (lets face it, all of the new MMO's try to make that claim) but falls short. It's got some slight variations on a theme but there's nothing all that "NEW" about it and certainly nothing "Revolutionary".
3) SWG had a horrendous launch. Kiss of death, that starts more rumors than anything else.
Just my opinions, your mileage may vary.
Currently Playing: Dungeons and Dragons Online. Sig image Pending Still in: A couple Betas
My experience with the game is now much much deeper. It looks great after new patches released, everyone is waiting for the exansion Space, finally to buy some spaceship. Community is still growing up (in number of players and in experience of players). I haven't heard from anyone who is playing about leaving the game (which i cannot say about Horizons, for example. I played this crap and there is no sense to continue; believe me)
This game represents one good example of MMORPG, even i'm going for WoW, this will stay in my heart
I've been to many places, i've seen so many faces...
[quote]Originally posted by Lypheus I'm not sure what SWG is missing really ... it just is not a gripping game. [/b][/quote]
Exactly. There are things wrong with it, as in any game, and it's true that SOB isn't the most respectful or honest developper. But for me it just comes down to some undefinable lack of depth, despite some great features.
AC (retired); EQ (retired); DAoC (retired); Horizons (retired); EQII (retired); CoH (retired); AC II (tested); Lineage II (beta); Neocron (tested); Saga of Ryzom (beta); SWG (retired)...
I started playing SWG from the beginning and I found it interesting for a number of months. I maxxed out a couple of characters in skills and managed to make alot of money and then I lost interest. One of my characters mastered 18 professions and I had found that some of the professions I could Master in a week and a few in one day (architect for one). I started doing this for what was considered the "jedi grind". To become a Jedi you had to master a certain number of professions which were unknown to you. I gave up after 18 professions, it was just no fun doing it. I had millions in credits but nothing to spend it on. When you gather up groups to do thier large quest areas you find that someone was already there and it take forever to reset again. So yeah after a while the game got boring because nothing to accomplish in it.
SWG changed a lot. With many patches which were introduced during last 2-3 weeks (don't remember exactly ) SWG became pretty much the game we expected to have after its release. I agree we still don't have SpaceShips but devs promised and the community believes (we don't have a reason not to belive BTW). There are many new quests (unfortunately still of the same kind - go, find, destroy or go, get, deliver but nothing is perfect ), professions are more balanced (i'm not competely agree with the balancing thogh, my character got a bit weaker , Bounty Hunter). But the main thing - players love this game and become more and more "addicted" to it, so the potential of this game (which is probably the greatest one among MMOs) can come into reality.
Now we are all waiting to get ships, new quests, and new PLANETS. During last conversation they said that they are considering new planets but nothing specific (i read in one discussion that they want to introduce about 15 planets, i hope this is right ).
So now the only thig we can do is to enjoy the game in its nowadays state and wait for the expansion. Space expansion is coming in the time of release of many many MMOs (WoW, Dragon Empire) so i hope it is not going to be lost and forgotten (but it depends on devs, doesn't it ).
I've been to many places, i've seen so many faces...
I've been to many places, i've seen so many faces...
IMO: Beyond what they've done for the existing game the game needs the following (sounds like they're doing some of this so I may get excited about the expansion when/if it comes out)
1) More planets (at LEAST 10 more, preferably 15 to 20) 2) Sectors of space to fly through, even some 'empty' sectors (Re: No planets) would be good 3) Space stations 4) Asteroid belts 5) Been leading up to it..... Space Flight 6) Along with space-flight space COMBAT 7) And... the space combat should be 1st person 3D space simulator style (A-LA X-wing, etc) 8) Along with all the above: Trade routes upon which you can make money.
Once that's in place take OUT the 'instaport' between planets and allow players to fly between planets instead. This would also open up opportunities for those who have spaceships to conduct trade with other players bartering passage on their ships for money, items or training.
Just my thoughts
Currently Playing: Dungeons and Dragons Online. Sig image Pending Still in: A couple Betas
Comments
Not to step on any toes here, but is there a point to ANY MMORPG? Take no criticism from that question; I play these games quite a bit, and I love them, but there's no boss character to kill at the end, no cutscene to tell us how the story ends. There's really to point. Of course that is the beauty of these games IMHO. I think that too many people see the MMO and think that we must become raving socialites to qualify for enjoyment of these games. But remember, SWG and all the others out there at least attempt to be persistent worlds, worlds that change in ways that single player offline games never have. I'm drawn to a persistent world. If I meet people, great, but don't force me to just because of the MMO in the genre title. Let me come to that at my own pace. I'll get there, but that's not the ONLY thing I'm here for.
-------------------------------------------
"This is the way the world ends, this is the way the world ends, this is the way the world ends, not with a bang but a whimper." -- T.S. Eliot
"Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate" -- Dante Alighieri
Agreed, SWG is another RPG. My problem is mostly that it just doesn't feel like Star Wars when I play. That's my single biggest hangup with it. I had this hangup during beta and I had it after buying the game in final. I felt... cheated somehow...
As to PVP comparisons....
Yes, Shadowbane blows. But their concept for PVP is probably one of the best ones out there. Unfortunately the game sucks
DAOC has the best currently implemented PVP system in place and AO is a close 2nd, if not tied. Both those games incorporate conquest of territory. As to the PA cities in SWG the reason they're empty is because there just aren't enough people in the game to really populate them.
SWG has some great ideas. And, as I stated repeatedly, hopefully many of those will get addressed in the expansion.
But, as you said, we differ in our opinion. To me SWG has too many flaws for it to be fun. If I PAY FOR a Star Wars game then it needs to FEEL to me as if it is a STAR WARS game, not some AO with a Star Wars setting.
Oh, as to the game list
Currently Playing: Dungeons and Dragons Online.
Sig image Pending
Still in: A couple Betas
That's interesting... You played for 5 months with 2 accounts yet you thought it sucked? That's is VERY interesting... Anyways, I have found that this game has been a victim of .... well rumors.. People hear this game sucks from someone, and go into the game thinking its going to suck. The play it for 5 seconds with out even checking out it's content, then go on message boards like this and say that the game sucked. I doubt you guys even tried half the content. Did you build a house and join a city? Join a guild? Get a mount and a vehicle? Fight a Krayt or a kimo? Explore at all? I don't think so...
P.S. First post
Sorry bud, not every game is for every person. SWG suffers from 1 thing: It's got a Star Wars title. That means that MOST players who try the game out are expecting something along the lines of the other Star Wars game titles they've played. FPS shootem ups or FPS Space Combat Sims. They are not looking for yet-another-freaking-mmo-eqstyle.
While SWG has some significant differences from EQ, DAOC, AO etc it also has a VAST number of striking similarities. One of the problems facing the MMO player today is that any game you play is SO much like every other MMO that they get boring faster and faster the longer the market is out there.
IE: UO players enjoyed UO for YEARS then went to EQ and, since the market was still young, enjoyed that one for YEARS... AC did well as did DAOC. Then the "3rd Generation" games started coming out... SWG, EVE, E&B, Shadowbane, AC2, etc. And they didn't really offer anything dramatically NEW so the "Long time" MMO players (who are pretty burned out on the hack-slash-xp till you drop-killthis-getthat-craftthis) get bored very quickly.
Those who are finding SWG boring fall into 1 of 3 categories:
1) It was NOT what they expected at all (FPS/SIM online seekers)
2) It WAS what they expected but didn't offer enough NEWNESS to the genre (myself included in this one)
3) They came in with preconceived notion that it sucked.
So, while your premise strikes me as somewhat correct it doesn't address the whole issue.
1) SWG, by it's very title, implies that it is a SPACE game. SWG is not, however, a space game. When I hear "Star Wars Galaxies" I expect to be able to hop in my YT-1300 and smuggle goods across the galaxy. When I check the game out it doesn't have that... HMMMM not what I wanted (I not being the customer, mind you, not me in particular).
2) SWG claims to revolutionize the genre (lets face it, all of the new MMO's try to make that claim) but falls short. It's got some slight variations on a theme but there's nothing all that "NEW" about it and certainly nothing "Revolutionary".
3) SWG had a horrendous launch. Kiss of death, that starts more rumors than anything else.
Just my opinions, your mileage may vary.
Currently Playing: Dungeons and Dragons Online.
Sig image Pending
Still in: A couple Betas
My experience with the game is now much much deeper. It looks great after new patches released, everyone is waiting for the exansion Space, finally to buy some spaceship. Community is still growing up (in number of players and in experience of players). I haven't heard from anyone who is playing about leaving the game (which i cannot say about Horizons, for example. I played this crap and there is no sense to continue; believe me)
This game represents one good example of MMORPG, even i'm going for WoW, this will stay in my heart
I've been to many places, i've seen so many faces...
LOL don't compare any successful MMO to Horizons. Unless they get their act together they'll wind up closing shop. People are leaving HZ in DROVES.
Currently Playing: Dungeons and Dragons Online.
Sig image Pending
Still in: A couple Betas
[quote]Originally posted by Lypheus
I'm not sure what SWG is missing really ... it just is not a gripping game. [/b][/quote]
Exactly. There are things wrong with it, as in any game, and it's true that SOB isn't the most respectful or honest developper.
But for me it just comes down to some undefinable lack of depth, despite some great features.
AC (retired); EQ (retired); DAoC (retired); Horizons (retired); EQII (retired); CoH (retired); AC II (tested); Lineage II (beta); Neocron (tested); Saga of Ryzom (beta); SWG (retired)...
I started playing SWG from the beginning and I found it interesting for a number of months. I maxxed out a couple of characters in skills and managed to make alot of money and then I lost interest. One of my characters mastered 18 professions and I had found that some of the professions I could Master in a week and a few in one day (architect for one). I started doing this for what was considered the "jedi grind". To become a Jedi you had to master a certain number of professions which were unknown to you. I gave up after 18 professions, it was just no fun doing it. I had millions in credits but nothing to spend it on. When you gather up groups to do thier large quest areas you find that someone was already there and it take forever to reset again. So yeah after a while the game got boring because nothing to accomplish in it.
The status of the game:
SWG changed a lot. With many patches which were introduced during last 2-3 weeks (don't remember exactly
) SWG became pretty much the game we expected to have after its release. I agree we still don't have SpaceShips but devs promised and the community believes (we don't have a reason not to belive BTW). There are many new quests (unfortunately still of the same kind - go, find, destroy or go, get, deliver but nothing is perfect 
), professions are more balanced (i'm not competely agree with the balancing thogh, my character got a bit weaker 
, Bounty Hunter). But the main thing - players love this game and become more and more "addicted" to it, so the potential of this game (which is probably the greatest one among MMOs) can come into reality.
Now we are all waiting to get ships, new quests, and new PLANETS. During last conversation they said that they are considering new planets but nothing specific (i read in one discussion that they want to introduce about 15 planets, i hope this is right
).
So now the only thig we can do is to enjoy the game in its nowadays state and wait for the expansion. Space expansion is coming in the time of release of many many MMOs (WoW, Dragon Empire) so i hope it is not going to be lost and forgotten (but it depends on devs, doesn't it
).
I've been to many places, i've seen so many faces...
I've been to many places, i've seen so many faces...
IMO:
Beyond what they've done for the existing game the game needs the following (sounds like they're doing some of this so I may get excited about the expansion when/if it comes out)
1) More planets (at LEAST 10 more, preferably 15 to 20)
2) Sectors of space to fly through, even some 'empty' sectors (Re: No planets) would be good
3) Space stations
4) Asteroid belts
5) Been leading up to it..... Space Flight
6) Along with space-flight space COMBAT
7) And... the space combat should be 1st person 3D space simulator style (A-LA X-wing, etc)
8) Along with all the above: Trade routes upon which you can make money.
Once that's in place take OUT the 'instaport' between planets and allow players to fly between planets instead. This would also open up opportunities for those who have spaceships to conduct trade with other players bartering passage on their ships for money, items or training.
Just my thoughts
Currently Playing: Dungeons and Dragons Online.
Sig image Pending
Still in: A couple Betas