I must admit, I was looking forward to this game being worth-while, but I've honestly yet to see or hear anything spectacular about it. Yes, they are implementing the "story" aspect, but I feel they are putting too much emphasis on this game being a huge story-driven MMO, and spending too much of their money and time developing that aspect of the game. I feel that the other MMO-style aspects will be half-assed in comparison.
The art direction of the game is just annoying. The characters look mishapen and odd. The faces are horribly designed and the animations and movement look clunky-even in the newer video releases. I know this game is still in development, but honestly, I don't see them changing much in terms of the aspects mentioned before release, if at all.
They could have made an amazing MMO, with a great look and feel, but I can't get over the idea that they're putting too much emphasis on voice-over and story, and not enough on good game-play and making the game FEEL fun to play as far as mechanics and animations go.
I was watching one of the videos the other day and amongst all of the "story" hype, I noticed the first quest for a Sith is to go into a cave and grind cave dwelling spider creatures. The video of a Sith killing spiders gave me a sick feeling in my stomach. That's when I knew this game wasn't going to be any better or any different than every other MMO before it.
In my opinion, the art style is bad. The animations are bad. The story and voice-over that I've seen isn't spectacular (quanity over quality, anyone?) and the first quest that I've seen show-cased required grinding giant insects in a cave (Gee, I wonder what other MMO we can do this in? How about all of them?)
It just amazes me how a great gaming company can take a great IP and attempt to make an MMO, and mindlessly follow suite with the rest of the aimless and unimaginative studios out there.
They should have made the art style a little less goofy looking. The models and pastel colors are just bad. A more edgy, sleek, and attractive art style would have done wonders for making this game fit the Star Wars IP. I'm sorry, but after WoW, WAR, RoM, and almost every other goofy ass cartoon MMO out there, I'm tired of that style and ready for something fresh.
Way to ruin a potentially badass MMO by making it look literally retarded and giving us the same monster grinding crap quests that we've seen in every other MMO before it.
I thought there was a lot of cool elements in that video.
The environments look awesome and the little details really give it some life.
The cover system looks very cool.
The story lines look like they are going to be very cool to.
Even the style that the presentation was given was pretty cool.
Things I did not like were the combat and how much they kept trying to hype it as heroic, iconic and whatever else they kept saying. It seemed as if they were trying to repeatedly say how awsome the combat was and by doing so it would become truth.
It really looked wooden, simplistic and not really challenging at all. It really worries me how much they seem to think it was heroic and awesome.
The animations need work also, but nothing I'm going to worry about right now. They were very stiff and way to much hunchback going on. Some of the combat moves looked great though.
The character models are sort of meh. Not a deal breaker, but not very inspiring either.
I must admit, I was looking forward to this game being worth-while, but I've honestly yet to see or hear anything spectacular about it. Yes, they are implementing the "story" aspect, but I feel they are putting too much emphasis on this game being a huge story-driven MMO, and spending too much of their money and time developing that aspect of the game. I feel that the other MMO-style aspects will be half-assed in comparison. Your opinion is valuable, yet I do not agree. I feel it has been and will continue to be the other way around for the MMO's of this generation. Games like Star Trek Online and Aion, etc. have proven that when the story is lacking, the gameplay will be lacking. I'd rather have a wonderful story with normal gameplay than a crappy story with extroardinary gameplay.
The art direction of the game is just annoying. The characters look mishapen and odd. The faces are horribly designed and the animations and movement look clunky-even in the newer video releases. I know this game is still in development, but honestly, I don't see them changing much in terms of the aspects mentioned before release, if at all. I happen to find the character models and faces to be quite refreshing from the various MMOs I played. And these are artistic renditions. Would Picasso not have been as famous a painter had he done his paintings like every other painter of his time? Its simply a matter of taste and interpretation thereof.
They could have made an amazing MMO, with a great look and feel, but I can't get over the idea that they're putting too much emphasis on voice-over and story, and not enough on good game-play and making the game FEEL fun to play as far as mechanics and animations go. Again story goes hand-in-hand with gameplay. One cannot be greater than the other, and one will directly influence the other, inversely or postively. In this game, there seems to be a balance of innovative features such as cover and the ability to block attacks and see them on your screen. Very innovative, and deserves credit. I will have much fun with just these two features alone; Who knows what else they have in store for us?
I was watching one of the videos the other day and amongst all of the "story" hype, I noticed the first quest for a Sith is to go into a cave and grind cave dwelling spider creatures. The video of a Sith killing spiders gave me a sick feeling in my stomach. That's when I knew this game wasn't going to be any better or any different than every other MMO before it. This is an MMO. Expect quests. How they tie killing in those spiders with the story is what will make this game interesting. There is only so much quest material that can be used.
In my opinion, the art style is bad. The animations are bad. The story and voice-over that I've seen isn't spectacular (quanity over quality, anyone?) and the first quest that I've seen show-cased required grinding giant insects in a cave (Gee, I wonder what other MMO we can do this in? How about all of them?) Again, matter of preference.
It just amazes me how a great gaming company can take a great IP and attempt to make an MMO, and mindlessly follow suite with the rest of the aimless and unimaginative studios out there. Where is this in this game? What aimless and unimaginative qualities does this game have? Where is it lacking aside from the character models and gameplay you mentioned?
They should have made the art style a little less goofy looking. The models and pastel colors are just bad. A more edgy, sleek, and attractive art style would have done wonders for making this game fit the Star Wars IP. I'm sorry, but after WoW, WAR, RoM, and almost every other goofy ass cartoon MMO out there, I'm tired of that style and ready for something fresh. I found the models and colors to be realistic, with a mix of Bioware's influence. It reminds me of a sci-fi Dragon Age, and I really enjoyed the graphics in that game.
Way to ruin a potentially badass MMO by making it look literally retarded and giving us the same monster grinding crap quests that we've seen in every other MMO before it. This game hasn't even come out and its ruined? Expected two million subscribers and a facebook page of 1.5 million followers? Keeping in mind also that facebook is a third-party application which has nothing to do with this game and not everyone has facebook?
Thanks Bioware. Honestly, thank you, if you aren't going to try out this game. I'm not going to have someone in-game complaining about the game and you've done us all a favor. There's only 24 hours in a day.
__________________________________________________________________________________________ "Your pride, good sir, far exceeds your worth." -x3r0h
Oldest mmorpg.com member with the least amount of post counts. That counts for something, right?
Seriously I just want everyone to try this excersise with me.
Close your eyes, and imagine for a moment that The Old Republic isnt based off a huge IP (Star Wars) and imagine it doesnt have a 150 million dollar budget, and that it isnt being made by everyones go to RPG company "Bioware".
It looks terrible! Seriously I want to like this game just as much as the next person, but you cant tell me that everything going on in that video doesnt look like some cheesy game for a console. Theres nothing MMO like about it, nor is there anything exciting about it.
And of course im sure ill see, "O its Alpha, the game will look and play totally different in a year and a half."
Watch that video of WoW at around the same time development wise as SWTOR. The Animations and everything are the same, the only changes are the UI once the game launches. Go ahead and look at other videos too, you will see that the core gameplay looked the same.
Now im sure is the part where people will bring up the "Story pillar is whats important." Yes that is important, but we have already seen the same thing in a little game called AOC, and was the story awesome? Yes! Was it the best part of the game? Defiently. Would a entire game based on just that story part be intresting and fun? Probably. And is it worth a monthly fee to play that single player story? You tell me.
I cant honestly say that it makes any sense for someone to want to play a game and pay a monthly fee for it, when its just a single player story with multiperson side missions taked on.
On top of that, how long could that possibly last? Do you really think Bioware and EA will get back the money they threw into this game? Is the money showing at this point? No its not.
Seriously people, lets forget the hype and the faces of fame that surround the game. Instead lets judge the game on what we are given, and not what is promised or foreshadowed.
The problem I have with your post is that it seems you are trying to argue taste.
I get that you are saying "disregard the excitement for this game". And to a certain extent you are correct.
However, take the excitment away and just go down your list and there is every reason why people will not have issues with what you list.
This seems to be a pandemic on these forums. "Game x doesn't have y and has a lot of z therefore it's going to be horrible".
In the end not everyone has a list of "must haves" for the perfect game.
Some don't care about graphics, some don't care about open world or open pvp or instancing.
So given what you have listed, none of that could be a problem.
what can be argued once the game is in beta/released is implementation.
So not that "it has instances" or the graphics "suck" but "do the instances lend themselves to a fun and enjoyable experience and do they keep playres engaged" or " does the art design/graphics create a believable and immersive experience".
Once we have seen that then we will see if they have a hit or not.
Hype or no hype.
Like Skyrim? Need more content? Try my Skyrim mod "Godfred's Tomb."
Seriously I just want everyone to try this excersise with me.
Close your eyes, and imagine for a moment that The Old Republic isnt based off a huge IP (Star Wars) and imagine it doesnt have a 150 million dollar budget, and that it isnt being made by everyones go to RPG company "Bioware".
It looks terrible! Seriously I want to like this game just as much as the next person, but you cant tell me that everything going on in that video doesnt look like some cheesy game for a console. Theres nothing MMO like about it, nor is there anything exciting about it.
And of course im sure ill see, "O its Alpha, the game will look and play totally different in a year and a half."
Watch that video of WoW at around the same time development wise as SWTOR. The Animations and everything are the same, the only changes are the UI once the game launches. Go ahead and look at other videos too, you will see that the core gameplay looked the same.
Now im sure is the part where people will bring up the "Story pillar is whats important." Yes that is important, but we have already seen the same thing in a little game called AOC, and was the story awesome? Yes! Was it the best part of the game? Defiently. Would a entire game based on just that story part be intresting and fun? Probably. And is it worth a monthly fee to play that single player story? You tell me.
I cant honestly say that it makes any sense for someone to want to play a game and pay a monthly fee for it, when its just a single player story with multiperson side missions taked on.
On top of that, how long could that possibly last? Do you really think Bioware and EA will get back the money they threw into this game? Is the money showing at this point? No its not.
Seriously people, lets forget the hype and the faces of fame that surround the game. Instead lets judge the game on what we are given, and not what is promised or foreshadowed.
The problem I have with your post is that it seems you are trying to argue taste.
I get that you are saying "disregard the excitement for this game". And to a certain extent you are correct.
However, take the excitment away and just go down your list and there is every reason why people will not have issues with what you list.
This seems to be a pandemic on these forums. "Game x doesn't have y and has a lot of z therefore it's going to be horrible".
In the end not everyone has a list of "must haves" for the perfect game.
Some don't care about graphics, some don't care about open world or open pvp or instancing.
So given what you have listed, none of that could be a problem.
what can be argued once the game is in beta/released is implementation.
So not that "it has instances" or the graphics "suck" but "do the instances lend themselves to a fun and enjoyable experience and do they keep playres engaged" or " does the art design/graphics create a believable and immersive experience".
Once we have seen that then we will see if they have a hit or not.
Hype or no hype.
Well thought-out post. Basically what I meant to say but couldn't put it elegantly into words such as yourself.
__________________________________________________________________________________________ "Your pride, good sir, far exceeds your worth." -x3r0h
Oldest mmorpg.com member with the least amount of post counts. That counts for something, right?
I must admit, I was looking forward to this game being worth-while, but I've honestly yet to see or hear anything spectacular about it. Yes, they are implementing the "story" aspect, but I feel they are putting too much emphasis on this game being a huge story-driven MMO, and spending too much of their money and time developing that aspect of the game. I feel that the other MMO-style aspects will be half-assed in comparison. Your opinion is valuable, yet I do not agree. I feel it has been and will continue to be the other way around for the MMO's of this generation. Games like Star Trek Online and Aion, etc. have proven that when the story is lacking, the gameplay will be lacking. I'd rather have a wonderful story with normal gameplay than a crappy story with extroardinary gameplay.
2 different games, but what STO proved that when breadth and depth of mmorpg game-play elements are lacking the game fails, in addition to the heavy use of instancing. STO had no story to speak of either; it was a fail all around. Regardless, I dont recall the mmorpg community from any one title being up in arms over lack of story for the reason of mass exodus in the past couple years from supposed mainstream mmorpgs.
The art direction of the game is just annoying. The characters look mishapen and odd. The faces are horribly designed and the animations and movement look clunky-even in the newer video releases. I know this game is still in development, but honestly, I don't see them changing much in terms of the aspects mentioned before release, if at all. I happen to find the character models and faces to be quite refreshing from the various MMOs I played. And these are artistic renditions. Would Picasso not have been as famous a painter had he done his paintings like every other painter of his time? Its simply a matter of taste and interpretation thereof.
Art-style aside. The SWTOR art style looks fine, but we can't judge anything wide-ranging yet since all we've seen are generic images that all look similar.
They could have made an amazing MMO, with a great look and feel, but I can't get over the idea that they're putting too much emphasis on voice-over and story, and not enough on good game-play and making the game FEEL fun to play as far as mechanics and animations go. Again story goes hand-in-hand with gameplay. One cannot be greater than the other, and one will directly influence the other, inversely or postively. In this game, there seems to be a balance of innovative features such as cover and the ability to block attacks and see them on your screen. Very innovative, and deserves credit. I will have much fun with just these two features alone; Who knows what else they have in store for us?
Again, story hasn't been the achilles heel of mmorpg adoption or lack there-of. It's always been a wide-sweeping range of pve game-play boredom and shallowness. If just story with combat innovation in a pve mmorpg world were king elements, I'd think that AoC would be more successful.
I was watching one of the videos the other day and amongst all of the "story" hype, I noticed the first quest for a Sith is to go into a cave and grind cave dwelling spider creatures. The video of a Sith killing spiders gave me a sick feeling in my stomach. That's when I knew this game wasn't going to be any better or any different than every other MMO before it. This is an MMO. Expect quests. How they tie killing in those spiders with the story is what will make this game interesting. There is only so much quest material that can be used.
Again, story aside, yes, every mmo now and in the future will be tied to character development and advancement through continued means of combat and non-combat activities. One thing that I'dlike to see in SWTOR are non-combat and rich player-driven crafting capabilities as I'm currently playing in Fallen Earth where my crafter can achieve character advancement through non-combat, but with learning new recipes and resourcing raw materials and crafting player-made things that are better than the generic npc items.
In my opinion, the art style is bad. The animations are bad. The story and voice-over that I've seen isn't spectacular (quanity over quality, anyone?) and the first quest that I've seen show-cased required grinding giant insects in a cave (Gee, I wonder what other MMO we can do this in? How about all of them?) Again, matter of preference.
Yea, at this stage, art is fine and will evolve into its own Im sure. Not a deal-breaker.
It just amazes me how a great gaming company can take a great IP and attempt to make an MMO, and mindlessly follow suite with the rest of the aimless and unimaginative studios out there. Where is this in this game? What aimless and unimaginative qualities does this game have? Where is it lacking aside from the character models and gameplay you mentioned?
We dont quite know what is lacking yet. However, I put alot of weight on player-centric game-play over npc-centric. Broad player-valued resourcing & crafting system, player housing and settlements, and non-combat professions.
I still dont have seen anything that would make this game seems fun to play. The gameplay speaks over any opinion.
Except that you haven't played the game, you haven't seen the game played, and you don't know anyone who HAS played the game, so its all supposition and game play hasn't spoken about anything. You are taking a few tidbits released every month for the last year, exaggerating them, and then freaking out at your made up exaggeration.
I still dont have seen anything that would make this game seems fun to play. The gameplay speaks over any opinion.
How is the gameplay btw? What's an awesome strategy for ranged versus melee? Hell, what about the opposite? I want to be prepared when the game launches. I totally envy you knowing how the game works, please teach me ohhhh wise Darkfall fan. Darkfall, what brilliant taste you have, that game looks modern.
I cant honestly say that it makes any sense for someone to want to play a game and pay a monthly fee for it, when its just a single player story with multiperson side missions taked on.
On top of that, how long could that possibly last? Do you really think Bioware and EA will get back the money they threw into this game? Is the money showing at this point? No its not.
Seriously people, lets forget the hype and the faces of fame that surround the game. Instead lets judge the game on what we are given, and not what is promised or foreshadowed.
You won't pay a monthly fee for this one, fair enough. It's your money to dispose off how you see fit. Let us others to decide what to do with ours and judge what makes sense or not for ourselves.
Your analysis on how Bioware and EA won't get back their money is indeed very thorough. You should contact them and share your experties.
Indeed, lets forget the hype and judge the game on what we are given. You got this one right. So, what are we given so far regarding game & class mechanics? Very litle since the game is still one full year away from release. Let's wait till the game comes out or till we have some solid info from the betas shall we? Trying to act smart while speculating won't get you anywhere.
<p> Its no surprise to me that this game is being pushed back, with the release currently set for some time next year, I would imagine they have taken on board a lot of the initial criticisms about the game, so with any luck the game won't be relying solely on storyline, and perhaps a few features, like crafting, might be added, i was hoping that space combat might be in there too, but perhaps thats too much to hope for. EA/Bioware have a lot riding on SW:TOR, and if they are to have any hope in recouping the amount of money invested in this game, then they really are going to have to step up to the plate and work on this one, EA's reputation is .. perhaps unenviable.. but Bioware's reputation is really on the line now, and if they are going to even try to live up to the hype, their going to have to produce something thats head and shoulders above the more recent releases from other companies - and the first hurdle their going to have to clear, is going to be persuading players that SW:TOR isnt a niche game, that it has something for the hardcore player, and for the casual, and given the increasing percentage of female players these days, their going to have to deliver a game that isnt just for guys. If they can do all that.. i might even get the game myself ;D</p>
Seriously I just want everyone to try this excersise with me.
Close your eyes, and imagine for a moment that The Old Republic isnt based off a huge IP (Star Wars) and imagine it doesnt have a 150 million dollar budget, and that it isnt being made by everyones go to RPG company "Bioware".
It looks terrible! Seriously I want to like this game just as much as the next person, but you cant tell me that everything going on in that video doesnt look like some cheesy game for a console. Theres nothing MMO like about it, nor is there anything exciting about it.
And of course im sure ill see, "O its Alpha, the game will look and play totally different in a year and a half."
Watch that video of WoW at around the same time development wise as SWTOR. The Animations and everything are the same, the only changes are the UI once the game launches. Go ahead and look at other videos too, you will see that the core gameplay looked the same.
Now im sure is the part where people will bring up the "Story pillar is whats important." Yes that is important, but we have already seen the same thing in a little game called AOC, and was the story awesome? Yes! Was it the best part of the game? Defiently. Would a entire game based on just that story part be intresting and fun? Probably. And is it worth a monthly fee to play that single player story? You tell me.
I cant honestly say that it makes any sense for someone to want to play a game and pay a monthly fee for it, when its just a single player story with multiperson side missions taked on.
On top of that, how long could that possibly last? Do you really think Bioware and EA will get back the money they threw into this game? Is the money showing at this point? No its not.
Seriously people, lets forget the hype and the faces of fame that surround the game. Instead lets judge the game on what we are given, and not what is promised or foreshadowed.
yeah because it is so totally inconceivable that someone could have a different opinion than you eh? Honestly without even looking at what you are posting I've seen enough of the game to know I like what I see and am eagerly anticipating the game and I don't think my opinion is going to change sinply to jump on yor bandwagon.
but yeah, to call this game Fantastic is like calling Twilight the Godfather of vampire movies....
Seriously I just want everyone to try this excersise with me.
Close your eyes, and imagine for a moment that The Old Republic isnt based off a huge IP (Star Wars) and imagine it doesnt have a 150 million dollar budget, and that it isnt being made by everyones go to RPG company "Bioware".
It looks terrible! Seriously I want to like this game just as much as the next person, but you cant tell me that everything going on in that video doesnt look like some cheesy game for a console. Theres nothing MMO like about it, nor is there anything exciting about it.
And of course im sure ill see, "O its Alpha, the game will look and play totally different in a year and a half."
Watch that video of WoW at around the same time development wise as SWTOR. The Animations and everything are the same, the only changes are the UI once the game launches. Go ahead and look at other videos too, you will see that the core gameplay looked the same.
Now im sure is the part where people will bring up the "Story pillar is whats important." Yes that is important, but we have already seen the same thing in a little game called AOC, and was the story awesome? Yes! Was it the best part of the game? Defiently. Would a entire game based on just that story part be intresting and fun? Probably. And is it worth a monthly fee to play that single player story? You tell me.
I cant honestly say that it makes any sense for someone to want to play a game and pay a monthly fee for it, when its just a single player story with multiperson side missions taked on.
On top of that, how long could that possibly last? Do you really think Bioware and EA will get back the money they threw into this game? Is the money showing at this point? No its not.
Seriously people, lets forget the hype and the faces of fame that surround the game. Instead lets judge the game on what we are given, and not what is promised or foreshadowed.
The problem I have with your post is that it seems you are trying to argue taste.
I get that you are saying "disregard the excitement for this game". And to a certain extent you are correct.
However, take the excitment away and just go down your list and there is every reason why people will not have issues with what you list.
This seems to be a pandemic on these forums. "Game x doesn't have y and has a lot of z therefore it's going to be horrible".
In the end not everyone has a list of "must haves" for the perfect game.
Some don't care about graphics, some don't care about open world or open pvp or instancing.
So given what you have listed, none of that could be a problem.
what can be argued once the game is in beta/released is implementation.
So not that "it has instances" or the graphics "suck" but "do the instances lend themselves to a fun and enjoyable experience and do they keep playres engaged" or " does the art design/graphics create a believable and immersive experience".
Once we have seen that then we will see if they have a hit or not.
Hype or no hype.
Well thought-out post. Basically what I meant to say but couldn't put it elegantly into words such as yourself.
Sovrath does that all the time!!!!
but yeah, to call this game Fantastic is like calling Twilight the Godfather of vampire movies....
I still dont have seen anything that would make this game seems fun to play. The gameplay speaks over any opinion.
Having said that Daarco I'd agree with everyone else who has answered you to this point and that's to say no one knows anything about the way the game plays but what I can also add to that is you are an avid ffa pvp player and from my knowledge have not in quite sometime been open to theme park/linear mmo's I recall your bashing of carebear gamers and the equally carebear games being released right now. Given that stance as you know this is going to be a linear game based on a strong story line what difference is that going to make to those interested in the game at present? Not trying to take your right to have an opinion but I think that is an important thing to know when considering the different view poitns expressed on here.
but yeah, to call this game Fantastic is like calling Twilight the Godfather of vampire movies....
I hope there is more to this game then the push of the "storyline".. I'm currently playing Dragon Age and I broke it.. LOL so to speak.. I'm at the end of the dwarf faction questing in Ozim.. I chose a different king then what I started out with.. because of this I'm having issues with quest being given to me, that I have already completed earlier with the "other" king canidate.. As for right now, I'll probably have to bypass some of those quest because they are bugged.. Someone in Beta dropped the ball in the questline I chose to go with.. Tisk Tisk..
Bioware.. if you plan on using the same beta testers as Dragon Age.. Don't.. Hire me and I'll actually TRY to brake the game, to find the flaws and bugs..
I must admit, I was looking forward to this game being worth-while, but I've honestly yet to see or hear anything spectacular about it. Yes, they are implementing the "story" aspect, but I feel they are putting too much emphasis on this game being a huge story-driven MMO, and spending too much of their money and time developing that aspect of the game. I feel that the other MMO-style aspects will be half-assed in comparison. Your opinion is valuable, yet I do not agree. I feel it has been and will continue to be the other way around for the MMO's of this generation. Games like Star Trek Online and Aion, etc. have proven that when the story is lacking, the gameplay will be lacking. I'd rather have a wonderful story with normal gameplay than a crappy story with extroardinary gameplay.
And as you stated, opinion is valuable. That is your opinion. You seem to think that story and game graphics, animations, and mechanics go hand-in-hand, but honestly, they really have very little to do with eachother. From the content that I've been privvy to, the mechanics of the game seem as though they will be clunky. But this is without getting a feel for it myself, so in that respect, I could be mistaken. Perhaps it needs polish.
The art direction of the game is just annoying. The characters look mishapen and odd. The faces are horribly designed and the animations and movement look clunky-even in the newer video releases. I know this game is still in development, but honestly, I don't see them changing much in terms of the aspects mentioned before release, if at all. I happen to find the character models and faces to be quite refreshing from the various MMOs I played. And these are artistic renditions. Would Picasso not have been as famous a painter had he done his paintings like every other painter of his time? Its simply a matter of taste and interpretation thereof.
Art is always a matter of taste and interpretation. Picasso wasn't accepted as good works or understood until well after his lifetime. This is a game that is made up of data and is meant to please people this day in age.
They could have made an amazing MMO, with a great look and feel, but I can't get over the idea that they're putting too much emphasis on voice-over and story, and not enough on good game-play and making the game FEEL fun to play as far as mechanics and animations go. Again story goes hand-in-hand with gameplay. One cannot be greater than the other, and one will directly influence the other, inversely or postively. In this game, there seems to be a balance of innovative features such as cover and the ability to block attacks and see them on your screen. Very innovative, and deserves credit. I will have much fun with just these two features alone; Who knows what else they have in store for us?
One cannot be greater than the other? Why not? I think it is already obvious that one will be greater than the other in this game, considering they've already spent more than $90,000,000 on the game, while most of that has been spent on voice-over alone. Voice-over has been recorded in dozens of different studio's across multiple countries around the world, and the amount of voice-over dialog will be considered for a Guinness record.
The mechanics and artwork are being worked on in one studio in Austin, TX. by a handful of people.
And my main point is that I've yet to see anything that makes the design or animations live up to the sheer amount of time and effort that they're putting into voice-over.
So all-in-all, in my opinion, there is an imbalance in the development process. And I don't really find the art style attractive at all.
Duck and cover is a great addition to an MMO, but this is something that I feel won't be strongly viable in a PVP encounter, when you've got classes that can get close to you and remove your ability to use cover.
Only blaster wielding classes will be able to use the cover mechanic.
In real life situations, cover is only useful when one shot can kill either person, but when someone can withstand multiple shots and get within range to damage you, it removes the viability of the cover mechanic, therefore removing most of the viability of any class that relies upon cover to be, well, viable.
I was watching one of the videos the other day and amongst all of the "story" hype, I noticed the first quest for a Sith is to go into a cave and grind cave dwelling spider creatures. The video of a Sith killing spiders gave me a sick feeling in my stomach. That's when I knew this game wasn't going to be any better or any different than every other MMO before it. This is an MMO. Expect quests. How they tie killing in those spiders with the story is what will make this game interesting. There is only so much quest material that can be used.
As far as I'm concerned, with a story-driven game, the concept of grinding the same mobs repeatedly could be eliminated all together. Carbine Studios has vowed to do this very thing with their $70,000,000 MMO budget. The ability in depth of story is there, and I've seen it in Bioware games where there is very little amount of grinding involved, as the story progresses dynamically as you move through an area. MMO's just simply do not need to involve grinding.
In my opinion, the art style is bad. The animations are bad. The story and voice-over that I've seen isn't spectacular (quanity over quality, anyone?) and the first quest that I've seen show-cased required grinding giant insects in a cave (Gee, I wonder what other MMO we can do this in? How about all of them?) Again, matter of preference.
The art style being bad is a matter of preference, but the grinding isn't. That's a fact.
It just amazes me how a great gaming company can take a great IP and attempt to make an MMO, and mindlessly follow suite with the rest of the aimless and unimaginative studios out there. Where is this in this game? What aimless and unimaginative qualities does this game have? Where is it lacking aside from the character models and gameplay you mentioned?
I made examples of this, and while most of those examples are a matter of preference, I feel they are legitimate. The art direction was obviously taken to attract gamers from certain other IP's, such as World of Warcraft. It's cartoony and flamboyant, instead of my personal preference of something that I think should be more edgy and MORE realistic. But Bioware doesn't think the WoW kiddies and stay-at-home mommies would be comfortable with that type of design.
They should have made the art style a little less goofy looking. The models and pastel colors are just bad. A more edgy, sleek, and attractive art style would have done wonders for making this game fit the Star Wars IP. I'm sorry, but after WoW, WAR, RoM, and almost every other goofy ass cartoon MMO out there, I'm tired of that style and ready for something fresh. I found the models and colors to be realistic, with a mix of Bioware's influence. It reminds me of a sci-fi Dragon Age, and I really enjoyed the graphics in that game.
I think I've been a little too hard on the model and texture designs, but when I think about Star Wars, I think "gritty, futuristic, edgy" but the game doesn't achieve that for me.
Look at this link, look at the screenshot, and read the comments. It really is quite bad (I mean honestly, what is wrong with his arms?):
Way to ruin a potentially badass MMO by making it look literally retarded and giving us the same monster grinding crap quests that we've seen in every other MMO before it. This game hasn't even come out and its ruined? Expected two million subscribers and a facebook page of 1.5 million followers? Keeping in mind also that facebook is a third-party application which has nothing to do with this game and not everyone has facebook?
In my opinion, if they don't throw some form of "badass" into the overall design process of this game, it just won't be attractive to me. It simply doesn't look or feel like Star Wars, and it certainly doesn't look like Bioware's Star Wars. I feel this will let a lot of people down.
Thanks Bioware. Honestly, thank you, if you aren't going to try out this game. I'm not going to have someone in-game complaining about the game and you've done us all a favor. There's only 24 hours in a day.
No, no! Thank you, buddy. I don't know what we'd do without you here to save the day--all 24 hours of it.
After watching Aion since it was first announced i have learnt not to get excited for an up comin MMO. I think if i have great expectations for a game it will probably not live up to it. I want to be excited for SWTOR but i know better. Until ive played the game i wont allow myself to care that it is even being developed. Ive tried so many games lately looking for something unique and original and it just doesnt exist in todays market. im sticking to lineage 2 *starting from scratch* and trying to finally give EVE a proper chance just because they both have risk that other games made today dont really have in PVP.I liked the concept and open world of Fallen Earth but i deleted the game after killing my first mob. Watching paint dry is funner than that combat IF they were to fix the animations and make the combat fun i would sub to that game for sure.Sorry if im getting off topic im simply trying to explain why i dont care for the hype with new mmos. I do HOPE this new Star Wars MMO will be the next big thing for a dull industry with rinse and repeat crap fed to its community over and over......but i wont allow myself to believe it is until its proven to be.I like what ive seen of SWTOR....but its nothing amazing imo...i hope it can be as a final product.
Seriously I just want everyone to try this excersise with me.
Close your eyes, and imagine for a moment that The Old Republic isnt based off a huge IP (Star Wars) and imagine it doesnt have a 150 million dollar budget, and that it isnt being made by everyones go to RPG company "Bioware".
It looks terrible! Seriously I want to like this game just as much as the next person, but you cant tell me that everything going on in that video doesnt look like some cheesy game for a console. Theres nothing MMO like about it, nor is there anything exciting about it.
And of course im sure ill see, "O its Alpha, the game will look and play totally different in a year and a half."
Watch that video of WoW at around the same time development wise as SWTOR. The Animations and everything are the same, the only changes are the UI once the game launches. Go ahead and look at other videos too, you will see that the core gameplay looked the same.
Now im sure is the part where people will bring up the "Story pillar is whats important." Yes that is important, but we have already seen the same thing in a little game called AOC, and was the story awesome? Yes! Was it the best part of the game? Defiently. Would a entire game based on just that story part be intresting and fun? Probably. And is it worth a monthly fee to play that single player story? You tell me.
I cant honestly say that it makes any sense for someone to want to play a game and pay a monthly fee for it, when its just a single player story with multiperson side missions taked on.
On top of that, how long could that possibly last? Do you really think Bioware and EA will get back the money they threw into this game? Is the money showing at this point? No its not.
Seriously people, lets forget the hype and the faces of fame that surround the game. Instead lets judge the game on what we are given, and not what is promised or foreshadowed.
Are you even taking the time to look at the game?
The environments are simply breath-taking and the character models are just fine.
And as far as judging the game based on what we are given (a few small video clips and some screen shots) and not what is promised or foreshadowed.
I agree.
Everyone is making preconceptions of this game (you, for example) based on the relatively little data that's been presented to us.
We don't know how they're handleing ANYTHING save for a small bit of a questline with two people.
I applaud them for their efforts to bring something new and innovative to the genre, especially in the face of this obnoxious group of people feels obligated to shout out ridiculous notions such as "this will be a single player game!" and other general bologna.
The people that are dissing the game are only doing so because it's "nonconformist" to do so.
It's the same kind of person who won't listen to a certain genre of music, regardless of how good a particular song/group might be or how much they'd enjoy it if they allowed themselves, simply because it's in that specific genre. This kind of closed-minded, self-made ignorant person makes me sick.
Everyone needs to shut their mouth until the game is released. At that point, if you don't want it all you have to do is NOT get it. You can even complain about it on the forums, but until then....
SHUT THE HELL UP ALREADY
Playing: *sigh* back to WoW -------- Waiting for: SW:TOR, APB, WoD --------- Played and loved: Eve and WoW -------- Played and hated: WoW:WotLK, Warhammer, every single F2P
Seriously I just want everyone to try this excersise with me.
Close your eyes, and imagine for a moment that The Old Republic isnt based off a huge IP (Star Wars) and imagine it doesnt have a 150 million dollar budget, and that it isnt being made by everyones go to RPG company "Bioware".
It looks terrible! Seriously I want to like this game just as much as the next person, but you cant tell me that everything going on in that video doesnt look like some cheesy game for a console. Theres nothing MMO like about it, nor is there anything exciting about it.
And of course im sure ill see, "O its Alpha, the game will look and play totally different in a year and a half."
Watch that video of WoW at around the same time development wise as SWTOR. The Animations and everything are the same, the only changes are the UI once the game launches. Go ahead and look at other videos too, you will see that the core gameplay looked the same.
Now im sure is the part where people will bring up the "Story pillar is whats important." Yes that is important, but we have already seen the same thing in a little game called AOC, and was the story awesome? Yes! Was it the best part of the game? Defiently. Would a entire game based on just that story part be intresting and fun? Probably. And is it worth a monthly fee to play that single player story? You tell me.
I cant honestly say that it makes any sense for someone to want to play a game and pay a monthly fee for it, when its just a single player story with multiperson side missions taked on.
On top of that, how long could that possibly last? Do you really think Bioware and EA will get back the money they threw into this game? Is the money showing at this point? No its not.
Seriously people, lets forget the hype and the faces of fame that surround the game. Instead lets judge the game on what we are given, and not what is promised or foreshadowed.
Are you even taking the time to look at the game?
Yea Im taking the time to look at exactly whats been shown to us, people keep acting like there is no videos, the video up above is part of a series, and there is a tonf of footage out there of the game to make a choice about it. Your telling me that my opinion on the game isnt valid because I havent been given enough information to judge the game upon. Im saying thats bullshit, because its the exact same footage ive seen of AOC and every other game before it, and as much as people want to say "Theres so much more to the game" that then begs the question,
Then why not show us? Why show us a clunky combat video with horrible looking animations, and awkward characters almost floating across the screen? I mean I could be totally wrong, maybe BIoware really does have Full Space Combat and huge raids on Endor planned for the game, and a full combat system revamp, but from all the information thats been shown thats not in the cards for this game.
The environments are simply breath-taking and the character models are just fine.
"The Character models are just fine." I dont even need to explain anything for this one, even you cant come to terms with saying the models are above average. I wouldnt even care about the sub par looking characters if their movements wernt so awkward, but when you stick horribly animated characters on clunky movement animations, its a disaster.
And as far as judging the game based on what we are given (a few small video clips and some screen shots) and not what is promised or foreshadowed.
Small video clips? Some Screen Shots? Are you even following the game?
Everyone is making preconceptions of this game (you, for example) based on the relatively little data that's been presented to us.
There is enough date and enough video gameplay to make a assement about the Core game, and I think it looks horrible. Like I said, the combat looks terrible, the solo story missions and advancement doesnt scream innovation to me rather than "Cop Out", and the Animations as I have stated are way below par for a game that has such an expansive budget. To me, they should have gone with a different engine, one you know, that was tested and approved.
We don't know how they're handleing ANYTHING save for a small bit of a questline with two people.
I think we defiently have been show alot more than a questline haha.
I applaud them for their efforts to bring something new and innovative to the genre, especially in the face of this obnoxious group of people feels obligated to shout out ridiculous notions such as "this will be a single player game!" and other general bologna.
....Its even been stated by the developers in interviews that the game will be able to played from the first level to the last solo. Also what innovation? You can look at the video I posted and tell me something innovative about the combat? About the UI? About the Animations?
The people that are dissing the game are only doing so because it's "nonconformist" to do so.
You know in most cases you might be right about this, I do agree alot of people like to pull this card, sadly your not dealing with one of them.
It's the same kind of person who won't listen to a certain genre of music, regardless of how good a particular song/group might be or how much they'd enjoy it if they allowed themselves, simply because it's in that specific genre.
I have been in over ten Ska bands in the past 5 years. My favorite Genre is Metal, I listen to Punk while I work, while im studying for a test i play classical, and when I go out with my friends to the city we throw on the All Jazz Channel, I have right now in my CD case anything ranging from:
Reel Big Fish,
Between the Buried and Me
Pennywise
Muse
Rise Against
Black Sabbath
Andrew Jackson Jihad
Skid Row
This kind of closed-minded, self-made ignorant person makes me sick.
I dont have to go into the many reasons why your wrong about this, at least concerning me. But let me just tell you this, if you think im closed minded, because a company with a 150 million dollar budget on a game, that is going to come out in a little over a year, has shown over a half an hour of gameplay and has failed to show me anything else concerning the game whether it be Crafting, Space, or whatever...
And have said on a constant basis that the game will be very solo oreinted, with 8 classes all very similar in style to every other modern day MMO class, and no way of effecting the actual game world or doing anything else with the gameplay thats new or innovative besides adding a scripted story arc, well then im sorry but your seriously crazy.
Everyone needs to shut their mouth until the game is released. At that point, if you don't want it all you have to do is NOT get it. You can even complain about it on the forums, but until then....
SHUT THE HELL UP ALREADY
So instead of giving our opinions on an open forum and discussing our issues and concerns about a game, we should instead keep it to ourselves and never speak up about anything. Didnt you say earlier that I was Closed minded and Ignorant?
So to you, being closed minded and ignorant means keeping quiet and not having an opinion on something?
Now thats out of the way, let me get back to why I made this post in the first place. To me it just seemed like people had gotten jaded by the typical promises and hype that goes with any game. Im simply posing a question to everyone with this thread and thats,
"Why do you really like the game and look forward to it?"
I can easily see after reading peoples posts who are genuinly excited about the game and who are just looking for the next big thing, thinking money and a big name IP will make a great product.
Either way, no ones wrong in what they like, but if theres a forum to discuss it, im going to say my problems with the game.
On that note, I do apologize if my original post came off as less than informative about why i disliked the game. Hopefully now people will understand that Im less than thrilled about the game for real reasons and not just as someone said "He Dislike the game because he... dislikes the game.
Seriously I just want everyone to try this excersise with me.
Close your eyes, and imagine for a moment that The Old Republic isnt based off a huge IP (Star Wars) and imagine it doesnt have a 150 million dollar budget, and that it isnt being made by everyones go to RPG company "Bioware".
It looks terrible! Seriously I want to like this game just as much as the next person, but you cant tell me that everything going on in that video doesnt look like some cheesy game for a console. Theres nothing MMO like about it, nor is there anything exciting about it.
And of course im sure ill see, "O its Alpha, the game will look and play totally different in a year and a half."
Watch that video of WoW at around the same time development wise as SWTOR. The Animations and everything are the same, the only changes are the UI once the game launches. Go ahead and look at other videos too, you will see that the core gameplay looked the same.
Now im sure is the part where people will bring up the "Story pillar is whats important." Yes that is important, but we have already seen the same thing in a little game called AOC, and was the story awesome? Yes! Was it the best part of the game? Defiently. Would a entire game based on just that story part be intresting and fun? Probably. And is it worth a monthly fee to play that single player story? You tell me.
I cant honestly say that it makes any sense for someone to want to play a game and pay a monthly fee for it, when its just a single player story with multiperson side missions taked on.
On top of that, how long could that possibly last? Do you really think Bioware and EA will get back the money they threw into this game? Is the money showing at this point? No its not.
Seriously people, lets forget the hype and the faces of fame that surround the game. Instead lets judge the game on what we are given, and not what is promised or foreshadowed.
Are you even taking the time to look at the game?
Yea Im taking the time to look at exactly whats been shown to us, people keep acting like there is no videos, the video up above is part of a series, and there is a tonf of footage out there of the game to make a choice about it. Your telling me that my opinion on the game isnt valid because I havent been given enough information to judge the game upon. Im saying thats bullshit, because its the exact same footage ive seen of AOC and every other game before it, and as much as people want to say "Theres so much more to the game" that then begs the question,
Then why not show us? Why show us a clunky combat video with horrible looking animations, and awkward characters almost floating across the screen? I mean I could be totally wrong, maybe BIoware really does have Full Space Combat and huge raids on Endor planned for the game, and a full combat system revamp, but from all the information thats been shown thats not in the cards for this game.
The environments are simply breath-taking and the character models are just fine.
"The Character models are just fine." I dont even need to explain anything for this one, even you cant come to terms with saying the models are above average. I wouldnt even care about the sub par looking characters if their movements wernt so awkward, but when you stick horribly animated characters on clunky movement animations, its a disaster.
And as far as judging the game based on what we are given (a few small video clips and some screen shots) and not what is promised or foreshadowed.
Small video clips? Some Screen Shots? Are you even following the game?
Everyone is making preconceptions of this game (you, for example) based on the relatively little data that's been presented to us.
There is enough date and enough video gameplay to make a assement about the Core game, and I think it looks horrible. Like I said, the combat looks terrible, the solo story missions and advancement doesnt scream innovation to me rather than "Cop Out", and the Animations as I have stated are way below par for a game that has such an expansive budget. To me, they should have gone with a different engine, one you know, that was tested and approved.
We don't know how they're handleing ANYTHING save for a small bit of a questline with two people.
I think we defiently have been show alot more than a questline haha.
I applaud them for their efforts to bring something new and innovative to the genre, especially in the face of this obnoxious group of people feels obligated to shout out ridiculous notions such as "this will be a single player game!" and other general bologna.
....Its even been stated by the developers in interviews that the game will be able to played from the first level to the last solo. Also what innovation? You can look at the video I posted and tell me something innovative about the combat? About the UI? About the Animations?
The people that are dissing the game are only doing so because it's "nonconformist" to do so.
You know in most cases you might be right about this, I do agree alot of people like to pull this card, sadly your not dealing with one of them.
It's the same kind of person who won't listen to a certain genre of music, regardless of how good a particular song/group might be or how much they'd enjoy it if they allowed themselves, simply because it's in that specific genre.
I have been in over ten Ska bands in the past 5 years. My favorite Genre is Metal, I listen to Punk while I work, while im studying for a test i play classical, and when I go out with my friends to the city we throw on the All Jazz Channel, I have right now in my CD case anything ranging from:
Reel Big Fish,
Between the Buried and Me
Pennywise
Muse
Rise Against
Black Sabbath
Andrew Jackson Jihad
Skid Row
This kind of closed-minded, self-made ignorant person makes me sick.
I dont have to go into the many reasons why your wrong about this, at least concerning me. But let me just tell you this, if you think im closed minded, because a company with a 150 million dollar budget on a game, that is going to come out in a little over a year, has shown over a half an hour of gameplay and has failed to show me anything else concerning the game whether it be Crafting, Space, or whatever...
And have said on a constant basis that the game will be very solo oreinted, with 8 classes all very similar in style to every other modern day MMO class, and no way of effecting the actual game world or doing anything else with the gameplay thats new or innovative besides adding a scripted story arc, well then im sorry but your seriously crazy.
Everyone needs to shut their mouth until the game is released. At that point, if you don't want it all you have to do is NOT get it. You can even complain about it on the forums, but until then....
SHUT THE HELL UP ALREADY
So instead of giving our opinions on an open forum and discussing our issues and concerns about a game, we should instead keep it to ourselves and never speak up about anything. Didnt you say earlier that I was Closed minded and Ignorant?
So to you, being closed minded and ignorant means keeping quiet and not having an opinion on something?
Now thats out of the way, let me get back to why I made this post in the first place. To me it just seemed like people had gotten jaded by the typical promises and hype that goes with any game. Im simply posing a question to everyone with this thread and thats,
"Why do you really like the game and look forward to it?"
I can easily see after reading peoples posts who are genuinly excited about the game and who are just looking for the next big thing, thinking money and a big name IP will make a great product.
Either way, no ones wrong in what they like, but if theres a forum to discuss it, im going to say my problems with the game.
On that note, I do apologize if my original post came off as less than informative about why i disliked the game. Hopefully now people will understand that Im less than thrilled about the game for real reasons and not just as someone said "He Dislike the game because he... dislikes the game.
I tend to come off as a bit hostile at times and for that I apologize.
Let me just say you have an excellent taste in music (although that's completely irrelevant the point I was trying to make lol).
Let me say it again in a more polite fasion.
I don't believe that the information presented about Star Wars: The Old Republic is significant enough to make any judgement towards how it will or will not perform in sales and in fun-factor.
The majority of the information released has been focused on what sets the game apart from any other games of the genre. This would include things such as; Voice acting for most NPCs and PCs, elaborate story arcs that will have a significant impact on the game and companion characters.
They have stated previously that they will have every aspect that you'd expect in a MMO such as; Raids, smaller groups, crafting, and various other activities. However, they have yet to give any details on this subject.
So far, all they've told us is how they intend to be different. How they intend to be innovative and a novelty.
Essentially what they're driving at is that they will be a MMO and have all the Bench Marks of a MMO except that they're adding an immerssive story, captivating characters and brilliant voice over work.
They're trying to make it clear that this will be a MMO*RPG* and they want the people who would enjoy this to know what TOR will offer. An experience unlike any other in a MMO (whether it be for better or for worse).
Now, that is in theory only as they jsut have not released a sufficient amount of information to make certain. As such, it is impossible to formulate an acceptable, informed opinion on how the game will be.
It would be like... saying you don't like chocolate ice cream even though you've never tasted it. You only disliked the way it looked.
There is no real rhyme or reason to have any opinion one way or the other at this point. The best thing we can do is sit back and take in the small bits of information that is made available from time to time. Eventually we'll know.
For now, everything is just speculation. There is nothing else to say about that.
I however, am looking forward to it. Bioware has certainly proved to be a reliable developer. When taken into consideration how much money they're being alloted for this project, EA certainly has faith in them which is rare in and of itself.
And of course, I love the feel of Bioware's "Old Republic". I've put many hours into KotOR (by many, I mean hundreds and dozens of playthroughs) and to be honest, if the story arcs in TOR are half as good as KotOR's story was the game will be well worth playing.
That said, I personally believe that they will do an exceptional job with all the MMO aspects of the game. Based soley on the information presented of course.
I have no evidence to say whether the game will be good or bad at this point. So far I've only looked at the ice cream. But I have to say, it's starting to looks pretty damn tastey.
That is to say, I have no reason to bad mouth it yet, nor does anyone else. Yet.
Playing: *sigh* back to WoW -------- Waiting for: SW:TOR, APB, WoD --------- Played and loved: Eve and WoW -------- Played and hated: WoW:WotLK, Warhammer, every single F2P
I must admit, I was looking forward to this game being worth-while, but I've honestly yet to see or hear anything spectacular about it. Yes, they are implementing the "story" aspect, but I feel they are putting too much emphasis on this game being a huge story-driven MMO, and spending too much of their money and time developing that aspect of the game. I feel that the other MMO-style aspects will be half-assed in comparison. Your opinion is valuable, yet I do not agree. I feel it has been and will continue to be the other way around for the MMO's of this generation. Games like Star Trek Online and Aion, etc. have proven that when the story is lacking, the gameplay will be lacking. I'd rather have a wonderful story with normal gameplay than a crappy story with extroardinary gameplay.
And as you stated, opinion is valuable. That is your opinion. You seem to think that story and game graphics, animations, and mechanics go hand-in-hand, but honestly, they really have very little to do with eachother. From the content that I've been privvy to, the mechanics of the game seem as though they will be clunky. But this is without getting a feel for it myself, so in that respect, I could be mistaken. Perhaps it needs polish.
Acknowledged. At least we agree on the opinion bit. I was however, just trying to elaborate my opinion after hearing yours. I understand that graphics, animations, and gameplay are separate entities and as such you feel that they have very little to do with one another. I, do believe that in the interest of a game to meet our expectations, we'd have to have something that is overall good in all of these categories, not just playable. To me, from what I see so far about this game, I see goodness. I see wholesome goodness that I salivate at every time I go over the videos, notes, etc. My point in that that they are linked is that for this game to be successful, all of these factors have to be in unison; They have to work together. And it seems that they do, in my humble opinion. Yet again, I agree with you in that neither I nor you have gotten a true feel of this game, and as such we may be wrong or right, depending on when the game comes out. We'll just have to try the game out ourselves.
The art direction of the game is just annoying. The characters look mishapen and odd. The faces are horribly designed and the animations and movement look clunky-even in the newer video releases. I know this game is still in development, but honestly, I don't see them changing much in terms of the aspects mentioned before release, if at all. I happen to find the character models and faces to be quite refreshing from the various MMOs I played. And these are artistic renditions. Would Picasso not have been as famous a painter had he done his paintings like every other painter of his time? Its simply a matter of taste and interpretation thereof.
Art is always a matter of taste and interpretation. Picasso wasn't accepted as good works or understood until well after his lifetime. This is a game that is made up of data and is meant to please people this day in age.
Again, I am not arguing that this is not a matter of taste. I am simply stating that it is, and that taste changes depending on the circumstances, environment, biases, etc. We just have to try this game out to get a good idea. My example was meant to be a timeless one, in that the Picasso's paintings weren't accepted as good art while he was alive. Yet after his death, is when people's tastes evolved and as such began to like it. This is definitely a game that is made up of data. Yet it is also comparable to a piece of art, either good or bad, depending on your taste thereof. Simply bringing up his famosity, I am simply stating that if this game didn't have the distinction I'm looking for, I would boorishly look to another game.
They could have made an amazing MMO, with a great look and feel, but I can't get over the idea that they're putting too much emphasis on voice-over and story, and not enough on good game-play and making the game FEEL fun to play as far as mechanics and animations go. Again story goes hand-in-hand with gameplay. One cannot be greater than the other, and one will directly influence the other, inversely or postively. In this game, there seems to be a balance of innovative features such as cover and the ability to block attacks and see them on your screen. Very innovative, and deserves credit. I will have much fun with just these two features alone; Who knows what else they have in store for us?
One cannot be greater than the other? Why not? I think it is already obvious that one will be greater than the other in this game, considering they've already spent more than $90,000,000 on the game, while most of that has been spent on voice-over alone. Voice-over has been recorded in dozens of different studio's across multiple countries around the world, and the amount of voice-over dialog will be considered for a Guinness record. Yet they state over and over again that just because they focus on the voice-over or story itself does not mean they have neglected other areas. They just place more emphasis on the voice-over and story, and everything else will be good too, but the ability to interact with the game and character itself is what they are trying to make superb of an experience as they possibly can. They want to immerse you into the game.
The mechanics and artwork are being worked on in one studio in Austin, TX. by a handful of people. So are many other aspects of this game. There's a lot of manpower, a lot of time, and a lot of money being spent on this one game!
And my main point is that I've yet to see anything that makes the design or animations live up to the sheer amount of time and effort that they're putting into voice-over. Again, I mention this over and over again that this is a matter of taste and not a game-breaking aspect thereof. Its aesthetic vs mechanic, color vs function, etc.!
So all-in-all, in my opinion, there is an imbalance in the development process. And I don't really find the art style attractive at all. A very thought-provoking opinion that deserves merit, but doesn't necessarily make the game flawed or in requirement of an upheaval and/or end of the world!
Duck and cover is a great addition to an MMO, but this is something that I feel won't be strongly viable in a PVP encounter, when you've got classes that can get close to you and remove your ability to use cover.Yet what are the other features of a smuggler? You forget to mention the sticky bombs that knockdown or incapacitate other players.
Only blaster wielding classes will be able to use the cover mechanic. Yes, a limitation, that is quite necessary, otherwise every other class would exploit this feature.
In real life situations, cover is only useful when one shot can kill either person, but when someone can withstand multiple shots and get within range to damage you, it removes the viability of the cover mechanic, therefore removing most of the viability of any class that relies upon cover to be, well, viable. Cover is a valuable mechanic in real life situations! When someone is shooting at you, it is imperative you take cover, whether you have a bulletproof vest or helmet on! The SWAT team still covers, and so do our military forces, regardless whether they can withstand multiple shots (bullet proof vest, riot gear, helmets, etc.).
I was watching one of the videos the other day and amongst all of the "story" hype, I noticed the first quest for a Sith is to go into a cave and grind cave dwelling spider creatures. The video of a Sith killing spiders gave me a sick feeling in my stomach. That's when I knew this game wasn't going to be any better or any different than every other MMO before it. This is an MMO. Expect quests. How they tie killing in those spiders with the story is what will make this game interesting. There is only so much quest material that can be used.
As far as I'm concerned, with a story-driven game, the concept of grinding the same mobs repeatedly could be eliminated all together. Carbine Studios has vowed to do this very thing with their $70,000,000 MMO budget. The ability in depth of story is there, and I've seen it in Bioware games where there is very little amount of grinding involved, as the story progresses dynamically as you move through an area. MMO's just simply do not need to involve grinding.
Some aspects of grinding are necessary. Some people find grinding kind of fun. I enjoy grinding. Whether its for faction points, gold, or experience, grinding is an everyday part of any MMO and I believe to be quite necessary. Without the grind, there is no sense of achievement.
In my opinion, the art style is bad. The animations are bad. The story and voice-over that I've seen isn't spectacular (quanity over quality, anyone?) and the first quest that I've seen show-cased required grinding giant insects in a cave (Gee, I wonder what other MMO we can do this in? How about all of them?) Again, matter of preference.
The art style being bad is a matter of preference, but the grinding isn't. That's a fact.
It just amazes me how a great gaming company can take a great IP and attempt to make an MMO, and mindlessly follow suite with the rest of the aimless and unimaginative studios out there. Where is this in this game? What aimless and unimaginative qualities does this game have? Where is it lacking aside from the character models and gameplay you mentioned?
I made examples of this, and while most of those examples are a matter of preference, I feel they are legitimate. The art direction was obviously taken to attract gamers from certain other IP's, such as World of Warcraft. It's cartoony and flamboyant, instead of my personal preference of something that I think should be more edgy and MORE realistic. But Bioware doesn't think the WoW kiddies and stay-at-home mommies would be comfortable with that type of design.
They should have made the art style a little less goofy looking. The models and pastel colors are just bad. A more edgy, sleek, and attractive art style would have done wonders for making this game fit the Star Wars IP. I'm sorry, but after WoW, WAR, RoM, and almost every other goofy ass cartoon MMO out there, I'm tired of that style and ready for something fresh. I found the models and colors to be realistic, with a mix of Bioware's influence. It reminds me of a sci-fi Dragon Age, and I really enjoyed the graphics in that game.
I think I've been a little too hard on the model and texture designs, but when I think about Star Wars, I think "gritty, futuristic, edgy" but the game doesn't achieve that for me. The game achieves it for me. It does well in this respect. This is what I expected a Star Wars universe to look like. SWG was a tad bit too realistic. WoW was a little bit cartoony. Yet I enjoyed both games immensely. Again, I reiterate the combination of factors a game should be required to have if it wants to be succesful: Gameplay and Story.
Look at this link, look at the screenshot, and read the comments. It really is quite bad (I mean honestly, what is wrong with his arms?):
Way to ruin a potentially badass MMO by making it look literally retarded and giving us the same monster grinding crap quests that we've seen in every other MMO before it. This game hasn't even come out and its ruined? Expected two million subscribers and a facebook page of 1.5 million followers? Keeping in mind also that facebook is a third-party application which has nothing to do with this game and not everyone has facebook?
In my opinion, if they don't throw some form of "badass" into the overall design process of this game, it just won't be attractive to me. It simply doesn't look or feel like Star Wars, and it certainly doesn't look like Bioware's Star Wars. I feel this will let a lot of people down. Whether or not it lets a lot of people down, you must admit, this game is going to let a lot of people satisfied!
Thanks Bioware. Honestly, thank you, if you aren't going to try out this game. I'm not going to have someone in-game complaining about the game and you've done us all a favor. There's only 24 hours in a day.
No, no! Thank you, buddy. I don't know what we'd do without you here to save the day--all 24 hours of it. I may have set this trap myself. I see what you did there. I don't like it one bit!
__________________________________________________________________________________________ "Your pride, good sir, far exceeds your worth." -x3r0h
Oldest mmorpg.com member with the least amount of post counts. That counts for something, right?
I hope there is more to this game then the push of the "storyline".. I'm currently playing Dragon Age and I broke it.. LOL so to speak.. I'm at the end of the dwarf faction questing in Ozim.. I chose a different king then what I started out with.. because of this I'm having issues with quest being given to me, that I have already completed earlier with the "other" king canidate.. As for right now, I'll probably have to bypass some of those quest because they are bugged.. Someone in Beta dropped the ball in the questline I chose to go with.. Tisk Tisk..
Bioware.. if you plan on using the same beta testers as Dragon Age.. Don't.. Hire me and I'll actually TRY to brake the game, to find the flaws and bugs..
Those quests in Dragon Age are NOT bugged. Between my husband and I we have completed the game in its entirety choosing both kings at different times, 8 times, and now we're replaying it again each, because the expansion just released. Our friend just completely his second play through.
I'd suggest you take the game back to where you bought and buy a new one. It may be a bad copy.
Comments
Will you marry me?
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"Your pride, good sir, far exceeds your worth." -x3r0h
Oldest mmorpg.com member with the least amount of post counts. That counts for something, right?
Lol! I told you, never again! I'LL SEE YOU IN COURT!
I must admit, I was looking forward to this game being worth-while, but I've honestly yet to see or hear anything spectacular about it. Yes, they are implementing the "story" aspect, but I feel they are putting too much emphasis on this game being a huge story-driven MMO, and spending too much of their money and time developing that aspect of the game. I feel that the other MMO-style aspects will be half-assed in comparison.
The art direction of the game is just annoying. The characters look mishapen and odd. The faces are horribly designed and the animations and movement look clunky-even in the newer video releases. I know this game is still in development, but honestly, I don't see them changing much in terms of the aspects mentioned before release, if at all.
They could have made an amazing MMO, with a great look and feel, but I can't get over the idea that they're putting too much emphasis on voice-over and story, and not enough on good game-play and making the game FEEL fun to play as far as mechanics and animations go.
I was watching one of the videos the other day and amongst all of the "story" hype, I noticed the first quest for a Sith is to go into a cave and grind cave dwelling spider creatures. The video of a Sith killing spiders gave me a sick feeling in my stomach. That's when I knew this game wasn't going to be any better or any different than every other MMO before it.
In my opinion, the art style is bad. The animations are bad. The story and voice-over that I've seen isn't spectacular (quanity over quality, anyone?) and the first quest that I've seen show-cased required grinding giant insects in a cave (Gee, I wonder what other MMO we can do this in? How about all of them?)
It just amazes me how a great gaming company can take a great IP and attempt to make an MMO, and mindlessly follow suite with the rest of the aimless and unimaginative studios out there.
They should have made the art style a little less goofy looking. The models and pastel colors are just bad. A more edgy, sleek, and attractive art style would have done wonders for making this game fit the Star Wars IP. I'm sorry, but after WoW, WAR, RoM, and almost every other goofy ass cartoon MMO out there, I'm tired of that style and ready for something fresh.
Way to ruin a potentially badass MMO by making it look literally retarded and giving us the same monster grinding crap quests that we've seen in every other MMO before it.
Thanks Bioware.
I thought there was a lot of cool elements in that video.
The environments look awesome and the little details really give it some life.
The cover system looks very cool.
The story lines look like they are going to be very cool to.
Even the style that the presentation was given was pretty cool.
Things I did not like were the combat and how much they kept trying to hype it as heroic, iconic and whatever else they kept saying. It seemed as if they were trying to repeatedly say how awsome the combat was and by doing so it would become truth.
It really looked wooden, simplistic and not really challenging at all. It really worries me how much they seem to think it was heroic and awesome.
The animations need work also, but nothing I'm going to worry about right now. They were very stiff and way to much hunchback going on. Some of the combat moves looked great though.
The character models are sort of meh. Not a deal breaker, but not very inspiring either.
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"Your pride, good sir, far exceeds your worth." -x3r0h
Oldest mmorpg.com member with the least amount of post counts. That counts for something, right?
The problem I have with your post is that it seems you are trying to argue taste.
I get that you are saying "disregard the excitement for this game". And to a certain extent you are correct.
However, take the excitment away and just go down your list and there is every reason why people will not have issues with what you list.
This seems to be a pandemic on these forums. "Game x doesn't have y and has a lot of z therefore it's going to be horrible".
In the end not everyone has a list of "must haves" for the perfect game.
Some don't care about graphics, some don't care about open world or open pvp or instancing.
So given what you have listed, none of that could be a problem.
what can be argued once the game is in beta/released is implementation.
So not that "it has instances" or the graphics "suck" but "do the instances lend themselves to a fun and enjoyable experience and do they keep playres engaged" or " does the art design/graphics create a believable and immersive experience".
Once we have seen that then we will see if they have a hit or not.
Hype or no hype.
Godfred's Tomb Trailer: https://youtu.be/-nsXGddj_4w
Original Skyrim: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/109547
Serph toze kindly has started a walk-through. https://youtu.be/UIelCK-lldo
Well thought-out post. Basically what I meant to say but couldn't put it elegantly into words such as yourself.
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"Your pride, good sir, far exceeds your worth." -x3r0h
Oldest mmorpg.com member with the least amount of post counts. That counts for something, right?
I fully agree witht he OP.
I still dont have seen anything that would make this game seems fun to play. The gameplay speaks over any opinion.
Except that you haven't played the game, you haven't seen the game played, and you don't know anyone who HAS played the game, so its all supposition and game play hasn't spoken about anything. You are taking a few tidbits released every month for the last year, exaggerating them, and then freaking out at your made up exaggeration.
Does that seem reasonable to you?
How is the gameplay btw? What's an awesome strategy for ranged versus melee? Hell, what about the opposite? I want to be prepared when the game launches. I totally envy you knowing how the game works, please teach me ohhhh wise Darkfall fan. Darkfall, what brilliant taste you have, that game looks modern.
You won't pay a monthly fee for this one, fair enough. It's your money to dispose off how you see fit. Let us others to decide what to do with ours and judge what makes sense or not for ourselves.
Your analysis on how Bioware and EA won't get back their money is indeed very thorough. You should contact them and share your experties.
Indeed, lets forget the hype and judge the game on what we are given. You got this one right. So, what are we given so far regarding game & class mechanics? Very litle since the game is still one full year away from release. Let's wait till the game comes out or till we have some solid info from the betas shall we? Trying to act smart while speculating won't get you anywhere.
<p>
Its no surprise to me that this game is being pushed back, with the release currently set for some time next year, I would imagine they have taken on board a lot of the initial criticisms about the game, so with any luck the game won't be relying solely on storyline, and perhaps a few features, like crafting, might be added, i was hoping that space combat might be in there too, but perhaps thats too much to hope for. EA/Bioware have a lot riding on SW:TOR, and if they are to have any hope in recouping the amount of money invested in this game, then they really are going to have to step up to the plate and work on this one, EA's reputation is .. perhaps unenviable.. but Bioware's reputation is really on the line now, and if they are going to even try to live up to the hype, their going to have to produce something thats head and shoulders above the more recent releases from other companies - and the first hurdle their going to have to clear, is going to be persuading players that SW:TOR isnt a niche game, that it has something for the hardcore player, and for the casual, and given the increasing percentage of female players these days, their going to have to deliver a game that isnt just for guys. If they can do all that.. i might even get the game myself ;D</p>
yeah because it is so totally inconceivable that someone could have a different opinion than you eh? Honestly without even looking at what you are posting I've seen enough of the game to know I like what I see and am eagerly anticipating the game and I don't think my opinion is going to change sinply to jump on yor bandwagon.
but yeah, to call this game Fantastic is like calling Twilight the Godfather of vampire movies....
Sovrath does that all the time!!!!
but yeah, to call this game Fantastic is like calling Twilight the Godfather of vampire movies....
Having said that Daarco I'd agree with everyone else who has answered you to this point and that's to say no one knows anything about the way the game plays but what I can also add to that is you are an avid ffa pvp player and from my knowledge have not in quite sometime been open to theme park/linear mmo's I recall your bashing of carebear gamers and the equally carebear games being released right now. Given that stance as you know this is going to be a linear game based on a strong story line what difference is that going to make to those interested in the game at present? Not trying to take your right to have an opinion but I think that is an important thing to know when considering the different view poitns expressed on here.
but yeah, to call this game Fantastic is like calling Twilight the Godfather of vampire movies....
I hope there is more to this game then the push of the "storyline".. I'm currently playing Dragon Age and I broke it.. LOL so to speak.. I'm at the end of the dwarf faction questing in Ozim.. I chose a different king then what I started out with.. because of this I'm having issues with quest being given to me, that I have already completed earlier with the "other" king canidate.. As for right now, I'll probably have to bypass some of those quest because they are bugged.. Someone in Beta dropped the ball in the questline I chose to go with.. Tisk Tisk..
Bioware.. if you plan on using the same beta testers as Dragon Age.. Don't.. Hire me and I'll actually TRY to brake the game, to find the flaws and bugs..
After watching Aion since it was first announced i have learnt not to get excited for an up comin MMO. I think if i have great expectations for a game it will probably not live up to it. I want to be excited for SWTOR but i know better. Until ive played the game i wont allow myself to care that it is even being developed. Ive tried so many games lately looking for something unique and original and it just doesnt exist in todays market. im sticking to lineage 2 *starting from scratch* and trying to finally give EVE a proper chance just because they both have risk that other games made today dont really have in PVP.I liked the concept and open world of Fallen Earth but i deleted the game after killing my first mob. Watching paint dry is funner than that combat IF they were to fix the animations and make the combat fun i would sub to that game for sure.Sorry if im getting off topic im simply trying to explain why i dont care for the hype with new mmos. I do HOPE this new Star Wars MMO will be the next big thing for a dull industry with rinse and repeat crap fed to its community over and over......but i wont allow myself to believe it is until its proven to be.I like what ive seen of SWTOR....but its nothing amazing imo...i hope it can be as a final product.
Are you even taking the time to look at the game?
The environments are simply breath-taking and the character models are just fine.
And as far as judging the game based on what we are given (a few small video clips and some screen shots) and not what is promised or foreshadowed.
I agree.
Everyone is making preconceptions of this game (you, for example) based on the relatively little data that's been presented to us.
We don't know how they're handleing ANYTHING save for a small bit of a questline with two people.
I applaud them for their efforts to bring something new and innovative to the genre, especially in the face of this obnoxious group of people feels obligated to shout out ridiculous notions such as "this will be a single player game!" and other general bologna.
The people that are dissing the game are only doing so because it's "nonconformist" to do so.
It's the same kind of person who won't listen to a certain genre of music, regardless of how good a particular song/group might be or how much they'd enjoy it if they allowed themselves, simply because it's in that specific genre. This kind of closed-minded, self-made ignorant person makes me sick.
Everyone needs to shut their mouth until the game is released. At that point, if you don't want it all you have to do is NOT get it. You can even complain about it on the forums, but until then....
SHUT THE HELL UP ALREADY
Playing: *sigh* back to WoW
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Waiting for: SW:TOR, APB, WoD
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Played and loved: Eve and WoW
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Played and hated: WoW:WotLK, Warhammer, every single F2P
Now thats out of the way, let me get back to why I made this post in the first place. To me it just seemed like people had gotten jaded by the typical promises and hype that goes with any game. Im simply posing a question to everyone with this thread and thats,
"Why do you really like the game and look forward to it?"
I can easily see after reading peoples posts who are genuinly excited about the game and who are just looking for the next big thing, thinking money and a big name IP will make a great product.
Either way, no ones wrong in what they like, but if theres a forum to discuss it, im going to say my problems with the game.
On that note, I do apologize if my original post came off as less than informative about why i disliked the game. Hopefully now people will understand that Im less than thrilled about the game for real reasons and not just as someone said "He Dislike the game because he... dislikes the game.
I tend to come off as a bit hostile at times and for that I apologize.
Let me just say you have an excellent taste in music (although that's completely irrelevant the point I was trying to make lol).
Let me say it again in a more polite fasion.
I don't believe that the information presented about Star Wars: The Old Republic is significant enough to make any judgement towards how it will or will not perform in sales and in fun-factor.
The majority of the information released has been focused on what sets the game apart from any other games of the genre. This would include things such as; Voice acting for most NPCs and PCs, elaborate story arcs that will have a significant impact on the game and companion characters.
They have stated previously that they will have every aspect that you'd expect in a MMO such as; Raids, smaller groups, crafting, and various other activities. However, they have yet to give any details on this subject.
So far, all they've told us is how they intend to be different. How they intend to be innovative and a novelty.
Essentially what they're driving at is that they will be a MMO and have all the Bench Marks of a MMO except that they're adding an immerssive story, captivating characters and brilliant voice over work.
They're trying to make it clear that this will be a MMO*RPG* and they want the people who would enjoy this to know what TOR will offer. An experience unlike any other in a MMO (whether it be for better or for worse).
Now, that is in theory only as they jsut have not released a sufficient amount of information to make certain. As such, it is impossible to formulate an acceptable, informed opinion on how the game will be.
It would be like... saying you don't like chocolate ice cream even though you've never tasted it. You only disliked the way it looked.
There is no real rhyme or reason to have any opinion one way or the other at this point. The best thing we can do is sit back and take in the small bits of information that is made available from time to time. Eventually we'll know.
For now, everything is just speculation. There is nothing else to say about that.
I however, am looking forward to it. Bioware has certainly proved to be a reliable developer. When taken into consideration how much money they're being alloted for this project, EA certainly has faith in them which is rare in and of itself.
And of course, I love the feel of Bioware's "Old Republic". I've put many hours into KotOR (by many, I mean hundreds and dozens of playthroughs) and to be honest, if the story arcs in TOR are half as good as KotOR's story was the game will be well worth playing.
That said, I personally believe that they will do an exceptional job with all the MMO aspects of the game. Based soley on the information presented of course.
I have no evidence to say whether the game will be good or bad at this point. So far I've only looked at the ice cream. But I have to say, it's starting to looks pretty damn tastey.
That is to say, I have no reason to bad mouth it yet, nor does anyone else. Yet.
Playing: *sigh* back to WoW
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Waiting for: SW:TOR, APB, WoD
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Played and loved: Eve and WoW
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Played and hated: WoW:WotLK, Warhammer, every single F2P
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"Your pride, good sir, far exceeds your worth." -x3r0h
Oldest mmorpg.com member with the least amount of post counts. That counts for something, right?
Those quests in Dragon Age are NOT bugged. Between my husband and I we have completed the game in its entirety choosing both kings at different times, 8 times, and now we're replaying it again each, because the expansion just released. Our friend just completely his second play through.
I'd suggest you take the game back to where you bought and buy a new one. It may be a bad copy.