It sure is strange to see players' priorities. Way more controversy over a possibly lack-lustre character generator than a possible lack of space combat.
Amazing.
If such space combat required actual pilot-like skills and twitch reflexes, I am glad it's not in here. I want to play an MMO, not a dogfighter/flight sim.
...and what type of Space Combat do you think is going to work for you? "Click your enemy and have 3 options 'combat', 'discuss' or 'none'"? What kinda Star Wars gaming fan are you? Does a Joystick or Gamingpad frighten you? You have a very limited view of MMO's if you see a flight sim as breaking the rules. Which would you care for a deep diverse game with different stages of play or a straight rails grinder with you only pounding the ground? Just ask less of the devs and they will give it to you.
If you want to make a flight sim MMO, go for it. It's just not my thing. And there are lots and lots of characters from Star Wars who weren't pilots. It's been a while, but I don't recall any dogfighting in KOTOR2.
I'd rather the devs focus on making the non-flying mechanics of the game the best they can. I think to include dogfighting with the type of game they're putting out would make the scope of the game too broad and unfocused. At the very least, I'd hope that stuff like manual piloting be optional. I've been gaming since before Intellivision came out, so I'm comfortable with a joystick, but that kind of game seems more like console gaming, which I find shallow and dull
Home, but since you asked, if I had my way, I'd hop in my ship, select a destination, and disembark upon arrival. At a minimum I'd want that as an option.
I don't want flight sims. If there is space combat, I want epic space combat. I want to see big fleet versus fleet action here and there, and you can choose your role based on what you've earned. If you like the flight simulator than you could mess around in a starfighter but if you like to do fleet con and want to be in a huge destroyer than that should be there too. I'm not hugely concerned about space combat, but if they're going to put it in then they need to make it epic like we see in the films and videos.
My point is that every aspect of the game is important to someone, and a game this big is expected to shine on all fronts.
So lower your expectations, because that's not possible.
Aesthetics are not as important as gameplay aspects, as much as some people tend to like them. Nobody will play a game that plays like crap. Most people will play a game that plays well, and very few people will not play because they can't make their own chewbakka. Even with 150 million dollar budget, you still have to prioritize. There is no way around that.
Aesthetics or gameplay. The answer is not as complex as you'd think.
You're looking at this the wrong way. Having one of those does not imply the detriment of the other. You can have great gameplay with great graphics. In fact, that would make it more of a hit than just having great gameplay. And come on, 150 million dollars should be MORE than enough to have both aspects shine. More than bloody enough, actually.
My point is that every aspect of the game is important to someone, and a game this big is expected to shine on all fronts.
So lower your expectations, because that's not possible.
Aesthetics are not as important as gameplay aspects, as much as some people tend to like them. Nobody will play a game that plays like crap. Most people will play a game that plays well, and very few people will not play because they can't make their own chewbakka. Even with 150 million dollar budget, you still have to prioritize. There is no way around that.
Aesthetics or gameplay. The answer is not as complex as you'd think.
You're looking at this the wrong way. Having one of those does not imply the detriment of the other. You can have great gameplay with great graphics. In fact, that would make it more of a hit than just having great gameplay. And come on, 150 million dollars should be MORE than enough to have both aspects shine. More than bloody enough, actually.
Agree with you I do! Always focussed some are on what is not possible! XD
Seriously, I understand they did not want top graphics for TOR to allow many to play it. Even tho I tstill think better and more detailled graphics would be possible. But reducing character customization to some near-WOW level sounds like a shot in the knee. I don't see the wisdom in this when it all says "YOUR PERSONAL story" matters when in the end we have 6 heads and 6 haircuts!
And alas, LOOK at the screenshots. All those faces look so awfully the same. Esp. the males, which are so far more seen, seem to have one face with 10% variation. Quite a letdown I must say and hopefully not the last word.
I always take a wait and approach view of new games, ESPECIALLY if they are MMOs. Bioware, however is an exception in a couple of areas. First of all, their recent games have captured my imagination like no other company with the exceptional quality of story and depth of gameplay, which made me just have to stop and say "wow" a few times while playing them. Secondly, Bioware has said they are investing more money and effort into this game than anything else they have made before. That alone tells me this game is going to be freaking amazing and I will buy it as soon as I am able. Bioware is the best developer out there right now, in my opinion, and this game will be virtual gold.
Currently playing: Rift Played: SWToR, Aion,EQ, Dark Age of Camelot World of Warcraft, AoC
It sure is strange to see players' priorities. Way more controversy over a possibly lack-lustre character generator than a possible lack of space combat.
Amazing.
Customization is one of the most important parts of an MMO to me. If my character looks like everyone elses, barring equipment, I just don't feel the attachment I do to the character otherwise. I didn't like City of Heroes in general, but I played a few demos of it just to make characters because it was so much fun.
Don't get me wrong, I think it'd be nice to have alternate, optional character advancements like space combat, but I don't feel that trumps character customization as the former can be added later, where the latter is typically set for the life of the game.
Personally I would have prefered a dual class system similar to KOTOR / KOTOR2, but I guess advanced classes is better than nothing. And yeah, talent trees have been done, but they work well if done right, so why not. Just hope combat isn't too holy trinity based (ie. Tank + Healer + X DPS), so people can play the class / spec they actually like, not just one the group needs.
One interesting and perhaps disappointing detail about customization was also revealed in TGS' gameplay hands on, where Jake Neri described The Old Republic's customization as not being as robust as Star Wars Galaxies' customization system.
well this is fuckin great... i hope it changes before launch or im going to be sorely dissapointed before i even get into the game
and for the people who say that character customization isnt as important as gameplay, thats right and wrong. such games as CoH/CoV and Aion and AoC. a major cool factor of those games was the toon customs.
and all mmo's are repetitive regardless of the new things companies do. i cant even count how many games ive stayed longer in because of just the sheer fun of creating unique characters.
and another reason why i could never get into WoW. EVERYONE LOOKS THE FUCKIN SAME
By putting F'n in your post, you are definitely cool. Anyway...I am one of those that will take gameplay over looks anyday. Customization is good, but you are looking at the back of your toon the majority of the time anyway.
One interesting and perhaps disappointing detail about customization was also revealed in TGS' gameplay hands on, where Jake Neri described The Old Republic's customization as not being as robust as Star Wars Galaxies' customization system.
well this is fuckin great... i hope it changes before launch or im going to be sorely dissapointed before i even get into the game
and for the people who say that character customization isnt as important as gameplay, thats right and wrong. such games as CoH/CoV and Aion and AoC. a major cool factor of those games was the toon customs.
and all mmo's are repetitive regardless of the new things companies do. i cant even count how many games ive stayed longer in because of just the sheer fun of creating unique characters.
and another reason why i could never get into WoW. EVERYONE LOOKS THE FUCKIN SAME
By putting F'n in your post, you are definitely cool. Anyway...I am one of those that will take gameplay over looks anyday. Customization is good, but you are looking at the back of your toon the majority of the time anyway.
Whilst I agree with graphics over gameplay, I think that customization is important in an mmo. Having spent some time in LOTRO(which is considered to have amongst the worste character models around) I really didn't like the 'clone' feel of the characters and the idea of getting a quest from an npc that looked just like me and grouping with other players that not only looked like me but could have the exact same skills as me was very offputting. It felt less like lord of the rings online and more like middle earth world with every character being played by Yul Brynner
Wow, a bald, all white humanoid and TWO paths of advancement for each class? Man, they are really pulling out all the stops with this title. I can't wait. Really.
I know, right!? Since when does shaving your head and putting on some eyeliner make you a new species?
SPOILER ALERT - NEXT SPECIES
Fapfapulons - Exactly like humans except their pinky finger is exactly the same length as their ring finger. TRY NOT TO STARE!!! They get an extra skill in their talent tree called "Secret Handshake" which ... eh
Comments
If you want to make a flight sim MMO, go for it. It's just not my thing. And there are lots and lots of characters from Star Wars who weren't pilots. It's been a while, but I don't recall any dogfighting in KOTOR2.
I'd rather the devs focus on making the non-flying mechanics of the game the best they can. I think to include dogfighting with the type of game they're putting out would make the scope of the game too broad and unfocused. At the very least, I'd hope that stuff like manual piloting be optional. I've been gaming since before Intellivision came out, so I'm comfortable with a joystick, but that kind of game seems more like console gaming, which I find shallow and dull
Home, but since you asked, if I had my way, I'd hop in my ship, select a destination, and disembark upon arrival. At a minimum I'd want that as an option.
I don't want flight sims. If there is space combat, I want epic space combat. I want to see big fleet versus fleet action here and there, and you can choose your role based on what you've earned. If you like the flight simulator than you could mess around in a starfighter but if you like to do fleet con and want to be in a huge destroyer than that should be there too. I'm not hugely concerned about space combat, but if they're going to put it in then they need to make it epic like we see in the films and videos.
You're looking at this the wrong way. Having one of those does not imply the detriment of the other. You can have great gameplay with great graphics. In fact, that would make it more of a hit than just having great gameplay. And come on, 150 million dollars should be MORE than enough to have both aspects shine. More than bloody enough, actually.
Agree with you I do! Always focussed some are on what is not possible! XD
Seriously, I understand they did not want top graphics for TOR to allow many to play it. Even tho I tstill think better and more detailled graphics would be possible. But reducing character customization to some near-WOW level sounds like a shot in the knee. I don't see the wisdom in this when it all says "YOUR PERSONAL story" matters when in the end we have 6 heads and 6 haircuts!
And alas, LOOK at the screenshots. All those faces look so awfully the same. Esp. the males, which are so far more seen, seem to have one face with 10% variation. Quite a letdown I must say and hopefully not the last word.
I always take a wait and approach view of new games, ESPECIALLY if they are MMOs. Bioware, however is an exception in a couple of areas. First of all, their recent games have captured my imagination like no other company with the exceptional quality of story and depth of gameplay, which made me just have to stop and say "wow" a few times while playing them. Secondly, Bioware has said they are investing more money and effort into this game than anything else they have made before. That alone tells me this game is going to be freaking amazing and I will buy it as soon as I am able. Bioware is the best developer out there right now, in my opinion, and this game will be virtual gold.
Currently playing:
Rift
Played:
SWToR, Aion,EQ, Dark Age of Camelot
World of Warcraft, AoC
It's just another variation on multi-classing/prestige classes. It's a pretty standard RPG mechanic.
Customization is one of the most important parts of an MMO to me. If my character looks like everyone elses, barring equipment, I just don't feel the attachment I do to the character otherwise. I didn't like City of Heroes in general, but I played a few demos of it just to make characters because it was so much fun.
Don't get me wrong, I think it'd be nice to have alternate, optional character advancements like space combat, but I don't feel that trumps character customization as the former can be added later, where the latter is typically set for the life of the game.
Personally I would have prefered a dual class system similar to KOTOR / KOTOR2, but I guess advanced classes is better than nothing. And yeah, talent trees have been done, but they work well if done right, so why not. Just hope combat isn't too holy trinity based (ie. Tank + Healer + X DPS), so people can play the class / spec they actually like, not just one the group needs.
By putting F'n in your post, you are definitely cool. Anyway...I am one of those that will take gameplay over looks anyday. Customization is good, but you are looking at the back of your toon the majority of the time anyway.
Whilst I agree with graphics over gameplay, I think that customization is important in an mmo. Having spent some time in LOTRO(which is considered to have amongst the worste character models around) I really didn't like the 'clone' feel of the characters and the idea of getting a quest from an npc that looked just like me and grouping with other players that not only looked like me but could have the exact same skills as me was very offputting. It felt less like lord of the rings online and more like middle earth world with every character being played by Yul Brynner
Since I'm not really that interested in the game anymore may i ask some more about the 'First New Species' part of this article?
This species is being based of an obscure reference somewhere in the star wars 'fan' area of the IP?
And since it seems to look exactly like human what makes it a new species? And therefore what is the point of having said species over any other?
Wow, a bald, all white humanoid and TWO paths of advancement for each class? Man, they are really pulling out all the stops with this title. I can't wait. Really.
I know, right!? Since when does shaving your head and putting on some eyeliner make you a new species?
SPOILER ALERT - NEXT SPECIES
Fapfapulons - Exactly like humans except their pinky finger is exactly the same length as their ring finger. TRY NOT TO STARE!!! They get an extra skill in their talent tree called "Secret Handshake" which ... eh