I think it depends on why you want to play TOR or what is important to you as far as gameplay in a MMO.
For me, the relationship with companions will be a big part of the story and SW experience in TOR. Mainly because I am going to play the class storylines as I would in a BW SPG. So the decisions I make that can effect my companions relationship with my character will mean something. I may think about how a choice that will effect a companions' affection level. So I may be influenced by a companion or choose to try to influence the companion to my way of thinking.
The relationship with NPC's and companions can only increase the depth of TOR. This will also carry over to the grouping part of TOR. Because your companions will speak up during dialogue sequences. The companions dialogue could be very different depending on how you have influenced them through the story. It could be interesting with a smuggler character trying to romance a NPC during a group quest. If their current companion happends to be a love interest. How will that companion react to you romancing a NPC right in front of them? Will they speak up and ruin your chance to effect the quest and having to complete the dialogue in a different way?
I am looking forward to all of this making for a great gaming experience in a BW told TOR story. But if you are a MMO player that only wants to get to end game and raid for gear, then you may have no interest in relationships, companions or story at all. So it depends on the player as to how this will effect the over all gaming experience.
How many people long for that "past, simpler, and better world," I wonder, without ever recognizing the truth that perhaps it was they who were simpler and better, and not the world about them? R.A.Salvatore
Does it bother me in any mmo that doesn't allow you to "marry" that really cute elven mage who in reality is a 400lb hairy fucking gorilla named Billy Bob?
Nope.
Wouldn't bother me in ToR either.
Leave the "romance" for the anime loli-loving pedos playing Korean "cutesy" mmos.
No need for stuff like this in a game such as this really. I have nothing against roleplaying, but I really would have developers spend their time making the game more fun for everyone, not just a select few.
I certainly hope Bioware do not include it. There is a reason why men likes action movies and women like romantic movies and the sci-fi world is predominantly male and I dont want any romantic crap to pollute the fun.
People are missing the point kinda. If your in for the story mode , then yes romance is important , the game can do whiteout but from a story perspective it will have impact on your choices.
if your in for the contend. ala run from mission to mission not paying to much attention to the lore/story and just having fun blasting stuff and hitting bad guys on the head then no, romance is a waist of dev time. if your a role-player, romance is somewhere in the middle.. on one hand.. sure handy to have a woman(or male) on board for the cold nights but a serious role-player would most likely involve him/her self in player<->player RP /romance and not so much care bout the npc's other then trying to pick those that have a lore background that fit their vision of their character
There is a gamut of different types of relationship, from the simple, like/dislike to enemy/best friend that could make companion characters much more interesting and, as the article suggests, add depth and nuance.
The responses I’ve seen so far appear to focus on the extremes and blanket everything in between with the same opinion. There is nothing much more extreme than killing, so if ‘romance’ is the other end, then why not have an option for it.
There will be issues, not least of which is that in the single player games there is usually one path and that does not sit well with real life, or an MMO, where you can’t go back to a save game. As such, player to player relationships will tend to be far more fulfilling.
I enjoy the friendships you can build with party members within games, especially within Bioware games. It was fun in Mass Effect and especially Dragon Age to build trust between your party members and have them reveal more detailed information as time went on. It gave it a real feeling, and gave a nice level of personality to your non real companions.
As far as romantic relationships, I dont really care. The only reason I persued them in ME and DA was for the achievement, had that not been in there I doubt I would have bothered. I dont see it as an integral part of the story, and not every epic quest has to end with the guy getting the girl and saving the world. For me a lot of the relationship stuff in DA felt corny and forced, and remained fairly unbelievable. If its in SWTOR and has an actual effect on game play then I am sure I will play with it, but if it is just something to do then I doubt I will invest to much time in relationship building, at least at the romantic level.
If that's the way you swing, of course it's important.
"Mr. Rothstein, your people never will understand... the way it works out here. You're all just our guests. But you act like you're at home. Let me tell you something, partner. You ain't home. But that's where we're gonna send you if it harelips the governor." - Pat Webb
I have never cared about the romance storylines in any games. But with the information we got last week its pretty obvious that BioWare wants to make their game like WoW but so much more. So of course the "so much more" is romance! They should just adopt the motto "Make Love not Warcraft"
I have never cared about the romance storylines in any games. But with the information we got last week its pretty obvious that BioWare wants to make their game like WoW but so much more. So of course the "so much more" is romance! They should just adopt the motto "Make Love not Warcraft"
You have interpretation problems, because they never said they were doing a clone. This game plays more like mass effect or KOTOR than WoW. But it's pretty normal to see uninformed people talking just like you.
I have never cared about the romance storylines in any games. But with the information we got last week its pretty obvious that BioWare wants to make their game like WoW but so much more. So of course the "so much more" is romance! They should just adopt the motto "Make Love not Warcraft"
You have interpretation problems, because they never said they were doing a clone. This game plays more like mass effect or KOTOR than WoW. But it's pretty normal to see uninformed people talking just like you.
It was a joke brother, no need to nerd rage.
I really don't care if it plays like ME or Kotor, yes I've played both and enjoyed them I'm going to play TOR regardless of what I or anyone else thinks about it. All games that come out now are a WoW clone (so says the fanboys) and all games before WoW were a UO or EQ clone that is just how its going to be. Do I think it is actually a clone? No.
Thanks to pretty much all movies and tv shows nowadays, i'm litterally sick of having all things turning into a love story.. doesn't matter what the hell it's about, it always goes there!! Ugh
I think it is great! The romance and general relationship options available via Companions in TOR will open up additional Companion Quests - complete with their own rewards, bonuses, etc. Romance will be used as an additional tool to pull players further into the story and help them feel more a part of the game. These are BioWare's areas of strength. Applying it to an MMO - and making it optional, so that those who are not interested don't have to participate - is a wonderful attempt at innovation in the genre.
Now, don't confuse Companion Character Romance with in-game ERP or in-game weddings. From what I understand, your Companion Romances will be only seen by you, the player, and not by your pal Fred the Bounty Hunter standing nearby. It is a private, optional, PG/PG-13 element of the game that adds additional content, story context and potential rewards (or possibly penalties). ERP and in-game weddings between two players are an entirely different subject.
Personally myself i see the romance as an extra tweek to the game. It might even go so far as to say, hey thats interesting. Or at the very very least break up the grind of just killing mobs for hours on end.
I'm not saying it should be life altering or be so laden that it's everywhere in game, but a few scenes of it can't hurt.
They stated that as far as explicities will go will be just like how the star wars movies did it. Maybe a slight kiss, a hug or something like that. We aren't going full blown ME1 style.
So i'm okay with that. I dont' know if i'd actively seek it out, but if it happens i'm cool with it. Most stuff to do. More stuff to see. Less reptition the better in my opinion.
Help me Bioware, you're my only hope.
Is ToR going to be good? Dude it's Bioware making a freaking star wars game, all signs point to awesome. -G4tv MMo report.
I glad it is in the game for those who will enjoy it.... I can live with and without it, but it would make for an interesting story when I kill her off for another crew member.
I am excited they are including this feature, not because I am some lonely virgin in need of virtual companionship, but because relationships are what Bioware games are all about. It makes the player feel more into the world I think, when we can decide who falls for who, who hates who and so on.
In Dragon Age I spent a ton of time just forming relationships, saying the right stuff, giving the right gifts, all that good stuff. It makes you feel like you really are making the game your own, and in an MMO it will be even better!!
If you get tired of 1 girlfriend than get a second, or dump the first, brings a new element to the RPG part of the game, which I think many MMOs are lacking in today.
Though it does raise the question, if relationships are in the game what about relationships between players?
Such a silly endeavour in my opinion because Bioware's past "romances" have been dull and plastic at best. I can't think of a game where a love connection or romance was anything better than a B-budget Lifetime original.
I'm a little amused by the MMO community atm.. Everyone screams for innovation and can't stop ranting about the need for entirely new concepts. Yet, when a game like SWTOR introduces a romance system similar to that of KOTOR, and never before seen in MMORPG's, many can't seem to realize that change isn't achieved overnight but requires a long process. I believe SWTOR will bring entirely new things to this genre. NPC interactions among one of them.
Romance with a companion is the dumbest idea BW has ever come up with. Wont do it, will laugh at people who do. All I have to say is get a life.
Yeah it's the dumbest idea... that is why everyone is trying to do it in bioware games. Just search youtube and you'll see. This is not a MMOGRING it's an MMORPG.
Romance with a companion is the dumbest idea BW has ever come up with. Wont do it, will laugh at people who do. All I have to say is get a life.
Yeah it's the dumbest idea... that is why everyone is trying to do it in bioware games. Just search youtube and you'll see. This is not a MMOGRING it's an MMORPG.
Comments
I think it depends on why you want to play TOR or what is important to you as far as gameplay in a MMO.
For me, the relationship with companions will be a big part of the story and SW experience in TOR. Mainly because I am going to play the class storylines as I would in a BW SPG. So the decisions I make that can effect my companions relationship with my character will mean something. I may think about how a choice that will effect a companions' affection level. So I may be influenced by a companion or choose to try to influence the companion to my way of thinking.
The relationship with NPC's and companions can only increase the depth of TOR. This will also carry over to the grouping part of TOR. Because your companions will speak up during dialogue sequences. The companions dialogue could be very different depending on how you have influenced them through the story. It could be interesting with a smuggler character trying to romance a NPC during a group quest. If their current companion happends to be a love interest. How will that companion react to you romancing a NPC right in front of them? Will they speak up and ruin your chance to effect the quest and having to complete the dialogue in a different way?
I am looking forward to all of this making for a great gaming experience in a BW told TOR story. But if you are a MMO player that only wants to get to end game and raid for gear, then you may have no interest in relationships, companions or story at all. So it depends on the player as to how this will effect the over all gaming experience.
How many people long for that "past, simpler, and better world," I wonder, without ever recognizing the truth that perhaps it was they who were simpler and better, and not the world about them?
R.A.Salvatore
Does it bother me in any mmo that doesn't allow you to "marry" that really cute elven mage who in reality is a 400lb hairy fucking gorilla named Billy Bob?
Nope.
Wouldn't bother me in ToR either.
Leave the "romance" for the anime loli-loving pedos playing Korean "cutesy" mmos.
No need for stuff like this in a game such as this really. I have nothing against roleplaying, but I really would have developers spend their time making the game more fun for everyone, not just a select few.
I certainly hope Bioware do not include it. There is a reason why men likes action movies and women like romantic movies and the sci-fi world is predominantly male and I dont want any romantic crap to pollute the fun.
My gaming blog
People are missing the point kinda.
but a serious role-player would most likely involve him/her self in player<->player RP /romance and not so much care bout the npc's other then trying to pick those that have a lore background that fit their vision of their character
If your in for the story mode , then yes romance is important , the game can do whiteout but from a story perspective it will have impact on your choices.
if your in for the contend. ala run from mission to mission not paying to much attention to the lore/story and just having fun blasting stuff and hitting bad guys on the head then no, romance is a waist of dev time.
if your a role-player, romance is somewhere in the middle.. on one hand.. sure handy to have a woman(or male) on board for the cold nights
There is a gamut of different types of relationship, from the simple, like/dislike to enemy/best friend that could make companion characters much more interesting and, as the article suggests, add depth and nuance.
The responses I’ve seen so far appear to focus on the extremes and blanket everything in between with the same opinion. There is nothing much more extreme than killing, so if ‘romance’ is the other end, then why not have an option for it.
There will be issues, not least of which is that in the single player games there is usually one path and that does not sit well with real life, or an MMO, where you can’t go back to a save game. As such, player to player relationships will tend to be far more fulfilling.
I enjoy the friendships you can build with party members within games, especially within Bioware games. It was fun in Mass Effect and especially Dragon Age to build trust between your party members and have them reveal more detailed information as time went on. It gave it a real feeling, and gave a nice level of personality to your non real companions.
As far as romantic relationships, I dont really care. The only reason I persued them in ME and DA was for the achievement, had that not been in there I doubt I would have bothered. I dont see it as an integral part of the story, and not every epic quest has to end with the guy getting the girl and saving the world. For me a lot of the relationship stuff in DA felt corny and forced, and remained fairly unbelievable. If its in SWTOR and has an actual effect on game play then I am sure I will play with it, but if it is just something to do then I doubt I will invest to much time in relationship building, at least at the romantic level.
My Guild Wars 2 Vids
How bout the bromance, isn't that important?
Lol that made me think of this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL4L4Uv5rf0
If that's the way you swing, of course it's important.
"Mr. Rothstein, your people never will understand... the way it works out here. You're all just our guests. But you act like you're at home. Let me tell you something, partner. You ain't home. But that's where we're gonna send you if it harelips the governor." - Pat Webb
I have never cared about the romance storylines in any games. But with the information we got last week its pretty obvious that BioWare wants to make their game like WoW but so much more. So of course the "so much more" is romance! They should just adopt the motto "Make Love not Warcraft"
You have interpretation problems, because they never said they were doing a clone. This game plays more like mass effect or KOTOR than WoW. But it's pretty normal to see uninformed people talking just like you.
Hah! If only I had some other context to quote that in
It's one for the history books.
It was a joke brother, no need to nerd rage.
I really don't care if it plays like ME or Kotor, yes I've played both and enjoyed them I'm going to play TOR regardless of what I or anyone else thinks about it. All games that come out now are a WoW clone (so says the fanboys) and all games before WoW were a UO or EQ clone that is just how its going to be. Do I think it is actually a clone? No.
Thanks to pretty much all movies and tv shows nowadays, i'm litterally sick of having all things turning into a love story.. doesn't matter what the hell it's about, it always goes there!! Ugh
So short answer is - no, not important.
I think it is great! The romance and general relationship options available via Companions in TOR will open up additional Companion Quests - complete with their own rewards, bonuses, etc. Romance will be used as an additional tool to pull players further into the story and help them feel more a part of the game. These are BioWare's areas of strength. Applying it to an MMO - and making it optional, so that those who are not interested don't have to participate - is a wonderful attempt at innovation in the genre.
Now, don't confuse Companion Character Romance with in-game ERP or in-game weddings. From what I understand, your Companion Romances will be only seen by you, the player, and not by your pal Fred the Bounty Hunter standing nearby. It is a private, optional, PG/PG-13 element of the game that adds additional content, story context and potential rewards (or possibly penalties). ERP and in-game weddings between two players are an entirely different subject.
You've never played Second Life then I take it? haha :-P
Top Ten Most Misused Words/Phrases in MMO Industry...
Personally myself i see the romance as an extra tweek to the game. It might even go so far as to say, hey thats interesting. Or at the very very least break up the grind of just killing mobs for hours on end.
I'm not saying it should be life altering or be so laden that it's everywhere in game, but a few scenes of it can't hurt.
They stated that as far as explicities will go will be just like how the star wars movies did it. Maybe a slight kiss, a hug or something like that. We aren't going full blown ME1 style.
So i'm okay with that. I dont' know if i'd actively seek it out, but if it happens i'm cool with it. Most stuff to do. More stuff to see. Less reptition the better in my opinion.
Help me Bioware, you're my only hope.
Is ToR going to be good? Dude it's Bioware making a freaking star wars game, all signs point to awesome. -G4tv MMo report.
I glad it is in the game for those who will enjoy it.... I can live with and without it, but it would make for an interesting story when I kill her off for another crew member.
I am excited they are including this feature, not because I am some lonely virgin in need of virtual companionship, but because relationships are what Bioware games are all about. It makes the player feel more into the world I think, when we can decide who falls for who, who hates who and so on.
In Dragon Age I spent a ton of time just forming relationships, saying the right stuff, giving the right gifts, all that good stuff. It makes you feel like you really are making the game your own, and in an MMO it will be even better!!
If you get tired of 1 girlfriend than get a second, or dump the first, brings a new element to the RPG part of the game, which I think many MMOs are lacking in today.
Though it does raise the question, if relationships are in the game what about relationships between players?
Mystery Bounty
Such a silly endeavour in my opinion because Bioware's past "romances" have been dull and plastic at best. I can't think of a game where a love connection or romance was anything better than a B-budget Lifetime original.
I'm a little amused by the MMO community atm.. Everyone screams for innovation and can't stop ranting about the need for entirely new concepts. Yet, when a game like SWTOR introduces a romance system similar to that of KOTOR, and never before seen in MMORPG's, many can't seem to realize that change isn't achieved overnight but requires a long process. I believe SWTOR will bring entirely new things to this genre. NPC interactions among one of them.
Romance with a companion is the dumbest idea BW has ever come up with. Wont do it, will laugh at people who do. All I have to say is get a life.
Yeah it's the dumbest idea... that is why everyone is trying to do it in bioware games. Just search youtube and you'll see. This is not a MMOGRING it's an MMORPG.
LOL - warned ya I would laugh.