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Star Wars: The Old Republic: E3 2011: Demo Impressions

24

Comments

  • artemisentr4artemisentr4 Member UncommonPosts: 1,431

    Originally posted by mCalvert

    Sounds like itll be fun, but the wow clone features will get annoying after a while. For example, you decide to spare the sith, so he helps you out later. This is supposed to be immersive, but its an MMO, which means your friend will fight the exact same sith, on the exact same quest, but decide to kill him. So youll talk to your friend in game and hell be in a paralell universe basically, which is not immersive. No, I dont see an alternative to this, but its still not immersive.

     Big story choices will be behind an instance. So you will run through most of the quest in the open. But when you get close to the end, you will go through an entrance with a green film. You won't be able to tell, because it is seamless, but you will be in your own instance. Whatever you decide will be your decision, and no other player will see how it plays out for you unless they are in your group.

     

    You will only be able to talk to your about what happened in your instance. But you will never be in two open worlds. You will never be standing in the same place and not see your friend. Only way this could happen is if you are both the same class. Then you could join his class quest and he could join yours. Then inside each of your instances, you could make two different choices and see two outcomes. But again, that part will not be in the open world.

    “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

  • Xondar123Xondar123 Member CommonPosts: 2,543

    Originally posted by CujoSWAoA

    I find the game to be wholely depressing. I have ever since the first screenshot showed the childish art direction.

    I've only grown more disappointed in the project as more has been released about it.  It just looks bad.

    The only thing I like in the game is the co-op dialogue system.  Thats the only redeeming thing I can find about this title.

    You're so negative all the time that no one takes you seriously any longer.

    Everything I've seen makes me want to play this game more and more. I think it'll be great.

  • babacbabac Member UncommonPosts: 179

    Game looks good, except the childish art direction, that is a total killer for me

  • DaxPierceDaxPierce Member Posts: 172

    The art is fine, the content is fine, its the horrific combat animations im trying to swallow...

  • artemisentr4artemisentr4 Member UncommonPosts: 1,431

    Originally posted by gaou

    minor correction, Eternity Vault isn't on Alderaan, its on Belsavis and is a prision, not a palace.  the Alderaan stuff was part of  world Arc quests to take down the delf proclaimed king of Alderaan, Boris Ulgo.  atleast i think that is what you were describing based on a demo shown earlier this week.  otherwise a good read.

    edit: regarding having to wait for group members to make dialogue choices, they have said in the past that there would be a timer on it during group dialogues

     Very big difference there. The alderaan group video was about the end of a multi-hour, multi-quest world stroy arc quest chain. Each planet will have a world story arc. Designed for a normal group of 4 to play through the world arcs. These will be something like the Epic quests in LOTRO.

     

    Operations are end game only I believe. And will have different levels of difficulty. The lowest will be for 2 groups or a total of 8. They are not sure about the highest level, what we saw a glimps of was 16 I think.

     

    One other correction was the group dialogue. If you are not with the group when they start the dialogue. You can join in by holoprojecter. But you have to be far enough away. If you are close enough the be in the converstation, then you need to join in. Then as above, there is a timer, so a bio break may have you skip the choice I believe. But not sure on that.

    “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

  • KuppaKuppa Member UncommonPosts: 3,292

    I like the fact that they are incorporating the same story aspects from ME and DA into this game. Not sure how the group dialog thing will work out though. Also love the fact that the game seems to be pretty huge, which I got a lot more after watching some more footage. The one thing that seems like a huge drag for me is the combat, its too much of the same and that is what got me to stop playing Aion and Rift. That is what you invest most of your time in and it looks like it can get boring pretty fast. The only thing for me that would balance out a battle system that has been done for far too long is pvp, don't know much about SWTOR pvp so I need to do some research.

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  • Lyynk424Lyynk424 Member CommonPosts: 10

    I can't wait to play! I'm a huge fan of the way Bioware does quests in Mass Effect and I'm liking the implimentation of it so far in SWTOR.  The game world and characters to me look great.  The only thing I'm doubting a bit is the combat... from everything I've seen, it seems kinda dull, but that's something I'm willing to look past as long as it is onpar with WoW combat (which I find dull).

    I really enjoyed the Tattooine walkthrough... it has always been my favorite planet in the Star Wars universe so I was excited to see some content there.

  • whilanwhilan Member UncommonPosts: 3,472

    Originally posted by Kuppa

    I like the fact that they are incorporating the same story aspects from ME and DA into this game. Not sure how the group dialog thing will work out though. Also love the fact that the game seems to be pretty huge, which I got a lot more after watching some more footage. The one thing that seems like a huge drag for me is the combat, its too much of the same and that is what got me to stop playing Aion and Rift. That is what you invest most of your time in and it looks like it can get boring pretty fast. The only thing for me that would balance out a battle system that has been done for far too long is pvp, don't know much about SWTOR pvp so I need to do some research.

    From the way i understand it it works out something like this when your grouped up.

    You or someone in your group walks up to a NPC.

    Once it's initiated (clicked on the NPC) everyone else sees a green check mark above the person head.

    Rumored theres a short timer to run up and begin dialog, once someone activates it (if you haven't already)

    Once it starts the NPC will begin talking (ala almost any recent Bioware game)

    Once it reaches a point where the group can talk a dialog wheel shows up (again similar to ME series)

    Everyone selects an option.

    A quick die roll is made via the server.

    Whoever has the highest number at the end gets to speak and have the story go that way.

    For example

    Person A chooses to save the person (good)

    Person B chooses to kill the person (evil)

    Person C chooses to have the person dress up in a clown costume. (neutral)

    Person B wins the roll.

    So the story goes that the person is killed and the events that follow will mirror that decision.

    Now Person A gets light sided points for their intended action (cause they want to save him)

    Person B gets dark sided points because they killed him.

    Person C gets no light sided or dark sided points for his neutral response.

    That is basically how multiplayer dialog works, in every instance save for the personal story.

    In the personal story, only the person who is doing the quest gets to make decisions and thus there is no competition for how the quest will turn out. If you want to kill that person, go ahead, group can't stop you here (muhahaha).

    Now i'm not sure if they can make other dialog options or not that don't really change the story.  Seem to remember the could.

    Now there is two things that can throw some mix into how dialog can play out.

    There is clothing that gives you a better chance at winning that roll, these are very likely to be social clothing, which means you need social points to purchase them with, you get social points by doing these multiplayer dialogs, so they work hand in hand with each other. Do multiplayer dialog, to get social clothing which will help you in future multiplayer dialog.

    Second is pursasion.  This doesn't really affect multiplayer dialog in the sense that you will win over others, but it can give you new options for how the quest will go that you wouldn't normally get. This is of course based off the stat with the same or similar name. 

     

    Edit: Meant to add this video for reference purposes

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6zTRZZefmvM&hd=1

    You can watch the whole thing if you want, but where you want for refernce to multiplayer dialog is at 6:00 mins in.

    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.

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  • elistrangeelistrange Member Posts: 157

    I have seen numerous comments concerning the "childish look" of the STWOR. What did you expect?  A dark goth looking STWOR? A seedy underground Film Noir setting? 

    Currently Play: ?
    Occasionally Play: Champions, Pirates of the Burning Sea, WOW, EVE ONLINE

  • DJJazzyDJJazzy Member UncommonPosts: 2,053

    Originally posted by elistrange

    I have seen numerous comments concerning the "childish look" of the STWOR. What did you expect?  A dark goth looking STWOR? A seedy underground Film Noir setting? 

    Probably more like something akin to Mass Effect, that's what I was hoping for anyway.

    I'm not really that concerned about the art direction though (except for the character models, just don't like them in general).

  • TenacioTenacio Member UncommonPosts: 9

    How they are aproaching crafting via crew skills alone is one way they have stepped away from many of the other MMOs out there.  Having your own starship is a pretty nifty perk too. 

  • mCalvertmCalvert Member CommonPosts: 1,283

    What force skill was that where he waves his hand, theres a bright light, and a speeder appears all of sudden and his pet dissapears? Force Mount?

  • whilanwhilan Member UncommonPosts: 3,472

    Originally posted by mCalvert

    What force skill was that where he waves his hand, theres a bright light, and a speeder appears all of sudden and his pet dissapears? Force Mount?

    That just a regular mount. No force thing involved.

    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.

    image

  • darkbamydarkbamy Member UncommonPosts: 111

    ill even play this if it was an 8 Bit game....its star wars for god sack :P

  • BetaguyBetaguy Member UncommonPosts: 2,629

    I think it will be fine.  Can't wait myself...oh and I have good taste in videogames....just saying.

    "The King and the Pawn return to the same box at the end of the game"

  • mCalvertmCalvert Member CommonPosts: 1,283

    Originally posted by artemisentr4

    Originally posted by mCalvert

    Sounds like itll be fun, but the wow clone features will get annoying after a while. For example, you decide to spare the sith, so he helps you out later. This is supposed to be immersive, but its an MMO, which means your friend will fight the exact same sith, on the exact same quest, but decide to kill him. So youll talk to your friend in game and hell be in a paralell universe basically, which is not immersive. No, I dont see an alternative to this, but its still not immersive.

     Big story choices will be behind an instance. So you will run through most of the quest in the open. But when you get close to the end, you will go through an entrance with a green film. You won't be able to tell, because it is seamless, but you will be in your own instance. Whatever you decide will be your decision, and no other player will see how it plays out for you unless they are in your group.

     

    You will only be able to talk to your about what happened in your instance. But you will never be in two open worlds. You will never be standing in the same place and not see your friend. Only way this could happen is if you are both the same class. Then you could join his class quest and he could join yours. Then inside each of your instances, you could make two different choices and see two outcomes. But again, that part will not be in the open world.


     

     My point was you get sent on a mission to find some archeologisst. You find him and kill him. Then your friend says, hey I was told to do the same mission. I thought you said you burned the banner and killed the archeologist, but when I went in, there he was, and I killed him. How is it we both killed the same guy?

  • xmentyxmenty Member UncommonPosts: 719

    Well I will buy the game but I think they should get another animator as their combat animation look quite dull and awkward. They should contract Blur Studios to do the animation :P.   Companion would be a bit of headache for BW cos after 7 years WOW still have a hunters' pet bug in the instance.  If  you watch the video on SWTOR ( Tatooine Developer Walkthrough ) the companion is all over the place even run thru the Sith :(

    Pardon my English as it is not my 1st language :)

  • SwaneaSwanea Member UncommonPosts: 2,401

    Some of the changes they have made are pretty amazing.

  • CujoSWAoACujoSWAoA Member UncommonPosts: 1,781

    Originally posted by Xondar123



    Originally posted by CujoSWAoA

    I find the game to be wholely depressing. I have ever since the first screenshot showed the childish art direction.



    I've only grown more disappointed in the project as more has been released about it.  It just looks bad.



    The only thing I like in the game is the co-op dialogue system.  Thats the only redeeming thing I can find about this title.

    You're so negative all the time that no one takes you seriously any longer.

    Everything I've seen makes me want to play this game more and more. I think it'll be great.


     

    So you speak for everyone?

    I don't really care what people think of my opinion.  Thats the point of a "forum" to post your opinion.   I post a lot on the topics related to Star Wars, because its a big part of my life. I'll continue to post my opinion without any fear of what 'you' or anyone else think of it.

    One thing is for certain about my posts here. I never pretend to speak for more than just myself, like some people.

  • CujoSWAoACujoSWAoA Member UncommonPosts: 1,781



    Originally posted by Isane







    Originally posted by Cinge










    Originally posted by CujoSWAoA











    I find the game to be wholely depressing. I have ever since the first screenshot showed the childish art direction.













    I've only grown more disappointed in the project as more has been released about it.  It just looks bad.













    The only thing I like in the game is the co-op dialogue system.  Thats the only redeeming thing I can find about this title.














     





    Can I ask a serious questiong? You have been trolling the SWTOR comments sections with a relgious zeal, yet every single comment is "why the game sucks, why it fails, why I wont play it etc" , why do you continue to click on SWTOR Articles? Are you so desperate for attention that you just can't help yourself? Do you have zero self control or dignity left?

    {mod edit}






     

    Firstly. Because its a forum and I can share my opinion as I please.  Just because I don't post with blind positivity doesn't mean I'm not allowed to write my thoughts.  I'm sooooo sorry that they differ from yours. Welcome to humanity.

    {mod edit}


  • ComnitusComnitus Member Posts: 2,462

    Originally posted by CujoSWAoA

    Just because I post with blind negativity doesn't mean I'm not allowed to write my thoughts.

    Fixed, and I agree, But we ("we" being the majority of this community) are just letting you know we hardly find you credible or worth listening to anymore. At least, when it comes to TOR.

    I must say Fdzzaigl has the best post in the thread (#20), followed by whilan's excellent explanation of how group dialogue will work (#34).

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  • BarakIIIBarakIII Member Posts: 800

    Originally posted by mCalvert

    Sounds like itll be fun, but the wow clone features will get annoying after a while. For example, you decide to spare the sith, so he helps you out later. This is supposed to be immersive, but its an MMO, which means your friend will fight the exact same sith, on the exact same quest, but decide to kill him. So youll talk to your friend in game and hell be in a paralell universe basically, which is not immersive. No, I dont see an alternative to this, but its still not immersive.

    Think about what you're saying here. You've been through a quest and made a decision. Then you're friend comes along at a later time and does the quest. Think about that, whatever decision he makes immersion is already broken. That's just the nature of MMORPGs. Until there's a day when everybody has individual quests that have nothing to do with one another you'll have to have a certain amount of suspension of disbelieve. The same thing goes with running the same dungeons/raids in MMORPGs over and over again. The very fact that you get to make a choice is a step forward but you're still going to have to have that suspension of disbelief that you've had in all previous MMORPGs.

    There are many elements of MMORPGs that are like this, including things like the death system. How many people do you know of that have been chopped to bits and then came back to life? Until there is a game with permanent death then you'll have to have that suspension of disbelief. I mean seriously, what fun would there be if death was permanent in MMORPGs? People would have to constantly start over.

    I saw someone complaining about lightsabers not killing in one hit, but even normal swords would kill someone in one hit if they have no heavy armor and only warriors types have heavy enough armor to prevent that and even that wouldn't be enough against a heavy two handed sword. People are being kind of ridiculous about their complaints concerning this game.

  • SabrelSabrel Member UncommonPosts: 41

    At one point on Tattooine they are in a duel with a Sith master. After winning the duel, your character has a choice to kill the Sith or spare his life. Choosing to spare his life is considered a Light Side choice within the Force. The Sith Master starts to reconsider his choices and goes away after the duel. Later in the game, you run into the Sith you spared who is now working for the Jedi and become somewhat of a leader. He thanks you for the change you had made in his life and remains part of your personal story.

    Am I the only one who is disappointed at this? I loved KotOR, but BioWare's moral systems have always been very stark in their Goody Two-Shoes/A**hole dichotomy. You make the "good" choice, and everything is happy sunshine ever after, or you very deliberately say "I'm going to be a b**tard today."

    Staying on the Light is not supposed to be easy. Slipping to the Dark is not supposed to be a blatant choice to be an a**. Great Jedi through the history of the setting have not fallen because they were 12 year olds that liked being mean to people.

    A real choice would have been if you spare the Sith and he goes on to kill another character you care about to get revenge on you for beating him. Then there is an actual moral decision to be made. Do you hold to your ideals and accept the additional harm this person does to others after you spare him? Or do you sacrifice your own virtue to ensure that he never hurts anyone again? That's the seduction of the Dark Side, how easy it is to make the wrong choice for the right reasons.

    I'd like to be able to play a dark character that is actually deep, instead of one that is basically a forum troll w/a lightsaber. Or a light one that has made hard choices, and sacrificed in the name of keeping to the Code. If this game is supposed to be all about story, how about we have some actual grown-up story?

  • ComnitusComnitus Member Posts: 2,462

    Originally posted by Sabrel



    At one point on Tattooine they are in a duel with a Sith master. After winning the duel, your character has a choice to kill the Sith or spare his life. Choosing to spare his life is considered a Light Side choice within the Force. The Sith Master starts to reconsider his choices and goes away after the duel. Later in the game, you run into the Sith you spared who is now working for the Jedi and become somewhat of a leader. He thanks you for the change you had made in his life and remains part of your personal story.

    Am I the only one who is disappointed at this? I loved KotOR, but BioWare's moral systems have always been very stark in their Goody Two-Shoes/A**hole dichotomy. You make the "good" choice, and everything is happy sunshine ever after, or you very deliberately say "I'm going to be a b**tard today."

    Staying on the Light is not supposed to be easy. Slipping to the Dark is not supposed to be a blatant choice to be an a**. Great Jedi through the history of the setting have not fallen because they were 12 year olds that liked being mean to people.

    A real choice would have been if you spare the Sith and he goes on to kill another character you care about to get revenge on you for beating him. Then there is an actual moral decision to be made. Do you hold to your ideals and accept the additional harm this person does to others after you spare him? Or do you sacrifice your own virtue to ensure that he never hurts anyone again? That's the seduction of the Dark Side, how easy it is to make the wrong choice for the right reasons.

    I'd like to be able to play a dark character that is actually deep, instead of one that is basically a forum troll w/a lightsaber. Or a light one that has made hard choices, and sacrificed in the name of keeping to the Code. If this game is supposed to be all about story, how about we have some actual grown-up story?

    Do you know how many choices we'll be able to make? Forming an opinion on a single instance is foolish, but I can see what you're saying and I'll respond with this: If you're going to blantantly divide your morality system into good vs. evil, then you must clearly define what is good and what is evil in the context you're working with. In this case, sparing life = good, ending it = evil. Did the Sith have to experience a personal revelation and decide to be a good guy? No, but should every Sith Master be a copy-and-paste, irredeemable maniac who is obsessed with power, revenge, etc.? I'm sure some other situations will require you to make more difficult choices, but know that the Light/Dark definitions will still be there.

    Overall, don't expect "grown-up" story. Star Wars has never been intended for grown-ups; it's always been aimed at kids. Some of the material in the Extended Universe has worked to remove this stigma, but it's not enough.

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  • uhhmm game looks good to me, there are certainly aspects I would have preferred they do differently such as the "holy trinity", but i can live with it to be playing a star wars morg

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