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Star Wars: The Old Republic | State of the Game Interview - Part Two | MMORPG
MikeB
Community ManagerAdministrator RarePosts: 6,555
Star Wars: The Old Republic | State of the Game Interview - Part Two | MMORPG
We recently sat down with BioWare Austin's Bruce Maclean (senior producer), Ben Irving (lead producer), and Charles Boyd (lead designer) to chat about the state of Star Wars: The Old Republic now that Knights of the Fallen Empire has been out for a few months.
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Currently playing: WildStar, Guild Wars 2, EVE Online, Vain Glory.
"We all do the best we can based on life experience, point of view, and our ability to believe in ourselves." - Naropa "We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are." SR Covey
When they borked the companions I just removed it from my hard drive. I tried playing some of my alts and the companions are now completely useless, they might as well remove them from the game. At least there are a lot better MMO's out there than this POS.
So you were the ones who threw a tantrum about nerfing companions that pretty much let you go to sleep doing heroics? You know they buffed them back like a few days later right?
Why weren't the tough questions asked? Like: Why did you quietly go through with the first heavy nerf of the companions? What was the reasoning behind it? What about characters that we romanced, will we see them come back, will they be a part of the story going forward? Why was Chapter X delayed a month? Will Bioware be able to keep to the one chapter a month timeline? It almost feels like interviewers don't want to piss someone off by asking a question that gets asked EVERYWHERE. At the same time, those that are interviewed seem to be masters as giving non-answers. I understand somethings can't be answered. They may not truly know. But would it kill them to just come out and say that? It's not like we're going to tar and feather them for admitting that they don't know (at least I won't). We're all human.
Next up : "must subscribe from august 12 to november 12, otherwise you will lose one companion every week"
Boobs are LIFE, Boobs are LOVE, Boobs are JUSTICE, Boobs are mankind's HOPES and DREAMS. People who complain about boobs have lost their humanity.
@MikeB
Why weren't the tough questions asked? Like: Why did you quietly go through with the first heavy nerf of the companions? What was the reasoning behind it? What about characters that we romanced, will we see them come back, will they be a part of the story going forward? Why was Chapter X delayed a month? Will Bioware be able to keep to the one chapter a month timeline? It almost feels like interviewers don't want to piss someone off by asking a question that gets asked EVERYWHERE. At the same time, those that are interviewed seem to be masters as giving non-answers. I understand somethings can't be answered. They may not truly know. But would it kill them to just come out and say that? It's not like we're going to tar and feather them for admitting that they don't know (at least I won't). We're all human.
Why would they ask critical questions? They "LOVE" this game, they themselves don't see any problem with the game since it has a Star Wars label. Don't expect anything proper from this.
And as for answers. EAWare Austin will never give straight answers.
Boobs are LIFE, Boobs are LOVE, Boobs are JUSTICE, Boobs are mankind's HOPES and DREAMS. People who complain about boobs have lost their humanity.
But again and again ... love game, maybe healers miss some true burst spell for emergency, .... overall best game ever for me, currently took 1st place from Wow .... but there are 2 problems I just cannot believe still exists: 1) DUAL spec!, 2) continuation of specific CLASS stories (which are ... ehm, were, TM of original Swtor release and made me finish all of them even after leveled all alts to max, usually in any other game I stop moment I hit max). Oh, and yes, again, would gladly pay 60€ for TRUE expansion WORTH in PVE CONTENT original, not some mini. But still love ever expansion so far.
1. Subscribe from x month to y month and you will get the feature dual spec.
2. subscribe from x month to y month to get continuation Jedi knight class mission. subscribe for another time period and get story continuation for another class and so on.
60$ for an expansion? That is so cheap, why do that when they can goad players into paying more for 1/10th content of a true expansion?
Boobs are LIFE, Boobs are LOVE, Boobs are JUSTICE, Boobs are mankind's HOPES and DREAMS. People who complain about boobs have lost their humanity.
They need to focus on making a game worth subbing to instead of enticing people to play a crappy one for short periods of time if at all.
I hope with these new movies we get swg 2 or a new mmo based on the newer movies b/c this one is just not worth 15 bucks a month and all the desperate enticement in the world doesnt mean shit to me.
Nice article, Mike!
My SWTOR referral link for those wanting to give the game a try. (Newbies get a welcome package while returning players get a few account upgrades to help with their preferred status.)
https://www.ashesofcreation.com/ref/Callaron/
And that's something those people that screamed for the nerfs never got. Just because THEY had level 50 Legacies with the Presence bonuses from finishing every single class story, it didn't mean that every single player did. Actual new players were pretty damn screwed by that nerf, since they were the poor saps that actually needed to go look for groups while the rest of us blazed through the heroics solo. Now they'll have to work a bit harder, but they can do it.
My SWTOR referral link for those wanting to give the game a try. (Newbies get a welcome package while returning players get a few account upgrades to help with their preferred status.)
https://www.ashesofcreation.com/ref/Callaron/
Then if they said the final chapter would end up in an Operation, still including a single-player story mode like SoR then group-players would have new content too, and maybe the complaints would be a little less.
When you asked about the future of swtor i wish you would have asked about new flashpoints, operations and pvp maps. The way i read forums atm that is the question most people want answered atm. When will there be new, repeatable group content.
Honestly i cant believe you didn't ask that question. I suspect you did and bioware said "we will not answer any questions that make us look bad, make us look good or you will never get another interview.
1st question was like : what do you want for next subscription reward program ? 1. exclusive title, 2. exclusive mount, 3. exclusive pet, 4 exclusive companion. 5. other
2nd question was like : what do you want from exclusive reward? 1. title with coloring like legendary status, 2. pet with animation, 3. mount with flourish, 4. companion with unique abilities, 5. other
3rd question was like : if we added new companion what would you like in them? 1. unique companion story 2. Romance 3. Other
So what do you think most people would choose from above questions? Survey was on reddit. and some were sent directly to subscribers' email. Someone on reddit mentioned that the survery makes it look like they will bring back HK-55 as subscription reward and that is exactly what happened.
Boobs are LIFE, Boobs are LOVE, Boobs are JUSTICE, Boobs are mankind's HOPES and DREAMS. People who complain about boobs have lost their humanity.
my top MMOs: UO,DAOC,WoW,GW2
most of my posts are just my opinions they are not facts,it is the same for you too.
I think a certain someone's never read the articles about those 'clever' people who complained about their bosses on Facebook and other public media!
Spoiler alert: It generally doesn't end well for those that do that!
Not to mention, why shouldn't they be happy about it? They made it. As for the surveys, if you are asking about the one that inquired about what rewards subscribers would prefer to see next... I received it and filled it out, and so did a bunch of other people (there's a thread about it on the official forums)
My SWTOR referral link for those wanting to give the game a try. (Newbies get a welcome package while returning players get a few account upgrades to help with their preferred status.)
https://www.ashesofcreation.com/ref/Callaron/
Boobs are LIFE, Boobs are LOVE, Boobs are JUSTICE, Boobs are mankind's HOPES and DREAMS. People who complain about boobs have lost their humanity.
Smile
Boobs are LIFE, Boobs are LOVE, Boobs are JUSTICE, Boobs are mankind's HOPES and DREAMS. People who complain about boobs have lost their humanity.
Anyways, I subbed for a month (because no point playing it w/o a sub) and am playing through the storyline... which reminded me that the only reason to play this game is for the story-based questing.
Having fun with it and can't wait to hit the new stuff.
I haven't seen any surveys about classes either, but I think the feedback there comes mostly from the forums rather than surveys. Then again, it's not the first time they've claimed "because of surveys!" while no one of the actual active players has seen these mystery surveys. =/
They gave the same crap with ME3 about how most players were pleased with the ending, without a single number to back up the claim, and no one sure as hell ever sent me a survey about ME3's ending.
My SWTOR referral link for those wanting to give the game a try. (Newbies get a welcome package while returning players get a few account upgrades to help with their preferred status.)
https://www.ashesofcreation.com/ref/Callaron/
The issue i have is i bought hk 51 off the store did that god aweful quest to get him and now hes no different then the ship janitor droid. All the comps are cookie cutter molds now their all the same and it suuuuuucks horribly. They make this huge deal about this alliance garbage but why the hell do i need more comps when their all the same? they made their own content pointless not to mention you dont really need an alliance when you have a world eater at your disposal. Thats such a gigantic plothole the deathstar could fit through it.
They need to focus on making a game worth subbing to instead of enticing people to play a crappy one for short periods of time if at all.
I hope with these new movies we get swg 2 or a new mmo based on the newer movies b/c this one is just not worth 15 bucks a month and all the desperate enticement in the world doesnt mean shit to me.
You can take your SWG and shove it where the sun don't shine. I LIKE SWTOR MORE THAN SWG. At least there seems to be goals, and actually good group based content, and class balancing that makes it so new players are just completely out done by all the full timers. (citing Bounty Hunters as the most OP class in an MMO I have played)
As per usual, the comment section is not showing excitement for anything discussed, just more and more bitching about a game that has done reasonably well in an ever changing MMORPG market place. Lets use another subscriber based company as a comparison, lets use WoW.
Startup and subscription fee comparison:
WoW
$15 US per month- included is full access to all content and expansions that you currently own, with unlimited play time during your subscription time.
Additional charges (for full acces to the game) is an additional $70 USD (retail price, not sale) just to unlock all of the content.
Total charge for new player with full access to content is: $85 USD plus additional $15 per month to continue using the content you previously purchased.
SWTOR
$15 USD per month - includes full access to all content, including all current expansions, regardless if you own them or not. Additionally, any future content will be accessible as long as you stay subscribed. 600 cartel coins a month, as well as free content provided by the devs like the Niko Okarr companion, blasters, coat, and swoop bike speeder. All of that just for staying a subscriber like I had been anyways. With further incentives and bonuses planned for the future of the subscriber base.
No additional charges for content.
Total charge for new players with full access to content is: $15 per month to continue using the full content (prefferred player status still keeps the game playable for most casuals)
Free-to-play content:
WoW
Play completely free to level 20. If you wish to change from free-to-play you must purchase the full game (plus any additional expansions) and pay a monthly fee.
SWTOR
limited access to all content all the way up to Shadow of Revan expansion, with limits on things like quick bars, FP, PvP, and OPS passes and such that can be purchased outside of the subscription base using cartel coins. No purchase of the base game is necessary to upgrade your account, you can purchase coins or a subscription.
I could do a bigger comparison list, but I just don't care to. Either you will look at the facts and reality, and base your opinions off of that. Or your going to compare current games to your fantasies in your head that have no basis in reality. IMO Bioware give great value for teir asking price, and if you don't want to subscribe you don't have to, you can F2P or play something else. But please stop just making up things to complain about. This is a fantastic game totally worth the piddly $15 a month (12 for me since I tend to subscribe for 6 months).
Things that cost $15:
Lunch
A movie
The pool
Snack food for the road
cigarettes
beer
strippers (lol)
Ask yourself, how many times you blow your money on a DAILY BASIS for something that gives you 5 minutes of satisfaction? How often do you not even think about an expense like that? I think paying a HARD WORKING company like BIOWARE $15 is a fair price for what they do, certainly get more than 5 minutes of enjoyment out of my SWTOR than I do a burger and fries (guess depends on how hungry I am)