Star Wars on rails, why be excited?

Betaguy · April 2011

Originally posted by Draccan

I am wondering why people are so excited about this game?

If we forego the usual comments about how great (or not) is Bioware, if we forget that the Star Wars IP is huge (my personal favorite btw) and if we don't pay attention to the fact that Bioware will break even on box sales alone, and forget the swg vs. SWTOR and just focus on TOR and go down right to it, what is the attraction to this game?

Space is on rails, story is on rails, everyone will be having the same story, scripted for them and most of the content we have seen so far is either instances (flashpoints), single or group missions and not massive open world exploration.

What does this game have for dynamic content, crafting, player housing? Where is the open world dynamic events that would make this game next generation?

All Bioware is trying to sell this game on (as I see it) is scripted stories, so they created 16 novels worth of content, that is 16 novels worth of telling you how YOU and your character should be. The light / dark choices will be very limited and since it randomizes in groups it will prove to be little impacting to a character (or an uproar would happen). So what is so cool about being thrown into a scripted novel that will force you to play a game exactly on Bioware's terms?

Also the classes and progressions are created to mirror the usual triangle of healer, dps, tank (though mixed up), so there is no way to truly distinguish yourself. Even for the space on rails you have class spaceships that means every bounty hunter will look like the others. We don't know yet, but there is evidence to support that gear will be a big thing (wow carbon copy) and that players on similar levels will look similar. And of course the companion is also a scripted companion similar across the same class.

All in all it seems Bioware is strongly trying to control the mmo experience and to me it seems there is a true lack of freedom to create a character and develop it. No freedom to truly play the way YOU want to, no freedom to go about creating a story around your avatar that sets it apart from others of the same class. There is little to support evidence (except words) that the game offers any truly massive aspects. I think there are huge reasons to be concerned. It seems to me like 16 singleplayer games (the 16 novels mentioned) that can be played in succession. With some multiplayer aspects.

Bioware is missing out on a great chance with a huge budget to create a large open, breathing world of true adventure, choice and freedom and expend it on story on rails, glorified multiplayer - but really single player game.

Haven't we done the gear grind, raid thing to extinction? Haven't we had enough of small pvp battlegrounds and dungeons removed from the game world in little instances, haven't we seen the level progression and the EQ/WOW character development style etc. done for dozens of times.

So how will Bioware make SWTOR stand apart? So once gamers have burned through the scripted content after a month (and trust me they will!) - what is there to do then, but raid for gear?

Is there really no other model for creating massive games than this? Is this all that a huge game company have to offer for a MASSIVE MULTIPLAYER WORLD?

And why the heck do they expect a 15$ a month to play it if they don't create something truly MULTIPLAYER and MASSIVE?

I for one am puzzled...

If we can drop the hate and the flames (on both sides) and concentrate on the game itself, what is it that truly attracts (or not) with this game?

You obviously know very little about the game...there is so many false statements in your propaganda it looks like swiss cheese.

MMO.Maverick · April 2011

Originally posted by Tyroki
Now, before I say what I want to say, don't get me wrong. I've enjoyed some MMO's that have rails.

With that said, I honestly can't see the point of having a story driven MMO with hard rails. The concept just seems utterly pointless. Okay, we have our game on rails... now what? I mean, they're MMO's for a reason aren't they? We're playing with eff loads of other people... not in 'game rooms' that happen to have a public chat. I say 'game rooms' not literally, but figuratively.

It's just like I don't see the point of solo in these rail based MMO's, but that's a different topic entirely.

It has already been reported by SWTOR demo players that you can group up right from the start, there is content for it, you can level purely on it skipping Class story, and for various reason it's more fun and entertaining than grouping in other MMO's.

However, for those that don't have the available time to commit to a group, who find no others around or who like questing , something that has been done and enjoyed in MMO's since EQ and even more since WoW, there's SWTOR's Class Quests, that offer more depth, entertainment, immersion and choice in them than quests and questing do in other MMO's.

EndDream · April 2011

I'll always prefer sandbox gameplay and I'm not sure I'll even be playing SWTOR. But the reason people are excited is the same reason people are excited about Mass Effect or any other single player campaign. They can still be fun.

tntjperic · April 2011

When you get into beta (when it comes out since its testing now not beta) then come back and make your vaild points. Everything is being based puring on you not playing it yourself so wait to play it. Until then good day sir.

madeux · April 2011

Originally posted by EndDream
I'll always prefer sandbox gameplay and I'm not sure I'll even be playing SWTOR. But the reason people are excited is the same reason people are excited about Mass Effect or any other single player campaign. They can still be fun.

This is simply ignorant and untrue.

gobla · April 2011

For me it's simple.

I first get too play through a Bioware storyline which I've always enjoyed. I get to make meaningfull choices and define my character.

Then when that story ends I don't have to stop on that character! I can start sharing the character I've spend so much time with with guildies and friends. Not to mention that I could even share that great Bioware storyline with my guildies and friends as an added bonus.

Top that off with Empire v Republic PvP to keep things interesting in the long run and I'm quite happy.

It's not the sandbox MMO I've been looking for, Bioware never claimed it to be one. Doesn't make it any less of a product.

I'll happily pay 50 bucks for KotoR III. Seeing as SWToR will apperantly have 8 times the content of a KotoR game and will cost 50 bucks + 15 bucks/month I can play for 2 years and still get my money's worth. And I get added multiplayer features and PvP content for free on top of that!

Is it what I've always dreamed an MMO would be? Hell no. Is it looking to turn out as a great product well worth my money? Hell yes.

GMan3 · April 2011

Originally posted by Sovrath

Originally posted by immodium

Originally posted by IAmMMO

Originally posted by Vexe
Ok, so, first you need to realize that rails =/= evil. Sometimes it's better to have a linear story than it is to have one that is completely open. It lets the developer control what you feel and when (which is especially good if they'rea good storyteller like bioware). This kind of experience als falls in more with the knights of the old republic games which this is going to be based. Also, "space ships on rails" if anything is a good things. Remember star fox 64? That was awesome. That was exactly what you're describing.

I don't have time to comment on the other stuff right now. I'll come back later.

No better story unfolds in a MMO than the one the player community create themselves, just give them the sand and stand back.

IMO this utter rubbish. Most MMO players are very unimaginative and their stories would be very dull.

I'm not quite sure I would put it that way but there is some truth to what you say.

With the exception of some role players I've run across I've never EVER run across anyone making their own stories.

I've come across players who fell more in the category of "he came out and ganked us so we went back and got buffed up and then went and ganked him".

Now, there are some incredible events that seem to happen in eve but wouldn't call them "stories" per se. It's very notable and exciting that someone (usually) screws over their bretheren and essetnailly sells an alliance to the farm (I wonder if "the farm" is an alliance in EVE? If so then scratch that and instead insert "sells them out")

But those really aren't "stories'.

"City Of Heroes" actually has a system in which you can actually create your own instanced missions, even an arc of up to 5 missions. You can choose to use typical in-game enemies or create your own right down to the look, names, and abilities. At least a couple hundred maps to choose from as well. Even with all this, you know want to what happens? About 99.999% are utter garbage. Nothing more than farm fests and lame ones at that. All designed to make it as easy as possible to farm in as little time as possible and with as little effort as possible. Granted there is that .001% that are decent, but so far I have not found a single one that truly rises above the Dev created content AND the decent ones are so hard to find that it is hardly even worth it anyways.

I have tried a couple "sandbox" games now and to be honest, I feel the same way about them that I do about the player created content in "City Of Heroes". At least with a themepark game you normally have a decent story and background to mask the grinding to max level and epic gear, with a sandbox, it is ALL grinding. Not my idea of fun.

BioWare's focus on the story and their excellent ability to tell a dang good story is one half of the appeal of this game (In my opinion). The other half of the appeal is the Star Wars Universe combined with some nice twists of features such as crafting, player housing, voice over, pvp battle grounds, holo-mission chats, and much more.

In the end, I'll take BioWare's approach over player created crap any day.

Kuinn · April 2011

Originally posted by IAmMMO

Originally posted by Vexe

Ok, so, first you need to realize that rails =/= evil. Sometimes it's better to have a linear story than it is to have one that is completely open. It lets the developer control what you feel and when (which is especially good if they'rea good storyteller like bioware). This kind of experience als falls in more with the knights of the old republic games which this is going to be based. Also, "space ships on rails" if anything is a good things. Remember star fox 64? That was awesome. That was exactly what you're describing.

I don't have time to comment on the other stuff right now. I'll come back later.

No better story unfolds in a MMO than the one the player community create themselves, just give them the sand and stand back.

Actually community creates awfully boring stories unless roleplaying is highly encouraged or expected. Bioware will bring drama, background, and immersion to the world. If the game would be sandbox as this thread is hoping for, the story would be random non-relevant people in SW universe killing eachothers and uhm, building towns?

Seriously, what story elements your average mmo players would bring that they cant do in theme park game? Anyway, this is irrelevant because SWTOR never claimed to be a sandbox, which is good imo since I'd rather see a well written story while leveling, rather than walls of text, or than no story at all and free world HC grind to max level without a story at all unless I make it my self. My biggest problems with mmo's lately have been boring worlds because of lazy presentation of the story, and even worse would be this "player made story" because it basically means no story at all. No thanks.

EndDream · April 2011

Originally posted by GMan3

Originally posted by Sovrath

Originally posted by immodium

Originally posted by IAmMMO

Originally posted by Vexe

Ok, so, first you need to realize that rails =/= evil. Sometimes it's better to have a linear story than it is to have one that is completely open. It lets the developer control what you feel and when (which is especially good if they'rea good storyteller like bioware). This kind of experience als falls in more with the knights of the old republic games which this is going to be based. Also, "space ships on rails" if anything is a good things. Remember star fox 64? That was awesome. That was exactly what you're describing.

I don't have time to comment on the other stuff right now. I'll come back later.

No better story unfolds in a MMO than the one the player community create themselves, just give them the sand and stand back.

IMO this utter rubbish. Most MMO players are very unimaginative and their stories would be very dull.

I'm not quite sure I would put it that way but there is some truth to what you say.

With the exception of some role players I've run across I've never EVER run across anyone making their own stories.

I've come across players who fell more in the category of "he came out and ganked us so we went back and got buffed up and then went and ganked him".

Now, there are some incredible events that seem to happen in eve but wouldn't call them "stories" per se. It's very notable and exciting that someone (usually) screws over their bretheren and essetnailly sells an alliance to the farm (I wonder if "the farm" is an alliance in EVE? If so then scratch that and instead insert "sells them out")

But those really aren't "stories'.

     "City Of Heroes" actually has a system in which you can actually create your own instanced missions, even an arc of up to 5 missions. You can choose to use typical in-game enemies or create your own right down to the look, names, and abilities. At least a couple hundred maps to choose from as well.   Even with all this, you know want to what happens? About 99.999% are utter garbage. Nothing more than farm fests and lame ones at that. All designed to make it as easy as possible to farm in as little time as possible and with as little effort as possible. Granted there is that .001% that are decent, but so far I have not found a single one that truly rises above the Dev created content AND the decent ones are so hard to find that it is hardly even worth it anyways.

    I have tried a couple "sandbox" games now and to be honest, I feel the same way about them that I do about the player created content in "City Of Heroes". At least with a themepark game you normally have a decent story and background to mask the grinding to max level and epic gear, with a sandbox, it is ALL grinding. Not my idea of fun.

    BioWare's focus on the story and their excellent ability to tell a dang good story is one half of the appeal of this game (In my opinion). The other half of the appeal is the Star Wars Universe combined with some nice twists of features such as crafting, player housing, voice over, pvp battle grounds, holo-mission chats, and much more.

    In the end, I'll take BioWare's approach over player created crap any day.

No need to be angry man. We understand that some people like the imagionation done for them. Heck most of the world dosnt like to think for themselves.

And you dont need to roleplay to create a story, in many of the well made older sandbox games the world you lived in and the daily activites made their own stories. You logged in everyday and didn't know what was going to happen. Now we always know.

GMan3 · April 2011

Originally posted by EndDream

Originally posted by GMan3

Originally posted by Sovrath

Originally posted by immodium

Originally posted by IAmMMO

Originally posted by Vexe
Ok, so, first you need to realize that rails =/= evil. Sometimes it's better to have a linear story than it is to have one that is completely open. It lets the developer control what you feel and when (which is especially good if they'rea good storyteller like bioware). This kind of experience als falls in more with the knights of the old republic games which this is going to be based. Also, "space ships on rails" if anything is a good things. Remember star fox 64? That was awesome. That was exactly what you're describing.

I don't have time to comment on the other stuff right now. I'll come back later.

No better story unfolds in a MMO than the one the player community create themselves, just give them the sand and stand back.

IMO this utter rubbish. Most MMO players are very unimaginative and their stories would be very dull.

I'm not quite sure I would put it that way but there is some truth to what you say.

With the exception of some role players I've run across I've never EVER run across anyone making their own stories.

I've come across players who fell more in the category of "he came out and ganked us so we went back and got buffed up and then went and ganked him".

Now, there are some incredible events that seem to happen in eve but wouldn't call them "stories" per se. It's very notable and exciting that someone (usually) screws over their bretheren and essetnailly sells an alliance to the farm (I wonder if "the farm" is an alliance in EVE? If so then scratch that and instead insert "sells them out")

But those really aren't "stories'.

     "City Of Heroes" actually has a system in which you can actually create your own instanced missions, even an arc of up to 5 missions. You can choose to use typical in-game enemies or create your own right down to the look, names, and abilities. At least a couple hundred maps to choose from as well.   Even with all this, you know want to what happens? About 99.999% are utter garbage. Nothing more than farm fests and lame ones at that. All designed to make it as easy as possible to farm in as little time as possible and with as little effort as possible. Granted there is that .001% that are decent, but so far I have not found a single one that truly rises above the Dev created content AND the decent ones are so hard to find that it is hardly even worth it anyways.

    I have tried a couple "sandbox" games now and to be honest, I feel the same way about them that I do about the player created content in "City Of Heroes". At least with a themepark game you normally have a decent story and background to mask the grinding to max level and epic gear, with a sandbox, it is ALL grinding. Not my idea of fun.

    BioWare's focus on the story and their excellent ability to tell a dang good story is one half of the appeal of this game (In my opinion). The other half of the appeal is the Star Wars Universe combined with some nice twists of features such as crafting, player housing, voice over, pvp battle grounds, holo-mission chats, and much more.

    In the end, I'll take BioWare's approach over player created crap any day.

No need to be angry man. We understand that some people like the imagionation done for them. Heck most of the world dosnt like to think for themselves.

And you dont need to roleplay to create a story, in many of the well made older sandbox games the world you lived in and the daily activites made their own stories. You logged in everyday and didn't know what was going to happen. Now we always know.

No anger, so please do not try to portray me that way. As for the "Good ol'days", I liked playing the original "Bard's Tale" way back when, but it doesn't mean I want to go back to that in my single player games now. For people that like sandboxes, they are welcome to them, but complaining about a game being a themepark at this point, when we have known it would be for years now, that's just pathetic.

Hendo006 · April 2011

Originally posted by MMO.Maverick

Originally posted by Tyroki

Now, before I say what I want to say, don't get me wrong. I've enjoyed some MMO's that have rails.

With that said, I honestly can't see the point of having a story driven MMO with hard rails. The concept just seems utterly pointless. Okay, we have our game on rails... now what? I mean, they're MMO's for a reason aren't they? We're playing with eff loads of other people... not in 'game rooms' that happen to have a public chat. I say 'game rooms' not literally, but figuratively.

It's just like I don't see the point of solo in these rail based MMO's, but that's a different topic entirely.

It has already been reported by SWTOR demo players that you can group up right from the start, there is content for it, you can level purely on it skipping Class story, and for various reason it's more fun and entertaining than grouping in other MMO's.

However, for those that don't have the available time to commit to a group, who find no others around or who like questing , something that has been done and enjoyed in MMO's since EQ and even more since WoW, there's SWTOR's Class Quests, that offer more depth, entertainment, immersion and choice in them than quests and questing do in other MMO's.

And to reiterate what Darkpony already posted there have been reports that have come out during the summit that you actually level faster while in a group, but dont necessarily burn through content quicker.

"Between the flashpoint and heroics, it was very apparent that working as a group has a distinct advantage in leveling speed over playing alone. While groups did not always move as quickly through the content as single players did alone, by the same point in the story, they would be between one and two levels higher. At lower levels this wasn’t that big of a problem, but the lost experience over time could stack unfavorably against lone wolves, to the point that they won’t be in a position to pass up nonessential quests, and might have to grind extra experience from enemies."

http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2011/04/star-wars-the-old-republic/all/1

immodium · April 2011

Originally posted by Dahlifyr

Originally posted by immodium

Originally posted by IAmMMO

Originally posted by Vexe

Ok, so, first you need to realize that rails =/= evil. Sometimes it's better to have a linear story than it is to have one that is completely open. It lets the developer control what you feel and when (which is especially good if they'rea good storyteller like bioware). This kind of experience als falls in more with the knights of the old republic games which this is going to be based. Also, "space ships on rails" if anything is a good things. Remember star fox 64? That was awesome. That was exactly what you're describing.

I don't have time to comment on the other stuff right now. I'll come back later.

No better story unfolds in a MMO than the one the player community create themselves, just give them the sand and stand back.

IMO this utter rubbish. Most MMO players are very unimaginative and their stories would be very dull.

Just couse you dont have any imagination dosent mean that every other MMO player lacks it to! So please dont drag us in to your little world where everyone needs to be handheald!

This has nothing to do with my imagination.

I'm just stating my opinion that MOST mmo players can not come up with interesting unique stories.

fivoroth · April 2011

Originally posted by Kuinn

Actually community creates awfully boring stories unless roleplaying is highly encouraged or expected. Bioware will bring drama, background, and immersion to the world. If the game would be sandbox as this thread is hoping for, the story would be random non-relevant people in SW universe killing eachothers and uhm, building towns?

I completely agree with you mate! I can swear that 99.99% of player stories I have seen on these forums all boil down to someone killing someone else and building towns or that sort of stuff ^^^

Kuinn · April 2011

Originally posted by fivoroth

Originally posted by Kuinn

Actually community creates awfully boring stories unless roleplaying is highly encouraged or expected. Bioware will bring drama, background, and immersion to the world. If the game would be sandbox as this thread is hoping for, the story would be random non-relevant people in SW universe killing eachothers and uhm, building towns?

I completely agree with you mate! I can swear that 99.99% of player stories I have seen on these forums all boil down to someone killing someone else and building towns or that sort of stuff ^^^

Stories are cool and all, sadly they do not change anything in a sandbox unless you have tools to make them come life. So far there isnt any such sandbox out there or even in the makes (Arche Age?). Currently the tools (or mechanics of the game) in sandboxes are for killing people and building towns

Oh and, it's possible to tell stories in themeparks too!

Trident9259 · April 2011

after the phantom menace, putting rails on a star wars mmo is the next big catastrophe.

nyxium · April 2011

The space travel on rails is admittedly laughable. Makes me laugh anyway. Mumble.

SlothnChunk · April 2011

I'm very skeptical of this game. A linear Star Wars game with the 'holy trinity' and a rail shooter for space combat...hard to get really excited for that. And I'm a huge Star Wars fan.

lthompson94 · April 2011

Originally posted by IAmMMO

Originally posted by Vexe

Ok, so, first you need to realize that rails =/= evil. Sometimes it's better to have a linear story than it is to have one that is completely open. It lets the developer control what you feel and when (which is especially good if they'rea good storyteller like bioware). This kind of experience als falls in more with the knights of the old republic games which this is going to be based. Also, "space ships on rails" if anything is a good things. Remember star fox 64? That was awesome. That was exactly what you're describing.

I don't have time to comment on the other stuff right now. I'll come back later.

No better story unfolds in a MMO than the one the player community create themselves, just give them the sand and stand back.

What fairy-tale MMO are you reffering to where poepl create their own story? Except on an RP Server (which 9 times out of 10 theres no RP in sight) - I have never... I mean NEVER encountered anyone who wants to "create a story."

All you get are "We pwned a bunch of noobs who needa 2 L2P!!!1!!1!" "I finally got my <insert epic gear> after 4 wipes!!1!!"

In all seriousness if there's some magical MMO where players are breathing new life into storyline let me know. This I gotta see.

lthompson94 · April 2011

Oh, and KOTOR + MMO = pure awesomeness.

ktanner3 · April 2011

Originally posted by GMan3

     "City Of Heroes" actually has a system in which you can actually create your own instanced missions, even an arc of up to 5 missions. You can choose to use typical in-game enemies or create your own right down to the look, names, and abilities. At least a couple hundred maps to choose from as well.   Even with all this, you know want to what happens? About 99.999% are utter garbage. Nothing more than farm fests and lame ones at that. All designed to make it as easy as possible to farm in as little time as possible and with as little effort as possible. Granted there is that .001% that are decent, but so far I have not found a single one that truly rises above the Dev created content AND the decent ones are so hard to find that it is hardly even worth it anyways.

That's the way it is in Star Trek Online. I tried a couple of them and finally gave up because they were so pointless and monotonous. A good idea in theory, but in practicality a waste.

    I have tried a couple "sandbox" games now and to be honest, I feel the same way about them that I do about the player created content in "City Of Heroes". At least with a themepark game you normally have a decent story and background to mask the grinding to max level and epic gear, with a sandbox, it is ALL grinding. Not my idea of fun.

This is exactly how I feel about "sandbox" games. There is nothing fun with slaughtering spawns hour after hour.It's as fun as watching grass grow and there is no way I'd pay a monthly sub for the privilidge. There's a reason most DEVs don't want to spend the capital on that type of game.

    BioWare's focus on the story and their excellent ability to tell a dang good story is one half of the appeal of this game (In my opinion). The other half of the appeal is the Star Wars Universe combined with some nice twists of features such as crafting, player housing, voice over, pvp battle grounds, holo-mission chats, and much more.

    In the end, I'll take BioWare's approach over player created crap any day.

Me too.

To answer the OP question and don't take offense because I'm being honest....

It might have something to do with the fact that I didn't waste my money burning through one crappy MMO after another. Therefore I don't see World of Warcraft around every street corner. I played World of Warcraft and this game looks nothing like it.

IP is different,
Combat is different
Crafting is different
Leveling is different
Decisions matter.

In addition to these differences, here are other reason why I'm looking forward to it.

Time is being spent to make sure this game is polished and not a bug filled mess
The playerbase is updated on a weekly basis with what is happening with the game. Very little of it do I disagree with.Which leads me too....
This is big for me. Players are allowed to voice their differences with the game. There is none of that garbage like Cryptic did on their boards at release of STO. Players aren't allowed to be harrassed for voicing an unpopular opinion. And players are actually listened to as anyone who remembers the complaining on cookie cutter classes from the boards will attest to. A recent update expanded class roles so now there are more options.
Yes, I'm a Star Wars fan. So what? The only reason I got sucked into trying out that horrible abortion known as SWG was because it was Star Wars. I stayed around even though it had to so many issues was because of the guild I was in. Once NGE came out, they left and so did I eventually.
Many of the players that signed up for WOW were fans of the Warcraft series. TOR has the added benefit of not only being based on Star Wars, but is being created by Bioware, the company that made the award winning game KOTOR. This is a continuation of that series. Why WOULDN'T a KOTOR fan want to see how that series does at the next level?

I think I've laid out a pretty good series ofr explanations as to why I'm looking forward to this game. Not that I had any obligation to, but since the OP laid out his question in an honest manner and wasn't trolling like some haters do, I felt it deserved a response. I'm no fanboy by any means and am in the middle of arguing for more weapon choices for bounty hunters. But so far I like what I see.

Ausare · April 2011

Why do people get excited about Dragon Age or other single player themepark games? Cause people actually tend to like them...excluding most people on this site. Sandbox = gankfest for the most part now days and until that is solved sandboxes will be small and rarely successful.

xSh0x · April 2011

Originally posted by immodium

Originally posted by IAmMMO

Originally posted by Vexe

Ok, so, first you need to realize that rails =/= evil. Sometimes it's better to have a linear story than it is to have one that is completely open. It lets the developer control what you feel and when (which is especially good if they'rea good storyteller like bioware). This kind of experience als falls in more with the knights of the old republic games which this is going to be based. Also, "space ships on rails" if anything is a good things. Remember star fox 64? That was awesome. That was exactly what you're describing.

I don't have time to comment on the other stuff right now. I'll come back later.

No better story unfolds in a MMO than the one the player community create themselves, just give them the sand and stand back.

IMO this utter rubbish. Most MMO players are very unimaginative and their stories would be very dull.

Just like the real world; unimaginative and very dull...

The point of MMOs isn't to give you a scripted storyline; that's what single player games are for.

In an ideal sandbox, stories would be very dynamic. Person A runs a tamer business, but lives in town A, built and protected by guild A. The tamer has few customers, because the major nearby city has many buyers who aren't willing to travel into the dangerous PK ridden territory outside of town A. The tamer offers free mounts to guild A, managing the town, if they will expand their protection radius to ensure more customers feel safe traveling here. Guild A kills many PKers in the area, who are associated with a PK guild, who then threaten to destroy the town. Guild A, who has large funds from town management and protection deals, hires mercenary guilds B and C to help defend the town against the PKers. The battle is a great success, everybody is in need of mounts, the PK guild leaves vowing to join an antagonizing alliance against the town, the area is now secure for busy travel for the moment, and everyone has fun at the end of the day. No scripted events or cutscenes necessary.

PittyH · April 2011

Who said SWTOR is going to be a thempark anyway ?

They are creating a SW universe, it's going to be huge and very sandboxxy, just because it has "kill 10 rat" quests doesn't mean you aren't going to be able to effect the game world with your decisions.

The previews we have seen so far is a few small starting areas.

Sure it may not be EVE with territory domination - wait we don't even know that yet, as i think there is going to be territory control in SWTOR as well.

You asked what are people going to do at endgame, besides raid gearing up ? Well there will be a lot of socialising in a starwars setting, which i think most starwars fans want anyway.

i think you are underestimating the scope of SWTOR and just how big it's going to be. I am certian you are going to feel like a very small cog in part of a large universal machine.

Serpentar · April 2011

Honestly Sandbox vrs Themepark whitin the realm of Roleplay seems to have very little differance in deterrance or encouragement. As RPers will find ways through lore or whatnot to act out their desired characters.

Most groups or communities that actively roleplays within a MMO, typically has high standards of membership and a closed storyline to keep your average "I be super elite warrior" out of thier story arcs. Your typical tavern or meet n greet type places are often full of typical and cliched characters. And thats with those that DO rp. A good chunk of players even on RP oriented servers have little want to actually RP.

Yamota · April 2011

Answer to OP: I would say there is very little to be excited about if you are into MMORPGs. However for a single player game, with some multiplayer, this game will probably rock. Just dont understand why I have to pay a monthly fee for it.

I guess for added content. So this game will probably be good if you play the first month, then unsub, then after 3-4 months resub and play through what content they added in these months.

But as for exploring the SWG universe? Forget it, this game wont be it. SWG was once but SOE screwed it up royally.

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Star Wars on rails, why be excited?

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Star Wars on rails, why be excited?

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