The Old Republic videos and misc info

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

I think the thing that leaves me the most puzzled about TOR is how linear it is by design.

One of the things I love about most MMOs is just being able to roam around and see what there is to see. I may not have delved that far into WoW, but the first time you step into one of those cities after traveling so far from home its sort of breathtaking how much is in them. There were so many places in FFXI you could just enter without restriction even during and after CoP and much of it is still etched in my mind years after quitting. I can ever remember some parts of Everquest.

I do remember the night I managed to roam all the way down to Freeport from my starting zone. It wasn't a wise thing to do, but it was a fun time and amazing that I didn't die getting there. particularly given I looped past Neriak as a high elf before moving back north to Freeport.

But hey, gratz to EA on making their own paid version of PSO.

Well, PSO might actually be more fun for a longer time, actually.

[Ufgt]

That's what happens when you spend your entire budget on VAs. They wanted a really strong single player, which they got, at the expense of pretty much every aspect of a decent MMO. The fact that there is only 1 planet to go to per leveling bracket is ridiculous. I blame the WoW formula. Destroy the whole concept of RP in a MMORPG.

I found it hard to even log in this weekend, which is a crying shame.

[Etra]

That's what happens when you spend your entire budget on VAs. They wanted a really strong single player, which they got, at the expense of pretty much every aspect of a decent MMO. The fact that there is only 1 planet to go to per leveling bracket is ridiculous. I blame the WoW formula. Destroy the whole concept of RP in a MMORPG.

Since when does the WoW formula only allow you one area to quest in per bracket? As far as I'm aware, only the BC (and possibly WotLK -- didn't really play) only gave you one area to level in per bracket. Otherwise, you had at least two choices. I am confused by your statement.

[Raydeus]

Speaking of TOR, I'm starting to see posts about time remaining before F2P even more often now. <_<;

[Taskmage]

Wish I could have posted this two days ago, but I just found out about it. TOR's doing a free trial weekend: Star Wars: The Old Republic | Weekend Pass Free Trial in case anyone was curious and wanted to give it a try.

[Taskmage]

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Man, its just not Bioware's year is it?

[Raydeus]

What did I tell you? People were already smelling the blood in the water all the way back to my post just above.

But I don't know what to think. Did this happen faster or took longer than expected?




PS > And speaking of STALKER, I'm not sure why Bethesda would buy the rights for the game unless they were planning on shelving it until Fallout 4 is released and/or taking many of the elements from STALKER to add to the gameplay mechanics DayZ style. Because DayZ is very similar to stalker in the survival and scavenging aspects.

[Yellow Mage]

But I don't know what to think. Did this happen faster or took longer than expected?

Perhaps this is a sign that it was right on cue.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Honestly, I knew an MMO that focused so much on story and so little on, well, everything else it was pretty much destined for this fate. It will take quite some time for them to make their money back on this game. If it ever does.

Now this really just leaves SE as the ones pridefully holding on to full subscription prices, because even Blizzard seems to have a free period untill you hit a certain level, 20 I think it was.

[Malacite]

SWTOR is going free-to-play, subs dip below one million [Updated] | Massively

EA BioWare is making the jump to lightspeed -- and free-to-play. That's right: As of this fall, Star Wars: The Old Republic will transition to a hybrid F2P business model.

Players who choose to engage in free-to-play will be able to experience a majority of the game for free, including the first 50 levels and all eight classes. BioWare did state that there will be restrictions, but those can be removed with microtransactions.

SWTOR will still be available in the standard subscription model. Subscribers will be given an allowance of store currency, called Cartel Coins, to buy customizable gear and other niceties. Current subscribers and those who sign back up before the fall can also rack up special rewards for when the transition is made.

BioWare GM Matthew Bromberg said that this is the next logical step for the game: "Players want flexibility and choice. The subscription-only model presented a major barrier for a lot of people who wanted to become part of The Old Republic universe."

Check out Massively's recent Hyperspace Beacon column on why F2P was inevitable for the game. BioWare's also posted a F2P FAQ with all the nitty-gritty details and a letter from the executive producer.

[Update: During this afternoon's investor call, EA President Frank Gibeau revealed that SWTOR subs have dipped below one million but are still "well above" half a million. Forty percent of those leaving do so because of subscriptions. The game claimed 1.3 million subs last May and had leveled off at 1.7 million in March, having sold in the range of 2 million copies. Gibeau hopes the new F2P model will win back players lost to churn.]

[cidbahamut]

In an announcement that surprised absolutely no one...

[Firewind]

They're basically using the same model as D&D Online and Age of Conan: Free to Play with restrictions you can lift via microtransactions plus extra stuff for people who actually want to pay money for the game..

Basically the only thing you miss out on are raids but trust me, you aren't missing much. Until they fix the buggy and unbalanced messes EA would have to pay me to play them. Bosses regularly freak out and all of the raid bosses in the game like to spam point blank AoE spells to the point where every raid group looks like this:

2 Tanks
4 Ranged Damage Dealers
2 Healers
9001 Melee damage dealers stuck farming Daily quests to upgrade to raid equivalent gear.