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[Vigilant Walrus]

Is it me or is this game desperately in need of SSAO...?

Character animations. Better running, and attacking while running. It's so stiff. It's like the different sets and movements don't connect. WoW was great because they had these overly exaggerated animations, but the transsistion was always smoth and it worked in context of the art style.

SWTOR looks like Warhammer, with characters not even feeling like they run on the floor or characters connecting. I wonder how tight the WASD controls are. They should look to Jedi Outcast's controls to really get that tight sense of play. Like you get that hardcore precision that makes it satisfying to be in control.

Animations IMO for the player character is always key. This is further elevated by this being third person. You want it to look your best because you are starring at this 100% of the time. And right now it just looks awkward when running and gunning or running and slicing a lightsaber.

 

[BattleMonkey]

Character animations. Better running, and attacking while running. It's so stiff. It's like the different sets and movements don't connect. WoW was great because they had these overly exaggerated animations, but the transsistion was always smoth and it worked in context of the art style.

SWTOR looks like Warhammer, with characters not even feeling like they run on the floor or characters connecting. I wonder how tight the WASD controls are. They should look to Jedi Outcast's controls to really get that tight sense of play. Like you get that hardcore precision that makes it satisfying to be in control.

Animations IMO for the player character is always key. This is further elevated by this being third person. You want it to look your best because you are starring at this 100% of the time. And right now it just looks awkward when running and gunning or running and slicing a lightsaber.

Eh, the animations are looking great from the current videos that came out of pax, they came a long way from the earlier vids and previews.

 

[bjaelke]

Some quotes from Twitter (#swtour). The event just started, so expect more (exciting?) updates to follow:

What we CAN say is that this Friday's update will make fans cheer. (note: nothing on release date, so don't hold your breath). #SWTOUR

Just got a sneak peak at Fridays update! Wow! #swtour #swtor

Pic from the event - I want one of those posters in the background!


Gamasutra:

Analyst Predicts Over 1M SWTOR Subscribers in First Year
BioWare and Electronic Arts' Star Wars: The Old Republic is poised to attract over 1 million subscribers in its first 12 months of availability, according to Janco analyst Mike Hickey.

"We suspect a willingness from investors to believe [500,000] to 1 million Star Wars MMO subscribers is an attainable target," Hickey said in an investor note on Monday. The game is slated for a 2011 release.

EA CEO John Riccitiello said earlier this year, "At half a million subscribers, the game is substantially profitable, but it's not the kind of thing we would write home about. Anything north of a million subscribers, it's a very profitable business."

Hickey said he expects initial sales figures for the game to "far exceed" the 500,000 to 1 million range, but "game development must be perfectly orchestrated" in order to sustain the subscriber base.

The analyst noted EA-published Warhammer Online, developed by subsidiary Mythic and released in 2008, sold well off the blocks with 1.2 million in sales. But the subscriber base quickly dropped to a more sustainable subscriber base of 300,000.

Hickey said at just over 1 million subscribers, Star Wars: The Old Republic could generate $161.9 million in total sales and $35 million in profits during its first 12 months of release.

The analyst also provided his sales estimates for major EA titles released during the fiscal fourth quarter ended March 31:

-Dead Space 2 - $91 million in sales – 2.030 million units sold-in
-Dragon Age II - $57 million in sales – 1.280 million units sold-in
-Bulletstorm - $50 million in sales – 1.100 million units sold-in
-Crysis 2 - $78 million in sales – 1.725 million units sold-in
-Need for Speed Shift 2 - $91 million in sales – 1.975 million units sold-in
-Mass Effect 2 (PS3) - $17 million in sales – 0.380 million units sold-in
-Tiger Woods: The Masters - $32 million in sales – 1.100 million units sold-in
-Fight Night Champion - $44 million in sales – 0.975 million units sold-in

 

[CzarTim]

-Need for Speed Shift 2 - $91 million in sales – 1.975 million units sold-in

...

 

[Door2Dawn]

I wonder what the update will be? Maybe they will allow more people into the beta?

 

[BattleMonkey]

1 mil subs is no problem at all, they will hit that easily. Retaining those numbers is obviously going to be the main thing they have to worry about.

 

[Darklord]

They should get 1 million subscribers in the first month. It's keeping those million as a constant and building from there.

 

[Outdoor Miner]

I think they will hit 2 million in 1st month sales with the userbase staying a good bit above 1 million after the initial 30-day launch period passes for as long as the game is active.

 

[Emitan]

When they say they need 1 mill subs to be profitable, do they mean in the first month or over a year or something?

EDIT: Oh man, I am tired. Just reread that post. Never mind.

 

[BattleMonkey]

When they say they need 1 mill subs to be profitable, do they mean in the first month or over a year or something?

EDIT: Oh man, I am tired. Just reread that post. Never mind.

They said while ago that they would need to maintain at least 500k subs to be profitable, but they are obviously hoping to get 1 mil+ subs.

 

[bjaelke]

Unbiasedly, unarguably, unequivocally the best PvP experience EVER! #SWTOUR

Hot imperial on republic action - it's PVP day at BioWare. Very intense, very cool, innovative and balanced. #SWTOUR

This is not one-shot kill bunny hop PvP folks... Strategy and tactics rule the day! #SWTOUR #Swtor

I love the PVP in #swtor - you all are going to be so happy #SWtour

Just played some PvP in #swtor So much fun! #SWTOUR

Personally, I'm not a pvp guy, I said it was the best ever. I will actually go out of my way to do pvp. #SWTOUR #SWTOR @moseisleyradio

They're playing the Alderaan warzone.

 

[Door2Dawn]

^ So fucking jealous.

Man i really hope they open up the close beta on friday. Or at least lift the fucking NDA.

 

[CzarTim]

ohthankgod

 

[bjaelke]

^ So fucking jealous.

Man i really hope they open up the close beta on friday. Or at least lift the fucking NDA.

I don't see them doing any of that before the articles are posted on May 4th.

 

[Outdoor Miner]

Glad to read the positive PvP impressions. Cannot wait for launch day on whatever pvp server I go with, should be crazy good.

 

[LowParry]

PvP hype impressions? You almost got me Bioware. Almost Perhaps a little more and you just may get me off the TERA train.

 

[Vinci]

That's 200 hours PER class? Jesus.

Converted to nerd time: 50 hours to level 50. Not so bad, now is it?

['Average user time' should always be converted to 'nerd time' to illustrate how quickly you can assume end-game content to begin being consumed. 'Nerd time' is 1/4 the length of 'average user' time.]

 

[BattleMonkey]

PvP hype impressions? You almost got me Bioware. Almost Perhaps a little more and you just may get me off the TERA train.

The PVP stuff is likely more attributed to the Mythic folks than Bioware. Despite the mess that was WAR, the PVP was still pretty damn good.

Converted to nerd time: 50 hours to level 50. Not so bad, now is it?

['Average user time' should always be converted to 'nerd time' to illustrate how quickly you can assume end-game content to begin being consumed. 'Nerd time' is 1/4 the length of 'average user' time.]

Yea the hardcore MMO nerds are going to easily blaze through the game content quickly and be nowhere near 200 hours.

 

[LowParry]

The PVP stuff is likely more attributed to the Mythic folks than Bioware. Despite the mess that was WAR, the PVP was still pretty damn good.

The funny thing about WAR was that I created multiple characters just to PvP the lvl 1 - 10 content because it was the most fun I've had with PvP in any MMO. But I trust in the WAR folk with PvP. They have the right ideas.

 

[bjaelke]

Speaking of PvP, BioWare has offered some insight on the second warzone, The Voidstar:

SP: What will the terrain be like for these war areas?

GA: Alderaan Civil War takes place on a Planetary Defense Base. Each team zones in on a drop ship overlooking the base. They take speeder bikes from the ship to the base where they fight over three air defense turrets. The Voidstar is a prototype ship stranded in space. One team plays as a boarding party attempting to make their way to the bridge of the ship finding a way from room to room. The other team defends the ship, attempting to prevent the invaders from progressing.

Full interview here: http://www.statepress.com/2011/04/25/qa-with-‘star-wars-the-old-republic’-developers/

 

[Darklord]

Speaking of PvP, BioWare has offered some insight on the second warzone, The Voidstar:

Full interview here: http://www.statepress.com/2011/04/25/qa-with-‘star-wars-the-old-republic’-developers/

That sounds really cool.

 

[The_Inquisitor]

Oh man, hype level increasing.

 

[CzarTim]

Oh man, hype level increasing.

Aye.

PVP is my favorite. I always hated in WoW how you could only do it at certain levels on the way up to be efficient.

 

[Creamwolf]

Strategy and tactics reigning supreme in PvP sounds amazing.

 

[Einbroch]

Of course the game can seem balanced when you're playing presumably premade characters in a limited and controlled play session...

Not saying it's not going to be balanced, but just wait two months until people are min-maxing builds and gear.

That said, I am getting more and more excited for the game. When they first announced it, I was HYPELEVEL100, then they showed some videos...made some comments...and I just kind of went "meh". Lately, though, I've been getting excited again.

 

[bjaelke]

Friday should help on your hype level. We get a praised Friday update and they lift the embargo for the PvE content tested at the fan site summit. Next week the embargo on PvP will be lifted - this should happen around the same time as the print magazines are released.

 

[Door2Dawn]

Allow more people into the beta! DO IT

 

[Hixx]

If they open up the beta a bit this might be the first one I don't actively try to get into. Never before have I not wanted an mmo 'spoiled', heh.. though I did sign up years ago when they first opened applications up on the website.

 

[BattleMonkey]

Of course the game can seem balanced when you're playing presumably premade characters in a limited and controlled play session...

Not saying it's not going to be balanced, but just wait two months until people are min-maxing builds and gear.

That said, I am getting more and more excited for the game. When they first announced it, I was HYPELEVEL100, then they showed some videos...made some comments...and I just kind of went "meh". Lately, though, I've been getting excited again.

Never been a MMO where there wasn't balance issues, even WoW with it's years in business, is constantly messing with balance issues. MMOs years going have had to deal with constant changes and balance issues and usually don't stop until a game is pretty much dead and they gave up on it. TOR is gauranteed to have the usual MMO balance woes when it comes to pvp.

Though even with balance issues, PVP can still be fun. RIFT PVP for example is just not fun, DCUO also has become unfun in PVP. WAR while it had balance issues, was at least fun to play.

 

[Doncamatic]

Allow more people into the beta! DO IT

Seriously. Also allow some Australians in.

 

[Emitan]

Seriously. Also allow some Australians in.

Allow everyone in.

But I guess Australians are a priority for connection issues, right?

 

[Emitan]

RPS's Preview
I would put interesting quotes here but I'm in a hurry so I'll leave that whole "finding interesting stuff" thing to you people.

 

[bjaelke]

RPS's Preview
I would put interesting quotes here but I'm in a hurry so I'll leave that whole "finding interesting stuff" thing to you people.

I was thinking of doing a new thread. There's A LOT of new information across the different media sites!

 

[BattleMonkey]

RPS's Preview
I would put interesting quotes here but I'm in a hurry so I'll leave that whole "finding interesting stuff" thing to you people.

He calls the Imperial Agent a Sith character. *NERD RAGE!*

 

[Darklord]

RPS's Preview
I would put interesting quotes here but I'm in a hurry so I'll leave that whole "finding interesting stuff" thing to you people.

The snips from the article for faster reading.

The good:

- My character’s opening story was about trying to get information from a local Hutt. But in order to do this I was going to have to go undercover. Of course this meant a mission where I had to steal the clothes of those I was imitating. But what I wasn’t expecting was my character’s voice to change.

- And this level of story exceeds anything I’ve seen in an MMO. There’s currently nothing else that comes close.

- Pleasingly, while there are “kill 10 of these” quests, they’re almost hidden. I’m sent to visit someone or other in the next town, but on the way a quest may get subtly added that if I kill ten of something I’ll get a reward.

- The range of crafting/skill options, however, is mystifyingly detailed. So perhaps you’ll pick Underworld Trading, Diplomacy and Archaeology? Or Sith Warrior, Bioanalysis, and Cybertech? How about Inquisitor, Skinning and Synth Weaving? I swear I’m not making these up.

- I think the crucial thing I took away from two days with the game was that I wanted to carry on.

The bad:

- TOR at the moment appears to have the most limited MMO skill progression imaginable. Fairly typical of MMOs I suppose, there’s basically no choice at all.

- But worse, there are so few of them. I had three or four attacks, and then until level 14 just received upgrades for them. It wouldn’t be until level 46 that I’d see a new attack. So just those very few attacks for essentially the bulk of the game.

- In KotOR, when I’m sent to an ancient temple at the crux of a long series of missions, recovering some vital ancient artifact, I inevitably have to battle my way to the centre. Reaching my goal, I collect my prize, and victoriously make my way to the exit.
In TOR, when I’m sent to an ancient temple at the crux of a long series of missions, recovering some vital ancient artifact, I inevitably have to battle my way to the centre. Reaching my goal, I collect my prize, and then have to kill all the same creatures I fought on the way in. Huh?

 

[bjaelke]

Just a heads up, IGN included several spoilers in their Bounty Hunter preview

 

[piratepwnsninja]

I'm kind of confused by parts of the RPS preview. Aren't Inquisitor and Sith Warrior classes?

 

[BattleMonkey]

The bad:

- TOR at the moment appears to have the most limited MMO skill progression imaginable. Fairly typical of MMOs I suppose, there’s basically no choice at all.

- But worse, there are so few of them. I had three or four attacks, and then until level 14 just received upgrades for them. It wouldn’t be until level 46 that I’d see a new attack. So just those very few attacks for essentially the bulk of the game.

Early levels with few ability/attack choices is common in lot of MMOs, hopefully the full release has more as the trees and such are not final. I know in the earlier demos they did over a year ago in public, the characters only had like 3 abilities and it looked kinda repetitive but it was also starting area stuff. Also those playing these tests didn't get to try the advanced class system either from what I understand so they didn't have much choice in customization with skills and gaining any exclusive abilities attached to trees. Course the impressions are on attacks when lot of characters have many utility abilities too they will get as we saw in the PAX previews.

But his points on how you have the MMO world and how it kind kills immersion is so true for various things. Been bugging me in RIFT where I would have to fight my way through a cave of highly densely packed baddies, only to have to do it again when trying to leave. Only games that seem to get away from this that are MMOs are the ones that are highly instanced like Cryptic games and you don't get respawns in the instance, but again lot of people seem to hate that kind of instanced content in MMOs *shrug*

I'm kind of confused by parts of the RPS preview. Aren't Inquisitor and Sith Warrior classes?

The previewer makes a bunch of mistakes on details it seems.

 

[bjaelke]

I'm kind of confused by parts of the RPS preview. Aren't Inquisitor and Sith Warrior classes?

Crew Skills available for training in Kaas City: Cybertech (Reverse Engineering Tech which leads to creating Tech), Underworld Trading, Slicing, Bio Analysis, Bio Chem, Diplomacy, Investigation Mission, Treasure Hunting, Synthweaving, Archeology, and Artifice.

This would be the correct list.

 

[Emitan]

The previewer makes a bunch of mistakes on details it seems.

Yeah, I pointed out that he implied there was no KOTOR 2 and he fixed it.

 

[Mister_Bubbles]

This would be the correct list.

So, when Walker says

Each character can learn three skills, of which only one can be crafting.

and then lists skills, are those the same as Crew skills you listed there? Or are the skills you learn, by extension, ones that are actually used by your crew rather than yourself. Or... both, at a guess?

 

[bjaelke]

Yes, your companions essentially undertakes the task of crafting. It all depends on what crew skills you assign to them: http://www.swtor.com/info/systems/crew-skills

 

[markatisu]

In TOR, when I’m sent to an ancient temple at the crux of a long series of missions, recovering some vital ancient artifact, I inevitably have to battle my way to the centre. Reaching my goal, I collect my prize, and then have to kill all the same creatures I fought on the way in. Huh?

This sounds like every Bioware game made in the last 5 years, in fact I just went through it last night in Mass Effect 2 lol

 

[Mister_Bubbles]

Yes, your companions essentially undertakes the task of crafting. It all depends on what crew skills you assign to them: http://www.swtor.com/info/systems/crew-skills

Aye, what I meant was - when Walker mentions choosing three skills for his character, did he actually mean he was choosing his crew skills?

 

[bjaelke]

Aye, what I meant was - when Walker mentions choosing three skills for his character, did he actually mean he was choosing his crew skills?

Yup. Your companion is an "extension" of you.

 

[Mister_Bubbles]

Got it. Thanks for the clarification. Reckon my Consular and his minions will be Diplomatic, Artifact-searching Archaeologists, then

 

[BattleMonkey]

This sounds like every Bioware game made in the last 5 years, in fact I just went through it last night in Mass Effect 2 lol

In ME2 you don't have to fight your way out of the mission location because everyone you killed respawned (common in almost all MMOs). You fight your way to the final, and your warped back to the hub or your ship in ME2

 

[Trouble]

In ME2 you don't have to fight your way out of the mission location because everyone you killed respawned (common in almost all MMOs). You fight your way to the final, and your warped back to the hub or your ship in ME2

There's a recall ability, just like every other MMO. So you don't have to fight your way back, you can transport back to your bind location.

 

[BattleMonkey]

There's a recall ability, just like every other MMO. So you don't have to fight your way back, you can transport back to your bind location.

I imagined they would, but they usually have long cool down timers and there are many times that you won't want to use the recall ability. You always get stuck with that situation where you just want to port back to base and collect your quest reward but have no choice but to fight through the mobs that respawned.

In the same vein, you get those situations where you have some quest and the whole way has been paved clear by another player and you simply walk up to the objective and auto succeed without doing anything other than run up to something and run back. It's just the nature of these persistant world MMOs.

Only way to get around it would be to make pretty much every area a unique instance like in Star Trek online, but obviously lot of people don't like that implementation.

 

[bjaelke]

Force choke: October 2008 vs. April 2011

Lightsaber duel: October 2008 vs. April 2011

Came across it on the official forum. Just amazing how long they came since those cartoon-y, clone wars-like pictures released 3 years ago!