I think the point is being skewed. It's not that SWTOR is a financial failure, it's that it's future (from now) is already looking very bleak. Nobody expected this MMO to be a wow-killer out of the gates. Sure, the game didn't completely pay for itself 3X during it's initial offering (something actual successful titles to achieve - much like hollywood blockbuster methodology), but the fact remains this IP is a dedicated fan-driven universe. The IP is simply huge, all on it's own already. SWTOR is like a poop in the scheme of things. Still the important thing the managers should remember is that taking and squeezing from the game at this critical time, will be suicide for the project. There has to be effort to keep the game effort and amount of production UP, through the first 3 years IMHO. Anything less would be stupidity, but it appears the game IS headed to 'maintenance mode' after 6 months and "poor financial failure".

1. How do you think your Vanguard spec is perceived by other classes? Generally low dps in wz isn't as 'impressive' as those who spam full amounts of dps. Generally low protection in wz because as hybrid tank, I rarely use guard, or at least only for specific targets Many other 'tank' abilities which don't register as protection in wz 2. How do you perceive your own spec? Hybrid PvP tank that can also do regular level PvE if necessary - shield/tactics with major in tactics - High Energy Cell mostly, except when extra shield is needed. Super awesome in PvP - funnest Class IMO. 200+ dmg 100k prot on a good day Lack luster in anti-stun department, in Shield spec Utility utility utility, including optional Guard When I switch from High Energy Cell to Ion Cell can do some medium tanking - heals will make or break me still, but at least I won't be a major healer hassle. I admit I might be a bit over-enthusiastic about the Vangaurd but there is many good points mentioned.

This is what I also mostly like, except slightly different spec with Gut instead in a pvp/hybrid build and still do really good damage. I think you don't have to give up too much damage and be able to spec for far more survival and group 'tank'. IMO you should be a fulfilling tank in PvP no matter what your spec. You'll find all tanks can also spam neural jolt and sonic round, and the interrupt without loss of ammo in between all attacks (when appropriate). You don't have to always use Guard to do effective tanking. As mentioned there several builds available for 'alternate' tanking roles. There is lots of room to fit a role in between shield tank and dps while being effective in reducing damage of many enemies 'at the right time'. In all, I think you can still do A LOT of good tanking without any Shield spec (neuarl jolt, sonic round, interrupt, cyro, even Static Field can be useful with a spec combined with Ion Pulse as a reliable hitter (elemental) in a hybrid spec.

all this plus; Ilum PvP revamp (they simply must get this done ASAP) More Craft Schematics Performance refinements Dual Spec Assist keybinding more Perks (pvp perks maybe)

I just wish that there was more stuff to do!!! I can't help but say this even as I still enjoy the game, mostly, but I can see that the playbase seems to be declining again since the freshness of 1.4 has started to wear off a bit. More than running Dailies, which aren't attractive at all... I want to continue my main characters storyline, after all, I'm still in "Interlude" mode... I have settled in to my crafter role a bit more also, I have made over a 1,000,000 since 1.3 has rolled out, crafting is a bit more interesting and profitable. Really, I'm happy with the Warzone situation but I wish there was better wPvP. I don't even consider undertaking the EFFORT to fly to Ilum, I already know that it will be empty before I get there. Making chat groups of hardy guild mates to roam with is so 1990 right now, I want instant action!! I just won't reduce myself to playing the GTN anymore than what I do currently. There is a large demand for cheap crafting materials, but there is clearly a few others who will absolutley not let Durasteel or Zal Alloy drop beneath the 1000 per threshhold.... I just can't, will not reduce myself that low...

Bioware and EA, help us to like your game. We can log in and say that it's neat, but can we say we want to log in for more than 5 minutes? How many Warzone do you expect us to do? I think I have done my PvP missions fairly quickly, there is really not a big reason for me to come back since, you know, not too much happening... Would be nice to see Ilum PvP functioning a bit more consitently... wink wink wink

As a feature that could be useful in the future if further Alignment features are added. Possible see Alignment in Guild view, restrict

I think by next summer would be a good time to implement one.. not yet IMO, still far to many features are not well done. Alignment Nightmare modes of existing content Guild Improvement Ilum revamp name change basic cash shop improvement (or free stuff) x64 support

I guess it's hard for most to conceptualizes something that is only a idea at this point... :D:D

This would be something to consider, more along the lines of Outlaw Den, except somewhere else and with a new mechanic that isn't simply all factions, but faction divided by Alignment. Light Side -points for assisting lightside and killing darkside Neutral -points for winning objectives -points for killing both Light and Dark? Dark Side -points for killing your own original realm (punishing defectors??) So that's it, I think it would be awesome, something that could work well... but to make it work well it would have to be based not only on 'sandbox' type stuff, but possibly pvpve to include objectives, but NPC would not play a major role. Objective would likely have 3 capture modes... or else could be any other mechanic I haven't thought of besides killing NPC and other pick-up-the-barrel type stuff - in a PvP area. Overall the main point would be to attract players so that you can get kills, valor, and currency. possible starting area; Mind Prizon Maze? 3 single three faction PvP area could add a nice addition to the very basic and yet unfinished Ilum. Tatooine would have complete Arena rules, Ilum has 2 faction rules, XXX has 3 faction alignment. Extra bonus for Alignment progression and roleplaying. Do you think this would be fun? Cheers

Games like this are also kind of lacking on the luxury features like; social games at the bar/casino ie meta games that mean something eg currencyvanity player owned landscape and territory interactable landscape/environment - something that early games did better than some modern games dungeon that gives a better feel, in which you will more likely engage in PvP than as PvE - would be far less in term of environment and npc importance/relevance. NPC would become less of a focus as other player instituted roles would be achieved. free players would be 'needy', weaker than others with full account, access to more content and power... free player woujld be peasants and others would play more relevant players.

Reason #1 - Mutli Thread CPU support - spread process out across CPU cores more efficiently. This has HUGE potential to ease stutter and overall RESPONSE of the GUI - but I'm not sure how much code is CPU dependant, so it would be wise to 'shift' some processes over to the CPU instead of being GPU dependant. This is what most major MMO do, hence their lower hardware requirements. But the whole engine may not be comparable to other MMO engines so the situation is likely unique, but still it's apparent that CPU is hugely underused. Reason #2 - Ram usage over 3GB at time : real support for 16+GB of RAM. Right now anything more than 3.2 GB is wasted. This has the potential to keep far more memory in RAM for far quicker loading times in between switching worlds, loading WZ and pre loading anything else. Reason #3 - DX11 will be standard in all new relevant games going forward. Not sure how relevant it is to SWTOR, but the Hero engine could likely benefit from this 'newer technology' as well.

Can the Hero engine be upgrade to 64 bit and full multi-threading? So far the Hero engine has seen decent improvement, but nearly enough to stay competitive. Direct X11?

Sharding is a useful option for the MMO, mostly for 'battleground', 'esport (huttball)' scenarios and warzones and pve instance. I think this game will soon be rid of it's shard (or simply if the game dies) because of technology or some other evolution. It seems clear sharding [on the main planet and fleet] is a temporary solution until hardware and software catches up.

Wrong, at least in my view... Perhaps in 2007 yes. Not now. People want : Game with a budget akin to hollywood film that delivers content biannually. SW:TOR had the hype, but only deliver 2 weeks of average 'fun'. If they can start to reverse the population collapse then SWTOR might still have a chance... But given EA current bad situation (it's like 2008-2009 all over again).... Well I think subs is still over a million so that is still a sign that not ALL is lost... yet. If this game continue as the ~#2 MMO out there... well we'll see if people are happy or not in a year still. SWTOR is exciting but at the same time disappointing.