What can be done to keep SWTOR strong?

There are only two things that are hurting the game subs right now:

1. Lack of a good LFG matchmaking system
2. Lack of endgame content

The good news here is both of these things are very fixable.

The bad new is im not sure they have anyone who can fix them.

An MMO is never "complete" as we think of the term, and the problem comes from how to keep players who prefer many different types of things entertained in their game while the next batch of content is ready for release.

Some people want sandbox features - but that leaves out the whole slew of people who detest sandbox - still no endgame for them.
Some people want hardcore raids for epeen items - but that leaves out the casual and sandbox player
Some people want nothing but PvP - but that leaves out the PvEer.

Unfortunately, a game can only offer so much within the time and budget constraints it has. SWTOR's design direction was such that PvP and End Game were secondary features to the class quests and overarching story line. In all reality, for a game like this - there is no end game, the ongoing story is the neverending end game. Problem is, a lot of people completed the first part of the story before the next part is ready and the current end game (Raid type missions) don't suit everyone.

Ultimately, I think having a full-fledged space component in the game can work to be the ultimate end game. We can keep the rail-shooter now to satisfy the mini-game people, add some missions and quests for the PvEers, and naturally have some awesome PvP space battle action. Unfortunately, that's going to take a long time before it can be implemented.

BJ

The answer for you may not be the answer for me. There are a lot of different people who play this game, and for a lot of different reasons.

I was about to type that the one constant that drives people away is poor quality in releases. You know, the sort of stuff that's had them re-patching patches the last 2 weeks in a row? But I don't know if that's a constant either. Some rabid fanboys might overlook even that.

But as I was saying, we're all different and that's a beautiful thing.

What it means is that BioWare needs to provide a variety of things for us all to enjoy in the game. It doesn't necessarily have to be everything for everyone, but it should be and could be something compelling for many.

For some of us the answers are as you wrote. For others, they may be something different. It's our job to tell BioWare what we want in a clear, concise, and constructive manner. It's BioWare's job (hopefully) to take that constructive feedback, analyze it, put a great deal of thought tempered by experience and common sense into it, and create the best game they can.

I find myself thinking of leaving. SWTOR is a great game for a little while, but it just does not have the environmental immersion to keep me interested. I was hoping to find a game to leave WoW, but I find myself missing being able to just sit with my friends and RP at an Inn, or just have that feeling of just walking around a living city like Stormwind was. I'll finish my toon up to lvl 50 but then unless something changes I'll be leaving.

Dude, this post is getting old, you've already abused it many many times today.

It's kind of true though. You honestly think they just randomly decided to give out free game time "to show appreciation?" I don't think they did it to float subscription numbers for some quarterly report, but I do think they did knowing they are losing way more subs than they expected. They probably just did it knowing they weren't going to get 1.3 out this month, and would lose a lot of subs over it.

How about they fix the damn game and quit charging peoples credit cards? I mean seriously, they seriously want us to PAY for this game in its current state? Your'e insane if your not unsubbed yet if you dont reside on a heavy pop server! Me and my son have been unsubbed for almost a month now because Black Vulkars is dead and we cant find a group to finish heroic quests or doing any flashpoints on Republic side...... thats $30.00/month GONE to the wind and possibly never to return........ so yeah, if they dont fix the MAJOR issues by Tuesday their gonna be a sitting duck.

I unsubbed today, there is a common theme here and endgame is it.
I will come back when there is a reason other than dailies or repetative pvp to log on for. I hope they break out of the trans and start opening up the Star Wars to the players.

Well i'll tell you what BioWare can do to keep me from playing.

1. Coruscant and Dromund Kaas as capital planets social hub.

2. Unlock all the Legacy bonus.

3. More class story content. (not just raid content + daily zone)

4. LFG tool (obvious)- doens't have to be like WoW LFG. Can be as simple as a global I want to que for this dungeon and everyone on the server can see it.

5. Ship customization.

6. Better world PvP. Similar to GW2 WvWvW.