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GDC Online 2012: SWTOR's Damion Schubert dissects story as a mechanic

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GDC Online 2012: SWTOR's Damion Schubert dissects story as a mechanic
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Urael's Avatar


Urael
10.10.2012 , 12:15 PM | #1
GDC Online 2012: SWTOR's Damion Schubert dissects story as a mechanic

Quote:
Sustainable

Massively: At the end of the presentation, Schubert was asked whether the SWTOR model was sustainable, given the amount of "incubation time" required for systems and quests to launch. Jokingly he replied, "Gosh, I hope so." In other words, he believes that it is. However, in a follow-up question, he was asked what the team is doing to help maximize the life cycle of the current content. His answer surprised me, but not in a good way:

Schubert: "We have not focused on making our content replayable. We have taken a lot of heroic quests -- particularly the group quests -- and made all those replayable. What we have spent the most time on since launch is beefing up the Legacy system, which is designed to get you to play the other really good content. We will probably continue beefing that up because it's our best stuff."
Interesting ...

Arkerus's Avatar


Arkerus
10.10.2012 , 12:27 PM | #2
I've been saying it since day 1 on these forums. This is a game designed for folks who want to roll alts, listen to the story, and then maximize their characters. That IS the product.

This game, unfortunately, has been judged for what it isn't and that is a terrible way to gauge its worth. It's like saying a car sucks because its not an airplane.

If you don't like rolling alts, you aren't big on story, and you don't want to PvP or casually run operations, then this game IS NOT FOR YOU. Stop trolling on the forums for a product you thought it should be and go play something else. The designers have made is plain as day for you: this is an MMO designed around story and alts.
Hooning in the rex : http://youtu.be/xtXUM6yPMCY

Urael's Avatar


Urael
10.10.2012 , 12:31 PM | #3
Quote: Originally Posted by Arkerus View Post
I've been saying it since day 1 on these forums. This is a game designed for folks who want to roll alts, listen to the story, and then maximize their characters. That IS the product.

This game, unfortunately, has been judged for what it isn't and that is a terrible way to gauge its worth. It's like saying a car sucks because its not an airplane.

If you don't like rolling alts, you aren't big on story, and you don't want to PvP or casually run operations, then this game IS NOT FOR YOU. Stop trolling on the forums for a product you thought it should be and go play something else. The designers have made is plain as day for you: this is an MMO designed around story and alts.
You best not be directing this vitriol AT me ... I am just reporting here. I am well established as ONLY playing SWTOR for the Story and am and ADMITTED altoholic.

Apaolo's Avatar


Apaolo
10.10.2012 , 12:39 PM | #4
Focusing on Legacy and Story heavily, has done nothing but lose nearly 2 million players. Makes me giggle to think that it's still their main focus.

I wonder if anyone ever piped up and said "Guys, let's try and focus on the stuff players really want (and what this game sorely lacks), instead of working on something that will potentially lose over 70% of the current player base". Maybe someone did, and realized it was never gonna happen and "moved on".

Skodan's Avatar


Skodan
10.10.2012 , 12:40 PM | #5
I dont think without legacy i would have spent so much time leveling up alts, i do it for companion unlocks.

So far I have the following companions unlocked:
SI: 5
BH: 5
IA: 5
SM: 5
JK: 4

currently working on leveling up my trooper, then consular, and finally the sith warrior.
The Goa'uld Legacy Level 50 Now Exploring on Star Forge
Previous explorer of Jedi Covenant
First exploring on Canderous Ordo

chuixupu's Avatar


chuixupu
10.10.2012 , 12:40 PM | #6
Interesting article. I like the picture of the screen that says "MMOs are Hard", lol.

I do have to agree that they could have designed the replay value better. Yeah, I like rolling alts too. But once I roll every class, I don't think I'll want to keep rolling more. Not that I'd want to do that in other MMOs either. Even GW2....sure their content scales, but I don't want to do it over and over either. I don't see myself rollings alts in GW2 at all, it doesn't encourage it.

Also, the real problem is with the main story that everyone shares. I do feel like I could replay different class stories making different choices, but the other stuff gets boring after you've seen it several times.

At this point I don't think they could really change the mechanic of their game significantly, and I don't think they should, but going forward they could definitely make improvements to the questing style.
Wardens of Fate / Alea Iacta Est
The Tarkus Legacy ~ The Harbinger/Jedi Covenant

Urael's Avatar


Urael
10.10.2012 , 12:42 PM | #7
Quote: Originally Posted by Apaolo View Post
Focusing on Legacy and Story heavily, has done nothing but lose nearly 2 million players. Makes me giggle to think that it's still their main focus.

I wonder if anyone ever piped up and said "Guys, let's try and focus on the stuff players really want (and what this game sorely lacks), instead of working on something that will potentially lose over 70% of the current player base". Maybe someone did, and realized it was never gonna happen and "moved on".
I think this quote from the article has a clue as to the "why":

Quote:
Schubert mentioned that he was the first MMO designer on the TOR team six and a half years ago. The other designers had worked only on single-player games. This was new territory for the crew, and as Schubert explained, his first job was to teach these developers how to mold their skills for a online platform.

Urael's Avatar


Urael
10.10.2012 , 12:43 PM | #8
Quote: Originally Posted by chuixupu View Post
Interesting article. I like the picture of the screen that says "MMOs are Hard", lol.

I do have to agree that they could have designed the replay value better. Yeah, I like rolling alts too. But once I roll every class, I don't think I'll want to keep rolling more. Not that I'd want to do that in other MMOs either. Even GW2....sure their content scales, but I don't want to do it over and over either. I don't see myself rollings alts in GW2 at all, it doesn't encourage it.

Also, the real problem is with the main story that everyone shares. I do feel like I could replay different class stories making different choices, but the other stuff gets boring after you've seen it several times.

At this point I don't think they could really change the mechanic of their game significantly, and I don't think they should, but going forward they could definitely make improvements to the questing style.
Indeed. One can only hope.

Apaolo's Avatar


Apaolo
10.10.2012 , 12:45 PM | #9
Needs more blue cheese!

Arkerus's Avatar


Arkerus
10.10.2012 , 12:47 PM | #10
Quote: Originally Posted by Urael View Post
You best not be directing this vitriol AT me ... I am just reporting here. I am well established as ONLY playing SWTOR for the Story and am and ADMITTED altoholic.
It was by no means directed at you. If I had been, I would have addressed you directly. I was commenting on what you posted. Chill out man.

I was just making the point that since day 1, this product was X and people judged it because its not product Y. (product Y being this idea of what the perfect MMO is, which is ridiculous when you think about it)
Hooning in the rex : http://youtu.be/xtXUM6yPMCY
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