Gamasutra: The Burning of Star Wars - The Old Republic

While I'm not a fan of f2p myself, I have no issues with it as a mechanic...IF DONE WELL. A good example of this would be the early f2p release of LotRO, Turbines current flagship. I haven't played LotRO in awhile now (considering taking it back up), So not sure about it's current state, but when they initially introduced f2p, it was a very good design. So I'll pull a few points out of their system that I believe Bio could have done to make a very effective f2p system, but they didn't.

the biggest was that Turbine never locked stuff away from subs like Bio is doing. all the cash shop items were available in game if you took the time. whether it was a rep grind, or a seasonal quest, it was there. you want it right away and now? cash shop is to your left. Choice was they key here...and the fact that they held true to their word and never kept anything locked from the Sub's. only thing as a sub you ever HAD to pay for to get was expansions. and before someone says you don't have to pay in SW...you do. those nifty gearset designs in the cash shop? can't get them anywhere in the game. turbine NEVER did that. you could get everything in game....it just took time. anything that is a CC "exclusive" means that a sub is locked out, period.

second biggest issue is that you could earn points. Wasn't huge, and it took massive effort to get even close to what a sub did (and theoretically it was impossible to get EVERYTHING a sub had, but you could get darn close). but the time investment to do so was HUGE. most people with a life and a 9-5 couldn't do it...but it was STILL THERE. And it didn't kill Turbine...as a matter of fact, their model (used in DDO as well) really set some industry records for f2p. they essentially woke the industry up to the IDEA that f2p was a viable alternative to a full sub environment (prior to that, f2p was relegated to dying games and smaller releases).

Plus, they had a bunch of stuff in the shop that really made you want to spend money...and not in a way that focused around cash shop exclusives (horrible way to getting peeps to spend cash). it was more like cash = QoL. don't want to farm materials for crafting? by limited craft mats in the store (bound and sold for a copper, but great for leveling a craft or crafting your own stuff). want that holiday gear? wait for the holiday, or cash shop + instant results. want to unlock a side quest area? farm the points with deeds....or insta-cash. it was really the "try or buy" option. Until bio gets the point, and gives us all that stuff in game (gotta earn it tho), then the balance is off and the CC sucks. the lock out method IMO just pisses people off, it doesn't inspire them to want to try and buy.

Sometimes I really wonder why people stick on the forums spitting on a game they should leave as they do not like it. You should stop looking for confirmations to your negative thoughts about SWTOR and do not waste your time here. Out here it's full of MMOs, and for sure there will be one that fits you perfectly.,

In reply to your query, this article is important because, there are others, besides those that post on this forum, that see that SWTOR, may be in trouble. Many of us, while we post about "issues" that others would "hide", really do wish this game to succeed.

The author's article merely echoed a view that is held by some on these forums. We wish the game to succeed but, on the current path that SWTOR is on, we are not confident. We still wish success for the game but, we still hold EA and BW to task to live up to what they hyped.

And that's where you're wrong.
While I guess some people would try to hide the game's weaknesses (although, I really don't see how anyone besides Bioware or EA would profit from that), there's also a big portion of "us" that are not hiding its issues; they just don't affect us to the point of making us dislike the game. Sure, a lot of things could be different and I can guarantee you that if you ask 10 different people you'll get 10 different answers, ranging from sitting in chairs (lol) to new content.

And just like those people that try to hide its issues, I think we can safely say that a big portion of those that post about them are just doing it exactly because they want to see the game fail.

That still doesn't make a journalist's opinion important, though.
Your or my opinion is much more important because...you know...we're actually paying for it unlike a journalist who's merely echoing one side of the story and is much more likely to jump on the "love/hate" bandwagon just because it sells.

old article is old

There may be those that want the game to fail, I am not one of them. Nor are others that have been more vocal of late.

There are those that post here that will not admit to anything wrong with SWTOR. It may be sheer ignorance, or blinders but there are those "while knights" that will continue to make excusses for EAware no matter what. It could be an obvious verioning mistake to some basic feature getting broken. We get the "hey ... eveyone makes mistakes" excuse pretty much every time. Don't know about you but, that may fly in little league or elementary school but when you are putting a product out that people are paying for a little proffesionism is required. When we have something break or break again each patch day there IS a problem and making excuses for EAware does noone any good.

There are communitcations issues. Most if this is probably "subjective". I have resigned myself to never get a commited answer from EAware. They change their minds ( being generious here ) often, and use nebulous terms when "hyping" the future or promising delivery. If one manages their expectations that everything said may and will change and that all times are Soon!!(™), one will be happier. That may be cynical but, unfortunately that is the reality of dealing with EAware ( and gaming companies in general ).

The observations of the author summarized quike nicely my views on the game. I know there are others ( look in this thread ) that feel the same. His opinion, in that light has merrit; we players are validating it. Again, he explained his failed tone. I won't go into that again. I will leave it to you to reread.

Okay, was hoping someone would post another one of these reviews.

Here's a review of SWTOR from MMORPG.com, one of the worst anti-EA and anti-SWTOR communities out there. It's dated 1/6/2012.

Video Review

Full Text Review, which the video abridges


Some interesting snippets of their review:









So, I ask you: what has changed? What's been added, and not removed? The only reason any people are going back to re-review the free to play SWTOR version, is so they arn't caught going against the bandwagon of hating SWTOR. Nothing fundamental has changed this game, and most of the categories, SWTOR scores 8's and 9's in.

It's hip to hate. But the facts are: the game is great!

Speak for yourself. You never know who you're including when you're saying "others that have been more vocal of late". There have been people who just want the game to fail, we've all seen them here. Just like the white knights, you mention.

However I will say that "white knights" actually make more sense in a game's forum than haters. It's only natural that if you like a game you want to talk about it, make suggestions or role-play. What is not natural (at least for me) is to go on a "I'm quitting because you failed to make me want to stay" campaign. That's just selfish and frankly unnecessary. EA missing your monthly payment speaks much louder than any complaining you might do in the game's forum

That being said, to say that the game doesn't have issues is like burying your head in the sand. If it didn't it wouldn't have gone F2P. The problem, however, is that everyone is trying to make the game, their game. It doesn't work that way. You get an X product and you either like it or not. Sure, making suggestions that would improve it is always important, but at the end of the day, it will never be exactly what everyone has in their head. So you can take it as it is, or leave it. If you don't like it as it is now, chances are you will never like it,

(you = anyone, don't take it personally)

I partially agree with you on this one. There is a communication issue, although I'm mainly talking about communicating changes with players and actually seeking their help to improve the game. And I don't thing it's subjective at all. It's quite obvious that the game is understaffed and it shows so much, it's beginning to hurt it.

But as for their promises, I'm always amazed with people who believe in companies' promises. I might be more of a realist or even more cynical, because I never believe something until I actually see it with my own eyes. So EA's promises don't affect me, because I never played the game for what it might one day become. I'm playing the game because I enjoy it as it is right now, warts and all.

Fair enough. I still don't get it, but it might have more to do with me wanting to express what I like/dislike in my own words. I don't generally like having people speak for me; especially people who might potentially be saying things for their own personal profit. But, that might just be me. I don't really trust the "pure" intentions of anyone.

You're missing the entire point, These reviews coming out do not add up. Nothing has fundamentally changed since the game was released, and given that these reviews seem unduly negative in content, only because it's popular to disparage SWTOR. Read the article instead of giving a kneejerk response.

His replay (which I posted in this thread) was a reclama. He admitted his tone, done in a jest style of "Stephen Colbert" or "John Stewart", fell short. If you say as you claim that you are being objective, then perhaps an acknowledgement of his failure in your post and a retort to his style would have helped to cement your stance as being objective. I will grant you based on your replies that you did read as you said but, I am curious why you didn't include any indication that the author did attempt to appoligize for the tone and attempt to asuage those to read his original text in a new light.