SW:TOR Subs - just under 500k

Wow I really expected subs to be higher than 500K, I know its not relevant any more but 500K was kinda the bench mark for where they said the game would break even.

Guess the cartel market is making up for lack of subscription.

Well you see im wondering about the sub count, cos i know a few people who bought makeb and dropped subs for a month to cover that cost, myself included. I do wonder how many others had the same idea and dropped to prefered for a month or 2. Cos the constant 6 monthers basically dropped just after makeb came up for pre order.

I mean im not going to start rumors but i wouldnt be shocked if on the next call they come out with and when makeb released subs grew by 200-300k subs. i know thats probaly way to much but you get my point.

Which is why they went into fire drill mode to implement it.

I thought they were FOS and just too lazy to try when they announced the model, but knowing now that subs hit their valley seemingly well under 500k, I now believe it was the only way to save the game. There's no way they could have produced content quickly enough to reverse the sub decline.

The original SW trilogy followed classic space opera style and approach. Lucas was heavily influenced by the space operas of the 50. He was also classically educated in cinema and screenplay design. He used classic screenplay design and then wove space opera extensively throughout. Some people are aware of this, some are really only into the movies for the space opera and action, some are really into it for it's grand themes and plots. It varies depending on the individual.. which is the magic of Lucas' style IMO.. he was a master at weaving something into it for everyone.

Broad brush strokes....

Episode 4 of the original trilogy begins by laying out each and every key character of the trilogy, in detail, and with the soft backdrop of the growing imperial-republic conflict. We learn about the characters and we see them develop into main protagonists/antagonists for a multi-part epic trilogy. Episode 4 climaxes though large scale conflict centered on the grand conflict between factions.

Episode 5 continues the grand conflict between factions.. then diverges back to individual story arcs for key protagonists.... setting yet another layer of character development including the addition of new protagonists/antagonists into the mix.

Episode 6 begins by completing the middle part character development.. in essence showing the final maturing of some of the key characters ahead of the themes moving back to direct faction-faction conflict.... culminating in an epic final battle between sides. It then ties-off, at least for this trilogy, the character stories and puts them largely in harmony and resolution.

That is the broad brush strokes, and of course Lucas weaves lots and lots of space opera action and adventure throughout. The key themes though are as I stated... develop the charcaters... move to a grander theme and conflict between good and evil (of which the characters become a part), resolve the grand conflict, and then integrate the affects of that grand conflict on how it has impacted/changed the characters lives so radically (compared to when we first met them). It's an ebb and flow between the characters being front and center and the grander good/evil theme being front and center... they move back and forth foreground/background as the story progresses.

Episodes 1-3 follow a similar pattern, and since Lucas was the guiding hand that makes sense. I expect the final three episodes will do something similar, but the style will be somewhat different since it will be created by different creative minds. But the core mechanics of screenplay design will remain... because screenplay design is a finely tuned craft with the goal to affect the human mind and imagination of the viewers... and for that there is a core approach to how characters and story are woven and presented.

How are you expecting to find out? Unless they tell you of course. You can be sarcastic about it, or you can have a little understanding that such things take time.

I'm sure they have a blue print of the story and where it's going. Chapter 4 is probably well laid out, and now after they are starting to make money they will probably start to work on in more and find a way to release it. BW was hurting before F2P, so they would obviously be cautious about spending more money on the game. Now I think they will loosen their belts a bit and invest in the game as they see potential and real profits. Makeb was the first step. They may plan on doing small DLC's like Makeb or maybe they will go with a larger DLC in the future. Either way, I guarantee you they are have been and are currently working on new story. Whether or not that is your definition of what Chapter 4 should be is another question. I don't think they have given up on class stories, but I could see some of the class stories merging in the future.

People interested in the current space game are a tiny minority. If BW adds a real space game, like STO's, for example, I can almost guarantee another 500k people returning and/or trying the game. Having choices with ship design, external and internal and being able to fly with and against others is a huge dimension of game play (and cm sales) that is just sitting there waiting. It would take something that big to get this game back on the radar of many of those that gave up on thisin month 2 or 3.

If they get space right it will crack this nut right open. Thats just a given cos if you build it they shall come.

I think the game has been pretty amazing seeing where it came from. We'll see what they'll do with extra revenue, and I'm sure it won't disappoint. =)

I agree... but I'm not sure what the definition of "right" is for a space in and MMO. Seems like it has many defintions with players. SWG, STO, EVE, <insert favorite boutique game here>.

But I'm sure we can all agree that the "status quo" would be excluded from the definition.

500k subscribers ain't bad.

The double revenue profit is from initial cash shop investment. If they do not focus on driving people to continue to play (Be it storyline, PvP, Gearing, replay value), this drops off and dies shortly. If they focus on packs, only the die hards will be left who want the gear from them. If they focus on customizations, they will get more casuals. If they focus on content, they get more gamers in general.

Unfortunately, packs is the cheapest to produce, and looks the best income wise. However, it does not lead to long term stability.

There are more games than I can count on my hands that have shown this over the years. Unfortunately producing a long lasting, good game =/= bean counter short term goals.

Either EA/BW wants this to be a long term game, or they are going for the short earn kill. GW/GW2's short term play and borefest really exemplifies the short term money making goal. Unfortunately most of the industry is focused on the short term make money and get out - the devs, designers, etc expect games to last 12-24 months and die.

Subscription only failed because the game is too short and the replay isn't worthwhile. I'll be 50 in 3 weeks of moderately casual play with about a 3rd of my time spent screwing around. If I had not learned how to deal with boslter in PvP I'd be cancelling if I did not find another class I'd enjoy storylining through.