Why I'm not playing.

I feel like explaining anything to this guy will be like kicking a brick wall...

I *really* don't want to turn what is already a wall of text into the Great Wall of China, but part of your "analysis" of the OP's review just got under my skin.

I think we can all agree on three things:

1) If you pay the sub and play the game you have a right to your opinions
2) Regardless of what Bioware intended, the game ended up attracting a lot of people who were expecting something more like WoW, EQ, or SWG.
3) Screaming that the game is about "story" is not going to keep people subscribed if the rest of the game puts them off.

That being said. . .

No, first off -- the title of the thread is "Why I am not playing". And it was posted as an Amazon review. Now, for me, when I see reviews, I see two kinds:

Reviews written by people who get paid to write them, where I expect objectivity
or
Review written by people who used a product , where I expect their biased opinion.

People who read this post will either agree or disagree with this person's biases. Demanding objectivity from reviews is particularly disingenious, since many positive reviews of the game don't appear to have even a shred of objectivity, glossing over bugs, connection issues, known issues with PvP, balance, and the like as not important because "OMG story!".

No, but having completed an Sorc to 47 and a Trooper to 50, it does sum up almost 95% of the quests in the game. The cinematics are certainly important , I agree. But the ugly truth is that many of the quests have a cinematic opening that means nothing, and too many of them depend on a bonus of "go kill x things" or "go click x things".

The game is touted as innovative. Quest design has not been innovated much except for some very minor branching in a small handful of quests, and much of that is "go kill x or go click x" branching. There are some interesting and creative quests in the mix, but unfortunately there are also FAR too many standard ones to dismiss this point as inaccurate.

Actually, you are completely incorrect.

ALL of the space quests have a basic version and an upgraded version. They are functionally identical. They utilize the same maps, the same routes, and the only difference is enemy difficulty. Ezran Outpost IS Cartel Listening Station.

*snickers*

So which is it, Bob? Is this the most innovative, creative and industry leading MMO on the market, or is it just another average MMO?

If no one gets it by now, you cannot swagger about claiming to be the next evolution in MMO's and win best MMO awards on the one hand , but demand never to be compared to the actual industry leader on the other hand.

No one is going to wait seven years for SWTOR to polish itself to the level WoW has if the gameplay and experiences bores and/or frustrates them. For the people that are happy with the game , that's not an issue -- but you're going to lose a lot of people in that time frame by taking this ridiculous position that the game should be immune from comparative criticism , even after a seven year development, simply because it's new.

I'm sorry, but what you just stated is a lie. Please read this official response link. They've basically stated "we're not putting them in, even though they were in beta and people didn't have a problem with them" and they are dancing around the issue.

I don't mind you taking apart someone's opinion-laced screed when they start making stuff up, but you shouldn't do the same yourself. It makes one look unobjective.

This should tell you something.

Now, you can walk away thinking "the OP is being a troll" or "the OP doens't get it" or, as one person hilariously claims, everyone who dislikes the game is brainwashed by WoW.

For me, the reality is that Bioware attracted a lot of people to this game for which their current offering is simply not cutting it. The "30 days free" trolls are all gone, yet the forums are still flooded with "I quit" posts, people bringing up issues, bugs, etc.

Clinging repeatedly to the mantra that "it will get fixed in time" only applies to the bugs. Some of the core design issues (incompetent OPVP design, a literally broken system of raid bosses that not only reset themselves regularly but one who can actually kill you outside the EV, laughable GTN, hilarious RNG stupidity on bags, literally non-functional UI that does zip but looks very pretty, etc) are what drives people up the wall.

Granted, splattering one's opinion all over the forums and then having the gall to say "don't buy the game" is gauche and borderline trolling, and I really don't mind you smacking this guy around. But some of the issues he raises are real ones, and I think everyone is so wishing the game would succeed that real concerns are getting tossed out as trolling along with the QQ.

It's not lying, it's hyperbole.

People can affirm or deny them easily because much of what he dislikes or finds lacking is opinion based. Meaning they are the OP's justifications for not playing and certainly, as we've seen in countless threads about a variety of issues, he's not the only one to perceive things that way.

But there in lies the honesty you mention. What he states is true ... for him. If you (general "you") agree with him then all it means is you too perceive things the same. It does NOT mean everybody else does or that simply because that's your perception of it as well that it is an underlying truth about the game.

Simple case in point:

The space combat in this game (currently) is a rail-shooter mini-game.
That's the simple truth, not refutable and not going to be denied by the developers even.

Whether the space combat in this game is fun, engaging, enjoyable distraction, well done (for what it is) OR lackluster, pointless, insufferable, "FAIL", etc etc and for whatever reason a person assigned one of those descriptions to it ...
is PURE personal opinion.

And the vast majority of any review, good or bad, can be dissected the same way.
I have no issue with what the OP stated. If that's his reasons for not playing or not subscribing, power to him. I'll even applaud him for keeping it pretty much decent constructive criticism versus what typically pollutes these forums. But it doesn't mean I, a minority, or a majority of players are going to agree with a few, some or all of his points.

I'd love to hear your defense of what I posted. Go ahead.

So the companion was useless, then later it was too powerful. Just whip out your companion and beat any heroic area?

So blatantly false its laughable.

You're not level 50, are you? Not many people have cleared both nightmare OPS 5 times. Additionally, you keep saying, "literally nothing to do at 50" which is LITERALLY false. There is LITERALLY a lot of things to do at 50 and I gave a list.

What I read is this:

" I HAVE OPINIONS! YOU SHOULD READ THEM AS FACTS!"

Seriously.

If you Hate the game.. then. uh? Don't play it?

I generally don't do things that I hate.

This.

I like The Old Republic, I play it, but I'm inclined to agree with almost everything the OP has said. Sadly, I know this is just going to be (if it hasn't already) swallowed up by the Bioware Defence Forces storming the thread and preaching how the game is 100% fine and the Second Coming of MMO Christ.

But hey, voice acting.

We don't care.

you care