Alot people forget that this game is new...

1, They have regulations they adhere to for the health and safety of their game, absolutely. In this market, games that are released that are missing these features typically don't do well and even some of the ones that DO don't always make out for whatever reason.

2, UI customization/combat logs (which has been available in MMO's for years, going on decades) aren't really "optional extras", they are standards. A cross-realm LFG and perhaps even recount would be more of what of an optional extra.

The point is, this game is fairly good and is riding its IP. Sooner or later that is going to wear off. Look around already, many complaints from people who LOVE the game are centered around a lack of people being in game.

I think car analogies are perfect for this... here's why (my opinion and perspective)

Let's take one example of a new car company that wanted to be in the market... Lexus.

Can you imagine if Lexus wanted to compete with Cadillac and BMW, but had manual transmissions, no intermittent wipers, no leather seats, no power steering, no navigation systems, etc... Basically, no luxury components (or what some might call standard features today). Could they possibly be in the same category and want to appeal to the same customer base as the other manufacturers in that space? Not a chance.

Now, if Lexus came out and wanted to compete with Saturn (when they existed), they could easily not include those features, cause those might be options on Saturns too. However, would they distinguish themselves and drive customers to their product as opposed to other car manufacturers in that same space? Probably not, unless price was a difference.

With games competing for the same customers in the same space, you need to compete with one of two things... Price or features.

SW is the same price as the other subscription based MMO's. So, then they need features that are either compatible, or better than their competitors.

Do they have features that are better or at least compete with their competitors? Some maybe, but by and large, no, they don't. Thus, based upon features (that may or may not be standard now in other games in the same space), SW comes up a little shy and will not compete well long term (unless they implement them soon).

Fail, lexus are toyota.

Insert any manufacturer you want... analogy is an analogy...

/sigh...

some people, thick heads...

Nope, still fail, lexus are and always have been toyota, they are there prestige car department, they created it because certain markets couldnt see toyotas as being prestiages car makers so they created lexus brand name.

BUT stop saying that SW:ToR is a failed game because they don't have all this, while for example WoW does. WoW had NOTHING, and I repeat NOTHING, of this at launch.

Meldwyn, your analogy fails time after time. as has been pointed out, if you take out all the health and safety regulations of what has to be there and then see what is left as optional extras you basically have radio, sat nav and tinted windows.