Originally posted by Lobotomist

The new SWTOR page details NPC "Vette" as one of the player companions.

This comes as a big shock to me , because it can mean only one thing : thousands of players running around with character named Vette following them !

Is Vette a clone ?

How immersion breaking will be to play a rpg where 100 characters named Vette stand around you on a town square ?

Honestly it is something only seen (and demed worthy) in a low budged asian F2P MMOs

 

Dont take it wrong. Its perfectly fine for a single player RPG. But MMORPG ? This must be the very new low.

 

I think that with all due respect Bioware must categorise SWTOR as SORPG (single player online rpg)

The companions are for the Storyline Arc , that is instanced for each player. So not sure what the shock horror is here.

They are offering a number of elements in this game one of which is fully voiced storylines for each class with companions.

As wll as the standard fare: PvP/PvE/Conflicted Wolds/Crafting/Economy blah blah blah , either read up on stuff .

Based on your theory anyone who logs onto an MMO and plays solo would trigger the MMO to be reclassified as solo. That includes AOC which can be maxed solo and WoW which can be maxed solo. Are you calling for those to be reclassified by ignoring all but one feature.

I agree with Lobotomist.  If this is supposed to be an MMO version of Bioware games they need to have some kind of random name generator and a way to customize your companions.  If everyone of the same class runs around with the same companions, and i'm sure there are cross class companions then that is pretty lame.  Not enough info now though, and honestly nothing about this game has me excited so my 2 cents is prob worth nothing.

Originally posted by ProfRed

I agree with Lobotomist.  If this is supposed to be an MMO version of Bioware games they need to have some kind of random name generator and a way to customize your companions.  If everyone of the same class runs around with the same companions, and i'm sure there are cross class companions then that is pretty lame.  Not enough info now though, and honestly nothing about this game has me excited so my 2 cents is prob worth nothing.

Well if you are sure there are cross class companions you are absolutely 100% wrong as it has been consistently stated this is not the case.  Go troll else where.

Originally posted by bobbadud

Originally posted by maskedweasel

Companions have not been confirmed or seen in the outside (open) world.

Reference please?

Here is mine

": It's fun jetting around the Galaxy with your AI pals. .. When you arrive at one world (sic) you might decide 'ah Ill adventure around with my Wookiee because I really need someone who's really strong and can take a lot of damage".

The companion NPC system is the CORE design around SW. You'll eventually have at least half a dozen of them used to adventure in the different worlds.

(handy who needs real players anyway)

Apparently the fans need to be updated.

Also another source: "The downside of this system is that ... you're going to see other people running around with the SAME friend as you have... "

"We're thinking of ways to make sure you can customize them so you don't get too confused which of the Chewbacca's running around is actually yours ...".

here Chewbacca, here !

I see no references or sources identified here. You must try harder the companions are primarily part of the story arcs, and are used to assist in just that, (Just goto the main SWTOR site, this is confirmed). It is a shame if this upsets you but then no one relly cares this is just one aspect of the many features in this MMO.

If someone is saying that companions have not been confirmed in the outside world he means just that . Nothing you have stated above talks about groups of players with companions, so until you can source that info from an official release you look a little foolish, Whilsts Bobbadud is spot on and says nothing untrue. This game is still heavily under development nearly another year of development to go.

Honestly, if you're playing an MMO to be unique, you're doing it wrong; that's my point of view anyway.

There's 100's of identical pets running around in other games just the same; you'll be able to customize your companion to a certain extend with armour and such (they also said you'd be able to make sure you can make yours different from others), but yes, it seems like these guys will have the same name.

What we don't know however, is the total amount of companions and how often you'll be running around with them at your side.

I do not think the game will release without the ability to rename your pets. There will be a very vocal backlash if it does.

That is an opinion, BTW.

EDIT:

Oh man. I just realized that if the pets are referred to by name in the voice acting, then you won't be able to rename them. Thanks for the VA, BioWare.

What a stupid game-limiting mechanic to use for an MMO.

Originally posted by Pigozz

Originally posted by maskedweasel

Nice troll bud.

Only players of the same class have access to the same companions.

 

BioWare has not spoken about what will happen when two players group with the same companion.  

 

Companions have not been confirmed or seen in the outside (open) world.

A perfect example of not explaining a feature then, but just a mistifying it...

Just for your laziness, quote from the official site, Key word is companions will join you :

In Star Wars™: The Old Republic™, a variety of these Companion Characters will join your cause. Some will join you for adventure, some for greed, and some for motivations that will remain hidden until much further along in your adventure.

And a link which describe pretty much that these guys join you for quests if these are instanced you will not see millions of them running around.

http://www.swtor.com/info/systems/companions

(I see three companion types pictured here and theres a write up on Vette)

Anyone who is an avid believer in logic and thinks with logic in mind would know this way before the new Companion feature article over at SWTOR.com 

They have stated since the start that you will pick up various companions who have their own personallities and motives and storylines.  It is virtually impossible to impliment something in an MMORPG with thousands of people playing at a time on any given server and make it so that each one has a unique companion to themselves with thier own unique story and so forth.

The entire idea behind the companion system is to add a way to not only enhance the storytellinge element of the game but also so that solo-play is just as viable as group-play as well as just as dynamic.  How is this any different than the Hunter pet system in WoW?  Every hunter basically has a wolf at 80 now...  The difference is the Companion is much more important to every aspect of the game rather than just combat, unlike the pets in WoW.  Which has been their mission statement since they announced the game.  They have maintained that they are not reinventing the wheel with SWTOR, they are just trying to put their name on the genre and make everything a little bit better while adding their own original features and flavor to it here and there.  They improve apon the pet system with the Companion system...

It's nothing to act appalled about.

Originally posted by NecroHelium

Originally posted by ProfRed

I agree with Lobotomist.  If this is supposed to be an MMO version of Bioware games they need to have some kind of random name generator and a way to customize your companions.  If everyone of the same class runs around with the same companions, and i'm sure there are cross class companions then that is pretty lame.  Not enough info now though, and honestly nothing about this game has me excited so my 2 cents is prob worth nothing.

Well if you are sure there are cross class companions you are absolutely 100% wrong as it has been consistently stated this is not the case.  Go troll else where.

So you actually say that only one class will have the Chewbacca Companion? read : tank.

I think some may be unique (in the beginning quests) to be unlocked, but it would surprise me that all the others and later acquired party companions would be this unique.

.

But to me, this problem (and the way they are handling it "we are thinking of ways to make sure you can customize them, so you don'tget the Chewbacca's mixed up..." ) shows lack of insight.

SW:TOR very much started out as KOTOR 3 but somehere somehow someone decided  to transfer it into an mmorpg (probably around 2006/07).

.

The sky was the limit back then for new mmorpgs. AoC, TR, War all would hit the multi million subs space. So why not make an mmorpg out of KOTOR3 with the newest technique of "companions" already introduced in GW1 that year.

They are making an online version out of single player adventure game (with exactly the same techniques like huge recorded dialogues, AI NPC's, in game videos etc).

Take a look at this sentence I now come to stumble upon ..." It has already more recorded dialogue than all Mass Effect games combined"....

What do you think is more challeging and time consuming: an actor that reads (and acts) a script or a team of 6 programmers that still need to begin on pvp, end game, professions that "still are discussed in the designer stage".

Very telling to me.

Originally posted by bobbadud

Originally posted by NecroHelium

Originally posted by ProfRed

I agree with Lobotomist.  If this is supposed to be an MMO version of Bioware games they need to have some kind of random name generator and a way to customize your companions.  If everyone of the same class runs around with the same companions, and i'm sure there are cross class companions then that is pretty lame.  Not enough info now though, and honestly nothing about this game has me excited so my 2 cents is prob worth nothing.

Well if you are sure there are cross class companions you are absolutely 100% wrong as it has been consistently stated this is not the case.  Go troll else where.

So you actually say that only one class will have the Chewbacca Companion? read : tank.

I think some may be unique (in the beginning quests) to be unlocked, but it would surprise me that all the others and later acquired party companions would be this unique.

.

But to me, this problem (and the way they are handling it "we are thinking of ways to make sure you can customize them, so you don'tget the Chewbacca's mixed up..." ) shows lack of insight.

SW:TOR very much started out as KOTOR 3 but somehere somehow someone decided  to transfer it into an mmorpg (probably around 2006/07).

.

The sky was the limit back then for new mmorpgs. AoC, TR, War all would hit the multi million subs space. So why not make an mmorpg out of KOTOR3 with the newest technique of "companions" already introduced in GW1 that year.

They are making an online version out of single player adventure game (with exactly the same techniques like huge recorded dialogues, AI NPC's, in game videos etc).

Take a look at this sentence I now come to stumble upon ..." It has already more recorded dialogue than all Mass Effect games combined"....

What do you think is more challeging and time consuming: an actor that reads (and acts) a script or a team of 6 programmers that still need to begin on pvp, end game, professions that "still are discussed in the designer stage".

Very telling to me.

Sounds like a whole lot of speculation to me. 

With the keyword being development.  At what stage of development do the developers stop trying to make the game better in every way?  In terms of the MMORPG genre, they are still doing this well past launch.  The idea that it is a bad sign that they are still developing the game in the early stages of development is kind of ridiculous.  Rumor has it the game won't be coming out until after March of 2011...

Originally posted by Echelons

With the keyword being development.  At what stage of development do the developers stop trying to make the game better in every way?  In terms of the MMORPG genre, they are still doing this well past launch.  The idea that it is a bad sign that they are still developing the game in the early stages of development is kind of ridiculous.  Rumor has it the game won't be coming out until after March of 2011...

That's less than a year away, which is not early development.

Originally posted by Echelons

Originally posted by bobbadud

Originally posted by NecroHelium

Originally posted by ProfRed

I agree with Lobotomist.  If this is supposed to be an MMO version of Bioware games they need to have some kind of random name generator and a way to customize your companions.  If everyone of the same class runs around with the same companions, and i'm sure there are cross class companions then that is pretty lame.  Not enough info now though, and honestly nothing about this game has me excited so my 2 cents is prob worth nothing.

Well if you are sure there are cross class companions you are absolutely 100% wrong as it has been consistently stated this is not the case.  Go troll else where.

So you actually say that only one class will have the Chewbacca Companion? read : tank.

I think some may be unique (in the beginning quests) to be unlocked, but it would surprise me that all the others and later acquired party companions would be this unique.

.

But to me, this problem (and the way they are handling it "we are thinking of ways to make sure you can customize them, so you don'tget the Chewbacca's mixed up..." ) shows lack of insight.

SW:TOR very much started out as KOTOR 3 but somehere somehow someone decided  to transfer it into an mmorpg (probably around 2006/07).

.

The sky was the limit back then for new mmorpgs. AoC, TR, War all would hit the multi million subs space. So why not make an mmorpg out of KOTOR3 with the newest technique of "companions" already introduced in GW1 that year.

They are making an online version out of single player adventure game (with exactly the same techniques like huge recorded dialogues, AI NPC's, in game videos etc).

Take a look at this sentence I now come to stumble upon ..." It has already more recorded dialogue than all Mass Effect games combined"....

What do you think is more challeging and time consuming: an actor that reads (and acts) a script or a team of 6 programmers that still need to begin on pvp, end game, professions that "still are discussed in the designer stage".

Very telling to me.

Sounds like a whole lot of speculation to me. 

With the keyword being development.  At what stage of development do the developers stop trying to make the game better in every way?  In terms of the MMORPG genre, they are still doing this well past launch.  The idea that it is a bad sign that they are still developing the game in the early stages development is kind of ridiculous.  Rumor has it the game won't be coming out until after March of 2011.

First you design, develop and program things: the voice over acting is the last instalment (and the least important in any video game) wouldn't you agree?

With already more recorded dialogue than ME1+2 at this very moment, it is very odd to hear about professions and pvp 'looked into".

Bioware is now on ground they never set foot in : on line gameplay with and without player interaction in both PVE and PVP.

And the confusion in pet mixed ups shows it painfully.

I agree: the game will not be published in 2011 if they want to avoid a collapse after 3 months.

are there male companions? Vette is not appealing to me. Renaming/customization options would be great.

Originally posted by bobbadud

 

SW:TOR very much started out as KOTOR 3 but somehere somehow someone decided  to transfer it into an mmorpg (probably around 2006/07).

You're pulling that out of thin air + it is completely untrue.

From wikipedia (link)

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 3 (cancelled)

In 2003, LucasArts cancelled the Proteus console MMOG project during its design phase (the game was intended to be an in-house sibling to Star Wars: Galaxies).^[5] Upon its cancellation, the Proteus project's team and elements of its designs were applied to developing Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 3. According to designer John Stafford, the team "wrote a story, designed most of the environments/worlds, and many of the quests, characters, and items."^[6] The game was cancelled as part of cuts initiated in 2004 aimed at positioning LucasArts for future success.^[7] Concept art from the cancelled Knights of the Old Republic 3 project was published in the book Rogue Leaders: The Story of LucasArts (2008); the artwork includes depictions of Taloraan, Rodia, and a Mandalore city, as well as a Coruscant vehicle and a new character named Naresha.^[8]

That game was going to be a completely different beast, canceled due to cuts at LA and is not related to this project.

Thing is, whether or not you can give other names to companions, they stay the same deal for everyone, they're there for your story; to help you out and to make it easier to fill in group roles.

Originally posted by Moretrinkets

are there male companions? Vette is not appealing to me. Renaming/customization options would be great.

Their answer was: "We're thinking of ways to make sure you can customize them so you don't get confused...".

Still thinking (probably that's the reason why they are a no show in the open world at the moment).

I think it's short-sighted to take a sentence like, "Looking into ways..." as anything but what it is.  To think that they haven't already implimented some ways as of right now.  I mean it's been known before that you would be able to equip your companions to some extent anyway.  To me when I read it, it says they are brainstorming MORE ways to do this on top of whatever equipment changes and so forth they already have.

I think people forget that we are talking about Bioware here.  Same as we were talking about Blizzard before they launched World of Warcraft.  They are a largely amazing developer who has put out nothing but amazing games and have continued to push their titles with each installment.  The idea that they would cut corners or not know how to develop and MMORPG despite the fact that they brought in a ton of people experienced in the field to enhance their team, is silly to me.  Don't sell Bioware short.  They've done this all long enough to know what a good game is or isn't.

Originally posted by Lobotomist

I dont know. This still does not sound like real MMO to me:

A game where every player is individual and have his own story.

 

This sounds like single player rpg:

Preset story , with preset characters.

 

Dont get me wrong. I will play SWTOR. Its a Bioware game , and will probably be superb RPG experience.

I just see it as it is. Single player RPG with innovative cooperative multiplayer option.

Well of course its not a true MMO but then most of the MMOs of today are not proper ones either. They all insist on guiding you through a pre-scripted story just like a single player game. EQ2, WoW, AoC etc = online single player games with co-op features and seperate PvP sections enabled. SWTOR is simply pushing the single player game design to a new extreme as it's single player games and story telling that they have a lot of experience with. They are covering the single player area of mmos while AreneNet and Trion are focusing on dynamic content which is what real MMOs should be all about.

Originally posted by bobbadud

Originally posted by NecroHelium

Originally posted by ProfRed

I agree with Lobotomist.  If this is supposed to be an MMO version of Bioware games they need to have some kind of random name generator and a way to customize your companions.  If everyone of the same class runs around with the same companions, and i'm sure there are cross class companions then that is pretty lame.  Not enough info now though, and honestly nothing about this game has me excited so my 2 cents is prob worth nothing.

Well if you are sure there are cross class companions you are absolutely 100% wrong as it has been consistently stated this is not the case.  Go troll else where.

So you actually say that only one class will have the Chewbacca Companion? read : tank.

I think some may be unique (in the beginning quests) to be unlocked, but it would surprise me that all the others and later acquired party companions would be this unique.

.

But to me, this problem (and the way they are handling it "we are thinking of ways to make sure you can customize them, so you don'tget the Chewbacca's mixed up..." ) shows lack of insight.

SW:TOR very much started out as KOTOR 3 but somehere somehow someone decided  to transfer it into an mmorpg (probably around 2006/07).

.

The sky was the limit back then for new mmorpgs. AoC, TR, War all would hit the multi million subs space. So why not make an mmorpg out of KOTOR3 with the newest technique of "companions" already introduced in GW1 that year.

They are making an online version out of single player adventure game (with exactly the same techniques like huge recorded dialogues, AI NPC's, in game videos etc).

Take a look at this sentence I now come to stumble upon ..." It has already more recorded dialogue than all Mass Effect games combined"....

What do you think is more challeging and time consuming: an actor that reads (and acts) a script or a team of 6 programmers that still need to begin on pvp, end game, professions that "still are discussed in the designer stage".

Very telling to me.

This began as, and always was going to be an mmo, not kotor 3, might want to research more.  Every story is completely different, all companion characters are completely different for every class.  This isn't speculation, it is confirmed fact.  Just because it has recorded dialogue makes it a single player game, gotcha.  Different people work on different things, voice actors are working seperately from programmers, that's common sense, bud.  The game has a budget of 150 million dollars, plenty to do everything in an mmo plus voice overs.  PvP has been shown in numerous videos, raids are already confirmed in-game.  There is still a year in development.  It has been confirmed all the core mechanics are already working, the next year is just adding more to the game. [Mod Edit]

well, i guess we'll be seeing lots of light sided jedi with twilek sidekicks, or smugglers with wookie sidekicks... most likely there will be a 'random name' generated at sidekick acquisition, the only issue really will be how good the AI is, and npc pathing, same as any other game really. Bit of a none issue if you ask me, my own concerns about the game really lay in other areas.

Originally posted by Echelons

I think people forget that we are talking about Bioware here.  Same as we were talking about Blizzard before they launched World of Warcraft.  They are a largely amazing developer who has put out nothing but amazing games and have continued to push their titles with each installment.  The idea that they would cut corners or not know how to develop and MMORPG despite the fact that they brought in a ton of people experienced in the field to enhance their team, is silly to me.  Don't sell Bioware short.  They've done this all long enough to know what a good game is or isn't.

There is one huge difference between Bioware and Blizzard though.

The first never made multiplayer games with a PvP theme and extensive multi player PVE missions. While the latter published all kind of games in different sectors prior to their mmo. They also took ex MMORPG players as lead designers into their staff.

Bioware is RPG/Adventure. They never published RTS or huge on line game PvP mechanics or e-sports (like D2 - SC1).

That's not saying I don't like Bioware games (BG 1 -2 is an all time favorite and I dislike SC).

But I am not placing Bioware in the same technical league as Blizzard, because their focus was almost never outside the rpg/adventure experience.

It may seam odd, but games like DA or ME are further from MMORPG play (from a technical point of view) then you think. D2 stands a lot closer to mmorpg's on a technical view.