Most people appear worried by the companions and rightly so because if done badly they will ruin the entire game, however;  companion NPC's worked pretty well in guild wars and people still grouped when needed.  My greatest fear is point number 5, will it be WoW with lightsabres?  Not entirely to be sure but devs and publishers forcing themselves not to try for the heights of Blizzard mountain must be damned hard when you consider the possible income involved.

Interesting the link they have made between blizzard and bioware.

I can understand comparing one mmo to another, but comparing the "our first mmo" aspect seems to make some presume the game will therfore be similar, which is a bit far-fetched imo

Well considering Bioware's piss poor support for Dragon Age, failing to fix a single player game for over 6 months I have concerns about this being a success,

Good article, I enjoyed it, mainly because you're not afraid to voice your concern. 

I have to admit, back in the day when I heard rumors of BW doing a SW MMO I want crazy about it, I thought, damn BW will make the best MMO evar!

But as the 1st screenshots came out and the more info we get now, I do feel as if this is not going to be my cup of tea. I was honestly looking for something like SWG with updated graphics engine, game mechanics, and overall improvement of that formula, but all I see when I look at SWTOR is mass appeal mass appeal and more mass appeal, with a healthy sprinkle of World of Warcraft.

I think a companion character would be sweet if it was like r2d2 or some kind of droid or alien that helped in some quirky way ala "r2d2 as a locksmith/hacker" but just like repaired your ship and stuff while you were doing more important things.  

Originally posted by Asomatous

Good article, I enjoyed it, mainly because you're not afraid to voice your concern. 

 

I have to admit, back in the day when I heard rumors of BW doing a SW MMO I want crazy about it, I thought, damn BW will make the best MMO evar!

 

But as the 1st screenshots came out and the more info we get now, I do feel as if this is not going to be my cup of tea. I was honestly looking for something like SWG with updated graphics engine, game mechanics, and overall improvement of that formula, but all I see when I look at SWTOR is mass appeal mass appeal and more mass appeal, with a healthy sprinkle of World of Warcraft.

Wouldn't they have to be completely retarded to spend more than $100million and NOT go for mass appeal?

Originally posted by DthRevan

Well considering Bioware's piss poor support for Dragon Age, failing to fix a single player game for over 6 months I have concerns about this being a success,

 

 I never had a single problem with DA:O, what exactly did they not fix?

Originally posted by DerWotan

5. Biowares first MMO

Well Bioware has a reputation for creating good solo RPGs altough ME 2 was more like a shooter with some RPG elements. They don't have any experience with creating a MMO and currently it shows. They are trying to copy too much solo RPG features and transform it into an MMO which won't work.

Its still early judging from what we've seen right now its looking more like a solo RPG with co op modus. Also they have to with LA and EA two studios known for their failed MMOs.

4. Star Wars Serious Business

Only for fans Lucas is as greedy as it gets, just look at the craptastic episodes 1 - 3. He doesn't care about Star Wars any longer all he's seeing is $$$. Do you really believe this guy what give a rats butt about a not so Star Wars like change if he can make one more dime out of it? I highly doubt it.

Bioware on the other hand is walking a very thin line here. The Star Wars crowd has been pissed off by LA and Soe's NGE so they are even more skeptical right now and rightfully so. Voice acting alone for sure isn't gonna get it if the story isn't Star Wars like I'm sure it will end up like so much others games.

3. Voice Acting = Too much

Its a time and money killer and thats my number 1 concern with it. Its a blast for the first time but after that it can become annoying very fast (ig. Aoc and Tortage) at some point you just want to get the damn task and skip the dialogue.

I'm very sure they've already wasted a huge part of their budget and time into this thing. You know they are only 1 year away from shipping and haven't yet talked about endgame nor shown any real plans for it. Time is running out Bioware.

2. Companion Characters

Best example for too much solo RPG style in an MMO. Its working well in solo games cause well ... they are meant to be played solo. MMO on the other side are about working together as a team, raid and not having stupid NPCs called companions taking your job as a healer, dd or tank. Companions could very well lead to more solofication of the game.

 It also kills the diversity of pet classes.

Why do they have to be part of my story? How about writting my own story and customize the part companions will or will not have in it? Its starting to look like a linear part of story and some loyal tasks (known from ME).

1. WoW With Lightsabers

- gay graphics check

- solo till max level check

- no death penalty check

- few classes avaiable check

So judging from the videos, hands on reports shown right now its looking like WoW with Lightsabers, yes. Only difference its fully voiced and more focused on a storyline.

conclusion: Bioware has yet to release some information about the endgame, group game right now they've only shown one "big" fight which wasn't very epic at all. Gonna keep following the infos but right now its just looking like another carebear game hope I'm wrong though.

With the exception that I disaprove the usage of "gay" as synonyme for "bad", I couldn't have said it better myself.

Bioware has a strong tendency for conservative gameplay. The stories and characters were always great. But tbh... nothing else in any Bioware game ever really was great or anything but standard fare outside of story. Neither the combat nor the world design nor anything. And EA and Lucasarts aren't quite hotspots of innovation and creativity either.

Companions - how will this affect grouping?

    People who are interested in grouping, do so. People who are not interested, do not. People who do want to group stop playing when they hit manditory group content. Games that force group content do not force players to group. They make players who don't want to group do something else instead. Like play another game.

    Why would anyone want to group with people who didn't want to? If some person is doing their own thing, happy as can be without you, why do you care in the slightest that they are happy but not in a group? How exactly are you going to force them to group with you and have the resulting group function effectively?

    Companions sound like a massive boon to solo players. There are a lot of solo players, for many reasons. If the game caters to them, they will come and play it. This is good for the game, the solo players, and the player community as a whole. Where is the negative in having more players? In supporting multiple playstyles?

    Crafting is another way to attract more players. Not everyone likes to kill things. Some players like to be social while accomplishing goals and quests. How many people play facebook games with simple nonviolent goals? A lot. Is getting them to play on an MMO bad for anyone? I think not. More players is, at the very least, a bigger community. More money into the game, which leads to more game development. Which is great for everyone.

    If you like to form groups with other players and pvp, chances are you're only going to be facing other players who like the same thing. Players who aren't interested in this kind of play aren't going to. The game can't make them. Having a game only support this playstyle means only those players will play it. Which, no matter how you look at it, is only a tiny fraction of the player community.

    If companions have problems with gameplay, or play balance, that's a serious issue and will have to be addressed. Just like player class balance, player gear balance, yadda yadda yadda. I'm sure such issues are being taken into account. I can't imagine that they're being ignored. Like the designers are suddenly: OMG! The companion is involved with combat too? We never thought of that! Six years and millions of dollars to waste. Oh well.

    So far the only serious companion concern I've seen printed was the post about if they'll make pvp more predictable because it the companions will always be targeted first. But if companions are all classes, and players get to choose their companions, it seems like companions could be fine tuned just like your gear loadout. Just like you have sever pvp gear and hotbar loadouts you would have companion setups to go along with them. And whil you might always target a healer, what if the player loads a dps, buffer or tank?

    I'm really looking forward to companions and to seeing what players do with them.

I serieusly doub it will become as popular as WoW, its just to many similaritys that make swtor a themepark for mass identical to WoW.

Voice over will not work in mmo maybe only first month you play after that it becomes annoying, companions seems biggest couse of failor for swtor.

But if you go blindly and im sure most do for this swtor and you want familiar themeprk gameplay as we saw in last decade well this game prolly for you.

But my gues is most will be bored after couple of months becouse they find out its nothing new its all the same boring crap.

Bioware should stick to solo games is my advice.

Btw release is not that far away but world is still very empty and dull looking, result maybe not much to do but same old crap like kill 10x rats ill bet yah this will be ingame and we want that RIGHT :P

Goodluck with another eq-wow themepark copy:)

Actually they have already stated there will be some tough end-game content and raids for hardcore players. They have also stated the world is 95% open and 5% instanced. Do some research before you come bashing the game.

My thoughts on a StarWars MMO:

It should be RvR...Sith vs Jedi

You should play a varaition of  either class, but at heart all players should be either Jedi or Sith. I make that statement because that is what StarWars is about. The story isnt about troopers, pilots, or even any of the local populace, they merly provide fill and fodder to the Jedi/Sith conflict.

I feel this way because, as stated in the article, Star Wars is the biggest intelectual property in Nerdville...Hence..to open the playable class structure BioWare has raped the lore...see Jedi facing a viable threat in 1 trooper....really?..really?...These are Jedi..a small group of them are able to repel a battaion of troopers...I think this will be an argument that will atleast hinder TORs placement umungest MMOs greatest titles.

In the StarWars universe there is a vast and untapped pile of RPG resourse. But it seems to me BioWare has chosen to stay in a farmula of 'stick with what works and what is safe'..great Blizzard wins another with teh WOW formula....ToR will sell previously unseen pre-release numbers...then..without an inovative..and I suspect 'slow to play" do to the voice over, it will falter.

i have some concerns about this game but i reserve judgement until i try the game.  I myself enjoy the star wars universe of the movies rather than the old republic, thats the big one for me.  I do have some concern about the companions but will just have to see how that all works.  i think there are a lot of expectations and hype with this game.  This one line from the article rubbed me the wrong way  "Ask the guys and gals of SOE how fun it is to create and maintain a Star Wars MMORPG" 

Shut up, everyone....

I think there is no need to be concerned.

It will be at least for a few months a good experience.

If i have the money when it is released i want to play a Bounty Hunter hired for work but staying independent.

I dont care what side will hire me i will do my work as a professional.

But deep in my sold soul an my sold heart i hate these boastfull arogant forceusers and when i ever get the oportunity to get rid of a few i wil take it as the universe only can be a better place with less of them whatever side they may belong to - the best would be they destroy each other making me rich in the process^^

just out of curiosity . How is this Biowares first MMORPG, doesn't mythic already have a few MMORPG's out along with EA, and isn't Mythic a part of the Bioware company? I keep on hearing how this is their first MMORPG, but maybe for the division, the company has made MMORPG's in the past.  WAR, DAoC.

Another list.. jesus.... Bioware will pull it off, i don't doubt it at all. It ofcourse will offend somebody, somebody will dislike it and some people will cry a river to drown the whole world in crocodile tears...

I will buy it, i will play it and I will dominate.

I am by no means a starwars fan, just bioware fan for making few of the best games in existance, games where mostly all current games rip off ideas. Bioware knows how to capture and obtain great moody enviorment be it mmorpg or single player game. To put it simple: Bioware has never made a bad game, and with the money they are placing on this game it simply can't suck..

its not gonna be wow with lightsabers , but will be CoX or Champions Online with lightsabers!