Originally posted by TheCrow2k

Well sadly as has often been publicised by the gaming press the big companies often spend 40-60%+ of game budgets for AAA titles on marketing and advertising alone with an often even higher percentage spend for licenced IP games such as movie spinoffs (Iron Man 2 anyone ?) the later of which are usually crap.

I would hate to think about how much of SWTOR's budget was spend on marketting & advertising.... Still my comment was in relation to the fallout if  SWTOR fails and not so much the sickeningly bloated budgets some of these publishers are putting up for games.

Sounds kinda absurd and ludicrous to me, you're not really serious, are you?

I very much doubt that this is the case, and even more when we're talking about SWTOR.

But if you truly believe such... excessive numbers, do you have the sources to back it up? I mean, everyone can pluck some figures out of the air and say it's gospel, just saying

You've got to be kidding me. Placing the hope of mmo genre on ToR.

Lol....frankly i don't even care much about it for now.

IMO op is placing unrealistic expectation on a single title. Every game have it's flaw and short coming. This show how narrow the appreciation for mmo op have.

SWtOR is not the last hope, we've still got great MMOs like Guild Wars 2 and ArcheAge coming out too. Even with the slim possibility of Old Republic bombing, the genre will still be alive and kicking! I get your concerns but MMORPGs will continue to evolve and thrive, this forum is darn melodramatic isn't it. 

Blizzard is already in development of a new IP for their upcoming MMO that caters to Casual Gamers. And if you do some research , Tera is also scheduled for a 2012 release, Asia has been pumping out MMO's every few months. GW2 is also slated to come out soon. There are a huge load of MMO's being developed (eg.. TSW) and Loads more getting polished and being scheduled for release. No reason why the future of MMO would be riding on SWTOR's shoulders.

SWTOR is not for everyone, but eventually everyone will try it, some will like it, some will hate it, then those that hate it will come back to play it again. Just like any mmo out there.  Its the same with WOW, most that played it the very first few months left then came back and then a whole lot came back when Celebrities started playing it, when Grandmas play it. I was in a guild in WOW that went from 20 to 5 then to 50 members. And that didn't happen in a few weeks, but in months and years.

Originally posted by Lucioon

Blizzard is already in development of a new IP for their upcoming MMO that caters to Casual Gamers. And if you do some research , Tera is also scheduled for a 2012 release, Asia has been pumping out MMO's every few months. GW2 is also slated to come out soon. There are a huge load of MMO's being developed (eg.. TSW) and Loads more getting polished and being scheduled for release. No reason why the future of MMO would be riding on SWTOR's shoulders.

SWTOR is not for everyone, but eventually everyone will try it, some will like it, some will hate it, then those that hate it will come back to play it again. Just like any mmo out there.  Its the same with WOW, most that played it the very first few months left then came back and then a whole lot came back when Celebrities started playing it, when Grandmas play it. I was in a guild in WOW that went from 20 to 5 then to 50 members. And that didn't happen in a few weeks, but in months and years.

Agreed, and don't forget World of darkness online either.

We do need a new MMO hit soon and it is possible that Blizzards Titan might be so late that the genre will hurt if it will be the next hit, they have said 2014 and knowing Blizz I wouold say that means 2016.

I think it would be best for the genre if either TOR, GW2 or both becomes huge hits because that would tell the big publishing houses that MMOs are worth investing in soon but if TOR fails and GW2 would be huge it would not hurt the genre the least even if it might hurt the P2P model a lot.

MMOs are not affected if a single game fails, no matter if Blizzard or Bioware made it. It will be badly affected if no MMO have done well in a long enough time and we do need a hit game but frankly do I think it would be better for the genre if CCP or Arenanet got the hit than Bioware.

LOL the OP has been drinking the TOR koolaid heavily.

If TOR flops, it's because the players don't like it. No conpsiracies or black helicopters are to blame.

If TOR fails there will not be a mass emoragequit of mmo gamers, they'll move on to the next game, just like they have for the last dozen years.

Get off the WoW comparisons, seriously. WoW has been successful because they took standard game mechanics from ones that went before like EQ ect, improved upon it, and kept their playerbase happy. There's no code to break and no mysteries of the universe to solve. Build a solid game that appeals to the majority of the gaming masses, keep improving it, and don't screw it up. It's that simple.

 WoW is currently king of the MMO world, so what? Others had the title before and I'm sure at some point someone else will claim it when wow takes a fall. Daoc/UO = EQ = WoW = ???.

"So if the recipe for success produces failure, then one must conclude that the MMORPG as a dish is no longer a dish people want to eat….

LMAO what??? Millions of mmo gamers say you're Full Of Crap. As long as millions of people are willing to pay $15 a month to play online games there will be plenty of companies designing games to capitalize on it.

Believe it or not the world will not come to an end if TOR fails.......

An entire genre on one game, not likely. If the game flops it may be a good thing for the genre actually, get companies to start being innovative again.

Originally posted by ktanner3
40-60 percent of TOR's budget was spent on marketing? Yeah, sources please.

http://www.vg247.com/2011/05/05/analyst-swtor-could-cost-ea-as-much-as-80-million-to-develop/

the other poster was incorrect to state that marketing costs 40~60 percent, its actually more toward a 20 ~ 25 % , of course its all speculation even if its made by an analyst. 

But still, regardless of the cost, they know how much they need so that they can break even.

And even if the world if filled with haters on SWTOR this game will still be making money with the millions of Star War Fans and Themepark MMO fans and Bioware fans that will pay a 6 month subscription before they even get into the game.

Will it dethrone WOW, most likely not, will it be a success and make money, most likely yes it will

Originally posted by -Thraxor-

WoW has been successful because they took standard game mechanics from ones that went before like EQ ect, improved upon it, and kept their playerbase happy. There's no code to break and no mysteries of the universe to solve. Build a solid game that appeals to the majority of the gaming masses, keep improving it, and don't screw it up. It's that simple

I agree.

It isn't about whether a game is sandbox or themepark or is revolutionarily different or not. It's about fun.

Gamers play and pay a game that is entertaining to them.

Now, what is entertaining to them differs from one person to the next, but the simple observation that WoW managed to maintain 10+ million people to keep playing and subbing, is kind of an indication that people liked gameplay elements that WoW had, whether it's the themepark based features or the amount of polish, accessibility and smoothness of combat and gameplay.

Originally posted by MMO.Maverick

Originally posted by -Thraxor-

WoW has been successful because they took standard game mechanics from ones that went before like EQ ect, improved upon it, and kept their playerbase happy. There's no code to break and no mysteries of the universe to solve. Build a solid game that appeals to the majority of the gaming masses, keep improving it, and don't screw it up. It's that simple

I agree.

It isn't about whether a game is sandbox or themepark or is revolutionarily different or not. It's about fun.

Gamers play and pay a game that is entertaining to them.

Now, what is entertaining to them differs from one person to the next, but the simple observation that WoW managed to maintain 10+ million people to keep playing and subbing, is kind of an indication that people liked gameplay elements that WoW had, whether it's the themepark based features or the amount of polish, accessibility and smoothness of combat and gameplay.

I really don't understand all the hate on WOW. WOW is still a great game, the numbers definitely is the evidence. I understand that WOW has been at the top for too many years, its time for a game to dethrone it and make the #1 spot but it is still the game that brought the masses to the MMO genre, that is also the reason why so many MMO is in the market and so many choices for all players and all different play styles. MMO aren't one or the other , they are games that you can play all or just choose one. But you aren't limited to play only one .

Originally posted by ktanner3
Still waiting for those sources. Where is the source for TOR's marketing budget? I'm starting to see this line spread to other threads, so humor those of us who just can't take it upon themselves to believe the word of a forum poster with an axe to grind.

Who is this directed at OP, or someone else?

(http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/05/05/pachter-says-old-republic-cost-ea-80-million.aspx)

This is not an official proclaimination, but it's an educated one - The figure of 80 Mil is based of historical data of similar games, statements by EA Executives are it pertains to profit goals, and simple insider information.

As of right now, most of what is being said are infact rumuors, however regardless the point still stands it's one of the biggest if not the biggest budgets for an MMORPG, regardless of figures.

Originally posted by Lucioon

Originally posted by MMO.Maverick

Originally posted by -Thraxor-

WoW has been successful because they took standard game mechanics from ones that went before like EQ ect, improved upon it, and kept their playerbase happy. There's no code to break and no mysteries of the universe to solve. Build a solid game that appeals to the majority of the gaming masses, keep improving it, and don't screw it up. It's that simple

I agree.

It isn't about whether a game is sandbox or themepark or is revolutionarily different or not. It's about fun.

Gamers play and pay a game that is entertaining to them.

Now, what is entertaining to them differs from one person to the next, but the simple observation that WoW managed to maintain 10+ million people to keep playing and subbing, is kind of an indication that people liked gameplay elements that WoW had, whether it's the themepark based features or the amount of polish, accessibility and smoothness of combat and gameplay.

I really don't understand all the hate on WOW. WOW is still a great game, the numbers definitely is the evidence. I understand that WOW has been at the top for too many years, its time for a game to dethrone it and make the #1 spot but it is still the game that brought the masses to the MMO genre, that is also the reason why so many MMO is in the market and so many choices for all players and all different play styles. MMO aren't one or the other , they are games that you can play all or just choose one. But you aren't limited to play only one .

I lovED WoW, but now i'm burnt out on it, and i can't stand 1 minute inside of Azeroth anymore, i want something to play damnit! SOMETHING THAT INSPIRES HOURS OF ENDLESS GAME PLAY WITH NO REGARDS TO MY HEALTH OR ECONOMIC STATUS!

Help me BeAware, you're my only Hope!

Originally posted by RK-Power

Help me BeAware, you're my only Hope!

The Force is weak in you i sense.

Originally posted by Divion

Originally posted by Lucioon

Originally posted by MMO.Maverick

Originally posted by -Thraxor-

WoW has been successful because they took standard game mechanics from ones that went before like EQ ect, improved upon it, and kept their playerbase happy. There's no code to break and no mysteries of the universe to solve. Build a solid game that appeals to the majority of the gaming masses, keep improving it, and don't screw it up. It's that simple

I agree.

It isn't about whether a game is sandbox or themepark or is revolutionarily different or not. It's about fun.

Gamers play and pay a game that is entertaining to them.

Now, what is entertaining to them differs from one person to the next, but the simple observation that WoW managed to maintain 10+ million people to keep playing and subbing, is kind of an indication that people liked gameplay elements that WoW had, whether it's the themepark based features or the amount of polish, accessibility and smoothness of combat and gameplay.

I really don't understand all the hate on WOW. WOW is still a great game, the numbers definitely is the evidence. I understand that WOW has been at the top for too many years, its time for a game to dethrone it and make the #1 spot but it is still the game that brought the masses to the MMO genre, that is also the reason why so many MMO is in the market and so many choices for all players and all different play styles. MMO aren't one or the other , they are games that you can play all or just choose one. But you aren't limited to play only one .

I lovED WoW, but now i'm burnt out on it, and i can't stand 1 minute inside of Azeroth anymore, i want something to play damnit! SOMETHING THAT INSPIRES HOURS OF ENDLESS GAME PLAY WITH NO REGARDS TO MY HEALTH OR ECONOMIC STATUS!

I'm in the same boat you are Divion.  I'm been jumping from trial to trial but nothing has kept my interest.  I did Rift till I hit 50 then after a week I was bored.  So I've just been console gaming and getting my summer GPA up lol.  TOR when are you coming out!!!!

Last hope?  I don't think so.  Do I expect this game to fail?  Not really.  I think this game will be like a lot of other games that have come along the last few years.  They will underestimate initial intrest, servers will be maxxed out, lag will be rampant, rage quiters will be loud, again.  Nothing new or different.

WoW is bleeding subscriptions like a siv right now...something like 300k between May and late July?  I'm not sure of the exact figure but it's obvious that Blizzard is trying to counter the loss of subscribers by tapping into the asian market (recently purchased the rights to a web domain having to do with the Panderan, a race heavily inspired by Eastern traditions)....what this will do is alienate the western audience further and create an even better atmosphere for SWTOR's launch...paving a way for, at least an initial success.  Having played the game extensively for months, I do believe that this initial success will last for some time.

That all being said..I don't really know if this game is going to be the cause of failure for the MMO genre as a whole if it doesn't live up to expectations (it can't possibly do that anyway) but I do know that it will, if successful, be a genre defining game on a level that other companies will henceforth strive to obtain.

Take all that for what it's worth...I want this game to do well, I love Star Wars, games, and Bioware.

Save us, Obi Wan LucasArts! You're our only hope!

And 18 pages and my jack@$$ comments to boot? People are bored.