Originally posted by saxifr
Now that F2P is done, one wonders what those 200 people on the SWTOR team are working on next!

Their resumes.

Originally posted by noncley

Originally posted by saxifr
Now that F2P is done, one wonders what those 200 people on the SWTOR team are working on next!

Their resumes.

Game developments is kind of like politics.  No matter how bad you are at your job, just having the connections and the experience means you'll always have work available.  It's why we see the same 8 or 9 game dev's continue to get their latest projects greenlit despite the fact that the last 10 have been failures.  

Originally posted by superniceguy

Originally posted by Winterizer

Originally posted by superniceguyF2P has ruined the game, because you can not create more than 2 chars, and leaves the game with a sleazy Cash Shop, and if people are subbing from it, then what is the point in there being F2P?

I can not create more than 2 chars, and I do not want to pay the full $15. I would be willing to pay to unlock more char slots, but I can not, so I can not return to the game, and make it more alive.

 

The thing is that people expect to much for free

 

Be glad that you can log on the game and play some of the content

That makes no sense

I can not log on and play more content, because I can not create more chars. I already played some of the content on 2 chars before F2P on $15.

Every other MMO allows you purchase more character slots

The free trial for SWTOR befiore F2P was free and you could create more than 2 chars

Unlocking more slots in F2P would not be free

The thing is people think that F2P is free

Create a new account or delete one of those characters? Problem solved! If you don't want to do that, then it's You who make sure you can't play more content.  Very few games that advertise F2P are actually F2P; in SW:TOR's case it's Freemium.

Regardless, I'm glad there's restrictions - there should be imo. You might not agree, but hey, that's life. Besides, the company not only wants, but needs to earn money. I agree the quickslot part is a bit silly though.

If nothing else, F2P should make RPers happy, considering they can SW RP for free. ^^

Originally posted by saxifr
Now that F2P is done, one wonders what those 200 people on the SWTOR team are working on next!

Marketing and PR, just as befor, nothings changed :)

Originally posted by Sevenstar61

I agree. There is no change in gameplay with f2P. The only thing that changed is that you can got some cool stuff with CC.

I love the game even more right now.

ALWAYS remember that if it wasnt for F2P you would get those same things without CC.

Originally posted by tiefighter25

I don't think a lot of subscribers realize how much FTP (cash shop really) has already affected SWTOR's overall game design.

Here's my roughshod list of how it has already affected ToR. (Remember, they've been designing around the cash shop since Spring.)

 

1.) Content withholding. -

A] Since Spring they've only realiased (and that's including 1.5) 2 Operations and 1 companion.

B] Remember, that companion quest line was in game at Beta. As a part of their string out the subscribers/figure out a way to monetize everything, HK-51 was withheld. (His preview video was out in what June?)

C] The new unrealesed warzone Hypergates has been in playable form since August at E3 is still unrealeased. BW has said it will be in the next patch. That's 4 months of holding on to it.

D] Cathar- The Cathat have been ready, and previewed since June. They have been withheld until the cash shop was up to sell them to you.

2.) Restricting Itemization

A] High end gear since the descion to switch to FTP has just been reskins of previous gear. By withholding gear, it makes the gear hidden within the $4.00 lockboxes more attractive on FTP release.

B] Withholding a wide array of gear that was available in Beta. This gear which was seen over a year ago now, is still unreleased. Expect to see it in new rounds of lock-boxes. (Which is funny since they will say, "Look what we've been up" when tat gear was created over a year ago.

3.) Makeb

A] Makeb is being withheld as a paid mini-expansiion. This is exceptionally greedy because it was oriinally intended as a major Patch release (as in no extra money to play). Makeb has been ready since May, but will now be sold to everyone, FTP and subber as a mini-expansion.

4.) Legacy

A] Here is where design as been directly affected by the cash shop. BW has stated that Legacy is their greatest feature and will receive their primary focus. Well now you know why Legacy pre-FTP was such a mooney sink. As it stands, Legacy perks are available aither by paying millions per perk, or an instant purchase of about $4.00 per perk in the cash shop. Guess which BW hopes you purchase. Expect to see many, many new Legacy perks in the future.

 

In summary: Since deciding to switch to FTP (Who's primary purpose was the addition of the cash shop) Bioware has withheld, Makeb, Hk-51, Hypergate Warzone, the Cathar, and all the gear that was in Beta. Since the decision to switch to FTP, their decimated staff has designed no new content, just reeasing content which was already in the pipeline.

Bioware intends to sell the Makeb patch as a mini-expansion, sell Cathat race unlocks, and put all the varied gear designed since before launch into lock-boxes.

In lieu of new content, Bioware will contiinue to add to its altaholic Legacy perk system. Those perks will now be obtainable by either grinding out million upon millions of credits, or purchasing them directly fro the cash shop.

When you can't get more money from more subscribers, you attempt to get more money per remaining subscriber.

If Bioware will be succesful in doing this, we shall see. Bioware is putting its faith in its remaining playerbase being content with no real new content and paying for cash shop purchases many times over what they already pay as a monthly sub.

The FTP option, is nothing but a tack on to garner a modicum of publicity, allow EA to stop reporting subs, but most importantly to Bioware, to sell, sell, sell micro-transactions in its cash shop. I base the FTP as nothing more then a ruse in that the restrictions are purposively unbearable, the servers are not designed for either the initial FTP rush or any real vast increase in players, there has been virtually no marketing campaign for the FTP switch.

Think about, why spend money on advertising when your customer already knows about the new product. SWTOR, (much I'm sure to MMORPG's chagrin) has not even bought a browser background ad here. (I see ads for RIFT, STO, GW2, EvE, a bunch of other Asian games, no SWTOR). EA is spending as little as it can on SWTOR both in content creation and marketing. All that EA/Bioware is doing is getting the most it can out of its leased Star Wars IP, and hoping that compulsive micro-transaction purchasses will help defray their losses on the development of SWTOR. Here's a party-Jawa, go drop a few hundred on cartel coins.

Exactly, subcscribers will now have to pay extra for content that was created 1+ years ago.

Its another very cheezy thing on part of EA.

Originally posted by Shadin

Originally posted by superniceguy

Originally posted by Winterizer

Originally posted by superniceguyF2P has ruined the game, because you can not create more than 2 chars, and leaves the game with a sleazy Cash Shop, and if people are subbing from it, then what is the point in there being F2P?

I can not create more than 2 chars, and I do not want to pay the full $15. I would be willing to pay to unlock more char slots, but I can not, so I can not return to the game, and make it more alive.

 

The thing is that people expect to much for free

 

Be glad that you can log on the game and play some of the content

That makes no sense

I can not log on and play more content, because I can not create more chars. I already played some of the content on 2 chars before F2P on $15.

Every other MMO allows you purchase more character slots

The free trial for SWTOR befiore F2P was free and you could create more than 2 chars

Unlocking more slots in F2P would not be free

The thing is people think that F2P is free

Create a new account or delete one of those characters? Problem solved! If you don't want to do that, then it's You who make sure you can't play more content.  Very few games that advertise F2P are actually F2P; in SW:TOR's case it's Freemium.

Regardless, I'm glad there's restrictions - there should be imo. You might not agree, but hey, that's life. Besides, the company not only wants, but needs to earn money. I agree the quickslot part is a bit silly though.

If nothing else, F2P should make RPers happy, considering they can SW RP for free. ^^

This makes no sense either. I am not complaining about having to pay money I am not asking for them to give 12 slots like subbers, I am wanting them to allow us to BUY more sliots like every other F2P game.

How can they make money when I can not purchase more char slots? If they allow more slots to be unlocked then they get more money.

Creating more chars on the same account is necssary for the Legacy. I am not deleting chars or creating new accounts as will be a complete waste of time, if they change it so you can buy more slots

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Originally posted by superniceguy
This makes no sense either. I am not complaining about having to pay money I am not asking for them to give 12 slots like subbers, I am wanting them to allow us to BUY more sliots like every other F2P game.

How can they make money when I can not purchase more char slots? If they allow more slots to be unlocked then they get more money.

Creating more chars on the same account is necssary for the Legacy. I am not deleting chars or creating new accounts as will be a complete waste of time, if they change it so you can buy more slots

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Originally posted by biggarfoot

Originally posted by superniceguy

F2P has ruined SWTOR, it has lost the plot, and the Cartel Market has just cheapned the game. It is certainly not worth subbing to any more. At least before F2P SWTOR had some respect, and more reason to sub.

When I unlocked Legacy previously I had to go play until got to Alderaan

Now on anotther character on a different server, at level 25, just finished with Taris and got Nar Shaddaa and Tatooine to do before unlocking Legacy. I then log in to that character after F2P change, and I get Legacy, it now gives me it early. So not much point playing any more anyway. It has taken the fun out of playing through the game and unlocking Legacy

What is up with Legacy, what has changed with F2P, and how can F2P people enjoy Legacy with only 2 chars?

 

It lost the plot when it was on the development table.  With EA involved with any game what you really expect?

Sorry mate, can't blame EA for this one.  BioWare Austin did a horrible job from the ground up - the root of it is the outdated design.  Some things are great about the game don't get me wrong, but overall the game is just ... uninspired.

EA thought it would be a huge deal for them because it's a Star Wars MMO... and BioWare... they thought that combo would make them mountains of money.  Well, BioWare lead designers didn't really deliver as expected and THAT's why the game isn't keeping people.  Not EA.  EA is just trying to do what any company does - make profit or in a bad case of loss, recover as much as possible.

Originally posted by lizardbones

 

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Originally posted by superniceguy
This makes no sense either. I am not complaining about having to pay money I am not asking for them to give 12 slots like subbers, I am wanting them to allow us to BUY more sliots like every other F2P game.

 

How can they make money when I can not purchase more char slots? If they allow more slots to be unlocked then they get more money.

Creating more chars on the same account is necssary for the Legacy. I am not deleting chars or creating new accounts as will be a complete waste of time, if they change it so you can buy more slots

 

---

Buying more character slots seems like a perfectly reasonable expectation. I'm not sure why that's not an option. It really does seem like a 'no brainer'.

 

I agree.  Their model is riddled with idiocy.  A lot of 'no-brainers' are present while very stupid, frustrating and SOCIAL aspects get locked.

Heaven forbid anyone get attached to the game/others in the game and become INVESTED enough to want to continue, right? Well played.

Originally posted by saxifr
Now that F2P is done, one wonders what those 200 people on the SWTOR team are working on next!

secretly they send their biographies in other companies

Originally posted by DeaconX

Originally posted by biggarfoot

Originally posted by superniceguy

F2P has ruined SWTOR, it has lost the plot, and the Cartel Market has just cheapned the game. It is certainly not worth subbing to any more. At least before F2P SWTOR had some respect, and more reason to sub.

When I unlocked Legacy previously I had to go play until got to Alderaan

Now on anotther character on a different server, at level 25, just finished with Taris and got Nar Shaddaa and Tatooine to do before unlocking Legacy. I then log in to that character after F2P change, and I get Legacy, it now gives me it early. So not much point playing any more anyway. It has taken the fun out of playing through the game and unlocking Legacy

What is up with Legacy, what has changed with F2P, and how can F2P people enjoy Legacy with only 2 chars?

 

It lost the plot when it was on the development table.  With EA involved with any game what you really expect?

Sorry mate, can't blame EA for this one.  BioWare Austin did a horrible job from the ground up - the root of it is the outdated design.  Some things are great about the game don't get me wrong, but overall the game is just ... uninspired.

EA thought it would be a huge deal for them because it's a Star Wars MMO... and BioWare... they thought that combo would make them mountains of money.  Well, BioWare lead designers didn't really deliver as expected and THAT's why the game isn't keeping people.  Not EA.  EA is just trying to do what any company does - make profit or in a bad case of loss, recover as much as possible.

I believe Bioware did a cracking job on the game, but then EA steps in and destroys it, to release it early. There is a arrticle on the internet with Dallas Dickinison (who was also responsible for SWG NGE and is not original main Bioware team) saying that they chopped the game down, so it would be released on time and whatnot. Devs cried over that move, and if they cried over it then it seems as though that content  was lost forever, as if they intended to add it later, then I do not see them crying over it.

Originally posted by superniceguy

I believe Bioware did a cracking job on the game, but then EA steps in and destroys it, to release it early.

 So please tell us HOW Bioware did a "Cracking job" on the game, but somehow EA came in and destroyed it to release it early...what was in beta, that you saw that Bioware did to make it good that EA had taken out for release to make it bad...

Name some stuff, unless you are just deflecting to protect Bioware for some unknown reason...Also include a reason why EA would have them remove stuff and not go back and finish it after release, need to know why they would allow those man-hours to go to waste. heh.

Originally posted by rdrakken

Originally posted by superniceguy

I believe Bioware did a cracking job on the game, but then EA steps in and destroys it, to release it early.

 So please tell us HOW Bioware did a "Cracking job" on the game, but somehow EA came in and destroyed it to release it early...what was in beta, that you saw that Bioware did to make it good that EA had taken out for release to make it bad...

Name some stuff, unless you are just deflecting to protect Bioware for some unknown reason...Also include a reason why EA would have them remove stuff and not go back and finish it after release, need to know why they would allow those man-hours to go to waste. heh.

Bioware have always done cracking work before they got involved with EA. EA are known for destroying companies.

The article with Dallas Dickinson explains all. It was not Bioware who wanted to cut content out