I will hold off judgement on this until there are more details. So far from what has been said I cannot call this an "actual" expansion. The word expansion if applied liberally can be given to any sized monthly update, I however and not so madly in love with the game that I will back every single thing said and done by the company. This so called expansion has a large amount of holes to plug so a small expansion wont do much to fix the games reputation.

People on the forums are already complaining that they can't buy the expansion with CCs.  I'm not sure that's fair as I'm not aware of any statements by them that could lead people to believe they'd be available for CCs. 

Turbine on the other hand misled people and even had a huge Turbine Point sale before their first expansion went on sale for cash only.  They've changed things with RoR though and allowed people to pay TPs for them.

I'm sure this "expansion" will be available for CCs within 6 months of its release.

Originally posted by Pyuk
It's weird. It's like EA wants SWTOR to fail. I would expect a true expansion to include the new wiz-bang space combat that Bio mentioned a long while back. Not more of the same and not much of it. I know it's a smaller team, now (*cough* sweatshop *cough*), but sheesh.

It may very well be a major expansion ... it just isn't this one.

They have already stated that the space expansion would not be available for quite some time. I expect late next year earliest as it is based on entire new tech and likely engine or heavily tweaked existing engine.

Do not confuse what you want vs what the game needs. it is a story driven game where developer content drives the end game so there MUST be regular content added to the conventional game first. That is the priority or players will leave. Space will be a bloody cool addition but it is nothing more than that ... a seperate game on top of the regular game.

I've recently started playing again and I must say I am enjoying it and like the general direction Bioware is taking it. Sadly with all the company and F2P changes the previous timeline for content was altered and now they are sort of in a reset mode and things are picking up again. Tons of quality of life changes are needed and I hope they sneak those in before the expansion. I suspect too that the expansion will wrap many class reballancing changes in it and we may have to wait until then for that.

I also hope they allow the expansion to be purchased through the cartel market but right now they simply are offering preorder at a discount which is likely cheaper than market anyway unless you simply want to save your sub point toward it. Either way most will buy more points anyway for other things and offset it. Pretty sure this change will be made later on.

You want to help this game, come out with a space expansion like SWG did.  Junk the arcade crap and do a crafting upgrade.  This expansion nonsense will not improve the game much at all, it is just more of the same.  

How can a development studio be so entirely clueless????

I am interested to hear details about new features, not more of the same.

to those hopping the secret space project will be inculded, i wouldnt get my hopes up since it sounds like it is a ways off.

from q&a on nov 29:

Q: How is the super space project doing? Does it exist? Schubert: Oh, it exists. Hickman: I was actually playing what you're talking about yesterday, running through the prototype demo. I wish I could give you details. It's great. It's a departure from our current space game. We have a team dedicated to working on it. But it is far out in the future. You won't hear anything about it any time soon. Schubert: It is under wraps. It is a lot of fun. It's definitely not anything we've shipped in the original product.

http://www.darthhater.com/articles/swtor-news/22517-bioware-livestream-q-a-coverage

so is it possible it will be in? yes, but i wouldnt count on it

but im looking forward to checking out the new planet. i especially hope they add some really hard to get to datacrons. i love finding those things. and cathar should make it into it if not sooner

as for mini games:

Q: When will we see mini-games? Schubert: Makeb has some entirely new gameplay mechanics. I wouldn't call them mini-games, but new ways to explore the world. Hickman: Playing cards and things like that are still on the Wall of Crazy for the future. No timeframe.

Originally posted by FrodoFragins

This stinks of Turbines "Siege of Mirkwood".  The sad thing is that this SWTOR "expansion" is tiny and they are charging the same price Turbine charged for SoM ($20) which had tons more content.  Heck, even Riders of rohan has more content than this appears to.

 

F2P changed everything.  They had to convert a normal content update into an "expansion" by adding a level cap increase.

 

With that being said, it won't impact how I play the game.  I play casually and just level up alts to see the stories.  Makeb isn't really a draw for me personally.  I can easily wait a LONG time before buying it.

First of all... you have no idea how much content Makeb will have. None of us knows right now. At level 50 - 5 levels is about size of 2 planets in existing SWTOR. Subscribers pay $9.99 not $20.

Last expansion RoR costs $39.99 or $49.99 or $69.99 - don't compare apples to oranges - no comparition.

The Expansion should be called- Rise of the EA/Bioware Cartel

The Hutts cant hold a candle to those crooks

Originally posted by PyrateLV

The Expansion should be called- Rise of the EA/Bioware Cartel

 

The Hutts cant hold a candle to those crooks

Really? I guess many people already forgot how generous BioWare was gifting all loyal subscribers with one free month in not so far past...  if this is not generosity.. I don't know what it is...

But of course... I bet you will argue that they did it so their numbers look better... or whatever else, just not that they did a great thing.

Cheers.

I feel spoiled by GW2 having new content updates for free every month. RIFT less so but those guys know how to spend their time wisely on HUGE amounts of content.

This game has had no meaningful content for an entire year since release and they have the nerve to charge us $20 for a new planet with only five levels of missions? They expect me to believe all the VA for all the characters and companions came back for this? Yeah right. They still can't even release a new character RACE [that is the easiest thing in the world to implement since it's just a normal human with a cat face] that they showed at E3, half a year ago. EA/Bioware is a joke.

"The intent for Rise of the Hutt Cartel is to continue your character's story, but envisioned as part of the ongoing struggle of the Empire vs. the Republic. There are lots of great moments for you to enjoy, and it will be shared as two clear storylines. No class specific storylines are included, though I know you guys are going to love what RotHC has to offer."

which makes this an update not an exapnsion. I resubbed for the f2p release and was absolutely shocked at the cartel market, what they're charging for and the total lack of progress this game has taken.

If this "update" comes out without any real changes to the game i foresee this being disastrous to them.

Originally posted by Sevenstar61

Originally posted by PyrateLV

The Expansion should be called- Rise of the EA/Bioware Cartel

 

The Hutts cant hold a candle to those crooks

Really? I guess many people already forgot how generous BioWare was gifting all loyal subscribers with one free month in not so far past...  if this is not generosity.. I don't know what it is...

But of course... I bet you will argue that they did it so their numbers look better... or whatever else, just not that they did a great thing.

Cheers.

 

That is not genorosity, that is them trying to salvage whatever they could. I played, Enjoyed the game all the way to 50, and then got really sad at how it went from something so great, to something so below mediocre.  Doing the same instances once per day was not fun. Rage timers on bosses is very weak in my opinion, not does it add to the difficulty. It just means get better gear to kill faster.  PVP planet was a joke, so not going into that. Space combat was alright for the first few missions, but then i stopped because i felt it had no real merrit. not to mention sever class imbalances. Also im sad i lvled to 50 in just a little over a week. 

So that free month can be considered compensation, an apology, and many other things except generosity. And the Expansion does look weak. Plus the new business model for f2p is terrible. With a crappy f2p model, they want people to now go and buy an expansion? I know people will, but i wont as i find it insulting. 

Originally posted by Sevenstar61

Originally posted by PyrateLV

The Expansion should be called- Rise of the EA/Bioware Cartel

 

The Hutts cant hold a candle to those crooks

Really? I guess many people already forgot how generous BioWare was gifting all loyal subscribers with one free month in not so far past...  if this is not generosity.. I don't know what it is...

But of course... I bet you will argue that they did it so their numbers look better... or whatever else, just not that they did a great thing.

Cheers.

 

It's a hook just like the e-mails they sent out and why they keep expanding the date for people to resub to get their Cartel Coins.

Kind of bummed about the limited story. Makes it sound like Makeb will just be a planet wide version of a Black Hole or Section X. Guess that means getting companions over 10000 will be off the table as well.

It's 10 dollars and not like it will be a titanic loss but I think this is where I will take a good hard look and see if there will be will be any kind of future for the continuation of the personal stories. I don't PvP and the Gear Tredmill doesn't look appealing so the story and lore is what I am staying for. Hopefully will get some news after the holidays are over.

Originally posted by DashiDMV

Originally posted by Sevenstar61

Originally posted by PyrateLV

The Expansion should be called- Rise of the EA/Bioware Cartel

 

The Hutts cant hold a candle to those crooks

Really? I guess many people already forgot how generous BioWare was gifting all loyal subscribers with one free month in not so far past...  if this is not generosity.. I don't know what it is...

But of course... I bet you will argue that they did it so their numbers look better... or whatever else, just not that they did a great thing.

Cheers.

 

It's a hook just like the e-mails they sent out and why they keep expanding the date for people to resub to get their Cartel Coins.

Kind of bummed about the limited story. Makes it sound like Makeb will just be a planet wide version of a Black Hole or Section X. Guess that means getting companions over 10000 will be off the table as well.

It's 10 dollars and not like it will be a titanic loss but I think this is where I will take a good hard look and see if there will be will be any kind of future for the continuation of the personal stories. I don't PvP and the Gear Tredmill doesn't look appealing so the story and lore is what I am staying for. Hopefully will get some news after the holidays are over.

yeah SWTOR's "expansion" is pretty lame.  It won't include class stories:

Story content in the new expansion

http://www.darthhater.com/devtracker/topic/86619-story-content-in-the-new-expansion

AllisonBerryman

12 / 18 / 2012