Anyone for SW:TOR?

[Quackers]

According to one site there was 950k USA pre-orders of the game on the 17th december (3 days before official launch). Plus the European market and plus the people who bought it since it was released on the 20th means it's a big game. I think over 1m subs means it's a 2nd to WOW now?

Thats all speculation. I will love to see some official subscription figures

 

[Disgustipated]

So is this thing out yet? Is anyone playing it?

 

[Akka]

Asked it as a Christmas gift (I couldn't think of anything better to ask for, guess my material needs are all quite covered ), so I'll answer this in some weeks I suppose.

 

[Ruler]

I simply amazed there isnt yet many complaints or negative things, looks like most people are having fun. I read though theres missing animations, even quests, but Im not sure if those were just pure-hating.

 

[Akka]

It's a MMO, it works on a slower scale than a typical game.
Give people the time to experience the game, we'll see then.

 

[Thrawn]

Yeah, and I tend to believe that what will really determine whether or not people stick around is what content they have at max level, and how good it is.

 

[Ruler]

Earlier this year I was at Rift's launch and let me say people just jumped on that like a pack of bloodthirsty hellhounds.

 

[Wolfbeckett]

I'm playing it, it's really really good. I'm not even a huge Star Wars nerd or anything and I think it's better than WoW just for it's emphasis on story. I'm playing a Smuggler and the story so far is pretty involving, not up to the same level as some of Bioware's single player games perhaps but way way better than anything else I've experienced in an MMO. Quests are very familiar to MMO fans, collect X items, activate Y world objects, Kill Z enemies, but because of the way they are woven into the narrative it makes you really think that it makes sense to be doing them.

Did my first instance last night and it was awesome, instances have cutscenes too just like the solo parts and each player picks a response, the game rolls to see who wins, and whoever gets the highest roll gets to have their chosen dialogue play, which can actually change the way the instance goes. Without spoiling it, in the first instance there are several parts where you can choose what to do and which choice you get will depend on who rolls highest. It was rad.

I haven't done PVP at all yet so I have no comments on that.

Loving it so far. If anyone is on west coast, I'm on the server Master Zhar Lestin, character name Leanan.

Edit: That said I do have a few nitpicky complaints. Long queue times are annoying but expected at this point, so I can't whinge too much about that. One thing I find really frustrating is that you can equip your NPC companions, but I haven't found any way to automatically compare an item in your inventory with what the NPC is currently equipping. Mousing over equips automatically shows what YOU are currently wearing and the stats that will change if you equip the new item, but I can't find a way to make it do that for my NPC too. Makes upgrading their equipment a real chore. Bugs on the first planet, two codex entries (sort of an in game encyclopedia that you unlock as you go) that are supposed to pop there didn't. As a completionist, it's very frustrating seeing that I'm two entries away from finishing that planet and not being able to get there. How they could possibly miss this on the very first planet I don't even know, with all the testing time they had. But minor gripes aside, this game is excellent, It's POSSIBLY the best MMO I've ever played (so far), with only Burning Crusade era WoW competing with it for my affections.

 

[Quackers]

I pretty much agree with everything wolf has said. The single-player questing is superior to WOWs model in every way.
Fortunately my server hasn't had any queues yet. I realllly hope it lasts that way

 

[Disgustipated]

I can't find the CNN article, but it mentions that some of the Beta testers are already at max level. I have a feeling Bioware didn't plan for that, and won't be able to put out content fast enough. That said, I still think the game will be better than WOW.

 

[GASherbert]

Edit: That said I do have a few nitpicky complaints. Long queue times are annoying but expected at this point, so I can't whinge too much about that. One thing I find really frustrating is that you can equip your NPC companions, but I haven't found any way to automatically compare an item in your inventory with what the NPC is currently equipping. Mousing over equips automatically shows what YOU are currently wearing and the stats that will change if you equip the new item, but I can't find a way to make it do that for my NPC too. Makes upgrading their equipment a real chore. Bugs on the first planet, two codex entries (sort of an in game encyclopedia that you unlock as you go) that are supposed to pop there didn't. As a completionist, it's very frustrating seeing that I'm two entries away from finishing that planet and not being able to get there. How they could possibly miss this on the very first planet I don't even know, with all the testing time they had. But minor gripes aside, this game is excellent, It's POSSIBLY the best MMO I've ever played (so far), with only Burning Crusade era WoW competing with it for my affections.

There is an option to enable comparisons with companion equipment. Along with one to provide info on what effects each upgrade is having on an item so I don't have to open up the item every time I have to check.

 

[Wolfbeckett]

There is an option to enable comparisons with companion equipment. Along with one to provide info on what effects each upgrade is having on an item so I don't have to open up the item every time I have to check.

Aye I actually found it after I posted that, turns out it was in the preferences all along and I just somehow overlooked it the first time I made a pass through them. Well, one nitpick about the game removed, now I like it even more than before!

 

[Ruler]

At least it wasnt lynched. I need to think myself this though as Ive played quite many Star Wars games in my days, all started all way back to Tie Fighter, X-Wing simulators, SWG, KOTORs, Force Unleashed.

 

[FriendlyFire]

I'll wait till it goes free2play.

.

 

[Ruler]

According to one site there was 950k USA pre-orders of the game on the 17th december (3 days before official launch). Plus the European market and plus the people who bought it since it was released on the 20th means it's a big game. I think over 1m subs means it's a 2nd to WOW now?

Thats all speculation. I will love to see some official subscription figures

Looks like around 1 mill.

http://www.swtor.com/blog/ray-and-greg-thank-you-playing

Its pretty normal for AAA MMO PC only and yet again proved VGchartz isnt accurate, just like Diablo 3, theres no way it can be so low on pre-orders. Rift passed 1 mill at 4 month but it was very underhyped. AoC was like 800k at launch, Warhammer went over 1 mill, Aion 1 mill.

 

[GoodGame]

I'd say launch figures are not a good indication of longevity and long-term popularity.
WoW is WoW because of expansions, the good name of Blizzard, and inertia.
Many MMO games hit 1 million subscribers to then lose major support (fan, dev, and financials) after 1 to 3 years.

But flipside is that one million subscribers is a norm for an MMO to have at least a good run for at least a few years, with good developer support and stable financials. If SW:TOR becomes another WoW, it'll be because of Bioware strength's as a developer, and some kind of expansion scheme (retail expansions, or regular content patches).

I can't find the CNN article, but it mentions that some of the Beta testers are already at max level. I have a feeling Bioware didn't plan for that, and won't be able to put out content fast enough. That said, I still think the game will be better than WOW.

Beta-tester progress isn't relevant to how the release version will play. It's easy to make a game more grindy too slow leveling.

 

[Wolfbeckett]

Well as to leveling speed, being between jobs right now and being a dude who does not celebrate Christmas, I've had nothing better to do than play SWTOR about 8 hours a day. I'm level 25. The leveling seems actually pretty slow to me, playing as much as I am I'd be at LEAST level 50 in WoW by now on a fresh character. Maybe not the best example though since WoW is stupid fast to level. Anyway the pace seems just about right, it's maybe just a bit too fast (I tend to outlevel Flashpoints before I have a chance to do them) but overall it's feels right.

 

[MobBoss]

Pre-ordered, got in about 5 days before release, and been playing fairly consistently over the holiday. Playing a Sith Warrior (Marauder) and am enjoying it quite a bit. Just hit level 28 last night and am on Tatooine.

I dont think I have any real big complaints about this game yet. I guess I could say that some of the planets are just too damn big with a horrendous amount of running around - even using the air taxi as much as possible. Another may be the amount of skills/abilities you get tossed at you - my taskbars filled up so quick it wasnt even funny and I've kinda discarded about ten percent to a quarter of my abilities just to concentrate on a rotation that works well.

So far, I have to say that my friends and I have had a really good time playing this game so far. Of particular note is how your dialogue in cutscenes affections faction (called affection) with your companions. Each companion you get has particular likes and dislikes, and paying attention to that can net you positive affection which makes your companions more effective. I also like the crafting system and being able to send various companions off to craft items while still questing. Although it does create a problem with your income if you do this a lot. In the mid to late 20s your skills and crafting costs begin to skyrocket, and if your not careful, you can find yourself in a bind credits wise. Especially when you are trying to save up the 48k (40k for training, 8 for the speeder) for a mount at level 25.

The other good thing about companions is they see to come with some variety of abilities as well, so you can pick and choose them according to your playstyle. For example, I have two companions right now - one solidly DPS and one more of a healer, so if I am grouped with a player thats a healer, I can haul out my dps pet and blast away, but also have the option of using my own healing pet in solo situations or in groups without a healer.

Also of note are the space combat missions. Rather easy, and kind of arcade-ish (well, very arcade-ish), they do offer a slight change of pace to the usual grind, and offer an alternate way to earn some credits/xp along the way. They get tougher as you level, so buying upgrades for your ship is also a must (and another credit-sink) if you plan on doing these type of missions.

As to higher levels, I have a couple of friends who have playing constantly since they got the game and are only mid 30s right now, and they play a lot. I did a /who the other night on my server at the imperial fleet (kind of the factions HQs) and found only a single level 50 - so sure, there are some who have managed to grind that out since release, but they are the exception rather than the norm. I dont think its that big a worry to be honest; but I havent done any PvP yet, so I have no idea how that kind of thing is affecting that part of the game.

But overall so far its two thumbs up from me and having a great time playing.

 

[Disgustipated]

Got the game and installed it. Haven't had a chance to play due to time spent with the opposite gender the past couple of days. Unfortunately the name I wanted for my account was taken , so I had to put an X in the middle of the name. I hate it when all the cool names are taken. Although I'm a little confused on that, I think that account name may be only what I post on forums and such, those aren't my character names. I have yet to create a character.

 

[Wolfbeckett]

I must say after rolling an alt a couple of days ago I am a little disappointed with the racial selection (at least on Republic side, I haven't looked to see if Empire has anything different). You've got human, human with some small cybernetic implants, human with some kind of hood over their eyes, human with green skin, human with small horns coming out of their forehead, and human with strange tentacle things instead of hair. All the choices available in the Star Wars universe and we get this bland selection. Pretty disappointing, not gonna lie.