* Posts by Kyzeru

3 publicly visible posts • joined 30 Jun 2011

Hands on with Star Wars: The Old Republic

Kyzeru
Happy

Hmm

Some points to remember:

-All MMO's go through the initial growing pains that plague the genre. WoW was nigh inaccessible for weeks on end due to server side issues...I remember being gifted a free month and a half because of all the issues, so it's to be expected that there's going to be lag issues until players spread out across the game's universe. Look at what happens whenever a new expansion comes out, all the players clog the starting areas until the content gets into it's second or third week then the issues largely become self-regulating.

-In that same vein, keep in mind the beta weekend stress tests are just that...tests for the server and to give players some exposure to the game before release... they are NOT current clients either, they are often several months old and the "Elite" Beta testers have the most current clients which fix a lot of the bugs present in these beta versions.

-Everyone is going to make the comparisons to WoW. Why? Because WoW set the bar. EQ was king until WoW came along, and promptly handed over the crown, the keys to the kingdom and called it a night (though EQ is still going fairly strong). WoW Revamped the genre and became what every MMO since has aspired to become, and surpass. Lofty goals to be sure.

-Balance is an impossibility considering everyone wants the differences. Unless the classes are absolutely identical in every regard (thus removing any semblance of story and variation) balance is a pipe dream. Yes, something's need to be tweaked here and there, but that's what the development teams are for, and something even the vaunted WoW struggles to achieve constantly. Fixing one class might make another much more powerful because it was kept in check by that other class. Then comes the question, what determines being OP? SOmeone might be more adept at using their class abilities, or reacting to multiple targets and CCing like a boss, or maybe they're adept at using movement and terrain to their advantage. Warhammer comes close to havign balance, but that's because most classes mirror others...then it becomes an issue of RNG (Random Number Generator), Gear, Teamplay, Latency, and other mitgating factors.

Point is, this game offers the feeling of a much more visceral immersion in the gameworld than WoW offers. How many years did it take those guys to build the Inn in Westfall? You immeadiately get the sense of being embroiled in this massive conflict whether of your own volition, or merely being a soldier for hire. In my playing of a Smuggler, Bounty Hunter, Trooper and Sith Warrior, I found each story was its own flavor, each class had their reasons for being there...

I was somewhat timid in approaching the game because of Bioware's typical novel sized conversations between PC's and NPCs, but I was glad to see most conversational custscenes are kept fairly short and to the point, but have their own quirks. The NPCs FEEL fleshed out, and possessed of their own personalities and motivations.

Overall I was truly impressed with the product I played for the few weekends I had access, and can't wait to get my hands on the finished product. I'm certainly approaching the game with an open mind and understand that the growing pains will be there for a little while, but I think the end result will be a supremely enjoyable product. In that regard I really don't think anyone who judges the games "Awesomeness" or "Suck" factors in terms of best-ever or worst-ever are doing so half-cocked, as it's an unfinished product most were exposed too.

If you loved the game, GREAT! If you didn't like it, that's unfortuante, but where it wasn't JUST a sneakpeek, it was a beta - meaning your input is looked at much more than it might be three years after the fact. If there's something you don't like, mention it and offer improvements. When gamers don't bother to make suggestions or only provide criticisms with no constructive element, it seriously hinders the development of the game. Who knows, that little idea you suggested may be the thing that changes it for not just you, but everyone else and brings them into the fold, or makes the other players go: Wow, that's an awesome idea.

Dungeon Siege III

Kyzeru

/sadpants

Ugh...Obsidian. They really need to just need to be stopped from making/contributing to games. KOTOR 2 was terribad, New Vegas had so many issues it broke my heart (despite my love for the Fallout franchise), and this doesn't look any better.... Bring back Looking Glass, New World Computing...hell bring back the guys who did the ORIGINAL AD&D Gold Box Games...(Pools, Curse, Secrets, etc)...

Show these young'uns a thing or two while we consume, with great zeal, the corpse of Obsidian over a rousing playthrough of Hillsfar.

Star Wars fans want Sony sued over game shutdown

Kyzeru
FAIL

Get Over It

I'm sorry fanboi's that Sony is making a decision based on several valid facts. I'm sorry their contact with Lucasarts is almost at an end and they've decided not to renew it. I'm sorry, that Old Republic is coming out this year. I'm sorry you can't let go of your binky too.

Fact remains, at least you're getting closure and not just having the servers shutdown suddenly because of lack of interest. If SOE does what they've done for a lot of their projects, I'm sure there will be something fun and interesting to see the servers off into the vastness of the Force.

Look at all the games that other fans found great but their series plans were cancelled by lack of interest. Yeah, it sucks, but deal with it - that's the nature of the beast, at least it's not an overnight surprise.

Lucasarts would not only have to renew their contract with SOE, but also give it's blessing to change things over to a Free-To-Play game... Not likely to happen with the cash cow that is to be The Old Republic, but who knows...you may be given a blankey after all.

Your lawsuit will be fruitless in so many ways. Might as well try to sue the sun for shining a bit too much, or too little... the court proceedings will be held on Jupiter, two blocks east of the Great Red Spot.

In the meantime, enjoy what you have...then go outside and get some fresh air for a change, play some games you've put on the backburner... try something new. Who know's maybe you'll get over it....if not, I'm sure there's a few good psychologists to nurse you back to good mental health.

Wankers.