watched E3 and wondered.

[wingnutf22]

As I was watching G4's coverage of E3 they announced Star Wars The Old Republic, I was wondering if Cryptic will be taking a similar approach in making it more story based than past MMOs?

Also, complete voice overs would be nice, even if a little tricky.

[Random19]

Also, complete voice overs would be nice, even if a little tricky.

I assume you mean that when you are chatting with an NPC they have an actor that recorded the track for it, I remember that they tried this in the tutorial of SWG and it worked well.

[wingnutf22]

From what was stated in the interview it sounded like all npc's would have voices. Some I'm sure would be repeats, they did that in the elder scrolls. It was a short release they didn't explain a ton.

[Loekii]

From what was stated in the interview it sounded like all npc's would have voices. Some I'm sure would be repeats, they did that in the elder scrolls. It was a short release they didn't explain a ton.

Imo, Voice Overs need to be brief.

I really disliked EQ2's babbling NPCs, and prefered the more brief comments of WoW's NPCs.

Voice overs are nice when they are just a few lines, but tend to get tedious (imo) when they are a few paragraphs.

[wingnutf22]

Yes, I have noticed that. Especially in things like the elder scrolls, sometimes those things start to feel more like monologues for the npcs versus dialogues. After a while I just start reading captions and skipping through.

[Tamgros]

Voiceovers are overrated IMHO:o. And SWTOR adding 'story' may just be a cover for putting a single player game in an MMO. I'm skeptical personally.

But yes and no, STO is aiming to have great episodic mission content, but also have user driven content like exploration and FVF elements. Many MMOs have found out the hard way but story driven content will be burned through by many of the players, even very intensive story content. There really has to be something more.:cool:

[wingnutf22]

true, but from the trailer that was shown. It looked like a jedi versus sith kind of option and the ability to continue the battle outside the story, probably in pvp. I don't believe that extra content has to be sacraficed to make it story based.

The story just makes you feel like you are making a difference somehow.

[Gorthaur]

I would rather they added voices later, voices cost alot of money that should instead be put into making the game actually good, the voices only do so much if the actual gameplay is crap.

[SirReginaldo]

Well to tell you the truth if both are just going to be a story, that maybe evolves and has no story, it sounds like a game where you don't see much of other players, but when you want you can join up with other players.... Sounds like a game that came out for xbox... All it is is 4 levels, and the chance to play them 2 player... for 60$ that sounds dumb, and even more so for X-amount per month:D But that is just being negative.
In all truth, both games sound like Sci-Fiction Guild Wars:D That game was kinda lacking cause all there was too do was beat the story on a harder difficulty, get items, get skills, and fight in the arena. So imagine you get x amount of skills, x amount of weapons, and beat all the difficulties.... whats left.... Other than the unimaginative arena....

[wingnutf22]

I agree with that, just said it would be interesting. I would rather have a good game with no voices than a crappy one with the best voices in the world.

[Gorthaur]

I agree with that, just said it would be interesting. I would rather have a good game with no voices than a crappy one with the best voices in the world.

It would be interesting, and would definately add immersion, but I wouldnt reccomend they do it unless they really had extra money, or slowly added a few voiceovers per patch after release. I personally hope this game is better than SWTOR, cause I really pefer the Star Trek backround and look.

[Tamgros]

true, but from the trailer that was shown. It looked like a jedi versus sith kind of option and the ability to continue the battle outside the story, probably in pvp. I don't believe that extra content has to be sacraficed to make it story based.

The story just makes you feel like you are making a difference somehow.

Ok, i don't want to get into SWTOR bashing on here, so I'll say the positives. The SWKTOR was a great series. The story was great and it gave people a lot of options that most RPGs didn't give.

The reason I'm skeptical with SWTOR is that they are making it similar to SWKTOR where you make decisions of dark and light side and your story will change based on those choices. They are also giving you a companion character. Well, how do they do this AND allow you to team through all the content? I'm not sure that they going to allow you to team through the story, which will essentially make it a single player game.

So yeah, how do you make the story change but also allow you to team with people who don't make the same choices? One of or the other has to be a little off or the wording stretched IMO.

And then when you get to end game, they have said they want the heroic feel of beating masses of guys rather than one boss. Sounds like that could turn into a bunch of single player skirmishes as well.

To me it doesn't sound like an MMO as much as a single player game that you play a sub for continuing story content, and you also have some grouping and FvF aspects on the side. This is fine, but probably not for me. I like STO's approach much more.

[Azurian]

The Team / Companion thing is like STO's Bridge Crew accompanying you.

And I do like the Light-side / Dark-side situation like in the original, because it shows your personality instead of the stale "stay a good guy but do bad things" kind of approach. So it gives you more emersion.


Just wonder what Cryptic has instore to compete against TOR?

[Galv]

I've been watching some of the E3 stuff and thinking Atari should of been there with Cryptic and STO, just to catch the current buzz from the new movie as it probably won't last long.

[Loekii]

I've been watching some of the E3 stuff and thinking Atari should of been there with Cryptic and STO, just to catch the current buzz from the new movie as it probably won't last long.

I agree.

E3 is sort of like being invited to that party you may not want to go to, but sort of need to attend to stay in the loop, look good in the 'bosses' and 'shareholders' eyes and not send the wrong message.

Speaking for myself, I feel their absence seems to suggest issues and problems behind all the PR. :(

[Meehile]

Did E3 reveal any ship and space info on swtor? That is the make or break deal on whether I even try that game. Hints have suggested that there is no space combat, and you don't get to control your own ship flying around between planets. If that is the case I won't even bother.

[Galv]

I agree.

E3 is sort of like being invited to that party you may not want to go to, but sort of need to attend to stay in the loop, look good in the 'bosses' and 'shareholders' eyes and not send the wrong message.

Speaking for myself, I feel their absence seems to suggest issues and problems behind all the PR. :(


Worst part for me is that it's a 1 up for SWTOR already because these 2 mmos will be in direct competition.

[DS5620]

I've always been a fan of voice acting over drabs and drabs of text. To me it increases the realism. I'm also a fan of the open ended worlds/environments vs the story driven ones.

[thefrayl]

Voice dialogue accompanying cinematics and a motivating story is all fine and good, and I'm sure SWTOR will be enjoyable in it's own sense. It just looks like an entirely different game to me so far, and I don't just mean the IP. Star Trek Online seems to be going for a true massively multiplayer universe. The Old Republic, not so much...

I think there should be SOME cinematics and dialogue in Star Trek, but I don't think it's all that important for a true MMO, especially of this scope, to contain.

I don't think TOR will hold a candle to STO when it comes to customization and open ended gameplay.

I say Star Wars, Schmar Wars :)

[Loekii]

Worst part for me is that it's a 1 up for SWTOR already because these 2 mmos will in be direct competition.

I think they will be in competition with respect that they are both:

MMORPGS
SCI-FI Genre


However, I see the two as two different games (I will likely play both, if they are both worth playing). In a sense, it is sort of how POTBS and WoW are 2 different games.

I think STO will attract people looking to do more 'starship' stuff (in the Star Trek Universe), and KoTor will appeal more to those looking for a Star Warsy ground based MMO.

Not to slam STO, but I think KoTor looks to be the next giant in MMOs (behind WoW). They have the financing (as their recent Cinematic suggests) and they have a much broader appeal among gamers. I think STO will be a more niche game, which is successful in its own vein.

[babanathie]

I think they will be in competition with respect that they are both:

MMORPGS
SCI-FI Genre


However, I see the two as two different games (I will likely play both, if they are both worth playing). In a sense, it is sort of how POTBS and WoW are 2 different games.

I think STO will attract people looking to do more 'starship' stuff (in the Star Trek Universe), and KoTor will appeal more to those looking for a Star Warsy ground based MMO.

Not to slam STO, but I think KoTor looks to be the next giant in MMOs (behind WoW). They have the financing (as their recent Cinematic suggests) and they have a much broader appeal among gamers. I think STO will be a more niche game, which is successful in its own vein.


Reality check! He's probably right.

[Galv]

I think they will be in competition with respect that they are both:

MMORPGS
SCI-FI Genre


However, I see the two as two different games (I will likely play both, if they are both worth playing). In a sense, it is sort of how POTBS and WoW are 2 different games.

I think STO will attract people looking to do more 'starship' stuff (in the Star Trek Universe), and KoTor will appeal more to those looking for a Star Warsy ground based MMO.

Not to slam STO, but I think KoTor looks to be the next giant in MMOs (behind WoW). They have the financing (as their recent Cinematic suggests) and they have a much broader appeal among gamers. I think STO will be a more niche game, which is successful in its own vein.


To me that pretty much puts them in direct competition as i'm sure Cryptic are looking to attract sci-fi fans and gamers.

[Manta2015]

There have been several games that had among the best opening cinematics known, but of course lacked severely on the gameplay. I will say though, watching that preview on HD -- quite breathtaking.

Me hopes much of the Champions staff will migrate to help flesh out STO and make it dominate that competition.


-Manta-

[Loekii]

There have been several games that had among the best opening cinematics known, but of course lacked severely on the gameplay. I will say though, watching that preview on HD -- quite breathtaking.

Me hopes much of the Champions staff will migrate to help flesh out STO and make it dominate that competition.


-Manta-

I agree, but I think Bioware has something those companies did not - a solid history of quality game design. Both KotoR single player games were very well received. In a sense, it reminds me of Blizzard and their success with their Warcraft series and their success of WoW. I don't think KoTor will be a 'WoW' killer, but I do expect it to be more in the +1 million subscriber range.

I think STO will be about 200k (if it is an okay game), and about 500k (if it is a good game). MO.

[Ezmarii]

I've been watching some of the E3 stuff and thinking Atari should of been there with Cryptic and STO, just to catch the current buzz from the new movie as it probably won't last long.

This is definitely the main thought to walk away with from this thread. ;O

On the note of 'what does STO have to directly compete with the uber story-driven game that SWTOR is touting to be' comment- I am hoping STO will have movie-camera angles for mission cutscenes. Did anyone here how many awards Mass Effect won? Somewhere around 90 something, I think? It definitely takes some extra time to develop, but I don't think it'd be hard to engineer some better camera angles and effects to enhance the feel/emotions of missions in STO. It doesn't have to be pre-rendered CG scenes reminicent of the old PS1 FF7/8/9 days...just in-engine stuff, with added flare to the camera views, maybe a few extra little effects here and there.


I think STO will be about 200k (if it is an okay game), and about 500k (if it is a good game). MO.[/COLOR]

I certainly hope it's bigger than that. Almost no one anywhere talks about FF11 because the marketing budget for it is something like a single guy who works 20 hrs a week minimum wage and probably does the web work for updates and news releases on their home site. FF11 last reported just over 1 million subscribers, but they also have a lottery event coming up to put a lot of currency into the game after nuking masses of RMT through stepped-up anti-RMT actions. Ontop of free trials, I'm sure the number is inflated. Last reported subscriber# was 500k in late 2007 or early 2008 ish. Like I said, no one outside of the FF11 player base really talks about it anywhere else. It's not even considered a main stream MMO and if they're reporting 500k subs, I'd sure like to hope STO aims for more than that, for reputation's sake!

[thefrayl]

I certainly hope it's bigger than that. Almost no one anywhere talks about FF11 because the marketing budget for it is something like a single guy who works 20 hrs a week minimum wage and probably does the web work for updates and news releases on their home site. FF11 last reported just over 1 million subscribers, but they also have a lottery event coming up to put a lot of currency into the game after nuking masses of RMT through stepped-up anti-RMT actions. Ontop of free trials, I'm sure the number is inflated. Last reported subscriber# was 500k in late 2007 or early 2008 ish. Like I said, no one outside of the FF11 player base really talks about it anywhere else. It's not even considered a main stream MMO and if they're reporting 500k subs, I'd sure like to hope STO aims for more than that, for reputation's sake!

You are forgetting a major factor here in FF11's population...

Japan

That is all... :)