SWTOR State Of The Game Viewer Insight: The Republic Ep120

Written by: QuintLyn Bowers (@QuintLyn) | January 8, 2013 12:03 pm

36 Comments

This week, we asked viewers to share their thoughts on the SWTOR State of the Game address and, not surprisingly, they had something to say.

When asked what they thought about the Jeff Hickman’s recent State of the Game address, some people showed a lack of trust with what was being said. Some players feel that the game is probably not as strong as the address suggests and feel that they currently do not believe what’s being said because of who is saying it to them. Are players right to feel this way or are we falling into that trap of being too hard on a company that has disappointed us recently?

Some of you asked about story lines. According to the SWTOR State of the Game blog post, there will be more story lines coming. But will they be general only or will players see a revival of the class story lines they had been told would no longer be made? Will a lack of funding from EA officially kill the possibility of class related stories for good.

Another viewer addressed the developers’ intention to fix the PvP world Ilum as mentioned in the SWTOR State of the Game post. Is fixing Ilum a good place for Bioware to spend their resources when they could be fixing things like the macro system and ship customization?

Watch the video to hear what Gary, Larry and Justin have to say about your thoughts as well as their answers to viewer questions.

And, if you missed last week’s discussion on the SWTOR State of the Game, be sure to check it out.

SWTOR State Of The Game Viewer Insight: The Republic Ep120

45:20

World of Warcraft

Patch 5.3: Blizzard’s First Ever Live Video Interview!

Legendary is joined by Blizzard's Greg "Ghostcrawler" Street and Brian Holinka for a live video interview!Read more »

19 comments
1:00:49

MMO News

This Week in MMO Ep 144:
WildStar, Rift, Dust 514

WildStar details finally coming out!Read more »

25 comments
1:22:33

World of Warcraft

Legendary Ep126:
Raiding Ra-Den Revelations!

This week the Legendary crew are talking patch 5.3, raiding, and more with World First raider Treckie!Read more »

25 comments

Dekin

LoL, at Gary’s commit “people just like to see me blow my top.” I have never played this game, that is the only reason I watch this show.

Honestly when I first started watching Gamebreaker I came here for Legendary but this show, if am not mistaken, was here even before Legendary. It seems like Gary was really invested in the game and now he is sad that it is turning out the way it is.
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Alex-Mac/777995513 Alex Mac
  
  All the more reason for him to just move on. He’s become embarrassing to watch on this show.
  - http://www.facebook.com/people/Jimmy-Nguyen/704808054 Jimmy Nguyen
    
    People still watch the show. Why pass up the viewership? Plus it’s entertaining to watch. If it’s embarrassing for you then don’t watch it.
    - http://www.facebook.com/people/Alex-Mac/777995513 Alex Mac
      
      Me? No, no. I feel embarrassed for him.
- http://twitter.com/dularr Dularr
  
  The first three or four episodes of The Republic are amazing to watch. Throughout the early shows, the hosts seem to hint at the coming problems.
http://www.facebook.com/davidallmighty David Cohen

LOL I love this show, and I dont like SWTOR anymore. The show is that entertaining.
http://www.facebook.com/jesse.liss Jesse Liss

They should have made KOTOR 3 instead of SWTOR. It’s as simple as that.
http://www.facebook.com/spankthismonkey Thomas Vu

Did anyone hear some random beeping during the show?
- http://twitter.com/dularr Dularr
  
  yes
- Depravity
  
  Censorship. He was probably swearing. Legitimately!
http://twitter.com/Deadalon Deadalon

Dont think SWTOR players can really be too mad. Blizz just released new mount for even more than the darn Xmas light mount. 25 USD for a goat.
- http://twitter.com/dularr Dularr
  
  That’s sky-goat to you sir! Going to have to visit Org and see how many Swift Windsteed sky-goats are flying around.
- http://twitter.com/cipero Matt Cipriano
  
  yea at least its an original mount and not a rehashed mount you’d expect to see sitting in the front yard of a rednecks house
- InvaderMig
  
  Bind on account. That is all.
http://twitter.com/AisarGaming Aisar

I love this show and I will keep watching it until the game gets too stale and there’s nothing controversial or interesting for the hosts to talk about.
crothcipt

I still like this show. I never play, but I still am sub’d up. I still have hope for this one, (a new hope?) but I am not seeing any light at the end of the tunnel atm. Or has the train already gone by?
- http://twitter.com/dularr Dularr
  
  You don’t play SWTOR but continue to pay the monthly sub?
  - crothcipt
    
    Ya to much time playing wow atm, and also working a second job. I have it on automatic payment. I am waiting for the ability to transfer chr. from rp to pve.
theunwarshed

i said this a long time ago on the DH and BW sites, what was the point of touting personal story as the pillar of your game when it was an unsustainable feature? it’s a house of cards and so illustrative of the complete fail in game direction leadership from BW with this game. what’s so good about being known as a “story” innovator in the mmo space when doing so, overall, hurt the game as an “mmo” in the long run?

the sad thing is that most of us, long time mmo players, were voicing these concerns years before the game even launched and BW made no changes in direction.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Robert-Caliolo/100003765889295 Robert Caliolo

When you look at Ilum and open world PvP. It was not that the PvP was bad, it actually was not. The problem was control points, trading them to each side and the massive lag issues that came from the huge amounts of players in the areas. If you removed the control points, which removes the trading of those control points to exploits the point system you are left with an open zone that is just PvP, killing players and receiving points for doing so.
If you look at Ilum and the fact that the open world pvp that was not done in the one designed area for it…the rest of Ilum… the pvp was great. Small pockets of players fighting each other.

The solution? Just create a couple more planets like the quest areas of Ilum that spreads the population over those planets instead of dumping every player into one small zone.
- InvaderMig
  
  I disagree completely. The pvp in illum was mediocre at best. Overall it was a spectacular failure of design. Even Lotro, which prior to TOR had the most pathetic example of a pvp zone imo, did it far better than TOR. At least there was a point to it all. Bioware plain and simple had no vision and failed on a massive scale on pure design. The horrible lag and stability issues due to there butchered version of the hero engine is a different story altogether. But that’s what happens when you build an engine for the purpose of ease of cut scenes and phasing. Bioware lacked vision and used what massive resources they had on a part of the game that never had any chance of fostering longevity.
http://twitter.com/cipero Matt Cipriano

Well, here’s the state of the game… People should go check the forums on every single piece of gear they get out of the GTN or the Cartel Market to check if it is going to change because a lot of people got screwed over today when they changed how the phantom set (from cartel shop and GTN) looks, and if you don’t do this then according to the fanboy’s on swtor’s forums, you are in the wrong! hahahaha

can you imagine playing a game where every single piece of gear you acquire you are expected to check the forums to see if they are bugged or not just so you know it won’t dramatically change?
- http://www.facebook.com/people/Alex-Mac/777995513 Alex Mac
  
  I can imagine it because I play Planetside 2.
- http://profiles.google.com/samgilsig Samuel Gilsig
  
  You don’t have to check the forums. BW advertised gear (it was on the freaking Cartel packs) but put an unfinished version in-game. We (the playerbase) called them out on their BS and they fixed their mistake (over 5 weeks later ) but this is a fix. The real screwup was when they released unfinished gear back in November. What the frack where they thinking?
  - http://twitter.com/cipero Matt Cipriano
    
    yea if they made a mistake which they did obviously they shouldve pulled it from the market…they kept selling it which is the problem because once it hits the GTN those people just preview the gear…they aren’t seeing any pack logo.
http://twitter.com/Dope_Danny Danny Smith

Honestly?

I havent played in ages and i keep watching for the train wreck that left me disappointed and bitter.

I am a bad person but i can live with it.
Evilevi501

I too haven’t played this game since a few months after launch but the train wreck effect of this show is great.
robotadventures

thanks to you guys i knew i went free to play and then i started. im level 5!!! i have one lady jedi and one fat cyborg red alliance character. i think its an good game. i dont go to forums because of the haters and trolls. i also play star trek online. and huge into guild wars 2. but star war is a good break when you want to shoot blasters / swing lightsabers and be all star wars ish.
Joel Viola

Can SWTOR last? lol
Im well aware of the game flaws, and believe it or not I’m not a fanboi, at my guild they call me hater and ask me why I play the game since im always criticizing it.
The truth is even with all this flaws I still enjoy it, and I love to raid… I think all the 4 raids are well done, and EC NiM is great and hard, not as good as WoW TBC but how can I ask for something like that?
But one thing I dnt understand is this statements and questions like: “can swtor last?” I mean, really? How many mmos do you know that have shutted down? Not many i assure you. How many mmos doing alot worst than SWTOR are still around? How many old mmos with 8+ years are still around with major updates once a year? I can name a few, but I rather dont do it since this is a SWTOR discussion.
Stuff like “can swtor last?”, on this show, only have one characterization: Propaganda! They know that the show lives on the hate and flame now. So they point out what is bad on the game( im not saying they dont) but they put it in way that seems 10x worst than the reality, and what I find more amusing is the fact they sometimes complain about stuff that happens in other mmos and they discuss it as if swtor is the only sinner.
When I have friends, that like me use gamebreaker as their main site about gaming, that never played SWTOR, and know nothing about the game and have absolutely no interest on it watch the Republic every week just to see the hate flowing and use it to bug me and the people who plays the game on our Teamspeak, for me thats a critical sigh that this show is focused in the community that doesn’t like the game more than the other way around.
Gary I can understand, he is a hater by nature and he likes to troll, I used to enjoy it till it becomes to much, and he knows that is the hate that keeps the show running so its good for the business that he acts like that. But Justin and Larry pact with this? I cant understand, they are doing more harm than good to the game that they allegedly love.
Damm the game wasn’t what I expected after 3 years of Hype, I wished a game that I played till exhaustion, that had me hooked like was during Vannila and TBC on WoW. They did so many things wrong, and I raged quit for 3 months between march and July. But is the game as bad as they put it here? In my humble opinion its not, its a fun game that had the potential to be much more but its still a good and enjoyable game, and I think most people like me once just think about the game past potential and cant move on.
Sorry for my bad english, it not my native language. Feel free to disagree with me and point why I am wrong or even hate and flame me if thats your thing,
- http://twitter.com/dularr Dularr
  
  EA will keep the game running as long as it is profitable. The biggest risk is if royalty payment to Disney prevents the game from being profitable.
  
  MMOs that have closed down.
  Asheron’s Call 2
  City of Heroes
  Dungeon Runners
  Earth & Beyond
  Earth Eternal
  FURY
  LEGO Universe
  The Matrix Online
  Phoenix Dynasty Online
  Shadowbane
  Tabula Rasa
  The Chronicles of Spellborn
  Yogurting
  
  and
  
  Star Wars Galaxies
http://www.gamedevelopmentindia.com/ Marie Weaver

Amazing game, Star Wars MMO presents a unique and innovative style to play various types of war, including a Faction War between the Alliance and Fury, guild wars and wars between kingdoms.
http://twitter.com/Giru017 Marcel Frohlich

Same, stopped playing 2 months after launch, but this show show is awesome, so I keep watching. Seeing the train wreck that is SWTOR unfold is just a blast!
rippled

I kinda expect a 60$ expansion personally, especially if what was said on the show about the stable core of “casuals” is true. An expansion like that firstly and foremostly fits that market, like makeb does. Sooner or later even the casual core is gonna hit the end of chapter 3. and will need more content.

And like larry said, it’s cheaper the 2nd time around. As long as they have decent numbers playing and are making a healthy montly profit it only makes sense for them to do an expansion like that. It’s basically a standalone game for EA that is cheaper to develop than a new title plus it already has a loyal fan base (such as it is) you can count on will purchase it. And obviously generates additional revenue through subs and shop.

I think that’s gonna be the make or brake of TOR in the long run. A successful “non digital” expansion. If it happens and hits it out of the park the game could still go places. If it’s reduced to makeb-esque drops of content it’ll only last as long as “casuals” take to consume the bulk provided at launch and after that it’s likely curtains indeed. Makeb isn’t the hail mary pass we’re all waiting for it’s buying time for it at best. At least that’s how it should be if EA has any common sense.

Honestly the most disastrous thing about this game is the way BW handles PR. Shows like this shouldn’t be pitty parties 1 year in. But as it’s absence of news what’s there to do than be gloomy. All it would take is a bit of open communication that showcased some confidence and proper commitment on EA/BWs part and the community could rally behind some optimism. Yet all we get is hickman with some shallow platitudes that wouldn’t inspire anyone.
http://twitter.com/Iantgal Ian Galbraith

IF you think all servers are close to full then you should look at the Asia Pacific servers which have been neglected by Bioware and remain in limbo with low populations, no mergers and no free transfers. They should be merged into 1 server with free transfers being offered to other servers if players are unhappy with the merger.
Chance Worthington

As of Jan 21st (Monday) 4pm+ EST All US servers are Hvy. EU all standard 1 Hvy, Asia Bad and forgotten. Looking better then decent. That’s more Servers (2-3X as many) as most Games still around.
I Still laugh when ppl bitch about how jipped they feel with f2p…. Its still a Sub game and they are giving you just enough to try the game. Hmmm A lvl 15 capped trial or 1-50 full access (for the most part). I think most are still used to CS full F2p games rather then these in between attempts. Besides if anything they owe the subs on all there unkept and unfinished promises…

I have not kept up on the game so don’t know who is who. But its obvious whoever was in charge or in charge of the person in charge. (Whoever is making the real calls) Is obviously completely out of touch with the gaming industry. As seems to happen in all industries now.
FFXIV was destroyed by the very same ignorance. As was ToR. They could have turned this game around at any point but didnt. So either its drastic negligence which I dont think could have happened. Or some moron who thought he knew everything (or nothing at all) Making them make decisions which were suicidal and out of touch.

At multiple times Trion and other companies offered them advice and they were laughed at. They said they knew what they were doing and the best at it lol…

This delusion was when I became very worried. Because its exactly what happened to FFXIV with Tanaka.

IF they were serious about turning things around you wont be able to tell like they are saying for a couple months. The f2p rush has to simmer. Then we need to see some successful additions. IF however its the same damn song and dance…U know EA is still only squeezing the ketchup bottle to get what they can out of whats left; and have no intention to save the game.

Their inability to admit their ego, ignorance or whatever, has me feeling that still someone in a safe (therefor powerful position) outside the Team actually running the game is forcing them to make shots. Everything still crawls when it comes to improvements…

Sry for dragging on. I just feel there is some guy who is untouchable for whatever making these calls.

Well when MR untouchable Tanaka was removed things began to improve drastically; It was to late of coarse. But TOR could still pull a 180 in a big way. But they themselves need to make 180s in their decision making.

PS: When I say destroyed I mean like I know 1-5% of the players scream loud and most are content. I mean to say they have not delivered 90% of what they promised. And with their legendary inability to listen to the actual player base since Beta well… Nothings changed.
http://pulse.yahoo.com/_5MK4UA32YWB7I575BGRYQFFVCA Adaptation

I know the F2P model is old news by now, but I’m a former subscriber who let my subscription lapse in September because I wasn’t playing the game often enough to justify subscribing, and just this past weekend I decided to log on and check out the F2P model for the first time.

I have to say, I’m really disappointed. Even as a preferred member, the game seemed virtually unplayable. I logged onto my main, and had a few quests in her log, and I went to go do those quests, and I can’t do either of them because the areas where I need to go to complete them are off-limits now, I assume because I’m not subscribed. Combined with the decrease in XP gain rate, I just don’t see how this game is going to be any fun for me to play at all. If I could afford a subscription and play enough to make it worth it, I would, but I’m both busy and broke.

And frankly, seeing how the F2P model works makes me not want to subscribe again just because it’s so clearly a money-grab by Bioware, trying to make the game so irritating that you have to subscribe just so you don’t punch your computer out of frustration when you try to play.

Not to mention the fact that they took away the option to hide your helmet for non-subscribers. It just seems so petty! That’s such a basic game function (along with hot bars) that taking it away and then charging cartel coins to buy it back just proves that this game isn’t “Free to Play” at all.

SWTOR State Of The Game Viewer Insight: The Republic Ep120

This week, we asked viewers to share their thoughts on the SWTOR State of the Game address and, not surprisingly, they had something to say.

Patch 5.3: Blizzard’s First Ever Live Video Interview!

This Week in MMO Ep 144:
WildStar, Rift, Dust 514

Legendary Ep126:
Raiding Ra-Den Revelations!

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Sign in to your account