test content
What is the Arc Client?
Install Arc

STO vs. SWTOR

SystemSystem Member, NoReporting Posts: 178,019 Arc User
Because we have a huge lead on Bioware's upcoming Star wars MMO, I felt it a good idea to talk about the promises of Star Wars The Old Republic and see if Cryptic can put them into STO.

1. Fully Voiced
This is extremely expensive and takes alot of work, but the big thing missing from MMOs is the voice aspect. It really engages you more into the roleplaying experience. STO is missing this quality. Perhaps if more people subscribe and high profit quarters start coming in, Cryptic will think about voice new or existing episodes.

2. Story
I know STO has a story... kinda... wait does it? Something about Klingons at war, and the borg are coming. It goes further than reading the mission text. LORTO has the story very mapped out in the UI. If this were more prevelent, than the story in STO can shine more.

Add to these. Cryptic... what is your take on going against SWTOR within the next year?
Post edited by baddmoonrizin on
«1

Comments

  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    I think that we appeal to a slightly different crowd. That being said we have space combat and a bunch of other things that SWTOR doesn't have. Not to mention that they're going heavy, heavy rollercoaster story and we're more sandboxy, so they'll have environments and missions that are a lot more like our epidodes, probably even better than, but they'll suffer from lack of content if they do that too much. Especially with Genesis STO can pump out content like nothing, they're saying a new huge episode every few weeks, which is awesome, and that's in addtion to the small content updates and. hopefully, expansion packs.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    I think part of the problem is expectation. The Star Trek IP brings a lot of fans, but it also brings expectations. A lot of the things that fans came to love about the series' and movies are largely absent from the game. Character development (and I don't mean raising stats) and story were always at the heart of Star Trek, and those are the two most glaringly absent things in this game.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    If what im reading SWTOR is supposed to let you level solo, in your own instance... and there is then instanced multiple player sections like STO. There going to be the same. Going to be the same launch fiasco, same complaints, same everything, if SWTOR was going to be like SWG was after the majority of the bug fixes went out and pre cu, id be hyped and excited... but a single player story in a MMO just makes me cry.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    I'm not really big on "voice". Its "nice"... but its fluff. It works better in Single Player RPGs.... however, it makes sense that SWTOR has full voice since that is what Bioware does "very well"... doesn't mean it will be a great MMO.

    In fact, neither game can "still become" a not so great MMO. Nothing is what it stays as at launch. Same goes for SWTOR, it will be drastically a different experience (Core game-play won't change but the user experience will) 1, 2 and 3 years down the line.

    By their very nature, MMOs don't need to compete with each other via feature by feature. They should be diverse and can be mutually exclusive in fact, as that helps grow the market in general.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Sorry OP, but these forums are to discuss STO, not to discuss how you think it compares to other games. Besides, these threads always turn into one side flaming/trolling the other. In short, they serve absolutely no constructive purpose. If you want to talk about TOR, do it on their forums.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    STO has a lot of story thanks.

    Hell, it has npcs that comment on certain aspects you wont get from the text.

    But yeah, i hope for more voice acting and cameos. Its just so damn expensive for them to get most of the actors.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    didn't read, didn't click it, don't care to

    if STO and TOR had cybz wat would the babie look like
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    I don't see any need to discuss it, Bioware may raise the bar for MMOs, but I am sure once launched there will be many people crying about it not being good enough, every MMO has this, you cant satisfy everyone lol.

    Many playing STO will probably play SWTOR as well, either because they love both or because they love MMO games.

    I personally will continue to enjoy STO, all i will say is we need more of a server wide chat and customization options :D
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    didn't read, didn't click it, don't care to

    if STO and TOR had cybz wat would the babie look like

    Your avatar? :p
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    LOTRO already has a story and a definative ending. So in my opinion it's easier to flesh out the details inbetween in that game. Because you know where it's headed.

    STO has a great backstory, but the future is unwritten, and there is no true "ending" to Trek, where one thing ends, another thing starts. So the story in STO is to build "episodes" that don't really lead to an over-arching conclusion, because there is no "conclusion" in Trek. It's very open ended.

    KoToR has the same advantage with story as LoTRO in that, you know basically where it's all headed. Since it's the story before the story we know, it's easier to create, and fill in the details. You already have the "backstory" to a point, all KoToR does is fully flesh out the backstory. Easier said than done, but at least you have a pre-defined edge or boarder around the puzzle. Now you just find and fit the pieces easier.

    Both STO and KoToR have a mixed and match bag of fans that enjoy both universes equally. I've never known any Star Trek fans to hate Star Wars, or vice-versa. They tend to go hand-in-hand almost.

    The benefit to STO is that by the time KoToR is released, STO will have had more time to work the kinks out and add newer content, and expand on the original premise. When KoToR comes out, it will have to face many of the same problems we see with all MMO's, server issues, constant patching, errors, random bugs, etc. Every MMO has it's testing phases, which require many trial and error removals of issues.

    The benefit to KoToR is that it is being written by both BioWare, and Lucas. Both companies have a long history of producing "just right games", which don't require much patching, or other bug fixes often, simply because they worked long and hard to perfect the game prior to release. BioWare als has a long history of releasing excellent titles with a high-amount of replayability. Unfortunately (or fortunately) this will be BioWare's first ever MMO. So they will be learning many of the hurdles of MMO's as a software company for the first time. Though they have loads of experience in gaming media, they will need to learn to cope with a fanatical and tyrannic fan base that will gladly roast you over the coals and opportunity they can get. Lucas also has the advantage of learning from its mistakes with their horrible failures they've witnessed first hand from Star Wars Galaxies. Now between both Lucas and BioWare, they get the chance to do it right, the first time.

    My feeling is that both games will be interchangibly good for each other simply because you have avid fans of both worlds. It will be like trains passing in the night moving from one game to the other. And therefore I highly expect them to complement each other well.

    I think EvE, SWG (what remains of it), and some of the other SciFi MMO's will inevitably suffer, as they realize mass exodus of gamers whom will either defect to STO or KoToR, because they admittedly were only playing those MMO's because they were honestly just waiting for someone to finally relase the games they wanted, (Like STO).

    I think the competition between STO and KoToR will be healthy too, simply becuase they will pace each other to add things that the fans of both genres will want to see in the game. Although I have a feeling that BioWare and Lucas will be less flexible than Cryptic has been, possibly less open with the community too.

    There is good and bad to both of them. I think the thing we all need to watch out for is if and when (I should say), Blizzard finally decides to announce and release StarCraft Online, (or whatever "secret" project the are working on). If Blizzard does this, they will have successfully cornered both the Fantasy, and SciFi genres on the market. People that want Dragons, Elves, Gnomes and Dwarves can go play in WoW, and people that want Space Marines, Aliens, weapons, ships, and massive space-age technological abilities, or huge PvP battles (akin to Warhammer 40K), will go to play StarCraft Online. Then we all need to worry about KoToR, EvE, SWG, and STO. Because they'll easily gobble up the rest of the players out there, plus steal a bunch from here.

    -avery
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Your avatar? :p

    i'd tap that
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Don't get me wrong I'm a SW fan as much as a ST fan but here is the bottom line

    SWTOR = HYPE!

    STO = realeased! (thought not fully developed)

    I predict that if Cryptic survives this initial mayhem and focus on STO (BIG IF!) by the time SW comes out they will be equally balanced in development.

    Of course that depends on how much SW lives up to its hype. Remember STO was highly regarded prior to release.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    I think that we appeal to a slightly different crowd. That being said we have space combat and a bunch of other things that SWTOR doesn't have.

    eh let me make this clear there is no evidence pointing to that SWTOR will or will not have space combat. the only thing the devs said about space combat is that they are not willing to talk about it yet so don't assume something just because other people say it wait on official word from Bioware.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    SWTOR is a WoW Killer :D

    Its going to shoot WoW right between the eyes with a silver bullet.

    Yup! Yup! :rolleyes:
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    badbal wrote: »
    SWTOR is a WoW Killer :D

    Its going to shoot WoW right between the eyes with a silver bullet.

    Yup! Yup! :rolleyes:

    nice avatar :D
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    eh let me make this clear there is no evidence pointing to that SWTOR will or will not have space combat. the only thing the devs said about space combat is that they are not willing to talk about it yet so don't assume something just because other people say it wait on official word from Bioware.

    While that may be technically true, development history has proven that its typically not a good sign when the Devs dont want to comment on something. You know, kind of like how they wouldnt talk about Klingons ever since the original statement that they would have full PvE, then a year later we find out they wouldnt.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    ..........
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    I dont personaly give a flying **** about Voice-over and TRIBBLE like that, what counts for me is gameplay.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    I've been waiting for another one of these topics to come up in order to post something. We all know that BioWare has no prior MMO experience but people claim they will do well since there are so many other MMOs out there or simply because BioWare is teh awsumsauce.

    Let me bring your attention to the DA:O character sites.
    They suck.
    Horribly.
    They're slow, buggy, and don't update correctly with character information.

    Obviously that's not the same as an MMO but... come on... if they butchered the development and scaling of that comparatively minor web application, it doesn't bode well for something as complex as an MMO backend.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    I hope that the upcoming Star Wars MMO is nothing, i mean absolutly nothign like this Worthless excuse for an MMO
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    cjboillot wrote: »
    Because we have a huge lead on Bioware's upcoming Star wars MMO, I felt it a good idea to talk about the promises of Star Wars The Old Republic and see if Cryptic can put them into STO.

    1. Fully Voiced
    This is extremely expensive and takes alot of work, but the big thing missing from MMOs is the voice aspect. It really engages you more into the roleplaying experience. STO is missing this quality. Perhaps if more people subscribe and high profit quarters start coming in, Cryptic will think about voice new or existing episodes.

    2. Story
    I know STO has a story... kinda... wait does it? Something about Klingons at war, and the borg are coming. It goes further than reading the mission text. LORTO has the story very mapped out in the UI. If this were more prevelent, than the story in STO can shine more.

    Add to these. Cryptic... what is your take on going against SWTOR within the next year?

    I will bite and have to say STO. Bioware has been slipping these past years and while they continue to produce big budget high production value games I find the gameplay and technology to be lacking. I did not like Mass Effect and Dragon Age is a big let down aside from the combat animations and blood. I do like the idea of voice overs however. As for the Star Wars IP well i think it died for me with the last three movies. I prefer the look of the older movies also. That said there is definantly some screens of SWTOR being released and some of the stuff looks good. Much improvement over the older alpha screens. Also Mass Effect 2 looks much improved over Mass Effect 1 (Namely the FPS elements.) I rather like the action orientated direction of STO. While I get some away missions that are diplomatic or space missions that do not involve combat I just love to shoot stuff :)
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    wrote:
    The people who buy SWTOR for the voiceovers are the same type of people who bought The Bouncer (I think it was called) on the PS2. I for one prefer to play games, not watch them.
    hey I enjoyed that game! >_<
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    Whilst i enjoy fully voiced you'd be amazed at the amount of MMOGers who absolutely despise it and won't touch it with a fifty foot pole.

    That said some portions of the conversation system kinda make me wary too, like the mutliplayer part of it, what if someone goes afk and your left waiting around for them to respond in a convo. can you bypass the multiplayer convos and if so what if the other player didn't want to bypass it. it slows things down which quite a few mmogers hate, some don't even wait around to read the mission texts in current mmogs.

    As for story, i've found that hype always wins here, things get mentioned and peoples imagination goes wild with it. I doubt there'll be any more story in swotor than any other mmog, the only difference is how that story is told and most convo decisions will only effect how the mission is played rather than how it ends.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    If what im reading SWTOR is supposed to let you level solo, in your own instance... and there is then instanced multiple player sections like STO. There going to be the same. Going to be the same launch fiasco, same complaints, same everything, if SWTOR was going to be like SWG was after the majority of the bug fixes went out and pre cu, id be hyped and excited... but a single player story in a MMO just makes me cry.

    Bioware does very well at making superficially interactive movies with combat interludes. They may even sucker people into paying a subscription to play KOTOR 3, and people may well enjoy it. I will not be among them. An MMO is not the proper venue for being straitjacketed to someone else's narrative.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    cjboillot wrote: »
    Because we have a huge lead on Bioware's upcoming Star wars MMO, I felt it a good idea to talk about the promises of Star Wars The Old Republic and see if Cryptic can put them into STO.

    1. Fully Voiced
    This is extremely expensive and takes alot of work, but the big thing missing from MMOs is the voice aspect. It really engages you more into the roleplaying experience. STO is missing this quality. Perhaps if more people subscribe and high profit quarters start coming in, Cryptic will think about voice new or existing episodes.

    2. Story
    I know STO has a story... kinda... wait does it? Something about Klingons at war, and the borg are coming. It goes further than reading the mission text. LORTO has the story very mapped out in the UI. If this were more prevelent, than the story in STO can shine more.

    Add to these. Cryptic... what is your take on going against SWTOR within the next year?

    Why? who told you that? why every new released MMO has to go up against some new MMO? is it a rule of some kind?
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    cjboillot wrote: »
    Because we have a huge lead on Bioware's upcoming Star wars MMO, I felt it a good idea to talk about the promises of Star Wars The Old Republic and see if Cryptic can put them into STO.

    1. Fully Voiced
    This is extremely expensive and takes alot of work, but the big thing missing from MMOs is the voice aspect. It really engages you more into the roleplaying experience. STO is missing this quality. Perhaps if more people subscribe and high profit quarters start coming in, Cryptic will think about voice new or existing episodes.

    2. Story
    I know STO has a story... kinda... wait does it? Something about Klingons at war, and the borg are coming. It goes further than reading the mission text. LORTO has the story very mapped out in the UI. If this were more prevelent, than the story in STO can shine more.

    Add to these. Cryptic... what is your take on going against SWTOR within the next year?

    The main differences. STO has shipped. SWTOR has not. Really, the end of the differences, since you cannot count SWTOR until it does ship.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    If what im reading SWTOR is supposed to let you level solo, in your own instance... and there is then instanced multiple player sections like STO. There going to be the same. Going to be the same launch fiasco, same complaints, same everything, if SWTOR was going to be like SWG was after the majority of the bug fixes went out and pre cu, id be hyped and excited... but a single player story in a MMO just makes me cry.

    I'm thankful someone else gets it too.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    If you want voice overs for the mission text just read it out loud.
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    I used to be super hyped up for SWTOR ....that is, until they let the devs talk.

    I was expecting SWG sandbox traditional MMO with awesome content and story and character growth flexibilty. Now, we stuck with NGE iconic characters. So, I'm still calling it KOTOR with a chat box until open beta or launch to prove me wrong. SWTOR is going to be heavily instanced as STO. Atleast STO, you aren't locked into one ship class.


    I love playing iconic events and story, but not playing iconic characters in MMOs. That is what Marvel vs Capcom is for :-)
  • Archived PostArchived Post Member Posts: 2,264,498 Arc User
    edited February 2010
    If you want voice overs for the mission text just read it out loud.

    .....I ... can't read :(
This discussion has been closed.