Star Wars: The Old Republic Gunning For WoW's Throne
Posted 10/26/08 at 01:43:05 AM | by Nathan Grayson
Well, kinda. Make no mistake, BioWare, EA, and LucasArts hope to four-legged race right past WoW's 11 million subscriber record, but even if WoW's legions commit to Blizzard's ludicrously popular MMO, marry the game, have adorable children, and then sell them to buy more WoW gold, the Old Republic team won't lose any sleep over the lost customers.
“Just look at the base of Star Wars fans, plus what BioWare can do," EA Games president Frank Gibeau told Videogaming247. "Trust me: we want to win. EA’s reputation is for wanting to win."
“This is going to be a powerful category and there’s lots of ways to compete in this category. [Blizzard] created a much larger opportunity for everybody else, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to stay that way.”
LucasArts online boss Tom Nichols elaborated, and also downplayed Blizzard's userbase as the be-all, end-all of the MMO market.
“When World of Warcraft came out, everybody thought, ‘No, the market is only this big, because that’s as big as EverQuest was.’ Blizzard showed that it could be much larger,” he said.
“Our goal is to show that by bringing storytelling to the genre that we can attract an even wider audience. Plus, we have the benefit of this huge brand, which has done very, very well for nearly 30 years.”
We think The Old Republic has a better chance of seizing WoW's spot on the winner's podium than any other MMO. How about you?
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I'm a old SWG fan from way
Submitted by agent 47 on Tue, 2008-11-04 11:53
I'm a old SWG fan from way back way before they had swoops and they had perma death. All you people you ho and say well there is already a star wars mmo out there and its crap should know the whole story. True SWG is basically nothing but a crap fest right now I fully admit that but at one time in my opinion it was one of the best mmo's I've played. I never and still havent seen a more flexible way to create and level your character than the way you could is swg (pre NGE.) I mean to have a TK with Fencer defences and swordsman defences it was awesome, not to mention the doc rifleman out there. I loved the player housing and how you had a feeling of ownership when you actually had items to place in your house. SWG at one time was the best mmo. But I agree if they can take the good things that SWG once had and implement them in this new game I will be playing again, and I have no doubt that it will reign over World of Warcraft
Submitted by soccer1105 on Sun, 2008-10-26 18:29
I just can't get into a game that i have to pay a subscription for. it should be pay once, and that's the end.
Submitted by roninnder on Mon, 2008-10-27 10:20
I've said it before, and I'll say it again, if you want to play an MMO there is an enormous overhead that can only be paid for with a subscription service. Someone has to maintain the servers, fix the glitches, provide customer service, etc. Those people aren't going to work for free. I've had enough of hearing from you cheap idiots who can't seem to understand how the economy works at even the most basic level.
YOU CAN'T HAVE YOUR GAMES FOR FREE! At least not legally.
I have played WoW consistently for 2.5 years, and for that entire time someone has had to be on the other end, making sure I have an enjoyable experience. I really don't think the $40 I plopped down almost 3 years ago is going to hold them over, even with the additional $40 for the expansion. Furthermore, have you ever played any video game that you own for over 2 years? There is a value that you get for the experience that you pay for.
If the company cannot make a profit on a game, they will not make that game, if they cannot make a profit on any games, they will not make any games. How would you like that?
Agreed
Submitted by b_boy_69_00 on Mon, 2008-10-27 04:36
Agreed
About time...
Submitted by QuadraQ on Sun, 2008-10-26 18:14
I can say this: If you're like me and you enjoy rpg's for the story, the current bread of MMO's are next to useless. If Bioware can create a persistent world with an endless stream of good stories, always providing interesting things to do, they will revolutionize the genre. This much is for sure - When this is released I'll be playing it. I'm sure I'm not the only one. The real question is if Bioware can keep everyone coming back for more...
Submitted by dracoress on Mon, 2008-10-27 08:58
Okay, yeah it's Star Wars and everything and I will probably try it. But here is the thing. It better not be something like Guild Wars where everything is an instance and you don't have to group with people. Which is what it seems to be looking like to me. I'll have to wait until I get my new issue of PCG and read about it more. I just think that the last few games LA has done and the mistakes they made with SWG it just doesn't have the appeal it once did.
And another thing, it better have ship to ship dogfighting like SWG. That was probably the best part of SWG. In fact I hope that they take the best from SWG and incorporate it. Ya know, like everything before the NGE patch :)
Except the housing, I know that as good as it was to have our own town and housing, and I really do miss my houses, it did leave a mess when the mass subsq. cancelation happend.
I was a SWG player from about the start until about a month after the NGE and to this day I still miss it. I won't even try it unless there is space combat. And when Blizzard anounces the World of Starcraft MMO that they are working on and if they offer something like SOE's Station pass so I can play both for a lower price, I won't ever leave :)
It would take alot for me to invest myself in another MMO, and they will have to do a hell of a lot to beat Blizzard.
Submitted by b_boy_69_00 on Sun, 2008-10-26 17:31
What about the fact that their is already a Star Wars MMO? I think most people either forget about it or just don't know it. I don't think this one will be very much if any better than the one that is already out there.
Submitted by zodi on Sun, 2008-10-26 11:17
I don't think starwars will take the crown. I mean it was 1976 when it came out. I am not saying there is not a loyal fan base of SW fans out there. I was born the year starwars came out and I admit I really liked star wars growing up but....its not the same now that I am older. I also haven't seen to many kids out there talking about star wars.
THe big thing about WOW is warcraft was a huge genre across multiple platforms and cultures. It was world wide, and became a competitive system ie: warcraft 1,2, and 3. The RTS also had great story telling.
Can bioware compete, I hope they make a better product but I don't think they will succeed in attracting a larger user base.
Too Late for SW
Submitted by jnutley on Sun, 2008-10-26 10:18
The time when a SW MMO could have ruled was after the release of Return of the Jedi and before release of Phantom Menace. That was the period when the fan people were most desperate for a fix.
Launching at the opportune time is not by itself enough though. Give WoW it's props, it's easy to play (in comparison to other MMOs) and it's an easy load on commonly available platforms, so average Joe Gamers don't feel like they're left behind. Without those two advantages even a very faithful SW game would not rise to WoW heights.
Many new MMO's are aping WoW's user interface and/or style of game play, but that isn't enough, because it isn't a clear advantage over just playing WoW. I suspect you'll need a radically easier interface (Wii on steroids?) AND better graphics without requiring Ferrari class computer rigs for entry to unseat WoW.
Submitted by AlaskaDrew on Sun, 2008-10-26 06:14
I think Star Wars may be like WOW and EQ in a way but with a more modern feel to it witch I think I would want to play.
I know i'll be playing it.
Submitted by Strongbad536 on Sun, 2008-10-26 06:10
I know i'll be playing it. Can't wait to see more of the old republic
Submitted by MrNaPaLm32 on Sun, 2008-10-26 03:48
what is all these MMO's trying to conquer WoW. It can't be done.
Submitted by dougreding on Sun, 2008-10-26 04:15
That's what they said about EverQuest. =)
Submitted by averageGrod on Sun, 2008-10-26 09:47
I am a Star Wars fanboy but I just don't think the audience is as large as everyone thinks. Just because the license is huge it doesn't guaranatee success. LOTR is stable but can't touch WoW's numbers. It can't just be Star Wars. It has to be the gameplay and the community. Not every girlfriend is going to want to jump ship from WoW and move to KOTR when thier bf does. When was the last time you even heard of gfs getting into an MMO? The next game that has a chance at surpassing WoW will have to have that kind of mass appeal. It will also have to run on 14 million users pcs. Look at the specs for Mass Effect. If this game is anything like that or even takes a few baby steps forward it will be cutting out users. If it doesn't then the hardcore will whine about the weak WoW graphics. This game could surpass WoW someday just because of the huge audience and the kids who will be turning old enough to play that are watching the movies but it will take a long time to get there. Anyone entering the MMO market should be happy just to be making a profit. Even Blizzards next big MMO will have a hard time overtaking WoW. It won't have the mass market appeal without being a WoW clone.
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