Star Wars: The Old Republic will kill WoW - outsourced to Broadsword

[Angthoron]

It's quite simple, WoW was a revelation while EQ2 was rancid dog spunk.

Huh, what made it so bad?

 

[Rahdulan]

It is only a pale, pale shadow of what it used to be.

Actually, anyone know why EQ2 was never near as popular as EQ1?

It didn't deliver following up on EQ1 and it was a system hog on release, still is because SOE made their engine CPU-dependent which proved to be a fatal mistake in the long run given how the industry shaped up. Also something to keep in mind is that it was simply overshadowed by WoW aka Warcaraft aka "Blizzard's new game, DUDE!" which was HIGHLY recognizable to gamers at large as opposed to Everquest which was solely an MMO brand with relatively limited presence, especially among the newer gamers to whom WoW was their first MMORPG ever.

 

[Mother Russia]

so is WOW dead yet?

When the universe collapses in on itself...wow will still be trucking along.

They said the same thing about Everquest (calling it Evercrack with smug self serving smiles)...and then WoW was released.

Yet Everquest still exists, makes money, and releases expansion packs.

It is only a pale, pale shadow of what it used to be.

Actually, anyone know why EQ2 was never near as popular as EQ1?

IIRC it had much higher system requirements than WoW at the time, which lead people to a "Brand loyalty vs wallet contents" choice. And, just like with GW2 thread, there was the old vs new thing going on, with some people going "Fuck it, I choose a different path" result. I wasn't into MMOs back in the day, so I can't provide more detail, but I do recall there was some massive drama about EQ2 release.

Oh, yeah, and Blizzard luring away EQ1 "pro players" to work for them was possibly one other thing. Sadly, Tigule & Foror are also one of the worse things to have happened to WoW development in the long run.

Interesting, and an excellent move that should be a no brainer to any company. How many 'pro players' did Blizzard hire, and what did it pay them? And what was their JD? (I assume they were just asked for advice duing development, and then during alpha testing??)

Rahdulan: Wait, aren't all games and software CPU dependent?

 

[Angthoron]

so is WOW dead yet?

When the universe collapses in on itself...wow will still be trucking along.

They said the same thing about Everquest (calling it Evercrack with smug self serving smiles)...and then WoW was released.

Yet Everquest still exists, makes money, and releases expansion packs.

It is only a pale, pale shadow of what it used to be.

Actually, anyone know why EQ2 was never near as popular as EQ1?

IIRC it had much higher system requirements than WoW at the time, which lead people to a "Brand loyalty vs wallet contents" choice. And, just like with GW2 thread, there was the old vs new thing going on, with some people going "Fuck it, I choose a different path" result. I wasn't into MMOs back in the day, so I can't provide more detail, but I do recall there was some massive drama about EQ2 release.

Oh, yeah, and Blizzard luring away EQ1 "pro players" to work for them was possibly one other thing. Sadly, Tigule & Foror are also one of the worse things to have happened to WoW development in the long run.

Interesting, and an excellent move that should be a no brainer to any company. How many 'pro players' did Blizzard hire, and what did it pay them? And what was their JD? (I assume they were just asked for advice duing development, and then during alpha testing??)

Rahdulan: Wait, aren't all games and software CPU dependent?

http://www.wowwiki.com/Tigole
http://www.wowwiki.com/Alex_Afrasiabi

 

[Kane]

So it's really just a handful of people that bought the decline across the MMO world? It's time to unbury my axe.

 

[DraQ]

EA is really daring here, they're not trying to do that, so clearly this is a new and exciting experimental model they want to try.

Or they're just idiots.

More likely.

 

[J1M]

Another issue was that wow had a consistent art style that was pleasant to look at for most people. You can feel special if you are an exception.

EQ2 was infested with sharp, ugly bump-mapping and had no art style.

 

[Fens]

Another issue was that wow had a consistent art style that was pleasant to look at for most people. You can feel special if you are an exception.

EQ2 was infested with sharp, ugly bump-mapping and had no art style.

EQ2 wasn't as bad in the visual department as you make it

it sure isn't GW pretty, but it's not really hideous either.

also: WoW was way more cartoony than EQ2, which didn't bother most people, but did bother me quite a bit

 

[J1M]

Put some bumpmapped characters on the screen.

 

[fizzelopeguss]

Grotesquelt deformed visuals, shit combat, shit quests, shit zones (the snowy one was alright), shit dungeons.

And the armour visuals are quite possible some of the worst i've ever seen.

http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Category:Armor_Set_Images

 

[Deleted member 7219]

Another issue was that wow had a consistent art style that was pleasant to look at for most people. You can feel special if you are an exception.

EQ2 was infested with sharp, ugly bump-mapping and had no art style.

EQ2 wasn't as bad in the visual department as you make it

it sure isn't GW pretty, but it's not really hideous either.

also: WoW was way more cartoony than EQ2, which didn't bother most people, but did bother me quite a bit

Fuck that looks horrible.

 

[Mother Russia]

Another issue was that wow had a consistent art style that was pleasant to look at for most people. You can feel special if you are an exception.

EQ2 was infested with sharp, ugly bump-mapping and had no art style.

EQ2 wasn't as bad in the visual department as you make it

it sure isn't GW pretty, but it's not really hideous either.

also: WoW was way more cartoony than EQ2, which didn't bother most people, but did bother me quite a bit

Fuck that looks horrible.

Yep, that right there is probably the main reason EQ2 failed hard. Especially when you compare it to WoW's art at the time...WoW looked much much better. Heck, it actually looked pretty good. They made a great and visionary decision to go with the art style they did...u gotta give 'em that

 

[Fens]

ITT graphicwhores... also: "shipped on 4 November 2004"

you want ugly ?

Spoiler

 

[Rahdulan]

Rahdulan: Wait, aren't all games and software CPU dependent?

Not really dependent in a way I was commenting about EQ2. I was talking about how SOE's engine builders basically made a bad call when they put the engine together by not counting on processors with multiple cores and graphic cards capable of taking the load off of them. Basically, even today EQ2 still runs best on single-core processors and even best configurations available will chug with everything on high. It's a badly optimized game that was a major system hog at launch and it cost it a lot in the long run.

EQ2 wasn't as bad in the visual department as you make it

WoW is at least pleasing to look at if you don't have a problem with its exaggerated look, EQ2 is just badly put together from a visual standpoint and it has clashing elements. Not to mention the realistic look that was all the rage at launch has not aged well at all. Although you have to commend it for certain things like simulated clothing physics, for example.

 

[KevinV12000]

Buttmuncho?

 

[Fens]

Buttmuncho?

seemed appropriate for a zombie pet

 

[Jasede]

So...

...has it killed WoW yet?

 

[mediocrepoet]

yes

 

[Angthoron]

Cartel Expansion
Bioware announced the first expansion to SWTOR this week, Rise of the Hutt Cartel! It will arrive in Spring 2013 and cost $20 for free to play users and $10 for subscribers. The level cap will be increased to 55, there is a new story on the Hutt Cartel, new planet Makeb, new skills in each skill tree, faction-specific storylines, new Heroic missions and bosses, repeatable mission series, and new Datacrons. Dread Guard gear won't be replaced with leveling gear either!

​

Brace yourselves for more lulz as early as Spring 2013, bros.​

 

[RK47]

You playing this Angthoron ?
How is it different from GW2 10 skill slot bars...
I heard 20 slots ain't enough for such a deep game.

 

[Angthoron]

You playing this Angthoron ?
How is it different from GW2 10 skill slot bars...
I heard 20 slots ain't enough for such a deep game.

Do I look like a shit connoiseur? I haven't touched this abortion with even a free trial.

 

[Angthoron]

You playing this Angthoron ?
How is it different from GW2 10 skill slot bars...
I heard 20 slots ain't enough for such a deep game.

Although on the serious side, since TOR is a WoW combat system knock-off, playing with a limited amount of skill bars is pretty horrid, I presume. GW2 is built around the idea of limited skillsets (+combo fields), WoW and TOR are not.

 

[Vaarna_Aarne]

Cartel Expansion
Bioware announced the first expansion to SWTOR this week, Rise of the Hutt Cartel! It will arrive in Spring 2013 and cost $20 for free to play users and $10 for subscribers. The level cap will be increased to 55, there is a new story on the Hutt Cartel, new planet Makeb, new skills in each skill tree, faction-specific storylines, new Heroic missions and bosses, repeatable mission series, and new Datacrons. Dread Guard gear won't be replaced with leveling gear either!

​

Brace yourselves for more lulz as early as Spring 2013, bros.​

I can foresee the verdict on the quality of this...

BANTHA POODOO

 

[ohWOW]

You have to pay for additional skill bars?

 

[Angthoron]

Now that I think of it, I think they forgot to add a payment plan for actions per minute. Surely more than 120 is not necessary for free players.

 

[Average Manatee]

Should go with an actions per week limit. Have a counter on the number of keypresses you can make before all controls shut down. It would be oldschool.