There are many more people complaining about being nerfed than are actually experiencing the nerfs and crafting constructive criticism.
I will admit that it's a utter shame that PTS character copy tech isn't available for 1.2, but one thing constant about people on the internet is that hyperbole is often their preferred method of expression.
When they give Operatives a Shadowstep-clone and then another class a counter to that ability, then they'll be in the same situation as WoW.
Blizzard created a horrendous PvP arms race between Rogues Warriors and Mages, all of which were consistently in the top PvP classes since launch.
While there are some balance issues (tank stances not decreasing damage done is one example), every AC in SWTOR is useful and competitive in PvP (some say Operative/Scoundrel are weak, I say that a stealth class fighting like a melee brawler *should* feel weak). WoW tended to have a couple classes floundering no matter what expansion it was.
The reason why it feels Massively Single Player to you is primarily because people in MMOs aren't used to socializing in a real way anymore.
SWTOR has more incentives (without forcing grouping) play together than any MMO I've ever played, the only thing that was missing was an auto LFG tool, and the only reason why it is a detriment is because players are too scared of each other to actually talk.
When I group with people, they leave right after and miss out on most of the social points, when we could level together much faster *and* get bonus rewards. I'm guilty of this too, because of the poor design of that other MMO's solo leveling, where it was better to be alone.
There just no reason for it in SWTOR, none at all.
Being commonplace or standard practice doesn't mean that's not despicable.
If this was only BioWare or Blizzard (or any big company) doing this, I'd have a huge problem with that. If it's pretty widespread, I still hate it and think it is awful, but a lot of things are like that.
Even though a lot of people are upset at the Warzone kills counting for the Ilum daily/weekly quests, admitting that their "fix" for Ilum didn't really work and going for a redesign is admirable.
No, they didn't say what they intend to do, and it's kind of silly to expect them to.
Why? Because any information much more specific than "we're aware of it and are coming up with new measures" is likely to tip off the very hackers and cheaters they're trying to thwart. Not to mention that no matter what they say, people will complain anyway.
I'm just personally glad that I've only seen one person who might have been hacking so far, and they were farming Slicing nodes in Ilum.
See, the big problem with MMOs (especially AAA/big budget ones) is that the companies making them want to have as many people playing as possible. Normally, when making an FPS, you don't say "hey, let's make this game totally different from Halo or Call of Duty" and expect to make a huge return on it.
Early MMOs (actually gaming overall in the 90s) was more about geeks making something they thought was awesome, it was creating a vision. Now that MMOs (and games) can make a ton of money, there's a lot less of that pure, imaginative inspiration flowing from quality gaming companies. Business says it's not practical to throw resources on a chance, it's not worth it to really be unique, especially when you have to rely on investors (who only have money in your project, not a vision) to give you much of those resources.
I'm so glad to see this on Massively, as it seems that there are so many MMO fans that are so into whatever's new (I've done this too) that we forget that the greatest part of MMOs is their ability to grow and improve over time. Maybe this is precisely the reason why we latch on to whatever potential MMO-ssiah and spread the good news of its coming. It's not that we are totally fickle, but that we're so in love with the promise of better.
GW2's business model, server-downtime solution and dynamic questing seems really intriguing, TERA's combat looks exciting, SWTOR's storytelling and personal-character attachment is awesome. There will be (or is) some bad in each game, but there's a bit of this dream MMO we all are lusting for in each of them.
For future releases, I'm hoping that we're temper some of the hype and be willing to be fans of the whole genre, rather than search for the One Game to Rule Them All. That game will likely never come, and I honestly hope it doesn't, because if there ever is a Perfect MMO then the whole point of the genre is kind of gone, isn't it?
Precisely! I wish I had elaborated a little more earlier, but when co-operation is encouraged, people tend to be much more friendly. I was amazed when I mined for the first time and another Glitch walked up and started mining *my* node!
How dare they!
But what's this? I got an extra 5 chunks of sparkly from their help, and it cost me 0 energy?
Some elements of Glitch are great, and the people there are almost entirely awesome. People hold parties, there are groups for collecting Cubimal pets, writing Glitch poetry to leave around, all sorts of things. It makes me think of the type of activities that I heard would go in sandbox MMOs.
I really hope the co-operation aspects end up leaking into other games, since working together isn't rewarded much outside of dungeons, and even then, you're competing for loot much of the time. There's a lot of potential, and it's really exciting to think about.
SWTOR devs attempt to balance the Force through nerfs
Mar 24th 2012 12:23AM (Massively)There are many more people complaining about being nerfed than are actually experiencing the nerfs and crafting constructive criticism.
I will admit that it's a utter shame that PTS character copy tech isn't available for 1.2, but one thing constant about people on the internet is that hyperbole is often their preferred method of expression.
SWTOR devs attempt to balance the Force through nerfs
Mar 24th 2012 12:19AM (Massively)Actually, that's not true... yet.
When they give Operatives a Shadowstep-clone and then another class a counter to that ability, then they'll be in the same situation as WoW.
Blizzard created a horrendous PvP arms race between Rogues Warriors and Mages, all of which were consistently in the top PvP classes since launch.
While there are some balance issues (tank stances not decreasing damage done is one example), every AC in SWTOR is useful and competitive in PvP (some say Operative/Scoundrel are weak, I say that a stealth class fighting like a melee brawler *should* feel weak). WoW tended to have a couple classes floundering no matter what expansion it was.
Star Wars: The Old Republic answers questions on 1.2 and priorities
Mar 17th 2012 9:54PM (Massively)The reason why it feels Massively Single Player to you is primarily because people in MMOs aren't used to socializing in a real way anymore.
SWTOR has more incentives (without forcing grouping) play together than any MMO I've ever played, the only thing that was missing was an auto LFG tool, and the only reason why it is a detriment is because players are too scared of each other to actually talk.
When I group with people, they leave right after and miss out on most of the social points, when we could level together much faster *and* get bonus rewards. I'm guilty of this too, because of the poor design of that other MMO's solo leveling, where it was better to be alone.
There just no reason for it in SWTOR, none at all.
GDC 2012: A peek behind SWTOR's project management curtain
Mar 8th 2012 5:59PM (Massively)Being commonplace or standard practice doesn't mean that's not despicable.
If this was only BioWare or Blizzard (or any big company) doing this, I'd have a huge problem with that. If it's pretty widespread, I still hate it and think it is awful, but a lot of things are like that.
Hyperspace Beacon: One step forward...
Mar 6th 2012 3:20PM (Massively)On a related note to the Turbine comment:
Even though a lot of people are upset at the Warzone kills counting for the Ilum daily/weekly quests, admitting that their "fix" for Ilum didn't really work and going for a redesign is admirable.
Hyperspace Beacon: One step forward...
Mar 6th 2012 3:17PM (Massively)No, they didn't say what they intend to do, and it's kind of silly to expect them to.
Why? Because any information much more specific than "we're aware of it and are coming up with new measures" is likely to tip off the very hackers and cheaters they're trying to thwart. Not to mention that no matter what they say, people will complain anyway.
I'm just personally glad that I've only seen one person who might have been hacking so far, and they were farming Slicing nodes in Ilum.
The Soapbox: There's no such thing as a miracle MMO
Feb 28th 2012 4:07PM (Massively)See, the big problem with MMOs (especially AAA/big budget ones) is that the companies making them want to have as many people playing as possible. Normally, when making an FPS, you don't say "hey, let's make this game totally different from Halo or Call of Duty" and expect to make a huge return on it.
Early MMOs (actually gaming overall in the 90s) was more about geeks making something they thought was awesome, it was creating a vision. Now that MMOs (and games) can make a ton of money, there's a lot less of that pure, imaginative inspiration flowing from quality gaming companies. Business says it's not practical to throw resources on a chance, it's not worth it to really be unique, especially when you have to rely on investors (who only have money in your project, not a vision) to give you much of those resources.
The Soapbox: There's no such thing as a miracle MMO
Feb 28th 2012 3:58PM (Massively)Maybe this is precisely the reason why we latch on to whatever potential MMO-ssiah and spread the good news of its coming. It's not that we are totally fickle, but that we're so in love with the promise of better.
GW2's business model, server-downtime solution and dynamic questing seems really intriguing, TERA's combat looks exciting, SWTOR's storytelling and personal-character attachment is awesome.
There will be (or is) some bad in each game, but there's a bit of this dream MMO we all are lusting for in each of them.
For future releases, I'm hoping that we're temper some of the hype and be willing to be fans of the whole genre, rather than search for the One Game to Rule Them All. That game will likely never come, and I honestly hope it doesn't, because if there ever is a Perfect MMO then the whole point of the genre is kind of gone, isn't it?
P.S. I love that "jesus-mmo" is in the tags.
Global Chat, November 13-19, 2011
Nov 20th 2011 7:31PM (Massively)The bonus sparkly didn't cost more energy than it does to mine in the first place. These type of bonuses are all over in Glitch.
Global Chat, November 13-19, 2011
Nov 20th 2011 7:29PM (Massively)Precisely! I wish I had elaborated a little more earlier, but when co-operation is encouraged, people tend to be much more friendly.
I was amazed when I mined for the first time and another Glitch walked up and started mining *my* node!
How dare they!
But what's this? I got an extra 5 chunks of sparkly from their help, and it cost me 0 energy?
Some elements of Glitch are great, and the people there are almost entirely awesome. People hold parties, there are groups for collecting Cubimal pets, writing Glitch poetry to leave around, all sorts of things. It makes me think of the type of activities that I heard would go in sandbox MMOs.
I really hope the co-operation aspects end up leaking into other games, since working together isn't rewarded much outside of dungeons, and even then, you're competing for loot much of the time. There's a lot of potential, and it's really exciting to think about.