The Star Wars: The Old Republic subscription model -- or lack thereof -- is still being worked out. In a conversation with
GI.biz at gamescom, LucasArts head honcho Darrel Rodriguez said the studio is considering several different MMO models reflective of the way people in other territories play.
“Yeah, we're considering it all, absolutely,” Rodriguez-san said. "You start looking at how different communities, territories such as Asia, actually play games, and we start to consider it all - especially if we want it to be a worldwide phenomenon."
Regardless of model, Rodriguez believes
TOR will be around for a long time. He believes the IP being used for the game -- as well as the game’s quality -- will keep the MMO alive.
"I think the indicators are subscriptions and ongoing interest,” he said, “but just related to the IP in and of itself. So it's a 30-year-old IP and we anticipate that the IP and the quality game that we're making here is going to continue on for a very long time.
"We talk about the business curves of subscriptions, interest and investment it takes to make these games, but at the end of the day it's about making a compelling offering for our consumers,” Rodriguez said.
Good point, but there is something more compelling than an MMO where players can use flashy blue things to hack limbs. It’s kittens. (Puppies are so yesterday.) We haven’t asked LucasArts if
TOR has kittens, and we probably won’t. Frankly, we’re afraid the studio will quit talking to us if we ask.
Contest:
6:20 AM on 09.09.2009
| 
A proper MMO needs a subscription based fee, like WoW. Out of all the MMOs I've ever played, all the greats use a $10-$15 fee, like it or not.
Exactly. If this was a single player game id buy it in an instant. Why do they think people who were fans of the original KoToR games would wanna play an MMO just because its based in the same 'universe'. Luckily Dragon Age and Mass Effect 2 are around the corner or i would be disappointed.
@Kohlstream
I don't think they care if you were a fan of the second game or not as they didn't make it O_o
Being a pedantic ass aside if you look at the forums on SWTOR.com you will see that you are in the minority now. At first I was in total agreement with you as I think most fans were but as the vid doc's, trailers etc have been released and we have had more info most can see this will be something special. I mean think about it, as opposed to KOTOR (and 2) when your party has no real affect on the main story they now will and be human controlled. No stop start combat so you can guide their every action. A much longer story, bigger worlds (and new ones - Nal Hutta...drool!), fully scripted NPC's what's not to love?!
The interface or the graphics? I must say I'm not the biggest fan of the interface - as it is at the moment anyway - but I like the art style and the graphics are def not 10 years ago. They aint exactly Crysis either but it is an MMO so whatever
What MMO you thinking about? I can't think of any that are free to play but dont have micro-transaction type stuff. I think the reason is that advertisment alone wouldn't be enough to keep it going maybe? Anyone?
For me playing a game like this with other people ruin any sense of immersion, and that’s a big reason i love RPGs. I'm also put off by MMOs in general because of the subscription fee. I hate the idea that you gotta pay extra money a month ONTOP of buying the software just to freakin play it, but that's just me. Anyway we are getting off subject. I do agree with you that it looks cool, just wish it was SP.
Yup, same reason as I hated all MMOs. I started playing CoH/CoV by chance, free download and got hooked so I'm a bit more open to subs now. Free download with sub works for me. A tenner for hundreds of hours a month is alright to me but each to their own and I can see why people don't like it. On the SP front only I cant imagine problems with just soloing the game? I know there are people on CoV that do it and just ignore the fact there are other players. Being Bioware, with the story and voice acting I would think it should be solo player friendly.
Also, Bioware has stated that you can play it LIKE A SINGLE PLAYER RPG.
You can have a party of NPCs instead, BUT you'll also see other players
and have access to dynamic auction houses, etc.
Personally I wass angry about a kotor MMO, but after that I chilled out.
I've been on the Bioware bus back when I 1st played Baldur's Gate 1.
After NWN, Kotor, Mass Effect, both Gates, and even the Jade Empire,
I know what to expect. Any Bioware fan should too.
The idea that an MMO that doesn't have a subscription fee can't be any good is simply ridiculous. Yes there are a lot of crappy free and micro transaction based MMOs out there, but now that most publishers have finally learned that they will never be able to make a "WOW killer", experimenting with other models has become necessary to survive as a fledgling MMO in a flooded market. DDO is a great example of this, and I applaud what they are attempting. Will it succeed? Only time can tell us that, but one thing is certain: something had to change. If Bioware feels they can offer something different to their fans and still be profitable, I would encourage it and not take it to mean that the game must suck. I am tired of the pressure I feel to play a game I'm paying a monthly subscription for. Having to cancel an account so that I can feel good about taking a week off to play something else is ridiculous.
Interesting points. If there was gonna be one MMO that changes my mind it would probably be this one.
Without a constant feed of monthly fees, an MMO developer would be hard pressed to constantly come out with monthly free content, like World of Warcraft.
The core community doesn't want shitty micro "clothes" for $1.00 each: they want free raid dungeons, which is what a monthly fee gets you. Also, there's the perception that "free to play=piece of shit game". I only foresee Blizzard themselves breaking that trend possible with their new MMO.
Microtransations/advertising is a good way to make money in the short term, but ultimately it will not fund content as well as a monthly fee. Think about it this way: you pay $15 a month to only play that game the entire month, instead of buying a couple $60 games: it's a good deal.
@Shinryu
"is it a rule that even new MMOs must look like they were made 10 years ago?"
They do this on purpose. One of the reasons WoW has a 10+ million user base is because nearly ANY computer can run the game.
While the notion of not having a subscription fee is tempting, you do see a quality difference when those free MMOs when it comes to free content, events and so on. None of that is free. You want to participate in that new story arc? Sorry, gotta pay. Want to be able to fully enjoy the Halloween event? Gotta pay for that too. Even under the guise of 'free', if you want to experience the game in full, gotta pay.
I then added some of my own components.