So, Kris and I have been talking about this game for some time. Mainly about the rumored cost of the thing, but also whether of not this new MMORPG even has a chance against the World Of Warcraft juggernaut. Way back in the day, we used to debate what was needed for a sci-fi MMO to be successful, and the point we kept coming back to was the fact that swords always ended up being either equal to or much stronger than a rifle. It just never made too much sense...unless you're talking about the Star Wars universe.
Another point we often talked over was the fact that you had to have something to do when you're not in a quest. Crafting or mining never made too much sense in Star Trek or any of the superhero MMOs. But, this is the Star Wars universe -- much of the place is portrayed as a futuristic frontier, with settlers and dirt farmers trying to eke out an existence. Suddenly, all sorts of mining and crafting make sense, and fit in with the narrative.
In the end, only the MMO players will decide if SW:TOR will be a hit or not. Bioware has certainly put some significant marketing muscle behind the game, and they'll need every last bit if they're hoping to survive in this tough MMO environment. I'll touch back with this topic around launch time, and then again maybe a month or two later to see which way the wind is blowing.
