Post by Kit Fisto on May 2, 2007 8:29:15 GMT -5
www.xbox360rally.com/kotor-3-in-development-schwing/
and
As a former SWG player and enthusiast, I feel I can answer a few questions I see floating around here.
Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) loses the Star Wars Galaxies deal in 2008, if my understanding is correct. Based upon the history of that MMO, it should not be surprising that a sunset is in the making for it. In the winter of 2005, SWG lost a great deal of its player base as a number of changes were instituted into the game that were highly unpopular, and flew in the face of official promises to the player base from SOE itself. Since it would be beyond the scope of both this forum and thread to delve into details concerning that, I won't. Suffice it to say, it transformed into a radically different game. Also, SOE contradicted their own official communications with what took place. (it's also worth noting that many of the original SWG development staff left SOE prior to, or immediately following, the "New Galaxies Experience")
The player base never recovered. Subscriptions plummeted astronomically as players moved on to other MMOs, such as WoW, or Guild Wars.
Trends in gaming seem to indicate that MMOs are the shape of things to come...based on the popularity of MMOs like World of Warcraft and Guild Wars, for example. Therefore, it makes sense that LucasArts would want a stake in that future by placing the formidable KOTOR franchise in the fray. Such a move might have the following effects:
1. Massive initial subscriptions...KOTOR is a best-selling, proven franchise
2. A return - temporarily, at least - of thousands of disgruntled former SWG players drawn by the prospect of a new Star Wars-themed MMO. To put it bluntly, LucasArts wants them back.
3. BioWare has proven themselves in gaming. They create a consistently good product. No surprise there either. That would draw subscriptions itself, and I think LucasArts is aware of that as well.
and
As a former SWG player and enthusiast, I feel I can answer a few questions I see floating around here.
Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) loses the Star Wars Galaxies deal in 2008, if my understanding is correct. Based upon the history of that MMO, it should not be surprising that a sunset is in the making for it. In the winter of 2005, SWG lost a great deal of its player base as a number of changes were instituted into the game that were highly unpopular, and flew in the face of official promises to the player base from SOE itself. Since it would be beyond the scope of both this forum and thread to delve into details concerning that, I won't. Suffice it to say, it transformed into a radically different game. Also, SOE contradicted their own official communications with what took place. (it's also worth noting that many of the original SWG development staff left SOE prior to, or immediately following, the "New Galaxies Experience")
The player base never recovered. Subscriptions plummeted astronomically as players moved on to other MMOs, such as WoW, or Guild Wars.
Trends in gaming seem to indicate that MMOs are the shape of things to come...based on the popularity of MMOs like World of Warcraft and Guild Wars, for example. Therefore, it makes sense that LucasArts would want a stake in that future by placing the formidable KOTOR franchise in the fray. Such a move might have the following effects:
1. Massive initial subscriptions...KOTOR is a best-selling, proven franchise
2. A return - temporarily, at least - of thousands of disgruntled former SWG players drawn by the prospect of a new Star Wars-themed MMO. To put it bluntly, LucasArts wants them back.
3. BioWare has proven themselves in gaming. They create a consistently good product. No surprise there either. That would draw subscriptions itself, and I think LucasArts is aware of that as well.
