MMOs are not new and as such, there are many things that one can learn from another and we often see those features that are really working being carried over from one game to another. Such is the case with SWTOR also. There are some elements of SWTOR that are typical of a Bioware game and there are also elements that we can see are modeled after other games that have done well. This is actually really common in the industry but let’s look at some ways it might be beneficial for Bioware to take some lessons from other games.
Some fans over on Reddit had their own suggestions about things SWTOR could learn from other MMOs. Here are some things that made the list:
Warframe:
- Community communication. I think the key to Warframe’s community success is that the developers and the producers are one and the same. They have the freedom to communicate with their players in a much more light-hearted way: their community manager even being a main voice actor in the game.
- Steady content flow. Once a month or two (if I’m not mistaken) a new Warframe– essentially a class with a few different elements– is released. This is a very steady content release flow, and keeps players interested with new things to try and enjoy. I’m not suggesting SWTOR introduce new classes every month– Maker no, but something that can be enjoyed for more than half an hour a month would be nice. A flashpoint with developing mechanics (see not: Kuat Drive Yards) that differs every time you play (cough, cough, not Star Fortresses…) could work.
- WoW:
- Account wide mounts, pets, more achievements and titles.
- Actual addon support, macros
- Challenge modes or even the new challenge type modes that WoW is bringing in Legion
- Legendary/Artifact items
- CROSS SERVER PLAY/ Cross Realm Zones – LIKE OMFG PLEASE. This would help queues. Also, connecting realms like they do in WoW, where they aren’t merged, but they really are.
- More classes, revisitng class specializations, changing roles (I mean Hunters a ranged class are getting a melee spec this new expansion…. also Rift gave a ranged Soul to melee classes in later expansions
- More automated features. WOW cutback their support teams as well, BUT they added a ton of automated features, like recovering deleted/disenchanted items and character restores, instead of waiting weeks to fix it.
- Someone else mentioned this and I agree, ability to change animations or even colors of animations, ie I play a Marauder and all the red animations I can change to blue because I play light side
- Player created content, though I felt like Cryptic originally made this so they could get away with making new content. They were already working on another game and sold COH to PlayNC.
- Ouroboros, or at least the function it served. Ability to go back and redo old content (if its locked or if you’ve already done it), ie level 60 tokens, ability to go back and the story (most likely after KOTFE is completed or during, idk). A way to get back and get old titles or missed stuffs.
What do you think? If SWTOR was to learn something from another MMO, which should it be and what should they learn? What elements from your other favorite MMOs do you think would serve SWTOR well?
