SWTOR has been out for awhile now and like many games today, it has had its changes since the early days. Not only has the payment model changed from subs to free-to-play, there have been many content updates and expansions and even graphical changes to keep the game fresh and new. But, as with any game that has been out awhile, some people get tired of it. It is not usual at all to find fans who quit for periods of time (months, even) and then return. So this brings up the question: what keeps you coming back?
As most of us who have been gaming for a long time know, even an excellent game can get tiring or boring. Even if we love it and we play it every day, we are not immune to burn out. Some players realize that it helps to plan ahead for game fatigue and do some things to keep it interesting. For example, if you rotate what and how you play, the game stays fresh. I did this with other MMORPGs I played for many years (like WoW and Conquer Online).
You have PvE, PvP, achievements, trying to do all the story, trying to get all the datacrons, working on your Stronghold, leveling up alts, leveling up crafting, playing the market to earn currency and any number of other parts of the game to enjoy. When you mix up what you do, it gives a fresh feeling so you don’t get stale with the game. This also allows you to enjoy the game for a longer period of time.
Also, just because you love SWTOR doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy yourself now and then in another game. I love to pop onto TF2 or Counter-Strike and shoot some heads, or I just got Battlefield 4 as a gift and I’m checking that out. I have consoles to give me a change of pace. It doesn’t mean you’re cheating on your favorite game. It just means you’re giving yourself healthy breaks so you don’t grow bored.
So what keeps you coming back to SWTOR and playing it after all this time?
