The Old Republic, now an even better single-player game.

[Ginaz]

I'm no role-player. I don't spray thees and thous about the room like a crazed renaissance festival promoter flailing around a turkey leg. But my character's name is important, it's my identity. I don't get people who name their characters "Billspally" and such. I'd be bummed too.

I try and use obscure names and locations from Dune in every game I play.  I'm surprised at how often my first choice is taken.

[Paelos]

Is it sad that I am still so bitter and angry that I lost my characters name in the first (forced) server merger that I refuse to return?

No, it's not.  The name is one of the most important parts about an RPG character.

Yeah losing Paelos would be enough for me to say fuck it. I'm out.

[Riggswolfe]

I'm no role-player. I don't spray thees and thous about the room like a crazed renaissance festival promoter flailing around a turkey leg. But my character's name is important, it's my identity. I don't get people who name their characters "Billspally" and such. I'd be bummed too.

People who do that are pretentious, not role players. But way to push the stereotype there!

[sam, an eggplant]

They identify as roleplayers. These are the people that complain when you talk about out of character stuff like game mechanics. Diff'rent strokes, let them have their fun, that's not my point.

[Surlyboi]

Is it sad that I am still so bitter and angry that I lost my characters name in the first (forced) server merger that I refuse to return?

Try changing it. I lost two of my names in the merge and then logged in a few months later and got them back because the shitbags that stole them burned out. You might be that lucky too.

[Draegan]

I really don't care what my name is, I end up adding a letter or whatever to the name. If I can't get Draegan, it doesn't ruin the game for me. The game being a piece of shit ruins the game for me.

[Sky]

Is it sad that I am still so bitter and angry that I lost my characters name in the first (forced) server merger that I refuse to return?

While I did go back and play a bit, I couldn't play the characters that lost their names. It was especially bad because I had the CE and got in early and got the names I wanted for the first time, ever.

After all these years, my first thought reading that press release is, "Shit, I better log in so I don't lose my names."

That was a giant asshole move. I actually really love the game other than not being in a group of folks who can tackle the group/raid content (and that's more my lifestyle than lack of options, probably).

[Ingmar]

Note that sometimes the names are flagged for rename just as a consequence of the process and not because they're taken; during one of the merges I was able to immediately rename a character to the same thing he had before.

[amiable]

Is it sad that I am still so bitter and angry that I lost my characters name in the first (forced) server merger that I refuse to return?

No, it's not.  The name is one of the most important parts about an RPG character.

Yeah losing Paelos would be enough for me to say fuck it. I'm out.

I had a great name too: D'Artagnan (I got the CE so I had early access and could scope out the name i wanted).  People knew me by name and stuff, especially in PvP.  Then *boom* forced server merger no name for you (I couldn't get "amiable" either).  I thought it was petty at the time but now I am even more adamant that they could f right off.

[Scold]

You guys focus on some seriously trivial shit, I've gotta say.

[amiable]

You guys focus on some seriously trivial shit, I've gotta say.

It's a video game discussion forum.  it's ALL trivial shit.

[Typhon]

You guys focus on some seriously trivial shit, I've gotta say.

I'm not sure which of these I like best, so just pick your favorite!

Snark 1
So you don't give a shit about your char name and other people do?!  Next you'll be pointing out that you only like the games you like and for the reasons that you like them!

I guess I should just be thankful that you care enough to tell us about your disdain for our attachment to our character names.  YOU DO CARE!

Snark 2
You know, now that I know your disdain for my attachement for my character names... I, (sob!) I, feel like a huge weight has been lifted!  I'm free! FREE I TELL YOU! FREE FROM THE TYRANNY MY CHAR NAMES HAVE HELD OVER ME!  Scold, I can't thank you enough!  Thank you!

Snark 3
Awesome post, so delighted that you shared with us your innermost feelings.  Go fuck yourself.

4Reals
In a silly mood today, don't take this post too seriously.  Mostly though, what part of different strokes for different folks is confusing to you?

[Evildrider]

Meh, if you like a game enough then losing a name shouldn't matter.

[Lantyssa]

The problem is most of these games are so-so and losing a name you have come to associate with a character in that setting is enough to make the so-so not worth it.

That server merges are necessary can tell you it's already having problems, so doing anything that might hurt retention or returns is stupid.  Especially when ways to allow multiple people to have the same character name is a solved problem.

[Paelos]

Meh, if you like a game enough then losing a name shouldn't matter.

MMOs aren't good enough games to stand on their own. That's why you need an identity. Removing that identity and the framework of friends from an MMO exposes the lackluster actual gameplay behind it.

[Draegan]

You heard it here first. Putting an extra letter in your name somewhere forces you to lose all your friends.

[Rasix]

People were rather accepting of Rasixx, Rasir, and Rastrix.  People even figured out who I was.  



I'm not playing SWTOR, because for some reason the game just doesn't work for me.  I like the story.  I like the voice acting.  I love the companions.  But the world, quest structure, and combat mechanics grate on me a little too much to put any significant time in.  Plus the social contingent, while nice people that I enjoy playing with, weren't active enough when I'm on.

While not the case in the past, I just can't play MMOs if I don't have people to play with on a consistent basis.  Back in the WoW/EQ/UO days I could solo 100% of the time and be fine.  Now I just get bored.

[Scold]

The problem is most of these games are so-so and losing a name you have come to associate with a character in that setting is enough to make the so-so not worth it.

That server merges are necessary can tell you it's already having problems, so doing anything that might hurt retention or returns is stupid.  Especially when ways to allow multiple people to have the same character name is a solved problem.

Why would you invest more than 15 minutes in a game you only thought was so so? YOLO, as it were.

[Lantyssa]

Sometimes one has to play a game a bit to realize there is nothing super exciting about it, a sense of not wanting to waste a purchase, friends and social circles making it feel better than it is, OCD... there are tons of reasons that may make us think a game is better than it really is.  But my question was viewing it from the perspective of the company selling the product anyways.

[Sir T]

Kind of OT but KOTOR II has... uh.. gotten an official update??

http://steamed.kotaku.com/ten-years-later-star-wars-kotor-ii-gets-an-official-up-1719284362

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic II—the best KOTOR—just got a huge update, for some reason.


The update just dropped on Steam for PC, Mac, and Linux. It’s a doozy—at least, for a game that’s more than ten years old.

    New features include:

        37 achievements to be earned through gameplay
        Steam Cloud saves
        Native widescreen resolution support
        Resolution support up to 4K and 5K
        Support for controllers, including Xbox 360, Xbox One, Playstation 3, and Playstation 4, along with several others (check the system requirements for details)
        Steam Workshop support! We proudly worked with the Restored Content Mod Team to have their famous TSLRCM up on launch day
        Oh... and we added a “Force Speed Effects” option in the menu ;)

For those not in the know, the Restored Content Mod is a years-spanning project that aims to return the game to its proper form—rather than the sloppy, stitched together version that was originally released due to publisher pressure and time constraints. The mod adds a handful of endings and the infamous HK Factory—among many other things—and fixes hundreds of bugs. It’s a must-download, and it’s now easy to access on KOTOR II’s Steam Workshop.

The update comes as a surprise, given that KOTOR II hasn’t been updated in ages. I reached out to Aspyr Media—who handled the update—to find out why this happened now, but as of press time they’d yet to respond. I, however, don’t plan on looking a gift bantha in the mouth, because bantha mouths are gross. Also because KOTOR II is an amazing RPG, and now it’s better than ever. Think you’ll dive back in?

I hyave to admit I loved KOTOR II even in the buggy mess state it was so I'll probably check it out.

[Sky]

I hope that asshole who was running the big resto mod before he got pissy and took his toys just fucking chokes on this new version.

And I want to play it, I was waiting for that stupid resto mod for years to play it.

edit: reading the Steam page reminded me...the Force seems to be with Disney's ownership of the SW license. Lucas should've sold it after Jedi, but at least there's....A NEW HOPE

BWAHAHA

[Evildrider]

I am wondering if this is also because of the huge development push in SWTOR.  Especially with the new expansion.

[rk47]

Huh, that's very unexpected.
Oh well, I don't own it on Steam anyway.

[Sophismata]

Huh, that's very unexpected.
Oh well, I don't own it on Steam anyway.

Awesome. A friend gifted me the game a while ago and I've played the first but not the second.

[Merusk]

Hopped back in to KOTORO for a bit to finish out some storylines. Paid for 60 days gametime and am regretting it a bit. It's STILL a massive timesink even running just the class storylines and I'd forgotten about all the running. So. Much. Pointless. Running.  Shrinking it to just class storylines makes it even worse as you do one quest per flight point then run to the next area.  Argh

[Evildrider]

Remember your quick travel cooldown is pretty quick now.  You may still have to get to the mission, but you should be able to quick travel back as soon as your done.

[kaid]

Remember your quick travel cooldown is pretty quick now.  You may still have to get to the mission, but you should be able to quick travel back as soon as your done.

THIS! I have been forcing myself to make sure to rebind to the biggest hub on the planet I am jetting through. The quick travel recast is I think 6 minutes so it should always be up every time you finish a class quest this halves the amount of running you should be doing.

[Riggswolfe]

Remember your quick travel cooldown is pretty quick now.  You may still have to get to the mission, but you should be able to quick travel back as soon as your done.

THIS! I have been forcing myself to make sure to rebind to the biggest hub on the planet I am jetting through. The quick travel recast is I think 6 minutes so it should always be up every time you finish a class quest this halves the amount of running you should be doing.

My quick travel is instant and all the binds points are unlocking automatically when I run past them. It makes getting around on a planet a breeze.

[Scold]

Remember your quick travel cooldown is pretty quick now.  You may still have to get to the mission, but you should be able to quick travel back as soon as your done.

THIS! I have been forcing myself to make sure to rebind to the biggest hub on the planet I am jetting through. The quick travel recast is I think 6 minutes so it should always be up every time you finish a class quest this halves the amount of running you should be doing.

My quick travel is instant and all the binds points are unlocking automatically when I run past them. It makes getting around on a planet a breeze.

Yeah, you don't have to bind a single goddamn thing. Speeder routes pre opened too

[rk47]

http://massivelyop.com/2015/10/01/swtor-will-introduce-level-scaling-in-fallen-empire/

Time to put down this sick puppy.

[Cyrrex]

Why the ever-loving monkey fuck would they do that?

[Sky]

It's still a great game but that's duuuumb. Kick in the nuts for solo players.

[Fordel]

They down-level your power but up-level the rewards, so your always getting money/XP/items useful to your level.

From what I've seen of it the down leveling is just raw stats, you keep your higher level abilities and shit, so you'd still be extremely powerful relative to an actual level 18 or whatever.


It's going to slow down my daily route though. 

[rk47]

I never get the problem with this game of being 'too easy'
I mean, I love getting my friend involved for a quick story run so we can melt through the content quickly.
Goes for those instance dungeons too, since we can actually get Lv 30 content down with a pair of Lv 25 and Lv 50 in elite missions without worrying of finding other people to grp with. I have like a friend to duo with on regular basis when I was active and enjoyed the whole 'I help you and you help me' runs on our alts.

Now that both of us are unable to bail each other out in those dungeon / elite mission runs anymore, what's the point really? Forcing people to make friends with 2 strangers in an already shrinking player base is just not a good addition to the game.

Also, I fucking hate GW2 downscaling bullshit. You should upscale people to get ppl more involved in high level content without grinding, not the other way around, retards.
What's the inclination of level 40 player in helping out a lvl 20 in a lower level planet? It's a favor, that's fast, easy and fun to spend time with socializing while killing trash. The high-level players didn't do it for the challenge or reward, MMOdevs.

[Sky]

The guy suggesting a switch for the feature is onto something. Win/win.