As part of an extensive Gamasutra feature interview with BioWare founders Greg Zeschuk and Ray Muzyka, the pair discuss the inevitability of their MMO being compared to World of Warcraft and why it doesn't bother them.
When asked if he's bothered that Star Wars: The Old Republic is compared to WoW, Zeschuk tells Gamasutra, "No, I think it's inevitable. We're a pretty big developer that happens to be using the biggest license in the world."
World of Warcraft, he says, has "set consumer expectations" and "conventions of gameplay that have been experienced by millions."
"So, you know, you pay attention to those things, but while you're paying attention, you're doing your own thing," he tells Gamasutra. The Old Republic "is a very different experience."
He continues, "It's obviously a BioWare game... It's very, very compelling. I think it's different. I think WoW and all the other MMOs, they have the same sort of challenge... There are thousands and thousands of heroes. You don't really feel special. It's an amazing experience, and it's really rewarding and fun, but you just don't feel special. That's what we're trying to do."
Muzyka takes the contrast further. "The reaction that we've had, and a lot of people playing it have had... is that frankly once you've tried it, you just can't go back. You don't want to try other MMOs anymore. I think that's what imbuing the game with a sense of heroic purpose and identity achieves."
He's confident of the product's quality. "We've got the best-of-breed features from other MMOs, progression, exploration, customization, combat... Once you've tried it, there's no looking back. You really want to keep playing that new approach to MMOs, I think, is really refreshing."
The full feature, in which the two discuss much, much more about the present and future of BioWare, is live now on Gamasutra.
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(perhaps some of us here are EA stock holders)
It's set a 3,500 years before the movies where the technology and clothes are the nearly the same. Like they wanted to make a game of the movies but had to set it in the past and for no real reason...oh never mind. It makes as much sense as the prequels I guess.
Maybe Bioware can save Star Wars.