Sure it is.

Not really, it's coming for the Mac... just too late for me, and too late for many... too late to truly make the kind of coin they could have at release.

It's there, just very shallow and a completely unnecessary waste of time.

If the plain-as-day and readily-available market data out there wasn't enough to convince them, this thread sure isn't. But that just means there are poor decisions being made... money is being left on the table, and releasing a Mac client now or in the future will only reclaim a tiny fraction of it. I am long ERTS and I am not happy this investment was handled improperly.

Coming soon to the TOR Cash Shop!

No one really cares about it. The game isn't really built with that in mind, or for players who are interested in that sort of thing. There's no progression race, no theory crafting that even means anything (are you going the theory craft your companion or wait, no since you can't use them in Ops. etc). Either by design or accident, this game does not have a deep endgame.

I don't believe I said anything of the sort. What I DID say was they are going to stop developing with proprietary Windows technologies to assure they can deploy to other platforms - much larger markets like the tablet market. The tablet market will (or will be next year) larger than the desktop PC market. No software maker will ignore that. And they certainly won't create double-work for themselves by creating separate special versions - they will run as much open code and as much platform-agnostic code as possible.

Sorry Charlie, iOS is a subset of the Mac OS. Fact, period. My company develops for both platforms and deploys on both. The FACT is developers are shying away form Windows proprietary tech like DirectX because they NEED their software to run on iOS because of the huge market and revenue potential. Because of this, they will be forced to ask more and more "Should we port to Windows" and the answer will, also more and more, be "no". But supplying it on the Mac is a no brainer - it already works. Get ready.

Would just like to point out yet another instance of how iOS is becoming a gaming platform of choice, and through that, eliminating Windows proprietary technologies like DirectX. Developers all want to develop for iOS, so they use more open standards. This developer skill set is important because it means they have the tools and skills that makes their iOS game automatically compatible with Mac OS X as well (it's the same OS as iOS.) Developers will be then making their current choice in reverse - "Should I port to Windows?" and those who answer "yes" will be fewer and fewer. Latest case in point: Baldur's Gate Enhanced Edition. Originally announced for the new iPad, and now coming to the Mac. Not a mention of Windows. http://www.macrumors.com/2012/03/30/baldurs-gate-enhanced-edition-also-coming-to-mac/ Sure, they are not the latest cutting edge games... yet. But I'm here to tell you the number of "latest, cutting edge games" you see, especially ones that rely on Windows proprietary technology are going to decrease in numbers drastically. This is but one of the first snowflakes to fall in what is to be a blizzard of reality for Microsoft, the Windows platform and PC gamers. The game is over. Apple platforms are, without question, premier first-tier gaming platforms, and any developer - especially that of a Star Wars subscription game - are foolish to not supper the platform as soon as possible.

If you want to slap together a piece of crap built box with fans louder than your air conditioning and a case that looks like it came off of the Wargames movie set, then yes, you can save some money. But if you want to try and build a humane PC that is power conscious, noise conscious, style conscious... you're going to spend real money and real time. And even then, you do not get any sort of umbrella warrantee. Something goes wrong with your system? Good luck figuring out what (let's hope it's not the mobo) and then extracting it and doing a warranty return or repair with the manufacturer (not the retailer you bought it from). Then you wait, and your entire system is down while you do. Indeed, the costs are not that different if you truly add them up and consider the value.

PCs get more viruses because they are less secure... simple as that.

Would just like to point out yet another instance of how iOS is becoming a gaming platform of choice, and through that, eliminating Windows proprietary technologies like DirectX. Developers all want to develop for iOS, so they use more open standards. This developer skill set is important because it means they have the tools and skills that makes their iOS game automatically compatible with Mac OS X as well (it's the same OS as iOS.) Developers will be then making their current choice in reverse - "Should I port to Windows?" and those who answer "yes" will be fewer and fewer. Latest case in point: Baldur's Gate Enhanced Edition. Originally announced for the new iPad, and now coming to the Mac. Not a mention of Windows. http://www.macrumors.com/2012/03/30/baldurs-gate-enhanced-edition-also-coming-to-mac/ Sure, they are not the latest cutting edge games... yet. But I'm here to tell you the number of "latest, cutting edge games" you see, especially ones that rely on Windows proprietary technology are going to decrease in numbers drastically. This is but one of the first snowflakes to fall in what is to be a blizzard of reality for Microsoft, the Windows platform and PC gamers. The game is over. Apple platforms are, without question, premier first-tier gaming platforms, and any developer - especially that of a Star Wars subscription game - are foolish to not supper the platform as soon as possible.

I was going to jump into this thread, but I just don't have the energy. Anyone that disagrees with the OP is simply wrong. That is all.

None of them had them 3 months in.

What usually happens when you go back to an ex-girlfriend?

There's a difference between scrapping an entire system as opposed to making incremental improvements throughout the game (which Blizzard does each time.) Character animations - and models - are all coming for sure.

The future of these games is absolutely sandbox.

Just curious, when it asked for a name, what did you _think_ it was asking for?

In combat, possibly. But when your character isn't in combat - much of the time - they feel soulless and lifeless. Not organic. This needs help.

I can assure you I don't have a subscription to TOR, but can still post. It doesn't appear their systems are connected in real time. You can chirp all you like, the proof is on the scoreboard - and long after the game is over, the score will be apparent.

You may have to constantly convince yourself, or your Mom, that TOR is worth spending your hard-earned $15 a month on, but you can't deny there is MUCH room for improvement. And the area of character animation is a big, obvious one... and we've got a new current example of what the competition is doing to push it forward.

No, this is about wanting improvements to TOR's character animation. Has anyone even watched the female Pandaren video I linked? Once you see it, there is no comparison what we're missing here.

Blizzard is constantly lauded by their peers for their character animations... it's one of their hallmarks. TOR character animations are much stiffer and much less organic, plus they are all the same animations - for every single race and class. We all have the same weird sit animation for crying out loud. The same dance? Blizzard has outdone themselves with the Pandaren - especially the facial expressions which TOR player models do not have in the real world (if they do, they are indistinguishable) (in cut scenes, they have some of course). I want improvements, and Blizzard has delivered what I'd like to see in TOR.

The image comparing abilities is quite telling.

One area I'd really like to see improved in TOR is the attention to detail of the character animations, including the variety animations being unique across various races and/or classes. Recently, Blizzard released more info on MoP as well as started the beta. This has given lots of folks the opportunity to get in there and check some things out, including the new race of the Pandaren. Now, Blizzard has always been exceptional at animation and character response in their games... secondary and tertiary animation sequences that are second to none and make the characters feel really alive. Well, with the Pandaren, they seem to have taken it to a whole new level: Not only are there racially/gender unique animations for emotes everyone has, but also the facial expressions... something Blizzard has not been able to do in WoW before. I don't want to make this a comparison thread, so I'm not going to post TOR samples. But suffice it to say that I think this is an area where the TOR player characters could use some improvement in both detail and variety! I realize (and it makes sense) to cut some of these things to make sure the game shipped on time, but although not directly related to gameplay, this is a very important feature that helps immersion, gives the characters (and game) life and soul, and more.