I think the best solution for now (since the transfer are here to stay) that lower the instance to like 100 instead of 250. We can all chat in "general" in particular area so it is not much of a loss.

You know what is interesting? I think BioWare didn't calculate the "returning" users (or at least didn't count them AS much as we have now) with the server transfers. I'm sure BEFORE the transfer BioWare did the following - Metrics on weekday and weekend plays. - Metrics on Time (morning, noon and night for the server's region) - Total amount of players. Min and Max for each server (i.e. min players and max player so far in any given time) I bet they probably crunch the numbers and toss in 10% on possible returns (if that high) BUT what happen is that current subs who took a break for X time came back (i.e. paid subs but didn't play for weeks or little) Now the servers are packed to the hilt and people are having fun (well those who can handle the lag and have decent machine) Will the server settles? possibly. People may leave due to queue times and lags, but many will stay hoping to settle down. BioWare probably should expand the server's hardware ANYWAYS because right now if 1.3 were to come out there will be a SURGE of players returning to check it out. This will make the situation worst.

Wait... so people are quitting and leaving due to dead/ghost servers now people are quitting and leaving because of full servers?

In the real world, two different family can have the same name and not relate to each other in anyway (i.e. friends, acquaintance, etc etc)

There seems to be TWO different issues going on here. Transfer service - the actual transfer of characters. I am glad that SWTOR manage to create a service that can instantly transfer character. Now they need to work on ability to copy characters to the PTS on the fly. Transfer to the "server" - this one is what some people are having problem with. Which server are you allow to transfer to. Some would like to go to a different server but can't due to restriction. So which one are you (the general you) talking about?

Captious: unfortunately, that is the "downside" of having a lot of people on the server. The only thing I can think of that "may help" is reduce the instance requirement (i.e. 50 people in an area then create a new instance) to 25? maybe?

The main reason I am worried about the "increase level cap" because our servers are "empty" (depending on which server you are at) People right NOW is having hard time getting Hard Mode FP (level 50) and Ops (EV, KP) much less LC stuff. (all level 50) So lets assume that SWTOR does NOT increase the FPs and OPs above (remain 50) What is the motivation for players (limited we have now) to redo them after hitting 55 (assuming 5 level cap raised) How many people are running the OLD FP? Cad? Mando? D7? (many avoid this like the plague and BT is popular due to being easy and able to gain LS/DS points and cap affection with your 1st companion) I always see people begging for group to run those content. Now maybe the server transfer will revitalized our servers and people WILL run these normally (i.e. the LFG tools) but after a few runs for couple of nostalgia and capped out, what is the motivation to run again? will we get more "fresh blood" to run it again and again? or people will try to gear toward the new level 55 Ops/HM FPs instead? This is why I think staying at level 50 CAN work (CoX does it) and just increase difficulty level of the higher Ops. Right now the Lost Continent can't be done with Tioness gears (at lease average players) so this "force" player to "grind gear" with "lower level Ops like EV/KP" until they get better gear then hit LC. Maybe the new OPs will require to "grind LC" to get to the next gear to do the OPs. this will ensure people WILL do the old content (story players and just gear hunter players) and new content without "breezing" it like the other FPs. I have to admit my first character, I ran ALL the side missions and stories but couldn't get people to run FPs with me. I actually SKIPPED many normal mode of it due to lack of group and just continue playing. I finally got normal D7 after weeks of looking for a group and haven't even try HM D7 (I heard it was a nightmare and uber hard) Also keep in mind that (again my opinion) the SWTOR doesn't like hybrids. We already lost a few hybrid abilities and 5 more point will "strengthen" the hybrid build. Once the level cap hit 75 level, we can master TWO trees (that would be VERY imbalance) and more than likely a revamp of our skill tree. I am seeing a possible revamp multiple times before the cap hitting 75 (assuming raising 5 per time that is 5 expansion.

It would be good to infuse new blood to try out what is the "hub-nub" of SWTOR. SWTOR does have its good and bad points, but some MMO players are hesitant in terms of cost (another 50$ plus monthly) so opening it for free for a few levels is a good way to people to try before they buy.

This is exactly what I am talking about. Also the balance issue with 5 extra skill points. You be surprise how much that can change. Of course what else will change down the line? WoW skill system did change now since people can hit around 80-85 levels, the whole skill system have to be revamp again.

That is what I am thinking. Some people (like me) will go back to old content to finish up any missing missions, side missions, bonus mission etc. Who will want to do dailies for 50 to get gear when you can do dailies for level 55 gear? I will be surprise if a bunch of people decides to run Ops (level 50) more than once. If the gear continue to be "flat" then why even do it more than once to get gear? people would rather do easier stuff to get better gear than hard work

I am in for the story but we are the "fewer" people compare to people who just want the best gear. This is why we have empty servers (one of many reasons) people don't appreciate the story enough compare to the people who just want the best gear. So how to fix that? I personally think there should NOT be a level cap raise and just have better gear. This will encourage people to play the current content to get to the next content. You be surprise how many people spacebar the stuff (even at first run)

What you are not realizing is the "carrot" part. What if right now you have ALL black hole stuff. the top gear for level 50. Why even go 51? what is the "carrot"? 5 more skill points? It would be gear mainly. The entry level for level 51 (or level 52) would have to be enticing for players to go for it. Maybe even a new FP. Why even do it? some people will do for story and some will do it for gear (mainly gear for many people) then you hit 55 (assuming it is 5 level hike) now you have 5 more skill points, and your black hole gear is obsolete (usually) and need to get MORE gear. These gears will have to be pretty impressive and powerful compare to black hole gear so people WILL keep on running content to GET those gears (i.e. run more than once to get that drop. If the new content level 55 gears is not as good then people won't run it more than once for the story) This is what WoW has done. Then you have a new upper tier item at 55. Yay. Now what? next expansion up to 60. 5 more skill points and your level 55 uber gear is now "sucks" compare to level 56-57 and even worst in 60. So would people run multiple run for Level 50 Ops? probably not. after 10 levels it will probably become obsolete. WoW recover this by revamping OLD raid into new raid SWTOR might have to do that. Revamp Vault of Eternity to level 60 or 65 in later expansion.

I hate to use WoW as an example but it is a good example. Look at the old raid. Would anyone run it anymore other than "nostalgia?" How many people can you get it to run it? would people run it? With the low population, it is already hard for regular server to get a group to run HM FP. Can you imagine when those content can be skip (and gear) and just go to 55 which probably have better gear than epic 50s? WoW did this and keep doing it and the old content people don't run it anymore. They just whiz by to get to the end. Why run an op at level 50 to get a gear when level 52 gear is BETTER than Black hole gear (it could be usually top tier gear is about 2-3 levels better than that level) City of Heroes kept it at level 50. What you can do is have BETTER gear but require to run OLDER Ops (like Eternity vault and such) in order to run later gear. This will also prevent "breaking" of skills or balance. It is hard enough to balance the skill tree we have already. Can you imagine if this trend continue (like WoW) what is max? 80? 85? each expansion raise the level cap by 5. That is a LOT of skill point. I can probably get two top tier by then or get enough to really make it unbalance. then SWTOR have to balance PvP again on creating new brackets. sub 50 and above 50 or even 50-60, 61-70, 71-80? etc etc. it is better to figure out now then have to "revamp" the skill system like WoW did since they gotten so high level now.

raising level cap is a bad idea. The short version - skipping Content The long version - Have you noticed that people are having hard time running FP? because people out level them quickly and go do better things without having to run FPs. Currently our Ops are cap at 50. The skill system works (when it is working properly) once you go beyond 50, then we will have balance issue in the future. Currently it is not possible to get 2 top tier skills in your skill tree (out of 3) but when you start going from 50 to 55 to 60 to 70 to 80, it will be possible. Then the skill system will need to be revamp and redo for balance (similar to WoW look what happen now. Totally different than what we use to have) gears from level 50 to 51 will probably be like WoW, becoming VERY useless. I notice time and time again when a skill cap is raised, the gear jumped. You could have the top gear at "max" level before the cap but the GREEN gear is BETTER than your top raiding gear. This is a bad thing. people are willing to skip "lower level content to hit max level" once the cap eventually reach 55 or 60, then what about the old ops? will SWTOR revamp the old ops for higher level like they did with WoW? Will people even bother to run it? What I suggest is put in more content but harder content and keep the level cap. You can have bigger and better gear so NEW players will HAVE to do old ops in order to do new Ops (to keep a constant supply of players) because if you raise the level cap, I am pretty sure that new players (or even alts) won't do the level 50 ops and HM FP and go straight to the new stuff and thus "reducing content" cause people CAN skip it.

I know there is another thread regarding "raising the level cap is a game breaking" but this thread is more about why raising the level cap is a bad idea. The short version - skipping Content The long version - Have you noticed that people are having hard time running FP? because people out level them quickly and go do better things without having to run FPs. Currently our Ops are cap at 50. The skill system works (when it is working properly) once you go beyond 50, then we will have balance issue in the future. Currently it is not possible to get 2 top tier skills in your skill tree (out of 3) but when you start going from 50 to 55 to 60 to 70 to 80, it will be possible. Then the skill system will need to be revamp and redo for balance (similar to WoW look what happen now. Totally different than what we use to have) gears from level 50 to 51 will probably be like WoW, becoming VERY useless. I notice time and time again when a skill cap is raised, the gear jumped. You could have the top gear at "max" level before the cap but the GREEN gear is BETTER than your top raiding gear. This is a bad thing. people are willing to skip "lower level content to hit max level" once the cap eventually reach 55 or 60, then what about the old ops? will SWTOR revamp the old ops for higher level like they did with WoW? Will people even bother to run it? What I suggest is put in more content but harder content and keep the level cap. You can have bigger and better gear so NEW players will HAVE to do old ops in order to do new Ops (to keep a constant supply of players) because if you raise the level cap, I am pretty sure that new players (or even alts) won't do the level 50 ops and HM FP and go straight to the new stuff and thus "reducing content" cause people CAN skip it.

Agree. I would like larger server personally. Mainly if I do find a great player that play with my time-frame, I would like them to be in my guild or his/her guild. the main reason I play MMO is to meet people. If I want to play solo on a game, there are PLENTY of those out there (I and I own a lot of them)

I will be surprise if they don't charge for a major expansion (i.e. more planets, another race and possible new classes)

I think it has to do about the last paragraph about make things harder to get. Make people must raid ops 20+ times to get that one drop instead of like 2-3 times. That is an old carrot on the stick formula. edit: BUT, if you look pass all that, there is some truth in try and true formula. You can try to "break the MMO formula" or even make up new one, but before you do that, you need to get player IN the door. Or at least Peek in. There are some "basic MMO" stuff that should already be in place since this is 2012 not 1990s. Server instance (to handle the load instead of opening a bunch of server should have stick to their guns and start off with smaller sets of server but allow higher load capacity) Character transfers Looking for Group tool (I am not even talking about x-server. I am talking about within your OWN server) but we don't have that. If this game came out in 2000 or 2005, I would have said, "no prob. they will come out" but many MMO came before TOR. Some are a success and some are failures. People should always look at why x game is a success and use some of its feature. It is like creating a new forum software but without a search function from the get go!

There are couple of ways BW can do this. 1. DCUO way - Mega servers (or super servers per interview) Everyone is moved to the mega-servers. Each player will have a name_servername and legacy_servername. When you log in, you are given ONE free name change and one FREE legacy name change item (none tradable, non sellable, bound to character) First person in can change to the name they want (Legacy and Name) of course with confirmation to ensure people don't input silly name by accident. 2. Soft merge via implementation of LAST names (I know Legacy does this but change it a bit) so people can keep their first name and have a last name. now sending tell would require a full name. This may not be ideal, but many people will get to keep their name.

The old reason? to prevent cheating in PvP. You can easily have a mole/spy using in-game system to cheat. BUT people will say "I have vent! I can use outside chat" true, but that takes MORE work to cheat in PvP than in-game which is easy to use Other than that? create illusion that we are not suppose to talk in secret with other factions

We already see some of it in the game. I can see to be more "terminal" type missions OR robot noises (easily to reproduce) also people can reuse lines and change the voice with a good mixer. You can always use in house talent for voices.

I think the title is "misleading" in terms what you are trying to say. I will say (and probably repeat what some already said) on some of the points Total Population - This is important for any MMO. Why? total population = money for Dev and exec. If there is a high total population could mean high subscription (assuming we don't count free 30 days and free weekends) high sub base = profit. There is a "base line" where a MMO can "get by" with minimum subs, but that also means that there won't be as many people to update cause they can't afford it. When you have millions of subs, you can afford to hire a whole TEAM of developers can crank out content and fix bugs. When you are on near black, then things take priority and fixes/updates come slower. Server population - people SHOULD worry about this. This is MMO. You can't do any of the "end game" stuff without server population. If you can't for a team of eight to do an operation t in any given time, that is pretty bad. If you can't even form a team of FOUR, that is even worst. dungeon finder - this is a mix blessing. If there is cross server grouping, while you can get a group going, it is harder to get the SAME group going FP after FP and form communities. I do believe SWTOR version is NOT x-server so this is good. Merge - thus far, SWTOR is NOT doing merges but allow transfers. I would ASSUME that SWTOR will allow people to transfer to more populated server (dictated by SWTOR I guess so people won't be able to transfer from Fatman to low pop server)

I can see that happening to people and either will cancel or adapt and move on. It would be cool to be like EVE style server (one big server) and use phases (already in the system) to regulate the areas. It would be nice to have people all around. The major downside is the location. Some players will have large ping because it is just too far from where they live

Well. Some people are fed up with bugs and lack of people to group with. "Most of us" would want this game to succeed or we wouldn't be "*****in" about it. The game does have potential and I hope the new bloods will bring the game to what it can be. In the meantime, while we "wait" some of us (like me) get distracted by other shiny new game that is fun for a bit until something is done or better come along.

I do believe the original article is talking about customers while we are talking about gamers. The problem with the article is that they are approaching this the wrong way. (IMO) They need to focus on the gameplay and enjoyment more than trying to "entice casual customer" to become "hardcore customer" If the gameplay is sound and relatively "less bugs" with good features, people WILL play it because it is enjoyable. But when a game is "broken" or hard to play or even "hard to find people" (see LFG thread and population thread) then it is the mechanics of the game that turn EVERYONE away regardless of "casual or hardcore customers"