but ALL that information is stored in server databases. You are the ignorant one my friend. All online games are database driven, it is just the complexity of databases that varies. Anyone who knows anything about the technical aspect of mmo's know this.

They have known for long enough that they were going to be adding Oceanic servers. The decision to allow transfering of characters was not a last minute one. There was more then enough time. The actual process is just database migration. If database creation and usage is efficient, then the task of transfering from 1 server to another is actually very simple. Not instant, but simple.

You are not the only one on these forums who has knowledge and/or experience with software coding. As someone who claims to you should know that game type and genre have little impact, ultimately on game engine. Yes, its a trite example, but look at the Unreal 3 engine. You claim there is a difference; but there is not. The differences come in how easy the engine is to develop with, how difficult it is to modify, and the technical specifications of what it can do, such as incorporation of physx/havoc. Unreal Engine 3 has been used in development of titles such as: DC Universe (MMO) Tron: Evolution (Action/Adventure) TS Online (MMO) Tom Clancy's End War (RTS with MMO features) TERA (MMO) Stargate Resistance (Shooter) Red Orchestra 2 (Realism WW2 Shooter) Mortal Kombat (Fighter) Mass Effect 1, 2, 3 (RPG with shooter elements, Shooter with rpg elements, shooter/rpg) DUST 514 (Shooter with integration into EVE Online database, directly impacting the EVE Online world) Dungeon Defenders (tower defence) Bulletstorm (Action) Army of Two (co-op shooter) Alpha Protocol (Stealth Action) APB Reloaded (MMO) Aliens: Colonial Marines (I am unsure of this one, likely shooter with multiplayer elements) See the point? If not, then might I also point out Dead Space which was turned into a browser based game requiring high speed internet to play, seeing as it is the entire game in the entirity of its graphics. Now, the EVE developers have shown us that with proper netcode (which TOR seems to lack) all the client does is interact with the server databases, then render those changes in a graphical display for the client. As such, if one has client side assets in a format that is usable by more then one client, modifying one engine to make the neccessary calls and translate those calls and the responses it sees as appropriate, you could have both a hero engine client for those with low end machines and an unreal/dragon age client for those with high end machines. As most, if not all, clients optimised for windows use some form of the .x format, it should not be difficult.

And I believe you are an ***, but that does not make it so. I was not mistaking customer service REPRESENTATIVES for video game developers. The CSR people are responsible for answering many questions, such as the ones I asked. I posted in general because I am sharing the experience, not to seek a response from the devs who, so far as I am concerned, can go do you know what with themselves for dropping the ball, yet again.

So... more then 6 years and $200 million? Erm... they had several engines. They could have used the NWN2 engine, dated but much better appearances and performances then bioware's modified hero engine. They could have used the Dragon Age 1/2 engine. Perfectly capable of it. Hell, they could EASILY take the DA engine and mod it as a front end for hero engine, problem solved. Would take... 6 months of work? maybe dedicated. Would be worth it. Press release: we are modifying the dragon age engine to function as a front end for the game. This will see massive graphical improvements, addition of high res and super high res textures, community modifiable user interface, and much greater performance and stability. Watch the subscriptions remain, and even gain more (if not immediately, upon release of the new front end)

So I ticketed Bioware to ask the CSR about transfers: namely why they are in April instead of now, what happens to legacy stuff, for instance your legacy name and xp totals, if come april we transfer characters to the same server where we already have a legacy name and xp total. I also asked about free name changes and legacy name changes as there will be many who picked the name they have because others were taken. I know I was one of them. The CSR deleted my ticket without mail, warning, or explination. I didnt even get the green mail icon which has happened in the past. Just gone. I will submitting another ticket. will update this with exactly what I get, the time I submit (in Sydney time), the date, and any responses I get.

It does not have heavy requirements, unless you consider the 9800gt, a slightly updated 8800gt, which is a slightly updated 8800, which is... 10 years old? 7 years old or so, basically the very first dx10 card (9800gt) if memory serves, heavy requirements. My mate had 2gb of ram and a i5-750 with 9800gt and had no issue with any UE3 game, mmo or otherwise.

They have, somewhere. Javascrpt, if memory serves

Bioware. Thats who. Patch notes on test server NEW ULTRA LOW SHADER SETTING

Slight problem: At least based solely on looks: Both CryEngine3 and the most recent Frostbite eat UE3 for breakfast in terms of graphical looks. Both are considerably less stable, however. The most recent frostbite handles physics far better then the stock UE3 does though, just look at Battlefield 3 and The Race in terms of the physics involved, but for the most part, and as a whole, yes, best engine around.

They have not been. They have said we are thinking of ways to fix things, but will not comment further. Basically: We do not know how to make the engine better, so please stop asking. Just give us more monies nao!

Bioware can't work in house to fix the graphical issues of the game. How could they work with a driver manufacturer? The problem is not with the drivers. I can play Skyrim and Battlfield 3 on max settings in surround vision; and my skyrim uses about 12gb worth of texture mods. The problem is that the engine is 5 years old. The modern hero engine handles things much better. It might not have great threaded support, but it has less memory leaks, and faster frame rates on threaded machines and multicore machines. Get a single core processor with 2gb of ram and a 8800gt and the game will be flawless, short of any network issues. Get anything more modern and it will eat itself. The client gets up to almost a full 2gb of ram usage on my system (24gb of ram, not an issue) when it shouldnt. Once or twice it jumped over 2gbs of ram and crashed. Furthermore, bioware's solution is to reduce graphical performance with lower res textures, reduced quality shaders, etc, etc. Does this sound like a company that will work with driver manufacturers to get better support? And for the guys who have posted on this topic saying that bioware does not care, they have made their money back: they have not. Hero dudes are taking at least 30% from ALL their money made, including boxed and digital sales.

Its also a fact that poorly coded games, and older games, perform better on the systems they are aimed at. Ever wonder why games like Planescape works great on a system from its error, but fails miserably without tweaking, mods, and in-system editing on a modern system? Much like how when 64bit came along 32 bit applications would run faster, and why it is a well known fact that: APPLICATIONS WITHOUT HYPERTHREADING SUPPORT AND MULTITHREAD SUPPORT WORK BETTER ON SYSTEMS WITHOUT THEM. Ever since I clocked my system down from 4.5ghz to 2,6ghz the game runs smoother.

I have a hero engine licence... Now, anyone can get them, at no charge. Easy as pie.

I love how you, yourself, make broad generalisations. I also love how you imply that the post I quoted, states that those who do not have such things have no life. he merely stated that he has a life, has these things, thus plays games as a hobby and not a lifestyle. Also no where does it say that there should be no challenge, and that the game should be easy mode. However, I must add that, in my experience, themepark style games, like this, while they may contain enemies that have high stats, are still generally NOT challenging in any real sense. After all, it is simply a matter of using x attack combo for max dps, x skill combo for tanking, heal tank. There is little need for thought. And since we are so restricted in what we can equip, and what powers we can use, there is no variety like there is in the likes of FFVII, VIII, Oblivion, etc TOR, like most themeparks, and all the ones I have personally played, is easy mode. Hard modes just require better gear, they still add no real challenge.