Newest SWTOR dev diary talks about designing MMOs

MMOs are an incredibly diverse form of entertainment, with something out there to suit nearly every gamer's tastes. From the business model to the genre to the style of gameplay, players are able to pick and choose their preferences from an ever-increasing library of titles.

One choice is that of a game versus that of a world. "Sandbox" is a term we see popping up more frequently the past few years as more developers move away from the quest-and-storyline driven style of game. Some players just prefer to explore the world on their own terms, rather than follow a set series of quests and such.

So developers need to choose which sort of game to design -- one or the other, right? Not necessarily, according to some of the minds behind Star Wars: The Old Republic. Principal Lead Systems Designer Damion Schubert thinks it's possible to have the best of both worlds in one game, and this new developer diary talks about how Star Wars: The Old Republic is attempting to find that middle ground. "I've long advocated that moderation is the way to go, and I believe on The Old Republic we are successfully travelling a middle path, a centrist path that takes the strengths of both: provide a directed and balanced game experience inside a lush, free-form Star Wars world."

Can BioWare find that middle ground and keep both the sandbox fans and the quest fans happy? We can't wait to find out. For now, take a look at the full developer diary to read the rest of Schubert's thoughts on the matter.