Universe vs. Character in SW:TOR
I'd say that the people who will play TOR for its IP will be divided squarely into two categories. The first are the ones who want to play primarily because of the idea of being a member of the Star Wars universe. I think that despite all the poking fun we did at him, the Star Wars Kid typifies what we geek folk did in our bedrooms or the relative privacy of a garage or backyard - act like we were a Jedi, or a Sith, or a scoundrel of a ship captain.
People who are Universe-slanted when it comes to playing TOR will be more than happy playing themselves, so long as the setting in which they do so is laid out in front of them. For them, SW:TOR's focus on story will appeal to them because they will essentially be living out their own version of the story of Star Wars. At times, they may group with others, creating a dynamic where there's a shared experience of being on Hutta, or walking around Coruscant, or exploring the depths of Korriban. The whole of the IP is what draws them into the game. In the game, they might be more comfortable as part of a group, part of a team, sharing experiences with others or achieving things as a whole entity rather than solo.
Then there are those who will be drawn to the IP on a more specific, granular level. Remember that kid who you thought was weird because they ate glue, but who probably dressed up as Darth Vader every year for Halloween? That's the type of person that is more focused on Character when it comes to SW:TOR. When Bioware talks, as they have constantly, about the appeal of being a certain character in the universe, and not just a member of it, these are the people for which that resonates most deeply.
These people want to be Luke Skywalker, or Han Solo. They want to be Boba Fett and be a bit better at avoiding sarlacc monsters. They want to Force Choke just like Vader casually does in the films. The heroic nature of Bioware's story-driven upcoming MMO is perhaps the best part for Character-driven players, because not only do they get to exist in the Star Wars Universe, but also play a significant part in making an impact. They might be a guild leader, or in a group at the vanguard, or in any other position where they can show others how their individual contributions change the dynamic of the game.
No doubt there are going to be people who stride the middle of these two schools of thought, who want to immerse themselves in the SW:TOR universe while at the same time making a difference as a known individual. But I've found that many will lean one way or the other. So I ask you, dear readers - as you think about why you want to play SW:TOR in terms of its storied history and IP, are you more drawn to the Universe as a whole, or to the idea of playing a specific iconic Character? Or perhaps you're just going to call ol' Frank here a crazy babbling idjit? You decide.
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