I used to play SWTOR. I was a Sith Marauder and I had two lightsabers and it was epic. For every decision, I picked whichever choice gave me Dark side points (unless that would get in the way of story progress or meant that I'd lose a companion). By the time I stopped playing, I was nearing the highest rank of darkness possible. I good little minions who mostly liked me (as well as anyone can like a Dark lord). I was a good Sith (such a great oxymoron).
The SWTOR universe was amazing. The cut scenes were fully voice-acted and animated, and it was like watching tiny movies interspersed with gameplay. Gathering materials to make new and better equipment was fun as well. Seeing what kinds of things I could create with the limited resources the game offered was an exciting challenge. The different planets had different environments and new and interesting creatures to carve my way through, so it was always fun to visit a new planet and see what was there. The detail on the inside of my ship was fantastic, and each companion had their own little area to hang out. The space battles were challenging, but after failing miserably at the second or third one I tried, I chose to focus on hand to hand combat. Because, really, I wasn't playing to have epic space battles. Ships don't wield lightsabers.
It had everything to make a game I'd want to play for an extended period of time. Sure, there were monthly fees, and sure they were maybe higher than I generally wanted to pay at the time given my finances, but given that we'd get home and play SWTOR all evening every day, it was a worthwhile investment. And it was Star Wars! Who doesn't remember their first time seeing Star Wars? How incredible it was for its time, and even now (though I do wish Lucas had left the originals alone). I love Star Wars (at least the original trilogy, Ep. I-III are okay, and we'll see what happens with the new Disneyfied versions).
So, given all of this, why did I stop playing the game? It's very simple, really. It wasn't about the gameplay. I wasn't completely sick of fetch quests yet (though that time was coming because, really. Fetch quests). I still liked being a Sith. I was still in love with wielding two lightsabers (and ever in search of a better orange one).
I quit playing because Malavi Quinn wouldn't put out, and it was making me angry. Especially when one of my fiance's characters had gotten an interlude levels before I even came close.
Hold your horses. Let me explain. The developers built in the option to flirt with NPCs. The only reason to do something like that is if you expect people to actually do so! Which means there needs to be some sort of reward for it. Quinn was one of my first minions, and he generally liked my character, and I chose the "flirt" option at every available opportunity. So. Devs. What more did I have to do? Be more Light side (not likely, since Quinn appreciated many of my Dark side choices)? Be male (actually, thinking about it, that might have been it...)?
I wanted to play a game where I ran around with two lightsabers and wreaked havoc on the universe as the most evil Sith ever. I wanted to smash things and cackle as those holier-than-thou Jedi fell beneath my blade (there wasn't enough of that in the game either). Instead I was focusing on getting some private time with Malavi Quinn (anyone would have done by the end, since I really just wanted to say that my SWTOR character had gotten laid). And then, after I cancelled my account, they made it free to play. It was almost enough to drag me back, but it was too late. I had moved on.
I always feel bad spending a ton of money on a game that I only play for a few months. If a game is going to cost me upwards of $50, I feel like it should last me at least 6 months, if not a year. But that almost never happens. I either get bored before I get to the highest level, or I play the game obsessively until I beat it. In both cases, that happens well before 6 months are out. We got our money's worth out of SWTOR, and it was fun while it lasted. While part of me wants to crawl back into the Sith skin and waste a few hours, there's a new game to play now.
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