So here we are. Bioware, a company that has a pretty good rep for its single player RPGs (although it was pretty brave to add its name to the unfinished and sometimes unplayable KOTOR II), is taking a step into the big time. Playing with the big boys. Building an MMORPG on top of Simutronic’s Hero Engine.

And what can we say about it? What is pretty much carved in stone at this stage?

Characters will get class driven storylines.
Characters will get NPC companions to help them out.
Solo play is very, very possible.
You know, the cynic in me wonders whether this isn’t just going to be a single player RPG, but with the “added bonus” of other people being around to chat with if you feel lonely… oh, and that pesky monthly fee, of course.

See, when you start talking about in-depth storylines (which had better be PRETTY DAMN IN DEPTH, given that most MMORPGs try and make a fist at giving you a storyline for your character; and often customised to your class, too), and using NPCs to fill out your groups, and giving people all the tools they need to solo… I start to worry.

MMORPGs are, by their nature, social and co-operative beasts. Does anyone want to debate me on that? There are no other major reasons, to my mind, that you would want to step into a world populated by real people, beyond socialising and/or getting assistance from them. See, if you ignore those two things, you’re ultimately just playing a single player RPG.

Of course, at the end of the day is all about balance. Dragons Online started off by basically forcing everyone to group… and people hated it. Meanwhile, Age of Conan went out there with a VERY solo-friendly game and, besides other issues with it overall, the solo nature of the game is what made it very boring for people. It was just people shuffling around a map, doing their own thing and not really affecting, or interacting with each other… because they didn’t have to.

So what do you think? Is BioWare pushing us towards a single player RPG that we are going to pay a monthly fee for, essentially just to cover the fact we can chat with other people in the game world? Or is it all going to be pulled out of the fire and despite the individual storylines and despite the NPC companions instead of real party members and despite solo play being a major option, you think that this is still going to be a highly social game? Your thoughts, please!