SW:TOR

It launches in about 2 – 3 weeks. Less if you preordered (2 weeks, 5ish days).

My main gripe is the graphics and character customisation.
The story is somewhat good. The bonus quests are annoying (like killing 45 of x, kill leader, turn in) and the main quests are nothing new. Though you have a class storyline that rocks.

It is a beta, yes. But I seriously hope quests are something new, and graphics are a lot better than what they are. I can suffer with everyone looking the same, but quests are a big thing for an MMO. Graphics also play a major role.

I kinda enjoy it. Though a Jedi tank is a pretty shit class to play. I might try inquisitor or the Jedi dual-wielding DPS class-thingy.

For a 100 million or more costing game, it looks depressing. I hope it improves. If not, I’ll have a good statuette to put on my shelf with the other collector editions I have bought, and I’ll go back to playing single-player RPG’s and the one MMO I will ever play for a prolonged period of time (EVE, though I’m unsubbed atm due to boredom.)

Fingers crossed, I hope it will improve in the next 2-ish weeks.

Heroes of Newerth

Heroes of Newerth is a DOTA-like game.

I actually bought it for $10 when it wasn’t free-to-play but either way, it’s now free to play.

The game is practically like DOTA. You get to choose a out of a bunch of heroes – strength, intelligence and agility. Support, DPS, Tank.
It happens to have an item shop – which mind you is quite good. It’s not a pay-to-win game which is a good thing. However you can purchase early access to some specific heroes before they are released to the general public.

For free to play players, you don’t get access to the whole line up of heroes, which may put you off – however I’d look for a way to get them. I’m not too sure on how you’d do that though.

All in all, it’s a fun enough game, and will entertain you for many hours. But there is a major drawback which puts me off – and that it the community.
The community absolutely sucks. Whether you’re a newbie or an expert, public games are definitely full of cancer.
If you plan on playing this game, get yourself in to a clan as soon as possible so you don’t get cancer.
I myself actually tried to find someone who could mentor me early on. But after a week of no replies I decided to withdraw the application. I felt it would be a smart move to find someone to teach me the ropes, me being a 1500 PSR and all. But the players with a lot less PSR than I were getting mentors left right and centre. I’m still looking for a good group to get myself in to, but alas it may not be for me.

The game runs native on Linux, Mac and Windows. I’ve yet to find a bug or crash whilst playing it on Ubuntu 11.04, which is great!

Rating: 6/10. It’s fun, the graphics aren’t bad. But the community stinks.
I’ll definitely be getting DOTA 2 though.