I’m 30, 28, 35, 30ish.  I have a wife, three kids under the age of ten, a 40+ hour  a week job, and a honey-do (or you’re sleeping on the couch) list longer than Jar-Jar’s tongue.

One of the big questions still surrounded TOR is just how “massively” and “multiplayer” is this game going to be.  Much has already been said about NPC companions and how their inclusion in the game indicates that much of the game will be spent playing solo, without much grouping with other real players.

While the balance of solo vs. group play has yet to be determined, having a game geared toward the solo player is not a terrible idea.  According to the Entertainment Software Association, the average gamer is 37 years old.  I would wager that the average 37 year old, on average, is dealing with an average amount of real life (RL) issues that I am….on average.

My gaming sessions frequently last about an hour, in the early morning before the wife and kids are up.  In my current MMO, Lord of the Rings Online (LOTRO), an hour gives me an opportunity to knock out a few quests, craft a few items, check my in game mail and search the auction house.

LOTRO has many instanced dungeons designed for small to large groups of players.  The action is fierce and the rewards are compelling, but the downside is that these dungeons can take an hour or more to complete.  More time is added on to this process when you factor in finding and assembling a group of people willing and ready to participate in your RAID of choice.  You can argue that is what your guild mates are for, but few are online at 5:00 AM.

If the majority the content in TOR ends up being solo, this could appeal to a large player base.  Flashpoints have shown us that EA does plan to incorporate dungeons that require group play, but I don’t think they will be a requirement for advancement of your character.  Some of my most frustrating moments in MMOs is reaching a point where I need to complete a group quest in order to advance to the next series of quests.  More often than not, I simply don’t have the time.

If this prediction comes true, EA has adopted a brilliant strategy:  a MMO based primarily on solo content but includes optional multi-player content that gives rewards worth the time investment.  It is one aspect of a MMO that appeals to me, and I would wager that I’m not alone.