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Star Wars: Galaxies Preview

LukeG writes "Ferrago.co.uk has just gone live with a brand new preview of Lucas Arts' upcoming MMORPG, Star Wars: Galaxies. This game represents what could turn out to be the most popular online universe ever-created, especially if Everquest creators Verant can deliver the goods as fans hope. "

224 comments

  1. and I repeat.... by vex24 · · Score: 0, Redundant
    --

    People shape laws. Not the other way around.

  2. Re:Karma Suicide!! by vex24 · · Score: 0, Troll

    Could you dub that... "Karmacide" ?

    --

    People shape laws. Not the other way around.

  3. I am so tired of Star Wars already by z00r · · Score: 1

    They've been outdone effects-wise, and frankly I am so tired of Hollywood getting down on its knees to beg for the money of little children by making bad movies just-for-them. It was perverse when Spielberg did it in Jurassic Park, and seeing it happen with Star Wars just makes me sick.

    1. Re:I am so tired of Star Wars already by mmaddox · · Score: 1, Troll

      Agreed. Given the quality of most recent MMORPGs lately, or lack thereof, to wit: Anarchy Online and World War II Online not to mention the grand suckfulness that is ANY recent game with the words Star Wars in its title, this game will be hard-pressed not to suck.

      Come on people! Realize that it's pure commercial drivel, not art nor nostalgia nor some sense of art that makes this crap move. You bought the crappy plastic little figures in 1977, and you're still buying junk.

      --

      What'dya mean there's no BLINK tag!?

    2. Re:I am so tired of Star Wars already by alexmogil · · Score: 1

      Rogue Leader for the Gamecube sucked? Wow. That totally took me by surprise.

      --
      A winner is you!
    3. Re:I am so tired of Star Wars already by CAIMLAS · · Score: 5, Insightful

      A troll? Maybe, but I'll bite...

      Star Wars was -not- originally about selling something more - it was about making something new and fresh. From where I sit, this looks to be more of the latter.

      First off, Galaxies is set between Episode IV and V, so it's true to the Trilogy - catering to (you guessed it!) the older audience that actually saw the Trilogy when they were younger/growing up, not the children you speak of that bought whatever those spinoff games were from Ep1. I'm sure you'd agree that the making of, say, Pod Racer, isn't anything similar in intensity as Galaxies. I doubt that many 'children' would have the ability to pay the subscription fees, nor that many parents have the will or money to pay that for their kids to play games - though, I suspect there are many parents that would pay that for themselves. :) And the topic of whether a child would want to sit and build a character from the ground up (we're speaking, say, sub-12 years of age category here, I think - or roughly approximating) for hours and hours on end instead of playing Pod Racer is insane. The rare and far between, but really - since when has anyone gotten rich by exploiting the 'rare and far between' individuals?

      I can understand your bitterness concerning Episode I - hey, we're all with you on that one. It sucked elephant. This game doesn't seem to be of the same quality; at least not yet.

      --
      ~/ssh slashdot.org ssh: connect to host slashdot.org port 22: too many beers
    4. Re:I am so tired of Star Wars already by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      OMG, that first post is sooo fucking off topic. Why the hell doesn't shit like that get modded?

    5. Re:I am so tired of Star Wars already by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      well, I'm not sick of that universe. Games like this promise that you can 'be' there, the same that you can escape reading a good book - you want to be there working that farm, riding those lizard beasts, flying around from planet to planet and having a cold one in a bar with all manner of 'foreign' folk, so to speak...

      It isn't about special effects, or one movie outdoing another one.

      Get some imagination and call me in the morning.

  4. judging games before they come out by MathJMendl · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Man, what is with all this hype for everything lately? Everyone is saying "this will be the best game/movie/music" before it even comes out! It happened before with Harry Potter and LOTR, which were both good, but received automatic 10 ratings / two thumbs up before even coming out!!

    I say we wait until something comes out, and *then* applaud it.

    --


    "I have not failed. I've simply found 10,000 ways that won't work." --Thomas Edison
    1. Re:judging games before they come out by Covant · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      I wonder if the reviewers were actually real people this time!?

      --
      "Peace, Love and Apathy"
    2. Re:judging games before they come out by minusthink · · Score: 1

      yeah but this is starwars!
      (rolls eyes).

      --
      "when life gets complicated, I like to take a nap in a tree and wait for dinner" - Hobbes.
    3. Re:judging games before they come out by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      uh huh, the jar jar ones that almost had n sync in s.w.2, what geniuses (rolls eyes)

    4. Re:judging games before they come out by dmouritsendk · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I dont know why anybody would call anything "the best whatever" is beyond me, I must all pretty much come down to personal taste. And the salesfigures cant have anything to do with how good anything is, cause then titanic would be the best flick ever :)

      BUT, I know why i look forward to this game. Because, if LucasArts keeps what the promisies theyve made in the offical FAQ. Its going to revoultionize the MMORPG genre, with the most complex infrastructure(youll have land, you can hire NPC , you can create towns. If youre really good at making blasters you could open a store(and hire a npc to sell em..) etc etc etc) everseen in such a game.

    5. Re:judging games before they come out by Covant · · Score: 1

      Why don't they do the reverse too? Stick Jar Jar in an N'Sync video/song? "Meesa will aaaaaallways luurrve jooo" I bet they could get Jar Jar to do those retarded dance moves.

      --
      "Peace, Love and Apathy"
    6. Re:judging games before they come out by Random+Man · · Score: 2, Funny

      Yeah, especially since Galaxies will suck compared to Duke Nuke'em Forever . . .

    7. Re:judging games before they come out by Dante333 · · Score: 3, Funny

      yeah but this is starwars!

      So was The Phantom Menace

    8. Re:judging games before they come out by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      When Jar-Jar walks, it's a retarded dance move.

    9. Re:judging games before they come out by puppet10 · · Score: 1

      Yes the most complex infrastructure in a MMORPG, since....

      Habitat although I would agree this is an evolution of the model, with what looks to be much improved graphics ;)

      --
      -------- This space intentionally left blank --------
    10. Re:judging games before they come out by Nickovsky · · Score: 1
      Its going to revoultionize the MMORPG genre, with the most complex infrastructure(youll have land, you can hire NPC , you can create towns. If youre really good at making blasters you could open a store(and hire a npc to sell em..) etc etc etc) everseen in such a game.

      Ever heard of Ultima Online? ;)

    11. Re:judging games before they come out by Shiny+Metal+S. · · Score: 2
      Its going to revoultionize the MMORPG genre, with the most complex infrastructure(youll have land, you can hire NPC , you can create towns. If youre really good at making blasters you could open a store(and hire a npc to sell em..) etc etc etc)
      Cool, like in Mason.
      --

      ~shiny
      WILL HACK FOR $$$

    12. Re:judging games before they come out by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Right, except this won't suck.

  5. This is gonna be ugly . . . by StefanJ · · Score: 4, Funny

    Think of the viscious fights over who gets to be the first to kill Jar-Jar Binks.

    1. Re:This is gonna be ugly . . . by Night+Goat · · Score: 2, Funny

      That whole race is going to be a race of marked men.

    2. Re:This is gonna be ugly . . . by The+Cat · · Score: 4, Funny

      Someone will probably record a demo of it too:

      "Click here for a 3 minute third-person MPEG of Jar-Jar being chased across an open 400-acre field by 7,620 Galaxies players and a fleet of 281 ships"

    3. Re:This is gonna be ugly . . . by Zyconium · · Score: 1

      hah! I think I would pay to see him die! but thats just me

    4. Re:This is gonna be ugly . . . by Shadarr · · Score: 0, Offtopic

      I imagine they will have a well-marked Jar-Jar spawn site, with campers lined up for miles and GMs patrolling to make sure each player goes to the end of the line after taking their turn.

    5. Re:This is gonna be ugly . . . by Zapman · · Score: 2

      Unfortunatly:

      1) This is set in the 'classic' era. In the time between Episode IV and V. (before the invasion of Hoth)

      2) You won't be able to kill NPC's, and any named character will be an NPC.

      --
      Zapman
    6. Re:This is gonna be ugly . . . by RealTimeFreeAgent · · Score: 2, Funny

      That probably won't be enough. You saw the havoc he unleashed on the poor unsuspecting Trade Federation droid army.

      --
      "You get what you pay for after all." --
    7. Re:This is gonna be ugly . . . by Moonshadow · · Score: 2, Informative
      Poor Jar-Jar...he's just a misunderstood genius.

      (Disclaimer: I'm as much a Jar-Jar hater as the rest...I just needed a way to post this :))

    8. Re:This is gonna be ugly . . . by shokk · · Score: 1

      I suppose the Empire is not supposed to get wind of your little plot and send an armada of ships to nuke them from orbit - it's the only way. Or send streams of stormtroopers onto the planet to eradicate ("I didn't realize massacre had a negative connotation") every living thing that looks like it might be resisting. Maybe these stormtroopers can actually shoot straight.

      --
      "Beware of he who would deny you access to information, for in his heart, he dreams himself your master."
    9. Re:This is gonna be ugly . . . by Fencepost · · Score: 1, Troll

      Hah, I still haven't seen any proof that the Jar-Jar gay porn I've heard rumors of exists.

      --
      fencepost
      just a little off
    10. Re:This is gonna be ugly . . . by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Golden Rule:
      bad guy's can't shoot straight but they sure can hack.

    11. Re:This is gonna be ugly . . . by Zyconium · · Score: 1

      lol! yes! his genuis.. where was I when he got that I must have missed that episode :(

    12. Re:This is gonna be ugly . . . by cabbey · · Score: 2

      actually the screen savers already did it, sorta. It was when they reviewed the StarWars skin for warcraft (or ages or whatever it was...) that was passed off as a new game a while ago... the best quote of the review went along the lines of "but some parts of the star wars universe don't translate well... when was the last time you saw a jedi knight hacking away at a building with a light saber? ... but decimating a legion of jar-jar binks with a couple jedis is a thing to behold."

  6. MMORPG's are lame by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The fact that people can become addicted to these games shows the total emptiness of the players' lives.

    Interacting with people online is not a bad thing. It's only a problem when the fantasy aspect of the game becomes the sole focus of the player.

    It's one thing to go to a Star Trek convention and dress up like a Klingon. It's a whole different thing to live your life like that.

    In this game, do you get to blow up Jar Jar's to earn XP?

  7. Star Wars: Galaxies Official Sites by Metrollica · · Score: 5, Informative

    Some may want to check out the official sites here and here or the FAQ on the game here.

    --



    --Metrollica
  8. I can see it now by The+Cat · · Score: 4, Funny

    Screaming hordes of Jedi apprentices and Boba Fetts roaming from planet to planet. Storms of rocks and packing crates darkening the skies as thousands practice their telekinetic skills. Every conversation being conducted with constant frantic hand-waving. A light-sabre enhanced melee over the one Millenium Falcon ship that lasts 24-hours a day for months.

    Oh, yay.

    1. Re:I can see it now by Covant · · Score: 1

      LOL.

      I wonder how busy the Hutt's will be! There will be a shortage of carbonite!

      You don't need to save your game.

      --
      "Peace, Love and Apathy"
  9. No hope by theNote · · Score: 1

    Although I'm an avid star wars fan, I've given up hope lucasarts will ever make a decent game based on the movies.

    1. Re:No hope by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      C'mon Galatic Battlegrounds is a great RTS, IMHO on the same level as StarCraft

    2. Re:No hope by TeraCo · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Hey, Tie Fighter was brilliant. Shame about all of the sequels though..

      --
      Not Meta-modding due to apathy.
    3. Re:No hope by _Bean_ · · Score: 1

      Ya lets just ignore X-Wing Tie-Fighter, Dark Forces, Dark Forces II: Jedi Knight. Perhaps you mean any good new games. Although I've heard that the most recent Star Wars rts game at least qualifies as decent.

    4. Re:No hope by Lumpy · · Score: 5, Insightful

      The best game to ever come from LucasArts is SAM and MAX.

      any game that is so funny you piss your pants the first time you play it is a winner in any book.

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    5. Re:No hope by elefantstn · · Score: 2

      No way, dude. I'm partial to the Battle of Britain. Sucked up more hours of my life than any other game of my childhood. Course, it looked a lot better on my Atari ST than my friends' PCs.

      --
      If it ain't broke, you need more software.
    6. Re:No hope by strictnein · · Score: 1

      And it looked even better on my C64 =)

    7. Re:No hope by GiorgioG · · Score: 1

      The best game to ever come from LucasArts is SAM and MAX.

      I have to disagree. Day of the Tentacle was better in my opinion. Check it out here.

    8. Re:No hope by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      LucasArts is not making the game. SOE-Austin is making the game.

    9. Re:No hope by Traa · · Score: 1

      SAM and MAX: funniest LucasArts game, but short. Gameplay wasn't as intense as...

      Monkey Island II: Best gameplay by far. OMG, the months I spend with friends trying to finish this game (pre-www.getyourcheathere.com) but it wasn't that funny which brings me to ...

      Day of the Tentacle: The BEST LucasArts game to date given that it had the best of the two things that LucasArts has to offer us, humor and gameplay.

  10. Slashdotted by hyyx · · Score: 0

    Star Wars: Galaxies (PC)
    A first-look at this online RPG set in the famed universe...

    I really do like the idea of MMORPG's; they give you the chance to live another life, so to speak. It would seem that they are the 'way forward' too, what with titles such as Planetside and Final Fantasy XI on the way and superb games such as Dark Ages of Camelot and Everquest already here. The only thing that I really feel is lacking from these great games is a familiar setting, one that we all know and love; a setting with intense character and charm, somewhere that we have all wanted to be a part of... so what would you say if I told you of a MMORPG set in the Star Wars universe, with every detail complete (hopefully, anyhow) and all of your favourite characters? It seems too good to be true doesn't it? Well, LucasArts Entertainment (with Everquest creators, Verant) aim to deliver you the ultimate Star Wars experience, ladies and gentlemen, I give you: Star Wars Galaxies.

    Star Wars Galaxies is currently under development by LucasArts Entertainment and Sony Online; with Verant lending their skills. It has a certain pedigree, too, with these developers behind it, can they pull off such a mammoth task without upsetting thousands of Star Wars fans? We'll take a look...

    Obviously, the game will be set in the Star Wars universe (duh), but is not confined to just a single planet (hence the 'Galaxies' bit), LucasArts hint at many planets being used in the title, but as of the moment only Tatooine, Naboo and Yavin IV have been confirmed. I don't doubt for a second that all of the other famous Star Wars planets will make an appearance, I expect to see Hoth, Endor (I know it's a moon, really) and others popping up soon. LucasArts have stated that they want many smaller planets in the title (each one around 16km in size), rather than just one huge world to circumnavigate, which wouldn't give that Star Wars 'feel' to the game, instead giving a more diverse ambience to the proceedings. It would seem that LucasArts want you to explore in this title, but on a much grander scale than anything before it.

    The planets themselves will be divided into many sections, but unlike Everquest, transition into another 'zone' will be completely seamless. LucasArts plan to have different sections for each different type of game mode, so separate zones for interaction (cities and living spaces), battles and travel. There will also be different sectors within each zone, such as wild (dangerous!), safe (errrmm) and truce. Truce is a sector where absolutely no fighting can occur even between rival factions, so in theory you can't just waltz up to someone and shoot them, ending any 'newbie' kills. It's generally not a good idea to randomly attack anyone in Galaxies at all though; as you never know if there's a Lightsaber somewhere under the enemy's cloak...

    One feature of the game that will have fans back-flipping with joy is the timeline. Galaxies is set in what LucasArts call the 'Classic Era', as in between episodes IV and V. That places it somewhere between the destruction of the first Death Star and the Empire's attack on the Rebel base on Hoth. I am so glad that they didn't set this game in the Episode I era, the game would not have been half as interesting! LucasArts said that they had set the game in this so called 'classic' period so that they could have access to all of the main Star Wars characters, aside from Obi-Wan. This gives them a huge variety of NPC's at their disposal.... oh yeah.... that's the other point, the characters.

    You may be disappointed to learn that you can't be Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Han Solo or Leia. In fact you can't take on the role of any of the Star Wars characters themselves, you can't even be a stormtrooper (not that you'd want to, because you wouldn't be allowed out of the barracks!). No, it would seem that you will have to create you own character, right from the beginning, but that's fine by me, I want to carve my own destiny, as should you all. This doesn't mean that you won't see the main characters, they will all be present as NPCs, hell, you may even get to interact with them, but killing them is impossible, as they are vital to plot-lines and such. As if your weak human avatar could kill Vader anyway...

    When you actually get around to creating you character, you will discover that it's a little different from the likes of Everquest. In Galaxies, there is no level system, instead LucasArts have optioned for a 'Skill System'. The Skills system will utilise skill trees, as you start learning a skill, it will develop and branch out, giving your character a great many skills to master. The skills trees will not be linear either, LucasArts promise, as you can change to another skill at any point (you may feel that blaster repair is a lot more vital than crop-tending skills, for example). This 'system' should mean that your character will develop a great variety of skills and no two should be alike, meaning, hopefully, greater player diversity. It's also interesting to note that aside from the obvious allegiances (Rebel or Imperial); LucasArts seem to reward the player who prefers to go it alone. There are very few 'clans' within the original package. Obviously a great many will appear when the game finally goes online, but it's nice to see that the developers have gone for this approach for a change as it could lead to hundreds of warring factions... Which would be something to behold, certainly.

    As for your character itself, you can choose from many different species for your avatar. At the moment Humans, Mon Calamari, Zabrak, Rodians, Twi'leks, Trandoshan, Wookies and Bothans have all been announced and expect more to appear. LucasArts have also revealed that you can be a Jedi if you wish, although all budding Obi-Wan's take note: the path of the Force will be most difficult, whichever path you choose! With all of these species and such to choose from and then their skill trees on top, you are presented with an immense variety of life. It will be incredible if LucasArts and co. can pull it off!

    Equipment. Star Wars wouldn't be the same without all of the gadgets and gizmos, so it is no surprise that the programmers are ensuring that all of your favourite Star Wars goodies (including the rare Mandalorian Armour) will be included. Your character will be able to loot bodies and battlefields for such supplies, as with any MMORPG, however Galaxies hopes to introduce weapons building. Yes, your character can build his, or her own Lightsaber, to his your very own design (double ended?) as well as blasters and such, giving your character an arsenal that is unique. You can also buy droids to act as a sidekick, a star fighter to zip around in, build your own house, shop or farm (in space allotted to you by the server), you can even build yourself a Rebel base... this should make the experience unlike any other MMORPG before, if it all works. At the moment all of these promises look very distant indeed, I hope that LucasArts can deliver the goods.

    So what of the nitty gritty details? The bits that are a little boring but a necessity? Well, I can tell you that the game will likely be utilising modems, so expect some slow play with all of those worlds to contend with... a similar problem to Planetside. Also, expect a subscription fee, it would appear that gaming of this quality will not come cheap (as if Mr. Lucas hasn't made enough out of Star Wars anyway!). However aside from a few minute creases, this is shaping up to be one of the heavy hitters in the MMORPG world. Let's hope that LucasArts aren't just jumping onto the MMORPG bandwagon to make a quick buck...

    So, until we see Galaxies close up to determine just what life in a galaxy far, far away is really like, live long and prosper... No, wait, that's not right...

  11. uhh by Kallahar · · Score: 2

    While I love a good preview, this is nothing more than fluff... I could have written a more interesting review by just making stuff up. I'd love a review with some actual specs in it.

    That said, I can't wait for this to come out! It's great that Verant is developing the game since they can bring their experiences with everquest (ie maybe solving the nightmare upgrade weeks) to this title.

    1. Re:uhh by jasonbw · · Score: 1

      The worst part is everything in this 'preview' has been available for months now. If your going to make a big deal of this, at least have the common decency to have something new to say.

  12. Bounty Hunter Deflation effect by StefanJ · · Score: 5, Funny
    I predict that about one in three characters will look like Boba Fett, and a hell of a lot of others will be bounty hunters of various sorts.

    As a result, bounty hunting will be an incredibly low-wage job. The streets will be thicker with desperate BHs than San Francisco is with pinkslipped web designers . . . begging for a chance to work, perhaps even carrying around WILL KILL FOR FOOD or WILL CAPTURE FOE FOR ROCKET PACK FUEL signs.

    -- Stefan Jones

    1. Re:Bounty Hunter Deflation effect by Covant · · Score: 2, Funny

      I wonder if the star wars universe has Patchouli.
      Because that's what an unemployed beatnick bounty hunter might smell like.

      They'll probably replace droids as the cheapest form of mercenary.

      Besides, they won't have the dumb habit of falling over like dominoes.

      --
      "Peace, Love and Apathy"
    2. Re:Bounty Hunter Deflation effect by ywwg · · Score: 2

      low-wage? then we just end up with the cowboy bebop universe, and that works pretty well too

    3. Re:Bounty Hunter Deflation effect by Kirruth · · Score: 2, Funny

      Forget not Jedi masters. Speaking like yoda, become popular it will. Oh yesss, precioussss, is it juicy, is it tasty we wonders?

      Sorry, Yoda became Gollum, just then.

      --
      "Well, put a stake in my heart and drag me into sunlight."
    4. Re:Bounty Hunter Deflation effect by aculeus · · Score: 1

      This guy seems to be of the same mind as you. Take a look here

      This is also a good laugh.

    5. Re:Bounty Hunter Deflation effect by argStyopa · · Score: 1

      ...at which point this morphs into the "Cowboy Bebop MMORPG" - an entirely COOLER proposition.

      I get to play Ed!

      --
      -Styopa
    6. Re:Bounty Hunter Deflation effect by Jaguar777 · · Score: 1

      Already taken care of.

      From the FAQ:
      5.04 Will Mandalorian armor be an attainable item in the game?

      Yes. However, in Star Wars continuity, Mandalorian armor is extremely rare. We'll try to reflect that in the game.

      --
      Maybe you should educate the morons of tomorrow so they'll stop believing the leaders of tomorrow. - Dogbert
  13. A long time ago, on an internet far, far away... by Adolatra · · Score: 5, Funny

    It is a period of civil war. Rebel hackers, striking from a hidden base, have won their first victory against the evil Verant Empire and it's horrific Everquest. During the battle, Rebel spies managed to steal secret plans to the Empire's ultimate weapon, the STAR WARS MMORPG, a new and more powerful form of digital crack with enough power to enslave an entire planet. Pursued by Verant's sinister agents across the EQ serves, Princess CowboyNeal races home aboard her...er...his avatar, custodian of the stolen beta that can save his nerds and restore freedom to the galaxy...

  14. The Best Thing Since... by Covant · · Score: 1

    I'm still waiting for a decent first person star wars game (Jedi Knight can only be replayed so many times, and the acting stank)... let alone a good RTS...

    This had better be the BEST, or I'm never going to buy a star wars game ever again.

    Oh what am I saying, Lucasarts, I can't stay mad at you.

    --
    "Peace, Love and Apathy"
  15. I hate RPGs.. but.. by Xerithane · · Score: 4, Interesting

    From what I hear this will actually be pretty different in the structure. I hate dealing with the I'm IRC'ing feeling that I get while trying MMORPGs. It's IRC with a lot of clicking.

    That being said, City of Heroes looks pretty damned cool. One thing I think a lot of the RPGs are missing is an actual real-time realistic combat system. If I'm holding two swords, or a sword and a shield, I want to be able to use both the way I want to. I don't want any autoblocking, or a 'Two handed slash attack'. I want to see realistic fighting in these games.

    I know it takes a lot more resources to code, and handle, but damnit it would be sweet.

    --
    Dacels Jewelers can't be trusted.
    1. Re:I hate RPGs.. but.. by Lumpy · · Score: 2

      True,

      I'm sure you'll never see the hero waving his blessed lightsaber advancing on an attacker that has a un-pinned grenade waiting behind his back. Use the force? Let's see you aviod one high energy explosion jedi boy....

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    2. Re:I hate RPGs.. but.. by doorbot.com · · Score: 2

      One thing I think a lot of the RPGs are missing is an actual real-time realistic combat system.

      Do you mean a system where as you see your oppontent preparing to strike at your neck with his sword, you then need to use the "shield parry" command (or skill) to then block, but only at the right time, and of course, only at the right height (your neck)... so those who try to attack at the same time might find themselves decapitated? Obviously the better you got the faster your opponent and thus the less time to react...

    3. Re:I hate RPGs.. but.. by nunoalves · · Score: 1

      hummmm yeah you got a point there... but from what i read star wars rpg will not be a lot different from, for example, anarchy online: meaning... 3d blocky view of characters hunting animals to get some xp points.
      But i guess ill have to wait and see. Lets hope lucasarts does something decenr (for a change).

      Rock on,

      nuno

      --
      Nuno
    4. Re:I hate RPGs.. but.. by Xerithane · · Score: 1

      I was more thinking of having a system similar to Bushido Blade/Samurai Showdown/Tekken where you have a series of moves grouped into attacks and defenses, each one with speed multipliers. At first when you start out your skill would be low and you would be sluggish, then the multiplier would increase causing you to move faster.

      Having something as refined as 'This is a strike to my neck, block at this height' would be difficult and not much fun (IMHO) However, having a system like 'This is a strike against my upper body, I have to do a high block' or 'This is a strike against my lower body, I have to do a low block' would be cool.

      This also would alleviate the need for hitpoints as well, which is something I really dislike in most games. I prefer the bushido blade style combat, where you can die in one hit.

      --
      Dacels Jewelers can't be trusted.
  16. Complete with New Business Model! by dbretton · · Score: 4, Funny

    In an effort to curb the usage of LucasArts (tm) intellectual property, the following payment scheme will be enforced for Star Wars: Galaxies:

    writing the word: lightsaber 0.10
    writing the words: Use the Force 0.25
    using the force: 2.00
    acquiriing an At-At: 0.50
    using the word: Lucas 0.05
    using the words: Lucas sucks 15.95
    creating a Character named -
    Hans 5.95
    Luke 10.95
    Leia 11.95
    Lei-me 25.95
    Puke 25.95
    LucasSucks 89.95
    StarBalz 1,000,000.00
    KillMeImJarJar 0.02

    1. Re:Complete with New Business Model! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A small Pricing change
      KillMeImJarJar 0.02
      has been changed to
      KillMeImJarJar Free Access For Life.

    2. Re:Complete with New Business Model! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How about getting credit for every hour spent on killing Jar-Jar, and giving all players of Jar-Jars +5 for providing hours upon hours of good, dirty, greasy, raunchy, Jar-Jar killing entertainment? Now who wouldn't enjoy that?

    3. Re:Complete with New Business Model! by The+Pi-Guy · · Score: 2, Funny

      Actually being killed because you're named KillMeImJarJar: Priceless.

      There are some things you can't pay George Lucas for. For everything else... oh wait yes you can never mind.

      --pi

    4. Re:Complete with New Business Model! by DoasFu · · Score: 1
      I hate people who respond just to point out typos. Hate them with a passion. Thus, I am disgusted with myself for this, but since this one's been giving me the giggles:
      Hans 5.95

      "Ist she ein fast sheep? Ist she ein fast ship? You've heard of zee Millenium Falcon?"
    5. Re:Complete with New Business Model! by nunoalves · · Score: 1

      oh... come on, JarJar wasnt THAT bad on the movie. Personally i think that the kid was 100 times more annoying.

      --
      Nuno
    6. Re:Complete with New Business Model! by heideggier · · Score: 1

      At least the kid isn't in the sequel.

      --
      Pianist : Some jerk whos taught themselves how to type in rhythm
  17. Talk about... by rbgaynor · · Score: 1

    Just imagine cozying up to a harem costume clad Princess Leia, only to later discover she's being played by a guy who looks like comic-book guy from the Simpsons! Talk about a Crying Game...

    --
    "Good things don't end with eum, they end with mania or teria." - H. Simpson
    1. Re:Talk about... by StefanJ · · Score: 1, Offtopic

      Worst Internet Sex Ever!

    2. Re:Talk about... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Why would you want to cozy up to something that is wearing bagels on her ears, for crying out loud?

  18. What I don't get... by Twister002 · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ...is why you would want to play a game based on an epic series where you don't get to be a main character.

    It's like playing a hobbit in the shire in a LOTR MMORPG. Big deal. All these world shattering events are occuring and you're pulling weeds out from between your toes.

    So what if you get to play a stormtrooper in the Empire? you can't REALLY make a big difference in the game because you already know that Lando is going to blow up the death star. You can only be a "big fish in a little pond" in a way. Sure, you can be the biggest despot on the planet you control, but so what?

    Games like "Asherons Call" and even "Everquest" would seem to be a little more fun. There is a chance that you could be the one that casts the ancient sepll that sends the evil back to where it came, or you could be the one that becomes the biggest source of evil in the world.

    Not to mention the fact that MMORPG means you have to interact with other people online. bleh. I've had my fill of 10 year olds trash talking in CS and Quake. Who needs some skeezoid playing a wookie to start following you around, picking you up and shaking you for change every chance he gets?

    --
    "For a successful technology, honesty must take precedence over public relations for nature cannot be fooled." -Feynman
    1. Re:What I don't get... by kafka93 · · Score: 1

      And this differs from real life in what respect? It's not as though most of us have any hope of becoming Leader Of The Universe; we do what we can, we influence the world as we are able. And hopefully make some difference.

    2. Re:What I don't get... by Twister002 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Exactly my point, if I'm going to play a fantasy game. I don't want it to BE like real life. I WANT to be the guy that storms the Normandy beach and LIVES. I want to be the Jedi that defeats Darth Vader. Not the janitor that cleans up after the bounty hunters bachelor party.

      --
      "For a successful technology, honesty must take precedence over public relations for nature cannot be fooled." -Feynman
    3. Re:What I don't get... by MrDolby · · Score: 1

      "I WANT to be the guy that storms the Normandy beach and LIVES. I want to be the Jedi that defeats Darth Vader."

      You can. There are computer games designed for the single player gaming experience. Surprisingly they have been around for decades, and are even sold in the same stores that will carry Star Wars: Galaxies. WOW what a wonderful world.

      P.S. If your looking to storm the Normandy beach and live, try Medal of Honor: Allied Assualt.

    4. Re:What I don't get... by gnarled · · Score: 0

      Not everyone can be important. When everyone is Han Solo or Luke Skywalker, that is called a single player game, not an MMORPG. How could all the millions of people that play a MMORPG be important. I'm not saying you have to be just a hobbit plowing his field, but a game that doesn't revolve around you would be a refreshing thought.

      Honestly, it has always been one of my hopes that some enlightened developer would create a game where you are just one soldier in an entire war, and your part has little signifigance in completely oblitterating evil, or nazis or whatever you are fighting.

      --
      I'm a firm believer in the philosophy of a ruling class. Especially since I rule. -Randal, Clerks
    5. Re:What I don't get... by Twister002 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Well I understand the concept of being just one person in a big world trying to make a difference. That's the point of World War II online.

      But the main difference there is, there wasn't ONE person or a small group of people that were the reason the Nazis were defeated. It was all of the soldiers in the field, dying and trying.

      With Star Wars, no matter how hard the guys in the X-Wing flew it still took Luke to defeat the emperor and Lando to blow up the DS.

      I don't think a game called "Mediocrity" would sell very well.

      "Mediocrity. The only online MMORPG that lets you be the bartender at the club, or the waitress at Hooters."

      The millions playing WWII online ARE important, and the millions playing EQ or AC have the possibility of being important. I just don't see the point with Star Wars. At least even in the Star Trek universe you would have the possibility of playing a large role in a major storyline. The Star Trek universe is much more open ended.

      Maybe if the SW MMORPG was set after the Empire was overthrown it would make more sense.

      --
      "For a successful technology, honesty must take precedence over public relations for nature cannot be fooled." -Feynman
    6. Re:What I don't get... by joshsisk · · Score: 1

      Okay, you figure out a way to have a SWMMORPG where half the players are Luke, the other half Vader.

      Then get back to us.

    7. Re:What I don't get... by scuba_steve11111 · · Score: 2, Insightful

      "Mediocrity. The only online MMORPG that lets you be the bartender at the club, or the waitress at Hooters." its called 'the Sims'

    8. Re:What I don't get... by chad9023 · · Score: 1

      I think the appeal of playing a MMORPG in the Star Wars universe is the chance for people to "exist" there for longer than 2 hours at a time. The movies are great (okay, 3 great ones), but there's no interaction, no involvement, it's just storytelling. Galaxies will give fans a chance to live in that world longer, to interact with characters and species not seen in the movies because 1) there wasn't enough time to include EVERYTHING, or 2) it's another human being, with their own biases, ideas, reactions, etc. that make them new and interesting. The Galaxy is not filled with Luke Skywalkers and Han Solos, it's filled with Greedos and Uncle Owens.

      Perhaps Galaxies players may not be Luke Skywalker, or Han, or Vader, but that doesn't mean that can't play a significant role in the game. As a DAoC player, I've seen how the leadership of a few can turn the tides very easily.

      As to interaction with other people online, it sounds like you've had some bad experiences. I've had my share of 10 y.o.'s on CS, but for the most part I enjoy interacting with the other players. Especially in DAoC, I play on a role-playing server, so most of the players are serious about the game, and are a lot of fun to group with. Guilds and Friends Lists allow me to talk to and fight with people that I've met before, and actually build up relationships.

      Lastly, I'd just like to say that I'm VERY excited about this game. I've been telling everyone I know about it. WHY I'm excited is not because it's Star Wars, at least not just because of that. It's definitely an attractive feature, but that alone wouldn't get me to buy the game, let alone pay monthly fees. What's intrigued me is the game play, or at least how they describe it. I think it sounds a new approach (at least new to me), and I think there's a definite potential. But like someone else said, we won't know until the game comes out. Until then I'll remain hopeful.

    9. Re:What I don't get... by Twister002 · · Score: 1

      Good points. Perhaps the players will be able to make their own grand storylines as well. I can see the appeal of wanting to be in the universe. Who knows, I may end up playing a 14 day trial of the game and end up loving it. :)

      --
      "For a successful technology, honesty must take precedence over public relations for nature cannot be fooled." -Feynman
    10. Re:What I don't get... by Syberghost · · Score: 2

      I've had my fill of 10 year olds trash talking in CS and Quake. Who needs some skeezoid playing a wookie to start following you around, picking you up and shaking you for change every chance he gets?

      Especially since his name will undoubtedly be DarthMaul873.

    11. Re:What I don't get... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Just because the movies focus on Luke, Leia, Han, etc., doesn't mean that nobody else in the galaxy did anything important. What about the Bothan spies that got their hands on the death star II plans? What about the Jawa that comes back to the sandcrawler from his trip to town, discovers that his entire clan/family/whatever has been slaughtered by storm troopers and sets out to kick some @$$. (I bet after causing some serious havock with the storm troopers on Tatooine, he's considered pretty important to the locals.

  19. they'll probably mess it up per SOP by discogravy · · Score: 2

    all games these days release buggy as hell, with patches expected within the first few days -- WWII Online, AO, Everquest, every single MMPORG you can think of has released buggy as hell and then been patched...this is now standard operating procedure.

    so I don't think they'll actually deliver the goods until well after the game is released. It may actually become a good game after a while, but it won't be "the best ev4r!!1!" for quite a while.

    It's going to be fun as hell to kill Jar-Jar over and over again, though. ("Yippee!")

    1. Re:they'll probably mess it up per SOP by Manaz · · Score: 3, Interesting

      DAoC (Dark Age of Camelot, website here) was pretty bug-free when it was released.

      In fact, I think they've introduced (and then had to fix) more bugs in patches than they've fixed bugs which existed in the first place (before patches). If that makes sense...

    2. Re:they'll probably mess it up per SOP by halo8 · · Score: 1

      If a MMPORG is realsed really buggy no one plays.. they give up on it. if you cant keep the momentem (hype) up, you loose

      WWII online.. who plays that? who even played it? everyone heard it was buggy BEFORE the release

      AO.. played it.. buggy as hell.. patches suxed

      DAOC.. came right on the heels of AO.. pretty good release worked almost out of the box.. still playing

      --
      The More Knowledge you have the Luckier you Get- J.R. Ewing
    3. Re:they'll probably mess it up per SOP by LoseNotLooseGuy · · Score: 2, Informative

      if you cant keep the momentem (hype) up, you loose

      Ignoring for the moment the many other issues I have with your post, this verb simply makes no sense here. "If you can't keep the hype up, you let loose or release..." what, exactly? Or perhaps you were looking for the word lose, indicating a failure to win.

      Congratulations! You have been participant #31 in my campaign to rid Slashdot of this error.

      --
      Proudly correcting Slashdot's most irritating linguistic error since 2002.
    4. Re:they'll probably mess it up per SOP by darkmoon · · Score: 1

      I love you.

    5. Re:they'll probably mess it up per SOP by LoseNotLooseGuy · · Score: 1

      I appreciate your show of affection, darkmoon. Perhaps you will consider showing your love with modpoints if you should obtain some--my Quest is not likely to succeed if I hit negative Karma.

      --
      Proudly correcting Slashdot's most irritating linguistic error since 2002.
    6. Re:they'll probably mess it up per SOP by darkmoon · · Score: 1

      Yours is a most worthy cause, and I will shower you with modpoints. (as soon as I get some)

  20. Don't waste your time by Innominate+Recreant · · Score: 2, Informative
    This review seems to have gotten all of its information - including screenshots - from the official website. There's no insider information, no developer/producer interviews, and the technical information is... well... lacking. For example: "Well, I can tell you that the game will likely be utilising modems, so expect some slow play with all of those worlds to contend with... " Yikes.

    Not only that, the author can't even get his Star Wars (or planetary systems) facts stright: "Obviously, the game will be set in the Star Wars universe (duh), but is not confined to just a single planet (hence the 'Galaxies' bit)" - Since when has any Star Wars episode been limited to one planet? And if there are multiple galaxies, it will certainly be a departure from the Star Wars mythology.

    Let the site get slashdotted - wait for the game to be released and wait for a real review.

    Just my $0.02

    --
    Inominate Recreant - in the code business for 22 years

    1. Re:Don't waste your time by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The word 'Galaxies' as opposed to 'Galaxy' was introduced by us, cause "Star Wars: Galaxies" is the start of a new product line. Future products would fall under this line and would carry the "Star Wars: Galaxies" label.

      BTW, I'm one of the developers working on SWG, it was me and a colleague of mine (Maree "Queen Nefeen of Gandors" Arquette) who came up with the word 'Galaxies' as opposed to the 'Galaxy'.

      SWG is a much more fun project than our Everquest work, we are having a lot of fun developing this brand new game (It's not built on top of anything else we did). Also, I'd like to say thank you to Donald "Frankie" Zimmerman and Elisha "Lady E"
      Adams for killing the most bugs and securing the product, thanks guys.

      Ramond "Jedi Raul" Fernandez

    2. Re:Don't waste your time by MrDolby · · Score: 1

      This is off topic but it always makes me chuckle when people post as Anonymous Coward and then include their signature "Ramond "Jedi Raul" Fernandez".

  21. Imagine a Beowulf Cluster of... by dbretton · · Score: 1, Offtopic

    Jar-Jars! Just bouncing around aimlessly on their home planet.

    Who wouldn't help Vader build the Death Star to nuke the shit out of that planet?
    That is the reason why this will be the most successful game ever.

    1. Re:Imagine a Beowulf Cluster of... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      MOD THIS ONE UP!

      That's funny shit!

      Sign me up! I'll help dark helmet!

  22. 10 six has it by metalhed77 · · Score: 1

    10six www.10six.com has real time combat, in an FPS format. It's one of the more innovative combat models that i've seen. You attack with your avatar and rovers (robotic assistants) which you control. It goes in real time and is quite for (more fun than standard FPSes). Not only that, but they back it up with a fun world too. While it's strictly about mining and fighting it's loads of fun.

    The only reason I quit was that it took about 3 hours a day of play to have a half way decent character. Any less and some asshole would take your stuff (the games goes on when you log off, and your camps are susceptible to attack)

    --
    Photos.
    1. Re:10 six has it by Xerithane · · Score: 2

      Thanks for the link, unfortunately any game that requires me to play for 3 hours a week will be neglected. That is why SWG sounds spiffy, you can still progress.. just really slowly if you don't play often.

      I have an idea for an RPG that I hope someone picks up which is automating your tasks. You have your own defined safe zones (which you can setup as part of another players zone, and then it is a cascade effect) that are patrolled by the NPCs. You can automate tasks while in the safe zone, there by still increasing your skills in the game but only in the field you were doing while logging off and then have a /2 ratio on the skill or something. In order to be attacked, they have to take out your top level providor (Which, if it's computer controlled, would be difficult) and to keep people from doing that always setting it up so that you have to pay pretty hefty taxes for the security. It would provide a safety net for the really high up players that can afford it, and incentive for the lower players to team up with other higher players who have their own zones or play more and get their own secured zones (with computer soldiers that you pay to sustain, offset by collecting "rent" from lower players wanting safety)

      I have a lot of great ideas for RPGs.. Unfortunately time doesn't allow me actually working on refinine any of them, or making them a reality.

      --
      Dacels Jewelers can't be trusted.
  23. SWG has a good chance... by Manaz · · Score: 5, Informative

    And not just because of it's heritage and geek appeal either.

    The lead designer for SWG is Raph Koster. Most of you probably don't know who Raph Koster is - but you'd know (or at least know of) his work. Does Ultima Online ring any bells? Raph Koster was the lead developer for UO for quite some time - from it's introduction through until the introduction of the second expansion (and possibly a bit longer than that). UO was VERY popular - at least in part due to Raph's influence. He has shown an ability to work with a product which has a heritage (people have been playing Ultima since the days of the Apple ][e), and the ability to work with someone important to that heritage (Richard Garriott in the case of UO). So I can't see the heritage SWG inherits from the SW movies, or the involvement of George Lucas, being a problem to him at all as he goes about developing what should be another successful MMORPG.

    All in all, I wish Raph, and the other developers, the best of luck, and I am definately looking forward to seeing how SWG goes once it's released. I may even play it! :)

    1. Re:SWG has a good chance... by davidmacq · · Score: 1

      I used to play on the MUD he was an implementor on.

      You can check out his homepage here: http://www.legendmud.org/raph/
      It has his writings on game stuff, quite a bit of stuff hes collected.
      The mud is pretty kickass too.
      http://www.legendmud.org/

    2. Re:SWG has a good chance... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Oh yes YES YESSSSS!!! Talk condescendingly to me! Be a pretentious fuck. Let me give you all my mod points! Please, oh no PLEASE, ME FIRST!!!

    3. Re:SWG has a good chance... by SkeptAck · · Score: 1

      Raph is not the lead designer for SWG. Raph is the Creative Director for SWG. The lead designer is Anthony Castoro.

      I hope you do play it, and I hope you like it, too. :)

    4. Re:SWG has a good chance... by heideggier · · Score: 1
      Ultima Online wasn't that great a game, at least to begine with. Basically, The developers ignored a lot of the lessons learnt over the years that text based MUD's have been around, esp the question of player killing. Although they did go back and fix most of the problems with the game to make it what it is today.

      I also think that the game was popular right of the bat because it was based in the Ultima Universe.

      One of the sad legacies of Ultima Online is that alot of new MMORPG's follow it's production modal, namely Anarchy online or WWII Online, of releasing the game then fixing the problems only when they have enough subscribers to the service. A better modal would be just to get the thing working right in beta IMHO.

      Ofcourse you could argue that the only reason that UO was released when it was, was because they wished to be the first mainstream MMORPG and had they waited they would have been scooped by Everquest or something. I hope Koster has better luck this time around at least in terms of releasing a quality product.

      --
      Pianist : Some jerk whos taught themselves how to type in rhythm
    5. Re:SWG has a good chance... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      UO was a buggy piece of crap. As a professional software developer I found it insulting to software developers everywhere. Come on, numbers wrapping back to negative because you don't check for boundry conditions? I haven't made that mistake since I was in high school. Sheeesh.

  24. What age are we in again? by arnoroefs2000 · · Score: 1


    Well, I can tell you that the game will likely be utilising modems, so expect some slow play with all of those worlds to contend with... a similar problem to Planetside.

  25. Mirror Here.... by Mish · · Score: 2, Informative

    Looks like the site has been slashed already...

    Here's a mirror (All four pages are now one :)

    http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/mish/swg/

    1. Re:Mirror Here.... by leuk_he · · Score: 2

      Thanks for your mirror. If you do this again (please please please keep doing this, google does not cache images)
      you can create a link in slashdot by using plain html:
      &lt a href = "
      http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/mish/swg/" &gt here &lt/a&gt
      results in :
      here

      Making a link like this will prevent /. to create spaces in links.

  26. sucks? rocks? by mosch · · Score: 1
    This game represents what could turn out to be the most popular online universe ever-created
    Or it could be a steaming pile of turd. An article entitled 'Been playing this game for 3 months, here's a detailed review explaining exactly why it's the best of the lot' would be a hell of a lot more interesting and useful.
  27. Starwars Galaxies Chat with Developers by Emugamer · · Score: 3, Informative
  28. game by lonesome+phreak · · Score: 1

    I really do like the idea of MMORPG's; they give you the chance to live another life, so to speak. It would seem that they are the 'way forward' too, what with titles such as Planetside and Final Fantasy XI on the way and superb games such as Dark Ages of Camelot and Everquest already here. The only thing that I really feel is lacking from these great games is a familiar setting, one that we all know and love; a setting with intense character and charm, somewhere that we have all wanted to be a part of... so what would you say if I told you of a MMORPG set in the Star Wars universe, with every detail complete (hopefully, anyhow) and all of your favourite characters? It seems too good to be true doesn't it? Well, LucasArts Entertainment (with Everquest creators, Verant) aim to deliver you the ultimate Star Wars experience, ladies and gentlemen, I give you: Star Wars Galaxies.

    Star Wars Galaxies is currently under development by LucasArts Entertainment and Sony Online; with Verant lending their skills. It has a certain pedigree, too, with these developers behind it, can they pull off such a mammoth task without upsetting thousands of Star Wars fans? We'll take a look...

    Obviously, the game will be set in the Star Wars universe (duh), but is not confined to just a single planet (hence the 'Galaxies' bit), LucasArts hint at many planets being used in the title, but as of the moment only Tatooine, Naboo and Yavin IV have been confirmed. I don't doubt for a second that all of the other famous Star Wars planets will make an appearance, I expect to see Hoth, Endor (I know it's a moon, really) and others popping up soon. LucasArts have stated that they want many smaller planets in the title (each one around 16km in size), rather than just one huge world to circumnavigate, which wouldn't give that Star Wars 'feel' to the game, instead giving a more diverse ambience to the proceedings. It would seem that LucasArts want you to explore in this title, but on a much grander scale than anything before it.

    --
    Maybe we DID take the blue pill. You wouldn't remember anyway.
    1. Re:game by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

      I hope to god the creators of Everquest can create a game this time that doesnt require a fuckin Gig of ram to run decently. Not like I don't haveit...it just shouldnt take that much. Hopefully better planning will go into the game.

    2. Re:game by Graspee_Leemoor · · Score: 2

      "I really do like the idea of MMORPG?s; they give you the chance to live another life, so to speak.
      "

      Yeah, unfortunately you have to give up what life you had before to play your new life.

      The worst ever was when text-based MUDS like Mozart had "renting"- meaning you had to put a couple of hours of play in every day even if you didn't want to in order to make enough gold that your stuff wouldn't get lost.

      graspee

  29. Full text mirrored below... by arnoroefs2000 · · Score: 1, Redundant

    ...seeing this site will be down soon ;)

    I really do like the idea of MMORPG's; they give you the chance to live another life, so to speak. It would seem that they are the 'way forward' too, what with titles such as Planetside and Final Fantasy XI on the way and superb games such as Dark Ages of Camelot and Everquest already here. The only thing that I really feel is lacking from these great games is a familiar setting, one that we all know and love; a setting with intense character and charm, somewhere that we have all wanted to be a part of... so what would you say if I told you of a MMORPG set in the Star Wars universe, with every detail complete (hopefully, anyhow) and all of your favourite characters? It seems too good to be true doesn't it? Well, LucasArts Entertainment (with Everquest creators, Verant) aim to deliver you the ultimate Star Wars experience, ladies and gentlemen, I give you: Star Wars Galaxies.

    Star Wars Galaxies is currently under development by LucasArts Entertainment and Sony Online; with Verant lending their skills. It has a certain pedigree, too, with these developers behind it, can they pull off such a mammoth task without upsetting thousands of Star Wars fans? We'll take a look...

    Obviously, the game will be set in the Star Wars universe (duh), but is not confined to just a single planet (hence the 'Galaxies' bit), LucasArts hint at many planets being used in the title, but as of the moment only Tatooine, Naboo and Yavin IV have been confirmed. I don't doubt for a second that all of the other famous Star Wars planets will make an appearance, I expect to see Hoth, Endor (I know it's a moon, really) and others popping up soon. LucasArts have stated that they want many smaller planets in the title (each one around 16km in size), rather than just one huge world to circumnavigate, which wouldn't give that Star Wars 'feel' to the game, instead giving a more diverse ambience to the proceedings. It would seem that LucasArts want you to explore in this title, but on a much grander scale than anything before it.

    The planets themselves will be divided into many sections, but unlike Everquest, transition into another 'zone' will be completely seamless. LucasArts plan to have different sections for each different type of game mode, so separate zones for interaction (cities and living spaces), battles and travel. There will also be different sectors within each zone, such as wild (dangerous!), safe (errrmm) and truce. Truce is a sector where absolutely no fighting can occur even between rival factions, so in theory you can't just waltz up to someone and shoot them, ending any 'newbie' kills. It's generally not a good idea to randomly attack anyone in Galaxies at all though; as you never know if there's a Lightsaber somewhere under the enemy's cloak...

    One feature of the game that will have fans back-flipping with joy is the timeline. Galaxies is set in what LucasArts call the 'Classic Era', as in between episodes IV and V. That places it somewhere between the destruction of the first Death Star and the Empire's attack on the Rebel base on Hoth. I am so glad that they didn't set this game in the Episode I era, the game would not have been half as interesting! LucasArts said that they had set the game in this so called 'classic' period so that they could have access to all of the main Star Wars characters, aside from Obi-Wan. This gives them a huge variety of NPC's at their disposal.... oh yeah.... that's the other point, the characters...

    You may be disappointed to learn that you can't be Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Han Solo or Leia. In fact you can't take on the role of any of the Star Wars characters themselves, you can't even be a stormtrooper (not that you'd want to, because you wouldn't be allowed out of the barracks!). No, it would seem that you will have to create you own character, right from the beginning, but that's fine by me, I want to carve my own destiny, as should you all. This doesn't mean that you won't see the main characters, they will all be present as NPCs, hell, you may even get to interact with them, but killing them is impossible, as they are vital to plot-lines and such. As if your weak human avatar could kill Vader anyway...

    When you actually get around to creating you character, you will discover that it's a little different from the likes of Everquest. In Galaxies, there is no level system, instead LucasArts have optioned for a 'Skill System'. The Skills system will utilise skill trees, as you start learning a skill, it will develop and branch out, giving your character a great many skills to master. The skills trees will not be linear either, LucasArts promise, as you can change to another skill at any point (you may feel that blaster repair is a lot more vital than crop-tending skills, for example). This 'system' should mean that your character will develop a great variety of skills and no two should be alike, meaning, hopefully, greater player diversity. It's also interesting to note that aside from the obvious allegiances (Rebel or Imperial); LucasArts seem to reward the player who prefers to go it alone. There are very few 'clans' within the original package. Obviously a great many will appear when the game finally goes online, but it's nice to see that the developers have gone for this approach for a change as it could lead to hundreds of warring factions... Which would be something to behold, certainly.

    As for your character itself, you can choose from many different species for your avatar. At the moment Humans, Mon Calamari, Zabrak, Rodians, Twi'leks, Trandoshan, Wookies and Bothans have all been announced and expect more to appear. LucasArts have also revealed that you can be a Jedi if you wish, although all budding Obi-Wan's take note: the path of the Force will be most difficult, whichever path you choose! With all of these species and such to choose from and then their skill trees on top, you are presented with an immense variety of life. It will be incredible if LucasArts and co. can pull it off!

    Equipment. Star Wars wouldn't be the same without all of the gadgets and gizmos, so it is no surprise that the programmers are ensuring that all of your favourite Star Wars goodies (including the rare Mandalorian Armour) will be included. Your character will be able to loot bodies and battlefields for such supplies, as with any MMORPG, however Galaxies hopes to introduce weapons building. Yes, your character can build his, or her own Lightsaber, to his your very own design (double ended?) as well as blasters and such, giving your character an arsenal that is unique. You can also buy droids to act as a sidekick, a star fighter to zip around in, build your own house, shop or farm (in space allotted to you by the server), you can even build yourself a Rebel base... this should make the experience unlike any other MMORPG before, if it all works. At the moment all of these promises look very distant indeed, I hope that LucasArts can deliver the goods.

    So what of the nitty gritty details? The bits that are a little boring but a necessity? Well, I can tell you that the game will likely be utilising modems, so expect some slow play with all of those worlds to contend with... a similar problem to Planetside. Also, expect a subscription fee, it would appear that gaming of this quality will not come cheap (as if Mr. Lucas hasn't made enough out of Star Wars anyway!). However aside from a few minute creases, this is shaping up to be one of the heavy hitters in the MMORPG world. Let's hope that LucasArts aren't just jumping onto the MMORPG bandwagon to make a quick buck...

    So, until we see Galaxies close up to determine just what life in a galaxy far, far away is really like, live long and prosper... No, wait, that's not right...

    Posted by Ben Jackson

    1. Re:Full text mirrored below... by Chester+K · · Score: 3, Interesting

      ... and superb games such as Dark Ages of Camelot and Everquest ...

      Never trust a gaming article that misspells the name of Dark Age of Camelot.

      --

      NO CARRIER
  30. You can have your silly Jedi and bounty hunters... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0
    ...because there's only one job I really want.

    nerf herder!!!


  31. Here it is... by kurisudes · · Score: 0, Redundant

    A first-look at this online RPG set in the famed universe...

    I really do like the idea of MMORPG's; they give you the chance to live another life, so to speak. It would seem that they are the 'way forward' too, what with titles such as Planetside and Final Fantasy XI on the way and superb games such as Dark Ages of Camelot and Everquest already here. The only thing that I really feel is lacking from these great games is a familiar setting, one that we all know and love; a setting with intense character and charm, somewhere that we have all wanted to be a part of... so what would you say if I told you of a MMORPG set in the Star Wars universe, with every detail complete (hopefully, anyhow) and all of your favourite characters? It seems too good to be true doesn't it? Well, LucasArts Entertainment (with Everquest creators, Verant) aim to deliver you the ultimate Star Wars experience, ladies and gentlemen, I give you: Star Wars Galaxies.

    Star Wars Galaxies is currently under development by LucasArts Entertainment and Sony Online; with Verant lending their skills. It has a certain pedigree, too, with these developers behind it, can they pull off such a mammoth task without upsetting thousands of Star Wars fans? We'll take a look...

    Obviously, the game will be set in the Star Wars universe (duh), but is not confined to just a single planet (hence the 'Galaxies' bit), LucasArts hint at many planets being used in the title, but as of the moment only Tatooine, Naboo and Yavin IV have been confirmed. I don't doubt for a second that all of the other famous Star Wars planets will make an appearance, I expect to see Hoth, Endor (I know it's a moon, really) and others popping up soon. LucasArts have stated that they want many smaller planets in the title (each one around 16km in size), rather than just one huge world to circumnavigate, which wouldn't give that Star Wars 'feel' to the game, instead giving a more diverse ambience to the proceedings. It would seem that LucasArts want you to explore in this title, but on a much grander scale than anything before it.

    The planets themselves will be divided into many sections, but unlike Everquest, transition into another 'zone' will be completely seamless. LucasArts plan to have different sections for each different type of game mode, so separate zones for interaction (cities and living spaces), battles and travel. There will also be different sectors within each zone, such as wild (dangerous!), safe (errrmm) and truce. Truce is a sector where absolutely no fighting can occur even between rival factions, so in theory you can't just waltz up to someone and shoot them, ending any 'newbie' kills. It's generally not a good idea to randomly attack anyone in Galaxies at all though; as you never know if there's a Lightsaber somewhere under the enemy's cloak...

    One feature of the game that will have fans back-flipping with joy is the timeline. Galaxies is set in what LucasArts call the 'Classic Era', as in between episodes IV and V. That places it somewhere between the destruction of the first Death Star and the Empire's attack on the Rebel base on Hoth. I am so glad that they didn't set this game in the Episode I era, the game would not have been half as interesting! LucasArts said that they had set the game in this so called 'classic' period so that they could have access to all of the main Star Wars characters, aside from Obi-Wan. This gives them a huge variety of NPC's at their disposal.... oh yeah.... that's the other point, the characters....

    You may be disappointed to learn that you can't be Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Han Solo or Leia. In fact you can't take on the role of any of the Star Wars characters themselves, you can't even be a stormtrooper (not that you'd want to, because you wouldn't be allowed out of the barracks!). No, it would seem that you will have to create you own character, right from the beginning, but that's fine by me, I want to carve my own destiny, as should you all. This doesn't mean that you won't see the main characters, they will all be present as NPCs, hell, you may even get to interact with them, but killing them is impossible, as they are vital to plot-lines and such. As if your weak human avatar could kill Vader anyway...

    When you actually get around to creating you character, you will discover that it's a little different from the likes of Everquest. In Galaxies, there is no level system, instead LucasArts have optioned for a 'Skill System'. The Skills system will utilise skill trees, as you start learning a skill, it will develop and branch out, giving your character a great many skills to master. The skills trees will not be linear either, LucasArts promise, as you can change to another skill at any point (you may feel that blaster repair is a lot more vital than crop-tending skills, for example). This 'system' should mean that your character will develop a great variety of skills and no two should be alike, meaning, hopefully, greater player diversity. It's also interesting to note that aside from the obvious allegiances (Rebel or Imperial); LucasArts seem to reward the player who prefers to go it alone. There are very few 'clans' within the original package. Obviously a great many will appear when the game finally goes online, but it's nice to see that the developers have gone for this approach for a change as it could lead to hundreds of warring factions... Which would be something to behold, certainly.

    As for your character itself, you can choose from many different species for your avatar. At the moment Humans, Mon Calamari, Zabrak, Rodians, Twi'leks, Trandoshan, Wookies and Bothans have all been announced and expect more to appear. LucasArts have also revealed that you can be a Jedi if you wish, although all budding Obi-Wan's take note: the path of the Force will be most difficult, whichever path you choose! With all of these species and such to choose from and then their skill trees on top, you are presented with an immense variety of life. It will be incredible if LucasArts and co. can pull it off!

    Equipment. Star Wars wouldn't be the same without all of the gadgets and gizmos, so it is no surprise that the programmers are ensuring that all of your favourite Star Wars goodies (including the rare Mandalorian Armour) will be included. Your character will be able to loot bodies and battlefields for such supplies, as with any MMORPG, however Galaxies hopes to introduce weapons building. Yes, your character can build his, or her own Lightsaber, to his your very own design (double ended?) as well as blasters and such, giving your character an arsenal that is unique. You can also buy droids to act as a sidekick, a star fighter to zip around in, build your own house, shop or farm (in space allotted to you by the server), you can even build yourself a Rebel base... this should make the experience unlike any other MMORPG before, if it all works. At the moment all of these promises look very distant indeed, I hope that LucasArts can deliver the goods.

    So what of the nitty gritty details? The bits that are a little boring but a necessity? Well, I can tell you that the game will likely be utilising modems, so expect some slow play with all of those worlds to contend with... a similar problem to Planetside. Also, expect a subscription fee, it would appear that gaming of this quality will not come cheap (as if Mr. Lucas hasn't made enough out of Star Wars anyway!). However aside from a few minute creases, this is shaping up to be one of the heavy hitters in the MMORPG world. Let's hope that LucasArts aren't just jumping onto the MMORPG bandwagon to make a quick buck...

    So, until we see Galaxies close up to determine just what life in a galaxy far, far away is really like, live long and prosper... No, wait, that's not right...

    Posted by Ben Jackson

    --
    --------------------------------- Born Again Bourne Again Believer: New Life, GNU/Linux Be Free!
  32. E2 Galaxies? by shymog · · Score: 1

    Maybe they'll make NPC Jedis based on N*SYNC members, then pull them at the last minute due to overwhelming fan response!

    --
    "I wasn't sniffing your spicy brains."
  33. Star Wars games are repetitive by Metrollica · · Score: 1

    Does anyone else think Star Wars games are just repetitive and similar? Lucas Arts releases basicly the same games year after year with only slight changes. Why do people keep buying them?

    At least with Star Wars: Galaxies they are trying something different. But then we can expect the next few games released by them to be exactly like it.

    --



    --Metrollica
    1. Re:Star Wars games are repetitive by nunoalves · · Score: 1

      Well... people keep buying the games because the have the Star Wars logo on it. Sad but true. Its like those kids who keep buying shit from GAP :)

      Btw, did you actually play the new star wars game(the one that runs on age of empires engine)? Apparently the guys at lucasarts got the license for the engine, and simply changed the game layout. The game is exactly 'age of empires' with a star wars look.

      rock on

      --
      Nuno
    2. Re:Star Wars games are repetitive by heideggier · · Score: 1
      To be fair they did try to create their own engine, and the game that they created for it was so badly received (if someone could point out the title, please) that they licensed the engine for the new game.

      Nowadays, creating game engines are so time consuming that most developers tend to license a engine which has already been used in another game, like quake3.

      All in all, I think that games with the name of Star wars on them tend to be much better then games with the name star trek on them. Although Lucasarts do not seem to be creating the same quality of product that they use to.

      --
      Pianist : Some jerk whos taught themselves how to type in rhythm
    3. Re:Star Wars games are repetitive by nunoalves · · Score: 1

      yeah... I still remember the good days when lucasarts was releasing games like 'Indiana Jones and the fate of atlantis' and 'Sam n Max hit the road'. They've gone downhill since the stopped releasing point and click adventure games... oh well.

      --
      Nuno
    4. Re:Star Wars games are repetitive by heideggier · · Score: 1

      Have you tried escape from monkey island, That carries on the lucasart tradition more or less, and it's reasonably recent aswell

      --
      Pianist : Some jerk whos taught themselves how to type in rhythm
    5. Re:Star Wars games are repetitive by nunoalves · · Score: 1

      yeah!!! Monkey island was great! The most recent one is not nearly as good as the first ones :)

      --
      Nuno
  34. Release by halo8 · · Score: 1

    Q: any idea on a release date? quater? year? stardate?

    --
    The More Knowledge you have the Luckier you Get- J.R. Ewing
    1. Re:Release by chad9023 · · Score: 1

      Seconds half of 2002, w/ the Space Expansion coming out in 2003.

  35. Yes, but by why-is-it · · Score: 2

    Think of the viscious fights over who gets to be the first to kill Jar-Jar Binks.

    The designers probably know that everyone would want to kill Jar Jar. That being the case, here are my guesses as to how they can deal with that eventuality:

    1: Make Jar-Jar extremely kick-ass and very difficult to kill.
    2: Surround Jar-Jar in a very protected place surrounded by some extremely hard-core NPC's who will protect him to the death.
    3: Hide Jar-Jar in some really remote location. If someone finds him, they deserve to finish him.
    4: (Most likely) Leave Jar-Jar out of the game.

    --
    *** Where are we going? And what's with this handbasket?
    1. Re:Yes, but by realdpk · · Score: 2

      "1: Make Jar-Jar extremely kick-ass and very difficult to kill."

      After seeing them do this time after time in EQ, and seeing the players succeed (by out-ubering each other, camping XP/loot spots, for this sole purpose), I'd be surprised if they didn't use this method.

      (Or method #4) :)

    2. Re:Yes, but by First+Person · · Score: 2

      ...or simply make him very hard to kill, but worth zero experience and (upon death) dropping no items. If you get nothing from the effort, why bother?

      --
      Given one hour to live, the student replied: "I'd spend it with professor FP who can make an hour seem like a lifetime."
    3. Re:Yes, but by Syberghost · · Score: 2

      5: Make the game about the Episode IV-VI period, not the Episode I-III period...

  36. DoS attack a success. by lowell · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    yeh

    .

  37. screenshots by BigBir3d · · Score: 1

    a little big, but nice.

  38. Does it have Jar-Jar? Or Ewoks? by praedor · · Score: 2

    Boy I hope so. If these character/races are there, then I am definitely there!

    THINK for a moment of being able to BE Jar-Jar...or a manly EWOK!

    --
    In Bushworld, they struggle to keep church and state separate in Iraq as they increasingly merge the two in America.
  39. character classes by brer_rabbit · · Score: 3, Funny

    I wonder if they'll have character classes. It'd be great to be one of the contractors that's hired to build the Death Star.

    obref Clerks

    1. Re:character classes by danox · · Score: 1

      you realise, that as an independant contractor, you would be responsible for your own death during the destruction of the death star. Its your respondibility to research the likelyhood of such events and you take the risk in your own hands

      --
      "Me and my girl named bimbo . . . limbo . . . spam" - Captain Beefheart.
  40. How long until "Virtual Reality"? by kafka93 · · Score: 1

    It's doubtless something that has been asked before, but - with all of the advances in this genre, and the habit-forming tendencies of games like EQ - how long can it be until we see a substantial shift in gamers towards the virtual reality offered by this kind of game?

    Given that there is a proven market for transactions of weapons/characters/etc. on ebay (for example), there's scope for the seasoned/talented player to actually make a living living the game, so to speak. As games become more complex and immersive, who can doubt that we will soon see groups of people who enter the game - and never come out?

    And, if this is the future, is it necessarily a bad thing? The issue of procreation aside, intellectual pursuits can arguably be carried out as well (or better) in an online virtual existance as in "real life". Those with social difficulties find an arena in which they can perform and blossom. Etc., etc..

    Interesting times are ahead..

    1. Re:How long until "Virtual Reality"? by heideggier · · Score: 1
      I think that rather then the "virtual reality" which you propose you are looking at more of an extention of our own reality. Virtual reality I see as being a rather regretable buzzword from the early 90's

      While alot of people spend hugh amounts of time playing things like Everquest, It is hardly like they exist in something like the Matrix, or even, That they get confused between the rules of the real world and the rules of the game world like that dude did in that Monsters and Mazes movie.

      For example, one of my friend at college was hooked on MUD's, However he said that the most additive aspect of them was that he was playing with real people, He would log off sometimes a chat up the girl who use to play in another computer room on campus. The most funny thing which happened was when the DM (a real arsehole) came round because my friend was PK'ing people by luring them into the games arena.

      That people are able to make a living by playing the game only demonstrates this point, People would not wish to buy characters on Ebay. If they wished to follow the rules of the gameworld 100%. Everyone who plays this game knows that "it is just a game".

      Since most of these online gameworld's suffer from the same social problems present in this world then how can it be considered a alternate reality to our own? If your definition is correct (that it is another world distinct from our own) then why won't people change their behavior to reflect that.

      --
      Pianist : Some jerk whos taught themselves how to type in rhythm
  41. I got dibs... by praedor · · Score: 1

    I almost forgot! I have dibs on being JarJar!

    --
    In Bushworld, they struggle to keep church and state separate in Iraq as they increasingly merge the two in America.
  42. What do you think the odds are by joeblowme · · Score: 2, Funny

    What do you think the odds are of being able to choose a name like Luke Skywalker or Han Solo in the game? They Probably are already taken before the game even starts. Now how many Luke Skywalker113978723 do you think there will be? Then if you were able to get the name Luke Skywalker and work him up to level 40 how much do you think you could get for him on Ebay. I think it would bring the auctions up to a whole new level for virtual world stuff. You probably won't even be able to be Luke Skywalker12148098432 you'll end up being jfdsalkj123342089787 because it will be so big that will be the only name left. Oh well, It will probably be a good game, Lucas will probably make a fortune, and I'll probably go blind playing it.

    --

    If your not cheating your not trying. If your not trying your not winning and if your not winning why play?
    1. Re:What do you think the odds are by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Go read the official FAQ. No names that are similar to any original characters. also, no names with numbers.

    2. Re:What do you think the odds are by taernim · · Score: 1

      All that means is people will use silly phonetic spellings, like in other MMORPGS.

      Luke will be Luuk, Lukk, and many other permutations thereof. Same for the rest of them.

      --
      "PC Load Letter? What the $@#% does that mean?!"
    3. Re:What do you think the odds are by Bonker · · Score: 2

      Also remember that Verant has been using a name validator for some time in EQ to filter out names that are obviously obscene. It would take only a few minutes of work to add several dozen variations of 'Luke' 'Han' and 'Leia' to this setup.

      GM's in both EQ and DOAC have been known to force characters to change their name. Just recently, a buddy who plays on DOAC had his name forcibly changed to something more acceptable than 'Myazz'.

      --
      The next Slashdot story will be ready soon, but subscribers can beat the rush and slashdot the links early!
  43. But Will It Run On Linux? by AltGrendel · · Score: 1

    I'd try it if it did. I'd try Everquest if it did. yea, whatever.

    --
    The simple truth is that interstellar distances will not fit into the human imagination

    - Douglas Adams

  44. Difficult path to the Dark Side? by AcdFlashBk · · Score: 1

    "the path of the Force will be most difficult, whichever path you choose!"

    Huh? I thought the path to the Dark Side was the quick and easy one, what's the point if I have to work for it?!?

    1. Re:Difficult path to the Dark Side? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I believe they were saying it'll be difficult to become a Jedi as in very few people will be born with force powers. A game full of thousands of Jedi's flinging rocks at each other wouldn't be too much fun anyways, right? I'm sure it'll be easy to fall to the dark side though. I imagine it would be like how in Everquest you can really screw up your faction with a town if you kill one of their guards, but you have to kill hundreds of orcs or gnolls or whatnot to earn their love and admiration.

  45. Fans of Star wars.... by andrew.hill · · Score: 1

    The Star Wars fans will never be pleased. Nothing will ever be as good as the first 3 (or even the first one) and they will stand by it and crucify everything lucas makes...yet they call themselves fans.

  46. The TPM Video Game by Wraithlyn · · Score: 2, Funny

    This was the best part of The Phantom Menace 3rd person adventure game... in the Gungan city you could kill EVERY SINGLE GUNGAN.. well, except for Jar Jar :( Since the goal of the mission is to rescue him.

    Still, it's great fun to watch a tiny Gungan child run away screaming about monsters right before you cut em to ribbons :)

    --
    "Mind, as manifested by the capacity to make choices, is to some extent present in every electron." -Freeman Dyson
  47. Holocaust by smashin234 · · Score: 1

    So, here's the scenario, how do they stop someone from taking control of a death star and destroying an entire planet with millions of dollars(EBAY dollars) worth of characters.

    I would be pissed if I flunked out of school playing this game to only discover that my character was destroyed by a psycho with a death star!

  48. Re:Karma Suicide!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    High Times has confirmed: Linux sucks.

    Yet another crippling bombshell hit the beleaguered linux community when recently HighTimes confirmed that linux accounts for less than a fraction of 1 percent of all servers. Coming on the heels of the latest HighTimes survey which plainly states that linux has lost more market share, this news serves to reinforce what we've known all along. linux is collapsing in complete disarray, as further exemplified by failing dead last [marijuana.org] in the recent Sys Admin comprehensive networking test.

    LInux is the most endangered of them all, having lost 93% of its core developers.

    Due to the troubles of redhat/mandrake, abysmal sales and so on,linux went out of business and was taken over by RedSplat who sell another troubled OS. Now SUSE is also dead, its corpse turned over to yet another Whore house.

    All major surveys show that linux has steadily declined in market share. linux is very sick and its long term survival prospects are very dim. If *BSD is to survive at all it will be among OS hobbyist dabblers. linux continues to decay. Nothing short of a miracle could save it at this point in time. For all practical purposes, linux is dead.

    Fact: Linux is for homosexuals,
    and slashdot is for sickos

  49. Some thoughts by BelDion · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Ok, so we set a MMORPG in the Star Wars universe. Sounds Good. What do you immediately think? "Wow, I can play a budding Jedi like Luke Skywalker!" or "I'm gonna be a cool bounty Hunter like Boba Fett".

    Now think about it, what's gonna happen when everyone logs in to create their characters? That's right, everyone will be playing the same couple of types of characters. Joe-Everybody will want to be a Jedi master and Jane-Everybody else will be walking around dressed like Fett. I mean, who's gonna log on and think "Hey, I've got to try being a farmer like Luke's uncle!" It's the Star Wars universe, come on, it's cool and sci-fi'y!

    And now for something completely different:

    Star Wars MMORPG: $60
    Online account: $10/month
    New Computer to run sys requirements: $1500
    The ability to use the phrase "Feel the Force, B*tch!" in a Star Wars environment after fragging someone: Priceless

    There some things money can't buy. For everything else, there's Visa.(What, I hate MC!)

    --

    I am BelDion's .Sig; Who the hell is Jack?
    1. Re:Some thoughts by ZaMoose · · Score: 2

      Except Jedi Knights are going to be exceptionally rare. Verant has addressed this topic time and again in its Developers' Forum. Give it a look some time.

      Becoming a Jedi will entail a LOT of development time as well as many difficult side-quests, not to mention the fact that you'll have to construct your own light saber...

      --
      I wish I had a kryptonite cross, because then you could keep Dracula and Superman away.
    2. Re:Some thoughts by ZaMoose · · Score: 2

      Arrrgh. Stupid cut n' paste buffer. Correct link is here.

      --
      I wish I had a kryptonite cross, because then you could keep Dracula and Superman away.
    3. Re:Some thoughts by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      MC commercial parodies continue to be funny--it's the one joke that never gets old. Really, you should look into a career in comedy or something.

  50. vs. the movie? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    this is great, something that might suck worse than the movie!

    I bet the EULA will be even more onerous than anything microsoft lawyers could concoct, and it will be LOVED by need-a-[life/clue] slashdotters everywhere

  51. Lacking Human Villans... by DA_MAN_DA_MYTH · · Score: 2

    That being said, City of Heroes looks pretty damned cool.

    Yes it does, however the only thing it is lacking is the ability of being a villan. This may cause for some not so exciting and repetitive action, with everyone day after day battling the same AI. I guess with the exception of the Arena combat the FAQ talks about. What I would like to see is Rockstar get into the worlds of MMORPGs, maybe a Liberty City simulator, (AKA GTA4), where people can choose what kind a hood or vigilante they'd want to be, Mafia, Triad, Diablo or otherwise common hood. But if that ever came out, I think I'd lose my job, girlfriend and all ambitions in life. (So bad idea, don't listen to me Rockstar...)

    --
    "It takes many nails to build a crib, but one screw to fill it."
    1. Re:Lacking Human Villans... by ZaMoose · · Score: 2

      Rockstar has made noises about GTA3:Miami (coming out this fall) being an "expansion pack" and GTA4 (due 2003) coming with the ability to join up to 15 other players in forming a gang, roving the streets, beating up rival gangs, pimps, taking on squads of SWAT troopers, etc.

      I absolutely cannot wait.

      --
      I wish I had a kryptonite cross, because then you could keep Dracula and Superman away.
  52. No it wouldn't. by UberQwerty · · Score: 1

    The death star was built by wookiee slaves.

    --


    PUBLIC SPLIT ON WHETHER BUSH IS A DIVIDER -CNN scrolling banner, 10/15/2004
  53. Modems? by Scooter · · Score: 3, Insightful

    I got the distinct impression the reviewer (or previewer?) is not familair with the subject matter - I mean what was that bit about modems about? "[the game] will use modems" ?? what for exactly? Or did he mean that er.. players who use modems to connect to an ISP will be erm.. using them still when they play this game?

    And the fact that you created your own character seemed a revelation to this guy - even though he claimed knowledge of Everquest and a whole bunch of other games. Ever heard of "role playing"?? hehe and then the final shock news - they'll be charging for it! Well er duh! do ya think?

    Still - the game looks nice - hell if game models and rendering get much better, Lucasfilm will be able to shoot Episode III in the damm game :)

    1. Re:Modems? by daeley · · Score: 2

      Lucasfilm will be able to shoot Episode III in the damm game :)

      Given Episode I's storyline, that may have already happened in some early beta version. ;-)

      --
      I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate.
  54. Ha! Raph is the reason UO is so fucked up. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The current UO team works hard to clean up the gigantic clusterfuck that UO was when it shipped thanks in large part to Raph's tunnel vision (flat skill system and completely fixed and unexpandable spell system).

    SWG will be another design disaster.

  55. Actually... by fal13n · · Score: 1

    This isn't really a preview, more of a re-writing of parts of the FAQ availible at the official site. It really adds nothing to what is known except for a couple of new screenshots, and the author seems to lift a lot of phrases almost whole cloth out of pre-existing material - most annoying for those of us looking for real new dirt :)

  56. There is a disturbance in the web by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    It feels as if a thousand routers all screamed at once then became silent. I fear luke that the "/. effect" is responsible.

  57. How quickly one forgets! by DiveX · · Score: 1

    People complain when the same story is posted even twice in 6 months. I can see how they may get frustrated when this was even discussed in another story on the same day! http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=02/02/12/033421 9&mode=thread&tid=95

    One comment made was:
    "A similar distinction results from looking at the class data: Warrior is listed as the second-favorite class, but ranks a distant sixth in the list of classes people would like to be, were Norath real. This implies that people would rather be a class or race that isn't their favorite."

    It was referring to how demographics of player classes is not what you may think. It is just like a Renaissance Festival. The layman may just think that there is nothing but knights, kings, and princesses running around, but people have a much more broad interest than that. Sure some will join the bounty hunter class, but people still want to be different.

    --
    Cave, wreck, and deep diver.
  58. Re:Karma Suicide!! by Wire+Tap · · Score: 1

    No! Karma Kazi! HEHEHE

    --

    Man is born free; and everywhere he is in chains.

  59. And this is what Slashdot is all about by dan_the_heretic · · Score: 1

    News for Nerds. Stuff that matters.

    If this is what matters, I'll go back to reading the Star for the important stuff.

    Kids!!

    --
    I don't like big words..., does that make me anti-semantic?
  60. Yes it would by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    IIRC, they threw off their shackles and massacred the Imperial scum shortly before the installation blew up. That'd be kewl.

  61. Console patches? by SuperKendall · · Score: 1

    How are they going to release the patches for the PS2? Even with the hard drive unit a lot of people won't have the bandwidth to DL a patch.

    I'd say chances are that it's about as bug free as most console games.

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  62. Adam Venus is a jizz guzzler by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Adam Venus muches storm trooper spoof.

    1. Re:Adam Venus is a jizz guzzler by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And he picks up boyz from the Spastic Centre of South Australia.

    2. Re:Adam Venus is a jizz guzzler by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      He started it not long after Vader reamed out his arse with a light sabre. I hear that vader also made him eat his testicles then fuck a horse!

  63. Re:ZERG RUSH! by fodi · · Score: 0

    Hey, this guy gets moderated to 0, for all the crap he's said.. and I'll get -1 Off Topic.. hmm..

  64. Probably Will Get Biggest Crowd == More Inticing by Bubblesculpter · · Score: 1



    Given that the Star Wars name will attract millions of players, this game stands a very good chance of getting the largest following for a multi-user online game.

    The more people avidly playing a game like this, the more intricate the society will become within the game, which in turn will probably make it the best game of it's genre.

    Maybe it won't be the best game technically or gameplay wise, but any game sporting a mass society will be hard to ignore.

    --
    www.Beyond7.com Insane modern art water sculpture.
  65. Test Of MMPORGs by Little+Dave · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Star War Galaxies will be an interesting test of the viability of MMPORGs in the mass market I believe. At the moment, we're seeing a potential deluge of games being sold to a limited audience - and the majority of the games are suffering. Games that require such a wholehearted commitment are petulant bitches who will suffer no rival for their time, so having two or three of the things on the go at once is simply not an option.

    What seems to be happening is that the next big thing will come out (DAOC) and people will tentatively set foot outside the last big thing (EQ) before realising that abandoning their year's investment is simply not an option and returning to their (perhaps inferior) previous game. DAOC is going through this at the moment - when I was playing a few months ago, there would be a regular 1000+ players at anyone time... last night when I looked, it was more like 300-400.

    Publishers are having to try new ways of distributing to get the attention of gamers. Recently, several MMPORGs have gone to the free download or magazine giveaway model (WWIIOnline, Darkspace, Jumpgate, EQ) in an effort to snare punters commitment free. Only time will tell if this works.

    Star Wars Galaxies on the other hand represents something of a new beast - a can't-succeed business model, with a can't-lose license. I'm interested to see how it will fair.

  66. Linux MMORPG's (offtopic question) by Salsaman · · Score: 2, Troll
    I keep reading about these cool MMORPG's. Are there any available for Linux ?

    The problem for me is, my network cards are very unstable under Windoze, so I'd like to find one that does run natively under Linux.

    1. Re:Linux MMORPG's (offtopic question) by Salsaman · · Score: 1
      Huh ? Why was this moderated as a troll ? I am asking it as a perfectly reasonable question, I'd genuinely like to know the answer.

    2. Re:Linux MMORPG's (offtopic question) by roman_legion · · Score: 1

      Check out Neverwinter Nights from Bioware. It is not strictly a MMORPG (No centralized server), but has other advantages. They are saying that it will be release for Win, Mac, Linux and BeOS and you can run your own world server. I've read that the server tools might just be for Win, but the game will run on Linux just fine.

      roman_legion

    3. Re:Linux MMORPG's (offtopic question) by LoP_XTC · · Score: 1

      Well if it helps, myself and friends were at one time able to get UO working through linux.

      Aaron

      --
      "Curiouser and Curiouser...." -Alice
    4. Re:Linux MMORPG's (offtopic question) by Salsaman · · Score: 1

      Cool. I might check it out :-)

  67. Meesa be playing as JarJar Binks by AndyChrist · · Score: 1

    Meesa Jar Jar Binks. Meesa be sellin' yousa light saber on Ebay.

  68. REAL MONEY = check out Project Entropia by Vanguard(DC) · · Score: 0

    ...Project Entropia is yet another sci-fi MMORPG being developed and here's the catch: You set up an account with them and deposit REAL cash... The cash is converted to Game cash, you then build ur character with items bought with the game money...

    ...you then go out and hunt/battle/quest/etc...

    ...you find/buy/sell/loot/quest for items in game with some ing-ame value you can trade/sell...

    ..the big catch: You can withdraw REAL MONEY at anytime from your PE account after converting it from game cash...

    You can even hang out at "nightclubs" and bars in the game's towns and cities!!! and spend money on "virtual shots of whiskey"!! NOW THAT IS AN ALCOHOLIC!

    there u go... have fun, nice knowing you!!

    http://www.mmorpgcafe.com/article1056.html

    ./oliver

    --
    "I think, therefore I get paid."
  69. What platforms will it run on? by Shiny+Metal+S. · · Score: 2
    What platforms will Star Wars Galaxies run on? The answer may seem obvious, but LucasArts may want to address many different gaming platforms, as well as few desktop ones. To make the development optimal, they should use some abstraction layers. I know people who could help with that.

    The screenshots look impressive. It would be cool if I could play that on my platform. And however I realize, that I belong to the minority of gamers (which is good, like Mark Twain has already said, "Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it's time to pause and reflect."), I still think that when they would wisely program this game for many different gaming platforms and few desktop ones, it'd be a piece of cake to release other version. But I'm affraid that they would prefer us to use other options, unfortunately...

    Oh, well, I gues I'll just have to wait for Mason, or Warewolf, or Sands of Syllus, or Archipelago, or Catacombs, or Belchfire, or Acid Tempest, or Phoenix...

    --

    ~shiny
    WILL HACK FOR $$$

  70. Hey! I resemble that remark! by Vanguard(DC) · · Score: 0

    "Mediocrity. The only online MMORPG that lets you be the bartender at the club, or the waitress at Hooters."...

    my intended career path:

    -paperboy = age 12
    -student = age 4-24
    -waiter = age 18-21
    -bartender = age 21-24
    -military = age 17-24
    -Well-payed Computer Geek = age 24-35 (at this point now, age 28)
    -retired = age 35-40
    -bartender = age 40-death

    sooo... with that said, give me a game where i can be a virtual bartender! After all, don't virtual bartenders get the best virtual sluts?!

    ps - if u read the article, follow the game's dev, or anything else, you'd notice the timeline is BETWEEN movies.. thus none of the major Movie's events are taking place in the game!! It is simply what it is intended to be: a chance to live in a Star Wars Universe and fight!

    ./oliver

    --
    "I think, therefore I get paid."
  71. Nah, Jar-Jar = Fippy Darkpaw by Salgak1 · · Score: 1

    . . .and will spawn every few minutes. After all, people will PAY to kill Jar-Jar Binks. . . .

  72. N'Stink ? by Dave21212 · · Score: 1

    ... hehehe. I wonder if there will be any of those annoying product placements or even worse - a launch featuring the members of N'Sync playing main characters.

    argh...

    --
    "Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech."--Benjamin Franklin
  73. nothing new by {tele}machus_*1 · · Score: 1

    This so-called preview didn't inform me of anything I did not already know about Star Wars: Galaxies. I'm guessing it's intended for people who have lived under a rock for the last six months or so. There isn't even a hint as to a release date. Thanks, Ben Jackson, for wasting my time.

  74. Why SWG will fail by crash by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Some guy named crash posted this on one of the PlanetCrap forums, and it was too funny not to share...
    Simply entitled:

    Why Star Wars Galaxies Will Fail, by some guy who called himself crash

    Star Wars Galaxies, The Game Formerly Known As Star Wars Online, is going to suck mightily. why? some reasons:

    1. VI does not know how to implement PK. and in a game that's based on a time and genre that's pure head-to-head conflict, the lack of decent and interesting PvP is the death stroke.

    2. LucasArts is not the sole developer--they are "design consultants". thus, look for something like Dark Forces III Online here.

    3. DarthMaul_00126945 shouts, "eye r0xx0r3d j00, b33y0tch!" yeah, i'm sure that'll go over well.

    or, for a more lengthy look at what it'll be like:
    Loading, Please Wait...

    You have entered Lower Death Star

    RebelGuy shouts "lvl 86 Rebel looking for group. pls /tell"
    You say to your group 'Shethler, you keep us cloaked and we'll run to the prison block. We'll take cell 4.'
    Shethler tells the group 'k'
    Monfway tells the group 'Can you Nanofeet me plz Drinzle. I haven't been to camp the Bantha for the Rocket Boots yet.'
    Drinzle tells the group 'I need to balance my inner force a little. I'm at 2 FB's'
    Grut shouts 'Rebels suck'
    You say to your group 'Hope this new blaster doesn't have a failing battery pack. Man the TJ 60 series was always mis-firing'
    RebelGuy shouts 'Bite me Grut'
    Lamlee auctions 'Darth Vader Cloak for sale/trade. Jedi, Rebel, Mercenary only. 50000 credits or will consider some high lvl Droid enhancement units'
    Grut shouts 'Duel me you jackass'
    Jombire tells the group 'Yeah, I just upgraded to the plasma rifle, cost me 3000 credits and a Trooper Sentry backpack.'
    You say to your group 'Aye, I wouldn't mind the plasma rifle, how long does it take to recharge?'
    RebelGuy shouts 'haha yeah, like a lvl 86 Rebel against a lvl 36 Droid is a fair fight?'
    Jombire tells the group 'It's not too bad, it's great if you can get the Solar Panel of Lightning, man, you just never stop firing with that thing equipped.'
    Polfy auctions 'What's stats on cloak and can Imperials wear it?'
    You say to your group 'Cool '
    Grut shouts 'lol, aye, Feet of Nanosec and the Bolt of Restraining = 1 dead Rebel'
    Drinsle begins to command the force.
    Monfway's feet blur out of vision.
    Drinsle tells the group 'Ok, I'm at 5 FB's, lets go'
    Lamlee auctions 'DV Cloak is +10 to Saber Strike and Laser attack, +14 to menacing bargaining and it procs Strangle Hold. And no, Imperials can't wear it'
    You say to your group 'K everyone, straight to Cell 4, stay close and follow me'
    RebelGuy shouts 'Man, I wish I hadn't of bothered with this class. Rebels suck. Wish I had of made a Droid now. I can never get a group 8('
    You say to your group 'It's the next left at the end of this passage, be careful of the Elite Imperial Troopers, they can see through our Cloaking Sphere sometimes.'
    Polfy auctions 'What a crock. why the hell can't I equip that cloak. I'm on the same side as Vader?'
    Grut shouts 'LMAO. When I saw Gordon playing a droid in beta iv I knew what class I would be playing.'
    Tungret says out of character 'If anyone sees C3PO keep him talking please,
    I need to hand over a couple of things for my quest.'
    Monfway tells the group 'Oh darn, Cloaking Sphere is about to wear off.'
    You say to your group 'Crap, ok don't panic'
    An Elite Imperial Stormtrooper_03_says 'It's the rebellion scum like you who have ruined your own star systems, you won't ruin mine!!'
    An Elite Imperial Stormtrooper_02_says 'Halt in the name of Emperor!'
    An Imperial Stormtrooper_00_says 'Time to die Monfway!'
    You tell your group 'All on my target. We can do this'
    An Imperial Stormtrooper_14_says 'error unable to locate strmfile14.txt'
    A Stormtrooper Aprrentice says 'At last, my people have come to rescue me from this prison. Maybe now I will be able to stand at my sister's side and help continue the fight against the evil Empire! [Princess Leia] will reward you massively if you can get me out of here and to [safety].'
    Jombire prepares to fire his rifle.
    An Elite Imperial Stormtrooper_03_ shoots Shethler for 260 points of damage
    An Elite Imperial Stormtrooper_00_ shoots Shethler for 174 points of damage
    Jombire blasts a Stormtrooper Apprentice for 72 points of damage
    You say to your group 'Oh YES! It's Luke Skywalker under that Stormtrooper uniform! Nobody has ever found him to rescue yet!'
    Shethlar tells the group 'Get the damn things off me'
    Klewtill auctions 'Paying 5 credits for a Nanofeet at Priest of Degobah lift'
    You say to your group 'ASSIST ME Jombire, get on my target'
    An Elite Imperial Stormtrooper_02_shoots Shethlar for 210 points of damage
    Monfway tells the group ' KEWL!'
    C3PO says 'You will not evade me Tungret.
    You say to your group 'Attack it damn it Monfway'
    Shethlar begins to command the force.
    You slash an Elite Imperial Stormtrooper_00_ for 15 points of damage
    Olgreth auctions 'I'll Nanofeet you for 20 credits'
    Drinzle tells the group 'Where are you guys at? I can't find you.'
    Shelthar fades away.
    An Elite Imperial Stormtrooper_00_shoots YOU for 350 points of damage
    An Elite Imperial Stormtrooper_03_slashes YOU for 140 points of damage
    You are stunned!
    You cannot attack while stunned
    Jombire tells the group 'Equip your rifle man, you are still using your crappy lightsabre'
    Jombire prepares to fire his rifle.
    Tungret shouts 'WTF?!? C3PO is agroing me'
    An Elite Imperial Stormtrooper_00_blasts YOU for 270 points of damage
    You are stunned
    Klewtill auctions 'Man, you Droids are a bunch of greedy MF's'
    Drinzle tells the group 'Guys?'
    Jombire blasts a Stormtrooper Apprentice for 25 points of damage
    An Aprrentice Stormtrooper says 'No!! I cannot die and leave my Sister to face the Empire alone! I must get out of here and complete my training with Yoda! I must defend myself!'
    You shoot An Elite Imperial Stormtrooper_00_ for 78 points of damage
    You tell your group 'thank god my Unleash the Force is available, destroying my target now.'
    You feel the power of the Force surge through you.
    An Elite Imperial Stormtrooper_00_ says 'nit by non-mele attack for 9 points of damage'
    You say to your group '****ing hell'
    C3PO says 'You will not evade me Drinzle
    You say to your group 'Where the hell are you Drinzle, we need repairing badly'
    An Elite Imperial Stormtrooper_00_shoots YOU for 50 points of damage
    An Elite Imperial Stormtrooper_03_slashes YOU for 170 points of damage
    You tell your group 'Noooo, don't attack that one!'
    A Stormtrooper Apprentice shoots Jombire but misses!
    Mandrin auctions 'Dented Bobba Fat helms for Jedi Saber quest'
    Drinzle tells the group 'OMFG! C3PO is running riot, I got to zone!'
    Jombire tells the group 'I'm gonna burn Force Touch on it!'
    Monfay tells the group 'Laaaaaagggggggggg'
    WookiesRool auctions 'It's Boba Fet you moron'
    An Elite Imperial Stormtrooper_00_shoots YOU but misses!
    Drinzle shouts 'C3PO to zone!'
    An Elite Imperial Stormtrooper_02_shoots YOU for 530 points of damage!
    RebelGuy shouts "lvl 86 Rebel looking for group. pls /tell"
    Monfway begins to command the force.
    Drinzle shouts 'C3PO to zone!'
    Jombire gestures mystically as he commands the Force to his will.
    You feel replenished and invigorated.
    You say to your group 'Phew, thanks Monfway'
    An Elite Imperial Stormtrooper_03_slashes YOU for 145 points of damage
    Shethlar says to the group 'I am never teaming with you lot ever again. You
    almost got me killed'
    You say to your group 'We couldn't get them off you sorry Shethlar, don't be upset.'
    Shethlar has left the group.
    A Stormtrooper Apprentice is surrounding by a fierce inferno of energy.
    A Stormtrooper Apprentice has been slain by Jombire!
    You gain experience!
    Your faction standing with Princess Leia got worse!
    Your faction standing with the Alliance got worse!
    Your faction standing with the Imperial Army got better!
    Your faction standing with Yoda got worse!
    Your faction standing with The Ewoks got worse!
    A Stormtrooper Apprentice _corpse01_says 'I have fallen my Sister Leia, please avenge my death against these vile Emperor worshippers..One day I will return....cough..arghhh...'
    Drinzle shouts 'C3PO to zone!'
    You say to your group 'You f**king idiot why did you kill him?'
    Monfway has gone Linkdead
    An Elite Imperial Stormtrooper_03_shoots Jombire for 460 points of damage.
    An Elite Imperial Stormtrooper_02_shoots Jombire for 390 points of damage
    You shoot An Elite Imperial Stormtrooper_00_for 26 points of damage
    Jombire tells the group 'I've got to zone'
    You say to your group 'christ, get out of here now'
    Chewcacka shouts 'Actually the dented Boba Fet helms are for the Mercenary smuggler ship quest'
    Drinzle tells the group 'wow, I made it out with 3400 life force. I've never been under 3 lifebars before, that was scarey.'
    Jombire prepares to fire his rifle.
    You have removed Drinzle from your group.
    Drinzle has left the group.
    You say to your group 'Get out man, we cannot take these.'
    Jombire tells the group 'I can take down one of these things on my own, np.
    I've got a spare medi-kit.'
    An Elite Imperial Stormtrooper_03_shoots Jombire for 130 points of damage.
    An Elite Imperial Stormtrooper_02_shoots Jombire for 90 points of damage
    An Elite Imperial Stormtrooper_03_shoots Jombire for 460 points of damage.
    An Elite Imperial Stormtrooper_02_shoots Jombire for 390 points of damage
    Jombire is stunned!
    Mrlewt shouts 'Camp Check!'
    You say to your group 'Get the hell out man, I'm almost to the zone.'
    Jombire shoots An Elite Imperial Stormtrooper_02_ but misses!
    An Elite Imperial Stormtrooper_00_shoots Jombire for 330 points of damage.
    An Elite Imperial Stormtrooper_04_shoots Jombire for 490 points of damage
    An Elite Imperial Stormtrooper_03_shoots Jombire for 410 points of damage.
    An Elite Imperial Stormtrooper_00_shoots Jombire for 540 points of damage
    Jombire has been slain by An Elite Imperial Stormtrooper_00_
    An Elite Imperial Stormtrooper_00_says 'Another one has fallen to the might
    of Emperor. These fools will soon learn to obey, or they will die like this dog!'
    An Imperial Stormtrooper_14_says 'error unable to locate deathfile14.txt'
    Drestin shouts 'Emperor'
    C3PO says 'You will not escape me GroupLeader'
    C3PO Beams a smile at you.

    C3PO says 'Ahhh, I feel much better now'
    You writhe in the grip of battery acid.
    You have been slain by C3PO
    Returning to home point.
    Loading, please wait....

    You have entered Endor

    RebelGuy shouts 'lvl 86 Rebel looking for group. pls /tell'
    Greenback auctions 'Ewok scalps. 5 credits per stack'
    Dr_Droid shouts 'RebelGuy you suck, you were kill stealing me in the swamps
    when I was lvl 14. I remember you well'
    Junga is inspecting you
    Junga is inspecting you
    You say to your group 'Well that was a frigging load of rubbish. 8( I lost 2 bars of fulfillment for my next discipline,'
    RebelGuy shouts 'What lvl are you now Dr_Droid?'
    Junga says 'Give me some credizz d3wD'
    Hivver says out of character 'anyone seen my corpse?'
    Menin shouts 'Help!'
    Dr_Droid shouts '16. Why?'
    Mhalik shouts 'where are you Menin?'
    Jombire tells the group 'man, that was so close, I almost had him'
    You say to your group 'I have to go and collect some credits so I can get a ride back to the Death Star'
    RebelGuy shouts 'Duel me!'
    Menin shouts 'well I'm dead now. Thanks for your help. NOT '
    Junga tells you 'Give me credizz d3wD plz'
    Junga is inspecting you
    Junga is inspecting you
    Junga is inspecting you
    You say 'f*ckoff you scrounger'
    Junga is inspecting you
    Dr_Droid shouts 'Lets go *****'
    You say to your group 'Almost at Ewok Village'
    Jombire tells the group 'k'
    Junga is inspecting you
    Junga says 'Credizz plz'
    Junga is inspecting you
    An Ewok Guard_12_ says 'Your past actions have earned my contempt GroupLeader. You are not welcome here.'
    An Ewok Guard _04_ says 'Prepare to die traitor'
    Junga says 'Lizzen d3wd, I need Cr3DizZ.plz plz plz'
    Junga is inspecting you
    An Ewok Guard_12_ Bonks YOU for 1200 points of damage.
    An Ewog Guard_04_Pokes YOU for 1840 points of damage.
    Junga says 'hehehehe'
    Junga is inspecting you
    Junga is inspecting you
    Dr_Droid has defeated RebelGuy in a duel to the death! RebelGuy has fled like a cowardly dog!
    An Ewok Guard_12_Punches YOU for 3430 points of damage
    Dr_Droid shouts 'LMAO. Rebels SUCK!!'
    Pain and suffering tries to strike YOU but misses!
    Junga is inspecting you
    Junga says 'lol'
    An Ewok Guard_04_Slaps you for 2310 points of damage.
    Junga is inspecting you
    You have been slain by an Ewok Guard

    You have lost your Jedi Fulfillment. You are now a Junior.

    Returning to home point.

    Loading, please wait..

    You have entered Endor

    You say to your group 'I HATE THIS FOKKING GAME!'
    Junga says 'D3wd yew suCk'
    Junga pokes GroupLeader.
    Jombire tells the group 'calm down man'
    Your group has been disbanded.
    Junga is inspecting you

    /quit

  75. Repeated button pressing by swankypimp · · Score: 1

    The article says that it will take a long time to develop a Jedi as compared to other character types (obviously). Mmmmm.... repeated button pressing. Developing a character's stats in MMORPGs reminds me of the Simpsons episode where Homer "works" from home on his computer, getting the bobbing bird toy to press the "Y" key every few seconds so he could go do other things. It's like in Ultima Online, where it took a lot of repeated mouse clicking on training dummies to develop your combat skills. Of course, I soon figured out that my character could attack a pig/dog/sheep; the animal took a looooong time for me to kill and couldn't do much damage to me, either, so there were thirty minute "epic" battles during which my character could improve his attack skills while I could go do other things.

    --

    --All your stolen base are belong to Rickey Henderson
  76. Verant? by Cloud+K · · Score: 1

    Oh great. Star Wars with a Vision(TM)

    I can see it now
    "Yo d00d, I'm camping Darth, his light saber is an ultra ultra rare drop. Go someplace else man"

  77. Re:Karma Suicide!! by Frank+White · · Score: 0

    Nader, you fucking raghead spoiler. How was that 3% of the vote you got? Oh wait, you probably didn't even notice, you were too busy riding on your flying carpet. The United States sides with the Jews because they are a legitimate people, not a bunch of nomads wandering in the desert - they got over that like 6000 years ago. Get with the times, camel jockey.

    --

    Custer's Revenge: The greatest video

  78. Coffee Acheivers Anonymous by bitrott · · Score: 1

    There's a new Sam and Max coming out. NON-LUCAS ARTS! I don't have the link, so sue me, but the concept art looks great.

  79. i must be low on sleep by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    i seriously thought u were talking about the new Star Wars movie. geeze

  80. Will we be able to play it? by Trogre · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    ...or will it be windows-only?

    .
    .

    --
    "Nine times out of ten, starting a fire is not the best way to solve the problem." - my wife
    1. Re:Will we be able to play it? by Trogre · · Score: 1

      So why flamebait? This is a real issue for us "nerds", not all of whom use windows.

      .
      .
      .

      --
      "Nine times out of ten, starting a fire is not the best way to solve the problem." - my wife
  81. Economic intervention by xixax · · Score: 2

    A friend predicted that to more evenly balance the distribution of characters, they will fiddle the stats and the most popular character will be the Ewok, since they'll have unlimited capacity for Jedi power accumilation or something.

    Ecology can be tricky...

    Xix.

    --
    "Everything is adjustable, provided you have the right tools"
  82. Why is this post a troll? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    What's up with that? It seemed like a legitemate question to me. Why did it get labeled a 'troll' post?