Living with Darth Vader

rppp01 writes "The BBC is reporting that Lucas Arts is putting the Star Wars universe online this December. Go here to read all about it. I know lots of people who are now starting to leave Everquest. Is this the next everquest? Will we have massive Star War fans calling in sick everyday in attempts to become a jedi? Will Jar Jar be friend or foe?"

Comments

Sounds rather interesting

[Sheetrock]

If this takes off like Everquest, though, how much new stuff can they add to it to keep the universe fresh? They're kind of limited by the movies, aren't they?

Re:Sounds rather interesting

[Iltamies]

I would say they're not limited, as there's scads of books written in the universe, a whole Role-Playing system, etc. Of course, you could have just been kidding.

Re:Sounds rather interesting

[SirSlud]

> They're kind of limited by the movies, aren't they?

Or books? Or comics? Or toys? My fanboy impression is they blew the lid off the 'movie constraints' a long time ago.

Re:Sounds rather interesting

[JJAnon]

They're kind of limited by the movies, aren't they?

No, they are not - take a look at the zillion books written about the Star Wars universe. Some of which have even been pretty good - like Timothy Zahn's first trilogy. The whole point of it being set in a universe is that it is limitless, and this limitlessness gives immense scope for expansion. Too many players? Lets just announce the discovery of a new planet!

So no, I don't believe that they are limited by the movies - the movies just give them a firm pseudo-reality to start from.

Re:Sounds rather interesting

[kfx]

On the contrary, Star Wars Galaxies is set during the classic movies era, and according to the devs it isn't going to go beyond that time-frame (although they may include locations and such from the novels and prequels). You're thinking of Knights of the Old Republic, which is being developed by Bioware and will not be out for some time.

SWG is being developed by the makers of everquest (LucasArts is only publishing) so it will very likely be similar in many respects... including its widespread popularity. They are planning to be adding new quests, content, etc. and advancing the storyline as the game goes on, and as the name GalaxIES sauggests, there will be many different servers to play on, each indepentent of all the others, so that even if there are very many players, there will still be plenty of content to go around.

Re:Sounds rather interesting

[silicon_synapse]

They're doing a pretty good job of making it difficult to become Jedi. Only a small percentage of players will become force sensitive. Of those who do, only a few will be come Jedi. Those who DO manage to become Jedi must be secretive. Jedi are actively hunted by Imperials. If they draw too much attention to themselves, Vader himself will pay them a visit. That's bad. It's shaping up to be a great game. The only thing I think they're making a mistake with is a very soft death penalty.

Re:Sounds rather interesting

[the_2nd_coming]

damn...I think that they are realy working hard at keeping this game universe somthing that can continue very nicely....the fact that a very small percentage of players will ever become a jedi based on hard coded probabilities makes it that much better, not to mention the active hunting by the imperial guard...I am realy excited now....if I could only afford to pay for the game service.

Re:Sounds rather interesting

[ceejayoz]

They're not going to run out of content in my book due to the ambitious Jedi Knight Series of novels; of which R.A. Salvatore (all praise his track record) wrote the first one.

Actually, it's the "New Jedi Order" series. :-)

They're definitely wreaking havoc in the galaxy... Coruscant taken over and turned into a garden planet with rainbow rings!

Re:Sounds rather interesting

[Cromac]

And what (if anything) are they don't to prevent those few Jedi characters from being sold on Ebay?

Re:Sounds rather interesting

[Surlyboi]

There are no hard-coded probabilities to becoming
a jedi. Every FS character's path to becoming a
jedi is different. Basically, if there were
probabilities involved, everyone would evntually be
a jedi, due to creating new characters until they
all got a FS one.

Also, in answer to the ebay question, becoming a
jedi and remaining one are two separate things...

Re:Sounds rather interesting

[grumpygrodyguy]

You're thinking of Knights of the Old Republic, which is being developed by Bioware and will not be out for some time.

Thank God Bioware isn't behind SWG. They have 2 rules at Bioware that must be adhered to,

1) Ignore the customer
2) Don't bother to build a usable interface, or to user test it. After all, we're brilliant.

morons

Re:Sounds rather interesting

[will_die]

They are planing to ad new quests, content,etc but only in expansion packs.
They have already said they are not adding monthly updates, except for nerfs and other fixes.

Re:Sounds rather interesting

[Mac Degger]

ad 1)uhm...these guys shared loads of info on NWN, before it came out. They mnade a lot of use of the feedback, too. True, some things they did made no sense (scooterb's import/export scripts come to mind...then months later Bioware finally releases their scripts..grr), but overall, they keep people in the know and (if you've been following the patches and changes to the negine/scripting) have been implementing a lot of feedback. The only other company to make this kind of effort is I think iD and Epic.

ad 2)WTF? the shift/ctrl/alt+Fkey bar is one of the best UI to make it inot games in the last couple of years! Plus the rotary rightclick system works mucho efficiently.

Overall, methinks you haven't played their latest games...or have you?

Re:Sounds rather interesting

[grumpygrodyguy]

2)WTF? the shift/ctrl/alt+Fkey bar is one of the best UI to make it inot games in the last couple of years! Plus the rotary rightclick system works mucho efficiently.


Ya, and how about that targetting with bow/arrow? Nothing like aiming at feet all day. Did you try the camera angle hack? Notice how FAR SUPERIOR the game experience was? How long does your neck last in a day of gameplay? Playing that game is like watching TV while sitting in an electric chair.

Re:Sounds rather interesting

[Mac Degger]

As someone playing a rogue...I don't really see your problem: *shrug* no different from Diablo.

As for CameraHack...yup, that should have been in ther from the start; OTOH, I know uite a few people who don't like it...

Jar Jar

[Alizarin Erythrosin]

I feel sorry for whoever ends up having to live with Jar Jar...

"Me sa no drinky your beer!"

In Soviet Russia...

[SexyKellyOsbourne]

The Star Wars universe puts LucasArts online!

Don't abuse...

[Espectr0]

...too much the star wars universe. I know that if we would have a star movies/games every year, the hype would reduce.

You CAN have too much of a good thing

Re:Don't abuse...

[Zordak]

And of course, what kind of crack was being smoked when Jar Jar was created?

They were smoking straight, unadulterated cash, rolled-up like a joint. Then they got this brilliant idea! We could sell out the whole franchise and turn it into a stupid on-screen comic book by adding an annoying pidgen-english speaking patsy that everybody under 6 will think is funny, and sell licensed merchandise by the truckload, and the loyal fans of the original trilogy that was actually cool will still lay down $9 each to come see it on opening night because Georgie-boy slapped a Star Wars logo on the opening credits!

Apparently, the plan worked.

This is not news

[Photon Ghoul]

Star Wars: Galaxies is really old news. For anyone even remotely aware of the MMORPG scene or games in-general knows, it's been in development for quite some time now.

Re:This is not news

[jimmyCarter]

True. But this is the first thing I've seen pointing to an actual release date (er.. month). But, then again, I'm not huge into games, so it the target date could've been known for some time now.

Re:This is not news

[kbonin]

The release date has been pushed several times, this is just the latest public date, after a number of its key developers defected when Sony tried to force them to release it well before it was ready. They're burning good people out, and that doesn't make a good product.

Re:This is not news

[ShawnDoc]

::sarcasm::

Yes, that's right. Sony is going to release the game on their competitors system first. Brilliant deduction.

Re:This is not news

[silicon_synapse]

X-box is heavily based on PC hardware. It uses an nVidia video card with DirectX. It will be a relatively easy port.

Check here to hear it from the horse's mouth. An excerpt:

"The ultimate goal with these versions of Star Wars Galaxies is to solidify LucasArts' position at the forefront of the emerging online console game genre, and we're confident this strategy will do just that," says Randy Breen, vice president of development for LucasArts. "By offering the Star Wars Galaxies series on video game consoles such as Xbox and PlayStation 2, LucasArts will be able to bring this eagerly awaited game to an entirely new audience of players who previously may not have had an opportunity to experience it."

It's a nice idea...

[Twister002]

but I think they should have adjusted the timeline to after the events in "Return of the Jedi".

Having an event that big in your MMORPG just seems to ruin it for me. It kind of re-enforces the fact that you are just a bit player. If the timeline was after, your character might have a chance to be a big part of a storyline, make your own lore.

But then again I know how Battlefield 1942 is going to turn out and I LOVE playing that game...hehehe

Re:It's a nice idea...

[Zordak]

You just gave me a Brilliant Idea (tm)! I'm going to make a Civil War MMORPG, but in my game, the South wins. I'm going to set up my display right next to the ammo section in every Wal-Mart south of the Mason-Dixon line. The tag line will be "You done knew yer whole life them damn yankees was lyin' 'bout that war. Now let's end the thing right and kick some Yankee butt!" Hoo-boy. I can't wait to see those dump trucks full of money dropping the cash right in front of my door.

Now all I need is a game developer. Anybody want to join me?

Re:It's a nice idea...

[Khomar]

One serious problem I see with Galaxies is that a major part of the Star Wars dealt either with spaceships or speeders/racers/vehicles. If this game is very similar to Everquest, then this whole aspect of the game will be missing. How is travel from planet-to-planet going to be handled? As a former player of Everquest, I can tell you that sitting for 15 minutes while a ship passes through black space between planets is not exactly condusive to a good time. :-)

Fantasy really works well for this type of genre because there are built in limitations. You don't expect to be able to fly anywhere, generally, and the technology is expected to be limited. The most advanced thing you might deal with is riding a horse which requires only a slight change in perspective and speed.

While the Star Wars universe is large and interesting, I see most of the fun resting in the ability to hop into a speeder and race with someone else, not walk into the cantina and stare at the scantily clad women (oh wait, that was Everquest....). I saw no mention of this ability in the article. It sounds like a glorified EverQuest to me. Though the graphics quite good, the real key will be in the gameplay, and whether or not the fans can accept their limitations.

Re:It's a nice idea...

[_ph1ux_]

HAHAHA

That was great!!

Re:It's a nice idea...

[Gogo Dodo]

The reasons why the game is set in the timeline it is, is in the FAQ. They make very good arguments on why they selected the Classic era.

Don't worry though, if the game takes of, they will probably release another game set after ROTJ.

Re:It's a nice idea...

[Zordak]

And besides that, do you think they really have $35 of liquidity to be able to buy your game?

Who do you think bought all those copies of Deer Hunter? You always have money to spend on what's really important.

Re:It's a nice idea...

[silicon_synapse]

Until the space expansion is released, you will visit one of the space ports, buy your ticket, socialize while waiting for your ship, board ship, zone into destination planet. After the space expansion is released you can buy your own ship and fly to other planets or hitch a ride with someone else (for a small fee of course). As far as on-planet travel, SWG will have swoop bikes and speeders at release. One person per vehicle only for now.

Re:It's a nice idea...

[Codifex Maximus]

>You just gave me a Brilliant Idea (tm)! I'm going
>to make a Civil War MMORPG, but in my game, the
>South wins.

Someone has already had this Brilliant Idea albeit the south won in a roundabout way. Read the Drakka! series. Yawl come back now heah?

Re:It's a nice idea...

[jafuser]

Someone has already had this Brilliant Idea albeit the south won in a roundabout way. Read the Drakka! series. Yawl come back now heah?

Don't you see a problem here?

Re:It's a nice idea...

[jafuser]

• If this game is very similar to Everquest [...]
• It sounds like a glorified EverQuest to me.

Maybe you haven't heard . . . SWG is being developed by the same team who developed EverQuest. So, um... ...

Re:It's a nice idea...

[Hard_Code]

The idiots. Virtual Fishing is a much more fun game.

Re:It's a nice idea...

[Ricdude]

In the South, it's not the Civil War; it's the War of Northern Aggression. Also, no matter how far south you go, anyone north of you is a damn Yankee.

Re:It's a nice idea...

[Zordak]

Also, no matter how far south you go, anyone north of you is a damn Yankee.

I live about as far south as you can get (S. Texas), but I still don't think I'd go wandering around the Mississippi delta yelling "All ya'll ar a bunch of Damn Yankees!" Of course, around here, the N/S question is somewhat secondary to why we even let all those other states join the Republic of Texas to begin with.

Re:It's a nice idea...

[Codifex Maximus]

Heh, funny guy.

It is an *IDEA* that could just as well become a MMORPG.

Jeez some people have no imagination! :)

Re:It's a nice idea...

[dvk]

Answer to your question: Sid!!!!

(if I have to explain that the reference is from User Friendly, you don't deserve to be on /. ;)

-DVK

Jar Jar?

[Maskirovka]

Will Jar Jar be friend or foe?

Savage Jarjar mutilation will be part of the dark jedi right of passage.

Re:Jar Jar?

[mgs1000]

And how exactly is that evil?

Re:Jar Jar?

[Taos]

Ok, with the amount of jar-jar bashing (deservedly) I'm seeing so far on the board, I imagine the first week after this release will consist of a giant lynch mob roaming the galaxy.

Nothing like a common enemy to unite old foes. The dark side ang good side will join forces to kill off the annoying character.

Once they find him, however, the game will fall into every man for himself to get the honor to get in the first shot.

Re:Jar Jar?

[silicon_synapse]

Actually, most people on the development boards are itching to hunt the ewoks moreso than gungans. Someone even suggested adding the skill ewok-tossing. I'd go for it.

Re:Jar Jar?

[gnovos]

Savage Jarjar mutilation will be part of the dark jedi right of passage.

So, you are saying there will only be dark jedi in this game?

Re:Jar Jar?

[Mac Degger]

Hey, who wouldn't want to have a nice Ewok rug in the house? Or as a stylish, yet statement making faxhion accessory? Man, if I can get Ewok-skinning as a skill, I've so bought myself a subscription :)

Re:Jar Jar?

[Reziac]

The FidoNET Star Wars echo used to hold an annual Ewok Roast. This was always the cause of much debate over whether ewoks should be skinned or not, prior to being BBQ'd alive.

PS2 only ?

[Choron]

From the article, it would only be developped for the PS2, at least for now. One would expect that, to live in the dark side, that an XBox version be developped as well...

1st dibs

[kingOFgEEEks]

I call first dibs on being the bartender at the Mos Eisley cantina.

i've been practicing:
"we don't serve their kind here"

Re:1st dibs

[unicron]

While kidding, you raise an interesting dicussion. I've been told that LucasArts will be limiting the number of people that can become Jedi on each server. Something like a 1000 per server, if I remember correctly. I honestly believe that 95% of the people that join this game will want to become Jedi. I find it hard to believe that with telekinetic, laser-sword wielding demi-gods running around that anyone would want to be a bartender, mercenary, imperial officer(you apparently can be an officer, just not a storm trooper. Unless you want to spend your online time manning some post on Hoth), etc. Now while this is bad news, mark my words: the Jedi cap would be removed in a month. The first time they saw 10,000 accounts get canceled because players were forced to make at-at repair crew avatars, they would lift that ban so fast heads would spin.

Now, I know you can be force-adepts, but a half-assed Jedi is no better than no Jedi.

Re:1st dibs

[geekoid]

Sooo, you're from the south, eh?

Re:1st dibs

[silicon_synapse]

If there were Diplomats and Mob Bosses in these games I would actually play.

Not sure about diplomats, but you can enter politics. Each town needs a mayor. No mob bosses since the Hutt faction got cut but maybe in an expansion. You can be a smuggler though. Take a look at the professions list. It's quite interesting.

Re:1st dibs

[Codifex Maximus]

So, lets see. Being a "Jedi" is nothing more than passing a midiclourian (sp?) test, becoming an apprentice and eventually being recognised as a Jedi by your elder Jedi?

Does not being a Jedi then mean you are not allowed to be endowed with the "Force"? I think not. You could be a non-Jedi force aware person or even start your own branch of the Sith. Couldn't you? :)

I fear that I have no insider knowledge of the new game but I played Everquest till my fingers hurt. I trust the Sony "Visioneers" to do "The Right Thing" for a balanced game. Some may not like it but balance in game and the force must be maintained - otherwise, it's not worth playing at all - by anyone.~ YMMV

Re:1st dibs

[unicron]

You can be a normal person that has a stronger sense of the force but isn't a Jedi, they're called Force Adepts. Their's no real faction/alignment choice to be one, and it requires no training..you just are aware..you can do some small force tricks, nothing majoir. Anyone can be one, of any trade or temperament. But of course, a real Jedi would eat them for lunch.

As for Sith, you can't be one. Their are only 2 given Sith at any time; a master and an apprentice. You can, however, be a Dark Jedi, but only by first becoming a real Jedi and then falling out of grace.

As for EQ, if you think that's a balanced game I have some swamp land in Florida to sell you. I can divide that game by class in a ton of ways..those that solo, those that are forced to group for experience...those that suck in the beginning, those that suck in the end game. Their is not one class that is as good solo as they are grouped. Not ONE.

Re:1st dibs

[andyt]

A player in this profession can modify the way other players look as well as create clothing.

Yup, the most powerful man in town will not be the mob boss or mayor, it will be the shrewd tailor who corners the marked on gold bikinis...

Re:1st dibs

[Codifex Maximus]

>You can be a normal person that has a stronger
>sense of the force but isn't a Jedi, they're called
>Force Adepts. Their's no real faction/alignment
>choice to be one, and it requires no training..you
>just are aware..you can do some small force tricks,
>nothing majoir. Anyone can be one, of any trade or
>temperament. But of course, a real Jedi would eat
>them for lunch.

You probably have insider knowledge about the Star Wars game that I don't. I'm merely voicing ideas.

I can agree with the Force Adepts concept. There is a planet full of women somewhere... witches or something that are extremely adept at the force and are as a race force endowed.

Also, I read a book that came out just after Star Wars (the original) called Splinter in the Mind's Eye or something. Had a very powerful Force Adept woman in that one. Nice piece of work - thought it was better than what Lucas came up with for SW2.(though SW2 was good no doubt)

As I understand it, the Jedi Knights are merely a gathering of Force Adept creatures who reinforce each other and battle evil or dark force. Why could not another group of force adepts get together and reinforce each other?

>As for Sith, you can't be one. Their are only 2
>given Sith at any time; a master and an
>apprentice. You can, however, be a Dark Jedi, but
>only by first becoming a real Jedi and then
>falling out of grace.

Ok, maybe only 2 "Sith" at a time. Why then not have some more bad guys called the "Sath", "Seth", "Soth" or "Suth"? Then they could fight each other too. Seems kinda one sided in the good guys favor if you ask me just to have 2 bad guys. :)

>As for EQ, if you think that's a balanced game I
>have some swamp land in Florida to sell you.

How much?

>I can divide that game by class in a ton of
>ways..those that solo, those that are forced to
>group for experience...those that suck in the
>beginning, those that suck in the end game. Their
>is not one class that is as good solo as they are
>grouped. Not ONE.

Yeah? I played an Ogre Warrior into the high 50s and know how hard it can be sometimes. Warriors tend to go down quick without adequate support when battling high level creatures. I had a dragon bite my head off in three successive attacks. Cleric stood there trying to fire off a CH. No good. Dead ogre. Warriors are group players after level 30 no question.

Only good soloers I know are rangers, druids and necros. (Now, an enchanter who knows his stuff can solo but it's a dangerous game.) They always complain when in a group. (at least alot of them do.) I love grouping with rangers, druids and necros who don't complain; I got zero probs with em. Rangers are too much of a drain on the party healers but rock when you gotta track something down. Rangers should not melee they should just plink with the bow and heal/buff folks in downtime.

Anyway, as for balance, remember the Cleric BP incident? That bp would complete heal with a click. Put that cleric with a warrior with the right gear and almost no creature in game could withstand them if the cleric could heal the warrior faster than the monster damaged him. That was IMBALANCE. They had to fix it. Pissed off a bunch of clerics but hadda be done. Gamers called it nerfing the item. Drop rates were modified to prevent permacamping like the FBBS in LGuk. They modified the original two dragons Naggy and Vox to prevent camping by hi-level players so the little guys could get a chance. I agree with these "nerfs" - they were necessary because folks were abusing thier power at the expense of the weaker players game enjoyment.

As I said, I love the game of EQ (and probably will like Star Wars too) and I expect the visioneers to try to make sure everyone has fun... life is not a challenge when it's handed to you on a silver platter.

Re:1st dibs

[guybarr]

Without the training, you're just a schmuck who can masterbate with no hands.

w/o training ? that sounds quite dangerous. Maybe that's why jedis don't marry.

whats the engine?

[SirSlud]

i dont follow everquest (after quake/teamfortress ruined my chances at an elec eng degree, no harm done) ... but whats the engine underneath this new Star Wars MMPORMGPROGSPORMPG? Somebody told me it was just a modded EQ engine, so isn't this more like an expansion pack or 'skin' rather than a whole new .. oh god dont make me try to figure out the anagram again ..

Re:whats the engine?

[SirSlud]

>Acronym? :)

Yeah, I knew I got that wrong. An anagram is just another word with the letters rearranged, right? :P I have a brain freeze, thanks for the correction.

> Calling this a new 'skin' of EverQuest is akin to calling Robert Jordan's /The Wheel of Time/ a new 'skin' on /The Lord of the Rings/.

So I take it its a totally new engine unto itself. Cool, I wasn't sure.

BTW, I'm interested in hearing about success people have had in playing these games casually. I'm a massive FPS junkie, so I'm just recovering from that .. a little scared to try anything related to the term 'Evercrack'.

Do you know anybody that plays these things like .. 5, 6 hours a week, or is it going to draw in most of its players for heavy use gaming?

One more thing, OT for the game nerds .. Metroid Prime is the best game I have ever played. Ever. And I'm a huge gaming nerd. This is a system seller. If you liked Super Metroid, I've NEVER come across a sequel that pushed the state of the art to the bleeding edge while keeping every single element from the original that made it awesome. It is the pinnicle of gaming and should be required playing for anybody interested in figuring out how to hit *only* the high notes of game design.

Re:whats the engine?

[kfx]

BTW, I'm interested in hearing about success people have had in playing these games casually. I'm a massive FPS junkie, so I'm just recovering from that .. a little scared to try anything related to the term 'Evercrack'.

It's probably in the FAQ, but as I remember it they are designing the game to be accessible for casual and hardcore players both... that was one of the reasons they are using a skills based system instead of levels, so a casual player can get a skill point here or there from a quest without having to spend assloads of time on the game leveling.

Re:whats the engine?

[duggy_92127]

It's a completely new engine that's been in development for a long time now. This is not EQ2... this is the good stuff from the first generation of MMORPGs, with a lot of the bad stuff removed, and a ton more really cool stuff added in. I've been following the dev forums, and it's been very exciting.

For example, we all know that in EQ no matter how many 1st level characters attack a 20th level character, he's not even going to feel it, and it would only last as long as it would take him to attack each noob once. In SW:G, a noob certainly can hit and harm a high-level character, he's just less likely to; he'd loose the fight pretty much every time. But if a bunch of noobs gang up on a high-level guy, the big guy's going down, and hard.

Just an example of how the game play will be different. Plus, you can own your own house that you get to place yourself, perhaps with static defenses (like a gun turret); you can own a shop and have an NPC sell product even while you're off-line; 'spawn points' are implimented as 'nests', which tend to spring up in places where there are no players, and then spawn herds/groups of baddies.

Basically, a very dynamic world. I'm very excited to play in it.

Doug

Massive Star Wars Fans

[Anonymous Coward]

There sure must be a lot of MASSIVE star wars fans.
You know the kind who complain about conventions giving away medium sized bat utility belts.. ;)

Re:Massive Star Wars Fans

[Reziac]

That why in fandom, Tshirts come in Large, Extra Large, and Faanish Large. :)

link

[Anonymous Coward]

http://starwarsgalaxies.station.sony.com/

Re:link

[InfoVore]

http://starwarsgalaxies.station.sony.com/

"You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy. We must be cautious."

No, wait. I was thinking of http://slashdot.org/

(Just kidding Taco.)

I.V.

Good Lord!! QWZX

[Anonymous Coward]

Has anyone stopped to consider the effect this will have on Slashdot? We're talking about Star Wars geeks suddenly having a system that they can plug into 24/7 and utterly leave what little reality they have.

That means that visits to Slashdot could drop precipitously.

No traffic means VA systems could collapse!

DAMMIT MAN DO I HAVE TO SPELL IT OUT FOR YOU??

Star Wars universe => Star Wars geeks leaving Slashdot => No Slashdot traffic => CmdrTaco et al no longer being able to say 'Yeah, but we have traffic! The profit will come in eventually!" => Slashdot collapsing => CmdrTaco losing his job => CmdrTaco's wife leaving him => CmdrTaco committing suicide!!!

Save CmdrTaco's life! STOP THIS INSANITY AND SHUT DOWN THE STAR WARS SERVER!!

(won't someone think of the taco??)

Re:Good Lord!! QWZX

[fenix down]

Come on now, "Commander Tacowalker" can always just set up a /. server inside the game, so your character can post on Slashdot through the Holonet. This just opens up the door for /.ers to ascend to the level of meta-loser. Think of it... nerds sitting in their dank hovels playing Star Wars Galaxies, where their wrinkled, green Jedi avatars sit in their own dank hovels posting on /.

It almost brings a tears to your eyes...

...from the stink, I mean.

Sony?

[doublesix]

I notice this is being published (?) by Sony. Does anyone know if there'll be a PS2 version?

No, this is not another "Jar Jar sucks" rant

[JJAnon]

It seems to me that keeping a Jar-Jar like character in the game is one of the smartest things that LucasArts could do - just from reading the posts on this thread so far, I can see that there are likely to be a large number of people who play the game just to see if they could kill Jar Jar.

Re:No, this is not another "Jar Jar sucks" rant

[Shade, The]

Frankly, I doubt people will care.

"Meesa Jar-Jar Bin-"
*Jedi jumps out of the trees, yelling "Die Jar-jar scum!*

-Respawn-

"Meesa Ja-"
*BOOM!*

-Respawn-

"Mee-"
*Head blown off by a well aimed blaster*

-Respawn- ...

I'd be surprised if they could get Jar-Jar to last for more than a few seconds without some player lopping his head off with a lightsaber.

Re:No, this is not another "Jar Jar sucks" rant

[Shade, The]

Attack of the Jar Jars! You'd get them overrunning planets, swarming over defenses with nigh indestructability. *Shudder* The horror!

(Btw, there was a similar problem with wolves in UO, wasn't there? Though I quit playing UO almost as soon as I got it. My connection was too laggy, and it wasn't worth the monthly costs for me.)

Yet Another Never Ending game....

[CodePyro]

Anyone else here feel that games based of ever quest are really not worth buying, in fact i think that the bottom line for the new star war game is how much is it going to be? Although this is a new twist in the heavily saturated market of games based on "Star Wars"....

Replacing Everquest?

[insanecarbonbasedlif]

The only problem is, if this replacing Everquest as people's new addiction, we'll need to come up with all new insulting derivatives based on drugs and illicit activites!

"Yeah, I finally quit playing EverCrack..."
"Why don't we see you out and about more?"
"Cause now I'm playing Star Whores..."

Re:Replacing Everquest?

[ctr2sprt]

I know, and we'll have to come up with more insulting nicknames for the pathetic, lifeless losers who sit in front of the computer all day playing EQ-alikes.

(As opposed to the nicknames for the pathetic, lifeless losers who sit in front of the computer all day playing Natural Selection, which would include me.)

Re:Replacing Everquest?

[meringuoid]

"Cause now I'm playing Star Whores..."

You don't want to play Star Whores. You want to go home and rethink your life.

Expansion packs

[thing_in_itself]

Where is "Star Wars Galaxies: Hot Date"?

Re:Expansion packs

[daeley]

Where is "Star Wars Galaxies: Hot Date"?

It's scheduled for release right after 'The Hutts: Livin' Large' comes out. :)

Re:Expansion packs

[HP LoveJet]

I want "Mos Eisley: Vice City".

Re:Expansion packs

[Geeyzus]

Where is "Star Wars Galaxies: Hot Date"?

Maybe they will appeal to the /. crowd and come out with Star Wars Natalies: Hot Grits!

Mark

Re:So you walk around and kill things?

[gamgee5273]

As long as they still publish strong games (Rogue Leader for the GC is great, Bounty Hunter looks cool), LucasArts isn't going anywhwere. And, since Sony is developing Galaxies and LA is publishing it I expect the Everquest fiends to be ready to jump.

The BBC versus Amazon.com

[Chasuk]

The BBC is reporting that Lucas Arts is putting the Star Wars universe online this December.

I normally trust the BBC, but I think they are wrong on this occasion. According to details on Amazon.com, Star Wars Galaxies will be released on February 14, 2003.

It will be NO EQ..not for awhile, anyway.

[unicron]

The thing that makes EQ so much fun is the game is so utterly massive and everything you see and everyone you talk to just might have something for you to do. Quests are what make mmmorpg's so much fun. And what do quests get you? That's right, ph4t l3wt. For EQ their are two types of players: those that play to get the best gear in the game and liars. So if Galaxies wants to survive past it's 6 month, it will need to add some uber mobs that drops +5 Light Sabers of the Headless Mofo. The drive to keep playing EQ is that someday you will walk back into your starting town decked head to toe in Vex Thal and Snake Temple gear and watch the newbs shit themselves? Then when they ask why you don't have your epic weapon, you say you banked it because you got better.

Re:It will be NO EQ..not for awhile, anyway.

[kindbud]

The thing that makes EQ so much fun is the game is so utterly massive and everything you see and everyone you talk to just might have something for you to do.

Fetch me a boat anchor.

Quests are what make mmmorpg's so much fun.

Deliver this silver pail.

And what do quests get you? That's right, ph4t l3wt.

+3 Adamantine Helm of Laughingstock, schweet!

Re:It will be NO EQ..not for awhile, anyway.

[will_die]

mobs do not drop any items except for thoses that can be used for crafting, and the completion of missions.
Also you have no magical items, and the only buffs are thoses you get from eating food and drinking.

Star Wars Galaxies Official FAQ

[ancarett]

People have been waiting on this for ages: it will bear a strong resemblance to Everquest thanks to having the same development team from Sony/Verant. Here's the Star Wars Galaxies Official FAQ and, the answer to the all-important question from page three of the FAQ:

3.03 Will I be able to kill Darth Vader?

At this point, you will probably not be able to kill Darth Vader, but some players may have the opportunity to interact with him. We would like to adhere to the continuity as much as possible; Vader is key to the trilogy, so you probably won't be able to kill him (like you would really stand a chance against the Lord of the Sith anyway...)

Re:Star Wars Galaxies Official FAQ

[p3d0]

I thought Vader was the apprentice, and Emperor Palpatine was the lord.

Jar-Jargonized headline

[CatWrangler]

rppp01 writes "The BBC report'in that Lucas Arts putt'in the History of The Rise an' Fall of the Galactic Empire universe online this Decemb-a. Go here to read all about it. Mee-sa know lots of Gungans who now start'in to leave Everquest. this the next everquest? wee-sa have massive Star War fans call'in in so-sa woosy everyday in attempts to become jedi? Jar Jar be friend or foe?"

Weesa all sinking and no power.

Courtesy of the Jar-Jargonizer that translates online text into Jar Jar speak.

Some mistakes

[Anonymous Coward]

Some mistakes in that article. There's already a fourth Monkey Island game. I guess they're saying they're making a fifth?

And as for Grim Fandango being a cartoon... that does not do it justice. If you haven't played it, hunt it out for one of the richest, most wonderful adventure games ever.

massive Star War fans?

[marick]

Will we have massive Star War fans calling in sick everyday in attempts to become a jedi?

Do you work with Jabba the Hut?

Re:Imagine what characters would go for on E-Bay!!

[Archfeld]

bet you can't...bet Luke, Han, Solo, Princess and a whole slew of other words are reserved to avoid anyone impinging on George Lucas's domain and invoking a $tar War...

Never played an MMORPG

[Boone^]

I've avoided Everquest & DOAC simply because I don't care for their themes.

I'm afraid that Galaxies, however, will do me in.

Re:Never played an MMORPG

[Phrogman]

Actually, some of the design seems to draw on the unique design of DAOC in some respects. DAOC was the first to introduce Realm vs Realm combat (where players belong to one culture permanently at war with 2 other cultures (Vikings, King Arthur's English, and the Celts of Ireland), and SWG evedently has a similar 3-sided conflict (Empire, Rebels and the Underworld) updated to suit a science-fiction universe. Player-vs-Player combat is hardly a new thing (UO had it) but DAOCs version of it is remarkably effective

Dark Age of Camelot (See http://www.darkageofcamelot.com for some information on the game and http://www.camelotherald.com if you want the game scores for each server and individual) was a very clever development in the world of MMORPGs and while its got its problems, its a very enjoyable game overall. A new expansion called Shrouded Isles will be out in in December. I have been playing DAOC since the day it came out and I haven't lost interest yet.

I hope that Verant/Sony learns from their experience with Everquest and develops a more rounded game. The Star Wars intellectual property is very well developed and deserves a good game. Sadlly, Verant has not been the most responsive of companies in the past.

I am looking forward to SWG immensely. It may be the game to pull me out of DAOC, but its gonna have to be a lot more than just eye-candy to do so.

Re:Never played an MMORPG

[analog_line]

I play DAoC as well and I'm actively looking forward to SWG's release, but not because I want to play it at all. I'm not at all interested in playing with the vast majority of Star Wars geeks who'll nitpick every little detail and be even more hardwired into the game than Everquest addicts. I want SWG to come out, because I want all the whining idiots that play DAoC, who constantly proclaim that "SWG will roxors over this supid game!!@!!!," to either leave and leave the rest of us the hell alone or shut the hell up about it and play the game.

Re:I'm having trouble deciding....

[RatBastard]

I'll be delivering your package by hand, solo.

Smart move

[blincoln]

This is probably the ultimate MMORPG license. Unless someone comes out with one based on Monty Python and the Holy Grail, I'm sure Sony and LucasArts will have cornered the market.

Re:Smart move

[harlows_monkeys]

This is probably the ultimate MMORPG license. Unless someone comes out with one based on Monty Python and the Holy Grail, I'm sure Sony and LucasArts will have cornered the market

How about Star Trek? There's probably room for an MMORPG there.

Some classic SF could be interesting. For example, Asimov's Foundation series, or Niven's Known Space series. The ringworld alone has room for a rather large game.

There's also alternate history, which is what Mythic is doing with their next MMORPG. That one will be set in a galaxy where the Roman Empire survived, and became a galactic empire.

I'm strangely unexcited by SWG. For me, Star Wars is something to watch, not something to do. It's only really interesting to me in that they are supposedly using much of the same engine the EQ2 will use, so as an EQ player, I'm curious to see it.

Re:Smart move

[blincoln]

How about Star Trek? There's probably room for an MMORPG there.

Trek was originally part of my triad of ultimate MMORPG licenses, but I realized that there would be a huge liability - no matter *how* the game worked, there would be masses of people complaining that it didn't follow the canon for one reason or another.

Fantasies can bend the rules, because the mindset of the fans is different. You can't go out and buy "The Knights Who Say 'Ni!''s Guide to the Holy Hand Grenade," with diagrams and pseudo-physics that "explain" the whole thing.

The Star Wars Writer Conglomerate has dabbled in this recently, but IMO it's not part of the core experience like it is with Trek.

Personally, I'm not into online gaming at all. I'm just a bit jealous of the cash that Sony and LucasArts are going to rake in with this product =).

Jar-Jar would be fun to code

[Anonymous Coward]

Jar-Jar should have a special skill in the game called BDL - Blind Dumb Luck. Whenever you try to kill him, his BDL kicks in. You fire your blaster at him and he cringes, but the shot miraculously passes between his tongue and his ears, ricochets off fourteen walls, a stagnant pond, and a black hole, and comes back to hit you right between the eyes. Jar-Jar makes an annoying comment while you sit at your monitor, teeth clenched in apoplectic fury. Oh yeay. With work and a good programmer this guy could be made INTERACTIVELY annoying!

Yes.

[_ph1ux_]

Play this game, I will.
but not a lot of time have I
too expensive for me it may prove.

Re:Yes.

[antistuff]

Not funny you are.

sounds rather slow

[dslbrian]

From the article:
Mr Sarris said that the Mos Eisley spaceport on Tatooine, where Luke Skywalker first meets Han Solo and Chewbacca in Episode IV, will take a game character 55 minutes just to walk across, let alone fully explore.

Now thats a slow server...

Re:New Everquest?

[Gyorg_Lavode]

Um, They are actually developing an Everquest 2 to come out next year. You can read about it at sony's site and watch some videos at IGN

Re-read the article.

[unicorn]

Bounty Hunter, is a PS2 only game. It QUITE clearly mentions Galaxies, as being a game for PC's.

Insightful?!

[Shade, The]

Why is the parent post modded up as insightful?! I would insult the moderator stupid enough to mod the parent, but he's probably wearing a black ski mask and on his way to sabotage the Lucasarts Star Wars servers by now.

looks good to me

[Hythlodaeus]

The development team for Star Wars Galaxies is mostly comprised of former Ultima Online developers. The lead designer is Raph Koster, formerly known as Designer Dragon of UO. They made a prototype space game for Origin to brand as Wing Commander Online, but that was about the time EA (Origin's parent company) gutted Origin down to just the UO team and rolled it all into the EA.com division. EA tried to assign Koster's space team to the Sims Online, but they wisely made a deal with Verant to make a Star Wars game. Thus Verant's Austin division was born. There's no code in common with Everquest.

Re:this is nice

[C0LDFusion]

Actually, there are a great number of rare items. They may not be "magical", but they can be "rumored" or "legendary". Like, imagine the hubbub if someone could get their grubby hands on Yoda's tiny lightsaber, or a couple of Spaarti cloning cylanders. I'm sure Ysalmri will be quite popular among outlaws, too, and you really can't get them in too many places.

If I was a Jedi, I'd want a purple Mace Windu lightsaber, but I'm going to get the game and probably be a smuggler. I'd rather be a Han Solo (and get some ass) than be Luke Skywalker (and get nothing).

"I seek Jedi wisdom..."

[ncc74656]

Will we have massive Star Wars fans calling in sick everyday in attempts to become a jedi?

If you have a Palm, this would be cheaper than what's likely to become the next Evercrack...

Want to buy an MMORPG Subscription!?

[Maul]

Dealer: Want to buy an MMORPG subscription?

Obi-Wan: You don't want to sell me an MMORPG subscription.

Dealer: I don't want to sell you an MMORPG subscription.

Obi-Wan: You want to go home and rethink your life.

Dealer: I want to go home and rethink my life.

Lucas is aiming to kill fair use.

[MisterSquid]

I think /.'ers concerned about their rights online and also in the domain of fair use should consider not giving another red cent (or silver pfenning, or ridged dracma, etc.) to any business concern directly promoted by Lucasfilm and/or Lucasarts.

Yesterday, /. ran an article about Fox CEO Peter Chernin's call to media and tech companies to work together to combat piracy. Some /.'ers speculated that Lucas's suggestion that media and tech companies form an alliance to prevent piracy is, at best, a disingenuous one. For example, in one post, RobotRunAmok suggested that Lucas is playing the "misguided artist" to Valenti's "evil fat cat suit," the implication being that Lucas is an evil fat cat. In another post, Jippy_ points out that "[s]aying that there won't be film of merit or quality without there first being movies of flashy repetitive garbage" is just plain bad logic.

Lucas would sell our fair use rights down the river if he thought he could make a bigger buck. His last three films stink (he's proven himself to be the much inferior artist compared to his peer Spielberg), and though he is pioneering digital production and delivery, he doesn't seem to understand that such technologies work best when they facilitate rather than obstruct fair use rights.

What really disturbs me is that Lucas--his very person a monument of excess--uses environmentalist language to protect his profit margins. Sure, digital film in the long run may be more environmentally friendly than celluloid, but that's hardly a justification to compare the market forces which drive popular cinema to an endangered ecosystem! The NYTimes has an article that quotes Lucas as saying:

I am begging for co-operation. There are unintended consequences of piracy. If piracy is not stopped, the rainforest of the entertainment business ecosystem will collapse.

If the movie industry, with its increasing resemblance to the recording arts industry and its cozying up to those who would revoke our fair use rights, can be compared to a rainforest, then I say clear cut the whole damn thing.

Re:Lucas is aiming to kill fair use.

[ceejayoz]

he's proven himself to be the much inferior artist compared to his peer Spielberg

Please explain how one can be inferior to one's peer?

Re:Lucas is aiming to kill fair use.

[Minna Kirai]

Peers don't have to mean perfectly equal. Someone's peers are the people similar enough to a person that her behavior and accomplishments can be judged (by herself and others) as relative to them. Children with 2 years of age difference are often called peers. "I'm worried that Susan is falling behind her peer group"

In this case, Lucas and Spielburg are both highly successful directors of blockbuster action films, nearly 60 years old and with thin grey beards to show it. By broad descriptions they're very much alike, but still Spielburg will be favored by any high-class film critic.

Re:Lucas is aiming to kill fair use.

[Reziac]

Just to add to your points (which in my observation, are absolutely correct):

Most Slashdotters won't remember this, but back in 1977-78, when the first StarWars fanfic hit the streets, Lucas went absolutely ballistic and tried quite seriously to stamp it out.

Naturally it just went underground, and after a few rounds of legal whack-a-mole, Lucas grudgingly allowed as how maybe fanfic and his copyrights could peacefully coexist**, mainly because he was smart enough to recognise fanfic as free advertising. But if he could control it, he would still stamp it out. Even so, LucasArts HAS nixed "unauthorized" fan clubs.

** So long as there's no sex. To quote Lucas, "There is no sex in the Star Wars universe." That's why SW slash fanfic is still underground.

Re:Lucas is aiming to kill fair use.

[Minna Kirai]

He managed to fool a lot of them with Shindler's List and Saving P Ryan. Lucas hasn't had anything as well-recieved by the hoity-toity crowd since 1974.

the greatness of these games lies in freedom.

[herrd0kt0r]

don't miss the point: it's not just about popping online and fragging some doods. the greatness of games like star wars galaxies lies in the ability of the player to do pretty much whatever he/she wants.

nevermind that previous MMORPGs were limited in terms of what you really _could_ do feasibly. the idea that you could be an Expert Basketweaver and survive in the game is pretty nifty. why? because it lets people enjoy their time doing what they wanna do.

i used to play everquest. i was on the test server. i didn't go around power leveling and camping for stuff all the time. my idea of fun was to be Emperor of the server and have my minions deliver their hard-earned booty to me. it was a fun game, because i got to play with friends (flesh-and-blood friends, mind you) and goof around.

that's right. i was Noodles VII, Emperor of Norrath, founder of the Furious Foodstuffs. with my comrades, Turnip, Pickle and Caper, we spread joy and goodwill unto the world. in return, they paid me taxes.

it was enjoyable. i got to do what i wanted to do. of course, after i modified my desk chair to accomodate a chamber pot, had my electricity shut off cause i didn't pay the bills, then again converted my desk chair into a power-generating bicycle to keep my machine on to play everquest, i realized that there are things more important than everquest in life.

like booze. and the money to buy booze.

but nevermind all that. i don't plan on playing star wars galaxies, but the idea of becoming Fukkit, cousin of Wikket, Master Jedi of the Forest Moon of Endor, appeals to me. it calls to me. just imagine how powerful you could be as Fukkit, Cousing of Wikket, Master Jedi! you could be KING.

that other ewok eating all your food?
You don't want to eat those grubs.
"I don't want to eat these grubs."
You want to give those grubs to me.
"I want to give these grubs to you. Here."

that stupid AT-ST ruining your forest crib? /me force jumps on top of the AT-ST /me force opens the hatch /me whips out my lightsaber /me flips out.

that damn lEEthax0r playing a human princess shunning you?
Yo, j00 r gonna make teh sw33t luv 2 me.
"i r g0nna max0rz out wif j00."
dun worry, i furry, but i never in a hurry for a bebe like j00.

even han wouldn't be as smooth as me.

Re:the greatness of these games lies in freedom.

[Skip666Kent]

the greatness of games like star wars galaxies lies in the ability of the player to do pretty much whatever he/she wants

Well what if I want to...pop online and frag some doods? Will that be an option?

Jedi w/ light saber Buy It Now! ($350)

[Nazghal]

I can just see ebay now Not born with mitochlorions in your system? Don't want to mess with all that training and discipline to become a jedi? Having to much fun dabbling in the dark side to get accepted to jedi academy? No problems! You are bidding on this rare opportunity to instantly become a jedi. Light Side Comes with free light sabre (blue) Please check my feedback and bid with confidence. I accept Paypal, Check, Money Orders.. Bid early and bid often! May the force be with you!!

Re:Rite

[Maskirovka]

And why would it be limited to only the Dark Side? You never noticed Qui Gon's annoyance with that dirty, lizard-like, sewer dwelling, lisping idiot (RMS)?

Savage Mutilation is a traditional darkside responsibility, due to the following requirements:

strong stomach
lack of ethics
willingness to 1st degree burn jar jar's tounge so that it hangs out permanently and gets infected
severing jar jar's limbs so that he can't move
Hitting his eyes with a microwave glue gun so that they pop
rinse and repeat , with hunting expeditions to naboo

Does this mean...

[Anonymous Coward]

...cybersex with Natalie Portman? OMFG!

I hope Verant have learnt from EQ

[DrXym]

EQ started off well, but was utterly ruined by its topheavy nature and Verant's seeming total indifference to fixing fundamental game problems. Four years on and the UI still sucks, the game mechanics have not changed noticeably and unless you're a twinker spending hours playing a day, repetitively learning trade skills, running from one end of the world to other for some NODROP item, camping for hours for a spawn you'll never advance far. For a while it feels like fun, but after a while it dawns on you that you're just repeating the same actions over and over.

I hope for their sake that Star Wars: Galaxies is different. Fix the damned bugs rather than compounding them, don't let the game economy be screwed, don't let the game get topheavy, and have a 'live' world where there is no need to camp spots or waste hours waiting for something to happen.

Re:I hope Verant have learnt from EQ

[Obiwan Kenobi]

For a while it feels like fun, but after a while it dawns on you that you're just repeating the same actions over and over.

I don't mean to get all philosophical here, but doesn't that sound like life?

Or, at the least, The Sims?

(Yeah, that was a joke)

Re:I hope Verant have learnt from EQ

[Sycraft-fu]

I think this is a very major worry for many people is that Verant will just go and make another EQ. I think it is a very legitamate worry given the success of EQ. EQ succeded because it was one of the first to really take off. For a long time EQ was kind of it when it came to MMORPGs. Well now that's not the case any more, and as time goes on there are only going to be more and more. I have a feeling if EQ got introduced today, with current graphics of course, but the same game and mentality, that it would fail rather miserably.

Well this could prove a problem for EQ2 and Galaxies. Companies often assume that since they succeded, it means that they have a winning formula and should just continue with it. This is espically true in the case of EQ since having an on the spot bug team, good CS reps, and a dynamic world requires a lot more resoruces than what they have now.

Verant needs to really be careful with Galaxies. It has the potential to be really huge since the Star Wars liscence is going to really draw people in, but they aren't without competition these days and it just keeps growing. IF=f they screw up badly, the game will fail no matter how coll the Star Wars theme is.

Re:I hope Verant have learnt from EQ

[DrXym]

If I had to pick a MMPORG comparable to real life (excusing the fact you're killing dragons etc.) it would be Dark Age of Camelot, since it really brings across the sense you're in a vast world and the world is alive around you. To be truthful I dumped DAoC after 30 days because of other faults such as the pointless loot system, however I loved the UI (intuitive, easy, great at hight resolutions), and the ambient atmosphere of the place, the mythology, and the level advancement. The place felt alive, which brought it much closer to real life than EQ by miles.

By contrast EQ has a terrible UI, atmosphere consists of people /auc'ing and the mythology feels like a shoddy Lord of the Rings ripoff. I could forgive all that if the gameplay were compelling, but it isn't - camp, kite, loot, /auc, camp, kite, loot etc. There is no variety at all and Verant don't seem intent on adding any - new zones with the mobs & npcs acting in the same dumb repetitive way as the old ones is not variety. Furthermore, rather than make the game more interesting for everyone by improving the engine (e.g. not letting mobs walk through walls, adding group behaviour, weapons/armour that need repair etc.) they just slap in some more L50+ zones with uberloot to further destroy the economy and think that's sufficient.

That is my fear for Star Wars: Galaxies. I also notice their website already talks about the first expansion which leads me to believe they've thrown out a lot of the planned functionality in the first cut. I wonder if the release is going to be the disaster that Shadows of Luclin was.

Re:I hope Verant have learnt from EQ

[Erasmus Darwin]

"Fix the damned bugs rather than compounding them, don't let the game economy be screwed, don't let the game get topheavy, and have a 'live' world where there is no need to camp spots or waste hours waiting for something to happen."

It's been awhile since I've read the FAQ for this project, but what I read indicated some interesting approaches to some of the economy/camping problems. A good deal of equipment will apparently be player-created using minerals that have randomly generated stats (that affect the items made with them). Minerals will have a finite supply -- when a given minerals used up, it's replaced by another supply that spawns with different states in a random location.

Furthermore, items decay, so your Foobarzonite-based blaster will become worthless once it breaks down and there's no more Foobarzonite left in the Universe. At that point, one of the builder-types will have to design a new blaster based on what is available.

Depending on how quickly items decay and how quickly minerals are used up, this is one of the following possibilites:

1) A bunch of tedious bullshit that will cause players to waste all their time looking for equipment
2) A complete joke that sounds good on paper but really won't affect anything as the power players will all have personal hordes of enough of the good minerals to last them forever
3) A nice balance that doesn't impact gameplay yet keeps players from all having identical, perfect items; it also keeps the crafter classes heavily involved in gameplay

Choice number 3 is obviously the ideal that they're shooting for, but I could see it drifting to either 1 or 2. I suspect some post-release tweaking will be necessary, and I have a feeling that they'll also need to figure out how to make the numbers scale based on server size (and player class distribution -- if a server has a disproportionately high or low number of crafters, that affects balance).

Just think

[Anonymous Coward]

The largest unruly mob in history, armed with blasters, ion cannon and starships, pursuing Jar Jar from planet to planet, wreaking untold virtual havoc in the process.

A 24-hour a day, non-stop lightsaber melee involving thousands of virtual padawans fighting over the Millenium Falcon.

Thousand-capital-ship attacks on the constantly respawning Death Star that make Episode VI look like a weekend at the lake.

Screen-capture demos of dozens of screaming, wild-eyed rebel scum crashing into the Emperor's throne room and throwing everyone into the reactor vent: the scarlet guards, Vader, Luke AND the Emperor, right after pulverizing Endor with the main weapons.

Yeah. Sounds great. I'll pass.

(and people complained about Diablo. HAH! Ain't seen NOTHIN' yet)

Jar Jar

[loconet]

Why do people hate Jar Jar?

3,2,1 .. go

Alch Maflo Has spoken...

[flogger]

Time to whip out those Star Wars Name Generators.

Re:this is nice

[cmdr_beeftaco]

I'd rather be a Han Solo (and get some ass) than be Luke Skywalker (and get nothing).
Do you have any idea how pathtic that sounds? Star Wars is about the stuggle between good and evil. It's about facing your greatest fears. It's about looking right into you father's eyes and forgiving him for the sexual abuse when you were 12. Hope I didn't spoil Episode 3 for anyone.

Character class balance

[xixax]

So in the intersts in getting a universe not composed entirely of Jedi knoghts, will the most powerful character end up being an Ewok bountyhunter with droid specialisations?

Xix.

Will Jar Jar be friend or foe?

[erik_fredricks]

Jar Jar will be PK bait 8-P

Seriously, all dark-Jedi in training have to start practicing that long-distance choking trick on somebody...

They should let Romero do the ads

[IIRCAFAIKIANAL]

Prepare to be made Jar Jar's bitch!
Suck it down!

I'm sure it will sell it well :)

What about Warcraft?

[jcsehak]

You're forgetting about World of Warcraft. This promises to kick EQ's ass. Unfortunately, it's going to be at least a year or two until it comes out.

Re:Nope

[ceejayoz]

Numbers and other punctuation are not allowed

Hmm... what about characters that have apostrophes in their names? IIRC there are a number of those in the SW universe...

Re:this is nice

[ceejayoz]

I'd rather be a Han Solo (and get some ass) than be Luke Skywalker (and get nothing).

Actually, Luke's married and has a child on the way (Mara Jade is pregnant) in the newest books.

Space Combat???

[trotski]

The first question that popped into my mind is: How are thy going to do the space combat??

I mean, you can hardly have a Star Wars while sitting on a planet can you? There are going to have to be several planets modeled as well as the facility to travel, and persumably fight in space. I'd imagine you'd not only need a 3rd person view just like ever quest, but you'd need some sort of space simulator, like wing commander or something. The Star Wars universe has to be far more expansive than Ever Quest or any other MMPORPG before it. Either way, it's going to be very exciting... can they pull it off properly?

Course, I won't be subscribing, 20 bucks a month can buy a lot of beer.

Re:this is nice

[C0LDFusion]

I don't count the books, but I have to admit, Luke got the better end of that one, but I'm pretty sure Luke's kid's going to be one messed up brat.

Umm...

[Mr. Spleen]

Will we have massive Star War fans calling in sick everyday in attempts to become a jedi?

A massive Star Wars fan doesn't have to call in sick. He already "works from home" and is, in all probability, a shut-in.

Homer: "Vent radioactive gas?" [types] Y E S.
"Sound alertness horn?" Y E S. [it sounds in the distance]
"Decalcify calcium ducts?" Well, give me a Y, give me a...Hey!
All I have to type is Y. [to Marge] Hey, Miss Doesn't-find-me-
attractive-sexually-anymore: I just tripled my productivity!
Marge: Good. Good for you.
Homer: Y. Y. Let's see, so many letters to choose from. I'll pick Y!
Y. Y. [sees SLH] Wha -- what the heck are you doing over there?
[Pushes SLH down to the floor.]
There, you found the floor.
SLH: Arf!
Homer: Y, Y, Y. Y. Y.
Marge: I'm going out, I run errands during the day.
Homer: Could you pick me up a lemonade and a beer?
[The door slams.]

"Blind Dumb Luck" = The Force

[No Such Agency]

What, you thought Jar-Jar Binks was just a clumsy idiot? He's a clumsy idiot who survived being at ground zero of a planetary invasion, went from being an exile to hooking up with two Jedi, and made it through the droid battle alive despite having no combat skills. I think he's got a subconcious control of some very serious Force power. Too bad he's too old to train...

Re:"Blind Dumb Luck" = The Force

[Reziac]

Obviously so. After all, he's clearly mind-controlling YOU. ;)

Nope.

[Anonymous Coward]

You fools. Jar Jar single-handedly delivered the crumbling, pathetic Republic into the hands of someone who could bring peace, jobs and a good retirement plan to billions if not trillions.

The Empire rocks. The Rebellion is a group of those nasty T people. Death to the Rebel scum! Remember Yavin!

Star Wars Combine

[Syn404]

Or, if you'd rather not shell out a monthly fee in addition to the initial cost to play a Star Wars RPG, there are a couple free alternatives - The Star Wars Combine or Star Wars Unleashed, which is based on SWC. Neither are entirely complete yet, but then, the programmers and admins aren't getting any money out of it and both games run on personal funds and donations.

Star Wars Holiday Special?

[webword]

Will the Star Wars Universe reflect the Star Wars Holiday Special?

Wrong solution

[Galvatron]

What they really ought to do is make Jedis too weak in comparison to other characters. Sure, there'd be enough people who REALLY want to be Jedi that they'd still have a bunch, but if it were easier to advance as a non-Jedi, then they should end up with a good balance.

Re:Nope

[ceejayoz]

Whoops, left out a bit... what about multiple apostrophes? They're less common but I could swear there're a few names with XX'XXX'XXXX style punctuation. :-/

How will they model the autocracy?

[Goonie]

As I understand it (haven't played them so I'm not sure) Everquest and the like were quite free-form. However, the Star Wars universe, as well as any number of clans and races who fall into temporary alliances, contains one huge, honkin, authoritarian Empire. Now, I'm sure that military and civilian leaders in the Empire had all sorts of extracurricular activities going on, but how do you model the obligations of being a cog in the Imperial wheel in a MMORPG? Or does the game simply ignore this aspect of the Star Wars universe?

Feh on Star Wars, bring me monkeys!

[ChaosDiscord]

...being developed [is] the fourth instalment in the Monkey Island series of games.

Oh, they torture me so. For a brief moment I thought I could expect a New Monkey Island game. But then I realized that the fourth game is already out...

(Shameless plug: want to play the old 2d Lucasarts adventures but your system isn't compatible (lacks ancient sound card or video card or DOS), or you want to play under Linux or on your WinCE box? Try ScummVM! (Requires legal copy of original games.)

I have already set aside funding

[mao che minh]

I have already set aside funding for 3 months worth of subscription fees, a new motherboard and CPU, and more RAM. I shall be "Jedi Master Jerry Jigglenuts", I already have it all planned out.

Flight sim

[Animats]

Do we get a flight simulator for Coruscant, with the entire planet-sized city available?

Not really

[Sycraft-fu]

Star Wars is VERY popular and that is going to help this game out, no doubt, BUT a big nam isn't the deciding factor. Different people like different kinds of games, and different subsets of games. If it was as simple as a liscence we'd have nothing but Jedi Knight in the FPS genere. Plenty of people are going to want to play a different type of MMORPG.

Re:Calling in sick to who?

[telstar]

"Let me calculate here how long that leftover scholarship money will last on cable internet and SWG fees- I'll find an employer after that..."

• The way the economy is going ... make sure you save enough for version 2.0.

Re:Why it won't work

[Zordak]

I've laughed out loud at a Slashdot post maybe three times in my life. Heck, I even have moderator points. Unfortunately, I can't mod a reply to my own post. Somebody mod this guy up to "+5, The All Too Sad Truth."

The *perfect* release date?

[Dephex Twin]

According to details on Amazon.com, Star Wars Galaxies will be released on February 14, 2003.

Valentine's Day... what a brilliant idea! All the players will be certain to have this day open!

Google News just got interesting! :-)

[Jugalator]

I found this to be amusing. :)

Re:this is nice

[andyt]

as far as the tiny lightsaber. why would you want it? it is not built for you it is built for yoda.

1) Get Yoda's lightsaber.
2) Get a crossbow.
3) Attach lightsaber to crossbow bolt.
4) Go deep sea fishing on Naboo with your super-deluxe "Light Harpoon".

55 minutes...

[Andy Dodd]

Just to cross Mos Eisley

What about reaching another planet?

They really should think about the balance between realism and gameplay - IIRC, one of the big rants I've heard about Everquest is travel time. It's also a rant to some degree in Dark Age of Camelot, which isn't as bad, but is bad enough, especially for one realm. (A key part of DAoC is realm vs. realm combat - It happens that one realm (Albion) has their best XP location at the *EXACT OPPOSITE* end of the realm from the RvR frontiers, while the other realms have good XP spots right near or in the frontiers, meaning Alb is severely disadvantaged in response time.)

Don't worry.

[artemis67]

Save CmdrTaco's life! STOP THIS INSANITY AND SHUT DOWN THE STAR WARS SERVER!!

We've already got a man on the inside; he works on the movies, and he's pretty high up (his first name is George; I can't tell you his last name, lest I blow his cover). One more prequel like the first two, and the Star Wars fan base will be completely dried up.

MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA....

Scepter of Intellect

[Andy Dodd]

The item in the subject is an item in DAoC.

It's a Lv15 item which means that stats-wise, it sucks.

The thing is:
a) It's RARE. Doesn't drop often, and only drops from mobs that people rarely hunt.
b) It is treated by the game as a staff (equippable by casters), but it looks like a mace. As a result, it's often referred to as the "caster mace" - It is the ONLY non-staff weapon that a caster can equip.

As a result of its rarity and uniqueness, people have paid 2-4 platinum (A LOT of money in DAoC, which doesn't have the economy exploits that EQ does) for one of these maces, simply because it's a status symbol.

Re:released in december? unlikely

[krinsh]

I'd agree with you; but these are Star Wars fans we are talking about; and very likely hardcore SW and MMORPG players. They are cashing their unemployment check first thing in the morning, buying what amounts to groceries, and playing the heck out of this beta. If there are 80-120 hours per player per week instead of 20-40 hours per player per week, then they are getting a lot more data. The dev team and pre-release folks, etc. etc. are probably working double-overtime, maybe even on a pro bono until the release basis, in order to get this out in time so that it will be bought up by the masses for Christmas.

Once the pre-orders start; what do you bet the lines at stores that take pre-orders for it will be out the door and around the corner of the next major corridor of the mall?

Except for a couple of people that I know are really hooked on E&B, several folks are planning on shutting down all their other MM games and going to SW: Galaxies. Lots of folks I know quit EQ for Dark Age then went back; but are planning on retiring when this game arrives. Of course, I think EQ is also provided by Sony so the revenue stream so they'll just be retaining customers; but I'm even guessing that there will be a special rate to subscribe to both games if this is the case - 18.95 instead of 12/14 whatever it is.

Re:This sounds great

[jafuser]

until you run into Jedi Master Sk8rsRulz or some such nonsense like that that invariably happens in MMORPGs.

I seem to remember reading somewhere within the huge SWG FAQ that this will not be allowed...

Re:This is the same RIAA MPAA Sony, right?

[jafuser]

Simple to counter-balance... Just set up a recurring monthly donation to the EFF. I've been sending them $25/month for a while now. I can go watch a movie with friends without feeling guilty about funding the MPAA.

Re:Why it won't work

[Reziac]

[eyeing Confederate money auctions on Ebay] Not a problem. Just make sure it's all One Dollar bills and coins, they're worth more!!

I knew it!

[Shade, The]

It's a conspiracy!