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Living with Darth Vader

Posted by timothy on from the daily-basis dept.

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?"

59 of 417 comments (clear)

  1. Sounds rather interesting by Sheetrock · · Score: 3, Insightful

    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?

    --

    Try not. Do or do not, there is no try.
    -- Dr. Spock, stardate 2822-3.




    1. Re:Sounds rather interesting by SirSlud · · Score: 4, Insightful

      > 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.

      --
      "Old man yells at systemd"
    2. Re:Sounds rather interesting by JJAnon · · Score: 5, Informative

      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.

    3. Re:Sounds rather interesting by silicon_synapse · · Score: 5, Informative

      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.

  2. Jar Jar by Alizarin+Erythrosin · · Score: 5, Funny

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

    "Me sa no drinky your beer!"

    --
    There are only 10 kinds of people in this world... those who understand binary and those who don't
  3. Don't abuse... by Espectr0 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ...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

    --
    Open Source Java Web Forum with LDAP authentication
    1. Re:Don't abuse... by Zordak · · Score: 5, Insightful
      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.

      --

      Today's Sesame Street was brought to you by the number e.
  4. This is not news by Photon+Ghoul · · Score: 4, Informative

    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.

    1. Re:This is not news by kbonin · · Score: 5, Informative

      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.

  5. It's a nice idea... by Twister002 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    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

    --
    "For a successful technology, honesty must take precedence over public relations for nature cannot be fooled." -Feynman
    1. Re:It's a nice idea... by Zordak · · Score: 5, Funny
      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?

      --

      Today's Sesame Street was brought to you by the number e.
    2. Re:It's a nice idea... by Khomar · · Score: 4, Interesting

      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.

      --

      I believe in de-evolution. God made the world perfect, man fell, and its been going downhill ever since!

    3. Re:It's a nice idea... by Gogo+Dodo · · Score: 3, Informative
      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.

    4. Re:It's a nice idea... by Zordak · · Score: 5, Funny
      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.
      --

      Today's Sesame Street was brought to you by the number e.
    5. Re:It's a nice idea... by silicon_synapse · · Score: 3, Informative

      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.

    6. Re:It's a nice idea... by jafuser · · Score: 3, Funny
      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?
      --
      Please consider making an automatic monthly recurring donation to the EFF
    7. Re:It's a nice idea... by jafuser · · Score: 3, Informative
      • 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... ...
      --
      Please consider making an automatic monthly recurring donation to the EFF
  6. Jar Jar? by Maskirovka · · Score: 5, Funny
    Will Jar Jar be friend or foe?

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

    1. Re:Jar Jar? by mgs1000 · · Score: 5, Funny

      And how exactly is that evil?

    2. Re:Jar Jar? by Taos · · Score: 3, Funny

      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.

    3. Re:Jar Jar? by silicon_synapse · · Score: 4, Funny

      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.

  7. PS2 only ? by Choron · · Score: 3, Funny

    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...

    --
    "Naughty, naughty, naughty, you filthy old soomka !"
  8. 1st dibs by kingOFgEEEks · · Score: 5, Funny

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

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

    --
    mechanicos ergo cogito
    1. Re:1st dibs by unicron · · Score: 3, Insightful

      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.

      --
      Finally, math books without any of that base 6 crap in them.
    2. Re:1st dibs by Codifex+Maximus · · Score: 3, Interesting

      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

      --
      Codifex Maximus ~ In search of... a shorter sig.
    3. Re:1st dibs by unicron · · Score: 3, Informative

      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.

      --
      Finally, math books without any of that base 6 crap in them.
  9. whats the engine? by SirSlud · · Score: 4, Interesting

    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 ..

    --
    "Old man yells at systemd"
    1. Re:whats the engine? by duggy_92127 · · Score: 3, Informative
      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

  10. Massive Star Wars Fans by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    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.. ;)

    1. Re:Massive Star Wars Fans by Reziac · · Score: 3, Funny

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

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
  11. Good Lord!! QWZX by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    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??)

  12. Sony? by doublesix · · Score: 4, Interesting

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

  13. No, this is not another "Jar Jar sucks" rant by JJAnon · · Score: 3, Funny

    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.

  14. Replacing Everquest? by insanecarbonbasedlif · · Score: 4, Funny

    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..."

    --
    Just because I doubt myself does not mean I find your position compelling.
    1. Re:Replacing Everquest? by meringuoid · · Score: 3, Funny
      "Cause now I'm playing Star Whores..."

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

      --
      Real Daleks don't climb stairs - they level the building.
  15. Expansion packs by thing_in_itself · · Score: 5, Funny

    Where is "Star Wars Galaxies: Hot Date"?

    1. Re:Expansion packs by daeley · · Score: 5, Funny

      Where is "Star Wars Galaxies: Hot Date"?

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

      --
      I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhauser gate.
    2. Re:Expansion packs by Geeyzus · · Score: 3, Funny

      Where is "Star Wars Galaxies: Hot Date"?

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

      Mark

  16. The BBC versus Amazon.com by Chasuk · · Score: 4, Interesting

    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.

    --
    Neopets - the best free game on the Int
  17. Star Wars Galaxies Official FAQ by ancarett · · Score: 5, Informative

    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...)

    --
    ancarett, historian and zombie gamer
  18. Jar-Jargonized headline by CatWrangler · · Score: 5, Funny
    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.

    --

    ---
    When you come to a fork in the road, take it! --Yogi Berra--

  19. Smart move by blincoln · · Score: 4, Insightful

    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.

    --
    "...always new atoms but always doing the same dance, remembering what the dance was yesterday." -Richard Feynman
    1. Re:Smart move by harlows_monkeys · · Score: 5, Interesting
      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.

  20. sounds rather slow by dslbrian · · Score: 5, Funny
    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...

  21. looks good to me by Hythlodaeus · · Score: 3, Interesting

    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.

    --
    For great justice.
  22. Re:this is nice by C0LDFusion · · Score: 5, Informative

    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).

    --
    Only in slashdot are posts of solidarity modded at -1 Redundant, while posts of antagonism are modded as -1 Flamebait.
  23. "I seek Jedi wisdom..." by ncc74656 · · Score: 3, Informative
    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...

    --
    20 January 2017: the End of an Error.
  24. Want to buy an MMORPG Subscription!? by Maul · · Score: 5, Funny

    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.

    --

    "You spoony bard!" -Tellah

  25. Lucas is aiming to kill fair use. by MisterSquid · · Score: 4, Interesting

    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.

    --
    blog
    1. Re:Lucas is aiming to kill fair use. by Reziac · · Score: 3, Informative

      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.

      --
      ~REZ~ #43301. Who'd fake being me anyway?
  26. the greatness of these games lies in freedom. by herrd0kt0r · · Score: 5, Funny

    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.

  27. Re:Yes. by antistuff · · Score: 3, Funny

    Not funny you are.

    --
    Mess Stuff Up
  28. I hope Verant have learnt from EQ by DrXym · · Score: 4, Interesting
    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.

    1. Re:I hope Verant have learnt from EQ by Obiwan+Kenobi · · Score: 3, Insightful
      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)

  29. Character class balance by xixax · · Score: 3, Interesting

    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.

    --
    "Everything is adjustable, provided you have the right tools"
  30. Will Jar Jar be friend or foe? by erik_fredricks · · Score: 3, Funny
    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...

    --

    THE GOOD HUMOR MAN CAN ONLY BE PUSHED SO FAR
    Bart Simpson on chalkboard in episode 2F18

  31. Re:Never played an MMORPG by Phrogman · · Score: 4, Informative

    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.

    --
    "The first time I got drunk, I got married. The second time I bought a chimpanzee, after that I stayed sober" Arian Seid
  32. Re:link by InfoVore · · Score: 3, Funny
    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.

    --
    "These laws they're passing won't even compile anymore, let alone execute." - anon
  33. How will they model the autocracy? by Goonie · · Score: 3, Interesting

    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?

    --

    Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from a rigged demo
    --Andy Finkel (J. Klass?)