Why not get SW Rebellion or one of the X-wing or Tie-Fighter games if that's what you want, then? Those are pure space combat, since that is the 'definative' Star Wars for you. Above all, MMORPGs are RPGs. Role. Playing. Games. That means character building, and it's hard to do that other than in very specific ways when everyone is jetting around in their own fighter.
Now look, I'm looking forward to interacting with people while hanging out on a Mon Calamari as much as the next Bothan, but there's more to Star Wars than space combat, and more to Galaxies than mindless level building. Realizing that, it should be clear that there's an entire game to enjoy, rather than one point to lament.
Honestly, guys can be a lot more attracted to a fully dressed woman than a nearly nude one. The thrill of what might be under the clothing triggers the imagination, and that sets us going. With skimpy clothing, well sure, the girl's hot, but there's nothing to whet the 'ole imaginative appetite on.
Actually, it's nothing like EQ with SW races. If anything, it's more like UO with SE races, and even that is not quite accurate. I posted above about it, and you can check it here.
Besides, player owned spaceships will be added. And there is, in fact a war going on, but it's a conflict that involves all the PCs, many of whom may be fighters, but aren't paid soldiers. They're more like mercenaries. Mercenaries don't get paid for randomly killing each other any time, so right now there's no open PvP. Later on there will be 'battle zones' where it is, in fact open battle between the factions, a full scale PvP war.
Think of it this way: The game starts out with you as a refugee. How the hell do you expect to own your own spaceship within seconds of arriving on a planety while completely destitute? And how often do you randomly go around slaughtering people because they annoy you? This is designed to be a world-building experience, but mass-murderers need not apply. One can freely duel with other players (which earns you both XP), so why the pressing need to kill them off? Or are people just whining because they need the ability to grief at will?
Sure, all the patches may not be ready, but the game is kinda designed in a way that they don't need to be ready for a while.
SWG is not EQ. Many people jumped at the thought of grouping and nuking and avoiding trains with Jawas and Lightsabers instead of Spectral Callers and Claymores, but that's not what SWG is about at all, nor should it ever be.
Galaxies, you see, is not merely another copycat MMORPG. Many games say 'what did EQ and Anarchy Online and DAoC doright?' and then copy it. Galaxies knew that their game would be different, so instead looked for the parts of those games that were bad and avoided them. Hear me out. I know the level treadmill is fun. I have many friends who love MUDs, and once a year I find a cool MUD, play it obsessively for three or four days, and then never touch it again because the newness wears off. Everquest is a graphical MUD. Just look at it for more than ten seconds and this becomes immediately apparent. MUD-likes celebrate the level-treadmill, the never-ending cycle of 'kill stuff, get phat loot, kill bigger stuff, get phatter loot, and so on ad nauseum,' and Galaxies sets out to avoid that. In essence, it's more like UO than EQ. The experience systems are dynamic and interesting, the character interactions varied, and the graphical engine scalable. As time goes on and hardware improves, the game gets prettier. I think, instead of digital crack, they've made a higher-class, more refined product for addiction.
Granted, some people like the level treadmill. I don't blame them, it's plenty fun in its own right, but I think SWG has the capability to become what every other MMORPG dreamed of, a completely immersive alternate environment.
Honestly, the gaming magazines knew that fans were interested and they went after stories. LA didn't go around hounding people yelling 'take our story!' I know that I bought a random computer gaming mag for an almost completely content-free five-page spread on the game. Companies realize this, and advertise it like madmen.
Understanding this, realize that LA did not, in fact, hype their game to hell. The release was very quiet on their side. Heck, I didn't even realize it was out until my friend told me about it.
Also realize that gaming mags have a very focused view. Judging from your comments, you are up to date with these mags, and have seen the coverage they provide. Frankly, I'm not surprised that a gaming magazine is covering a game. Look at the rest of the world, in this age when videogames are advertised during theatre previews, there was barely a tremor of LA-initiated marketing.
Well, who cares about the hypothetical jerk? Provided you ensure that the next CD key he has is legal, it's like paying a ~50 dollar fine. Of course, odds are this same imaginary person would just find a Key generator or some such, but, hey, any action which might deprive a senseless jerk of their cash seems fine with me.
Besides, the real point of these quasi trials would be to protect the non-idiots who get complaints lodged against them. If they have lots of complaints, but there's no real evidence, then the 'court' would realize all the complaints are from griefers, and would watch the griefers instead. Could make the complaint-pattern backfire on them.
Hey, Gamer girls (or grrls, if you prefer) are certainly a rarety, but are hardly unheard of. I meet them all the time, and it's well worth it to strike up a friendship with them when you are lucky enough to meet one. They tend to be just as interesting as the rest of my friends, with the decided bonus that they are female.
Other people run five hours a day, or get a little pleasure reading done, some people game instead of doing those things, is what it's saying. Besides, I love gaming, and do it plenty, but I find I have lots of time for other amusements.
This survey is just confirming what most gamers have known for years, but now perhaps the unwashed masses will believe it.
Slashdot Mirror
Why not get SW Rebellion or one of the X-wing or Tie-Fighter games if that's what you want, then? Those are pure space combat, since that is the 'definative' Star Wars for you. Above all, MMORPGs are RPGs. Role. Playing. Games. That means character building, and it's hard to do that other than in very specific ways when everyone is jetting around in their own fighter.
Now look, I'm looking forward to interacting with people while hanging out on a Mon Calamari as much as the next Bothan, but there's more to Star Wars than space combat, and more to Galaxies than mindless level building. Realizing that, it should be clear that there's an entire game to enjoy, rather than one point to lament.
One could hope it would be a free patch from LA.
Ha! 'LucasArts' and 'free' used in the same sentence! Ha!
Honestly, guys can be a lot more attracted to a fully dressed woman than a nearly nude one. The thrill of what might be under the clothing triggers the imagination, and that sets us going. With skimpy clothing, well sure, the girl's hot, but there's nothing to whet the 'ole imaginative appetite on.
Oh well, I'm really off-topic anyhow, so g'night.
Actually, it's nothing like EQ with SW races. If anything, it's more like UO with SE races, and even that is not quite accurate. I posted above about it, and you can check it here.
Besides, player owned spaceships will be added. And there is, in fact a war going on, but it's a conflict that involves all the PCs, many of whom may be fighters, but aren't paid soldiers. They're more like mercenaries. Mercenaries don't get paid for randomly killing each other any time, so right now there's no open PvP. Later on there will be 'battle zones' where it is, in fact open battle between the factions, a full scale PvP war.
Think of it this way: The game starts out with you as a refugee. How the hell do you expect to own your own spaceship within seconds of arriving on a planety while completely destitute? And how often do you randomly go around slaughtering people because they annoy you? This is designed to be a world-building experience, but mass-murderers need not apply. One can freely duel with other players (which earns you both XP), so why the pressing need to kill them off? Or are people just whining because they need the ability to grief at will?
Sure, all the patches may not be ready, but the game is kinda designed in a way that they don't need to be ready for a while.
I think this game will appeal to many people.
SWG is not EQ. Many people jumped at the thought of grouping and nuking and avoiding trains with Jawas and Lightsabers instead of Spectral Callers and Claymores, but that's not what SWG is about at all, nor should it ever be.
Galaxies, you see, is not merely another copycat MMORPG. Many games say 'what did EQ and Anarchy Online and DAoC doright?' and then copy it. Galaxies knew that their game would be different, so instead looked for the parts of those games that were bad and avoided them. Hear me out. I know the level treadmill is fun. I have many friends who love MUDs, and once a year I find a cool MUD, play it obsessively for three or four days, and then never touch it again because the newness wears off. Everquest is a graphical MUD. Just look at it for more than ten seconds and this becomes immediately apparent. MUD-likes celebrate the level-treadmill, the never-ending cycle of 'kill stuff, get phat loot, kill bigger stuff, get phatter loot, and so on ad nauseum,' and Galaxies sets out to avoid that. In essence, it's more like UO than EQ. The experience systems are dynamic and interesting, the character interactions varied, and the graphical engine scalable. As time goes on and hardware improves, the game gets prettier. I think, instead of digital crack, they've made a higher-class, more refined product for addiction.
Granted, some people like the level treadmill. I don't blame them, it's plenty fun in its own right, but I think SWG has the capability to become what every other MMORPG dreamed of, a completely immersive alternate environment.
Sure it sells well, but can they maintain it?
Definately.
Honestly, the gaming magazines knew that fans were interested and they went after stories. LA didn't go around hounding people yelling 'take our story!' I know that I bought a random computer gaming mag for an almost completely content-free five-page spread on the game. Companies realize this, and advertise it like madmen.
Understanding this, realize that LA did not, in fact, hype their game to hell. The release was very quiet on their side. Heck, I didn't even realize it was out until my friend told me about it.
Also realize that gaming mags have a very focused view. Judging from your comments, you are up to date with these mags, and have seen the coverage they provide. Frankly, I'm not surprised that a gaming magazine is covering a game. Look at the rest of the world, in this age when videogames are advertised during theatre previews, there was barely a tremor of LA-initiated marketing.
See where we're coming from?
They see starwars, they see that thought went into it, they go and buy it. (And, hey, the game is good, so why not?)
Well, who cares about the hypothetical jerk? Provided you ensure that the next CD key he has is legal, it's like paying a ~50 dollar fine. Of course, odds are this same imaginary person would just find a Key generator or some such, but, hey, any action which might deprive a senseless jerk of their cash seems fine with me.
Besides, the real point of these quasi trials would be to protect the non-idiots who get complaints lodged against them. If they have lots of complaints, but there's no real evidence, then the 'court' would realize all the complaints are from griefers, and would watch the griefers instead. Could make the complaint-pattern backfire on them.
Hey, Gamer girls (or grrls, if you prefer) are certainly a rarety, but are hardly unheard of. I meet them all the time, and it's well worth it to strike up a friendship with them when you are lucky enough to meet one. They tend to be just as interesting as the rest of my friends, with the decided bonus that they are female.
Other people run five hours a day, or get a little pleasure reading done, some people game instead of doing those things, is what it's saying. Besides, I love gaming, and do it plenty, but I find I have lots of time for other amusements.
This survey is just confirming what most gamers have known for years, but now perhaps the unwashed masses will believe it.