massive update to Star Wars Galaxies admits defeat

I still hold fast to my belief that Star Wars Galaxies was the best MMORPG I've ever played. Looking back through past writings, it read like an emotional rollercoaster where my fondness for the game fluctuated drastically over a short period. Through five months of playing, I was exposed to an incredible variety of roleplaying experiences, high-level monster hunts, and taking part in producing average-level goods for the game world's economy. I was quick to dismiss the Jump to Lightspeed expansion as the first nail in the game's coffin, because the mechanics of the land and space-based portions of the game felt so disparate. I didn't want a twitch shooter, I wanted an extension of my adventures planetside. Though in hindsight the "X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter" model is probably the only way it could have been done in such a small timeframe. Three expansions later Star Wars Galaxies has changed dramatically, to the point that players started leaving in droves.

the sound of many enraged...wookiees

The Star Wars Galaxies expansion pack I alluded to the other day is called Rage of the Wookiees. A mild surprise, to be sure, but that's probably because I was expecting something a little more...exciting. Then again, they've already covered the jump into hyperspace, so what else is there besides adding a few new planets or playable races from the films?

According to the announcement, both land and space around the Wookiee homeworld of Kashyyyk will be added, along with many new missions to go along with this new locale. In their contribution to the slave trade, the evil Trandoshans have set up several camps, and it will be the duty of players to either put and end to it or see that it flourishes. This ties in with one of the settings of the upcoming Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, as well as one of the missions in Republic Commando.

I find it a bit ironic that Episode III is going to be using Kashyyyk as a setpiece, because that was supposed to be the setting for the endgame of Return of the Jedi. Up until Chewie was established in a late draft of Star Wars as a technologically aware being - and a remarkable mechanic - Wookiees were to be a race of savages. In fact, that whole sequence where the Ewoks take on the Empire was supposed to be with Wookiees. After A New Hope Uncle George felt he was kind of screwed - there was no way people would believe that Wookiees would fight with rocks and logs after they'd seen him fire his bowcaster or fly the Millenium Falcon. To this day I still believe that Wookiee plush toys would have sold equally well, but that's neither here nor there.

Also added in the expansion will be some new space faring vehicles, the most notable being Anakin's Jedi Starfighter As Seen In The Film. This sounds like such a movie tie-in doesn't it? I thought Galaxies would be able to avoid this kind of cross marketing, since it's a game that's been out for a while already. Due to the nature of its dynamic content though, I guess it was a valid target. It's also pretty transparent that Lucasarts is calling the expansion "Episode III" - I mean, Jump to Lightspeed had "Episode I" right on the box. I know that they're counting from the first release of Galaxies, but really, does the promotion have to be this obvious?

Players who enjoy the space based missions will now be able to take on "space mining" missions, where you can harvest resources from asteroids and contribute to the land based game's economy. This is a great idea, and a step in integrating the two completely different experiences. Another addition is the ability for players to add cybernetic components to their characters, that will in turn offer improved abilities that are more than likely related to your performance in combat. Why this was done is anyone's guess, because the cybernetic enhancements look far too crude to mesh with the period Galaxies covers in the Star Wars timeline. When Luke gets his new hand at the end of Empire Strikes Back, it's clearly meant to be an extension of his existing body. In this new expansion, it seems that these enhancements are meant to look like enhancements, instead of adding a feature in the game to allow characters to improve on their stats without any visible side effects. But maybe I'm just nitpicking.

I'm not sure if this additional expansion was such a great idea, but I think Star Wars is experiencing some kind of fallout with the fans that it recollected after the new action figures and novels came onto the scene in the early to mid 90s. This kind of game and media integration will keep Star Wars in the geek collective consciousness, and that's generally where they want to be. I just hope the playability of Galaxies isn't sacrificed again by a hasty expansion that does little to change the game's intrinsic shortcomings.

to smooth the unattractive truth

inform the troops Lord Vader has arrived

A setting as rich in content as the Star Wars universe, where the story is already embedded in the consciousness of gamers everywhere, allows the possibility of truly seamless role playing in a game like Star Wars Galaxies. Next to its contemporaries, the quasi-modern setting of Galaxies allows people to just be their characters instead of worrying how they'll react to each situation in the technologically stunted worlds that form the basis for fantasy MMORPGs. Some of the most satisfying roleplaying experiences I've had in an MMORPG were in Star Wars Galaxies, because when the grind got boring you could always enjoy what the engaging community had to offer.

My initial reaction to hearing that the 203rd Tatooine Expeditionary Stormtrooper Legion was paid a visit by Darth Vader himself was one of derision. Next to the mass hysteria surrounding World of Warcraft, SOE must be really desperate to retain subscribers to pull a stunt like this. Based on Bruce Woodcock's MMORPG Chart, after just over three months of operation World of Warcraft has a significant hold over the current market, accelerating to 1.25 million subscribers. After a year and a half, Galaxies remains topped out at just over 250,000 subscribers. What happened?

I've discussed in the past the weaknesses that Galaxies has in comparison to the more traditional MMORPG. Galaxies is a job in the truest sense, and requires more time than is reasonable. To develop your character into something that's actually worth playing, you have to suffer through a grind that is both tedious and frustrating. The awards are all long term: become a master armoursmith by crafting millions of items, work your way through Jabba's ranks by taking on increasingly hard missions, or better yet, master multiple professions that may unlock your Force potential so that you can begin the long journey towards becoming a Jedi. To some, dedicating hours to this would seem ludicrous - we're playing a game here, right? It should be fun! Though I always saw it as a perfect adaptation of real life into the Star Wars mythos. Not all of the classes and occupations are glamorous, but they do have their place and make the game world that much more immersive. These store owners and tailors and shipwrights are controlled by real people.

If I was a member of that stormtrooper guild I'd probably feel very proud, but also a little relieved. Relieved that the constant drilling and patrols did actually serve a purpose, because there's no fucking way Galaxies was doling out any experience for that. This was roleplaying in its purest form: players living the life of a stormtrooper when the Empire still had its oppressive grip on the galaxy. Maybe they'll get some interested recruits as a result of this event, which couldn't come a more opportune time. SOE says that the Galactic Civil War is near completion, with updates allowing players to take sides and engage in the struggle to control the galaxy. It sounds like they've really thought about this system, and apparently the legendary Combat Revamp and an as yet un-named expansion pack will actually be released as well.

Sadly, this unplanned inspection by Darth Vader seems to be relegated to fan sites only - it wasn't even listed as a news item on the official Galaxies website. It's not like famous NPCs like this make an appearance every day - as they shouldn't - but this could have been used as a clever marketing tool to get people interested in the game again. Especially the former players that quit the game in frustration after broken promises and an inconsequential expansion pack. It showed that even seemingly insignificant devotion to this game might actually pay off.

So I'll take back my cynical comments, because I know that the dev team on Galaxies has taken a lot of shit from players over the past year and a half. It's nice to see them notice this die hard subset of the larger community. It doesn't correct the game's many underlying problems, but for that moment it at least provided a little context on why people wanted to play this game in the first place.

Jump to Lightspeed impressions

Soon after I joined Star Wars Galaxies, I enlisted myself in the Beta program for Jump to Lightspeed. Being a fresh recruit into the Galaxies fold, I envisioned this expansion as being the game's saving grace. How could SOE/Lucasarts make a better Star Wars MMORPG experience? Easy. Add in the spacecraft and dogfighting that made the movies so fun to watch and you've got yourself an instant hit. And for a good portion of the beta, I almost believed it. But after signing off the day before the expansion's official release last week, it hit me: Jump to Lightspeed is just a clever distraction.

preparing the jump to lightspeed

Having multiple email addresses can be quite hazardous, and I've been doing my best over the past few weeks to consolidate all former points of contact to this domain. Something possessed me to check one of my Hotmail accounts after a number of weeks, and I found a notice for acceptance into the Star Wars Galaxies: Jump to Lightspeed beta that I signed up for during the summer. The notice is almost a week old, categorized as spam, and was just few days away from permanent deletion. A stroke of luck or meddling with destiny? I'll let you know if the 2.5 GB download was worth it.

Regardless of my comments to the contrary, I'm not about to pass up this chance to check out what SOE is planning to unleash upon Galaxies players later this month. SOE's non-disclosure agreement tries to seem menacing, but I'll probably be posting some brief notes as they coalesce. One thing I will make a point of doing this time around - unlike my short time in World of Warcraft - is trolling the Beta forums, to salvage this spacefaring experience somewhat. From one night of play I can already see where this expansion is headed. It's really hard to avoid putting spin on this initial impression, but for anyone that's considering this expansion please play Freelancer and X-Wing Alliance first.

Shrouded negativity aside, I consider this opportunity another stroke of good fortune. I guess now I'm just waiting for my email from ArenaNet.

a full blown case

still waiting at star's end

When I first heard about the Star Wars Trilogy coming to the GBA, without seeing the game I immediately assumed that UbiSoft was simply publishing LucasArts' incredibly fun games for the SNES. After seeing these screens though, it becomes painfully evident that this is not the case. If anything, it looks like UbiSoft used the same engine found in the GBA version of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. Due for release in a couple of weeks, this game hopes to capture "all the exiting moments from the classic trilogy" in one game, while capitalizing on the release of the classic trilogy DVDs. The game looks as astoundingly terrible as Flight of the Falcon, and like an idiot I'll eventually give in to the Siren's call. This whole situation reminds me of the Star Wars Gameboy game that my friend stuck me with to replace my copy of Mario Land 2: The Six Golden Coins that his brother sold while on loan. That game was probably one of the worst I've ever played, and the only reason I forced myself to even touch it was deep resentment towards myself for ever lending Mario Land 2 out in the first place.

Adding to these feelings of betrayal is news about how Jump to Lightspeed is going to work. Sure, SOE is luring people in to pre-purchasing the game with a juicy guaranteed spot in the Beta this October, and an exclusive Naboo Flash Speeder to pimp yourself out in, but there is something about this ploy that absolutely reeks of "bait and switch". Going to the official SWG website, you can read all about how flying into space requires a visit to a terminal planetside, where you click "launch", are subjected to yet another loading screen and then suddenly you're floating in space. This might as well be a separate game, because as the design stands there is no real connection to the original planet-based game. With my initial fears confirmed, I doubt I'll be picking up the expansion, out of principle if nothing else. The game has way too many loading screens as it is, and to completely neuter what made the movies so exciting takes a lot of potential immersivity and further world building out of the game. I've definitely given Galaxies the benefit of the doubt, and I've done my best to see past the community backlash and empty promises from the development team on the vitriol-soaked bulletin boards. I wouldn't blame the development team entirely, though, as they're probably overworked to meet their deadline and secure more players before Blizzard does. As for the launch of Everquest II, the money is all going to the same place so I doubt it really matters. Galaxies does have some good qualities, though, and I'm not about to give it up just yet. I'm already starting a new character to become a Jedi as a result of the new publish. Nevertheless, the temptations brought by playing World of Warcraft will lead to a very tough decision this November.

Now, please excuse me as I dust the cheetos off of my Revenge of the Sith t-shirt.

don't play truth or dare

a fan-driven postscript

It's easy for me to sit here and praise the wonders of SWG, being a player that's been active for just under two months. It's also easy for me to say that I signed up at the perfect time, because I haven't had to put up with the loudly proclaimed hardships that the original game's subscribers had to deal with over the past year. Despite the largely negative reactions to the game upon its release, these people stuck through it thinking that their monthly fee will at least mitigate some of the many bugs and balancing issues that plagued it.

The player community has now reached a dull roar, as Slashdot Games refer to the SWG forums simply exploding with people waving their accounts around like some kind of hostage. The players have reached a consensus over the recent updates that have not addressed core gameplay issues and SOE's increasing focus on Jedi and the Jump to Lightspeed expansion. I can't really put myself in their shoes - but in the PC gaming industry the release now, patch later mentality is sadly all too common. This practice has permeated every stage of the development process such that games will actually advertise features that aren't even in the boxed product.

While I sympathize with both sides: the developers who have unreasonably split their resources across two major projects and the players who continue to accept the developer's empty promises and slipped Patch deadlines, there comes a point where you have to cut your losses and either pack up or weather the storm. I have not encountered anything particularly broken about the basic game, and though the Smuggler class apparently needs some work this does not affect my choice to pursue it. But I do agree with the players that argue that there is too much of a short term focus on the Jedi and Force Sensitivity, instead of balancing combat and putting a damper on the "god-like" Jedi characters. In fact, those Bounty Hunter missions that I mentioned before are rarely pursued, as it has become near impossible to successfully take on a Jedi. And the Galacitc Civil War, the so-called centerpiece of the game at launch, has been crippled and essentially pushed to the side until after the release of the new expansion.

Obviously there is a demand for Jedi characters, and the developers are working to meet this demand with the next major update: The Jedi Trials. The recent focus on fine tuning Jedi and Force Sensitivity was addressed in an interview with Hayden Blackman, producer of Galaxies and the Jump to Lightspeed expansion. I don't think anyone could have predicted the negativity that would well up in the wake of the interview, though, because the players took it as some kind of an insult at their expense. I share some of those sentiments, as this interview was mainly intended as PR to keep prospective players interested, and the less vocal players content with the hope of what's to come. Still, I think most players fail to realize is that Force Sensitivity will apply to all character classes, allowing a Marksman or Teras Kasi novice to further improve their skills without having to become a Jedi.

With the impending release of Everquest II and World of Warcraft, it's pretty clear that Jump to Lightspeed needs to be something special to avoid a massive exodus of players. Some of the previews recently released for Jump to Lightspeed on the official site have made me look at it a little more closely. Will space flight be limited to the regions just outside a planet's graviational field? If I want to fly to say, Naboo from Tatooine, will I get a loading screen or will I be able to employ hyperspace? If Lucasarts/SoE expects me to suspend my disbelief while I watch another loading screen and then all of a sudden find myself in space instead of jumping into my fighter and actually flying there, that would be an incredible cop out. I should also be able to use jump gates like in Freelancer, allowing me to travel large distances in short times. Space is huge - I want it to feel that way. Otherwise, Jump to Lightspeed may very well end up as some kind of insubstantial distraction from the main game.

getting crafty in Star Wars Galaxies

I must confess that every gaming related thought lately has been infiltrated by Star Wars Galaxies. With each session comes a new revelation, as if the game knows to expose itself slowly to keep players enveloped in its perpetual warmth. In my character's present state I can't imagine anything else except gettting those last few thousand Unarmed Combat experience points so that I can finally attain the status of Novice Smuggler. And yet, on the other hand, my skills as a builder of armour and weapons is being nurtured in parallel. The extent of the Wife's preoccupation with the game has materialized as well, albeit in a different format. I won't make the presumptuous claim that this game is for everyone, but if you find yourself interested from what you've read so far then there's no valid reason why you shouldn't be downloading the free trial right now.

secrets of the Force

Moving up through the ranks of Jabba's crime syndicate, it becomes increasingly hazy as to what my original intentions were in my character's development, because this is no way for a future Jedi to behave. Still, there was something appealing about addressing his corpulentness personally, while relaxing with the palace's many denizens. I've reluctantly accepted my lot as a future smuggler in the ranks of Jabba's cronies.

It's hard for me to determine what exactly drew me into Star Wars Galaxies, but I will freely admit to it rejuvenating my love for the Star Wars Universe. Much like the feelings that erupted during my playthrough of Knights of the Old Republic, it has made me appreciate the uniqueness of the setting and diversity of the planets I am free to explore. I'm sure it also has something to do with the need to achieve in most MMORPGs, which usually translates to grinding: a process that many players learn to despise after being forced to endure it to wield better weapons, wear more powerful armour, or craft more complex items.

As an alternative, I saw City of Heroes as being kind of an epidemic, using the utmost caution when encountering anything related to the game. The more I read about it, the more it seemed like a game that's filling a temporary need - and had more in common with the gameplay of Guild Wars than something like Everquest. I suppose there was something more inviting about adventuring across the planets and locations shown in the films that were so much a part of my growing up. Even The Wife, during her usual over-my-shoulder game watching, was enthralled by the prospect of creating her own avatar in the Star Wars universe. After spending roughly an hour creating her Rodian medic, I soon had a partner to hunt womp rats and run away from haggard looking bandits in the harsh deserts of Tatooine. I've basically found my niche until Blizzard decides World of Warcraft is ready for human consumption.

Once you've been inside the player ecosystem, it quickly becomes something you learn to depend on. You can only obtain weapons and armour if an Artisan has built some; you won't ever get that kind of stuff from most NPC/monster drops. Raw materials such as hides and minerals must be traded amongst Artisans and Scouts, so that they can create armour and clothing. If you are seriously injured in battle and lose a portion of your Health, Action, or Mind pool, you must be healed by a medic. Entertainers may encroach on new standards of geekery, but they do have a purpose - they cure battle fatigue, something that affects your ability to recover Health and Action pool points after combat. They can also add buffs to your character if you watch or listen to them for an extended period of time. As I said in my original post, there are ways of surviving in solo play by carefully selecting your professions. But there is still an underlying need to interact with other players, although not to the point that it hinders day-to-day gameplay.

I may have been a bit misleading about last week's official game publish, Secrets of the Force. It was mainly intended to convert existing Jedi characters to the new system that was put in place for the next publish - The Jedi Trials - and the Jump to Lightspeed expansion.

With Secrets of the Force, all existing Jedi players enter a Force Ranking System, which is essentially a ladder for PvP characters, allowing competition for prestige within the player's respective Jedi Order (whether they adhere to the Light or Dark side of the Force). Lightsaber crafting has become more of a prescision science as well - you will require a specialized Lightsaber Crafting Tool, where you can tune your Force crystals before constructing it. And this isn't just for blade color like creating your lightsaber in KotOR - you will be creating a finely adjusted instrument of retribution.

In a brilliant move, there is a possibility that bounty hunter quests are generated with each player's use of the Force or wielding of lightsabers, which increase the player's visibility as a Jedi. The cynical believed that bounties were a way of keeping Jedi players completely under wraps because of an incomplete implementation in the game; this concept has now fully developed into something entirely at home in the Star Wars continuum. Given the time Galaxies takes place, Jedi aren't exactly Guardians of the Galaxy anymore, and The Emperor wants to keep it that way. This also serves as a way to prevent the game from becoming massively multiplayer Jedi Knight: Jedi Academy, and preserves the uniqueness and mystery of the Jedi. Unfortunately, if you're looking to power grind your way to a Jedi character you're going to have to wait until the next publish, where specific Force-sensitive quests will become available to all players. This will allow you to unlock your character's Force-sensitivity without having to master any professions.

This is the type of stuff more MMORPGs should be doing. Instead of putting the money into new servers or administration, they are providing new, valuable content for players, and actually creating more opportunities to attract new users. Personally, I'm completely happy with my experiences in SWG thus far, and consider the time I joined to be ideal, almost tailored to my current gaming needs. There is a thriving game world that is constantly being balanced and shaped into a genuine Star Wars experience. I may not have been that forthcoming in my review, because my opinion of the game fluctuated dramatically in short periods of time. I even put off writing more about it since I've jumped in full time, as I was afraid that I might say something I regretted later. But I have no problems saying it now: Star Wars Galaxies is amazing.

the sun was always shining

punch it, Chewie!

The lack of space flight at the launch of Star Wars Galaxies further emphasized how little effort went in to making it a Star Wars game. Granted, you could take a shuttle or transport to anywhere on a planet's surface or another planet altogether, but your journey is restricted to a loading screen. It was also a giant tease to look up and watch Imperial shuttles fly over Mos Eisley, or see Imperial Star Destroyers orbiting the planet, reiterating the limits of the game. The Jump to Lightspeed expansion may finally increase the user base that SOE was aiming for initially. I have to admit I'm very interested: after trying out the Artisan class and improving my crafting skills, the new Shipwright class may further compliment this profession. After all, there is guaranteed to be a huge market for spaceships. I mean everyone will want to fly their own X-Wing or TIE Fighter during spacefaring missions, which will probably evoke the same style of play as X-Wing Alliance. I'm even starting to see this new dimension of gameplay as an extension of Freelancer - except in the persistent world that was originally intended. Being able to craft new components or upgrade your ship's weapon systems will certainly add more to an increasingly complex gameworld. Most significantly, though, entire career paths will become available to those that wish to spend more time in space, whether you want to run spice for the Hutts or defend the Outer Rim from the Empire. Some careful play balancing must be considered though, because the game can't become unappealing to remain on the ground, or allow players to spend too much time in space. Otherwise it turns into X-Wing vs. TIE Fighter, where only the twitch gamers prevail and roleplaying becomes irrelevant.

Also included in the expansion are specific Jedi skill paths and quests, instead of the completely obscure methods that made their way onto the internet late last year. Given what's involved with levelling up skills, I can only imagine how much time was wasted to figure out the correct path of progression. There will be a lot more Padawans running around, and given the time period the game takes place in this doesn't make a whole lot of sense and takes a bit of uniqueness out of the whole thing (if you're a stickler for Star Wars timelines, that is). But, it is a Star Wars game, and player demand for a Jedi character class was understandably high. Furthermore, knowing that this profession would be available right away, the game becomes more appealing for new players. In fact, you will be able to pursue the path of the Jedi as soon as the next game publish, Secrets of the Force. Jump to Lightspeed is a step in the right direction, and coupled with the official game publishes the developers are constantly building the universe into a truly engaging Star Wars experience.

cool beyond repair

a journey into Star Wars Galaxies

After playing Guild Wars I have to admit my interest in MMORPGs was made tangible. In order to drum up interest in the Jump to Lightspeed expansion for Star Wars Galaxies, Fileplanet offered up a free 14-day trial of the game a couple of weeks ago. Despite my previous inclinations to avoid this game altogether, curiosity got the better of me and I jumped into a queue. At 1.9 GB, I figure there was about 3 CDs worth of data to be downloaded. I would never have guessed that at the end of it all I would be trying to convince myself of reasons not to buy the game, or its expansion due in October.