Post-Anniversary, Star Wars Galaxies Analyzed 58
Darniaq writes "Sony Online's PC MMO Star Wars Galaxies has been out a year, as of late last month, when the official anniversary celebration occurred. But what's new? What's different? Grimwell Online has a in-depth analysis charting what's changed, what's good, and what's not, in SWG. They argue that, for folks who played it early on and left in despair or disgust, a lot has changed. However, it's still very much a game for roleplayers and those with dreams of moisture farming." Interestingly, the author explicitly suggests: "If [you] previously got burned out or annoyed enough to quit, now's a good time to re-subscribe."
Ugh.. (Score:5, Insightful)
I'm sorry but to be a year behind all of the die-hards (combined with my initial distaste of being out of ~50$ for a game that promised more than it gave) is more than enough for me to pass on re-subscribing.
contradictions... oh the contradictions (Score:4, Insightful)
the slashdot post:"However, it's still very much a game for roleplayers and those with dreams of moisture farming."
The more it changes, the more it stays the same (Score:5, Insightful)
It's really difficult to admit, because I wanted to love this game so much, but the whole structure just feels so flawed. All the fixes really haven't enhanced my gameplay experience. It wasn't the bugs that brought the game down, lots of people put up with them, it was the whole design of the game that makes it boring.
SWG really had a chance to be huge, they haven't had new high profile competition. That is coming in WoW and EQ2. If the Lightspeed expansion doesn't work out, then I doubt it will ever become anything other than a mediocre also-ran MMORPG.
Roleplaying? (Score:3, Insightful)
I'm sorry, but I never saw anyone who even attempted to roleplay during my stint in SWG. I eventually quit out of mindcrushing boredom, nothing else.
Re:That's Great... (Score:1, Insightful)
If you want to experience a MMORPG-type-game in an offline environment, you have a couple of options. Morrowind probably comes closer than any any other offline RPG to the pace and feel of a MMORPG. On the PS2, there's the
The point about MMORPGs folding is kind-of valid. It does happen and it's always going to be a risk with the smaller MMORPGs (I guess anything under 100k users has a potential risk, anything under 50k has a serious risk). However, consumers can insulate themselves against this risk by exercising an ounce of common sense. Don't leap into a MMORPG in the first few weeks; wait to see if it has launch problems severe enough that they have the potential to sink it. Try to get a feel for the player numbers and their general trend; FFXI and Galaxies aren't going bust any time soon. Everquest isn't in any danger right now, but considering its age, the trend from now on is probably going to be downwards. Eve Online also isn't in immediate danger and is even expanding slightly, but given it's kind of niche, it would only take a single player exodus to sink it. Planetside, Dark Ages of Camelot etc definitely have limited future prospects. Depressing though the thought may be, the best way to get a "safe" MMO experience is to follow the crowd.
Re:The more it changes, the more it stays the same (Score:2, Insightful)
Could I send you my home address and have you (and thousands of others just like you) mail me $15 a month? In return I promise to bore you just as well as Star Wars Galaxies! Really!
But... (Score:4, Insightful)
I do not want to suggest that my experience is the same as others. Many people love SWG and MMORPGs in general. They like the time commitment, the "grinding", the combat systems, crafting, etc. In the end, I had to face the same question that I read in a review. Is it fun?
I realized that I was not actually having fun. Instead, I was trying to achieve something in an artificial world that gave me no satisfaction back. In single player games, I compare it to a fiction book. I follow the story, actively participate to a large extent, but I know there is an end to the whole experience. With a MMORPG, there is no end, there is rarely any aspect of a story, and my active participation is almost entirely meaningless.
God knows I spend a lot of time playing computer games. I am not suggesting I consider them all wastes of time. However, when I finished Splinter Cell or Operation Flashpoint, I felt like I had been part of something more real. In a MMORPG, most of the environment depends entirely on others.
Yes, I had a lot of fun the first time I was in a group and we killed a Rancor. Yes, I had a lot of fun the first time I killed a Rancor myself. But when I could walk around killing any group of Rancors I found, the fun just ended. And it was at that very moment that I realized I could have more fun doing something else.
Does everyone have to feel the same way? Absolutely not. If that is your thing, enjoy it. For me, the answer to the question was finally clear. No, it was not fun.