Star Wars Galaxies

I'm sure this is an old subject, but having gotten into the 14 day trial recently with a friend (we both played pre-cu, I played almost from launch), I wanted to ask some things that we were asking:

- After all this time, why doesn't SWG have collision detection?  We're still walking through furniture like we did 5 years ago, we're still unable to hide behind terrain when something is shooting at us.

- After all this time, why doesn't SWG have a Z axis?  We still can't jump up onto or over anything, we still can't fall off of anything, we can still walk straight up sheer cliff faces. 

 - After all this time, why do the creature lairs have exactly the same "method" of destruction as they did 5 years ago?  We still "kill the roamers, hit the lair, kill the pops, hit the lair, kill the pops, etc.," exactly like we did then.  There's been no progress or improvement in this department in 5 years?

Really, these questions are more rhetorical, in order to make the point that I think the reason these things are still the same after 5 years is BECAUSE THEY CAN'T BE FIXED WITH THE CURRENT GAME DESIGN.  Whether a new engine is needed or whatever, if it hasn't been addressed after 5 years, it never will be.  So if it were possible, we should all leave the game, let it go away, and wait for development of a new Star Wars MMO.

Key words being "if it were possible."  I understand that some think that until a new SW MMO comes out, they will play in the only one available.  But is continuing to playing this game only serving to prevent that from happening? 

With all that said, my friend and I are enjoying the game somewhat, but only wish the above issues (which dampen much immersion) had been addressed since we last played. 

Rip

I have also been playing for some time SWG and really getting tired of it all finally. When I do leave I wont come back and that I think is for most players who have allready left long ago. SWG from what I saw brought more players into a mmo game 35 or older. Once they pissed these players off these players will never resub to this game or a new SWG game unless it was like it use to be and that wont happen.

Back on the subject the latest Summit that took place some of the questions the OP has here were brought up and this is what was said!

the reason why we don't have collision detection, as it was promised for november of 2006, is because the programs implemented it and then art discovered that collision for objects like walls was only ever designed for knee-level.  Raph Koster and his design team 8-9 years ago never designed the game with the ability to jump, so that's why the jetpack still bumps into rocks on the ground, because your collision box is just extended to the ground invisibly.  The team found that when they implemented jumping, you could get stuck inside an object because you "jumped" over the knee-level collision but couldn't get back out.

Originally posted by Rippentuck

I'm sure this is an old subject, but having gotten into the 14 day trial recently with a friend (we both played pre-cu, I played almost from launch), I wanted to ask some things that we were asking:

- After all this time, why doesn't SWG have collision detection?  We're still walking through furniture like we did 5 years ago, we're still unable to hide behind terrain when something is shooting at us. the devs said its too hard. They dont understand the base code and do not have the ability to modify it. They said this is not going to happen , ever.

- After all this time, why doesn't SWG have a Z axis?  We still can't jump up onto or over anything, we still can't fall off of anything, we can still walk straight up sheer cliff faces. see above

 - After all this time, why do the creature lairs have exactly the same "method" of destruction as they did 5 years ago?  We still "kill the roamers, hit the lair, kill the pops, hit the lair, kill the pops, etc.," exactly like we did then.  There's been no progress or improvement in this department in 5 years? Again see above.

 

Really, these questions are more rhetorical, in order to make the point that I think the reason these things are still the same after 5 years is BECAUSE THEY CAN'T BE FIXED WITH THE CURRENT GAME DESIGN.  Whether a new engine is needed or whatever, if it hasn't been addressed after 5 years, it never will be.  So if it were possible, we should all leave the game, let it go away, and wait for development of a new Star Wars MMO.

Key words being "if it were possible."  I understand that some think that until a new SW MMO comes out, they will play in the only one available.  But is continuing to playing this game only serving to prevent that from happening? 

With all that said, my friend and I are enjoying the game somewhat, but only wish the above issues (which dampen much immersion) had been addressed since we last played. 

 

Rip

SWG nly has a skeleton group of devs and not very experienced ones at that. They are not shy at telling us they do not know HOW to do those things.

Another reason may be no resources. Lets face it i dont know the number but there just arent that many playing SWG or paying for SWG.

$OE has never really been very open about what they CAN do , but are really quick to point out  what they can not do.

The red is my opinion from observation , not fact ,so no proof or stfu please lol.

*working as intended*

Originally posted by Vazi

I have also been playing for some time SWG and really getting tired of it all finally. When I do leave I wont come back and that I think is for most players who have allready left long ago. SWG from what I saw brought more players into a mmo game 35 or older. Once they pissed these players off these players will never resub to this game or a new SWG game unless it was like it use to be and that wont happen.

Back on the subject the latest Summit that took place some of the questions the OP has here were brought up and this is what was said!

the reason why we don't have collision detection, as it was promised for november of 2006, is because the programs implemented it and then art discovered that collision for objects like walls was only ever designed for knee-level.  Raph Koster and his design team 8-9 years ago never designed the game with the ability to jump, so that's why the jetpack still bumps into rocks on the ground, because your collision box is just extended to the ground invisibly.  The team found that when they implemented jumping, you could get stuck inside an object because you "jumped" over the knee-level collision but couldn't get back out.

 

The reason collision detection was dropped was because the vast majority of the subscribers canceled.  The subscription numbers are low enough that fixing the major problems with the game engine are not economically feasible.  It is the same reason the last expansion was cancelled and no further expansions were even under consideration.  It's the same reason most of what was promised at the initial post-NGE summits was never implemented. 

Originally posted by Obee

The reason collision detection was dropped was because the vast majority of the subscribers canceled.  The subscription numbers are low enough that fixing the major problems with the game engine are not economically feasible.  It is the same reason the last expansion was cancelled and no further expansions were even under consideration.  It's the same reason most of what was promised at the initial post-NGE summits was never implemented. 

Never mind the post-NGE promises: they promised collision detection within six months after the CU launch. Maybe they could have pulled it off if they were not so busy coding NGE behind our backs.

Okay, so if you guys are right about what they said, then wouldn't we all benefit by leaving the game and letting it wither on the vine and shut down?  Seems like leaving it would ultimately help pave the way for a new Star Wars MMO. The sooner this game is shut down, the sooner the license could be used again and development could start for a new game.

I know that some of you here would agree with that reasoning, but I also know there are lots of people who, despite what has apparently been said by the devs, still have hope for this game, and want to continue playing it. I can certainly understand that, it's really not as horrible a game as is often said, despite its admitted and apparently incurable weaknesses.

But those of you in that camp ought to consider whether or not you're only helping to delay (or even prevent) a better Star Wars MMO from being developed. I know it would be painful for many to see this game go (I have fond memories myself), but we may all benefit from it.

Does anyone have any solid idea how low the subscriptions would need to get in order to close down the game? I'm aware of the various arguments about what the current number is, but haven't seen anything definitive.

Rip

I personally don't see the big deal over collision detection or the ability to jump.  It's never been in the game to start with, that's just the way it was deisgned.  If anything, collision detection would just become a way to grief people.

Yes to the OP, letting SWG die would be IDEAL, we would get a new Star Wars MMO.

However, people like Obraik  and the others don't understand that and they continue to promote this game to the unexpecting public.  They are, in fact, the ONLY advertising SWG has.  It is our duty to offer truth to the lies they tell, and hopefully we will get a new Star Wars MMO soon enough.

Originally posted by Obraik

I personally don't see the big deal over collision detection or the ability to jump.  It's never been in the game to start with, that's just the way it was deisgned.  If anything, collision detection would just become a way to grief people.

Of course you don't mind...  Who cares that we can shoot through walls, run through each other, etc, etc, we can't jump, fall, or do any movements realistically...

Viral Marketing at its worst...