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10/16/08 5:19:19 PM#26
IMO... Of course it's a fake. The idea behind it is they are creating an expansion, but they fired/laid off devs. They have been dangling the Hoth carrot for a long time. The have been dangling the DC carrot for almost a year with nothing to show for it. Out of the blue they are supposed to have a fully renered cinimantic showing all the function of this expansion. Every video they release for promo is in HD letter box format. This one is in 4:3 ratio. Everything they show has been modled elsewhere. I have seen those ships modeled on quack forums as still photos. The SWG is quacking in open source development. All the tools to make this good looking video are available. They are giving away a free play time in desparation. A new competing SW MMO is coming. The last box pack failed to sale. The previous expansion was a huge mistake in the way it is released. It takes money they know they will not get back from mistrust of customers to make an expansion. To complete this they need devs. But SOE decides to fire more. How are they going to get this ready if they keep firing devs, send them to other projects etc... They can't because it doesn't exist. Just my opinion. 3 of the 4 ships are POB based. There have been problems with the UI controls in the video that people have pointed out as reasons it is fake on the Oforums. I could be wrong. But it just looks like some smart ass fan/vet trying to stir things up. "Suddenly, thousands of Trekies whose heads are full of facts of things like the stardate when the Cardassians farted on Deep Space nine are irrlelevant." - hardcoremoviecritic |
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10/16/08 5:27:15 PM#27
This whole thing reminds me of when these showed up on Youtube
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10/16/08 5:41:30 PM#28
actually looks like something they worked on before the nge because there is no way the morons working on the game could pull this off. |
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10/16/08 5:45:16 PM#29
Originally posted by tillamook
strange that massive is sony owned yet they couldn't get a firm "no" from within their own company. soe hoping to stir some interest with this i see... |
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10/16/08 6:24:29 PM#30
Originally posted by fordzilla
strange that massive is sony owned yet they couldn't get a firm "no" from within their own company. soe hoping to stir some interest with this i see...
Listen to the Voice Over...that sounds like my 13 year old nephew. ROFL! |
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10/16/08 6:33:43 PM#31
Originally posted by Wharmaster
LOL!!! Yeah, right....like I'd believe anything an SOE puppet said. Remember Mustafar? They sold us that crap RIGHT before the NGE. Sounds JUST like an SOE move, therefore, to sell it's few remaining players an expansion right before the game takes it's last shit. The only thing that I would believe is if SOE said that the servers will be permanently shutting down in 15 mins. |
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10/16/08 8:08:37 PM#32
Originally posted by Lateris
Yes, I guess Hoth, the latest Halloween event and all the previous instances just magically drew themselves...
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10/16/08 9:24:55 PM#33
Originally posted by Obraik
Yes, I guess Hoth, the latest Halloween event and all the previous instances just magically drew themselves... What does that have to do with what Lateris wrote? |
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10/16/08 10:28:18 PM#34
Originally posted by pdxgeek What does that have to do with what Lateris wrote? Well it means that Lateris says that the SWG art dept does not do anything anymore and has not produced anything of note since the Musty expansion. Obraik's reply was to point out just some of the great work that dept has contributed. Was that really hard to understand that? |
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10/16/08 11:47:31 PM#35
Originally posted by Gutboy
I think it's a fair bet SOE are using a generic art department for all games, it'd certainly explain how EQ style loot has cropped up in SWG. Padded Jacket of the Bantha... and so, completely irrelevent in the Star Wars universe, completely generic in mmo's though. I mean holy shit just look at that dumb back pack they added, that thing could have been lifted straight out of EQ. *If* they still have a dedicated art department working on SWG, they sure as shit don't give a flying fuck about the Star Wars franchise. ...The spread of secondary and latterly of tertiary education has created a large population of people, often with well developed literary and scholarly tastes, who have been educated far beyond their capacity to undertake analytical thought. |
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Originally posted by Obraik
Yes, I guess Hoth, the latest Halloween event and all the previous instances just magically drew themselves... Ok Matt lets engage this discussion as two players of SWG since closed beta on my end. I play on star sider and have made my peace with the NGE. I am sorry but the SWG art staff was cut down due to budget cuts over the last 5 years. Those that are left are just not as good as per say the artist who worked on Boba Fetts armor, Jump to light speed, and the beautiful planets such as Endor. I am merely saying that the quality that used to be applied to detail and artistic integrity that honored the legacy of Star Wars has been slacked off the machine. As a professional I don't care for the direction of the art and agree with many of Bad Mister frosty's reports concerning the art. The UI bar and the chat bar look terrible and do not flow with the rest of the game. with the artwork. However I think that Hoth looks like a rushed job when it comes to the textures. To be fair we have only seen the alpha phase of this instance. Besides I can always add my own texture mods which in fact have been applied to Tatooine, Lok, and Dantooine. In fact there is an amazing texture update that will revamp space coming from the Mod community that is alive and well. I am stating that SOE has dropped the ball on the quality of the artwork for SWG cutting corners for development time and expenses since the NGE. Where as indie developers have released texture updates per mods that cause less lag for the local client and has more detail then the current textures for Empire Divided.
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10/17/08 12:47:27 AM#37
Here's a screenshot of a chamber of the Exar Kun instance:
This is all new art, made just for this Heroic. I always thought it looked pretty good, but what do I know... The impression most have gotten is that the art deparment for SWG, or at least the willingness to create new art objects, has increased over the last couple of years. We've gone from having alot of the new items being re-skinned objects to most new items having completely new art objects.
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10/17/08 1:01:37 AM#38
Originally posted by Gutboy What does that have to do with what Lateris wrote? Well it means that Lateris says that the SWG art dept does not do anything anymore and has not produced anything of note since the Musty expansion. Obraik's reply was to point out just some of the great work that dept has contributed. Was that really hard to understand that?
Great artwork from the SWG devs? Not since Rage of the Wookies, especially in regards to equipment artwork quality, attention to detail, and weathering. Armor is a glaring example, since armor included since Rage of the Wookies is inferior in art quality to the original ones. Not one later implemented armor set has transparent visors on any helmet / hat / etc like Chitin Armor's helmet, nor open faced armor like Padded. Even JTL's Rebel Pilot Helmet was a laughable semblance to the movie versions. The visors were not transparent and it had a full face mask on. An obvious copout to make it easier to work on and not having to bother with allowing a Rebel Pilot's face to show. Then take a look at the best examples of original SWG art quality from faction armor: Stormtrooper & Scout Trooper Armors. Again, great attention to detail, subtle damage marks, weathering, yet still retaining a bit of "polish," especially Stormtrooper Armor. Scout Trooper Armor was much later implemented as equippable armor, but the artwork for it was there in the beginning of the game (dug around for it in the .tre files back in the day). Then there's the look and sheen of Mandalorian Armor. The unique look and detailing of RIS Armor... all original armors. Later armors put in SWG just pale in comparison. Nowhere near the same quality and varied characteristics (i.e. transparent visors, open faced helmets, etc). Special effects... SWG's Pre-NGE effects were pretty minimal and to the point... just like the movies. GASP!?! The movies had minimal effects? WTF?!? Why, yes, yes they did. NONE of the Prequel and Original Trilogy movies were littered with glitter and sparkles trailing across the screen every second, from every movement or action. Animations... I have never, EVER, once in my gaming experience in consoles and on the PC, have EVER come across a game where the developers PURPOSELY nerfed the living bejeezus out of what was once a **great** set of character animations. From wonderful, fluid animations to NGE-stick-figure-benny-hill-chase movements. The devs of SOE aimed for and "achieved" this dubious aim. Game worlds... I'll be blunt here. All the subsequent game worlds implemented outside of the original SWG game worlds SUCK. You take a look at the artwork quality in the terrain features (vegation, for example) and lack of weather. They just pale in comparison to the hills and plains of Corellia and Naboo. The sandstorms and dunes of Tatooine and Lok. The lush, dark, dangerous lands of Dathomir. Also, the non-original game worlds also have this nasty thing called "invisible walls." The first taste of this was in Kashyyyk from the Rage of the Wookies expansion pack. Mustafar has them, but not in the horrendous degree as Kashyyyk. But none of the original SWG worlds had this lame characteristic to funnel player movements. I guess the devs forgot about this thing called "Terrain Negotiation," especially since it no longer plays a role in the NGE. The only concession I'll give the art team after the original release are some of the later implemented weapons. The E11 Mk.II Carbine looks perfect, and screams "Empire." Really, other than a few examples from 1 category of the game, the art team of SWG has regressed in the quality of it's work compared to the original releases. "I have only two out of my company and 20 out of some other company. We need support, but it is almost suicide to try to get it here as we are swept by machine gun fire and a constant barrage is on us. I have no one on my left and only a few on my right. I will hold." (First Lieutenant Clifton B. Cates, US Marine Corps, Soissons, 19 July 1918) |
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10/17/08 2:41:09 AM#39
Originally posted by Gutboy What does that have to do with what Lateris wrote? Well it means that Lateris says that the SWG art dept does not do anything anymore and has not produced anything of note since the Musty expansion. Obraik's reply was to point out just some of the great work that dept has contributed. Was that really hard to understand that? Only if you accept that the cookie-cutter instances and the halloween event constitute "great work". From what I've seen it doesn't. Also...particle effects...'nuff said. |
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admriker4
 Apprentice Member
Joined: 10/26/06
"Give me control of a nation''s money and I care not who makes the laws" |
10/17/08 4:08:36 AM#40
It wont suprise me if true. Here's what I predict will happen.... Oct 21st - SOE announces expansion for SWG (to counter KOTOR announcement). December 24th - expansion goes live for SWG December 25th - SOE announces SWG will close early 2009 (merry xmas suckers) December 25+ forums are flooded everywhere with complaints. Threats of lawsuits appear. Players are actually surprised SOE would mislead them. The chief complaint is that players wouldnt have bought the expansion had they known the game was due to be cancelled soon. Pre-Cu vets like me will rejoice and sip the nectar of sweet revenge from the tears of foolish NGE players. We will remind them that SOE did the very same thing with the last expansion. January 2009 - the devs and Smedley will go into PR hyperdrive. They will express dismay at the fans because they thought giving the fans one final gift would be appreciated. The NGE players will thank SOE for "gift" and promise to enjoy it until the last day the game lives.
Im quite sure this isnt beyond Smedley. And its definitely possible to make an expansion for very little money. And dont forget SOE doesnt use subscription fees like theyre supposed to (adding content and fixing bugs). It would be no suprise to learn they used that money to develop an expansion and then later get people to re-buy it come launch day. Nobody can accuse the NGE players of being very smart. Make no mistake, this game is done. Unfortunately an expansion will send the opposite message to the NGE faithful. They'll think nobody would sell us an expansion and then close the game soon after ! Despite it having been done before by other developers |
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10/17/08 7:51:28 AM#41
Originally posted by admriker4
Of course none of that is beyond Smed. Because he's done exactly THAT before, for all intents and purposes SWG did in fact shut down 2 weeks after we were charged for the last expansion, because other than our avatar appearance, name, and the physical game space the NGE had almost nothing to do functionally with the game that we were sold the expansion for. Those of you who never got to play it when it was still under the CU system really missed out, it rocked. That said I still don't see any sort of expansion happening for the NGE just simply because there aren't enough people left who play it for SOE to profit off of it. The 4th expansion was in fact in production in late 2005-early 2006 and was canceled because by THEN the NGE had fallen below the threshold of an expansion being profitable. Of course they were lying when they stated that they were "combining" the live and expansion teams, the truth was that they ditched/moved the excess Devs and from then forward a skeleton crew has been running it. Ask Smed if SWG still has a team of 70 developers on it today, which was the number he gave in 2005. I doubt they have actually 10 real developers anymore, ie: people who actually code/design/actually do things, forum mods not counted. As for that Exar Kun instance, looked like any generic castle dungeon interior from EQ2 to me, just like the scavenger hunt system was, I think it literally was taken from EQ2 and modified. But hey, you NGE fans should feel fortunate. You actually do get more development than any other MMO that has less than 20,000 active subscribers, something that I think has more to do with SOE wanting to train their trainee Dev team (this is the first MMO project for almost all of them) than any feeling that they owe it to the players. |
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10/17/08 7:56:33 AM#42
Originally posted by Force_Fire
Listen to the Voice Over...that sounds like my 13 year old nephew. ROFL! That is the clue and the balance over the music spells fake - but nice try. Anything to make the fanbois pee their pants is allright by me! |
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10/17/08 7:57:48 AM#43
Originally posted by Obraik
Yes, I guess Hoth, the latest Halloween event and all the previous instances just magically drew themselves...
Hoth is really, really hard to do. Take Tattoine textures and make it white. The Haloween junk (which has NO place in SWG, NO place) is probably mostly recycled from EQ2. Just like "collections" and just like the interiors of some of those "let's beat on Foozle for an hour" instances.
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Inat_mivea
 Star Wars Galaxies Correspondent
Joined: 9/10/07
it ain''t braggin'' if you can do it. . . |
10/17/08 8:06:25 AM#44
I look at everything with a skeptical eye but the VIDEO seems pretty authentic. I watched it with no audio so didnt hear teh cheesy voiceover - which even then, if it is authentic, it probably doenst have the professional VO yet. Plus, would you say a 13yr old could manipulate the textures, skins, etc enough to create a video of that quality? Over the past 5 yrs I've learned to put zero trust in any denial from SOE. Its actually humorous when you think about all their denials that always come to fruitition :) I'd 75% conviced this will be released “The contents of this post do not necessarily reflect the views of MMORPG.com and its management.” |
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10/17/08 8:34:28 AM#45
Originally posted by Inat_mivea
Hmm... A list of SOE statements/denials that turned out to be the opposite would be rather long.
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Inat_mivea
Star Wars Galaxies Correspondent
Joined: 9/10/07
it ain''t braggin'' if you can do it. . . |
10/17/08 8:39:24 AM#46
Originally posted by precuorbust
Hmm... A list of SOE statements/denials that turned out to be the opposite would be rather long.
thats what I mean. The fact that they deny it makes me believe it more :) “The contents of this post do not necessarily reflect the views of MMORPG.com and its management.” |
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MAtt check out these texture updates made by the community:
The other point I want to make is that these were made by modders and not SOE. Texture updates for Naboo, A better sky for Tatooine. New textures for the ground and buildings on tatooine..In fact ships were modded to look more "epic" in the sky. What ever happened to the avatar texture updates they promised? They quit after a few races were updated. What ever happened to the braids for wookies? They quit. My point is the quality of art work has gone down hill since the staff was cut. I think that is a shame. SWG isn't a bad game and still has more freedom than other MMORPG"s. I just expect a certain pride to be taken with the use of the name "Star Wars". |
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10/17/08 10:24:23 AM#48
As impressive as it is to see those ships flying over Eisley, they're not exactly the sort of ships you'd expect to see casually flying over a city like that. Nor are they really "texture updates", these ships all exist in the TRE files, all that has been done is a modder has altered what ships are displayed as commuter traffic in the skies by swapping out the old ones for these different ones. As for the sky textures themselves, I can't really see what's different. Here's a screenshot I have from last week outside Theed that shows the sky:
The majority of the races have had texture updates, I believe only Wookiee's and Bothans have missed out so far. The updates are most notable on human-like races:
This is what he used to look like before the update (tattoo style and colour has changed, though):
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10/17/08 10:55:26 AM#49
Funny thing is, by messing with the avatar's SOE actually made them look worse. ...The spread of secondary and latterly of tertiary education has created a large population of people, often with well developed literary and scholarly tastes, who have been educated far beyond their capacity to undertake analytical thought. |
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10/17/08 10:57:57 AM#50
Originally posted by efefia
Not sure of your definition of worse. In the screenshots I posted it seems pretty clear that the updated textures make my character look better. His face is much better defined compared to the rather flat look of the original textures.
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