This is the /deathblow to SWG, having been incapacitated by the NGE years ago.

It is symbolic on the current state of western MMOs...  The streamlined linear experience that has been forced on us, that developers think we want, and that some of US even think we want.  Those who stuck it out with SWG for more than a few months know better, we know what a virtual universe CAN be and we now have a thirst for it that cannot be quenched by any MMO in existance.

I look into the future and I wonder when the turning point will be for sandboxes...  We have been in this decline for a while now.  I would say that it really started with the 2003 cancelling of planned sandbox MEO to be replaced by linear LOTRO, and the 2004 successful release of World of Warcraft.  In 2005 the shift was in full force with the NGE to SWG.

We still have not recovered...  It has been 8 years guys...  In a way I am happy, because I have not commited myself to any of these games and it has given me more time to do other things.  I know someday big developers will see the merit in sandbox games again...  How soon?  Probably not another 10-20 years honestly.  That is the problem with these big coorporate companies, none of them will make a sandbox game until they see indications in the market of sandbox games working for a big developer like themselves.  What a catch 22.

SOE can rot in hell for ruining a perfect MMO!

TOR may be cool, but SWG gave me something unique: the opportunity to play in the same timeframe of the classic movies. To be able to roam in Tatooine as I had dreamed since I first saw the movies. To explore places only available in the expanded universe, like the moon Rori. To drive my own landspeeder. To hang out in the Cantina! Boy, those were magical moments, running around in Mos Eisley for the first time... I'll miss you, SWG.

IMO, by FAR the best game EVER!  Uploaded some pics to my gallery.  RIP SWG. 

My first and favorite MMO

Originally posted by Bob_Blawblaw

I love how there's just one more product upsell on that page (SWG Memory Book: Coming Soon!).

Even in death, they gotta make a buck.

(Decent letter though)

 

I asked about this book.  Its a free download as a gift to all former players.  They are putting it out in a high quality PDF format so you can opt to print your own copy.  More than likely, SOE can not make another dime off SWG from here on out.  LA had to sign a non-competion clause with EA.  This is the main reason the license is not being renewed.

Originally posted by wormywyrm

It is symbolic on the current state of western MMOs...  The streamlined linear experience that has been forced on us, that developers think we want, and that some of US even think we want.  Those who stuck it out with SWG for more than a few months know better, we know what a virtual universe CAN be and we now have a thirst for it that cannot be quenched by any MMO in existance.

I look into the future and I wonder when the turning point will be for sandboxes...  We have been in this decline for a while now.  I would say that it really started with the 2003 cancelling of planned sandbox MEO to be replaced by linear LOTRO, and the 2004 successful release of World of Warcraft.  In 2005 the shift was in full force with the NGE to SWG.

agree 

I never played it, but I feel your pain !

Originally posted by Timacek

Originally posted by wormywyrm

It is symbolic on the current state of western MMOs...  The streamlined linear experience that has been forced on us, that developers think we want, and that some of US even think we want.  Those who stuck it out with SWG for more than a few months know better, we know what a virtual universe CAN be and we now have a thirst for it that cannot be quenched by any MMO in existance.

I look into the future and I wonder when the turning point will be for sandboxes...  We have been in this decline for a while now.  I would say that it really started with the 2003 cancelling of planned sandbox MEO to be replaced by linear LOTRO, and the 2004 successful release of World of Warcraft.  In 2005 the shift was in full force with the NGE to SWG.

agree 

+1

would SWG have survived if they opened up a retro server and made it F2P? maybe...

Originally posted by Asamof

would SWG have survived if they opened up a retro server and made it F2P? maybe...

 

Unlikley, sure the sandbox elements were good (tailor/image desiner here) but combat was pretty much broken from day one and "class" balance was no were to be seen. And there was a lot of bugs and glicthes that were never fixed.

But i can agree to the fact that the social/explorer/crafter part was good. To bad the majority wanted to do combat... and that was broken. I can actually say that the combat part got a lot better after the NGE, more balanced and with more ground between "Munchkin-like OP build" and "Gimp like a sheap in leather build" saddly it came at the price of...every thing else. And it was wayyy wayyy to late.

So... If they made it F2P... what would they have put in the cash shop... Crafting patterns.. Songs... Harvesters... Holocrons... I have a hard time seeing what they would have made money off.

This game has been beaten and molested so many time, that it was about time it was put to rest.

I will always remember Star Wars Galaxies as my first and best MMO I have played, hands down. Yes, it had flaws. But overall, the 4 1/2 years I was there, my friends and guildmates, the player city, the great community and the diverse gameplay - it all made for an epic and wonderful time. It was Star Wars and it was a MMO the like we have not seen since. I think those were great days, and I will always remember SWG fondly, despite some grievances. Why some very popular things from SWG were never taken up is beyond me. I hope at least part of it's legacy will one day be taken up by games in the future.

*saluts*

Rest in peace, old buddy. We had great times together. *sheds a tear*

Originally posted by tawess

Originally posted by Asamof

would SWG have survived if they opened up a retro server and made it F2P? maybe...

 

Unlikley, sure the sandbox elements were good (tailor/image desiner here) but combat was pretty much broken from day one and "class" balance was no were to be seen. And there was a lot of bugs and glicthes that were never fixed.

 

But i can agree to the fact that the social/explorer/crafter part was good. To bad the majority wanted to do combat... and that was broken. I can actually say that the combat part got a lot better after the NGE, more balanced and with more ground between "Munchkin-like OP build" and "Gimp like a sheap in leather build" saddly it came at the price of...every thing else. And it was wayyy wayyy to late.

 

So... If they made it F2P... what would they have put in the cash shop... Crafting patterns.. Songs... Harvesters... Holocrons... I have a hard time seeing what they would have made money off.

 

no clue what they would put in cash shop, probably a lot of cosmetic items like costumes and house decorations

you're totally right about the combat, it's a shame they couldn't fix it before the NGE. poor game never got the love it deserved

Even after the NGE it was vey much sandbox. Some people keep on harping about the NGE (yes I was there all the way) and today keep spreading misinformation even though they quit in 05. The game just after the NGE which was horrible was not at all the same game as in late 06 and onwards, and it's time people realize that. It improved a lot.

The last months they added atmospheric flight, and even though rushed due to the closure it worked pretty well. I had a lot of fun dogfighting over Bestine.

The last night there was an ISD over Coronet, not a wallpaper but an actual real ISD (same as in DS) it was huge took me 20 sec to fly by it, it was attackable.

I stood on the ground watching the leviathan and a Vak did a low pass at top speed, it looked awesone and it was not a particle effect but a "real" fighter with a player in the cockpit.

Polish was lacking but it is sad to know that a game that outguns every modern mmorpg in concept and amount of features is now gone.

Originally posted by returnintor

Originally posted by Lowcaian

Even after the NGE it was vey much sandbox. Some people keep on harping about the NGE (yes I was there all the way) and today keep spreading misinformation even though they quit in 05. The game just after the NGE which was horrible was not at all the same game as in late 06 and onwards, and it's time people realize that. It improved a lot.

 

The last months they added atmospheric flight, and even though rushed due to the closure it worked pretty well. I had a lot of fun dogfighting over Bestine.

The last night there was an ISD over Coronet, not a wallpaper but an actual real ISD (same as in DS) it was huge took me 20 sec to fly by it, it was attackable.

I stood on the ground watching the leviathan and a Vak did a low pass at top speed, it looked awesone and it was not a particle effect but a "real" fighter with a player in the cockpit.

 

Polish was lacking but it is sad to know that a game that outguns every modern mmorpg in concept and amount of features is now gone.

You do know that 'atmospheric flight' was built into the engine about a year after launch. It's just been sitting in the code for years because Smedley was too lazy and greedy to spend the little more money it would have taken to polish it and then release it as a - paid - expansion. Its release two months or so before close-down was just one final f.u. to the players by SOE.

I am aware that ground and space uses the same engine, I do not believe you because what you are saying doesn't make sense from a business perspective. Feel free to prove me wrong, and even if you can do so I fail to see what that has to do with the fact that featurewise SWG was far superior to anything else out there, no matter which of its three incarnations you hold up as an example.

Originally posted by returnintor

Originally posted by Lowcaian

Originally posted by returnintor

Originally posted by Lowcaian

Even after the NGE it was vey much sandbox. Some people keep on harping about the NGE (yes I was there all the way) and today keep spreading misinformation even though they quit in 05. The game just after the NGE which was horrible was not at all the same game as in late 06 and onwards, and it's time people realize that. It improved a lot.

 

The last months they added atmospheric flight, and even though rushed due to the closure it worked pretty well. I had a lot of fun dogfighting over Bestine.

The last night there was an ISD over Coronet, not a wallpaper but an actual real ISD (same as in DS) it was huge took me 20 sec to fly by it, it was attackable.

I stood on the ground watching the leviathan and a Vak did a low pass at top speed, it looked awesone and it was not a particle effect but a "real" fighter with a player in the cockpit.

 

Polish was lacking but it is sad to know that a game that outguns every modern mmorpg in concept and amount of features is now gone.

You do know that 'atmospheric flight' was built into the engine about a year after launch. It's just been sitting in the code for years because Smedley was too lazy and greedy to spend the little more money it would have taken to polish it and then release it as a - paid - expansion. Its release two months or so before close-down was just one final f.u. to the players by SOE.

I am aware that ground and space uses the same engine, I do not believe you because what you are saying doesn't make sense from a business perspective. Feel free to prove me wrong, and even if you can do so I fail to see what that has to do with the fact that featurewise SWG was far superior to anything else out there, no matter which of its three incarnations you hold up as an example.

LOL.

"I do not believe you because what you are saying doesn't make sense from a business perspective."

Does anybody else who's had any dealings with SOE over SWG want to chip in on this one? I don't trust myself.

You offer no arguments, only your personal opinion that SOE are the devil. While they have at times messed up in a big way I very much doubt they did what they did with the intent of decreasing income.

Originally posted by Lowcaian

Originally posted by returnintor

Originally posted by Lowcaian

Originally posted by returnintor

Originally posted by Lowcaian

Even after the NGE it was vey much sandbox. Some people keep on harping about the NGE (yes I was there all the way) and today keep spreading misinformation even though they quit in 05. The game just after the NGE which was horrible was not at all the same game as in late 06 and onwards, and it's time people realize that. It improved a lot.

 

The last months they added atmospheric flight, and even though rushed due to the closure it worked pretty well. I had a lot of fun dogfighting over Bestine.

The last night there was an ISD over Coronet, not a wallpaper but an actual real ISD (same as in DS) it was huge took me 20 sec to fly by it, it was attackable.

I stood on the ground watching the leviathan and a Vak did a low pass at top speed, it looked awesone and it was not a particle effect but a "real" fighter with a player in the cockpit.

 

Polish was lacking but it is sad to know that a game that outguns every modern mmorpg in concept and amount of features is now gone.

You do know that 'atmospheric flight' was built into the engine about a year after launch. It's just been sitting in the code for years because Smedley was too lazy and greedy to spend the little more money it would have taken to polish it and then release it as a - paid - expansion. Its release two months or so before close-down was just one final f.u. to the players by SOE.

I am aware that ground and space uses the same engine, I do not believe you because what you are saying doesn't make sense from a business perspective. Feel free to prove me wrong, and even if you can do so I fail to see what that has to do with the fact that featurewise SWG was far superior to anything else out there, no matter which of its three incarnations you hold up as an example.

LOL.

"I do not believe you because what you are saying doesn't make sense from a business perspective."

Does anybody else who's had any dealings with SOE over SWG want to chip in on this one? I don't trust myself.

You offer no arguments, only your personal opinion that SOE are the devil. While they have at times messed up in a big way I very much doubt they did what they did with the intent of decreasing income.

The entire post launch development history of SWG doesn't make sense from a business perspective.

Originally posted by Obee

Originally posted by Lowcaian

Originally posted by returnintor

Originally posted by Lowcaian

Originally posted by returnintor

Originally posted by Lowcaian

Even after the NGE it was vey much sandbox. Some people keep on harping about the NGE (yes I was there all the way) and today keep spreading misinformation even though they quit in 05. The game just after the NGE which was horrible was not at all the same game as in late 06 and onwards, and it's time people realize that. It improved a lot.

 

The last months they added atmospheric flight, and even though rushed due to the closure it worked pretty well. I had a lot of fun dogfighting over Bestine.

The last night there was an ISD over Coronet, not a wallpaper but an actual real ISD (same as in DS) it was huge took me 20 sec to fly by it, it was attackable.

I stood on the ground watching the leviathan and a Vak did a low pass at top speed, it looked awesone and it was not a particle effect but a "real" fighter with a player in the cockpit.

 

Polish was lacking but it is sad to know that a game that outguns every modern mmorpg in concept and amount of features is now gone.

You do know that 'atmospheric flight' was built into the engine about a year after launch. It's just been sitting in the code for years because Smedley was too lazy and greedy to spend the little more money it would have taken to polish it and then release it as a - paid - expansion. Its release two months or so before close-down was just one final f.u. to the players by SOE.

I am aware that ground and space uses the same engine, I do not believe you because what you are saying doesn't make sense from a business perspective. Feel free to prove me wrong, and even if you can do so I fail to see what that has to do with the fact that featurewise SWG was far superior to anything else out there, no matter which of its three incarnations you hold up as an example.

LOL.

"I do not believe you because what you are saying doesn't make sense from a business perspective."

Does anybody else who's had any dealings with SOE over SWG want to chip in on this one? I don't trust myself.

You offer no arguments, only your personal opinion that SOE are the devil. While they have at times messed up in a big way I very much doubt they did what they did with the intent of decreasing income.

 

The entire post launch development history of SWG doesn't make sense from a business perspective.

 

 

Yes it does if and I say if (since nobody knows for sure) there was a panic reaction coupled with pressure from the IP owner. But it wasn't the objective of my first post to discuss business decisions but to point out that even in its NGE form ,SWG was a sandbox and as far as features went it put many newer games to shame.