What are some of the features of Star Wars Galaxies we'd like to see in Star Wars: The Old Republic? Read on to find out and share your own in the comments below!

Sure, every game has mounts, and both SWG and SWTOR have vehicles, but SWG featured a solid array of multi-person vehicles that I felt really enhanced adventuring together as a party. I often like to fondly recall the one time I hitched a ride on a sand skiff with a bunch of random players coming back from Ft. Tusken in Star Wars Galaxies. It was a long trip and my speeder was blown up, so it was nice to be able to bum a ride off a couple of strangers. We even chatted the whole way back.

I doubt this sort of thing would ever be necessary in SW:TOR, but I think it’d be great fun to jump into a vehicle with a bunch of other players while adventuring. Of course, adding vehicular combat would be amazing, too.

Read more of Michael Bitton's SWG Features I’d Love to See in SWTOR.

Have to say I was really letdown by your list...

I would of went with the focus on open world planets, open world PvP like Bounty Hunting (no instanced pvp such as battlegrounds, arena,etc) the crafting, the professions skill system, one character with the ability to untrain and train skills, no levels, player cities, reasons for players to go to buildings such as cantinas/taverns.   

But I guess everyone has their own taste.  I guess I would summarize mine under all the immersive, social aspects of SWG, rather than multi-person mounts...

Only needs to be one point on the list...

1. Every single sandbox element from SWG!

I agree 100% with the OP.

Bioware said they wanted to hear my opinion so I wrote them an email that had some of these points. I never got a reply.

I bought the Collector's Edition as well.

Originally posted by Threatlevel0

Have to say I was really letdown by your list...

 I would of went with the focus on open world planets, open world PvP like Bounty Hunting (no instanced pvp such as battlegrounds, arena,etc) the crafting, the professions skill system, one character with the ability to untrain and train skills, no levels, player cities, reasons for players to go to buildings such as cantinas/taverns.   

 But I guess everyone has their own taste.  I guess I would summarize mine under all the immersive, social aspects of SWG, rather than multi-person mounts...

I'm pretty sure they were trying to be realistic; offer suggestions that might be somewhat do-able.  I could actually imagine multiplayer vehicles, for example.  provide tools for player events, etc.

Your suggestions add up to "make TOR into SWG".  Even big maps like Hoth and Tatt would never accommodate player made cities, for example.  You'd have to rewrite the whole game.

Originally posted by Threatlevel0

Have to say I was really letdown by your list...

 

I would of went with the focus on open world planets, open world PvP like Bounty Hunting (no instanced pvp such as battlegrounds, arena,etc) the crafting, the professions skill system, one character with the ability to untrain and train skills, no levels, player cities, reasons for players to go to buildings such as cantinas/taverns.   

 

But I guess everyone has their own taste.  I guess I would summarize mine under all the immersive, social aspects of SWG, rather than multi-person mounts...

Are you sure let down is the right way to put it?

I mean if Mike were a developer telling you what he PLANNED on adding from SWG, I can see you being let down -

But Mike is just a player like you and me giving his opinion - I can see you disagreeing, but being 'let down'?

Seems like to me, under the constraints of how this game is put together, these things could actually be added. But things like player made cities or non-instanced open worlds - I'm not sure they could be feasibly added due to the games core construction.

So my opinion, is there is nothing they could put in from SWG which would make me want to play. It would be too difficult for them to change the core way the game is put together - and that is one of my central problems with the game. The formulaic, instance-heavy compartmentalized world is there forever and that is what drove me away. That and really uninspired story writing. The stories seem like it is forced to conform to the existing structure of the game rather than the storylines actually forming the game's structure. And I don't see them spending the money to re-write the aspect which supposedly would set it apart from the rest.

Originally posted by Robsolf

  You'd have to rewrite the whole game.

 

We could call it... the NGE.

ALSO

love the houses so many different styles

so many decoration items

so huge storage capacity (static and mobile)

They could add planets for player housing. Nice big open planets.

Originally posted by Zorgo

Originally posted by Threatlevel0

Have to say I was really letdown by your list...

 

I would of went with the focus on open world planets, open world PvP like Bounty Hunting (no instanced pvp such as battlegrounds, arena,etc) the crafting, the professions skill system, one character with the ability to untrain and train skills, no levels, player cities, reasons for players to go to buildings such as cantinas/taverns.   

 

But I guess everyone has their own taste.  I guess I would summarize mine under all the immersive, social aspects of SWG, rather than multi-person mounts...

Are you sure let down is the right way to put it?

I mean if Mike were a developer telling you what he PLANNED on adding from SWG, I can see you being let down -

But Mike is just a player like you and me giving his opinion - I can see you disagreeing, but being 'let down'?

Seems like to me, under the constraints of how this game is put together, these things could actually be added. But things like player made cities or non-instanced open worlds - I'm not sure they could be feasibly added due to the games core construction.

So my opinion, is there is nothing they could put in from SWG which would make me want to play. It would be too difficult for them to change the core way the game is put together - and that is one of my central problems with the game. The formulaic, instance-heavy compartmentalized world is there forever and that is what drove me away. That and really uninspired story writing. The stories seem like it is forced to conform to the existing structure of the game rather than the storylines actually forming the game's structure. And I don't see them spending the money to re-write the aspect which supposedly would set it apart from the rest.

Personally I'll still stand by 'let down' because I was looking for the unfeasible.  When I see "SWG features I'd love to see..." I instantly think of the things I mentioned, not multi-person vehicles.   Multi-person mounts are in WoW.   Space combat is in EvE.  The chronicle whatever it was...I don't even remember must of been after NGE or the WoW conversion of SWG.  So yes, I was let down.

I have an idea.  Re-open SWG (Pre-CU).  Problem solved.

(Yes, I'm well aware this will never happen.  But hey, a guy (SWG Vet) can dream can't he?)

Originally posted by Robsolf

Originally posted by Threatlevel0

Have to say I was really letdown by your list...

 I would of went with the focus on open world planets, open world PvP like Bounty Hunting (no instanced pvp such as battlegrounds, arena,etc) the crafting, the professions skill system, one character with the ability to untrain and train skills, no levels, player cities, reasons for players to go to buildings such as cantinas/taverns.   

 But I guess everyone has their own taste.  I guess I would summarize mine under all the immersive, social aspects of SWG, rather than multi-person mounts...

I'm pretty sure they were trying to be realistic; offer suggestions that might be somewhat do-able.  I could actually imagine multiplayer vehicles, for example.  provide tools for player events, etc.

Your suggestions add up to "make TOR into SWG".  Even big maps like Hoth and Tatt would never accommodate player made cities, for example.  You'd have to rewrite the whole game.

Exactly.

All of those on the list would be great additions!  here are a couple of other things I would love to see.

1:  A deep and meaningful crafting system.  SWG had a deep crafting system that allowed not only for many different items to bemade, but also allowed for different Crafter playstyles.  Most games out there now lump crafters all together and assume that it is just about making "stuff".  In SWG some crafters were interested in the "science" of resource quality and stats to make the best weapons or armor, while others were interested in the "art" of combining colors and styles to make awesome outfits or furniture.  Additionally, SWG allowed crafters to setup shops that they could decorate to advertise wares and utilize a "vendor" to store and sell items. 

I knew players who spent most, or even all, of their playtime crafting and running their shops, and they wee HAPPY.  Happy players = $.  I have never played a game since where I knew so many players who played primarily to craft.  And crafters were more likely to stay with the game (ie stay subbed) because if they did not keep up on their shops they would lose a ton of ietms and work.

2:  Player housing with freedom to decorate, in a open area/zone where other players can see it.  While it wasn't a perfect system, SWG allowed players to put houses on most of the planets ingame.  There were a ton of different styles for the houses, and you had TONS of decorating potential.  Players could create bars, shops, zoos, military bases...there were tons of possibilities.

This kind of housing also gave players a personal connection to the game.  Now while I understand that TOR was not designed to allow for houses to be placed anywhere, that doesn't stop them from creating a whole new zone that houses could be placed in.  Aion did this and did it pretty well (well the concept anyway.  The housing auction system not so much).

3:  Player cities.  This goes along with #2 pretty well.  Player cities gave players control over areas and allowed them to elect mayors and build perks.  it also gave guilds a common goal and helped to build a sense of community.  Guilds could use features like this, because unfortunatly they have become nothing more than a chat channel and friends list.

Originally posted by MikeB

Originally posted by Robsolf

Originally posted by Threatlevel0

Have to say I was really letdown by your list...

 I would of went with the focus on open world planets, open world PvP like Bounty Hunting (no instanced pvp such as battlegrounds, arena,etc) the crafting, the professions skill system, one character with the ability to untrain and train skills, no levels, player cities, reasons for players to go to buildings such as cantinas/taverns.   

 But I guess everyone has their own taste.  I guess I would summarize mine under all the immersive, social aspects of SWG, rather than multi-person mounts...

I'm pretty sure they were trying to be realistic; offer suggestions that might be somewhat do-able.  I could actually imagine multiplayer vehicles, for example.  provide tools for player events, etc.

Your suggestions add up to "make TOR into SWG".  Even big maps like Hoth and Tatt would never accommodate player made cities, for example.  You'd have to rewrite the whole game.

Exactly.

Perfect "make TOR into SWG"

If they kept the current areas as they are but expanded the surroundings to make a Darkfall-like world, that could do the trick.

It would need more environment artists though, but it would be worth the effort.

Getting the Space Combat right would account alone as a 50% improvement of the whole game.

As it is at the moment is just a insult to all Star Wars fans which deserve better.

SWG was a far better game. You just listed 5 reasons.

I miss the free open world. Even while leveling, I was free. Many games don't provide that feeling.

..

Originally posted by Robsolf

Originally posted by Threatlevel0

Have to say I was really letdown by your list...

 I would of went with the focus on open world planets, open world PvP like Bounty Hunting (no instanced pvp such as battlegrounds, arena,etc) the crafting, the professions skill system, one character with the ability to untrain and train skills, no levels, player cities, reasons for players to go to buildings such as cantinas/taverns.   

 But I guess everyone has their own taste.  I guess I would summarize mine under all the immersive, social aspects of SWG, rather than multi-person mounts...

I'm pretty sure they were trying to be realistic; offer suggestions that might be somewhat do-able.  I could actually imagine multiplayer vehicles, for example.  provide tools for player events, etc.

Your suggestions add up to "make TOR into SWG".  Even big maps like Hoth and Tatt would never accommodate player made cities, for example.  You'd have to rewrite the whole game.

 

Yes, the list is far too short, you could easily add 15 critical points to a list and still find more.  I do have to agree though that you will probably see none of these points ever addressed by the Bioware team because the game is just not designed for such.

Let's face it, for all the money invested in SWTOR it is still only half the game SWG was, even with NGE installed.  Pretty sad when the genre takes a major step backward with a big box title.

If there are razzie awards for MMO's SWTOR would be first in line for one.