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It is your destiny...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 101 / 161
Date: June 05, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I have followed the progress of this game since the Electronics Entertainment Expo of 2001 in May, and I have only progressively been more impressed since. Think about it; where else can you blast stormtroopers, crush Rebel scum, or, if you are lucky or skilled enough, seek out a Jedi hidden amongst the galaxy to train you in the ways of the Force? Thought so.

And if you would rather just live in the Star Wars galaxy, hang out in a cantina with your friends, and maybe go hunting every once in a while, that perfectly fine. This isn't so much a game as much as it is an environment; the game developers made this world for us to live and play in. You might be suprised at how many friends you can make while playing.

Star Wars, from the very beginning, has always been known for outstanding visuals, and this game is no exception. Not only that, but this game is very flexible. The minimum requirements of your computer's hardware are relatively modest, but the graphics engine is so scalable that no card on the market today can play this game with all of the features turned up to the max.

Traditional MMORPGs (Massively Multiplay Online Role Playing Games) point back the the genre's past; all the characters pick from one of about a half-dozen "classes" that define the skills your characters will learn in the game. All players have to earn experience by killing creatures or players in the game. Star Wars Galaxies will be different. Experience is awarded based on skill use; not killing enemies. This means that a medic can heal people and gain in skill, the way it should be.

Grouping with your friends will be easier than ever. Because there are merely skills, and not "levels" for your character, or avatar, a new player is not a severe disadvantage when trying to play with a veteran player. In addition, players can designate themselves to be placed into a "I help newbies" database that new players can use to search out someone willing to help them learn the ropes in the game.

The economies of past games have been paid really, only lip service. Money was worthless and skilled players could become self-sufficient, making the idea of a collective economy pointless. In Star Wars Galaxies, no one player can accumulate all the skills necessary to supply all of his needs; he must work together with other players to get his weapons, armor, medical packs, and food. Besides stores and direct trading, there are 'bazaars' where players can put an item onto a market network where players can browse through and buy what they want. Item decay will ensure that players will need to replace or maintain weapons and other items, hopefully creating a more stable economy, and one that is fun to work with.

One would be remiss if they were to neglect the incredible player customizing tool available when you first create your avatar. More variables than ever allow you to adjust hair color, style, eye color, shape, nose size, shape and width, body type, height, ears, neck, and enough other features that if one wished to, they could create a reasonable approximation of themselves in the game. Of course, cosmetic things like tatoos, hair and eye color will be adjustable in the game, via the "image designers".

All in all, this is one game that can bring the online game to the masses; plus... where else can you crack "I've got a bad feeling about this" or "May the Force be with you" and get a positive reaction?

Live the greatest Saga ever told...........................yours.
-Lucas Smith

A dream-come-true for Star Wars fans

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 13 / 32
Date: June 08, 2003
Author: Amazon User

The NDA has been lifted, and finally this beta tester can give you the inside scoop on what will be THE game for 2003...and for Star Wars fans everywhere!

We've come a long way, baby, and while the game isn't a perfectly polished diamond, it's no cubic zirconia either. The fundamental goal of the game remains intact: Star Wars: Galaxies will give you the opportunity to live, work, fight, play, explore and interact in the Star Wars universe.

Begin the game by choosing a character. You'll be blown away by the sheer number of choices. Choose gender and species (including human, Mon Calamari, Wookie, Zabrak--think Darth Maul, tatoos and all--and others, complete with different characteristics for each). Then customize your avatar, with different hairstyles, skin tones, facial shapes, and species-specific settings such as tatoos or fur patterns. You could spend hours simply customizing the way you look, or choose "Randomize All" to look over just a few of the unique possibilities in no time.

After choosing an appearance, you'll choose a starting profession. But never fear, no matter what you start off with, you can always go in different directions once you've entered the game. Become a blaster-wielding space cowboy by beginning as a Novice Marksman, heal wounds as a Medic, relieve battle fatigue as an Entertainer, try your hand at tailoring and architecture as an Artisan, get down-and-dirty as a Brawler, or engage your yen to travel as a Scout.

If you've never played an MMORPG before, or if you want a proper introduction to the game, begin by going through the helpful tutorial, which will explain basic systems of the game to you. Once you've learned your way around, you'll choose a starting planet, and you'll probably open the helpful "Holocron" to give you some ideas on where to go from there. Find a bank, take on some missions, store your "clone" data (just in case a no-good Tusken Raider decides to use your furry hide for target practice), chat with other players, and get ready for adventure.

The learning curve is mild. Expect to spend a few hours getting accustomed to the interface--this beta tester had no experience with MMORPGs at all before entering the streets of Mos Espa for the first time, and in no time at all, I was heading out into the desert to bullseye womp rats.

Where you go from there is up to you. As an artisan, you can survey for the perfect raw materials, then combine them to make the perfect blaster, a stylish jacket, a house, or even a power-up dinner. As a combat-oriented character, take on missions or wander the wilds, blasting randomly-spawning creatures or destroying smuggler's encampments. As an explorer, create encampments for other players to rest and heal, and hunt creatures so you can harvest their meat, bones and hide. Sell your wares on "Star Wars Ebay," the bazaar, or purchase a vendor to sell them for you. And when you're all done visiting Jabba's Palace, searching for C-3PO and R2-D2's crashed escape pod, plumbing the depths of a cave filled with Corellian savages, or hanging out with Boss Nass on Naboo, head to the Cantina to watch the dancers and listen to the musicians.

Player-versus-player action hasn't been neglected. Sign up for either the Rebel Alliance or the Imperial Empire, then declare yourself as an Overt member to take potshots at members of your enemy faction whenever, whereever. For those of us craving a less intense look at PVP, become a "Covert" member, thus keeping other players from blasting you at will...until you decide to go Overt. Then, anything goes.

There are still bugs to be worked out, and features to be added. Many discussions on the beta boards have resulted in changes to the game already, and more are on the way. But that said, this is no WWII Online or Ultima Online. The game is stable, functional, and, most importantly, fun.

Where will it go from here? Like any MMORPG, the developers can only truly provide a framework for the players to take the game where they will. In this case, the framework is the best of any MMORPG out there. I'll be there on opening day, helping to shape it from day one.

If you are a Star Wars fan, an MMORPG player, or both--or, like me, you've always wanted to jump on the MMORPG bandwagon, but never had the opportunity--this is your chance. Shuttles are leaving for Mos Eisley every ten minutes. Climb aboard, and let the adventure of a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, begin for you!

Simply wow

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 1
Date: June 13, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I'm under NDA (gotta love beta)
but I can say, wow. The hype hasn't done this game ANY justice. It keeps getting better every day I play it. You must play this game, even if you've never played a MMORPG before.

Good genre, bad gameplay.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 2 / 4
Date: June 15, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Star Wars Galaxies (SWG) has always been an extraordinary idea that lit up most of the people's minds. For one thing, it has always made us think about travelling freely into outer-space, walking freely in a huge planet. However, every game has its downsides. Lucas Arts, no offense, never really made a good Star Wars game. Clone Wars was close, but not close enough! Now, there has been one reason why this game will fail, and that is: 1. Lack of reputation. 2. No single-player options. The lack of reputation just basically means that it's really made from a company that was always criticized by so many people. Number two means that not every one is a pro at using the internet, nor every one has a fast speed connection. Also, just to add on, the monthly fee system will not encourage any gamer to play continuesly. Now, you might say, "hell no!", others might add, "I will play on for the rest of my life". But you really must know every one has his/her own opinion. Some people might like it, some others might not. Now gameplay doesn't really mean stick this cd into its disc and press the play button then admire the graphics. It's more than that! The gameplay is designed in a strategic way. A way like the Sims was designed as. Think about the camera angles you find in the Sims with additional buttons for fire mode or driving mode. So you really don't have as much freedom as promised. Dont take my word for it, buy it and see for yourself. Imagine, wasting over $70 dollars in cash for something useless that'll , in few years, lose its ranks and then something else will boom to the top. So why go for a game that needs monthly fees? mutliplayer only? bad gameplay (thought non agree with)? My words, think of what happened to those who wasted more than $70 dollars for Sims Online. All it became is one massively enchanced msn messenger or a chat room instead of being a game. So people, do not get your hopes to high, I've watched the trailers myself, analyzed it a hundred times by re-checking, I have seen the screens, tried everything myself, and if you're really hyped up and not patient to wait for others to try it first, go ahead, waste your money and risk all the outcomes and possible outcomes of failure/success in the game you've just purchased!

Buy this Game!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: June 18, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I have been playing SWG as a Beta tester for a couple of months, and as of today, we are still under the NDA so I can't give out specifics. But the attention to detal in this game is amazing, the graphics and sound are supurb,and game play will appeal to both the casual and hardcore gammer. Its not a mind numbing grind game.
If you like Star Wars and online RPG's, This will be worth your money.

GREAT, better than expected

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 7
Date: June 19, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I'm one of the Beta Testers for this game and I'm here to tell you...It's worth the wait! You will immerse yourself in what is to be the biggest Star Wars gaming experience EVER!!! I've played it, and ordered it. No Star Wars or Online Gamer will be dissapointed.

I don't think so...

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 0 / 19
Date: June 19, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Well for me Star Wars has always been one of the most pop candy of all sci-fi's so the game scares me that it will follow in that line, especialy now that they have taken out the dark jedi as being playable.

NDA lifted - Some truth revealed by a BETA tester

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 6 / 9
Date: June 20, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I have been Beta testing this game for quite some time now and I was honestly ready to buy it up until the last update patch. Do yourself a favor, do not buy this game for another 6 months or so. It is not finished, I repeat IT IS NOT FINISHED. There are a ton existing bugs and server problems that will make it unbearable to play for quite a while. They have made any type of advancement take weeks to accomplish so that you do not advance into the unfinished parts of the game. You are honestly paying for open Beta testing. This is the status quo for online games nowdays (minus anything from Blizzard). I had high hopes for this game and was looking forward to its release, but now I am being forced to look for something else to entertain me. Only reason I gave it 2 stars was because the graphics are extremely well done.

Forgetting something?

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 5 / 9
Date: June 20, 2003
Author: Amazon User

However much of a Star Wars fan I may be, I have more experience in the field of MMORPG than I would like to admit, which brings a few painful tears to my eyes when I think about this new addition to the Star Wars galaxy (no pun intended.)

Did we all just whisk away the memories of disasters such as, oh, um...World War 2 Online and the recent addition of Planetside, or the older versions of some venerable titles like Ultima Online? No, I can't say that I am avoiding this new title like the plague, but I am afraid that such an ambitious project as SWG could just follow its predecessors to the junkyard. However, there are titles that are out there that keep you coming back for more, but I don't see how this is going to follow suit!

I mean, pay-to-play is a great idea, but did anyone look at the real big sellers these days? Medal of Honor, Battlefield 1942, Half-Life. I don't see these guys running a $8-$14 monthly charge so you can run around and "interact" with friends online. Sure, those games are basically a run n' gun field day which only last about 30 minutes a leg, but the real gamers (averaging daily 6 to 8 thousand peak for MOHAA and BF1942 and 16,000 for HL) stay on for hours at a time enjoying the conversation and mindless chaos...for free!

I'm keeping the $... in the bank (plus the monthly fees) or putting it to good use with RAM or video card upgrades (you'll need it for upcoming titles like Doom 3 anyway.) Star Wars keeps high on my list (as long as Lucas doesn't keep up with these horrendous "prequels",) but the gaming industry in this field is best left for the people who come home at the end of the day and just want to kick back, relax, and unload a few rounds online into your neighbor whose dog won't shut-up!

I was in the Beta

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 2
Date: June 22, 2003
Author: Amazon User

The developers have put a lot of time and really hard work into making this game the best they could. The testers also really put their hearts and souls into refining and improving as much as they could before launch.

The graphics are beautifully rendered, multi-layered and very realistic. The gameplay is mission-based for adventurers, with a player-driven economy for crafters and socialites. (There is no "storyline" per se, as this is an MMORPG and you are expected to create your own stories.) Everyone is necessary, including merchants and entertainers. Combat and skills are layered (not leveled) and there is no way for someone to be completely self-sufficient or buffed up into "god" territory. (Not that characters can't get very skilled and very strong, but there is no way for one character to be the best at everything at once.) There are basic and advanced professions, as well as the ability to design new items, food, clothing, hairstyles, etc. Unlike other MMORPG's, it's not impossible to solo or for a newbie character to play alongside a more advanced character.

All in all, this game was a pleasure for me to test, and I think that the SWG development team is releasing a product that everyone will enjoy thoroughly. You don't have to be a Star Wars geek to enjoy this game!(Granted, I think they'll get an extra level of enjoyment out of the little "surprises" the devs put in. Make sure to look for R2 3PO's pod where they crash-landed on Tatooine!)

I highly recommend this game to Star Wars geeks, MMORPG fanatics and people who just love a detailed, complex, and richly textured RPG.

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