Star Wars Galaxies
News, coverage and analysis tracking Star Wars Galaxies across the outlets.
Latest coverage
Industry vet who worked on Ultima Online says the next big thing needs to have 'sh*tty graphics' to escape the…
Industry veteran Raph Koster argues that the relentless pursuit of high-resolution graphics is unsustainable due to ballooning development costs and stagnant game prices. He suggests that the next major platform innovation needs to intentionally have 'shitty graphics' to reset the cost curve and allow for new gameplay affordances, preventing established companies from dominating.
The Game Archaeologist: World of Warcraft is unfairly portrayed as the villain of MMO history
This article challenges the common narrative that World of Warcraft is the villain responsible for homogenizing the MMORPG genre. Instead, it argues that bad game design and a lack of approachability in pre-WoW MMOs were the primary factors that led to their decline, with World of Warcraft simply offering a more polished and user-friendly experience.
Star Wars Galaxies Legends teases a new Halloween heroic and weekly repeatable content
The Star Wars Galaxies Legends rogue server is developing new repeatable content called Weekly Hunts, which will offer a variety of ground and space quests for players to complete solo or with friends. The update also teases UI improvements, new armor, a storyline, and a Halloween event featuring zombie droid hybrid monstrosities.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 578: Gamescoming and Gamesgoing
The Massively OP Podcast episode 578 covers Gamescom announcements, including launch dates for Aion 2 and Path of Exile 2, and future content plans for Dune: Awakening. The hosts also discuss the shutdown of another WoW Classic server, Guild Wars 3's Asura, Star Citizen's delays, and Star Wars Galaxies hacking drama.
The Daily Grind: How much time do you actually spend in your MMO house?
This article discusses the actual time players spend in their player housing within MMORPGs, questioning if developers overestimate its usage. While some players, like crafters and traders in Star Wars Galaxies, utilize housing extensively, others find themselves using it less frequently for decoration and more for services, as seen in Lord of the Rings Online.
The Daily Grind: Are there features in your MMORPG that nobody uses?
This article discusses the phenomenon of underused features in MMORPGs, using Star Wars Galaxies' auction system and City of Heroes' LFG tool as examples. It questions why these features persist and prompts players to share their own experiences with unused game mechanics.
A Star Wars Galaxies community server was allegedly hacked with AI assistance by a Reddit moderator harboring a primeval…
The Star Wars Galaxies Legends community server was allegedly hacked using AI tools by a Reddit moderator named levarrishawk. The hacker claims the action was motivated by a fourteen-year-old dispute over shared development tools. No player data was compromised, but custom game assets were reportedly decrypted and offered to other servers.
A Reddit mod used AI to hack a Star Wars Galaxies emulator over a 14-year-old grudge
A Reddit moderator, known as Levarris or levarrishawk, allegedly used AI tools to hack the client-side game assets of the Star Wars Galaxies Legends emulator server. The SWGL developers confirmed the breach, stating that custom content, including Bespin, was accessed and potentially offered to other servers. The accused claims the act was motivated by a 14-year-old grudge between emulator teams, a justification largely dismissed by the article and other players.
I want MMOs to waste our time again
The author argues that modern MMOs like World of Warcraft are too efficient, prioritizing player progression over the sense of wonder and aimless exploration found in older titles like Star Wars Galaxies. While acknowledging the design improvements in current games, the piece highlights the unique magic of incidental encounters and the joy of simply existing in a persistent virtual world.
The Daily Grind: What’s the right number of buttons for an MMO hotbar?
This article discusses the optimal number of buttons for an MMORPG hotbar, exploring player preferences and design challenges across various games like Guild Wars, Lord of the Rings Online, World of Warcraft, and Star Wars Galaxies. It questions why a universally accepted 'sweet spot' for hotbar design remains elusive despite player feedback.
SWG lead's new MMO, Stars Reach, almost lost me—until I met an animal conservationist mayor
Stars Reach, an MMO from Raph Koster, known for Star Wars: Galaxies, has launched in early access with a high price point and a messy, unfinished state. While the game's vision of a socially-driven experience with diverse skill trees is apparent, its current implementation suffers from janky mechanics, a poor first impression, and a lack of direction, though glimpses of compelling player-driven community building offer hope for its future.
Massively Overthinking: What did your favorite MMORPG add to the genre?
This article discusses whether popular MMORPGs have truly innovated within the genre or simply built upon existing foundations. Several writers share their favorite MMORPGs and analyze their contributions, with Ultima Online, Star Wars Galaxies, and Guild Wars being highlighted for their significant impacts on social gameplay, economies, and business models.
Massively OP Podcast Episode 576: Peering into the future of MMOs
The Massively OP Podcast episode 576 features hosts Justin and Bree discussing the future of MMORPGs, including Star Wars: The Old Republic's update plans, World of Warcraft's latest patch, and delays for Lost Ark and Throne and Liberty due to Amazon's exit from publishing. They also cover Q2 MMO financials and introduce a new 'spotlight of the week' segment.
WRUP: You’re on the air with Benny, Mark, and the Grongler edition
This weekly roundup features Massively OP staff and community members discussing their gaming plans. This week's participants are looking forward to updates in Guild Wars 2, Final Fantasy XIV, and Warframe, while also planning to play games like MechWarrior 5: Mercenaries, Palworld, and Lord of the Rings Online. Bonus discussions include anticipation for Ace Combat 8 and Aion 2.
Massively Overthinking: How important is an auction house in MMORPGs?
MMORPG developers and players discuss the critical importance of auction houses and asynchronous trading systems. While some older MMORPGs succeeded without them, modern titles often rely on these features to facilitate player economies and trade, with their absence significantly impacting player experience and engagement.
Star Wars Galaxies Legends revives the Battle of Restus, gives website and game UI a facelift
The rogue server Star Wars Galaxies Legends has launched a rebuilt website and updated its game UI. The update includes the return of the Battle of Restuss with modifications, a PvP kill leaderboard, new critter DNA, and various bug fixes and class tweaks. The new website aims to be faster, clearer, and easier to navigate, featuring updated guides and a smoother path for new players.
The Daily Grind: How many MMORPGs have you played to date?
This article discusses the common feature in MMORPGs where players know who crafted their in-game gear, noting its prevalence across many titles. It highlights the surprise of a player who, despite playing for 13 years and several MMORPGs, had never encountered this feature. The author also touches on the broader topic of player engagement with game developers and artisans.
Massively Overthinking: What year of MMOs would you pick to repeat forever?
The Massively OP staff discusses which year in MMORPG history they would choose to relive forever. Contributors like Brianna Royce, Carlo Lacsina, Chris Neal, Sam Kash, and Tyler Edwards share their picks, ranging from the early days of Ultima Online and EverQuest to the peak of World of Warcraft and the launch of Guild Wars 2.
Perfect Ten: All of the MMORPG expansions from 2003
The year 2003 was a significant year for MMORPGs, with ten major expansions released across various titles. This article revisits these expansions, including Ultima Online: Age of Shadows, EverQuest: The Legacy of Ykesha, Final Fantasy XI: Rise of the Zilart, and EVE Online: Castor, detailing their key features and impact on the genre.
The Daily Grind: Which MMORPG has the best critter-breeding system?
This article discusses the history and quality of critter-breeding systems in MMORPGs, highlighting Star Wars Galaxies and No Man's Sky as notable examples. It questions which MMORPGs currently offer the best systems for players.
