Star Wars Galaxies
News, coverage and analysis tracking Star Wars Galaxies across the outlets.
"You can literally reroute a river into a desert and cause it to bloom": Star Wars Galaxies lead says of his new sandbox MMO Stars ReachRaph Koster, lead designer of Star Wars Galaxies, discusses his new sandbox MMO, Stars Reach, which features a procedurally generated universe with real-world physics simulations. Players can manipulate the environment by rerouting rivers, freezing water, or electrifying deposits, with the game's core mechanics drawing inspiration from Conway's Game of Life. Koster emphasizes that the advanced physics simulation, enabled by modern computing power, allows for a more immersive and reactive world than previously possible.- WRUP: Things the cat tube produces editionThis week's "What Are You Playing" roundup features community members discussing their gaming plans, including Guild Wars 2, Star Wars Galaxies Legends, The Division 2, and Warframe. Several staff members also shared personal anecdotes about unique family traditions, ranging from elaborate fireworks displays to specific holiday meals and egg-cracking games.
- The Daily Grind: What concepts do MMORPGs keep trying to reinvent for a new generation?This article discusses how MMORPG developers often reintroduce older game design concepts as if they are new innovations. A ZeniMax Online Studios developer's comment about a new dungeon type is used as an example, highlighting how open dungeons were common in early MMOs like Ultima Online and EverQuest before becoming less prevalent after World of Warcraft.
- The Daily Grind: Do you make or wear anything but the best gear in your MMO?This article discusses player gear choices in MMORPGs, using Star Wars Galaxies as an example where the author crafts and sells mid-level armor. It questions whether players prioritize the best gear or settle for good enough, suggesting this choice might indicate if a game is a sandbox.
"Once Darth Vader came for you, you were just going to die": We could have had an MMO about Jedi refugees hiding from the Empire, if Star Wars Galaxies had gone differentlyFormer Star Wars Galaxies director Raph Koster discusses the challenges of implementing Jedi characters in the MMORPG, including a proposed permadeath system where players would hide from the Empire and face Darth Vader. The game ultimately opted for a complex skill-based unlock system that proved difficult to implement and led to player dissatisfaction by forcing them to abandon preferred playstyles.- Morning Postmortems/RetrospectivesThis article delves into the notorious 'Jedi Problem' that plagued Star Wars Galaxies during its development and lifespan. It also touches upon a chapter related to the Halo series, specifically 'Chapter 7'.
- The Daily Grind: Have you ever designed an MMO quest?This article discusses the concept of player-designed quests in MMORPGs, referencing older titles like Star Wars Galaxies and City of Heroes that featured systems allowing players to create content. It also touches upon how players in games like Ultima Online and EverQuest would manually create quests using in-game resources and guildmates.
- WRUP: What I think the positions in soccer mean because I didn’t listen editionThis article humorously explores the author's lack of understanding regarding soccer positions, contrasting it with their engagement in various video games like Guild Wars 2, Final Fantasy XIV, and Warframe. It also touches on personal reflections about school life and social events.
- Massively Overthinking: Is the era of the themepark MMORPG over?Industry veterans discuss the sustainability of themepark MMORPGs, with Raph Koster suggesting rising development costs are making the model unsustainable. While some argue that modern themeparks incorporate sandbox elements to survive, others believe the dichotomy is false and that innovation from both styles is key. The discussion highlights the challenges of content creation speed versus player consumption and the evolving player base's preferences.
- The Daily Grind: What would you recommend as a gamer’s *second* MMORPG?This article discusses recommendations for a gamer's second MMORPG, distinguishing it from introductory gateway MMOs. It suggests that while games like World of Warcraft are good first choices, more complex options like EVE Online or Wurm Online might be too difficult for a second experience, proposing an intermediate difficulty range is needed.
As Xbox eyes layoffs, Microsoft's CEO says its videogames aren't monetised enough—so it's not the cancelled games or $68.7 billion deals or AI overspending, thenMicrosoft CEO Satya Nadella stated that the company's video games are not sufficiently monetized, suggesting this is the core issue rather than cancelled projects or large acquisitions. This comes amid layoffs at Xbox, with Xbox CEO Asha Sharma calling for a "reset" to better meet fan expectations. The article also touches on the rising costs of game development and the industry's struggle to find sustainable monetization models.
Ultima Online and Star Wars Galaxies vet tells me the theme park 'assembly line' MMO just isn't viable anymore, especially as dev costs spike: 'We hit the wall'Veteran MMO developer Raph Koster believes the 'theme park' style of MMO, popularized by World of Warcraft, is no longer viable due to skyrocketing development costs. Koster, who worked on Ultima Online and Star Wars Galaxies, argues that the increasing expense of creating static content, coupled with player consumption rates, makes this model unsustainable. He suggests that the genre has become stagnant, with players growing bored and feeling underserved by an industry focused on monetization over innovation.- WRUP: Every toy version of G1 Devastator from TransformersThis article examines the evolution of the G1 Devastator toy from Transformers across various iterations, including the original 1985 release, Universe (2003), Combiner Wars (2015), and Studio Series (2025). It also includes community members' thoughts on effective and ineffective advertising.
- The Daily Grind: What’s the ideal server size for an MMORPG?This article discusses the ideal server size for MMORPGs, questioning whether larger servers are always better. It uses examples like Project Gorgon, Star Wars Galaxies, and Guild Wars 2 to explore how server population affects player experience, economy, and game mechanics.
- Star Wars Galaxies Legends kicks off Empire Day, revamps food, and plops a subway on Cloud CityThe rogue server SWG Legends has launched its annual Empire Day event, coinciding with the 23rd anniversary of Star Wars Galaxies. The update includes new ships, a flashpoint on Bespin, a subway system, and numerous quality-of-life improvements such as bulk item management and revamped chef food recipes. Many of these changes were implemented based on player senate requests.
Stars Reach could be the second coming of the sandbox MMO, with player-built cities and 40+ Star Wars Galaxies-style…Stars Reach aims to revive the sandbox MMO genre with ambitious features like player-built cities and procedurally generated planets. Creator Raph Koster describes it as a blend of Star Wars Galaxies, RuneScape, Eve Online, and Ultima Online, emphasizing deep simulation and a wide range of player-driven professions. The game is slated for early access this summer.
A new MMO announcement is more exciting than all the other SGF news combinedThe announcement of Guild Wars 3 has generated significant excitement, overshadowing other gaming news. The author expresses a deep love for MMORPGs, particularly the Guild Wars series, and anticipates Guild Wars 3 will offer a fresh experience with its new setting and mechanics. The article also touches on the decline of new MMORPG releases and the unique shared discovery that defines the genre.- WRUP: The future of Guild Wars games as covered by me it’s all true editionThis article discusses the future of Guild Wars games, announcing potential expansions like 'Guild Wars: Time To Pivot' and 'Guild Wars: Re-Prophecized,' alongside a speculative 'Guild Wars 4.' It also touches on other games players are engaging with, including Star Wars Galaxies Legends, Skate, Division 2, and Final Fantasy XIV, and includes a bonus question about art that requires multiple exposures to appreciate.
- Massively Overthinking: What’s the next best thing to your favorite MMORPG?The Massively OP staff discusses where players might migrate if their favorite MMORPGs were to shut down. Contributors share personal experiences of losing beloved games like City of Heroes and Star Wars Galaxies, and explore whether direct replacements are sought or if players move to different genres entirely. The consensus leans towards players finding games with familiar elements rather than exact replicas, or embracing a more transient gaming experience.
- Playable Worlds’ Sandbox MMORPG Stars Reach, Led By Ultima Online Designer Raph Koster, Launches into Early Access this SummerPlayable Worlds' science-fantasy MMORPG, Stars Reach, designed by Ultima Online creator Raph Koster, is launching into Steam Early Access this summer for PC. The game features a vast, simulated galaxy where players can explore, build, craft, trade, and engage in combat with a flexible, classless progression system. Early Access will offer multiple planets, resource gathering, combat, and crafting, with additional features like factions and PvP to be added later.