Star Wars Galaxies
News, coverage and analysis tracking Star Wars Galaxies across the outlets.
Latest coverage
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.
Former Ultima Online lead says MMOs are "finally free of the fever dream of imitating World of Warcraft" thanks to Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing, and more
Raph Koster, lead designer of Ultima Online, believes the MMO genre has moved beyond the World of Warcraft-imitating phase, citing the success of sandbox titles like Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing, and Minecraft. He argues that the demand for social experiences and persistent worlds, even with smaller player counts, makes it an opportune time for new MMOs like his upcoming game, Stars Reach.
MMO Week in Review: Lament for Elder Scrolls Online
Microsoft's decision to lay off a significant portion of The Elder Scrolls Online team has led to further management turnover and a restructuring of the studio. This week's MMO news also covers the early access launch of SpiritVale, the cancellation of Final Fantasy XIV Mobile, and discussions on lessons for Guild Wars 3.
Rogue server SWG Legends is working on a 64-bit client for 23-year-old Star Wars Galaxies
The player-run rogue server SWG Legends is developing a significant 64-bit client and infrastructure upgrade for the 2003 MMORPG Star Wars Galaxies. While there is no release ETA, internal testing has begun. The update also teases upcoming content like the August Battle of Restuss, a Halloween event, and a new PvP Arena feature.
Massively Overthinking: What’s your first reaction to meeting someone in your main MMORPG?
This article discusses players' first reactions to encountering others in MMORPGs, particularly focusing on the contrast between competitive PvP and cooperative PvE environments. Contributors share their experiences and preferences, with many highlighting games like Guild Wars 2 for their community-friendly mechanics that encourage positive interactions over competition.
"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 Reach
Raph 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 edition
This 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 differently
Former 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.
