Star Wars Galaxies

I imagine SOE has the rights to run SWG for a fixed time period after its launch.  Considering they invested whatever amount of money to make the game it wouldn't make any sense to sign a contract that could close them down at the drop of a hat.  Perhaps there are opt out clauses, but suspect there are stiff penatlies for anyone choosing that route.

That aside I don't suspect either company wants to shut the game down right now.  It doesn't really change anything for Lucas Arts to do so and SOE gets more egg on their face for closing the game down.  It gives one less option on the all access pass and also opens the door to people asking for lower rates since SOE typically raises rates after adding a game or two.  My guess is they are waiting for another Star Wars game to launch so they can have a plausable excuse to sunset this title.  I think that is the best damage control these two can put on the situation. 

Originally posted by Daffid011

 

SOE purposefully chose to SACRIFICE a portion of the current subscriber base in an attempt to attract a potential subscriber base.  It isn't just that they didn't want your opinion, they didn't want you to know what they were up to, because they knew it was going to cost them your subscription money.  They simply thought your dollars could be replaced by someone who hadn't played the game yet. 

Least we never forget.

On merit, the NGE should have closed over a year ago.  For some reason they are still willing to throw money down this shithole.  Why, I don't know, clearly SWG will never recover even to last year's sub numbers, much less 2004-2005's.

So, I'm through predicting when it closes, because there is nothing that the epic incompetents in charge of SOE and LEC can do anymore which will surprise me, my expectations for them are really that low.

If they are willing to keep losing money on the NGE, that's money that they aren't spending to make any other MMO that will ruin someone else's game experience.

Plus, think of the poor fanbois...  If the NGE closes, where will they ever be able to go where someone will call them a "senator" again?

Originally posted by ladyattis

 

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Originally posted by ArcAngel3

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Originally posted by ladyattis

 

I remembered when I had a couple toons in Pre-CU/NGE times. It was fun to play back then even though the combat was so out of balance that you had to buy doctor buffs to wear composite armor (or you died...) just to grind missions most of the time. I went back a year ago to see what was going on, but it's really sad to state that this game is more or less a zombie-like beast that really needs to be put down. Smedley and company must have the hugest egos on Earth as to not admit "we suck at development, and we'll let others be our betters" because if this game has as low of population as reported, then it really needs to go. It's almost like some developers just don't know when to just quit it and admit defeat. I just hope developers of any other MMOs keep the NGE problem in mind forever as what not to do to their game(s).
All in all, the sooner they kill this thing, the sooner folks can move on. *shrugs*

-- Brede

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As long as just enough people keep paying to pick away at the carcasse, SOE and LEC will probably keep this thing on life support.

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I just don't see the logical sense in it. An IP that could garner millions shouldn't be shackled to any particular instantiation of it if sucks so bad that even the more 'casual' fans (those that don't make it their business to be absolutely fanatical about the whole thing...) don't like it. That's how bad the current incarnation of SWG is. It's literally like smearing pooh in someone's face keeping that damn thing around. Maybe I'm missing some numbers game here, but to run a series of racks for a game like this still costs a pretty penny and I know SOE probably doesn't physically own that hardware as co-location servers and the like had evolved around 1999/2001 despite the Dot Com Bubble. So why pay for what is generally not worth it? There has to be some sort of clause in the LA/SOE agreement that forces this operation. The question is this: which party insisted on it? SOE or LA?

-- Brede

I also think it defies logic, and I share your sense of frustration and disbelief. 

Originally posted by Daffid011

I imagine SOE has the rights to run SWG for a fixed time period after its launch.  Considering they invested whatever amount of money to make the game it wouldn't make any sense to sign a contract that could close them down at the drop of a hat.  Perhaps there are opt out clauses, but suspect there are stiff penatlies for anyone choosing that route.

 

That aside I don't suspect either company wants to shut the game down right now.  It doesn't really change anything for Lucas Arts to do so and SOE gets more egg on their face for closing the game down.  It gives one less option on the all access pass and also opens the door to people asking for lower rates since SOE typically raises rates after adding a game or two.  My guess is they are waiting for another Star Wars game to launch so they can have a plausable excuse to sunset this title.  I think that is the best damage control these two can put on the situation. 

From the LucasArts point of view, I'm guessing they'll let this sucker drag along until a new and better StarWars MMO comes out. 

Then I expect to hear some positive spin on why they're closing the game, alongside marketting for the new one. 

Originally posted by ThaneB

Originally posted by vet-in-exile

Originally posted by saay


Daffid, I dont take it as a huge thing that they didnt value my opinion over the NGE. Sure i was pissed off at the time

By continuing to pay them and support them on these forums you are validating what they did. You were pissed off but you're still willing to pay them and shill for them here. Interesting.

How is he a shill? Are you assuming that since he actually enjoys playing SWG he just has to be an SOE employer. I myself hate SWG, I haven't played it in 3 years. But let the man have his own opinion. This is getting ridiculous. Isn't everyone entitled to their opinion, good grief. It's been over 3 years since the Combat Upgrades were released, find a new game. These threads are becoming way too numerous.

Anyone who continues to play SWG, or anyone who takes the slightest issue with what salvaje and the rest of his adorable little "cabal" post -- no matter how factually out-of-this-world it may be -- is a "fanboi" or an SOE employee.

It's how this board works. March in lockstep with the "cabal," or be flamed into oblivion.

Originally posted by sookster54

 

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Originally posted by kobie173
Current estimates by who?
4,500 PvPers -- that is, of course, assuming that EVERY SINGLE PVPer uses BOTH toons for PvP, and has them both as officers. Which is, of course, untrue.
That is also assuming that PvPers make up at least 2/3 of the total playerbase, which is a remarkable leap in logic that goes against every estimate of PvE vs. PvP breakdown, ever.
Hey, I'm in no way suggesting sub numbers are healthy, and I never have. But 6-8K is such a ridiculously low number, you lose any and all credibility by continuing to parrot it.

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If you look around the SWG forums, you'll see ALOT of people with more than one character in their sig with officer status from the activeframe site, there's also plenty with all 3 of their characters that are ranked, hell it's kind of silly to see one guy with all 3 of this chars at general, that's ALOT of grinding/pvp.

 

And there's a lot of people with NO officers.

Originally posted by JestorRodo

As I stated in my second Rodo Report, I, Jestor Rodo, am willing to do my Dragon Con Rodo Report without any Makeup or mask. This would occur if by the end of August if Sony On Line Entertainment was not announce a sundown date for Star Wars Galaxies. The reasoning of why I think that this will happen –

1. The Free Fall of Customers from the game since the Combat Upgrade and the New Game Edition from about 300k to 50k. (From my sources – I estimate about 20k)

Post proof or your talking out of your hind end sir.

2. Low Server levels visa vie from the low number of players – I would like to use my Veteran trial to try the NGE again but since my home server, Kauri it’s the least populated server with players transferring to more populated servers. Server mergers
Would be the wise course of action but SOE refuses to make such an effort. The effort would be futile if the game would be shut down in the near future.  

Mergers and Free Transfers are hotly requested by all currently.

3. The nonexistence availability of the game. You cannot buy a copy of the game anywhere- only as a Digital download from SOE. They give away the game in the trial and then if you want the two expansions you can pay $30.00 to once again download from SOE as well. It will make it a lot easier I guess not to have a bunch of retail copies on the shelf for sale after the servers are shut down but there is not going to be any impulse purchases of the game. Considering its current condition, that may be a good thing.

I agree this is a easy fix...but hey....SOE failed Marketing 101 IMO...

4. The announcement or widely believed rumors of new Star War MMOs. Lucas Arts, the owners of the Star Wars franchise has witnessed a 300k users level and they would like to see a Star Wars MMO achieve and exceed that level in the future. Its not going to be the NGE of SWG. In fact, its said that Lucas Arts has forgiven SOE of a 1 million dollar annual royalty for the franchise rights for the past two years . It’s a good because with the estimated users, 1 million may be the annual profit for the game. It’s a sure thing that a replacement for SWG is in the works.

There is a KOTOR game in the works....Maybe.....The Massive.com et al web site comments are just that...Rumor.  Get a Signed and Notarized comment from someone at LEC and we will believe it.  Been SWG2 rumors since Patch 9 and April 2005.

5. The recent change in parent companies for SOE. For years SOE parent company has been Sony Picture Entertainment, moviemakers not computer gamers. Just recently SOE now answers to its new Sony Computer Entertainment America. As I have mentioned in my recent Rodo Report, Its going to be a tough sell to explain the current existence and the amount of resources that are being wasted on the low to no profit NGE.

Just an Oversight change...SPE should never have been in charge of Computer Games and Gaming in the first place.

6. Star War Galaxies dismissal of Prez , a respected coordinator of Player events which too will now will cease to exist. It Seems that SOE will not support the in game players with events , so why should you support a game that is about to end?

Time to say farewell.... He is going off to be the Community manager for Free Realms...hardly being fired or released or dismissed.  Helps if you actually research.

 

My Comments in Red.