Bounty Hunter Archive
Thread: The Disintegration of the Soul of SWG -reposted
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Residual_Image
Wed Jul 13, 2005 8:51 am
#1
(I urge those who enjoy SWG as a fun passtime, and actually delight in immersing themselves in the 'universe' that has been created for them, press BACK, and not continue to read this post)
For you brave souls who dare venture forth... read on...
(I originally posted this on my servers forum (Eclipse) but I would like to see fellow BH thoughts on this.)
This is Anomaly here... for those of you that know me, I bidyou a fond greeting, and a fond farewell.
I have started this post after being quite simply disgusted by the events which took place this morning. A few people were witness to the events of which I speak... and a few people took part in them. But I will get into what actually happened in a moment... for now however, I would just like to explain my point of view, and share my 'thoughts' (moo?) on our beloved game in its current state.
I have been playing SWG since the summer of 03'. I took a break for about a year and some odd months, to come back very excited, and looking forward to how this game, and community had blossomed into something wonderful.
So...
I load in to see my old character's beautiful blue rodian face collecting dust, and I become even more eager tofurther my much prolonged journey in the Star Wars Galaxy.
I was in for a rude awakening...
There was a time you could visit a starport and not hear the incessant sound of sabers clashing with one another because Jedi have nothing better to do.There was a time when you could just explore Tatooine on foot and be wary of the danger in the sands, when you would see a huge palace hidden somewhere within the desert which appears as no more than a mirage. Bone armor was a sight to behold...and there was always asense of mystery whichexcited you every time you logged on.The magical musical score of John Williams actually made you feel like youwere a part of something, something wonderful.Everyone felt like they belonged, evenaside from theirpersonal community, regardless of what proffession you were.You could explore planets only with fully prepared groups, and professions like Squad Leader, Creature Handler, Ranger... actually had a purpose.
Ok. Lets disregard my silly nostalgia... Lets disregard thatall of the wonder and mystique has been depleted, replaced with a sense of a pandering world, a silly world.
The game has undergone sucha 'make over' onlyakinto a middle aged women who hasinjected herself with as much botox, andcemented herself with as muchplastic surgery as science allows. But, change is good, right?
The kind of change which has occured over the course of SWG's timeline is merelythe devs throwing in the towel with trying to makesomething original, something with a living, breathing soul. They have finally catered to the money men, to the screaming populas,to the fanbois, to the l337s, and they have done so with the utter most saccharinity on the surface. All is grand, yes?
SWG,as has been acknowledged by many, has 'evolved' (is this evolution?) into a game run by Jedi, for Jedi. Of course there was immense pressure on the devs to market this game as a product which fanbois, p0w3r g@m3r$, casual gamers, and cantina-chatters alike may enjoy, but they have not succeeded even on this level. In a very syndicated effort, the devs attempted to implement the Jedi in different ways, hoping to never destroy the original beauty of the game. Again, they have not succeeded here either.
The CUwas thedevs attempt to kill 20 birds with one stone, but the only thing they managed tokill (further) wastheir own game, and now, with Publish 20, they are merely only further cutting their loses by asserting theirforced evolution, and making it even easier to become one of the mighty.
For those of you who have watched the video on the front page of StarWarsGalaxies.com, I wonder if the irony is as obvious to you as it is to me. When they are trying to sell the game to you on what professions you may pursue, they beginwith the 'goliaths'. Jedi, then to a lesser (much) extent, Bounty-Hunter,then, it is interesting that they choose Commando to represent the non-goliath professions. Perhaps they are trying to say that every other profession is as minor and asempty as the Commando's skill trees? Go figure? : )
I feel that this game has been spread as thin as it can get. It has almost endless amouns of content, yet it feels like it has none. The game has so many ridiculous bugs (for a game in 2+ years of release), systems with no ingenuity, (they stopped trying after just about every system they implemented failed) broken proffessions, uninteresting gameplay, milked out content, extremly un-newb friendly environment.
But...
Alot of people, including myself, and my friends, are willing to see past the tangible problems,for it is precisely these types of problems which can be dealt with in due time. If only it wasthis that ailed the once wonderful universe of SWG...
/deepbreath
Now on to what happened earlier this morningthat has made me decide to move on...
I load up and in, and prepare to dothe only thing I feel that there is left to do (for non Jedi characters)in SWG: huntJedi characters. Only full template Jedi, and I either do this solo or occasionally with a Rifleman friend of mine. So, we pick up our mark on the terms and fly into Theed. (where all bored exhibitionistJedimindlessly beat on each other) We open fire on her, exchange some damage, knockdowns, heals, etc. Eventually, whenshebegins to see that there is a possibility of her losing the fight, some obnoxious sychophant (name is Ari'a) gets in a vehicle, and begins the /offerride spam. After that, she begins to /duel and /enddueluntil my and my friendsFPS is about 1,and the Jedi we were attacking utters something about being out of force, and heads for the hills. (bait to lure us? we'll never know).This fight was atleast 20 minutes, and even if we had the will or desire to give chase, we couldn't because both of us could no longer move.
I have hunted most of the full template Jedi on the server and have encountered very few who actually have decency in them. (some that come to mind that are very decent people are Gonz, Persiphone, Guns, X'ion, others as well) It is obvious to me that the general attitude of the majority of the Jedi is one and the same. They grinded their 200 - 400 hours of exp, and because of this, and their full templated power in the game, they adopta quintessential power-blinded attitude. They feel and know that they are the most powerful, that no one can rival them One vs One except another Jedi. What amazes me the most is how offensive and ugly the language of the Jedi gets when a BH comes for them. It is our role in the game to hunt them, yet when we attack, they feel as if we are intruding on their gameplay, and we are portrayed merely as 'griefers'. The sad, inevitable conclusion that I am reaching is that, this is not even the Jedi's fault. Of course some are alot less mature than others, but that is only icing on this decrepit cake. The game has allowed this attitude to be justified and easily adopted. I have no respect for the Jedi in this game, but I do have respect for the player behind the Jedi. I wish I could say the same from the Jedi's perspective.
Another example was my experience solo hunting a full templated Jedi called Ct'. I attack him and we begin to fight, after about 15 minutes, the fight is in my favor, and he is almost out of force. So naturally, he begins to run. I chase until he gains force again and we begin to fight again. I defeat him again, and so, he begins to run again. Finally, it ends by him reaching his house and hiding inside while sending me /tells saying:
1. That it is an exploit to play CM.
2. That Jedi should not lose to anyone.
3. That somehow I do not use my mind pool to heal.
4. That I will need to be MBH to hunt him post Pub 20 (despite the high capacity scatter pistol in my hand)
5. That if I continue this fight, he will file a ticket for harassment.
After a nice laugh, I realized I was speechless. Moving along.
The visibility system is pointlessother than to generategrief towards lower level padawans. But even then, if they don't feel like being hunted, they are always able to go to Kashyyk and grind out their template either AFK or not. Jedi's have nothing to fear, no real reason to hide their saber and robes. No reason not to fight infront of starports, no reason not to do the very things which were set in place to constitute repercussion and punish them.
So right now it is only worthwhile to be one of the following types of players:
A) Jedi
B) Casual gamer
C) Artisan type
D) Pilot (sorta)
E)Gamer who enjoys the more social aspects of SWG
And I am none of these players.
I have much more to say on this topic but I feel what I have said will suffice. I once loved this game, and it pains me to say the things I have said, but I feel that everything said here is as honest and unbiased as I can say it. Ifanyone who reads this agrees with me, I hope that they will not be silent and share their thoughts, and if you do not agree with me, I wish the same.
My regards,
Anomaly
(edited to make easier to read)
Message Edited by Residual_Image on 07-13-2005 09:04 AM
ShaikeRamjet
Wed Jul 13, 2005 8:59 am
#2
I kind of wish Tanks would forward this to the Devs. Although the font color is kind of hard to read....
Message Edited by ShaikeRamjet on 07-13-2005 12:00 PM
mindspat
Wed Jul 13, 2005 9:06 am
#3
I play a Jedi and I personally think the emersion at this point sucks.
If maybe SOE could produce a single document detailing what involvement a Jedi has in this game....yeah right. My last request for GarVa to explain one of his Jedi-Hate posts was deleted.
Unfortunatly SOE does not care other then maximizing their subscription rate thus increasing cash flow. Tihs game "is" going down hill faster and faster...
Until then, I will play to have fun although my intrest in this game has long peaked and there's little to spark it.
Message Edited by mindspat on 07-13-2005 09:06 AM
crowmedic
Wed Jul 13, 2005 9:19 am
#6
At the current rate of the game a year from now everyone will be a Jedi or Jedi Hybrid. And everyone will have their crafter alt. What the hell is going to happen then ?
Kyyrtek
Wed Jul 13, 2005 9:21 am
#7
word. I agree with the sentiment, and think this letter should be read by someone at SOE, even thought it will probably be deleted by a mod who thinks its just another 'i hate jedi' post. Unfortunatley this closed minded attitude about not questioning the direction SOE has decided to go with SWG is at the root of the problems Anomoly and the rest of us are having. By making jedi as easy to grind as it is now, they have given the afk grinders the power to get their alpha class character for so little risk that when a bh does kill them they throw tantrums and unfortunately the devs listen to them since thats who they think are buying the game.
MaitaXibo
Wed Jul 13, 2005 9:24 am
#8
WOW, please forward this to the devs, Tanks. THis really sums up alot of the non-jedi player feeling and probably alot of the feelings of "old" jedis.
RebMBH
Wed Jul 13, 2005 9:29 am
#9
I completely agree but I think it is far 2 late for this game to be saved.
My only hope is they come out with SWG 2 and it is true to timeline with no jedi in the game.
RebMBH
Wed Jul 13, 2005 9:33 am
#10
I don't know how to make clicky things but someone who does needs to post this on the other forums.
JCWeeble
Wed Jul 13, 2005 10:14 am
#12
RebMBH wrote:
I don't know how to make clicky things but someone who does needs to post this on the other forums.
Why? Its not like he's saying anything original here.. All posts like this do, is serve to remind the population that there were things that we liked about the Pre-CU system. Theres also a lot that sucked about the Pre-CU system. Neither one is great, but its what we've got to play...
What I would ask the original poster is if the system was so great a year ago in his opinion, why did he quit? If it was personal reasons thats fine.. But i bet it had more to do with the fact that he didnt think the game was all that great in the "golden age" he is so nostalgic for now.
He's almost going about it right though. He's speaking in the only language SOE understands. Money. He's cancelling his account. And I say, good riddance. People complain all day long on these forums but all it does is make themselves and others feel worse... Where he went wrong, is he complained on the forums where (i guess) he thought people cared. Well.. We dont. If this game is so horrible... Go play a game that does it better. Give them your money instead of SOE.. Thats it.. You pay to play this game.. Have fun with your money... If you're not having fun... Stop paying for it..
Don't put up this long winded post about how horrible it is that, while he was offdoing something else for the last year, other people worked on getting jediand now there are too many of them and its ruininghis delicate playing experience.. That was ALWAYS going to happen. You can't keep anything rare in any video game.. There's also never been a video game that people couldnt choose to be or getsomething if they wanted commit the time to getit. Deal with it or play something else.. And when you realize that other games don't have it any better than SWG does... Don't expect anyone to hand you a tissue when you go to their forums and cry about it.
Play the game or cancel.. Simple as that.. Dont whine about it expecting to get a pat on the back from the BH community.
Message Edited by JCWeeble on 07-13-2005 01:18 PM
Vlamr
Wed Jul 13, 2005 10:19 am
#13
I totally agree with this post. I just came back from a 2 year hiatus and figured I needed to play a good PvP MMOG again. I would go back to playing the GCW agiain by doing my job killing Rebs in Anch. I get back and find out that PvP is nearly dead as far as the GCW goes and the only way to get in on it is to be in a PvP GCW guild. So I went BH instead. Before I left only a handful of players had unlocked their jedi character. Now I see jedi everywhere I go. I can imediatly point out who is running this game and it aint the fans and it aint the devs. Its those profiteering upper mgt glutons at SOE. They make the decisions and it was a very good money making decision to open jedi to the entire world. Of course in the process they have limited the life of this game to only a few more years at best with this current system. Evenetually I forsee tons of regular/non-jedi chacters leaving this game within the next 1-2 years.
The only solution I see(SOE has said they will never do this) is to create non-jedi servers. Basically the game would be the old GCW again. Of course the problem with this is that all non-jedi players would start flocking to these servers and there would be very few players except for jedi on the original servers. This game cant last forever with the way things are being ran. They seem to be milking it for every penny right now. In the short term this brings in the cash but in the long term it just means this game is toast.
The only solution I see(SOE has said they will never do this) is to create non-jedi servers. Basically the game would be the old GCW again. Of course the problem with this is that all non-jedi players would start flocking to these servers and there would be very few players except for jedi on the original servers. This game cant last forever with the way things are being ran. They seem to be milking it for every penny right now. In the short term this brings in the cash but in the long term it just means this game is toast.
Message Edited by Vlamr on 07-13-2005 10:26 AM
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