Recording summary · August 2020
Why Star Wars Galaxies was the best video game ever
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Overview
Daniel played Star Wars Galaxies as a teenager around 2004, transitioning from Guild Wars after his father agreed to pay the monthly subscription fee, and regarded it as one of the best games he had ever played due to its sandbox mechanics, player-driven economy, and strong social community.
Star Wars Galaxies featured diverse species, non-combat professions such as crafting and entertaining, and player-built cities and homes that fostered close social communities.
Daniel played as a bounty hunter combined with combat medic to hunt player Jedi using contract terminals, ambushes, and sniper tactics alongside another bounty hunter.
After roughly six months of grinding to unlock a Jedi character, Daniel reached the Jedi Village and summoned the old man NPC, though original unlock requirements were later replaced when an update allowed creating level 1 Jedi.
Daniel initially joined a small Rebel Alliance guild before switching to the Empire guild Exile Corp, taking part in large server PvP town-to-town battles, piloting customized spacecraft, and living inside ships.
Major Sony updates that reduced professions and enabled direct level 1 Jedi creation caused widespread community dissatisfaction, prompting Daniel and his guild to leave Star Wars Galaxies for World of Warcraft.
Daniel reflected on past personal addiction to Star Wars Galaxies, his goal of becoming a Jedi, and his current mobile gaming habits.
Themes
Star Wars Galaxies sandbox mechanics, professions, and player-built cities.
Bounty hunting mechanics and tactics against Jedi players.
Original Jedi unlock progression versus the revamp allowing level 1 Jedi.
Guild activities, faction PvP warfare between Exile Corp and Rebel towns, and space gameplay.
Game updates, player dissatisfaction, migration to World of Warcraft, and Daniel's personal gaming history.
Developments
Daniel transitioned from Guild Wars to Star Wars Galaxies around the summer of 2004 with his father funding the subscription fee.
Daniel summoned the old man NPC and reached the Jedi Village after six months of grinding.
Daniel switched from a Rebel Alliance guild to the Empire guild Exile Corp.
Sony implemented updates allowing instant level 1 Jedi creation and reducing character professions.
Daniel and his guild departed Star Wars Galaxies to play World of Warcraft.
Uncertainties & gaps
Whether Star Wars Galaxies reached peak popularity around 2003 to 2004 or how popular it was at that time.
The reason Daniel did not use his monthly allowance from his father to pay for game subscriptions directly.
How Daniel initially discovered Star Wars Galaxies.
Whether an enemy Jedi was away from the keyboard or looking at something else when attacked inside his house.
Whether the home planet of Exile Corp's town was Dantooine.
Whether Daniel played Star Wars Galaxies for an entire year.
Whether a game comparable to Star Wars Galaxies currently exists or what gaming titles are currently popular.