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New players should Avoid SWG
trollkeeper
Member Posts: 1
I just bought SWG a few weeks ago. Boy was I disappointed. This game has to be one of the WORST games I have ever experienced.
1) There is no ingame community. I tried several servers and in 6 hours of play on a saturday I saw a total of 3 users using the planetary chat - one to start a new guild (and they had only 2 people in it), one to sell something, and one for over an hour trying to find someone to hunt with). The SWG boards are fairly active however (but I wasnt going to pay to chat on a forum).
2) The minimum system requirements on the box of "The Total Experience" are lies. The game is a memory pig - dont expect to be able to play this on less than a gig of ram. I had to remove WinXP SP2 just to play the darned thing due to horrible chopiness even after minimizing all my graphics settings.
3) Customer support took 2 days to respond to me, and the reply was so poorly written I couldnt understand what they were trying to say. English was clearly not first language. What I did get out of it was "file a bug report" I had been playing for a total of 3 days when I submitted and had come across so many problems in the game with content and missions not working at all - considering this game has been around for years I cant understand how they could have gotten away with all these problems.
Here are problems I encountered within the first week:
Survery missions didnt work at all (and never did), the newbie kill missions from the kill offers dont work at all (there is a very short period of time when you make a new char that the missions do not give a location and say kill 15, 30, or 45 creatures - no specific creature is given to kill or it will say any creature will do), unable to move for 15 seconds at a time around the cities - lag issues
Here are some problems I encounterd in 2nd week:
My personal mineral extractor got "buried" and I couldnt add fuel to it to keep it running due to the spawning of an outpost beside it. further lag problems (so common now its a feature of the game), when hunting had just killed a group of tusken raiders (level 1) when another group spawned on top of me and they all attacked and killed me.
I tried another server, created a character, and got a whole whack of gmail from someone elses account. When I did the newb mission to get a speeder, it didnt show up.
Final problems:
Driving a speeder ran by some stormtroopers in the wilderness, i was at least 64meters away when suddenly I am ripped off the speeder and placed by the storm trooper for "inspection" Of course there are some red baddies beside them and they gank me 4 times (the loop broke when I finally died and wound up in town).
Driving by "reds" in my speeder in the wilds throws you in combat mode and would normally release when the music stops. Somehow, my combat mode kept sticking on even when i was several hundred feet away from any baddie - the only way to reset it was to go upto a red and have them attack me, then run away. This happened several times (and of course I was renedered unconcious a couple times trying to reset it).
The last straw for me was when I was assigned the imperial initiate test - kill 4 raiders. First lag hits, but I manage to kill 3 of them, then I am after the fourth, my ship is baddly damaged but there is only 1 of them left. The ship I am after is flying away from me and I am getting hit. So I figure I would bug out and get repairs and start heading to station. I fly generally towards the station moving my mouse all over the screen which should make it impossible to hit me. I still have speed at this time, and I keep taking hits. Next thing I know I am crippled in space and the attacking stops. I did eject, went to station and asked to repair fully - message said it was repaired but it wasnt, tried again, same thing. I exit the game and cancel the account.
I am a veteran of MMORPG's and have been playing for years (started with Ultima Online, also have played EVE (had an account for years), A Tale in the Desert 1, A Tale in the Desert 2, City of Heroes, Ragnarok Online, and a score of others. I have tried out many more games but I dont consider that actually "playing" them.
Comments
I've been playing SWG for about 2 years now, im a jedi almost full template, it sounds to me most of your issues where on your side.
The Community:
Geez man, go to a cantina, the city you start in is the most active cantina in the game, normally 10-100 people in there just talking or working out a game plan for the day
Quest:
The servey quests arent for newbs there for rangers, they have the ability to track creatures so they search out the ones they are givin, you need to use the normal hunting terminal(a tall one with an orange screen) at which point you are givin a waypoint to a nest, or camp site where you need to distroy all the targets and the nest/camp and you get your small amount of money
You are right about two things, SWG is a memory hog, i have a gig and i still have problems sometimes, and the CSR, there useless...
Mineral extractor:
If you had taken the time to read the tips, you would understand that stuff like that happons all the time(bound to in a dynamic game) thats why there is a /target command, where you can target objects near by, or by name "/target <name>" at which point you can pull up the menu with "~" and do what you need to do.
Inspection:
sounds to me someone needs a faster internet connection...
Killed in Space:
if you had landed, your ship would have been repaired.
Last night on Naritus at 1 am, Erillion was helping me transfer my BARC speeder to my other account. There were 24 players in Mos Eisley and the spatial chat was absolutely hopping. There were 4 players just at the place I was waiting by the nooby quest lady.
Just look at the O.P.'s name, in case you don't know a Troll is someone who hates a game and tries to hurt it. I did not call the O.P. a troll, it is in his name. Please be very wary of someone bashing a game with a low post count on this site.
Even the most bitter of SWG fans will admit that the new player experience is extremely fun.
heh most of the problems seem to be on your side.
1) it looks like your on one of the deserted planet that no one ever goes to, like talus or rori. Which will also explain why there was only 2-3 players in planetary chat(which is hardly ever used). Also you dont have to pay to chat on the forum...dont know who or what told you that )
2) RAM is extremly cheap these days, you can buy a decent 512 stick for about 100$
3) Your right about the customer service tho, all they do is respond with an automated response saying to read the faq or submit a bug.
I've been playing the game since release and did not encounter any of those problems your having. Give the game a few more weeks and join an active guild to get into the game. Also visit this site www.newegg.com and do your computer a favor, buy another stick of RAM, you will need it for the new games that are coming out
/edit: love that cat video anarch
double post
Way to go not addressing anything about his post, just attack everything from his name to his opinion. Troll could mean alot of things, troll didnt enter the english language a few years ago just to describe a type of forum user. As for his number of posts we *all* had to start at 1, you dont need to be a forum snob about it.
As to wether you agree with him or not, he did explain in great detail and his post was well thought out and written. Its not like he posted one line just saying "game sucks losers"
Also judging someone on their name, you have anarchy in yours, maybe we could extrapolate all kinds of harsh critical things about your name, but we dont, we know better, maybe you will one day too.
Well i think the community is the best out of any game!
The customer service is good too! They just reply to the most important, they will never reply to answers you can get on the forums.
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Don't click here...no2
No, I dont agree, not because he's wrong but my noobie experience was different, I was a beta player and went into launch. We didnt have tutorials or anything, just annoying help pop up tools, as for the rest of his post, I havent done what he did as I was entirely different classes and played at a different time. So I didnt comment on if he was right or wrong.
You on the other hand just went off on him denounching his entire post, just because of his name, and him being new to the website. You didnt address anything he said, and he said quite a bit. Just ridiculed him as much as you can and now your surprised someone noticed?
Actually just noticed I was wrong, you did address his post you said he was "bashing" the game, very well thought out concise response.
Yeah, I did adress his post, I said last night at 1am there were 24 people in Mos Eisley on Naritus. That's at 1am pacific so 4 am est and 10am in jolly old Engurland, thus addressing his thoughts that there is no community in SWG, which even you must admit is assinine.
SWG is a train wreck my friend. I am sorry you went through all that but your not alone. I recommend waiting and try again later. My theory is if Trials of Obi Wan expansion is more jedi content like they have insinuated and hinted at twiec so far then it will be a big crash to the community and do some major damage.
Some of us arent happy with the game in the state its in and are trying to hard to affect change even with all the Pro-SWGers running around telling people how wonderful the game is.
Kai
Damn buddy. You dont even know what a troll is? Thats sad. Regardless, you go on in a later post to call him a newbie too. Your telling me that somehow you are never a newbie in any game? DAMN. Thats mad skillz yo.
Secondly, I disagree with OP. I find the server usually have quite a bit of people on. Well, if you choose one of the top 5 servers. Other than that I believe it may be dead where he played. Sounds like a frustrated SWG to me. SWG is fun for the first bit, but it gets boring. There is no content for a low level character. It takes many many hours of grinding to reach anything fun to do, otherwise you are dependent on high lvl characters to take care of you. So for the newbie entering SWG without a base of friends they have to grind.
Its only "assinine" as you say, if you take the least amount of information possible and then formulate a complete opinion with that alone and than push it out as fact. He never mentioned which server he's on and, yes some servers are ghosttowns.
- MMORPG.COM Staff -
Just a note:
Nobody ever uses planetary chat. If you're trying to communicate in planetary chat give it up.
People talk in:
Spatial (local area) /say distance
Guild
Group
Some PVP channels
Auction
That's it.
Planetary chat is a waste of time. The best way to find a group is to find people around you and form one. Or go to one of the major hubs of activity on a given server.
I don't play SWG anymore but it's not hard at all to get groups in.
As to the choppiness you don't have to remove XPSP2 you just need to correct the Windows Firewall settings that get turned on by SP2.
Currently Playing: Dungeons and Dragons Online.
Sig image Pending
Still in: A couple Betas
My buddy talked me into playing SWG last week, and so far I'm diggin it for the most part.
Going from WoW (before that through the years EQ,AO, FFXI, CoH,EQ2) it was a bit confuising because nothing is handed to you right away. Most of the documentation on the web is a bit dated, but I've found the community is one of the most helpful around atleast on my server.
I think the initial pros of the game is compared to games like WoW the economy/leveling/crafting system is alot more hardcore. Lot more things to do other than killing things. Lots of interdependancy which I like.
The initial cons are the game is hella buggy. I've seen so many nast bugs in the game, it's frustrating. While the quests are easy to get the often are either bugged or unclear. The game does take it's toll on the ol computer though I think I got it lookin pretty good and running smooth.
I torn whether I'm going to continue or not after the month. I really wanna love the game, but it's quite the time sink to spend hours on something thats not going to be around or going to be changed. I liked EQ2 initially til they decided to change the game to make it easier and there was no community.
Well, if you decide to stay we will be happy to answer any questions you have.
And if you play on Naritus (like many other forum posters here) you can contact me (Novarider or Delos ) for a free starter package (no strings attached) and anything you want to know about SWG.
Have fun
Erillion
I'd have to say that the new player experience for SWG is a very hit or miss kinda deal. The game is, since the CU, very counterintuitive, which is ridiculous because it's also (once you figure out their crazy system and interface) extremely basic and simple.
Much of the problem lies in the removal of the original tutorial on basic interface use which literally taught one how to walk, talk, use the help functions and actually use the game before ever setting you down on a planet. The lack of this leaves new players at a loss and starts them off on the wrong foot, setting them up to be annoyed, confused and uninclined to enjoy the game.
This lack is sometimes alleviated by the more experienced players if a confused noob manages to signal his confusion and difficulty near someone who isn't busy and is cool enough to help out. Oddly enough, the community is packed with helpful, friendly folks who don't mind taking the time to rescue stranded noobs. IF a noob is scooped up by one of these people, the quality of game play often improves drasticly, giving the new player a reasonable and fun experience that he most likely would not have otherwise. If a noob is unlucky enough not to gain the attention and help of a helper-type, odds are that his game experience will be miserable enough to prompt a speedy cancellation -- IF the player can find the cancel option where it has been cleverly hidden.
I've found that communities vary from server to server. Some, like Naritus, are very aware of and friendly towards new players, regularly going out of their way to find, assist and adopt new players. Others, like Starsider, are more insular and self-absorbed, less likely to interrupt roleplay and routine to rescue a confused newcomer. And really, even on the most noob-friendly servers, there are times when a noob will "fall through the cracks" by not knowing how to ask for help in a way that doesn't make people steer clear and avoid them (read not everyone understands the concept that spamming is rude and begging is annoying). Worse yet, some, like the OP, don't even know which channel to use to look for assistance and companionship -- and THIS is not their fault or the fault of the communities. It is only another piece of the counterintuitive, noob-unfriendly nature of the game.
The truely sad part of it all is that SWG, even as it stands currently CAN be a rewarding, fun and enthralling game. But it depends entirely too heavily on the goodwill and efforts of its paying customers to acclimatize and integrate new players rather than adressing the problems with entry and integration on its own. More sad is that SOE and LA seem to be obsessed with the endgame experience and adding new "content" (and I use that word loosely) rather than adressing the game's many real issues and making it a more friendly, enjoyable and intuitive experience.
In my not so humble opinion, were the SWG player community to behave like the typical MMO community and cease to be as uniquely friendly and helpful as they are, the current post-CU game would collapse under the weight of its own ineffective customer service and poor design.
/tar SOE
/tsk
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Kote lo'shebs'ul narit
Azhrarn - What a great post. I am one of those newer-than-new players who, thanks to people like Erillion decided to begin my SWG career on Naritus. On my first day in-realm I contacted Erillion and he helped me with some basic questions. After that, I pretty much went through the tutorial and was LUCKY enough to meet some fantastic people in Tatooine that have been more than helpful. Perhaps I am in the major minority, but so far I have had the following (extremely) positive experiences in my 4 days playing:
1) Have had two different HELPERS sit down with me for at least 30 minutes each to answer questions.
2) Have had an Image Designer who wanted to switch to Scout approach me and ask if I could teach her scouting. I am so new, I had nothing to teach her, but was curious about what an Image Designer could do. Although I had nothing to offer her, she gave me a complete makeover for free, explaining what she could do along the way, and was extremely pleasant, curteous, and mature.
3) Was asked to become a member of a brand new community on the Rori Moon. Was given a free home and free passage to the planet. Have met other people from this community who have been extremely pleasant, helpful, and friendly. Was not preasured to join any guild whatsoever.
4) Have had roleplayers from both the Imperial and Rebel forces approach me without warning and begin roleplaying with me. They wait patiently to see if I'm "into it" - and if so, they will converse with me as long as I wish. When I ask if I can take my leave, they do not argue, follow, harass, or anything. They simply say, "Nice to meet you, let me know if you ever need any help."
Those are just four examples of many. Now perhaps coming from WoW and EQ2, my expectations are very low. Perhaps I am so used to 13 year old retards on ritalin, anything would seem great comparitively. Perhaps I am just extremely lucky. Perhaps the high-end game is so terrible, people have nothing better to do than be nice to new players. I really don't know or care what the reasons for this behavior is. But I do know that in a wierd way, I DON"T want them making this game intuitive. If the initial awkwardness keeps the Battlenet Kids away... I say let Sony make it even more difficult to get into! (OK - so that's a joke, but you know what I'm trying to say here I think.)
Anyway, I have read your posts in these forums and enjoyed your mature thoughts and ideas. Just wanted to say thanks, and share some positive things for anyone that cares.
~ Rylaan Valeri (Bio-Engineer-to-be). Naritus Server and still clueless for the most part.
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The very definition of newbie.
This game is definately not noob friendly. I just checked the forums on my old profession combat medic. Talk about overly complex. You root, snare, stack roots, blah blah blah. You have to be situationally aware of your ham. If anyone thought that you could walk into the game and just play it you would be seriously mistaken. This game is like a second job. I enjoy a game where you can just pop on and play. I found that my experience since swg has been much more relaxed and gamer friendly.
Let me tell you something about swg's. It is insanely fustrating. It can go from fun to wtf in seconds. It requires way to much thought and preparation to participate in pvp. To many combat professions are not useful in pvp at all. They announced a combat rebalance and restructuring. Can anyone who still plays the game say that "Yes combat is balanced"?
Whether my experiences are outdated now are debatable since I haven't stepped foot on a server since the cu went live.
You want to know the real problem though with swg and why it will always be a fringe mmo? Non gamer friendly developers and management = gamer adverse game.
Developers dont hold open discussions or even post much. Everything has become a war. Be it experience, wookie armor, combat upgrade. The only way that feedback is acknowledged and taken by swg staff members is through brute tactics. It is a sad, sad state of affairs. When the game has an open ended discussion about an expansion they make statements like we cannot talk about that right now.
Fixing the game for noobs wouldn't be hard at all. Probably take a couple developers a few weeks. That won't work though because the work on expansions that sell copies and generate "new" revenues. Anyone familar with how publically traded companies work. All the share holders care about is expanding revenues and spending resources on something not directly linked to new revenues is a bad expenditure. So who is accountable for this? Two men. Koster and Smedley. Management of soe must be changed for the games fundamental mentality to change.
You all can debate on and on about swg being a good game Tell everyone that these experiences are rare or uncommon or user mistakes. I find that to be outright lying to yourself and the people who read these posts. This game has always been exceptionally fustrating to play and I outright challenge anyone who posts here and plays this game to try and tell everyone that you haven't had such experiences.
No pardon me if I go off and fix a user issue, but please. This experience is valid and accurate. Stop disconnecting things said because someone used a chat channel called planetary. You would think by its name it would be the most appropriate for the planet you where on.
I have to agree. Unfortunately after spending 6+ hours a day for a week and a half, I've decided that this game isn't worth it for the long haul. I usually try to atleast play to get the whole experience, but this game is far too buggy and convoluted to continue. Also I fear that the lack of interest in the game also doesn't help.
SWG would be a great game, but just has too many problems. I think the community is awesome, the game looks pretty (if you don't mind the lag in combat) and it's very much up my alley in regards to crafting economy ect. But it's the little things (and sometimes no so little things) that like you said makes you go WTF.
It's a shame too because I was hoping for something with a little more challenge than WoW, but also not needing to wait weeks for a party in FFXI.
Been there done that:
Asherons Call,SWG,AOC,D&D,COH,Anarchy Online,DAOC,EVE,Guild Wars,LOTRO,POTBS,WAR,WW2, and Rift
Oddness. It didn't have it in there when I barfed up a test-noob last month to walk through the newer noob quest content so I could reliably help my friends and my guild out with happy noobstuff. I'd be a pisspoor Noobmaster General if I didn't check the content firsthand for difficulty, bugginess etc.
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Kote lo'shebs'ul narit