Star Wars Galaxies: Thunderheart answers some JTL questions

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We've got that sort of loose camera following behind our speeder bikes currently -- is the stuck-solid camera on the ships just for the demo? Is it an option that can be toggled?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It can be toggled in the same way a player camera can be toggled.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DavidGX wrote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-UGC-Andy wrote:

We all live in england by the way,and this is on the european servers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you have a slow connection.. there's nothing they can do. Get a faster connection or.. lag.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

One thing to keep in mind is that without having to render all that ground, there is less data that has to be transferred and will improve overall performance.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Landorin wrote:
I have questions left for you guys.

1) Will we really "load" right into space? One of the postings said you can either choose to go instantly to space via loading screen or take off and fly into space yourself (that would be cool).

2) What about preordering? It won't be an US-only release, right? I just wonder whether the game will be hard to get as it used to be when it was released in the US only.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1. You will load right into Space. The potential for atmospheric flight exists, but there are some key technical and griefing problems we have to look at first. Instead, the developers stuck with a solid core feature set and we'll add those things later.

2. Last I heard, Europe was going to have a simultaneous JTL release.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Merc-utio wrote:

Great report, cant wait to get the game.

My question is:

in the multipassenger crafts will you be able to switch pilots mid-flight? so that you stop the craft then just get out and let someone else (with the adequate skills) pilot the craft like in a car for instance? If so, will you need to consent these people to fly your craft?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is a detail the devs will look at later on, but I'm sure some kind of consent will have to be given, otherwise, some players would constantly be trying to steal your ship...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mooko wrote:

All this sounds great, very much like a new version of XvT, but is that really a mmorpg. I'm curious to know what is in space for many of the professions in game, such as artisan/droid engineer/dancer/musican/smuggler? Its already been stated no mining in space, this would of been a awesome addition, being able to dump a harvester on a asteroid or gas mining in a nebulae. It sounds all very arcade like, which I like' but I think were gonna see a major decline in other profession, simply because theres no point I've heard of, for them being in space, and everyone is gonna want to be in space, its Star Wars.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This is something Cinco and I talked about while we were in LA at E3. I've also spoken with Runesabre about it and as we get closer to JTL, we're going to be doing a "ground integration" and once beta begins, Cinco will give me the word and we'll run some focus threads to find out how players see there professions developing in Space. Although I don't see placing harvesters on asteroids in the JTL. That will be something that is definately for later development.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Zzorg wrote:
WHEN ???
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fall 2004 for sure.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Galdara wrote:
Thunderheart - I know everyone over there is excited about JLS, Fan Fest, and the new Jedi changes, but could we get a little attention on the other boards? Pretty Please?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Absolutely. I have to catch up on things from last week and next week, we'll get back to expected things. I have to hit the Smuggler and Squad leader boards next week, beef up In Concept, In Dev and so on.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Redd wrote:
Thanks TH.

"This is something Cinco and I talked about while we were in LA at E3. I've also spoken with Runesabre about it and as we get closer to JTL, we're going to be doing a "ground integration" and once beta begins, Cinco will give me the word and we'll run some focus threads to find out how players see there professions developing in Space. Although I don't see placing harvesters on asteroids in the JTL. That will be something that is definately for later development."

Open beta is going to be 1.5 months before release? Do you think that is enough time to then begin asking players how they view professions working in JTLS? Maybe we should get started a little earlier on our own...

The idea of harvesting asteroids is neat, I'd love to see that happen. But I know that JTLS is more like the "fighter edition" and space combat will be the focus for launch. Long as there is room to expand past that in the future then I'm more then happy to enjoy what we do have once the game is launced.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thats a great outlook to have

The time allotted will be enough because the core feature set is so tight. I certainly think its a great idea to start thinking about player professions developing into Space, but remember to scale your expectations accordingly. Also keep in mind that none of the professional developments will have a big effect on piloting since it falls outside the realm of the skill points schema. Once we get to that point, I'm sure we'll be talking about it a lot though

Kurt "Thunderheart" Stangl
Assistant Community Manager