Rating: 
Summary: Not worth the time or money
Review: 1) not true 3-D: dont look for any underwater adventures or jetpack battles or let alone jumping over a 6 inch ledge...one word phony.
2) No space ships until the expansion is released: Launching Starwars without space is like baking pancakes without a pan, pointless
3) Player generated content: um this means that there wont be diddly to do ( minimal real loot or motivation for playing) unless you live and die by PVP
4) Computer generated worlds: hardly anything is hand crafted. it will be very boring and lacking of variety...see 1 world and you've seen them all. basically you pay ...for a platform that might be ok 8-10 months later..at which point they will make you pay for an expansion. not me, i'll be playing World of Warcaft by then.
Rating: 
Summary: Good genre, bad gameplay.
Review: Star Wars Galaxies (SWG) has always been an extraordinary idea that lit up most of the people's minds. For one thing, it has always made us think about travelling freely into outer-space, walking freely in a huge planet. However, every game has its downsides. Lucas Arts, no offense, never really made a good Star Wars game. Clone Wars was close, but not close enough! Now, there has been one reason why this game will fail, and that is: 1. Lack of reputation. 2. No single-player options. The lack of reputation just basically means that it's really made from a company that was always criticized by so many people. Number two means that not every one is a pro at using the internet, nor every one has a fast speed connection. Also, just to add on, the monthly fee system will not encourage any gamer to play continuesly. Now, you might say, "hell no!", others might add, "I will play on for the rest of my life". But you really must know every one has his/her own opinion. Some people might like it, some others might not. Now gameplay doesn't really mean stick this cd into its disc and press the play button then admire the graphics. It's more than that! The gameplay is designed in a strategic way. A way like the Sims was designed as. Think about the camera angles you find in the Sims with additional buttons for fire mode or driving mode. So you really don't have as much freedom as promised. Dont take my word for it, buy it and see for yourself. Imagine, wasting over $70 dollars in cash for something useless that'll , in few years, lose its ranks and then something else will boom to the top. So why go for a game that needs monthly fees? mutliplayer only? bad gameplay (thought non agree with)? My words, think of what happened to those who wasted more than $70 dollars for Sims Online. All it became is one massively enchanced msn messenger or a chat room instead of being a game. So people, do not get your hopes to high, I've watched the trailers myself, analyzed it a hundred times by re-checking, I have seen the screens, tried everything myself, and if you're really hyped up and not patient to wait for others to try it first, go ahead, waste your money and risk all the outcomes and possible outcomes of failure/success in the game you've just purchased!
Rating: 
Summary: Simply wow
Review: I'm under NDA (gotta love beta)
but I can say, wow. The hype hasn't done this game ANY justice. It keeps getting better every day I play it. You must play this game, even if you've never played a MMORPG before.
Rating:
Summary: Never ever played an MMORPG or an RPG or anything, read on..
Review: This review is from the beta and I hope not to violate the NDA. Let me just say that I have nearly zero experience with RPGs (an hour of Neverwinter Nights and a couple days of the Sims if that counts) and absolutely no experience with MMORPGs like EverQuest. So beta testing has been a learning experience ("What am I doing here?"). But now after playing for only 5 days, I am hooked. I was confused the first day or so but didn't want to read all the available help (and a lot is available). So I nearly just said "forget it, I'll stick to the Quake of the month FPS." Then something clicked. I don't know exactly what it was, but suddenly it all fell together and things made sense.
And then I was lost to this physical dimension we call the world. I was in the Star Wars Galaxy. Now, I understand the term "EverCrack" (referencing the addictive nature of MMORPGs like EQ). If I could I would spend all day and night in SWG. It's a fantasy world come to life. There is not enough space to describe it all (and I couldn't). Let me just summarize my last night playing:
I met up with some guys who were going to hunt big game outside the city. Eight of us headed out and tracked down the beasts we were looking for and the hunt was on. After several attacks on various herds, we set up camp and relaxed and healed. Our group leader set off some fireworks, and we all sat back and enjoyed the show. We had brought an entertainer with us and enjoyed some music and dancing and it was so like one of those Old Milwaukee commercials - Doesn't get better than this.
Then we heard rumor of a student of the darkside nearby... we packed up the camp, locked and loaded our rifles, polished our swords and headed out...
I won't go on from there. Suffice to say, if you have no idea what these types of games are about, I think it can be summed up by saying it's about meeting people, having a good time with them and experiencing adventure in a glaxy far, far away. This game is the best.
Rating:
Summary: A dream-come-true for Star Wars fans
Review: The NDA has been lifted, and finally this beta tester can give you the inside scoop on what will be THE game for 2003...and for Star Wars fans everywhere! We've come a long way, baby, and while the game isn't a perfectly polished diamond, it's no cubic zirconia either. The fundamental goal of the game remains intact: Star Wars: Galaxies will give you the opportunity to live, work, fight, play, explore and interact in the Star Wars universe. Begin the game by choosing a character. You'll be blown away by the sheer number of choices. Choose gender and species (including human, Mon Calamari, Wookie, Zabrak--think Darth Maul, tatoos and all--and others, complete with different characteristics for each). Then customize your avatar, with different hairstyles, skin tones, facial shapes, and species-specific settings such as tatoos or fur patterns. You could spend hours simply customizing the way you look, or choose "Randomize All" to look over just a few of the unique possibilities in no time. After choosing an appearance, you'll choose a starting profession. But never fear, no matter what you start off with, you can always go in different directions once you've entered the game. Become a blaster-wielding space cowboy by beginning as a Novice Marksman, heal wounds as a Medic, relieve battle fatigue as an Entertainer, try your hand at tailoring and architecture as an Artisan, get down-and-dirty as a Brawler, or engage your yen to travel as a Scout. If you've never played an MMORPG before, or if you want a proper introduction to the game, begin by going through the helpful tutorial, which will explain basic systems of the game to you. Once you've learned your way around, you'll choose a starting planet, and you'll probably open the helpful "Holocron" to give you some ideas on where to go from there. Find a bank, take on some missions, store your "clone" data (just in case a no-good Tusken Raider decides to use your furry hide for target practice), chat with other players, and get ready for adventure. The learning curve is mild. Expect to spend a few hours getting accustomed to the interface--this beta tester had no experience with MMORPGs at all before entering the streets of Mos Espa for the first time, and in no time at all, I was heading out into the desert to bullseye womp rats. Where you go from there is up to you. As an artisan, you can survey for the perfect raw materials, then combine them to make the perfect blaster, a stylish jacket, a house, or even a power-up dinner. As a combat-oriented character, take on missions or wander the wilds, blasting randomly-spawning creatures or destroying smuggler's encampments. As an explorer, create encampments for other players to rest and heal, and hunt creatures so you can harvest their meat, bones and hide. Sell your wares on "Star Wars Ebay," the bazaar, or purchase a vendor to sell them for you. And when you're all done visiting Jabba's Palace, searching for C-3PO and R2-D2's crashed escape pod, plumbing the depths of a cave filled with Corellian savages, or hanging out with Boss Nass on Naboo, head to the Cantina to watch the dancers and listen to the musicians. Player-versus-player action hasn't been neglected. Sign up for either the Rebel Alliance or the Imperial Empire, then declare yourself as an Overt member to take potshots at members of your enemy faction whenever, whereever. For those of us craving a less intense look at PVP, become a "Covert" member, thus keeping other players from blasting you at will...until you decide to go Overt. Then, anything goes. There are still bugs to be worked out, and features to be added. Many discussions on the beta boards have resulted in changes to the game already, and more are on the way. But that said, this is no WWII Online or Ultima Online. The game is stable, functional, and, most importantly, fun. Where will it go from here? Like any MMORPG, the developers can only truly provide a framework for the players to take the game where they will. In this case, the framework is the best of any MMORPG out there. I'll be there on opening day, helping to shape it from day one. If you are a Star Wars fan, an MMORPG player, or both--or, like me, you've always wanted to jump on the MMORPG bandwagon, but never had the opportunity--this is your chance. Shuttles are leaving for Mos Eisley every ten minutes. Climb aboard, and let the adventure of a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, begin for you!
Rating: 
Summary: Don't get your hopes up
Review: Don't expect too much, and expect to pay $15/month, and you'll enjoy the game, somewhat. Dull combat, tedious crafting, and 'upkeep' that means you have to work, constantly, just to keep what you own. Good luck.
Rating:
Summary: Innovative and Fun
Review: As a beta tester of SWG, I feel this is one excellent MMORPG. For any star wars fans or for an traditional RPGers, I'd highly recommend this game. It's fun, exciting, the graphics rocks (especially when there's a bug and NPCs are naked, hehe), and the game play is definitely long lasting.
Rating:
Summary: System Requirements Could Shut Many Middle Class Gamers Out
Review: I know one opinion from one meaningless person to a major company or a MMORPG fan won't add up to anything at all. In fact I have my doubts that an actual human being will ever read this. Star Wars Galaxies is sure to be a huge hit and I'm sure pre sale figures are already pointing to that fact. However, many star wars and MMORPG fans are going to be unable to ever enjoy the massive online world of Star Wars Galaxies. As a college student from a middle class family, I like many others in my situation, were willing to play 50 dollars for the game and I could even afford to pay the monthly fee in order to enjoy the game, but still for many of us it will be imposable to meet the minimum system requirements to run the game. The US economy is very slow at the moment and as a member of a family that just shelled out 2,000 dollars for a new computer two years ago and that computer won't even meet the minimal requirements having a chance to ever run the game is imposable. Maybe one persons' situation won't seem that big after all what's one monthly subscription fee or one 50 dollar game purchase? However, there are many other people in my situation, with a slow economy, in a middle class family which is being effected by layoffs in the airline industry, buying a new, fast computer has become luxury especially when older computers like mine ,running on a 735mhz Pentium III Prosser,are working just fine and are able play every other new and popular game on the market. (see warcraft III) In short, I wish the developers would have taken into consideration that many middle class Americans can not afford to upgrade their entire system for the sake of playing a game. And although it may seem as if the system requirements are not much of a hang up, take a look on ebay at the amount of Beta test disks available due to beta testers systems not being powerful enough to run the game. Sure most new computers put on the market in the last year can run the game without difficulty, but haven't the sales of new home PC's been dropping drastically? Best of luck with the launch, I just wish more middle class Americans could be a part of it.
Rating:
Summary: Complaints,Hypes,and pragmatism
Review: I seem to notice a percentage of naysayers who complain about MMORPGs.The subscription fee.Welcome to business.If you have ever taken an economics,or business class,you'll know that a company cannot grow,cannot succeed,and certainly can't provide good customer service if it's profits are both onetime,and limited.Sure,Sony itself makes stupid amounts of money,but that doesnt' mean it can dedicate it's coffers to cater to one of it's titles in a relatively expensive way.The cost of servers,staff,and the ongoing improvements and expansion pack production are usually quite large in the case of MMORPGs,and some gamers fail to recognize that the only things you get free are either stolen,or given with strings attached. Gamers complain game companies of "milking their wallet".Doesn't every company with a new game,with a new set of spiffy,and hardware intensive graphics do this anyway?Oh,that game needs a new video card,or 512 of DDR, and most gamers will GO and BUY the necessary parts.The overall cost of these new parts in comparison in monthly fees is rather similiar,since your SOTA(State of the Art) upgrades can't fight the march of time and after a year or two,have to be discarded,and bought anew,much like a new version of the game coming out,with new "content" that you purchase.Is this also milking your wallet?Should game companies just sell games once,not give the industry a kick in the pants for innnovation and advancement,to just get by and brownose the gamer community.Hardly.As I said,it's business first and foremost.You either get over this,and enjoy your game,while paying that "horrible tax" or you bemoan,groan,and find something else to do,which is your own choice. Er,as to Galaxies myself,I'm skeptical about the noncombat professions since so many people seem to want to blow stuff up,but maybe that Tailor is more dangerous than you think,eh?
Rating:
Summary: It is your destiny...
Review: I have followed the progress of this game since the Electronics Entertainment Expo of 2001 in May, and I have only progressively been more impressed since. Think about it; where else can you blast stormtroopers, crush Rebel scum, or, if you are lucky or skilled enough, seek out a Jedi hidden amongst the galaxy to train you in the ways of the Force? Thought so. And if you would rather just live in the Star Wars galaxy, hang out in a cantina with your friends, and maybe go hunting every once in a while, that perfectly fine. This isn't so much a game as much as it is an environment; the game developers made this world for us to live and play in. You might be suprised at how many friends you can make while playing. Star Wars, from the very beginning, has always been known for outstanding visuals, and this game is no exception. Not only that, but this game is very flexible. The minimum requirements of your computer's hardware are relatively modest, but the graphics engine is so scalable that no card on the market today can play this game with all of the features turned up to the max. Traditional MMORPGs (Massively Multiplay Online Role Playing Games) point back the the genre's past; all the characters pick from one of about a half-dozen "classes" that define the skills your characters will learn in the game. All players have to earn experience by killing creatures or players in the game. Star Wars Galaxies will be different. Experience is awarded based on skill use; not killing enemies. This means that a medic can heal people and gain in skill, the way it should be. Grouping with your friends will be easier than ever. Because there are merely skills, and not "levels" for your character, or avatar, a new player is not a severe disadvantage when trying to play with a veteran player. In addition, players can designate themselves to be placed into a "I help newbies" database that new players can use to search out someone willing to help them learn the ropes in the game. The economies of past games have been paid really, only lip service. Money was worthless and skilled players could become self-sufficient, making the idea of a collective economy pointless. In Star Wars Galaxies, no one player can accumulate all the skills necessary to supply all of his needs; he must work together with other players to get his weapons, armor, medical packs, and food. Besides stores and direct trading, there are 'bazaars' where players can put an item onto a market network where players can browse through and buy what they want. Item decay will ensure that players will need to replace or maintain weapons and other items, hopefully creating a more stable economy, and one that is fun to work with. One would be remiss if they were to neglect the incredible player customizing tool available when you first create your avatar. More variables than ever allow you to adjust hair color, style, eye color, shape, nose size, shape and width, body type, height, ears, neck, and enough other features that if one wished to, they could create a reasonable approximation of themselves in the game. Of course, cosmetic things like tatoos, hair and eye color will be adjustable in the game, via the "image designers". All in all, this is one game that can bring the online game to the masses; plus... where else can you crack "I've got a bad feeling about this" or "May the Force be with you" and get a positive reaction? Live the greatest Saga ever told...........................yours.
-Lucas Smith
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