Showing posts with label Did You Notice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Did You Notice. Show all posts

Monday, March 30, 2009

Did You Notice: Waypoint Macros



Did you notice that you can create multiple waypoints at once by using a macro?

I needed to create numerous waypoints out of one of the SWG Collection Guides that can be found on the forums. For some reason, getting the copy/paste to work into the chatbox was fruitless. What to do; what to do, indeed?

I found that I could paste the waypoints into a new macro, then trigger it to create all the waypoints at once. Not to shabby! Within a few minutes, I was out and about, collecting rare weapons and armor around Corellia.

I even came to a location I've never seen before. In the western mountains of Corellia, within swoopbike distance from the Rebel Base, I came upon a strange structure guarded by mercenaries and a Sullustan who claimed to be a fallen padawan.

Forced to fight the unexpected lot, my droid Jones and I cleared them off. Turns out there is a pile of bones at the top that hides the remains of a Rebel; probably the last one who found the strange structure before I stumbled upon it.

That sort of thing is still what puts SWG so far ahead of the competition; that to this day a Beta 3 player can still be delightfully suprised at finding something new.

Waypoints macros and Sullustan fallen padawans? So... did you notice?

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Did You Notice: Loot Card Lashback


Did you notice that more and more combat-profession players are asking for the loot card items to instead be given to crafters? Ships, structures and vehicles seem to be a recurring theme, but it won't be long before combat gear is snuck into the deck as well. Not to mention that beasts have been included in the latest "go 'round" of the SOE Money Grab.

Such a shame, really. SWG was really starting to turn the corner with some excellent devs and a slight upward turn in the subscription numbers if my perception is any indication, of course. Then the land us with the TCG that no one wanted - even those who say they love it now.

The TCG community manager recently announced that the loot items themselves are developed by SOE Austin. Turns out - as if we didn't know - that the TCG is, in fact, impacting SWG in some capacity. For shame, SOE. For shame.

The lashback is ongoing and likely will continue.

So... did you notice?

Saturday, February 14, 2009

Did You Notice: Unrest


Did you notice that the natives have become quite restless of late, at least those that frequent the forums on a regular basis? From cries for the nerf of the spy, the declaration that PvP is dead, that lag is forcing folks to cancel to the ridiculous design ideas brought to live in the form of flying Ewoks, there seems to be quite a bit on the plate of the perturbed.

So what is SOE to do? Grab a few of the top five issues and plug away at them? Ignore the dissenting voices since they are only a small portion of those actually playing? Or be concerned even more since it is the "quiet" ones that you must be wary of?

The best course of action may be to start generating goodwill across all forms of playstyle. Create two new PvP zones: one of which will be level-capped to give mid-level toons an opportunity to get involved in the action. Expand the Legacy quest to help toons reach Level 65. Revamp the AI so that Imperials are far less trusting, far more intrusive and far more organized. Higher ranking Rebels, especially those who are above Master Sergeant, shall have percentage chances of being recognized and exposed as a Combatant. New schematics for all crafters. Finish the Engineer expertise tree.

In other words, hit 'em all; every single one. Add new storyteller items for RP - and figure out how to drop some of them down indoors AND maybe in a few less populated NPC cities. New space quests - such as opening a new system up for Smugglers (Smugglers Moon?).

SOE can figure it out. We are not THAT difficult to please. It just comes down to a simple equation: When we ask for things like the GCW or Engineer fixes and we get overpowered Spies and winged Ewoks, then pitchforks and torches are distributed and blood is called for. That's the state of affairs: general unrest.

So... did you notice?

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Did You Notice: Jedi Armor


Did you notice that even the Jedi General Kota in the Force Unleashed video game wore armor, even if it was ornamental. Let's face it, Lucas and his many organizations have absolutely zero problems with Jedi wearing armor. But for some reason, SOE and the anti-Jedi crowd seem to be against the concept, with the latter often throwing ridiculous fits or demanding the ability to equip ornamental lightsabers if Jedi were to get statless armor.

Is it a top priority that Jedi get statless armor for the Appearance Tab? Absolutely not. The new appearance options should be enough to appease just about everyone who's taken umbrage with the system prior to AdeptStrain's wondeful brain child. Should it be added in a future update as a small, value-added feature of the system? I tend to think so; there is no good reason I've heard yet that suggests Jedi shouldn't have the same appearance options as everyone else. The point is... it's canonical.
So... did you notice?

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Did You Notice: Starsider


Did you notice that we are only into the second day of the Free Character Transfer Service and the Starsider galaxy is listed "Very Heavy"? A few other galaxies are even listed as "Heavy". So much for the assumption that most people would not transfer to the servers that are considered to have been the heaviest prior to the promotion.

If the lag could be sorted out, one could say that the transfer promotion was a marked success. But as I write this, Starsider is "Loading..."

As I said yesterday, it's just like old times.

So... did you notice?

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Did You Notice: Squadrons Over Corellia


Yeah, I know... it's a dead horse that would be begging for mercy if it could speak. But did you notice that when the Squadrons Over Corellia was announced, the most significant information provided to us from SOE was information about the new loot cards?

There was no mention of any new rules that the game had received (Precise, comes to mind), nor any new characters that could not be inferred from the graphics. No mention of how the new ships could be used from within a card game session. Nothing of the sort unless you dug deeper into some developer and release notes.

Instead, we were hit over the head with the shiny new items, along with the disembodied voice that taunted and cackled at crafters who were left holding their Diner Booth schematic with pained expressions.

And as if that didn't leave a bad enough taste in our mouths, said taste was slapped out when the loading screen into SWG featured the TCG... instead of highlighting the festive and annual Life Day Event that is arguably the most popular of them all. (Also notice that the MotD had no mention of Life Day; one could literally miss the whole event if they were so pressed for time and weren't careful.)

If the TCG is so great (despite it being a copied version of the Legends of Norrah - You grab that profit margin at all costs, SOE) then why must it constantly be about the loot and not the game itself. Build it... and they will come. Trap then... and they will turn away.

Way to promote your card game, SOE.

So... did you notice?

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Did You Notice: Vendor Searches


Did you notice that when searching for an item in the vendor search, you do not have to type out the full name? In fact, you can even skip words (but not letters) to locate your item. Rather handy, I'd say. The vendors are past due for an update with additional filter interface elements, but this substring search is an excellent way to quickly find the specific item that is on your mind.

So... did you notice?

Monday, December 15, 2008

Did You Notice: Microtransactions?



Did you notice that a few SWG forum members are asking for micro-transactions and/or an electronic store to purchase goods. With Station Cash being announced from SOE, it seems to be only a matter of time before SWG is making use of a similar system (Station Credits?)

As predicted, it will almost seem that the players are asking for such a payment plan since it would be the lesser of two evils when compared to the TCG-loot system where there is quite literally no limit to the amount of money spent for little or no return on the investment.

So... did you notice?

Monday, December 8, 2008

Did You Notice: Community Members

Nothing brings people together like a good cause. This latest TCG debacle has really polarized the community. The GPD forums are alive with very well-thought out and mature posts that describe the general displeasure with the games new direction in regards to TCG loot. It's nice to see people working together, agreeing to disagree where healthy, and forming up into a orderly but firm voice to express their concerns to SOE.

So... did you notice?

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Did You Notice: SWG Mods?

It's the first installment of a new feature: Did You Notice? Every now and again, and certainly when the mood strikes me, I'll try to pick out something that I'm not sure others have noticed. Given my recent battles with the SWG Forum Mods, I thought I'd start with them.

Did you ever notice that SWG Mods 001-006 (or however many there are) sometimes type just like Valara and/or Elias?

Valara's posts are generally written in full sentences, usings plenty of "pleases" and ending with a "Thank you!", while Elias writes in a more blunt fashion; far more direct and less friendly.

I guess when they don't want to feel the heat of the kitchen, they put on an anonymous, flame-proof suit and pretend to be someone else.

I mean really, if SOE has so few programmers, why would they invest so much in moderating a forum?

So... did you notice?