Just a Few More Minutes

So against my better judgment, I'm giving the massively multiplayer online role playing game (that description's actually a genre name, frighteningly enough) Star Wars Galaxies a try. In addition to the cost of the softare package, you pay a monthly fee to access the game's servers. Without the fee, the software is as useful as TurboTax 1999 is for January 2004. You create a character, choose a profession -- think The Sims with zap guns, but without the bizarre subculture that comes up when you create a game without a plot.

The game's a graphical wonderland. Weather effects are particularly impressive -- sandstorms on Tatooine, blinding rain on other planets, and so on. The gameplay is sound if not spectacular, as you spend your time fighting either other players or computer-controlled Rebels or Imperials depending on which side you joined; or creating weapons, droids, houses and bioengineered creatures for other players whilst raking in the (virtual) cash. Of course, a new player's expectations should be lowered -- you'll be fighting small bugs and lizarrds and building tiny fireworks until you gain enough experience.

That experience-building grind, plus the sense that if I'm paying for it, I should get my money's worth builds up an inertia in Sony Online Entertainment's favor as far as keeping subscribers. If our finances hold up, I'll probably stick with the game as long as my circle of friends does.