On Jeff Freeman’s blog I wrote:
“You know?

I was wondering if it was the time for an announce who could rise the interest again outside the game.”

I didn’t see a press release confirming this, but Jeff is enough for me. From F13:

Ok, so I’m here at SOE’s Austin studio and I’ve played the new build of SWG which is going to be pushed onto test on Friday…with no real press. Basically they went through, ripped out 80% of the classes, left in the following: Force Sensitive, Bounty Hunter, Officer, Smuggler, Commando, Spy, Trader (all the tradeskills – 4 base sets now – Domestics, Structures, Munitions, Engineering), Medic and Entertainer. Here’s the deal. Left click shoots – you have to aim. Right click fires off a special ability.

No more auto attack.
No more hotkey combat.

Once collision detection goes in, this will probably be the game I play. There’s actual skill involved now. You can run from people and they can’t just autohit you.

I don’t know how else to explain it other than SOE has done the right thing. They’ve revitalized combat in an MMOG. It’s a huge step in the right direction. Do I think they’ll perfect it here? No. But it’s by far the most interesting thing a studio has done. They’ve taken a gamble, and from what I’ve seen it’s paid off. In other words, they’ve added the “Wars” back to Star Wars. It’s been in the works for over a year now. In fact, the expansions could probably be called smokescreens for the launch of the real game. It’ll shake things up.

Cons? 90 levels. The exp curve isn’t bad though.
Good? Lots of neat skills such as Orbital Strike, theft from NPCs, working stealth for spies, fencing goods in the field for smugglers, and above all – combat based at least 75% on skill. It isn’t quite Unreal Tournament, but it’s nowhere near the crap combat we’ve dealt with for 10 years.

When it rolls out in a few weeks I’m hoping some of you will actually take the dive again with me and see where it goes, if for no other reason than to support innovation. In all seriousness, almost all the changes are for the better. Before anyone else says it – yes, it was shocking to me that SOE took this angle on restructuring an MMOG first. Even moreso that Lucasarts supported it. Ding. Grats.

This is not something that will be done a week or even a month from now. From what schild can gather, we’re looking at 6 months or more before this is rolled out to every server. The entire game is changing. No “classic” servers, everything will be the revamped game.

In order for them to implement collision detection, every art asset in the game has to be gone through. That’s why we’re looking at 6+ months.

Space combat will stay the same.

And from another source that wasn’t linked (I’m writing in real time):

Posting from SOE Headquarters here in Austin, Texas..

You thought the Combat Upgrade was a big change? How about a complete *rewrite* of the combat system?

New classes, streamlining of ALL classes, an entirely new interface.. this is NOT the SWG we’ve come to know. Changes are huge and sweeping.

The best part?? It’s FUN! It’s intuitive, engaging, and outright fun to play. When my time on the computer was over, I was seriously disappointed that I had to get up and let someone else on. A ton of changes in place, and not all of them will be well received. But.. this hits Test Center on Friday, and you’ll all see what’s up.

What do you all think? Ready for another big change?

Player classes are being condensed. Nine classes instead of 35. Combat is *completely* different.. point, left click to shoot, or right click for your chosen special. It’s faster, more engaging, and MUCH more “Star Warsy”. Much more quest based to level.

Well, this should all be on Test Center on Friday. I *highly* recommend everyone log in when it’s time and test it for yourself with a new character. I’m thinking that this is what the Combat Upgrade SHOULD have been.

Creature Handlers and Bio-Engineers.. will be no more. sad

The other classes will be condensed.. one “medic” profession, one “entertainer” profession..

Classes are as follows:

Commando
Bounty Hunter
Officer
Trader
Spy
Smuggler
Medic
Entertainer

and Force Sensitive.

Yes, you’ll be able to start as a Jedi.

Now I know why Raph is turning in his grave despite he is not dead :)

Let me digest this for an opinion. Because right now I just have my mind boggled.