Star Wars Combine
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Star Wars Combine[1] is a real-time massively multiplayer online browser game, set in the Star Wars universe. Combine is not licensed by Lucas Arts, but is permitted to use the setting.[2]
Now at its twelfth year of existence, Star Wars Combine (SWC) has several characteristics that make it very peculiar in comparison to many other games.
The graphic interface of this browser game is only a means to facilitate the meeting of the massive international community on the forums and IRC channels.
Due to the nature of such role-playing based games, it is a commonly shared feeling to be lost after one's own character is created, and as a result of this help, suggestions, tips from others are often required to perform some of the basic actions available to a player.
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[edit] Gameplay
Whilst performing rather common tasks (many of which could take hours, days or even weeks depending on complexity and type) players interact in their forums and chatrooms, planning the next operation, role-playing their character, trading in the open market or in the black market and organizing events.
As Josh Augustine states in his article: "The amount of free spontaneous creativity within this game is mind-numbing, dwarfing even the machinations behind EVE Online."
However, patience is an essential element of this simulation. Every action takes time, and the character's creation is a more serious than in other, similar simulations, with many veterans who have been playing since the game's creation.
The purpose of this slower, real-time pace (in comparison to other simulations) is also devised in order to allow players –- who are spread all over the world and covering all time zones—to have the time to respond to events happening around them while being offline.
The player's character is present in the game regardless of the player being online or offline. Therefore, actions such as being killed are always possible, and again unlike many other simulations, a players death is permanent. However, players can create a new character after a short waiting period and begin again, minus all prior possessions, positions and other things.
In an interview[3] by Massively in 2008, a number of in-game aspects were covered, along with any possible issues the administration had encounter
[edit] Development
Since its creation in December, 1998, the simulation has seen a number of upgrades and differing rates of development due all development being performed by volunteers. Moving from a standalone program with web-based community space to a full browser-based online game over the years, there has also been difficulty due to inexperience with other coding languages, lack of funds or any number of other reasons. In recent years, features such as entity production, basic Player vs Creature (P.v.C) Combat and a canonized Galactic Map have been implemented, leading to better overall game play.
[edit] Academic Use
The simulation has been used in a number of academics studies,[4] primarily aimed at literacy, as well as being distantly related to several fields of psychology. Details of these studies can be found on the simulation's website.
[edit] References
- ^ http://www.swcombine.com/
- ^ Augustine, Josh. "Massive Attack". PC Gamer US (Holiday 2009): p. 28.
- ^ http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/09/19/indievelopment-star-wars-combine/
- ^ http://www.swcombine.com/community/academic/
