Star Wars Galaxies: an Empire Divided Latest Updates
Smedley: New Sony Online MMO is "not a new Star Wars game at all"
Sony Online Entertainment president John Smedley has clarified his recent Reddit AMAA by stating that the new Sony MMO in the works is not Star Wars related, but will appeal to Star Wars Galaxies veterans. He felt the need to make this clear after speculation began that it could see a return as Disney, now owner of the Star Wars IP, renewed the SWG trademark in December.
SOE's Vanguard, Wizardry Online, Free Realms and Clone Wars Adventures closing
Sony Online has announced the closure of four MMO properties as they each saw numbers dwindle so low they feel they couldn't justify keeping the doors open. "No more kids games," declares John Smedley. Vanguard: Saga of Heroes had been performing poorly "a long time", admits Smedley. Free Realms and Clone Wars Adventures closed down first at the end of March.
Sony Online "still getting hate mail" for Star Wars: Galaxies NGE update
Linda Carlson, director of global community relations at Sony Online Entertainment, has said developers are now "terrified of players," referring to the surge in 'toxic' feedback and personal attacks. It leads to "severely demoralised" teams when an update displeases the community, causing volatile threats. However, she says, some of this is partly their own fault.
SOE: EA and BioWare did the right thing making The Old Republic free-to-play
During Sony Online Entertainment president John Smedley's "Ask Me Anything" event on Reddit revealed that he believed that Electronic Arts and Bioware did the right thing in adding a free-to-play option in rival MMO Star Wars: The Old Republic.
Veteran MMO producer Rich Vogel leaves The Old Republic
Industry site Gamasutra is reporting that Star Wars: The Old Republic executive producer Rich Vogel has left developer BioWare Austin. Vogel, who had worked on various MMOs like Ultima Online, Meridian 59 and Star Wars Galaxies, had been with the developer for seven years.