Don't bend the spoon. Bend the world around the spoon.

The movies are a small glimpse into the Star Wars universe. That would be like watching a movie that takes place during WWII and watching GI's in their dress uniforms and saying that soldiers in WWII never wore helmets. Most of the movies take place off the battlefield. Darth Vader was only wearing armor to keep him alive.

I truly think there is a bigger factor at work here. Higher than the lore of Star Wars. In most games those that are perceived as evil or bad are flocked to by the masses. I think it strikes at the heart of mankind and is really a look into ourselves. Those dark corners in our minds that we are told not to touch in real life. It is the same reason we need to outlaw murder. The fact that it needs to be written down that murder is wrong is a true vision of mans true self. Here in the virtual world we are allowed to act on these thoughts and feelings by living vicariously through our avatars. The urge of man is to hurt, kill, and destroy. It took thousands of years before we could create civilized culture that forced us against ourselves and our instincts as predators. Many people think on the surface that it is cool to be bad, but upon deeper inspection we have to wonder WHY? Why is it cooler to be bad? This question is only answered by our long lost ancestors that used murder, hate, and rage to survive in an inhospitable world. Where nature had evolved creatures with claws that could rip us in half and reflexes that could snatch us up in an instant. This is who we really are and only when we can push past this can we be truly advanced...... ....or People like lightning bolts and red shiny laser swords.

Moore's Law my man. They have reached their plateau. With Technology things grow exponentially then they cease in growth because they are perfected.

Mon Calamari

I disagree. There are things that are just evil. Slaying children....evil. The Sith disregard all morals for a chance at power and that is in my definition evil. That is not to say that yes they can do good things however they also are not held back by any moral compass so they have the ability to do great evil.

You misunderstand the roles OP. The role of the either Sith or Jedi is not to get to far involved in both Republic or Empire affairs but use them as vehicles to further their means. They are like priests/priestess. Although the catholic church is a very powerful and influential organization they still fall under the rule of law of whatever country they are operating out of. The same goes for the Jedi and Sith. They are powerful yes but they still have to answer. The Sith work a little differently but it is pretty much the same premise.

The genius of any "bad guy/organization" is one that is convinced that what they are doing is right and that the so called good guys are actually the bad guys. That is what makes the best villains throughout any universe. Lex Luthor isn't a good bad guy but he is an amazing villain because he believes that getting rid of aliens on earth is best for mankind and he will stop at nothing to do so. The republic follows one set of morals and the empire follow another. However the Sith inside the empire are followers of the dark side and they are evil. They crave power and all that goes with it. Yet again it is two separate and opposing ideologies that make the Star Wars universe so rich and deep. Whichever side you lean towards may the force be with you.