There is continued interest/ focus in space combat based on this poll from several months ago I think. While it's no rails-off 3d shooter like so many of us want, it's a space diversion that I, for one, am enjoying.

I have paid for lifetime subs in a couple of other games for genres I know and would enjoy. As a 'founder' or 'vip' in these other games I only pay for 'new content' as might be released on a store shelf. No monthly bills or hassles, and I get treated like I'm paying monthly anyway. I would have bought a lifetime sub for this game had it been offered. Short of WoW, which I have never been interested in (loved the strategy games it spawned from though ) I know that all MMO's trail off and meet an end sooner or later. Lifetime subs, for the games I play, have paid for themselves within 18 months. Those games are now far beyond the 'break-even' point and I don't have to think about it at all. There are 'cash stores' for these games now to buy perks and such, but nothing sold is required to play given my vip status. Had I missed out on the lifetime sub option in these games - I too would pay once to get the content and then not have to worry about subs again. Fire and forget. Edit: Sooner or later, given longevity of the game, there will ALWAYS come a point where your one-time payment is less than what you might be continuously shelling out over time for a subscription. I mean, isn't that obvious?

They are around. I've not seen them spamming general chat, but I do get an email occasionally advertising gold. It usually includes a single credit. I delete it and report the sender.

Thank you for correcting my 36 year old misconception LOL

As a fan of both genres and overall sci-fi geek on general principles: I surely agree about Eve online - it's beautiful to look at but slow, not to mention rough on a new player these days. I've played STO since launch, and while I love the whole thing, the third-person space combat scenario is the only way that would have ever worked: large capital ships all hammering each other down, biggest hammer wins. It's like the tv shows and movies and is exactly what I expected it to be. But as a SWG veteran from the start of that game I have seen nothing since that compares to the visceral, seat-of-your pants, first-person flight/shooter that Jump to Lightspeed was. Sure, you could deck out your ship parts, pick up some space combat skills to improve your odds, but you could still hit the afterburners in a less-than-uber gear-out and take your opponent in head to head combat, or group up with some other propeller heads for larger PvP and PvE prey. I hope this is what we will be getting someday: Ground combat remains target and skill oriented, while space combat skills can affect your ship and systems, and the only thing you target is whatever is under your crosshairs.

Two days and 36 pages already! Just goes to show the interest in Space Combat, or at least its polarizing effect on the SW gaming community. KotOR fans, SWG fans, Xwing/TieFighter fans - it's really a win/win/win in the long run. As I've stated elsewhere, space combat and ships are what I love most about the SW universe, and I know there are plenty of folks who feel the same way. Keep your light sabers turned off, they will not serve you in the cold vastness of space. Before there ever was a lightsaber, stormtrooper, smuggler, rebel, or jedi, there was a massive Corellian cruiser bearing down on a helpless little corvette, and we were all sucked in! Hope to see you all in the vacuum!

I saw Star Wars on the big screen when it came out - I was in the 3rd or 4th grade. For me, the hook was not about Jedi or their lightsabers, heck there were only 2 after ObiWan got hacked (if you count Luke), it was about the space ships. It was about the vast variety of vessels and the mundane nature of 'hopping a freighter' to another star system via hyperspace. I mean, cool right? SWG drew me right off because of that. There were no Jedi, no lightsabers. I got to be a Wookie! But one year into the game the first paid expansion was Jump to Lightspeed. Fortunately I was still single at that time, and remained so for a couple more years! I'm in my mid-40's. Like so many of you I have grown up and been a part of the entire PC evo/revolution. Because of Star Wars I have purchased every space and flight sim I saw come down the pike. The Wing-Commander reference really took me back. Descent, Xwing/Tie fighter, WC, and all manner of standard flight sims through the years. And I still want more! Computer capabilities get better and better, and the graphics become photo-realistic....what's not to love? I saw a little quote from Ohlen, the story dated Dec 14 of last year: “We will continue to add missions to the space game. We also have a special project going on right now that will expand space gameplay in a significant way…” I have my fingers crossed that this game will see the kind of space content I have enjoyed in the past. At least something better than what we have now. If they can pull it off like SWG, then players can choose to fly or not, and be no worse off for skipping it. But for me? Gimme a sturdy flightstick and a solar-wind at my back!

/signed (the space part - not the anti-corporate trolling)

Just a guess on my part, but I would expect the average age demographic of any PC MMO game to be old enough to buy/build one's own computer, pay for the software, pay for the recurring sub... That said, there are many, many players (and forum hounds) out there who seem to behave well below that expected age bracket

I pose a third option: OP is trolling, knowing full-well the graphics conundrum and uses hyperbole to make the subtle point. Love surfing new-egg for dream parts though

Unless there are repeatable quests with dark/light points, the choices you make along the way are the ones you are stuck with for that character. This is one of the complaints about the system...one wrong choice along the way and you cannot get the max points for either side...

Turns out, it does. From 265 back to 741 /sigh

Position in Queue 686 I have a free hour to play, maybe two if I'm lucky, but it takes almost an hour to log in. And that is a short wait from what I'm reading. My intent to sub is being sorely tested anyway as the game is not really the marvel and wonder I was hoping it would be. I hope this gets handled quickly and efficiently. I really really want to love this game...