| Star Wars Combine | |
| Developer: | SWC Programming Team |
| Publisher: | Self-produced |
| Engine: | Browser-based |
| Platforms: | Online |
| Released: | December 3, 1998 |
| Genre: | MMORPG |
| Modes: | Multiplayer |
Star Wars Combine (SWC) is a real-time massively multiplayer online browser game, set in the Star Wars universe as a persistent world. It was released in December 1998 as a sort of continuation of a game that existed between the mid-90s and summer 1998 known as Star Wars Simulation. When the Sim Master disappeared suddenly - and the servers were shut down soon after - some players of that stranded community decided to create their own version of the game that evolved a lot through the years and took its own path.[1] Combine is not licensed by LucasArts, but is permitted to use the setting.[2]
Star Wars Combine was ranked 88th in the Top 100 games of All-Time by PC Gamer in its March 2012 issue.[3] The graphic interface of the game is a means to facilitate the meeting of the 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; as a result of this, help, suggestions, and tips from others are often required to perform some of the basic actions available to a player.
According to François Deliège: "SWC is not only a MMORPG, it also offers the best Star Wars universe simulation fans may ever dream of."[4] Star Wars Combine has its own various game mechanisms related to the physics, economy, politics and engineering in the universe. It requires both logic and socialization skills from the players. All those mechanisms are defined by game rules that are debated between players, written by the game administrator and made available to the whole Star Wars Combine community. 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 chat rooms, 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." The game dynamics allow players to be what they want it to be. Players can roleplay, be in character all the time or not at all. Some players are heavily into roleplay and hardly do any in-game participation, while others focus on in-game actions only.
In-game actions take time, and the character's creation is more complex than in other, similar simulations, and many veterans 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, results such as being killed are always possible, and unlike many other simulations a character's death is often permanent.[5] However, players can create a new character after a short waiting period and begin again, minus all prior possessions and positions. In an interview by Joystiq's Massively in 2008, a number of in-game features were discussed, along with any possible issues the administration had encountered.
Since its creation in 1998, the simulation has seen a number of upgrades and differing rates of development 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 the ability to produce ships, vehicles and gear in factories, basic Player vs Creature (P.v.C) Combat and a canonized Galactic Map have been implemented, leading to better overall gameplay. Reportedly it was one of the first MMORPGs which implemented a web service solution to its architecture in 2005.
The simulation has been the subject of several academic studies, ranging from English literacy and related improvements in a role-playing environment to psychological studies on Internet communities.[6] Two academic theses were also based on this game.[7] These were also presented at the Second International Conference on Web Information Systems and Technologies.[8] Star Wars Combine has also been cited in two papers from the International Game Developers Association for its programming choices and security measures.[9] [10]