Star Wars Galaxies features delayed

LucasArts and Sony Online have revealed that some key features have been postponed from the initial feature list for Star Wars Galaxies. The list includes player-owned cities, drivable vehicles, player-generated missions, and the Dark Jedi character class.

In a lengthy post on the official Star Wars Galaxies forums, LucasArts producer Haden Blackman offers detailed reasons for why each feature will be delayed, noting that in the Live Team schedule there's "a plan for implementing the postponed systems within the first seven or eight months after launch." Blackman also suggests that many of the delayed features are not immediately critical because it will take some time for players to attain the necessary levels in order to use them.

The postponement of certain features will have effects that reach into other areas of the game. For example, the lack of player-controlled cities at the outset means that the development team is also delaying the politician profession. However, the ability for players to build and own houses will remain a launch feature. The lack of drivable vehicles means that the ability to mount creatures for transportation is also delayed. To compensate, the team is allowing for more access to public transports so players can traverse large areas.

Star Wars Galaxies is currently undergoing beta testing and is slated for an April release. For more information, take a look at our previous coverage .