My friend's best friend is a beta tester for Matrix Online. Although I myself am still looking forward to it, he says thatit's crap and that its completely different to what they advertise it as. We'll just have to waitand see.

The only things I've heard from multiple Matrix online beta-testers is that it's crap. boo

Look at the videos on IGN...I mean...the game looks horrendous.

Suckage

I highly recommend WoW, there are an infinite (Not really, but close enough) amount of quests, so it's as much of a hack and slash, or a questing game as you want (Although a lot of the quests are hack and slash, the fact that you have a goal makes it a lot more fun) the character diversity is a little limited, but great fun, the economy and items are amazing, and it's exactly as group oriented as you want, although playing completely solo does take a little more patient. For the most part, the groups aren't bad.

The only problem is it's relentlessly addicting.

Exactly. The Entertainer Tree (and the subsequent Elite Professions associated with it) are social professions.

I've honestly never understood why people try to turn SWG into a grinding game (other then during the holo-grind). That's what I hated about other MMO's with their damn leveling system. That only encourages people to grind. If your a grinder, then yes, SWG isn't the game for you, because after you master your elite profession(s) in 1-2 months, yeah, you're going to be bored.

I've spent nearly 2 years on my character. I picked up Novice Marksman on Day 1 of SWG. I'm a 3/0/4/2 Pistoleer now. Granted, I also master Brawler and Droid Engineer for two holos, that's where I am with my main combat profession. I go out and do quests, missions, PvP, or whatever and get my experience. I don't spend hours on end out in the middle of Dantooine, solo grouping, killing lair after lair just to advance my character. My character advances natually over time, as it was intended.

How do I make it in PvP? Well, I always keep a Dark Trooper guarding me at all times, and if for some reason he dies, I can pull out my R3 Fully Loaded Combat Droid (made by, yours truly). My FWG is a very old and rare Krayt Sliced Pistol (in which I'm now using my 12 month vet reward anti-decay kit to keep it at full condition). I also have some very good sliced Composite Armor. Combine that with Master Musician, Dancer, & Doctor Buffs (thanks to my guild mates), I can handle myself quite nicely in PvP against MBH (Master Bounty Hunters) and even the occassional Jedi Knight!

The new no TEF/GCW system is looking good so far (it went live yesterday, btw). Waiting to see how this whole thing pans out. For right now, I think I'm going to keep working towards Jedi Initiate (slowly but surely) and keep track of the GCW by using the new in-game termnial news update service.

I LOVE the new system. Yesterday i started the game, mos eisely was controlled by the imperials, then i logged, went to work, when i got home, it was guarded by the rebels! i decided to stop into the cantina to get my battle fatigue healed, and well....the place was empty except for 1 afk entertainer. That's because everybody was out fighting in the streets! Then i decided to get a drink and sit down for a bit, then the wounded started coming in. It was pretty cool.

I've only been playing the game since the end of january, and it's really lived up and beyond my expectations. (stupid grinders make this game sound aweful!!! it's fun!!!)

How is jedi attained now?
(ps I'm leaning more towards swg now, as I went over to a friends and watched him play it for a while and it looks cool...but FFXI is still a consideration. I'm probably not going to get WoW, as cool as it looks....I love a fair amount of complexity and the ability to change jobs/professions)

SWG's idea of hip is to add giant purple bunnies to the SWG universe.

You have to achieve certain badges and do certain theme park missions before you become force sensitive. There are six levels of force sensitivity. At level six, you the force is with you, and you are then visited by an old man out in the wilderness. He asks you to guard a force crystal. The crystal is actually like a chronicler of your progress. You have to complete many tasks before you become a full fledged jedi.