Star Wars Galaxies is a Star Wars- themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) for Microsoft Windows, developed by Sony Online Entertainment and published by LucasArts. Released on June 26, 2003, to much critical acclaim, it spawned three expansions through 2005. The game was completely overhauled in the last expansion, which frustrated many longtime subscribers. Star Wars Galaxies continued operation for six more years. The servers shut down on December 15, 2011, just 5 days prior to the release of Star Wars: The Old Republic. Notwithstanding the game's closure, there are several private emulator projects in various stages of development that intend to allow users to experience Star Wars Galaxies in different incarnations of the game's existence. Gameplay The ten species that were available to players included: Human, Twi'lek, Zabrak, Wookiee, Trandoshan, Rodian, Mon Calamari, Bothan, Sullustan and Ithorian. There were nine professions in the game after the New Game Enhancements(NGE) (34 pre-NGE): Jedi, Bounty Hunter, Smuggler, Commando, Spy, Officer, Medic, Entertainer, and Trader. The trader was further divided into four separate professions: Domestic Goods (tailoring and cooking), Engineering (droid and vehicle crafting), Structures (shipwright and architect), and Munitions (weapons and armor crafting). Progress in these professions was divided into three separate experience source groups: combat, crafting, and entertaining. In addition to these professions, a character could also pursue three optional (they could be advanced in regardless of chosen main profession or progress in it): Pilot, Chronicler, and Politician. During the Pre-NGE, customization was easier due to "skill points" which could be spread amongst many different profession trees. Pilot sub-profession allowed users to load out and use spaceships specific to three different career paths represented GCW alignment (Imperial, Neutral, and Rebel). Advancement in the profession was based on obtaining experience via space combat and completion of missions assigned by chosen wing command (three different available for each faction). Pilots may also enter atmospheric flight mode and engage in combat attacking targets on the planet's surface (i.e. opposing faction PvP-flagged players). Chronicler sub-profession allowed building holocrons with player-created quests: placed props (temporarily existing in-game world items and NPCs), objectives, and narration. Advancement in the profession is based on obtaining experience via constructing holocrons and having other players complete and rate such creations. The politician profession allowed users to create and manage a player city. Acquired and completed automatically when a player places a structure belonging to him. Characters could specialize in