Shameless reblogging, I know, but this is brilliant:

MMOG Nation: Prelude to a Merge?

In which Michael gives us a heads-up about an inspired upcoming Star Wars: Galaxies event - the systematic, and organised demolition of all player housing belong to player accounts that have been inactive for a year or more - "Use it or lose it!", which is all very fair and expected, but what isn't, is the manner of the demolition - the remaining players get to do it!

Presumably, the 'Condemned' housing will be given hit-points, and become shootable. I imagine the Commando class (if it even still exists - I really have no idea what goes on in there nowadays) will have a field day with this, being the explosives-based class anyway. Apparently, points are to be had for successfully tearing down the sink-estates of Naboo, Tatooine and the rest, and what do points make? PRIZES! In this case, a range of exclusive furniture for those people who are still using their houses.

I can only imagine what the place is like these days, as even in it's pre-CU, pre-NGE heyday, seeing acre upon acre of silent, desolate and empty housing estates, stretching on across the plains seemingly forever, was not an uncommon thing on most planets where building was allowed at all. They used to cost credits to maintain, but I think at some point, an exemption was made for your 'primary residence', making it last forever, in theory. Well, that looks set to change, and the new sport of...er... house-hunting is likely to be both popular, and plentiful, and who knows, may in time even restore some of the natural beauty of the raw and wild planets in their virgin state. It sounds fun - it's just a shame that is depends so heavily on dead and abandoned accounts to work. Maybe this could be the basis of a new kind of mob for other games!

Michael goes on to speculate that this is Phase One of a possible server merge plan for SWG, which makes sense. Non-instanced player structures must be a bit of a headache to cope with if that's the plan, and this seems a fun way of clearing out the detritus a bit.

I'd go have a look - they're doing a two-week free account-reactivation thing, but I'm not sure if I even have a house, let along which planet I left it on. Last time I played, all those years ago, I think I transferred all my junk to my Jump to Lightspeed Veteran Reward Luxury Space-Yacht anyway, so unless the Tie Fighters get to be involved in the housing cull to, I think I'm probably safe.