As I said, it may have been me.
I'd like to address Motti first, then I reflect on my time in the game:
Motti_soL:
I cannot tell you what could be wrong right now. I joined a long time ago, and the signup process has changed quite a bit.
You should at least be getting an email back from the SWC saying why your request to join is being denied.
1. Are you trying to use a "free email" account (Hotmail, Yahoo, Excite, etc.) of any kind? There is a massive list of free account domains that is maintained by the SWC administration. An ISP account should let you in, and if not, you should let someone know (using the SWC Problem message board).
2. Do you have any kind of 'shared' access? If you, for example, are in a dormatory and would be signing up over the school network, the problem there is that the SWC tracks IP addresses. If someone else on campus is playing, and the IP address is close enough to your own, they may think its 1 person trying to sign up for a second account, which is against game rules.
Beyond that, I'm not sure I can help. There are other people at the SWC Problem board, though, that should be able to help you.
Now, some afterthoughts:
Actually, I'm finding it hard to put into words exactly what the Combine has done to my life. Its given me a creative outlet that I don't think I would have had otherwise. Its given me a chance to meet people from around the world. Its given me a chance to use the vast geek knowledge I've accumulated during my life of Star Wars fandom. Its given something to do with my free time (and being a geek, I have plenty of it).
I don't think I'd trade all that for anything.
I did want to give you some more stats about the game as well:
1. As RRS-1980 said, there are about 1200 members right now. We once had over 2200, but that was after some unique media coverage...we were shut down for about a week or 2 BY LUCAS.
2. RRS-1980 was actually quite far off on one thing: There are over 1000 known planets. A large number are unexplored and no one knows their location. Many have cities.
3. There are 74 races that your character can be a member of, including 5 human subgroups.
4. There are 97 different ships, from the massive and mighty SSD, to the small X-Wing. There are even a few non-canon ships.
5. 68 different groups (called Factions) to be a part of. Some are military, others provide a product or service, and 6 are considered governments.
Some see this next bit of information as a detriment. Not me. I call it opportunity.
The game isn't finished.
How is that good, an opportunity?? It means that if you can be active, you can contribute to the game, you can help to mold the way you and others, now and in the future, get to play.