cypher,

In my experience, most D&D folks use some sort of visual representation at all times. The game master has some sort of map drawn up, and wants to know where every one is, even if they aren't fighting.

If they are walking down a street, ask them how they are doing it. (Keeps'm on edge, even if nothing is going to happen.) If something does happen.. make up the set based on what they said.

The SW games I have run over the last year or so have been mini/rpg hybrid games, where the action takes place on a terrain filled area but where the players have to roleplay their models instead of just using them as per normal tabletop gaming. The reason for this approach is that most of the guys at the shop are tabletop gamers rather than rpgers, so this helps to bridge the gap and hopefully get them to start rpging properly in the future.

I have a Sci-Fi Opera session planned for sometime soon, but you can see my previous game reports on the WWG Blog.