Stygian Abyss Box Art and Interface Screenshots and Goblins

[JC the Builder]

Warcry has posted and image of the Stygian Abyss box art, but no reference where it came from.

http://www.warcry.com/news/view/91491-UO-Stygian-Abyss-Box-Art-Revealed

I decided to check the Stygian Abyss website to see if there was any updates on there, because I see nothing on the main UO website. In the screenshot section it appears there are a few new ones, which do include interface shots.

The bad news is they look almost identical to the current Kingdom Reborn client.

http://www.uoherald.com/stygianabyss/media/screenshots/

*Added*

The screenshots show goblins. They must be a new race of monsters.

 

[Bazer]

mm now they made the box, now just the client

 

[JC the Builder]

I have to say though, the new radar looks really nice. No more of that bogus white and brown map that showed you next to nothing.

 

[4gregu]

Why is there box art? They already said there will not be a box.

 

[HD2300]

Dont expect too much in terms of graphics. EA have already said the animations wont be as good as in KR. But the new SA client should be more stable and have a useable user interface.

 

[Dermott of LS]

...

The bad news is they look almost identical to the current Kingdom Reborn client.


It isn't bad news.

 

[Draxous]

unless it has an option to look like 2d's interface its going to be a HUGE fail...

I'm talking a backpack that LOOKS and FEELS like a backpack.

along with the rest of the stuff we love about the 2d interface

 

[pallas]

Dont expect too much in terms of graphics. EA have already said the animations wont be as good as in KR. But the new SA client should be more stable and have a useable user interface.

Lord is that ugly.

 

[Dermott of LS]

...

It'd have been MUCH better had they NOT backpedaled on the "You will need the KR client to access SA" issue and moved the game forward. However since they are trying to cater to the 2d client, we get the lesser of the two possibilities.

 

[Harlequin]

I have to say though, the new radar looks really nice. No more of that bogus white and brown map that showed you next to nothing.

I agree, I much prefer the radar showing me exactly how the terrain looks like instead of something like a drawn map. I wonder if it'll show the NPC markers like KR? Makes looking for healers much easier.

I also like that they toned down the tile blurring/merging effects. Only the grassy tiles and cavern wall tiles appear to have that merging effect which came out nicely. The other tiles remains crisp and sharp as they should be.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[D'Amavir]

unless it has an option to look like 2d's interface its going to be a HUGE fail...

I'm talking a backpack that LOOKS and FEELS like a backpack.

along with the rest of the stuff we love about the 2d interface

I know a lot of people that would have been long gone if they were forced to play KR. And since new players isn't on the to do list its a good thing they didn't.

So, ya, I am with you all the way on this one.

 

[Kojak]

...

It'd have been MUCH better had they NOT backpedaled on the "You will need the KR client to access SA" issue and moved the game forward. However since they are trying to cater to the 2d client, we get the lesser of the two possibilities.

The best business decision they have ever ever made in the history of the game (any game ... ever)

 

[It Lives]

...

It'd have been MUCH better had they NOT backpedaled on the "You will need the KR client to access SA" issue and moved the game forward. However since they are trying to cater to the 2d client, we get the lesser of the two possibilities.

LOL, there would be no UO without 2d.

Your Statements here are based on pure ignorance and deluded fantasy (pure speculation).

*As per the posted pic, it would be ugly in 2d or 3d.

The building is poorly built.*

 

[Harlequin]

Dont expect too much in terms of graphics. EA have already said the animations wont be as good as in KR. But the new SA client should be more stable and have a useable user interface.

I guess for me it depends on what kind of animation they are referring to.

Some of the KR animations like the spell casting effects or when a plume of black smoke rises from you due to necro curses are pretty nice.

But some others like player/npc/pet/mob random idle animation and movement animation can look a bit weird at times. eg you keep seeing NPC give the walk animation (and sound) even when they stand still at the same spot.

Still, even though I would love the newer spellcasting animation, it still depends on whether if the animation will cause it to be unplayable when a large number players are on screen (eg events). I'd still prefer playability over the animation.

1 thing I'd love would be the zoom function, and/or a resolution higher than 800x600. And it sure looks that way from the screenies.

 

[Tjalle]

Seems to me that the "stars" in the black void are moving objects. Looking forward to see that in full effect!

 

[Dermott of LS]

...

To both replies:

"I disagree with what you said"

 

[Sweeney]

Even the promo screenshots get the same QA..

 

[Basara]

That building is also zoomed out so far it's not funny; remember how bad things looked in 3D at the wrong focal length for the zoom?


The art probably looks a lot better at normal zoom focus.

 

[Spelosty]

Dont expect too much in terms of graphics. EA have already said the animations wont be as good as in KR. But the new SA client should be more stable and have a useable user interface.

Lord is that ugly.

I'm gunna say that that area is probably not finished yet......

 

[JC the Builder]

I'm gunna say that that area is probably not finished yet......

Why would they post an official screenshot of it then?

 

[D'Amavir]

Why would they post an official screenshot of it then?

Same reason they posted a screenshot showing a no draw tile maybe. Their QA is weak?

 

[HD2300]

Even the promo screenshots get the same QA..

Who ever is in the focus group tell EA that they need to sharpen this image. When I sharpened the above image using a graphics package, it looked 10 times better. Blur = Bad. Sharp like 2D = Great.

 

[JC the Builder]

Who ever is in the focus group tell EA that they need to sharpen this image. When I sharpened the above image using a graphics package, it looked 10 times better. Blur = Bad. Sharp like 2D = Great.

Altering screenshots is a really bad idea when showing off your game.

 

[Deb]

Glad to see there will be a box...which hopefully means there will be
a shelf presence. Not going to pass judgement on art etc, till it is
closer to release time.
Some of those shots look awesome, and some look like they might still be working on them. And, I totally agree about having to have a 2d feel
still. Just wouldn't be UO without it.

 

[Tina Small]

Warcry has posted and image of the Stygian Abyss box art, but no reference where it came from.

http://www.warcry.com/news/view/91491-UO-Stygian-Abyss-Box-Art-Revealed

I decided to check the Stygian Abyss website to see if there was any updates on there, because I see nothing on the main UO website. In the screenshot section it appears there are a few new ones, which do include interface shots.

The bad news is they look almost identical to the current Kingdom Reborn client.

http://www.uoherald.com/stygianabyss/media/screenshots/

*Added*

The screenshots show goblins. They must be a new race of monsters.

The box art is from this SA press page on the EA website: http://info.ea.com/product.asp?s=2585.

 

[Slayvite]

I find it funny that in the publicity artwork and on the UOHerald, not one Gargoyle is using a racial weapon. Nobody taught them how to use them yet?

 

[Vyal]

Wow no draw tiles are the best ever
32x32 tile based movement FTW !

 

[Lord_Deimos]

Those pics are

1. Old
2. They post them so show us their progress with SA

The pic JC posted is NOT finished...

 

[HD2300]

Who ever is in the focus group tell EA that they need to sharpen this image. When I sharpened the above image using a graphics package, it looked 10 times better. Blur = Bad. Sharp like 2D = Great.

Altering screenshots is a really bad idea when showing off your game.

I meant graphics in the client look better when sharpened. KR was too blurry and many many people felt the same way.

 

[D'Amavir]

I meant graphics in the client look better when sharpened. KR was too blurry and many many people felt the same way.

I agree there. I always said it was 'fuzzy' looking to me. I know that's not an 'accurate' word to use but that's how it seemed. I think 'sharpened' is what my meager mind was trying to look for.

 

[Stratic Fanatic]

Those pics are

1. Old
2. They post them so show us their progress with SA

The pic JC posted is NOT finished...

QFT.

The newest of those pics have been up for well over a month at least.

Its been stated the client is in Focus Group testing. Not even Beta yet.

LOL, there would be no UO without 2d.

Your Statements here are based on pure ignorance and deluded fantasy (pure speculation).

Read whats in bold....then read whats above it. Your statement follows those same rules.

 

[Zodia]

UO 3rd Dawn client: Failure
UO: KR client: Failure
UO: SA client: will also be a Failure

Will they ever learn?

 

[It Lives]

QFT.

The newest of those pics have been up for well over a month at least.

Its been stated the client is in Focus Group testing. Not even Beta yet.


Read whats in bold....then read whats above it. Your statement follows those same rules.

Hence the Big LOL at the start.


*Just to say it, I respect Dermott for all his work on on the boards and the UI. I just really feel his opinion in this matter has become unreasonable.*

 

[Arcus]

UO 3rd Dawn client: Failure
UO: KR client: Failure
UO: SA client: will also be a Failure

Will they ever learn?

No.

 

[Fink]

I think they should make the new client for new players (or those willing to switch), and not pander to the 2Ders who aren't going to change anyway. They'll fail to appease either camp by trying to please both.

 

[Petrify]

I'm going to have to lock this in as the worst lava I have ever seen - in any game. Period.

 

[Ni-]

QFT.

The newest of those pics have been up for well over a month at least.

Its been stated the client is in Focus Group testing. Not even Beta yet.


Read whats in bold....then read whats above it. Your statement follows those same rules.

Hence the Big LOL at the start.


*Just to say it, I respect Dermott for all his work on on the boards and the UI. I just really feel his opinion in this matter has become unreasonable.*

That's funny, because that is how I feel about your opinion. They are all just opinions anyway.

 

[AesSedai]

I'm going to have to lock this in as the worst lava I have ever seen - in any game. Period.

- But have you seen the lava in motion?

(It looked and worked really well with KR's graphics, imo... maybe not so much in SA with Legacy tiles... I guess we'll all see sometime this summer?)

Hey, I love my Legacy UO. I did not care for the Third Dawn graphics overall. But as we are all art critics, I greatly enjoyed what already was and greatly anticipated the direction that KR's artwork had the potential to become.

I feel it was so much more picturesque than anything Legacy client graphics ever were, and I enjoyed being immersed in a piece of art rather than some pretty obviously tile based pacman-ish game, which I realized more and more that the Legacy client resembled after having given KR a fair chance.

I truly think it is a loss for UO that SA will be utilizing Legacy graphics (... at least in the beginning?) rather than continue to develop / evolve KR's graphics. Sure, they want Legacy users to embrace SA sooner rather than maybe never... but they are still losing a lot of potential appeal by defaulting to Legacy graphics in SA, in my opinion. <-- & ^-- = Opinion

 

[Connor_Graham]

It's obvious from reading some of the replies in this thread that some people had decided SA wasn't going to be any good before any information about it had even been released.

It's these same people that will eventually be the reason UO is finally shut down as new players are what the game needs, and the current generation of gamers demand better graphics than what 2D can deliver. I hope they feel proud of themselves when that time finally arrives and they go off to install WoW and create a Mr T night elf...

 

[Chrissay_]

Glad to see there will be a box...which hopefully means there will be a shelf presence.

At this time the expansion will be for digital distribution only as stated in our press release.

Also to clear up a couple things you will NOT need the SA client in order to get access to the Stygian Abyss expansion areas you will be able to use the 2d client. (although some areas do look nicer in the new client)

Chrissay

 

[D'Amavir]

I think they should make the new client for new players (or those willing to switch), and not pander to the 2Ders who aren't going to change anyway. They'll fail to appease either camp by trying to please both.

Yeah, they should definitely pander to all the 'KR' players and not worry about the majority of their player base quitting. Who do those 2d'ers think they are having an opinion of their own anyway?

If and when EA makes a new client that I actually enjoy as much as I do the legacy one, I will make the switch. Trying to make people switch to a worse client just to pander to people that think that the new client is good is just another way to push people away.

What do you think would have happened to UO if they took your advice when 3rd Dawn came out? It would have folded from lack of players. The client was bad and most people didn't like it. And, its gone now. What do you think would have happened to UO if they took your advice when KR came out? It would have folded from lack of players. The client was bad and most people didn't like it. And, its going away now. What do you think will happen if UO takes your advice when SA comes out? I will let you figure that one out.

 

[Crysta]

At this time the expansion will be for digital distribution only as stated in our press release.

Also to clear up a couple things you will NOT need the SA client in order to get access to the Stygian Abyss expansion areas you will be able to use the 2d client. (although some areas do look nicer in the new client)

Chrissay

Then do you have an explanation for the box?

And for those complaining already.. the "new" screenshots on the page are about 2 months old now, IIRC.

 

[Aran]

EA should be tracking usage of KR, and continue to track SA usage.

Anyone who uses nothing but KR or SA should be banned, as they are what's ruining UO.

 

[Draconi]

Why would they post an official screenshot of it then?

Hmm, that was a screenshot from a prototype of the Queen's Palace when we were first assembling the art. It's official in the sense that "hey, this existed at some point" even though it's undergone massive updates.

 

[Old Man of UO]

Hmm, that was a screenshot from a prototype of the Queen's Palace when we were first assembling the art. It's official in the sense that "hey, this existed at some point" even though it's undergone massive updates.

UPDATED SCREENIE, PLEASE!

 

[Crysta]

Yeah. No better progress report than an updated snapshot.

Should be regularly updating the ones on the site anyway tho, at least when the areas they involve get major, visible updates...alpha screenshots generally don't sell a game.

 

[JC the Builder]

Well there hasn't been any reason to check the website much other than a Five on Friday, so I guess I just missed the screenshot updates. They seemed new because I remember there only used to be 3 or something on that page.

 

[Stratic Fanatic]

Internal Version 0.0.1 (Build 1)

LoL, thats actually quite good for the first try

 

[Blesh]

Am i the only one who see's the limitations on the garg's customization a BS RP reason to make them easier to code?

at least the people who p*ss and moan about all the bright colors will be happy.

 

[RavenWinterHawk]

Hmm, that was a screenshot from a prototype of the Queen's Palace when we were first assembling the art. It's official in the sense that "hey, this existed at some point" even though it's undergone massive updates.

People like to criticize just to criticize. Its fun wasting comments on doom and gloom and not thinking before you write. Like Im doing now.

Besides with the modern age of cut and paste, you can support any point.

It doesnt matter if you use old quotes, old graphics, outdated graphics or doctor them up. If you can post it - it must be true.