• Hail Guest!
    We're looking for Community Content Contribuitors to Stratics. If you would like to write articles, fan fiction, do guild or shard event recaps, it's simple. Find out how in this thread: Community Contributions
  • Greetings Guest, Having Login Issues? Check this thread!
  • Hail Guest!,
    Please take a moment to read this post reminding you all of the importance of Account Security.
  • Hail Guest!
    Please read the new announcement concerning the upcoming addition to Stratics. You can find the announcement Here!

So whats the status on this classic server?

CrazyJoe

Always Present
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
UNLEASHED
The only reason I'd come back to UO rest on that really.
 

baraka66

Visitor
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
Is Adam Ant still around?

[YOUTUBE]<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yPLrXFw76Qg&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yPLrXFw76Qg&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>[/YOUTUBE]
 

CrazyJoe

Always Present
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
UNLEASHED
Yes - he runs his own server now though. I hypothesize he'd return to.
 

WarderDragon

Babbling Loonie
Alumni
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
I posted this in response to another guy who asked the same question.

WarderDragon said:
The Developers have expressed interest in creating a Classic Shard. I don't want to rehash three months worth of heated debate; but the major considerations right now are what would constitute a Classic Shard (Pre-T2A? Pre-Renaissance? Pre-Pub16?)? How much post-Classic Content (Monsters, Art, etc.) should be implemented? How the shard will impact (positively or negatively) Siege Perilous? And whether it will truly draw old players back to Ultima Online?

I think the developers acknowledge that a Classic Shard would be good for Ultima Online. I tend to agree.

Why most current players are so leery of the idea is that most folks want manpower focused on their respective playstyles and interests; and see a Classic Shard as a risky idea that would draw more developer time away from the Production Shards. Because they don't have the code tucked away somewhere; the developers are going to have to manually remove all the new content and rebuild some of the old systems to return it to a Pre-Trammel State.
I hope that helps.
 
B

Beer_Cayse

Guest
Hiya CJ ... there has been all sorts of dramatic threads recently about classic shard(s) - especially since the Devs actually admitted they were kicking it around some. <shrug>

I think we'll be lucky to see it before the end of the Mayan long calendar (12/21/12??)
 

WarderDragon

Babbling Loonie
Alumni
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
This topic has been flamed to death. But I think they need to do it.

I wouldn't play a Classic Server; but this is the first time in a long time I've had people telling me they might come back.

It would do nothing but bring in more revenue for Ultima Online; which in turn means more for the Production Shards and an increased lifespan for our game of choice.
 
E

Evlar

Guest
Do you have ...la in the clipboard or do you type it each time?
What does it even mean?
I thought it was something people from Liverpool said often, usually also at the end of sentences.

Given Rico is in Chicago, I don't think he's a Scouser... unless he's an expat Scouser in the USA ;)

Back on topic though...

Pretty much what WarderDragon quoted in response to the OP. Plenty of people appear to have shown an interest in a classic option. It's been flamed to hell on these forums by enough people, discussed by enough people, but it's not just here that people are talking about the idea. I've read lots of discussions from former players on other boards, MMO forums, even other games forums.

Overall, I'm sceptical. I like to think it will happen, I think it will be beneficial overall to the whole of UO, not least in subscriber $$$, but until there's an official developer comment to confirm that it is happening, then I'm not holding my breath.

In the meantime though, it's nice to have the ability to discuss certain aspects of the era we loved, if certain things can/should/would be possible in a newer incarnation of the classic era, what lessons can be learned, how to improve aspects of gameplay without resorting to the changes in UO we've seen... etc... etc...

What's interesting to hear though, was in a recent interview, Richard Garriott appeared to hint that he's working on and would like to work on (amongst other things), a Lord British themed MMO that offers the true sandbox experience, that few if any MMO's are offering these days.

Either way, I think we're at least a year from seeing either a "classic" option for UO from EA/Mythic, or what Richard Garriott has up his sleeve with the quartet of co-founders at Portalarium.
 
T

Tukaram

Guest
Currently RG and Portalarium are making Facebook games.

I would love to see a classic server. I would not play it but if it brings in more players (money) then it couldn't be a bad thing.
 
K

KnowYourEnemy

Guest
Ever since I quit playing uo, i've actually had a social life and done some productive things in my life. if they make a classic shard. ohh i'm never leaving the house again.
 
M

Morgana LeFay (PoV)

Guest
The main problem with a classic shard is it's basically saying that everything they've done for the past 10 years has been wrong, as such i find it hard to believe they'd ever make one
Actually, to be more accurate...it would be the current devs saying that everything the previous devs did for the past 10 years, without offering an alternative, was wrong.

And I endorse that statement 100%.
 

WarderDragon

Babbling Loonie
Alumni
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
The main problem with a classic shard is it's basically saying that everything they've done for the past 10 years has been wrong, as such i find it hard to believe they'd ever make one
I don't think so. I think it would be an acknowledgement that different players possess different tastes and that Ultima Online possesses a widespread appeal not found in more linear games.

But if they ever were to make a Classic Shard; there is still alot of work that needs to be done on the production shards that won't be solved by offering a Legacy Alternative.
 

Llewen

Grand Inquisitor
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
Campaign Supporter
The main problem with a classic shard is it's basically saying that everything they've done for the past 10 years has been wrong, as such i find it hard to believe they'd ever make one
Actually, to be more accurate...it would be the current devs saying that everything the previous devs did for the past 10 years, without offering an alternative, was wrong.

And I endorse that statement 100%.
Hardly. It's simply offering another choice to clients. It isn't going to replace the current game, and it's not going to draw more clients than the current game. Hopefully it will have a healthy long term population and give them a return on their investment. I think it will, and I hope it happens, and I will certainly check it out when it does, but it won't become my primary UO home.
 
M

Morgana LeFay (PoV)

Guest
The main problem with a classic shard is it's basically saying that everything they've done for the past 10 years has been wrong, as such i find it hard to believe they'd ever make one
Actually, to be more accurate...it would be the current devs saying that everything the previous devs did for the past 10 years, without offering an alternative, was wrong.

And I endorse that statement 100%.
Hardly. It's simply offering another choice to clients. It isn't going to replace the current game, and it's not going to draw more clients than the current game. Hopefully it will have a healthy long term population and give them a return on their investment. I think it will, and I hope it happens, and I will certainly check it out when it does, but it won't become my primary UO home.
Where did I say that it was going to replace the current game?

And where did I say that it would draw more clients than the current game?

Perhaps I could have worded that post better...but it seems that you either didn't understand it, or just posted without reading (again).

Let me see if I can clarify what I was saying for the "special" students in the class...

...It would not be the devs saying that everything they did over the last 10 years was wrong.

...It would be the current devs acknowledging that it was a mistake by the previous devs to make radical changes to the game (UOR/AOS) without offering those that wanted no part of that an alternative.

Is that easier to understand, or should I open paint and drawing pictures?
 

jtw1984

Seasoned Veteran
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
I'll try to keep this post in the rules. So just hear me out. Why would someone pay monthly to play a classic shard when they can play a T2A or Pub 16 shard for free? Plus, this free thing also has lots of players and is very stable?
 

THP

Always Present
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
it would be good but definately no no no xsharding into it..

start from scratch....and no using tokens to bring billions into it
 

Dakkon Blackblade

Seasoned Veteran
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
I'll try to keep this post in the rules. So just hear me out. Why would someone pay monthly to play a classic shard when they can play a T2A or Pub 16 shard for free? Plus, this free thing also has lots of players and is very stable?
I would say I am in the minority here but I would like to use the enhanced client on a classic server, and I have yet to see a free classic server that offers the option although I haven't really looked hard to be honest.

That in addition to the usual reasons given for not playing free servers like, instability, admin to player corruption etc.
 
M

Morgana LeFay (PoV)

Guest
I'll try to keep this post in the rules. So just hear me out. Why would someone pay monthly to play a classic shard when they can play a T2A or Pub 16 shard for free? Plus, this free thing also has lots of players and is very stable?
Biggest reasons I don't play freeshards instead (and this might change if EA doesn't come through with a Classic Shard of their own):

- Corruption...many freeshards (not all) have serious issues with GMs/admins giving things to their friends. This may go on on EA shards, but if it does, someone eventually gets fired.

- Stability...no freeshard out there is going to be able to support the server load that EA shards can because they are all single servers, not multi-server. If the player load becomes too great, the shard will start to run poorly.

- Reliability...at any point, the person running the free shard could decide not to do it anymore, die, get grounded, have to move out of their parents basement...who knows. With an EA shard, you know it will remain up as long as the game remains operational.

I think that some of the freeshards out there are pretty well done...but because they are backed by individuals, not EA, they are not going to be as reliable or as stable.
 

Llewen

Grand Inquisitor
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
Campaign Supporter
The main problem with a classic shard is it's basically saying that everything they've done for the past 10 years has been wrong, as such i find it hard to believe they'd ever make one
Actually, to be more accurate...it would be the current devs saying that everything the previous devs did for the past 10 years, without offering an alternative, was wrong.

And I endorse that statement 100%.
Hardly. It's simply offering another choice to clients. It isn't going to replace the current game, and it's not going to draw more clients than the current game. Hopefully it will have a healthy long term population and give them a return on their investment. I think it will, and I hope it happens, and I will certainly check it out when it does, but it won't become my primary UO home.
Where did I say that it was going to replace the current game?

And where did I say that it would draw more clients than the current game?

...It would be the current devs acknowledging that it was a mistake by the previous devs to make radical changes to the game (UOR/AOS) without offering those that wanted no part of that an alternative.
And you M'Lady, need to take a chill pill... ;)

I was responding more to what Wamba posted, and what I have read in many other posts on this topic. It has been posted plenty of times by classic shard supporters that they thought those who thought a classic shard was a bad idea were worried that a classic shard would pull all the clients away from the regular shards.

Your statement however gives the whole subject a different slant. Although I think the game would soon become pretty unmanageable if every time there was a major change the devs created an alternative shard for those who didn't like the changes. That would entail at least three different rules sets for UO, in addition to the Siege rules set.

And speaking of Siege, when UOR was released, it really was that alternative.
 
M

Morgana LeFay (PoV)

Guest
It has been posted plenty of times by classic shard supporters that they thought those who thought a classic shard was a bad idea were worried that a classic shard would pull all the clients away from the regular shards.
Actually...the notion that a Classic Shard would "empty out" the existing shards was first posted by anti-Classic Shard posters as their reason for being against it.

I think it can be safely said that most Classic Shard supporters could not care less what happens in regards to the current shards population levels...because they don't play on the current shards.

I look at it like this:

You have a movie theater...the only theater in town. It started out showing really good movies and had nice seats and good concessions. Over the years, the equipment has degraded, the concessions have become prohibitively expensive, and the choice of movies they show has gone downhill.

Then a competing theater is opened across the street. This one has brand new equipment, less expensive and better concessions, nicer seats, etc.

No one is forcing anyone to go to one theater over the other. In fact, most people will base their choice on which movies are showing in which theater...not the theater itself.

Right now...UO has only 1 theater.

Well, not true, it also has that dark little artsy theater that only shows foreign films (Siege) :)

Your statement however gives the whole subject a different slant. Although I think the game would soon become pretty unmanageable if every time there was a major change the devs created an alternative shard for those who didn't like the changes. That would entail at least three different rules sets for UO, in addition to the Siege rules set.
I am not necessarily suggesting that a seperate shard be created for each and every change that comes into the game...but if you look back at how the changes were incorporated into the game, it would have made more sense if the devs would have opened new shards that had the new content, and allowed players to transfer there if they wished...instead of forcing content on the players that essentially broke their playstyles.

Yes, a semi-valid argument can be made that UO:R, for example, stopped players from quitting en masse due to PKing...but by launching it the way they did, it caused others to quit...not all at once, but slowly over time.

Had they created PvP and Non-PvP shards back then, and allowed players to move to non-PvP shards, then they would have retained more players. Certainly, many PKs would have left, because there were no more "sheep", but I think that it would have been preferable to segregating the population.

The same can be said for AoS. AoS was a MAJOR change in the game. I don't think very many players actually advocated for it...it was just sort of thrust upon us. At that time, if the devs had left a few of the shards without it, or even opened a few shards that didn't have it, there would be no Classic Shard discussions at all now...and many of the players that left over AoS might still be around.

Going back to the movie theater example from above, if the only theater suddenly stopped showing all kinds of movies, and started only showing Sci-Fi movies, for example, then the theater would be losing out on market share...even if Sci-Fi movies were their best sellers.

It's always good to offer options...because not everyone has the same tastes.
 

TheScoundrelRico

Stratics Legend
Alumni
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
A classic shard wouldn't attract Trammies, so the rest of the prodo shards would be safe since most of their populations have been trammified for years...la
 
C

Cyric

Guest
A classic shard wouldn't attract Trammies, so the rest of the prodo shards would be safe since most of their populations have been trammified for years...la
agreed
a classic shard would bring back some of the heart of the game...or should i say hunt if you will.

nothing like not being "capped" naked with a spear
 

CrazyJoe

Always Present
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
UNLEASHED
Again I say what a shame. The longer they take, the less inclined folks will be to leave their free server after all the time they put into it.
 
R

Ransom_of_BiC

Guest
...it would have made more sense if the devs would have opened new shards that had the new content, and allowed players to transfer there if they wished...instead of forcing content on the players that essentially broke their playstyles.
In theory, perhaps, but it's not feasible for a company to roll out content like that. It would be like WoW creating new servers for every expansion that came out, so that those who liked the old content better could stay there. It just doesn't make sense business wise. And regardless what this game *means* to us as players, one must never forget that origins/ea/mythic/whoever are nothing more than businesses.
 
N

Naisikras

Guest
Just throwing my .02 in... I AM SO EXCITED. Just all the talk of classic shards has got me all hyped up.

I logged on my old home shard of baja the other day to take a look around... And, I honestly can't see why some of you are worried about shard populations dwindling down..... I mean I saw like 3 people on the whole shard, it can't dwindle down much further.
 
M

Morgana LeFay (PoV)

Guest
In theory, perhaps, but it's not feasible for a company to roll out content like that. It would be like WoW creating new servers for every expansion that came out, so that those who liked the old content better could stay there. It just doesn't make sense business wise. And regardless what this game *means* to us as players, one must never forget that origins/ea/mythic/whoever are nothing more than businesses.
Actually, it's not at all like WoW creating servers for every expansion that comes out. So far, nothing WoW has released since launch has fundamentally changed the entire game.

And you are right, EA/Mythic/Origin are businesses (were in Origin's case) ... which begs the question: Why would a business intentionally drive away their own customers.

Since the theater example was obviously not clear enough...let's use McDonald's.

Some people like the Big Mac...other people like the Quarter Pounder. If McDonald's had started their business making only the Quarter Pounder, and then decided to switch to Big Macs...wouldn't it make more sense to offer the Big Mac in addition to the Quarter Pounder, rather than just telling all the Quarter Pounder fans to F*** Off??
 
R

Renyard Foxenwyle

Guest
Some people like the Big Mac...other people like the Quarter Pounder.
Thanks a lot Morgana, now I want a double quarter pounder with cheese and I can't get one because I'm stuck in Iraq! ARGH! Guess I should look on the bright side, at least this COB has Subway.

Ohh yeah, Classic Shard FTW!
 
R

Ransom_of_BiC

Guest
Actually, it's not at all like WoW creating servers for every expansion that comes out. So far, nothing WoW has released since launch has fundamentally changed the entire game.

And you are right, EA/Mythic/Origin are businesses (were in Origin's case) ... which begs the question: Why would a business intentionally drive away their own customers.

Since the theater example was obviously not clear enough...let's use McDonald's.

Some people like the Big Mac...other people like the Quarter Pounder. If McDonald's had started their business making only the Quarter Pounder, and then decided to switch to Big Macs...wouldn't it make more sense to offer the Big Mac in addition to the Quarter Pounder, rather than just telling all the Quarter Pounder fans to F*** Off??

I can never tell if I am misreading the tone in your posts...whatever the case ,I will answer politely, as my original post to you was not a flame, or argument- just an observation from a different point of view. That being said, your original example was fine, and did not need to be dumbed down.

I would argue that WoW actually has fundamentally changed since launch, in ways that have driven many vets, such as myself, away.

Furthermore, restaurants discontinue popular items all the time. Sometimes it's because they can no longer afford to create them. Sometimes it's because the vision of their company is changing. Sometimes it's because they are bored...who knows why. However, it happens all the time.
 

Magdalene

Stratics Legend
Alumni
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
Some people like the Big Mac...other people like the Quarter Pounder.
Thanks a lot Morgana, now I want a double quarter pounder with cheese and I can't get one because I'm stuck in Iraq! ARGH! Guess I should look on the bright side, at least this COB has Subway.

Ohh yeah, Classic Shard FTW!
And some are vegetarians and/or hate MacD... bleh...
 
M

Morgana LeFay (PoV)

Guest
And some are vegetarians and/or hate MacD... bleh...
Fair enough...but McDonald's at least tries to accommodate vegetarians by offering salads.

The point here is...a vegetarian's money is still money...I don't understand why EA doesn't see that.
 
M

Morgana LeFay (PoV)

Guest
Furthermore, restaurants discontinue popular items all the time. Sometimes it's because they can no longer afford to create them. Sometimes it's because the vision of their company is changing. Sometimes it's because they are bored...who knows why. However, it happens all the time.
And sometimes its because they have management that is out of touch with what their customers want.

Prime example:

A local restaurant here in North Carolina was renowned for their fried seafood. The place was always busy, and people came from all over to eat there. The owner passed away, and his daughter, who had lived in California for most of her adult life, inherited the restaurant. She decided to move to NC and try to continue the family business. Being completely out of touch with the region, she changed the menu to a more "heart healthy" fare including more grill, steamed, and raw options. Meanwhile, she did away with a lot of the things that many of the original patrons loved.

Fast foward 3 years...the restaurant was still there, doing okay...but almost no one that enjoyed going there before the daughter took over still eats there. In the last year or so, she has started adding the local favorites back to the menu, and just last month they had to build an addition on to the place.

This is a true story. Personally, I like the new menu better, but I know a lot of people that still won't go there because they don't like what she did to the place.

So what I am saying is, UO should look into offering both Classic and Modern options. The appeal will be broader, and therefore they will make more money...which is what a business is supposed to be about...not pushing some misguided agenda.
 

Tek

Seasoned Veteran
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
A classic shard wouldn't attract Trammies, so the rest of the prodo shards would be safe since most of their populations have been trammified for years...la
Sure it will – crafters, the adventurous and the bored. Some of us Trammies play on classic shards even now.
 

RaDian FlGith

Babbling Loonie
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
Status of the Classic Shard should be this: Not a chance in hell.

Let them spend the time on Siege Perilous if they need a side project. Supporting a Classic Shard means supporting ANOTHER client, supporting ANOTHER ruleset, and supporting a system that is lacking the years of bug-fixes that have gone on in the interim.

Classic Shard = Bad Idea™.
 

Dakkon Blackblade

Seasoned Veteran
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
Status of the Classic Shard should be this: Not a chance in hell.
Could not disagree more with this poster.

Let them spend the time on Siege Perilous if they need a side project. Supporting a Classic Shard means supporting ANOTHER client, supporting ANOTHER ruleset, and supporting a system that is lacking the years of bug-fixes that have gone on in the interim.
Where do you get that classic needs another client? presumably the devs would use the existing client and simply turn off the things that didn't exist past a certain point.

Sorry but that comment is off base, and while I vehemently disagree with the tone of your post, I want to see Siege players get theirs as well. I don't see a divide between siege and classic.

In the end though to be perfectly honest, I don't think either community is going to get jack. If they were going to fix siege they would have done it a long time ago, same with classic, the ship left the harbor a long time ago.


Classic Shard = Bad Idea™
Variety is the spice of life my friend.
 
Top