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Joey Porter
Guest
This is the 2nd person positing in the past two days saying they had an issue downloading the client.
Almost like they are trying to sabotoge new players coming in. Geez.
Almost like they are trying to sabotoge new players coming in. Geez.
Yah. I'm sure that's it. They were making too much money so they throttled the number of client downloads.
Doesn't that tinfoil hat leave marks on your forehead when you take it off or do you sleep with it on to avoid alien abductions?
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Joey Porter
Guest
Wow, pretty harsh based on an observation.
They do not advertise, they do not communicate, two seperate people in two days have not been able to download the client, no website updates etc. No tinfoil hat.
I love the game and hope it continues for years. Just do not understand the lack of a basic business model that makes since. Sorry.
I think this thread is related to the issue: Game went bye bye | Stratics Forums
You can also check: http://www.downforeveryoneorjustme.com/www.uoherald.com
You can also check: http://www.downforeveryoneorjustme.com/www.uoherald.com
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Woodsman
Guest
I thought this was going to be about BioWare formally ending the Mythic brand since they are getting rid of it.
Nah, not harsh. People have been tossing around the same sarcastic "EA hates UO" bs for years, and it's just not really entertaining anymore. At some point you'd think people would move on, but nope, they're happy just paying money to have something to complain about. EA keeps your game running, you should appreciate it.
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Woodsman
Guest
There are fewer people working on UO now than there were a year ago, and fewer last year than in 2010. We should appreciate the fact that we are paying the same amount of money for less service?
Of course there are less people working on it! There's less players too! You want cheaper subscriptions? No problem, just fire more employees. UO is not a money making juggernaut. It's a 15 year old game with a minute playerbase and very little chance of drawing in new players. Yet it still gets regular updates, new content, and bug fixes. Not many, if any, older MMOs get that. EA could quite logically shut down the game and probably lose very little revenue. I know everyone loves to hate on the evil corporation that conspires to steal your money and ruin your life, that is as old as the game itself. But really guys, we aren't teenagers playing the new hot MMO anymore. It's time to grow up and be realistic. Be glad EA lets us continue to play the game, and if you are convinced you're not getting your money's worth, no one would blame you for leaving. I'm sure your in-game friends would argue that you should stay however. Isn't that why we're all still here?
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Joey Porter
Guest
I am not complaining about the game, a +5 stat scroll not coming my way, lag etc. All I am pointing out is that EA/Mythic puts absolute no effort into a game we all love. Sorry you are tired of hearing that. Guess I will just pay my monthly fee and have no opinion on the service I get for it.
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Joey Porter
Guest
I am not asking for EA to do ANYTHING MAJOR OR COSTLY, just to at least do the basics.
Back on topic. I am sorry you are not able to install the client on an extra pc. I am also sorry that any new person trying to check out UO is not able to download the client. Just be thankful that it still exists and be patient.
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Well, I was genuinely trying not to be sarcastic in my post, but if you're more than welcome to make weak attempts at it to belittle my argument. That always goes a long way, especially on the Internet. No wonder EA values your opinion so highly.
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Woodsman
Guest
Which came first, fewer players or fewer devs? Warhammer bombs, UO loses a bunch of the Stygian Abyss team even though UO was profitable. The amount of content being created and bugs being fixed drops as a result. Think it's a coincidence that as the team has shrunk since 2009, and as the amount of content, fixed bugs, and community interaction dropped, the playerbase has shrunk as well? It's not.
Reducing the size of an already small team guarantees that eventually the game will die. If you create less content, fix less bugs, do less with the community, of course the players are going to go elsewhere, especially in an environment where there is more and more competition every year. Players aren't stupid.
It also speaks volumes when EA won't even do the simplest and cheapest of things like a decent website and decent communication.
Actually they do, otherwise they wouldn't be here. With the exception of Star Wars Galaxies, which was killed by Sony's experiments, and Asheron's Call 2 which probably shouldn't have been created, all of UO's major competitors in the first 5-6 years are still around, and still getting content updates. EverQuest 1, Asheron's Call, EverQuest 2, EVE Online, Dark Age of Camelot, etc. are still being updated. EQ2 and EVE have received a couple of major updates, in graphics and clients in recent years, and they are doing well, and much better than UO. If you consider World of Warcraft to be an early competitor, it too is getting content updates, bug fixes, etc.
Now that Mythic has all but been removed from existence (ironically UO is the last game treated as a Mythic game), hopefully things will improve under BioWare, but I don't know.
You make some valid points. While I agree with much of you said, I still don't think UO lost players because it lost devs. It started losing huge chunks each time it put out a game-altering expansion and the majority of those were before EA was even in the picture. UO remains because it has a certain magic no other game has. But as years pass by, players are lured away by other games, driven away by game changes, etc. if UO today had the dev numbers it had in say 2002, do you think it would be doing much better? Its possible but I doubt it. The game's main strength is also its greatest detriment; the players. They love the game so much that they fight any change tooth and nail. Generally those that adapted well to change moved on to other games. A website is great, but I don't see people flocking back to the game because UO put out a new website. Those kind of things just can't really be considered priorities at this stage. Dev communication I agree would be great, but considering how they are treated on this very forum, I can't blame them for not bothering.
I guess it really just comes down to being content and realizing the nonstop negativity and bitterness hasn't helped a thing. It only makes for cruddy forum reading and in turn cruddy community.
I guess it really just comes down to being content and realizing the nonstop negativity and bitterness hasn't helped a thing. It only makes for cruddy forum reading and in turn cruddy community.
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Woodsman
Guest
I agree that some of the expansions were not good expansions, but EA has always been in the picture as far as UO is concerned. They've owned Origin since 1992. Richard Garriott had to go to the EA CEO for the seed money, and part of UO's early problems (and Origin's) stem from internal EA problems (turf wars, etc.).
I do think it would be doing better, because they wouldn't have to put development of content on hold for big bug publishes, they would be able to fully support both clients, and for many other reasons, such as the resources for communications with the players.
Agreed.
If they want new or returning players, they are a priority, especially since EA/BioWare have the resources to spare and then some - their web teams are huge. It's the first thing somebody sees about a game, and it's not a good impression.
What if things are the way they are because the communication has declined? And I take issue with that statement because TheGrimmOmen interacted with players a lot on these very forums and he was not treated poorly. Things have gotten worse on the forums the less the devs communicate with us.
Look, if the devs don't care enough to talk about the game, then what kind of message does that send?
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EA was always in the picture and if the players fight any change tooth and nail, how come "game altering expansions" are made one after the other, regardless? The decrease on the subscription numbers started after AoS in 2004 while it peaked even after the most game altering changes like Trammel, Publish 16, etc. around 2002. You also say that those that adapted well to change moved on to other games just after you say game altering expansions caused losing huge chunks of players, which really confuses the *bleep* out of me. I also don't think you understand how promoting an online game works and why websites are vital instruments for that aspect. TheGrimmOmen posted more than 150 posts in less than four months. He is criticized, and often heavily if I might add, but he still answered our criticism and shared his views with us, so much that he has his own sub-forums here. Thus, unlike you, I do blame others for not bothering.
The community is far from being cruddy and in fact we're really an easy audience, even a single Blackthorn reference is enough to cheer us up and we celebrate even the smallest steps towards us. We're loyal and supportive but we are also honest, as any true friend should be, we're not going to say everything is just fine and dandy when there are some serious issues that need immediate attention.
The community is far from being cruddy and in fact we're really an easy audience, even a single Blackthorn reference is enough to cheer us up and we celebrate even the smallest steps towards us. We're loyal and supportive but we are also honest, as any true friend should be, we're not going to say everything is just fine and dandy when there are some serious issues that need immediate attention.
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Amazing what a half hour down time on a website can turn into isn't it?
Conversation?
Even heated conversation?
Not a bad thing. We're all adults. We'll survive.
We will, but will UO? I'm sorry, but I firmly believe that the constant negativity on here around the future of the game is part of the problem. It puts people off returning, it puts people off trying it, because people on here convince them there's no point in bothering. You want the game to survive, but you're helping to kill it.
I believe that there's a big 'Reveal' planned for the 15th. No news = lots of work. You all believe No news = nothing being done.
Only time will tell which of us is right, but I sincerely hope that I am.
I believe that there's a big 'Reveal' planned for the 15th. No news = lots of work. You all believe No news = nothing being done.
Only time will tell which of us is right, but I sincerely hope that I am.
Most of us have already admitted there might be something bigger than pixel crack coming for the 15th. However, no news is never a good thing. Ever.
There is ZERO excitement over the anniversary. This is a BAD THING.
Nobody knows what's happening beyond the pixel crack we've seen, and the other pixel crack some of us know about. Gaming sites asked for info, Mesanna said no. Those websites wandered off to report on things for which information is being released...like U4E, GW2, and WoW:MoP. UO will get sidelined, once again, as a game few outside of us give a crap about.
The event arc isn't going to entice new players or interest the press. They want to see what is in store for UO's future just like we do.
Even if they announce something mindblowing in September, will it be enough?
THE. SILENCE. IS. KILLING. UO.
There is ZERO excitement over the anniversary. This is a BAD THING.
Nobody knows what's happening beyond the pixel crack we've seen, and the other pixel crack some of us know about. Gaming sites asked for info, Mesanna said no. Those websites wandered off to report on things for which information is being released...like U4E, GW2, and WoW:MoP. UO will get sidelined, once again, as a game few outside of us give a crap about.
The event arc isn't going to entice new players or interest the press. They want to see what is in store for UO's future just like we do.
Even if they announce something mindblowing in September, will it be enough?
THE. SILENCE. IS. KILLING. UO.
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Woodsman
Guest
I have a lot of respect for you, for all that you do as far as adding content, and especially for challenging Jeff Skalski on Twitter last month. That took a lot and says a lot about your character.
But I've got to say, if UO dies, it's because EA let it die. The fans are the only thing that has kept this game going, because despite EA's mistreatment, they are still here.
I want to believe this and I think we'll get the graphics upgrade and maybe change us to just one client, but no other game gives its fans the silent treatment, and this is after they got rid of some really key people - lead engineer, lead world builder, lead artist, etc. Well Warhammer and Dark Age of Camelot do.
If Jeff can give extensive interviews about Ultima Forever, if he can send out several twitters a week about games that aren't even made by EA, he can spend 5 or 10 minutes talking about UO, especially just 6 weeks out from the anniversary, and especially knowing that any publicity around UO's anniversary will be drowned out by Guild Wars 2 and World of Pandas.
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We can't do much about what Jeff does or doesn't do, nagging is often counter productive, alienating the target and making them less willing to see your point.
What we can do is stop being part of the problem. You suggested in the other thread posting on those other sites. Instead of posting your annoyance with EA, how about posting what you love about the game and why, despite the neglect of EA, you're still playing it?
What we can do is stop being part of the problem. You suggested in the other thread posting on those other sites. Instead of posting your annoyance with EA, how about posting what you love about the game and why, despite the neglect of EA, you're still playing it?
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Woodsman
Guest
I'm not saying you all can do much about the situation, Stratics is a fansite, not the mouthpiece of EA.
I can go post what I love about UO, and nobody will care outside of a few people. Those other websites I mentioned are full of pro-UO comments, and it means nothing because it's just random internet posters reminiscing.
When they announced Ultima Forever, they didn't send a handful of fans out to talk about it or post comments on internet sites, they sent Kate Flack, the lead designer, Paul Barnett (whatever his title is), and Jeff Skalski, the franchise producer.
Difference is, Woodsman, those other posters are reminiscing, they post as if the game is already closed. They annoy the heck out of me to be truthful. I've posted a couple of times to say, it's not gone, it's still there, I play it every day and love every minute of it.
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Joey Porter
Guest
I
Which makes it frustrating when I hear about a few people not being able to download the client when needed. If it was just a 30 minute website downtime than I would not have even commented on it. It was in fact two different people on two different days saying the same thing. There is another thread talking about how some people in some countries cannot even find the download link unless they lie abotu were they are located.
To me this is a big issue as it will negate any positive recruiting I do.
Again, sorry for being negative. If that is having a bad impact you will not hear it from me again.
I am sorry my comment has turned into this, was not meant to be taken as me complaining about the game and trying to turn people away from it. The contrary is true, i am constantly telling people how much fun it is and that they should give it a try. I go out of my way in New Haven to assist, answer questions and aid any Young characters I see.
Which makes it frustrating when I hear about a few people not being able to download the client when needed. If it was just a 30 minute website downtime than I would not have even commented on it. It was in fact two different people on two different days saying the same thing. There is another thread talking about how some people in some countries cannot even find the download link unless they lie abotu were they are located.
To me this is a big issue as it will negate any positive recruiting I do.
Again, sorry for being negative. If that is having a bad impact you will not hear it from me again.
Sorry Joey, I wasn't trying to alienate you, there's been a heavily negative tone to the whole place lately, which is depressing.
I too help wherever I can, hanging out in 'help' chat on Europa and General on Siege.
I too help wherever I can, hanging out in 'help' chat on Europa and General on Siege.
It's almost like you volunteered to write a post to illustrate exactly the type of garbage I'm talking about. Thanks for the reminder.
UO has been mentioned on websites before. SA got a decent amount of press. Do you recall the huge influx of players wanting to try the latest expansion of a game they played a decade ago? Or the new players that came in droves wanting to shell out cash to try out an MMO that looks like it could be ran on an Atari 2600?
Yeah, none of that happened. The marketing you claim is so vital and the press coverage you just can't live without does very little beyond making people say "wow, people still play that?"
What exactly are you hoping to hear for the 15th anni announcement? I guarantee regardless of what it is it will be met with outcries of "YOU'RE RUINING THE GAME!" and "THE SKY IS FALLING!" because that's what a lot of you seem solely capable of. You want a massive influx of new players, devs posting on the forums answering any question you can come up with, a top of the line new website for you to critique and never use, 2 more houses for you but none for anyone else, a sweet new tamable creature only you can command, a private island with a customizable castle plot with infinite lockdowns, and 12 character slots so you don't have to give dirty old grandpa EA another $14 for a second account.
You guys are so caught up in your negativity and your entitled attitudes you can't even stop to think of what good if any would come from your demands. No, The silence is NOT killing UO. Please tell me you were RPing and just lost control when you wrote that. UO is not "dying" because they haven't announced the 15th anniversary plans.
This may come as a surprise to you, but UO is 15 freakin years old. New players and press coverage are really not going to revitalize the game when the client is archaic and the coding is such a mess the devs don't even like screwing with it. Would those things be nice for the current players? Of course. Are they going to keep the game running another 15 years? Absolutely not.
I'm not sure I've ever seen someone spout more hypocritical hyperbole out of both sides of their mouth before.
You complain about people being critical about a game they play and then go on to TRASH IT. Seriously?
You, Sir, are the new Fayled Dhreams.
kelmo
Old and in the way
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Supporter
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Dread Lord
Let's not turn on each other. Show some respect for each others opinions even if we disagree. I am all for a healthy discussion and constructive criticism. When is get personal... I have to use terrible Mod powers and make people unhappy... I am just not feeling it today. Can we agree to disagree and no one gets infractions?
So you say:
- the developers don't want to mess with the messy coding and the client is archaic
- a massive influx of new players, devs posting on the forums answering any question you can come up with, a top of the line new website won't do any good to UO (other demands are made up by you)
- UO is an MMO that looks like it could be ran on an Atari 2600 for new players
We're just frustrated from the lack of communication. WaR and DoaC websites are already re-designed and the devs told us that they will work on a new website, high res artwork and PR messages for the 15th anniversary, maybe even re-launching uo.com, months ago. See, these types of things cheer us up, there is already a good amount of new players, we just want them to be supported with an up-to-date in-game tutorial (updated version of the EC in-game tutorial maybe which already explains the basics).
So, we want to hear that these things, which we think are quite vital, are still being worked on (we didn't made these up, the devs already told us that these are being worked on but we haven't heard from them for months now and some of the developers are moved to other titles during that time) while Petra says even though there is a lack of communication, she's sure they are already busy working on these. So, to clarify for you, we're not discussing if these will do good, we already know they will, we're discussing why the devs don't keep us posted about these changes.
On the other hand, after reading the your post, you say these things are not important anyways since UO has messy coding, archaic client and Atari 2600 looks and us demanding these things (which are already accepted by the devs) will make no good. I've also noticed that you already have a very low opinion of UO as a game.
All I managed to gather from your post is that you failed to understand mine. That's actually ok with me, I've said what I wante to say and if you can't figure it out, it's not my job to educate you or change your mind. As for me making up requests to make the "other side" look bad; every example I posted is a sarcastically exaggerated version of posts I've seen countless times. Also, if you think of fellow players who disagree with you as the "other side," sounds like you've already lost.
We meaning us need to turn off the negativity....
I just had a friend who I been telling how well the game is doing even with lower numbers and all that take a look at the boards....... she now told me forget it dont bring it up again. She read too much bad points and how little good players are feeling about the game. Thanks guys. 9 months talking to her to come back. Had she come back I know I'd have gotten a few more once they saw her on the game ....
Do you think I pay for 47 accounts cause I like to waste my money??
I could go do my quilting, gee there would go alot of my time or better yet crochetting and knitting. I have been painting alot and well I could go back to doing it full time...
I pay and play every account I own, no i am not a nut but one who enjoys the game. I want more players to have fun with. But if we keep talking like its the end of the world you can make it so... just with your words. The pen is mightyer then the sword ... well the keyboard is worse yet in the hands of one so hell bent to kill the game.
I just had a friend who I been telling how well the game is doing even with lower numbers and all that take a look at the boards....... she now told me forget it dont bring it up again. She read too much bad points and how little good players are feeling about the game. Thanks guys. 9 months talking to her to come back. Had she come back I know I'd have gotten a few more once they saw her on the game ....
Do you think I pay for 47 accounts cause I like to waste my money??
I could go do my quilting, gee there would go alot of my time or better yet crochetting and knitting. I have been painting alot and well I could go back to doing it full time...
I pay and play every account I own, no i am not a nut but one who enjoys the game. I want more players to have fun with. But if we keep talking like its the end of the world you can make it so... just with your words. The pen is mightyer then the sword ... well the keyboard is worse yet in the hands of one so hell bent to kill the game.