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Why still play?

Alexei

Adventurer
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
I'm a uo veteran that has been off and on since blackthorne's revenge. I was considering activating my accounts until I read these forums and a lot of it is about down times, shards crashing, publishes gone wrong etc.

So I figured I would ask:

Why do you still play?
Are the shards still active?
 

Lady Storm

Grand Inquisitor
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
Ditto to LordDrago's answer.
I have played other games, still play a few but honestly UO is my home.... besides i would fell funny not running around my accounts ... hehe yea 47 to 53 at times is a bit much but I have sooo much fun....
 

Dermott of LS

UOEC Modder
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
...

Quite easily, UO simply has the absolute widest range of playstyles available. You're not simply a "fighter who dabbles in other activities" the way most to all other online games tend to be. You don't have to kill a single mob or player if you don't want to, and crafting skills are NOT dependent on doing so to get to the "higher level zones".

I did take a several month break (not playing, but keeping accounts open) for Diablo 3, however lately, the quality of D3 seems to be slipping a bit for me since my drops have been absolute suck since early December of last year and sales on the AH (either one) have been non-existent and their "answer" for end game content is "Account -Bound" items which is IMO against the concept of Diablo in the first place.

So I'm back in UO doing my BOD routine of snagging BODs, farming for junk iron items, mining, and filling BODs.
 

MalagAste

Belaern d'Zhaunil
Alumni
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
UNLEASHED
Campaign Supporter
Because NO other game offers all of what UO has. Besides all the time and energy I have invested in UO makes me want to stay.... I don't want to start all over and learn a whole new game.
 

Demonous

Rares Fest Host | Ches Jul 2010
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
id stay away if i were you, played 11 years without stopping till this past year, just so boring after a while, not a fan of some of the EMs but mesanna wouldnt get rid of them no matter how many people disliked them, all there was to do after a while was EM events, i highly recommend trying out darkfall unholy wars, currently in beta
 

Irulia Darkaith

Sage
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
I play because it's the only game that has held it's entertainment value over the years. I dabled in WoW, DDO held my attention for almost a year, Diablo for a couple months and after years of waiting for Warhammer Online, I left after less than two months (what a huge disappointment). The reason UO persists? Cause you're being guided through all those other games, told what to do, and once you're done, you're done. In UO, there is always something to do cause you're deciding what to do, just like in real life. Yes you have to grind sometimes, but that just makes the fun times that much more fun. Players who get that are still playing UO. Players who log on and hurry to get an awesome suit, make the best template, and rush out to kill the top boss are probably not long time UO players - you can't "WIN" Ultima Online. You just play it and make the game what you want. Though I will admit, if UO didn't have housing, I probably would have quit long ago. :D
 
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Amber Witch

Babbling Loonie
Governor
Alumni
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
UNLEASHED
The down times, server set backs etc today are nothing compared to days of old. And the opinions you hear here only reflect a small percentage of the player base so I don't think it's a good idea to base your opinions on what others may post. I think your best bet is to log in, play for a few weeks, and see what YOU think. Great topic for a thread though!
 

Poo

The Grandest of the PooBah’s
Alumni
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
Campaign Benefactor
id stay away if i were you, played 11 years without stopping till this past year, just so boring after a while, not a fan of some of the EMs but mesanna wouldnt get rid of them no matter how many people disliked them, all there was to do after a while was EM events, i highly recommend trying out darkfall unholy wars, currently in beta
so you haven't played UO in almost a year yet your feel comfortable enough to give others advice on if they should or should not come and play.... and you are here posting in the forums of a game that you don't play anymore.... and haven't played for almost a year.... i find that strange.

its like me saying that i use to summer in Montana for 20 years, but i stopped going last year and i even though i haven't been there in a year i tell anyone who will listen not to go because Idaho is much better for fishing, yet im saying this in a camping and fishing Montana forum.

just.... strange.
 

Viper09

Grand Poobah
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
A combination of what everyone else has said. Aside from the graphics, it is still one of the best MMO's out there. Where else will you find such a wide field of possibilities? All other MMO's are about leveling through combat. UO is about doing whatever you want, whenever you want. Don't want to fight? Cook, craft, beg, steal, fish, etc. Best part of UO that I have yet to see in any other game though, customized housing. I love it.
 
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Wolfman

Seasoned Veteran
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
id stay away if i were you, played 11 years without stopping till this past year, just so boring after a while, not a fan of some of the EMs but mesanna wouldnt get rid of them no matter how many people disliked them, all there was to do after a while was EM events, i highly recommend trying out darkfall unholy wars, currently in beta
Did you give Siege an honest try? I am a vet of 14 years and there is still too much to farm, to fight and and to make friends with.....
 

Blood Ghoul

Sage
Stratics Veteran
Ditto to LordDrago's answer.
I have played other games, still play a few but honestly UO is my home.... besides i would fell funny not running around my accounts ... hehe yea 47 to 53 at times is a bit much but I have sooo much fun....
You have 47+ accounts?? How do you even keep them straight? (I know I have a GM Begger somewhere)..hehe

When it comes to game design UO has the "best bones." The rest of the games just do not have what it takes to keep interest for long. My buddies are now playing Path to Exile. I downloaded the game and the graphics are awesome but after a couple months it will be a dead end.

Too bad someone wouldn't invest the cash to do a total update of UO and bring it into the 21rst century. But then again, I'd guess they would need to wipe the shards or make a totally new game. While the vet system does reward the vets it does impact new players.

Anyhow, UO is still the best game out there when you take everything into account.

BG
 

DerekL

Certifiable
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
You have 47+ accounts?? How do you even keep them straight? (I know I have a GM Begger somewhere)..hehe
Spreadsheets... while UO isn't anywhere nearly as bad as EVE is reputed to be in that respect, if you play the game seriously at all, you need some way to keep track of stuff. I've never played any MMORPG where I didn't need some kind of a tracking system.

Too bad someone wouldn't invest the cash to do a total update of UO and bring it into the 21rst century. But then again, I'd guess they would need to wipe the shards or make a totally new game.
The only realistic way for that to happen would be for EA to put it up for sale, and for a willing buyer to show up who has the strength to endure the slings and arrows and flames of the existing playerbase. As much as so many call for upgrades and overhauls... very few want to see anything actually change. UO players, are, by and large, a very conservative lot and very sensitive to their own ox being gored regardless of the long term health of the game.
 

Mitzlplik_LS

Seasoned Veteran
Stratics Veteran
I'm a uo veteran that has been off and on since blackthorne's revenge. I was considering activating my accounts until I read these forums and a lot of it is about down times, shards crashing, publishes gone wrong etc.

So I figured I would ask:

Why do you still play?
Are the shards still active?
You have to take these forums with a grain of salt as IMHO they do not represent the majority of the playerbase. What gets posted here is posted by the same 40-50 people every day/year and most of it is the same thing you`ll read from posts created last year or the year before that etc,etc.
Yes its an old game,yes its slow to be updated,yes there`s low communication,yes the lights are still on and

YES its still worth coming back to. If people based their opinions of UO soley on reading Uhall..... this game would have been shut down many years ago.

More now than ever to do in UO and regardless of the trash thats thrown at the devs on these forums. Alot is also planned for the furture of UO as well.Some shards are more active than others. If ya want newb city with all the trashtalk,epeen waving one can handle,log into Atlantic and try to use gen chat. Other shards will be slower and less populated,some more than others. Hard to tell ya what shards are hoppin and whats not until we know what shard you are interested in. I personally like the smaller playerbase like LS for example. That is perfect for my tastes.

Good time to come back especially if ya haven`t been introduced to Stygian Abyss or the revamped dungeons like Shame,Wrong,Despise,Covetous. Lots to see and do.
 

Tangled Metal

Lore Master
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
I play because UO is the only game that has a real life feel. You can build and decorate a house. It is also the only game I have found that has an unlimited supply of game play options. It isn't just bash for gold buy generic armor bash for more gold. There are so many different ways to interact too. It is a game without end credits. That all being said, I really wish more people played. I remember a time when you could buy game time at Walmart and Best Buy and you could pre-order the newest expansion at Gamestop.

UO is an elegant game for a more civilized age...
 

Gameboy

Sage
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
When I sit down and really, really think about it I would have to say I enjoy it and have fun. That is I enjoy it and have more fun in UO then other online games I have played.
 

Spiritless

Sage
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
UNLEASHED
Just grab a trial account and run around yourself to see the state of things. I wouldn't personally recommend any of my friends returned; populations are at an all time low and there are better games out there, if only because they still have large enough playerbases to enable you to meet new people and come across a variety of guilds looking to recruit. I find chatting in-game painful without a friend's list and ability to private message, etc. also. After playing modern MMOs, it's hard to regress back to playing UO for me. As I said though, it's worth grabbing a trial account just to realize this for yourself and make up your own mind. Also bear in mind most comments on the state of the game here are made by people who will be playing UO until the bitter end regardless of anything, either because they're so invested in the game or have never played anything else. I personally find the current state of the game not to correlate too much with certain poster's positive spin on how things are but, again, you should see for yourself and make up your own mind.
 

Demonous

Rares Fest Host | Ches Jul 2010
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
so you haven't played UO in almost a year yet your feel comfortable enough to give others advice on if they should or should not come and play.... and you are here posting in the forums of a game that you don't play anymore.... and haven't played for almost a year.... i find that strange.

its like me saying that i use to summer in Montana for 20 years, but i stopped going last year and i even though i haven't been there in a year i tell anyone who will listen not to go because Idaho is much better for fishing, yet im saying this in a camping and fishing Montana forum.

just.... strange.
leave it to a random moderator to feel the need to defend his game, good job, i was bored when i played uo, bored of uo after i quit, so i have the right to try to sway people away from uo and prevent them from boredom, thanks, sorry didnt ask for your permission before replying
 

Demonous

Rares Fest Host | Ches Jul 2010
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
Did you give Siege an honest try? I am a vet of 14 years and there is still too much to farm, to fight and and to make friends with.....
nah, siege is like any other server minus tram, i would gladly pay to play on a classic server, ie a server with a timeframe before age of shadows came out
 

Deaol

Certifiable
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
Campaign Supporter
nah, siege is like any other server minus tram, i would gladly pay to play on a classic server, ie a server with a timeframe before age of shadows came out
Few of those types of shards available that don't have sub fees
 

Nexus

Site Support
Administrator
Moderator
Professional
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
Wiki Moderator
UNLEASHED
Spreadsheets... while UO isn't anywhere nearly as bad as EVE is reputed to be in that respect, if you play the game seriously at all, you need some way to keep track of stuff. I've never played any MMORPG where I didn't need some kind of a tracking system.
You know I don't think I could handle a spreadsheet, I catalog 90% of my stuff in my head, granted I don't have 40+ accounts, but I do play several games.. Still I might be old fashioned, sometimes I'll do an inventory and pull out a note pad and a pen and do it all by hand.


The only realistic way for that to happen would be for EA to put it up for sale, and for a willing buyer to show up who has the strength to endure the slings and arrows and flames of the existing playerbase. As much as so many call for upgrades and overhauls... very few want to see anything actually change. UO players, are, by and large, a very conservative lot and very sensitive to their own ox being gored regardless of the long term health of the game.
That's the truth, for all the calls for changes, when we get them everyone seems to hate them. In all honesty it would be nice to see UO get a real overhaul, but that's not going to happen. EA has been investing in the "Franchise" which I don't really understand. Almost anyone who remembers Ultima's peak period has A) Left Games long behind B) Heavily invested in another game C) Playing UO. Boosting the Franchise with a F2P, isn't going to help UO much if any, though remastering so to speak all the orginal games on a current engine and releasing them and an actual honest overhaul of Ultima Online might.
 

Lady Storm

Grand Inquisitor
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
You know you are distracted by the gen chat when a mongbat gives you a drit nap......
 

Mitzlplik_LS

Seasoned Veteran
Stratics Veteran
id stay away if i were you, played 11 years without stopping till this past year, just so boring after a while, not a fan of some of the EMs but mesanna wouldnt get rid of them no matter how many people disliked them, all there was to do after a while was EM events, i highly recommend trying out darkfall unholy wars, currently in beta
Cause that game will be around in 15 years :talktothehand:

Even the haters love UO,why else would they troll....errm peruse Uhall. Sounds like someone couldn`t play well with others to me. Your right where you belong. :loser:
 

Poo

The Grandest of the PooBah’s
Alumni
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
Campaign Benefactor
leave it to a random moderator to feel the need to defend his game, good job, i was bored when i played uo, bored of uo after i quit, so i have the right to try to sway people away from uo and prevent them from boredom, thanks, sorry didnt ask for your permission before replying
im not a moderator for UO, im a moderator for stratics.
so, eh?
and you of course can have and hold any opinion you wish.
im just stating how much bank i put in a opinion of a person who dosnt even do the thing he's offering an opinion about.
when i want a nice cut of meat i dont go to the florist and ask what she thinks, i go to the butcher.
 

Goldberg-Chessy

Crazed Zealot
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
I'm a uo veteran that has been off and on since blackthorne's revenge. I was considering activating my accounts until I read these forums and a lot of it is about down times, shards crashing, publishes gone wrong etc.

So I figured I would ask:

Why do you still play?
Are the shards still active?
Too funny. Politely call the doomsayers and malcontents out and all of a sudden UO is perfect and still the greatest game ever.

Its like the redneck that beats his wife getting mad because someone else disrespected her lol
 

Lord Nabin

High Council Sage - Greater Sosaria
Professional
Supporter
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
UNLEASHED
Glorious Lord
Oh I almost forgot.

The Good Old Moonglow Red is incredibly hard to get a hold of but, Is the most satisfying beverage.

*stokes Fire and looks to the heavens*
 
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Amber Witch

Babbling Loonie
Governor
Alumni
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
UNLEASHED
Oh I almost forgot.

The Good Old Moonglow Red is incredibly hard to get a hold of but, Is the most satisfying beverage.

*stokes Fire and looks to the heavens*
Yes, yes! It is the greatest and most perfect red to be found in all the lands. No one could argue with such hyperbole. :stir:
 

yars

Lore Keeper
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
UNLEASHED
I'm a uo veteran that has been off and on since blackthorne's revenge. I was considering activating my accounts until I read these forums and a lot of it is about down times, shards crashing, publishes gone wrong etc.

So I figured I would ask:

Why do you still play?
Are the shards still active?
i log in off and on at least once per week in hopes something has changed, be it a friend comes back, something gets put up for sale, or a quick run around to see if there's any life to my shard, so far nothing worth staying logged in for. but the main reason i still have an active acct: rewards and my keep full of crap ive been hoarding and cant seem to let go of
 

Eärendil

Legendary Mall Santa
Supporter
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
Oh, poor Yars... You should come and visit Drachenfels. We have action every night and at least 3 player based events each weekend. I never bored myself here... What are your rewards and your keep worth if you don´t have friends and community to share your experiences, adventures and fun with? We have a vivid shard- and guildlife, even if there aren´t 20+ players camping luna bank each day...

This game isn´t all about having/keeping stuff - we have game shows ingame, large hunting parties each weekend, silent auctions and normal auctions... We had wonderful Christmas parties, we are having returners coming back from UO-breaks at least one each month - others making a break.

I cannot see that anything has changed in the last 2 years (when I came back from a longer break). The game is on an all time low? I don´t see that on DF... Honestly, we never had more action in the last 24 month than we have now... But I must be honest, I cannot compare to 2004-2009, when I had my break. But I can compare to the time before - and yes, there were more people, but the game wasn´t better IMHO. Sometimes I felt more lonely in these crowded days then I feel now. Maybe the community is more mature, maybe they are caring more for each other. I dunno. But I know that this game is still the best around, as I tested some others - which really were boring in the end (WoW, LothRO...).

So, you might come to DF, join one of our guilds in the large Drachenfels Ally and see, how nice UO can be today...
 

Jade of Sonoma

Babbling Loonie
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
I'm a "real" vet, I never once quit, took time off or any other term......UO stands for Unlimited Options......this game is, and always has been, what you, the paying customer, makes of it.
DITTO -
As 'the 4th man' so very impressively, aptly and uniqely puts it: UO stands for unlimited options!
I too will keep playing UO simply because it is always interesting and enjoyable.

There is no way to say this next bit without sounding negative: (sorry)

For over two years, I have been experiencing major problems with the cost of upgrading *CRUNCH* by holding numerous accounts (24) all needing new expansions. One by one I have been closing 18 accounts, many of which are being held for veterans who returned numerouls times only to leave UO again. These accounts supported UO all these years. Each had smaller houses all of which I recently upgraded to bigger houses or Keeps. This did not keep the veterans coming back and staying.

For me, the good news is that because so many players have been leaving Sonoma over the past three years, I have been able to place CASTLES and KEEPS on my very oldest accounts which I can afford to keep acitve. But that is NOT good news for UO's finances.

Shutting down accounts is not fun. All the characters I have enjoyed for years, will vanish.
Cheaper rates for accounts and upgrades, are only offered to Americans. *(sigh)* This post obviously also belongs in this other thread:
http://stratics.com/community/threads/high-seas-booster-5.293420/#post-2229156
 
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Irulia Darkaith

Sage
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
Ditto to LordDrago's answer.
I have played other games, still play a few but honestly UO is my home.... besides i would fell funny not running around my accounts ... hehe yea 47 to 53 at times is a bit much but I have sooo much fun....
It just dawned on me, with that many accounts, your subscription fees are probably single-handedly keeping one of the shards alive! In fact they should rename one of the shards in your honor. While we're at it, they should auction off titles to each of the shards, the top bidder gets to be king/queen of their shard and decide what ruleset will be followed.
 

Stickypaws

Journeyman
Stratics Veteran
Whats kept me coming back is that I have never stuck with a 'power' character.

I build templates around themes, never going for the most powerful combination of skills. Navrey is still scary, making it alive on foot too the bottom of a dungeon is still fraught with danger. I imagine if I could solo absolutely everything in the game I would be bored snotless. ^^
 

Lady Storm

Grand Inquisitor
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
Irulia dear,
I am queen of all I survey as it is.... who needs a title. Take it from a RL title holder, its not worth the paper its printed on to 99.9% of the world.
Funny thing is if I quit UO would it matter? IDK There are alot more players in UO then many see running around the citys or hear on chat... Like me they prefer their play in the limelight and keep to select places. Try banking at the obscure banks in UO and see who pops in.. you would be very surprised how many people are on and you never see them.
Why do I keep 47 to 53 accounts? Simple really. Depending on the shard some accounts are built strictly for that place, and as friends moved away from UO I tucked them in my world. Some have no characters on my main shards... while on the side shards I have a thriving pack of talents that rival my mains.
I once said if they ever closed down shards and said ok we open the character list for you to move your people..... I swear I'd have 10 to 20 pages on my mains of them!!
Only thing is Mesanna would have to move their homes .. lock stock and barrel... I am not REdoing the deco!!!! Though I do still have 8 or 9 castles to redeco... got a cleaning bug a few months back and well............... though I know where all the stuff is its needing me to sit my duffus down and design a home plan again.... Now id Bonnie and the crew would please fix the multi tile placement near the front of doors and walls I would be happy... oh and while she is at it fix the bloody fireplace placement on second floors in castles thats been busted for over 10 years please.... oh sorry boy do I go off on uo hehe ok well now you know what drives me.. UO is so much fun.
You only live once and time is fleeting by at a staggering pace.... If your wanting 2 accounts why not?
Think of all the junk you buy in a month that is way more then a subscription for one.... Smokers... a pack is how much??? You fast food junkies.. how much was that burger and fries... not to mention the soda...?
A trip to the films.... omg the cost of a pair of tickets is nearly 3 month sub! if you toss in the popcorn and other treets ........a year !!!!!!
UO is not expencive in any means... Just for giggles for one month keep a journal of what not needed items you buy .... gum, soda, super sized meals, etc things that are really not needed for life and add it up... how many accounts for how long could you have? It will be eye opening...
Need an excuse for the mate? Easy tell them your UO accounts are keeping you from eating too much or smoking too much... as you change your habits and enjoy the game. Now I dont say replace your time wiht family or your outdoors activitys with the game( you need fresh air and exersize) .. rather that time for you that your mind needs .
 

Irulia Darkaith

Sage
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
You only live once and time is fleeting by at a staggering pace.... If your wanting 2 accounts why not? Think of all the junk you buy in a month that is way more then a subscription for one.... Smokers... a pack is how much??? You fast food junkies.. how much was that burger and fries... not to mention the soda...?
It's kind of funny you say that. Anytime I used to think about closing down an account, I would rationalize it by saying, yeah, but it's less than the cost of lunch, so I'll just bring lunch to work one more day a month than usual and use the savings to keep my accounts alive. The scary part is when you start adding up the costs over the years and realize just how much you're money your spending to keep a virtual house standing, and the time you're putting into the game to keep that virtual house organized. But yes, if my budget gets tight, there are things I would sacrifice long before UO.
 
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