Will Broadsword Ever Provide a Pre-AOS Non-Trammel Shard?

[xantier]

inb4 go to siege perilous blah blah

Since I haven't got any replies to my e-mails, I wanted to ask from here since the devs visit stratics. I don't want ridiculous discussions about griefing, open pvp etc. I have seen the game has been greenlit on Steam and if you have ever visited discussions there, people, not necessarily non-trammel but, want pre-AOS shards and many were complaining about the current situation of Ultima Online. To be honest, I agree with at least 90% of them. I don't want to mention detailed reasons. Comparing pre-aos shards' average population with EA + Post-AOS shards, it is also pretty obvious.

Whatever, I am wondering if Broadsword has ever seen these complaints and will take any action accordingly. At least, creating one test shard with pre-aos ruleset for a month, also free for a month (to bring whole old playerbase) can ease the decision. If you don't have backups of old UO, would Broadsword ever think about it?

No harsh discussions please, I am already tired because of Shroud of the Avatar forums.

 

[Smoot]

simple answer is no. your best off playing a good free shard. there are excellent ones that are very active.

Subscription UO loses alot of players due to lack of something like this but the resources just arent there to develop it.

 

[Lady Storm]

The Dev answered this question.
Due that we have 2 such shards ie: Siege and Mugen.
They have also nixed any "Classic Shard" this is due to the loss of the original mat and the cost of doing one from scratch.

 

[Ender]

The Dev answered this question.
Due that we have 2 such shards ie: Siege and Mugen.
They have also nixed any "Classic Shard" this is due to the loss of the original mat and the cost of doing one from scratch.

Pre-Broadsword.

Siege and Mugen are also not what people that ask for any form of classic shard are looking for.

 

[The Zog historian]

Even if they wanted to, I can't see how they could expend the effort. If somehow they still had that original code somewhere, there would be an awful lot of bugs and exploits to fix.

 

[Petra Fyde]

I would say it is highly unlikely, Broadsword is, of course, the same group of people who have said 'no' to this idea repeatedly in the past.
The idea has been discussed on here over the years ad nauseam, I'd really rather not re-hash the whole thing yet again.

 

[xantier]

Thanks for the reply. I am actually playing on one of them.

Even if they wanted to, I can't see how they could expend the effort. If somehow they still had that original code somewhere, there would be an awful lot of bugs and exploits to fix.

It would earn them lots of subscribers more than they can imagine. It would be profitable if they kept the old code.

 

[Petra Fyde]

Thanks for the reply. I am actually playing on one of them.

It would earn them lots of subscribers more than they can imagine. It would be profitable if they kept the old code.

People keep saying this, but it isn't logical. Why would people leave the customized shards they are playing to return to paying a subscription for an official shard? Wouldn't they just stay exactly where they are, playing their established characters with their established guilds/alliances/etc?
The logic doesn't justify the expense that would be involved. The old code would be as good as useless, so old there would be holes in it you could drive a bus through.
Not to mention how the development of it would adveresly affect the ongoing development of the current game.

 

[xantier]

People keep saying this, but it isn't logical. Why would people leave the customized shards they are playing to return to paying a subscription for an official shard? Wouldn't they just stay exactly where they are, playing their established characters with their established guilds/alliances/etc?
.

That's why you need marketting, first month free, discount in subscription fee etc. Plus, a company running a shard is more reliable and quality of service can't be compared to custom shards. Also, a new EA shard with classical rules, starting everything from scratch with everyone is definitely charming.

 

[Norrar]

*Settles down in a comfortable chair with a bucket of popcorn*

I was wondering when this question would come back up.

 

[xantier]

*Settles down in a comfortable chair with a bucket of popcorn*

I was wondering when this question would come back up.

Sorry but this is the kind of post that starts a flame war.


Nevermind, I am just waiting for an official confirmation after Broadsword claimed UO, a confirmation that is as clear as black and white.

 

[weins201]

and
and

Why do people keep trying to see if this will change

 

[CovenantX]

They have also said "no" to Free-to-play, which is now apparently a "Maybe", so you never know if they might open up a Classic shard someday... I'm sure it won't be anytime soon, but if anything they could do it for the shard of the dead.... didn't Siege start off based on a halloween shard?

I'd play a classic shard, not sure if I'd stop playing production shards for it, but I would play it if it were an official/permanent shard... Anytime pre-aos would be fine with me, preferably pub 15, or earlier though.

 

[BeaIank]

It wouldn't be a sound decision to do from a business stand point.
The team already have to maintain two clients, and with that, they'd have to maintain the code and provide content for two server side software.
That would demand investments in new engineers, which doesn't come cheap at all.

 

[Lady Storm]

However well it would bring those who strayed to free anything... Draconi told me when the move to Mythic happened he put the last known copy of hte original code and book of secrets in a shipping box bound for Va. only some intern went through the shipping and deemed the book not worth shipping and had it distroyed. It was confirmed distroyed. There is no way to make any original classic shard period.
The cost alone puts a damper on it no matter how mnay it would corner to bring back.
Broadsword is running us but EA is the money bags to this show.
Now you have it correct ...... Petra I agree with you to let this go further is to rehash for the billionth time the dead horse.

 

[Dot_Warner]

Didn't Mesanna once again say no to a classic shard at one of the shard meetings? Since those started in March, that's after Broadsword took over...not that the handover would have changed the years-old answer.

 

[Smoot]

Thanks for the reply. I am actually playing on one of them.

It would earn them lots of subscribers more than they can imagine. It would be profitable if they kept the old code.

it would be profitable. Subscription UO doesnt really work like that tho. they value the safe money in hand rather than slight risk / investment for substantial profits. its just how it is. like petra said people have been asking for a simple shard for years, yes it would bring back many people but its not likely to happen.

 

[GalenKnighthawke]

I hear a rumor that before UO shuts down they will do massive shard consolidations into a custom rules shard on which you can only play the new super-secret Chinese 3d client. These custom rules shard of course will be free to play but UO will shut down within 3 months. Lag spikes you get are signs of them working on the new server and, thus, also signs of the impending doom of UO. I cannot reveal where I heard this rumor but the person who passed it to me heard it in a super-secret forum wherein former applicants to be UO devs sometime post. Reading the threads involves a paid subscription to World of Warcraft.

-Galen's player

 

[Ender]

I'm not sure how much the old code would even be needed. Just do a decent job of recreating the feel of what people want.

 

[Skalazar]

Can someone explain to me how the people behind the free to play servers can re-create the game how it used to be but the actual UO developers are unable to?

 

[kelmo]

Can someone explain to me how the people behind the free to play servers can re-create the game how it used to be but the actual UO developers are unable to?

Because it is their hobby, Not the job.

 

[Skalazar]

Because it is their hobby, Not the job.

So how much do the people get paid to put up their servers?

 

[The Zog historian]

I hear a rumor that before UO shuts down they will do massive shard consolidations into a custom rules shard on which you can only play the new super-secret Chinese 3d client. These custom rules shard of course will be free to play but UO will shut down within 3 months. Lag spikes you get are signs of them working on the new server and, thus, also signs of the impending doom of UO. I cannot reveal where I heard this rumor but the person who passed it to me heard it in a super-secret forum wherein former applicants to be UO devs sometime post. Reading the threads involves a paid subscription to World of Warcraft.

Shhhh, my brother's best friend's co-worker's cousin told you to keep it quiet! It was supposed to be just us, and the NSA.

 

[Lady Storm]

Ok last word on this....
Draconi said it cant be done and any chance of it went up in the shredder at EA's hands long time ago.
That makes this subject this:


Now, I know a few things from my days in UO and what was told me by players of the "others" who do not pay......*sensored*
Look in game it was almost an instant ban to even whisper of one.... these days the Dev are mroe leanient.. but I for one do not want to trust my luck.
As for here in Stratics....
Petra, Taylor or any of the big wigs here can give you the skinny on chat of the free stuff.

 

[PlayerSkillFTW]

Can someone explain to me how the people behind the free to play servers can re-create the game how it used to be but the actual UO developers are unable to?

Lol, this ^

 

[xantier]

Sorry to hear, then. But what kind of company doesn't hold backups , archive old ones regularly? Why does EA always leech a game they fund and why don't they let it go... gosh. Got my answer then.

 

[Lady Storm]

Xander let me give you a tad bit of info.. I hope it helps you to understand EA and why we cant have a Classic Shard.
A few years back after the UO dev came to Va. and Mythic I had the oppertunity to question Draconi on something I remembered one of the original dev said.
It was in reguards to another post on this very subject.
The Origin Systems Dev and our Creator had notebooks of every inch of UO.
From the bit map to the software code in detail.
This was so each could reference if needed when a bug poped up.
When EA booted the whole bunch in favor of their own and took over the books were assumed lost.
I mentioned this to Draconi.. who said he had one in his hands.
He was in awe that one was intact and regretted not putting it in his car to go to VA.
He packed it in a crate of things to be sent to Mythic marked Vital for Dev at Mythic.
Only when I mentioned it he went hunting for that notebook...
To his utter horror some fool intern went through the shippment and sent what they thought junk to the shredder.
Yup you guesed it.. they distroyed the original UO.
The UO format we have has been morphed so much and code language mixed in that its impossible to sift out the original code.
To rebuild that classic shard at todays cost compaired to what it cost in the late 90s is beyond what any company would be willing to put out.
Some here will say pfft they know better, the hours of work, the dedication of resources and time it would take make it impossible.
Broadsword holds us in high reguard enough to put time in to making the game better, EA holds the money end.
I felt bad for poor Draconi, he was at a loss and felt bad he didnt put it in his car.
I cant blame him for its loss... thats in EA's court.
So
This is the real reason.

 

[Captn Norrington]

Seems like someone makes a thread like this a minimum of 1-2 times a month, It would be nice if people would research it for a few minutes and read the other threads about it before posting the exact same thing....which leads to it getting locked often.....I would love for there to be a classic shard, but we have been told no pretty much hundreds of times over the years. It's not going to happen sadly.

 

[Petra Fyde]

ok, we've let the topic get an airing and an update.