Broadsword should release a new 'BoosterPack Server'

[Hotwheelz85]

Basically as the title suggests a new server should be available to purchase for a one time fee of $15 which will enable permanent access to this server regardless of whether or not you have an active subscription (a free2play server if you will). Doing this will provide the game with the much needed exposure it needs in having a option to play that no longer requires a monthly subscription fee while allowing current subscribers to continue enjoying their realms without worrying about potential problems like 'f2p housing, scripters and cheaters' running rampant on endless new accounts.

The opening of a new server will help to fix many problems fans have with UO today, and allow for impactful game play changes to be made to better improve the long term sustainability of the game and preserve community.

I made a list of features that I believe should be removed and I will do my best to explain the reasoning behind it.

• Auto Housing Refreshment - Quite simply put if the game has no monthly subscription fee then houses need to fall. If you have Auto refreshing homes then they will just stay forever.
• Lower Reagent Cost - This is a problematic ability as it has no downside and really takes away from the immersion of having to maintain a stock of reagents. As well as promotes unintended harmful gameplay.
• High End Tames - Creatures in this game are to powerful and shouldn't be tameable (Greater Dragons, Dread Warhorses and Bane Dragons) These make many pets obsolete and promote a more solo playstyle.
• Enhanced Loot - The dungeons revamp loot which I believe has been applied to the entire world needs to be scrapped random items should never have that much power in the game. UO was going in the right direction with Doom / Peerless / Champion Spawns / High Sea's / Paragon's and newer additions like the despise revamp or the void pool. Looting a good piece of a gear off a random creature should still happen but not when the average piece is of higher quality then the majority of artifacts in the game. So going back to the old system is a must.
• Stygian Abyss - This expansion brought in to much stuff the game simply does not need and was never balanced around mainly Imbuing and Reforging. In no game should you be able to have complete customization over your characters equipment or having reforged gear that is superior to the loot acquired through actual gameplay. The game is also not balanced around Gargoyles and their ability to fly, so it would be in the best interest to leave the entire expansion out and have it a perk for subscribers.
• Excessive Gold Drops - From things like champion spawns and harrowers I am not sure what else might drop piles of gold like this but the amount's are economy breaking and gold should be a valueable commodity going forward.
• Virtue Vs Vice - Factions might have it's flaws but as long it's an entirely optional system then it will be fine (aka no faction artifacts or game changing items acquired from it)
• Casting Focus - Whether it's from inscription or armor this stat needs to go if you want to cast uninterrupted that's what you got the protection spell for. When life or death is on the line it should not come down to the RNG of a interrupt not going off. Protection has counters and that's all that should remain.

Some features that should be added to help balance what should be removed.

• Manual House Refreshment - This should be brought out of retirement on a 10 day cycle. Because while houses cannot stand forever, they should at least be there while the owner is playing. This also opens up a potential UO store cash grab to increase revenue. You can sell a tradeable in-game token for $5 that when applied to your house sign will automatically refresh your house for 30 days.
• Character Limit - I think a two character per account limit is sufficient and again allows for another UO store opportunity to make some extra money in the form of additional character unlocks for $10 each (limit of 5 additional) bringing the total to 7 playable characters per account if desired.
• Factions - Might not be the greatest PvP system in any game but its 1000x better then VvV and most of the problems with it came when it was made mandatory to be in due to Faction Artifacts.
• Higher Sacred Journey Cost - I am thinking roughly 500g per use which might hurt the average player but in the long run with the removal of LRC it will help make cheating a little more costly of an act.

It's time for UO to hit the refresh button.

The game needs a realm that is not over-run with duped resources, gold and countless other items.
It need's a nurturing environment where the community can grow together and all styles of play are encouraged whether its the Crafter/Miner/Merchant/Thief or all around dungeon thrill seeker.

By removing the Lower Reagent Cost property you are able to positively change the game in a few ways.

1. Scripting - I know this will not put a stop to scripting but it adds an added cost to the equation. Now countlessly looping spells or action's will have a small cost with it. Making it less convenient to endlessly loop action's.
2. Resource Management - As a primarily mage pvper myself I have grown accustomed to LRC and adapting to the loss of it would be an adjustment it's one that needs to be made. As a player I need to be accountable for the amount of reagents I carry out on an adventure and how I manage the use of them.
3. Thieves - I am not saying this is going to solve all issue's with thieves but allowing them to steal reagents makes them a viable option in PvP once again. Once again returning to the player of resource management and protection (trapped pouches, multiple stacks, locked boxes or trying to hide reagents under items) to avoid having your items stolen or else you will be left vulnerable to attack. Between reagents and bandages / powerscrolls and dungeon artifacts the thief will have a role to play in all aspects of the game. It might not be ideal but as long as UO remains and item based game then it's the best they will get.
4. Sacred Journey - Due to LRC being removed scripters will look elsewhere for a cheap alternative to get around by raising the cost to 500g per cast it add's a substantial cost hopefully deterring people from cheating. Unfortunately this hurt's the legitimate player as well but the hope is they will not need to repeatedly use the spell and it will not become a major issue.

Imbuing and Reforging are damaging to the game and the ability to play the craftsmen role which hurts the overall community.

1. Runic kits - Runic kits are meant to be a special reward to those dedicated enough to obtain them. Usually done by those who took pride in creating armor for others to use. Imbuing in particular made a runic kit obsolete thus eliminating the need for Craftsmen in our community. Gear obtained through runic kits should be designed to augment your suit and not overpower every piece as was done with Reforging being to powerful that it overshadows most of the artifacts available in the game. The fact that you had no control over what you crafted was what made the system good and that's why it should go back to the way it was. I don't mind crafted being good the problem is when it's better then every other option. It's meant to fill holes.

So anyways lost my train of though and just wanted to recap my points incase lost in the rant.

UO needs a flagship server that corrals the players onto it like cattle instead of allowing them to branch out onto 15 possible different servers only to find it inactive and quit. (small sample size but if 1000 players started up and branched out onto the 15 different servers that's roughly 65 players a server which is not enough to positively affect the playerbase) Whereas 1000 players all on one server will greatly impact its population.

UO needs to have an option that doesn't require a monthly subscription to make it more appealing considering that many more recently launched games do not require a subscription it just further puts UO further down their potential list of games to try such as (wildstar / elderscrolls / tera / archeage / rift / starwars) we need to be able to capitalize on these games during their inevitable content droughts at the end of expansion cycles, and allow for people to feel like the game is justifiable even if they can only manage 2-10 hours a month playing.

Most importantly the game needs to make changes to make it a sandbox once again. The grind to having the best gear should be endless not instantaneous. The emphasis should be on the community and providing an experience that encourages all playstyles to succeed. Lastly the world needs to have a dupe free environment.

Merchants / HouseHunters / Craftsmen / Thieves / Fisher's / Lumberjacks / PvPer's / Tamers and Monster Hunters should all have a place in the world.

The majority of UO's content these day's is done by Volunteer's and this could carry on. Maybe even give the shard a larger Event Moderator team that does different things like City Invasion's / PvP Tournament's / special boss kills.

 

[Speranza]

None of these changes even remotely help the game, but some of hte housing ideas (IF we got a F2P shard) are decent. However F2P has been discussed ad nausuem and UO is just not a good candidate.

All you are doing is making things you don't like useless and doesn't add anything to the game or make it better. Sure there are a problems with scripters and dupers but ruining the valid gameplay of tamers, mages, any template with chivalry and fast travel useless does not solve the issue or improve the game play.

 

[arkiu]

Typing on iPad so I have to make this brief. Some very good ideas. But I think a lot of what you are suggesting reminds me of old pre ilsh, malas, tokuno uo, which is good. A lot of people seem to want this want this, but I doubt the devs would do it. However, if uo does hit steam this year, a hefty up front cost (cost of all expansions + "booster server") yet f2p server might be a solid idea while also being able to retain monthly cost servers. Could attract boat loads of people which according to that really old statics poll is what we all want. But what the hell do I know sitting here on my couch 8 beers deep and too lazy to move to my computer to write this because old SNL is on. Chipendales just went down and Chris Farleys stomach looks like a water balloon.

 

[Ender]

These are pretty much all dumb

 

[Capt. Lucky]

I don't see UO ever going free to play. It would take a massive amount of work and a whole new system and way of thinking from the ground up to make it profitable enough for EA. F2P means you can pay a penny for each reg or go and try picking them off the ground with everyone else doing the same. It sounds good dancing around in the brain, but the reality is they gotta get paid one way or another. Averages show people spend way more on "F2P" games than subscription games.

 

[Uvtha]

F2P means you can pay a penny for each reg or go and try picking them off the ground with everyone else doing the same. It sounds good dancing around in the brain, but the reality is they gotta get paid one way or another.

You do realize it doesn't HAVE to be that way, and that there are plenty of f2p games out there that don't nickle and dime you, right?

I also doubt it would take all that much work. Just take the timer off of trial accounts, and add a bunch of crap to the item shop... once you get it off of origin. I personally would do more (have gone into it, wont again here), but you don't NEED to. It would bring in a ton of people and until housing spots run out a good percentage would sub just for a house.

I like some of OP's ideas, but I don't really get why basically a month sub cost would get you the game for free forever. It should be at LEAST 40 bucks, and not allow you access to any other shard unless you sub.

 

[The Craftsman]

However F2P has been discussed ad nausuem and UO is just not a good candidate.
.

It has been discussed ad nauseum but I have to disagree with your second point. UO is perfect for the F2P model.

 

[Kael]

It has been discussed ad nauseum but I have to disagree with your second point. UO is perfect for the F2P model.

There probally isn't a better model than UO. An old, old outdated game that tons of people like to play without any real changes to gameplay. Really, all they would need to do is actually invest in some gm's to run some events and you good.

The topic has been discussed over and over. On one hand you have people trying to hold on UO and fearful that change might effect their gameplay. The other side of the argument consists of a proven track record of F2P games on the market and a very successful free shard community. I mean when Richard Garriott does a tour of some of these shards and gets involved in an event how bad can they be

 

[Varingian]

I disagree with almost all of this OP. I don't have the energy to go through it point by point. So just a couple of quick comments.

I am not struggling in the least in my roll as a craftsman. I am struggling with your position that runics have been rendered worthless. Please don't tell all the people I sell them to for great profit.....

I do understand that many, many people want to play on a highly populated, perhaps even crowded shard. I don't understand the desire by some of them to insist we should all play this way or want to. I guess I just don't know whats good for me....

 

[Kael]

I don't understand the desire by some of them to insist we should all play this way or want to. I guess I just don't know whats good for me....

So what you are truly saying is that everyone should play the way you like playing... lol

 

[Varingian]

Not at all but nice try anyway. I was under the impression that Atlantic was a high population shard. And you have the CHOICE to play there. I keep hearing about all the FTP private servers that are wonderful and you have the CHOICE to play there. If you can get a shard like you propose I say great and many may CHOOSE to play there.. I just do not want to be part of, as YOU stated. "a flagship server that corrals the players onto it like cattle instead of allowing them to branch out". That does not sound like CHOICE.

 

[Kael]

Nice try yourself. I have a choice to try and play on any shard I wish. I also have a choice to voice my opinion on improvements to the game and also the choice to agree or disagree with others suggestions. You CHOSE to get involved in this thread and voice yours and yet have an issue with someone else. Get over yourself.

I just do not want to be part of, as YOU stated. "a flagship server that corrals the players onto it like cattle instead of allowing them to branch out". That does not sound like CHOICE.

Are you drunk... I have no clue where you got that idea from?

 

[Varingian]

That comes from the OP. And since my post was directed at the OP I guess I figured you were defending it and agreed with that statement. Sorry to put words in your mouth. My mistake. I guess perhaps you hadn't even read the OP and were just trolling. And I am not drunk...yet. Vacation starts tomorrow however so the odds are good it'll happen.

 

[FrejaSP]

Just take the timer off of trial accounts, and add a bunch of crap to the item shop... once you get it off of origin

I like the idea of removing the timer.

Restrictions for Trial is

As of Publish 58, the following restrictions apply on trial accounts:

Housing
While on a trial account, players are not allowed to place, co-own or be traded a house.

Travel
While on a trial account, players cannot visit Felucca dungeons or FeluccaLost Lands.

Unless on Siege and Mugen. (You could add a few prodo shard, where they are added to do Fel) Make them red after only one murderer count.

Resources
While on a trial account, players will only receive basic ores and logs (iron, plain logs) even if they'd otherwise qualify for better types. They will not receive sand or stone when mining.

Miscellaneous
While on a trial account, players cannot use Soulstones, Soulstone Fragments, Ball of Pet Summoning, Bracelet of Binding, Bag of Sending, Commodity Deeds, Scrolls of Alacrity, Power Scrolls, Stat Scrolls and Scrolls of Transcendence. They will not receive Mondain's Legacy rewards for resource gathering, jewels, ingredients and white pearls while fishing, monster kill points, virtue points or scrolls from Champion Spawns. They will not gain Justice virtue points for killing murderers or use Valor and Justice virtues. They cannot protect or be protected by another player. They cannot do Community Collections or any repeatable quests even if they are normally repeatable. Finally, they cannot acquire BODs.

One thing more I would like to changes. Allow them to use global chat but allow paying accounts to turn off interact with trial accounts, so if disabled, trial accounts can't hear you and you can't hear them in chat. The reason for this is, some of them are new or returning players.

 

[Kael]

I like the idea of removing the timer.

Restrictions for Trial is

As of Publish 58, the following restrictions apply on trial accounts:

Housing
While on a trial account, players are not allowed to place, co-own or be traded a house.

Travel
While on a trial account, players cannot visit Felucca dungeons or FeluccaLost Lands.

Unless on Siege and Mugen. (You could add a few prodo shard, where they are added to do Fel) Make them red after only one murderer count.

Resources
While on a trial account, players will only receive basic ores and logs (iron, plain logs) even if they'd otherwise qualify for better types. They will not receive sand or stone when mining.

Miscellaneous
While on a trial account, players cannot use Soulstones, Soulstone Fragments, Ball of Pet Summoning, Bracelet of Binding, Bag of Sending, Commodity Deeds, Scrolls of Alacrity, Power Scrolls, Stat Scrolls and Scrolls of Transcendence. They will not receive Mondain's Legacy rewards for resource gathering, jewels, ingredients and white pearls while fishing, monster kill points, virtue points or scrolls from Champion Spawns. They will not gain Justice virtue points for killing murderers or use Valor and Justice virtues. They cannot protect or be protected by another player. They cannot do Community Collections or any repeatable quests even if they are normally repeatable. Finally, they cannot acquire BODs.

One thing more I would like to changes. Allow them to use global chat but allow paying accounts to turn off interact with trial accounts, so if disabled, trial accounts can't hear you and you can't hear them in chat. The reason for this is, some of them are new or returning players.

Would be a start. But I would hope they would seriously look at few of the restrictions and remove some. Not having the option of fel or use of powerscrolls would seriously damper the enthusiasm of returning vets. I mean alot left cause of trammel lol The idea of bringing in players but not allow them to really play shoots puts a hole in the whole idea. Plus, under the F2P model. Sales of things such as soulstones would be a huge loss of income. Allow less chars per account. Allow people to use and purchase soulstones. Limit the amount of accts to IP's and see where things go from there.

 

[Smoot]

UO is the perfect FTP game and EA has lost 100s of thousands of subscribers by keeping it in an old fashion model when it could have really taken off about 5 or 6 years ago when FTP was becoming the norm for these types of games.

 

[virtualhabitat]

Yay!, another FTP thread. These are my favorite right after UO Event Drop threads.
It's like watching debates on abortion and gun control irl.

 

[Uvtha]

Yay!, another FTP thread. These are my favorite right after UO Event Drop threads.
It's like watching debates on abortion and gun control irl.

One side is rational and pragmatic while the other isn't?

 

[Ultimaholic]

Its funny how the F2P haters pay no mind to the MANY F2P freeshards who are apparently doing pirty damned good for themselves thru that model.

 

[Captn Norrington]

Its funny how the F2P haters pay no mind to the MANY F2P freeshards who are apparently doing pirty damned good for themselves thru that model.

The difference is the freeshards can do whatever they want, while the real UO has to go through EA for way too many things.

 

[Speranza]

Its funny how the F2P haters pay no mind to the MANY F2P freeshards who are apparently doing pirty damned good for themselves thru that model.

They also have documentation, modern programming languages, and don't have to deal with legacy code. I feel really sorry for Bleak, I've heard about the back end of this lovely lady from ex-employees

 

[hungry4knowhow]

They also have documentation, modern programming languages, and don't have to deal with legacy code. I feel really sorry for Bleak, I've heard about the back end of this lovely lady from ex-employees

Documentation? Barely.
Modern programming languages? Python? Yeah a couple are in C#, but they deal with PLENTY of legacy code that holds them back. Many are hacked together in alot of parts with the .NET1.0 framework all the way to .NET4.0, there's plenty of issues.
Clearly you haven't spent much time on the backend of this game. The problems developers on both sides face dealing w code are the same. The difference is free shard developers have no one to answer to but themselves when things go wrong. That's it.

 

[Cetric]

You'll never get a list of should be/shouldn't be that is universally agreed upon

 

[Stubentiger]

They should do a taming booster pack.
Special creatures, maybe add a ridable and for pvpers a mount where you cannot be dismounted!

Or should such stuff be included in the subscription?
Why yes/no?

 

[Capt. Lucky]

Be careful what you ask for. Any "F2P" game first of all is never free. Or I should say any real F2P game worth playing. I've always paid a fortune to stay competitive in these games. Battlestar Galactica comes to mind. Wallet Warriors rule the day. The people that don't pay to stay competitive I refer to as victims, lol. One month you pay 5 bucks for the uber sword. 2 months later there's another uber sword that costs another 5 bucks. That trickles down to every item in the game worth having. EA stuck it's toe into the F2P market with Sims Online, etc and they all crashed, burned, were shut down, then they burned them again just to be sure. I hope UO never goes F2P cause I highly doubt I could afford it. If anyone thinks EA would change it's pricing model without a pretty sure idea they aren't gonna cash in big time is simply naive.

 

[RockoNV]

Thank you for trying to put forth an idea to expand the player base.

 

[Arcus]

However, if uo does hit steam this year, a hefty up front cost (cost of all expansions + "booster server") yet f2p server might be a solid idea while also being able to retain monthly cost servers. Could attract boat loads of people which according to that really old statics poll is what we all want. .

How will a hefty up front cost attract anyone with the amount of bugs in the game and the age of the graphics. Put UO on a "Diablo III" type engine , kill the scripters and fix the bugs before adding new packs or doing ANY of these suggestions.

 

[Zosimus]

Actually a B2P (Buy to Play ) is a million times better than F2P model is.

How is that?

You buy the game with no monthly fee. Item stores are not the P2W scenario as it is in a F2P game. Items help your char with looks and boosters to gain XP but in the end you have access to all items in the game not the store.


Elder Scrolls just announced last month they were following GW2 model of the B2P

http://www.inquisitr.com/1774588/el...buy-to-play-as-ps4-xbox-one-launch-announced/

Of course many of the naysayers here will still try to argue against the facts that B2P model wont work.

GW2 has over 300 developers working on it UO has hmmmmm 12 - 20 maybe with a monthly subscription?


It could work in UO but charge like 20 bucks for the current game as it is today. Add new expansion at 40 bones a pop. mini expansions 20 bones, and add new items to the store for deco purposes. I know you all are addicted to deco.

 

[Smoot]

GW2 has over 300 developers working on it UO has hmmmmm 12 - 20 maybe with a monthly subscription?

.

UO is down to 3 as far as i know.

 

[Kael]

Documentation? Barely.
Modern programming languages? Python? Yeah a couple are in C#, but they deal with PLENTY of legacy code that holds them back. Many are hacked together in alot of parts with the .NET1.0 framework all the way to .NET4.0, there's plenty of issues.
Clearly you haven't spent much time on the backend of this game. The problems developers on both sides face dealing w code are the same. The difference is free shard developers have no one to answer to but themselves when things go wrong. That's it.

It's amazing what free shards can accomplish when they actually listen to the player base and care about the product they put out

 

[Capt. Lucky]

It's amazing what free shards can accomplish when they actually listen to the player base and care about the product they put out

Maybe they could even accomplish their own maps, artwork, skill sets, etc lol If they're so good why do they copy 99% of UO? Posers...

 

[The Craftsman]

Maybe they could even accomplish their own maps, artwork, skill sets, etc lol If they're so good why do they copy 99% of UO? Posers...

I'm sure they could. However they want to play/provide UO in what they consider its finest hour, with a few game enhancing tweaks, not some other/new game.

I hope that clears up whatever ridiculous point you were trying to make. Badly.

 

[Stubentiger]

Maybe they could even accomplish their own maps, artwork, skill sets, etc lol If they're so good why do they copy 99% of UO? Posers...

Some do, though no one has programmed an 'Easy' tool for it.
The ones that emulate UO like their version of UO and don't want to develop something completely new I guess.

It will be interesting to see if the 'scene' will move on to opener products like Shards which supports modding .

 

[Capt. Lucky]

I'm sure they could. However they want to play/provide UO in what they consider its finest hour, with a few game enhancing tweaks, not some other/new game.

I hope that clears up whatever ridiculous point you were trying to make. Badly.

Yeah that's it... they rip off 99% of UO to "preserve it" lol Okay... I hear how creative they are, lets see them create their own game

 

[Stubentiger]

Yeah that's it... they rip off 99% of UO to "preserve it" lol Okay... I hear how creative they are, lets see them create their own game

I mean there are no less than 3 different UO emulators out there I think lol !
People started their own 3d client for UO though it never went anyway!
Outside of wow, uo had the biggest modding community for a long time.

Most agree though UO's time is done , better to move on to new endeavours, which is why all 3 emulators are discontinued.

And lol the biggest fanboys seem to be the Shard guys that program a moddable game!

 

[cazador]

Maybe they could even accomplish their own maps, artwork, skill sets, etc lol If they're so good why do they copy 99% of UO? Posers...

Most are custom.. :/ but that's besides the point :/

Yeah that's it... they rip off 99% of UO to "preserve it" lol Okay... I hear how creative they are, lets see them create their own game

I believe one HUGE emulator has finally closed the door to updates for this exact reason..Google it as I can't link it


I guess what I'm trying to say..if it weren't for the "evil" free shards 1000's of players would have moved on from UO a decade ago...we should be luring those players back instead of attaining new players, because let's face it..uo is at a stage where the graphics suck/there's not a ton of developers/it's a nostalgia game for 90% of people..Everytime I describe the game it's like oh that sounds cool let me me see a video.."what the :bleep: is this??? And you have to pay for it lol..I'll pass! They won't even log into one of my accounts for free it's so ugly. I have a few RL friends who got me started in UO, their reason for not playing is that there are more updates for these ftp games in a month than UO will see in 10 years. I mean the "new" expansion Stygian Abyss is what 5-6 years old now?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[icm420]

UO created a monster market but did so by trying something new and breaking the rules..here was a game that had almost no rules. When UO was new, gold was something like $50 a mil. I think I'm being conservative here but the point is the demand for the items was intense and that was due to the addicting and fun game play that was created threw this game. The risk vs reward situation again. No one seems to want to try that anymore..

The past few years new games have been fixes to what UO did wrong, and increasing what they did right, the most successful and well known being WoW. When WoW came out it was pretty badass, the spell casting was similar to UO, but it became too powerful because of individual skill, and custom mods. (at least in a game with classes and balance issues, where a FPS can achieve balance easy). WoW is pretty self explanatory and many of us have played it and/or lost many UO friends to the blizzard monster. Since WoW everyone has tried to clone that formula. WoW now is not WoW when it was a "ground breaking" game, much as UO is not what it was. So the issue is evolving and/or sticking to your guns. I love that "ghetto" feel of UO, I loved that feeling in Diablo2 as well, something about that risk of getting pk'd, getting ripped off, stolen from etc made those moments so much more rewarding and enjoyable. The bad times were really really bad and the good times were really really good. We got away from this because people get upset and the result is a boring and stagnant genre. People don't want to loose their **** tho, and that's fine.. but the trade off is a huge drop off in the reward and fun factor in games. There is little achievement to be had when everyone has the same item and can get the same item. The commodities were a lot of fun to me, regs ingots arrows etc is a large part of why I still enjoy uo so much. I love having tons of potions and bandages and stuff. I wish regs had more uses but regardless it's fun to have ways to be "rich" without having straight gold piles or elite armor.

The "WoW' formula is dead and boring. I keep coming back to UO because it's the only game I played that was challenging, intense, scary, fun, tedious, frustrating, rewarding, super customizable, and above all else unique, while letting me dork out on my nerdy dungeons and dragons ****. It's the only game that 5 people could fight 25 people and win. It's the only game I've had 20 people show up to kill me alone. It's the only game that I've hundreds of people on screen at the same time fighting. It's the only game I've seen people on dial up win fights vs people on cable. It's the only game I've made life long friends in. It's a true sandbox and I love it. These are the experiences that make (made) UO great. Not loot or houses or ranking...although these were bi products of these experiences.

It seems also a lot of new games cater to the "oriental" communities. Questing, bright colors and big breasts are the standard for these games, but I find it boring and repetitive..little achievement for me.

There is a reason that "emulators'' exist and a reason that this game is still around. People get something from UO that you don't get from other games. This is the case with most "emulators". People either customize their favorite parts or retain a certain period of UO. And there are some really really customized ones out there.

You will never make everyone happy but I think we need to look at what attracted people in the first place vs what attracts them now. Graphics were something I thought were overrated and never understood and I think that is still a huge factor for this game. The graphics suck.. but minecraft is very similar in looks (so it appears) so my hope is that good gameplay is more attractive than eye candy. I feel most eye candy people play the FPS or the single player RPGs (oblivion/skyrim dragon age etc) So a revamp in graphics would go a long way.. archeage is a new style of UO and I assume doing well. I just didn't care for it.

Really they need a brand new engine for UO and then load in the all the content. Something they can work with easy (coding wise etc), something that gives the players a nice new look (d3 was mentioned and would be a good feel for UO) and bring back the focus on people rather than loot. This wouldn't fix everything, there is no fixing UO but it could set the foundation for the future of MMORPGS since the current outlook is bleak at best. When UO dies for good (if..) I have no game that I can say I am even remotely interested in. Perhaps I'm just older now and out of gaming, I felt this way for awhile.. but there was just something about those older games that had a feel that is no longer around. I think that feel was a mix of excitement and nervousness because ANYTHING could happen. Now I know what will happen...everytime.

I hardly play anymore, real life changes fast and that is something you just can't change. A lot of UO players are around that age when you start having a house, a family, take your job very seriously, etc etc and your priorities change. We have had a steady decline in population for years and it will only continue if things stay the same in this game. I think a lot more of us would log in on weekends or for a half hour a night or something if the ability to have instant combat was available, the way yew gate used to be everywhere. So let's keep trying to get people into UO again by focusing on what made this game so much fun. I doubt it was lack of titles, but perhaps it was and if that's the case UO will never be as popular as it once was no matter what.

Sorry for the huge ass post >.<

 

[Kael]

Maybe they could even accomplish their own maps, artwork, skill sets, etc lol If they're so good why do they copy 99% of UO? Posers...

Then....it wouldn't be UO lol People play UO cause they like UO. Most of those shards are for different era's. For a guy that likes to post in every thread like he knows it all...I thought you would have known that.

Funny thing is a lot do their own custom maps, custom banks, new creatures.

You should see the customized castles out there

 

[blazingGOD]

UO SHOULD GO F2P!!!

 

[cazador]

If only there was a format to gain "UO Currency" towards the new UO Store, by submitting custom art/music/scripts..it would suck a ton of the free shard modders back into Official UO

@Mesanna @Bleak @kryonix


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[blazingGOD]

If only there was a format to gain "UO Currency" towards the new UO Store, by submitting custom art/music/scripts..it would suck a ton of the free shard modders back into Official UO

@Mesanna @Bleak @kryonix


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

hey bro where are you pvping? you only pvp but i never see you? you sure you pvp?

 

[cazador]

hey bro where are you pvping? you only pvp but i never see you? you sure you pvp?

Atlantic/Chessy(when there is PvP)/Lake Superior/Great Lakes..glad you follow my PvP tendencies..name two of my PvP characters.

However I have to admit the last few times I've actually logged into game I've been doing Exodus to finish up my new deathstriker. But I'll gladly fight you on a mage. If you can pull yourself away from that ****ty archer


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Capt. Lucky]

Then....it wouldn't be UO lol People play UO cause they like UO. Most of those shards are for different era's. For a guy that likes to post in every thread like he knows it all...I thought you would have known that.

Funny thing is a lot do their own custom maps, custom banks, new creatures.

You should see the customized castles out there

Well I know a lot more than you do if you think F2P is the way to go.

 

[Kael]

Well I know a lot more than you do if you think F2P is the way to go.

Yah that must be it.

One would think with age would come wisdom.

 

[Capt. Lucky]

Yah that must be it.

One would think with age would come wisdom.

Your catching on! Listen to me and you'll do ok!

 

[Capt. Lucky]

I just keep laughin'.... OK so some of you would download and install on your computer programs from people that are clearly hackers, lol. But I suppose if you can't come up with 13 bucks a month you probably aren't too concerned about them maxing out you 300 buck limit credit card when they decide to lol. What a hoot...

 

[Kael]

I just keep laughin'.... OK so some of you would download and install on your computer programs from people that are clearly hackers, lol. But I suppose if you can't come up with 13 bucks a month you probably aren't too concerned about them maxing out you 300 buck limit credit card when they decide to lol. What a hoot...

You just seem to post funnier things all the time. I downloaded my classic client from a place called UO.COM. My credit cards are all insured and when I donate to a shard its covered through paypal. After donating I seem to get my rewards very quickly through "in game service". Whats that you say..."in game service" from a GM ?? They have GM's? The hackers are actually the guys that are duping the gold that you have bought from those "sites" . Now off to bed with you...

 

[hungry4knowhow]

Yeah that's it... they rip off 99% of UO to "preserve it" lol Okay... I hear how creative they are, lets see them create their own game

It's happened. I believe it's now defunct, but Irth Online was created by a team that programmed one of the early emulators. One of the reasons it failed was because going from hobby to business created a power struggle and jealousy within the team.

The one cazador is speaking of didn't shut down, the owner just moved on, a few of the core team members still update but it's no longer on a central website that's nice looking for the average user.

 

[hungry4knowhow]

I mean there are no less than 3 different UO emulators out there I think lol !
People started their own 3d client for UO though it never went anyway!
Outside of wow, uo had the biggest modding community for a long time.

Most agree though UO's time is done , better to move on to new endeavours, which is why all 3 emulators are discontinued.

And lol the biggest fanboys seem to be the Shard guys that program a moddable game!

You have no idea what you are talking about, you look like a fool.

 

[hungry4knowhow]

It's amazing what free shards can accomplish when they actually listen to the player base and care about the product they put out

It's amazing what anybody can accomplish when they don't have a bunch of suits bearing down on them and more concerned with numbers than quality. I have no doubt in my mind that any of UO's dev teams could put out AMAZING product if they didn't have bills to pay and mouths to feed that depended on THIS job.