People leave for a reason. Graphics, small population, PvP, PvE, PvX, game changes, subscription, other games, life changes, and for many other reasons.
Now I have paid much attention to some posts in this thread and other threads on Stratics that I keep seeing come up. If UO has all these unique qualities that other games don't have even though they may not appeal graphic or game mechanism wise to the new gen population, then why is there always a discussion how the game has a small population and how to fix it?
These are the questions that should always be asked.
1) Is the graphics just so outdated?
2) Is the subscription fee the problem?
3) Is the lack of population hurting UO?
4) Is the game just to complicated for a new player?
5) Is the lack of advertising not helping?
6) Does PvE need a total revamp?
7) Does PvP need a total revamp?
8) Is it just to time consuming to train a character to be able to really play?
9) Is some of the hostility in general chat and shard communities just to much for a new player or returning player?
10) Lack of Role Playing features?
11) Is the game just to much item based anymore?
12) Is it to o many complicated templates and not enough new information on what works and not works?
13) In todays fast paced world people just want to log in and play so is that a reason?
14) Should we be more supportive to the small dev team and understand it takes longer for fixes and additions then asking wtf they are and why haven't you answered my post about my great new item addition I want now?
I remember my first UO experience. People got together, played together, traded and sold items together. Yes the game was more simple at that time. You could just go to any vendor buy armor and weps you needed. You could craft items and gather resources. You organized hunts and played with others using team tactics to play dungeons. It was easy to know what you needed versus mobs like if you needed a silver wep to kill liches. Players depended on playing with others at that time. You had a community that worked with each other more back then.
Now the game is nothing like that anymore when everybody can just make a sammy and solo most thing. Mobs that was hard is easy now and they made new mobs to hard. Most pets for tamers are useless anymore except GD. When you can solo most things why play with others? Resource gathering is a joke when its scripted anymore. Distrust in the community with other guilds and scammers has broken a system of the community which is hard to fix when they cant trust each other.
Petty things have taken over the game and I want this and this and this and this added to the game. Where is the fun and excitement when your logging in to hope after the 1000 time of doing a spawn to get that scroll or new item and you haven't gotten it yet while some guy boasts he has 12 from only doing the same spawn 20 times. The RNG is fixed or broken or your just one unlucky player. Most players have a better chance at getting struck by lightning underwater while trying to ride a bike then get that stupid item you have tried for months.
One last thing. Its not about the cost of movie, or going out to dinner. or even a pizza. Those comments drive me up the wall. If any person has to give up a luxury (even if it is only a one time month deal for them to do something outside in real life) so they can just play a game for a month should not be playing any MMO that is costing them money. I for one would never insult their financial situation by telling them to give up that one luxury in the real world to support a game that I love playing so they can contribute to my addiction and keep the game funded. I would find ways to contribute more by my own financials means if I am so worried about the games future. Buy more items from the store if I have to and if I didn't need them then donate it to a player event as a prize. There are many ways to support this game from active players in many ways then asking others to sacrifice their means if you have a better financial situation then others. Real life comes first before any pixel crack.