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Someone buy Ultima from them before they do something stooopid...
EA shutting down Visceral Games, overhauling Star Wars game (update)
EA shutting down Visceral Games, overhauling Star Wars game (update)
We'll get 30 days and then *poof*Question, what do people think will happen if EA decide to close UO, i know many of u think this wont happen, just looking for a few answers...
I think most of us will realize how much time we could've put into other things. We'll see how old we've gotten and begin yelling at kids to get off our lawns.Question, what do people think will happen if EA decide to close UO, i know many of u think this wont happen, just looking for a few answers...
I don't see why they ever would, it's keeping a lot of people in business and making cash still. I'm just guessing, but they probably make about 1.2m-2m per year still atm. As long as Broadsword can cover the price of the contract, the player base stays roughly stable, and everything is relatively calm/enjoyable... there's not much reason to ever close down UO.Question, what do people think will happen if EA decide to close UO, i know many of u think this wont happen, just looking for a few answers...
lol, no it wouldn't. The chances EA sells the Ultima tm for less than many millions is low.It will be bought out by one of the Freeshard owners, they are probably making more money off UO than Broadsword are anyway.....
I mean, EA can fire them at any time. They own the game, and the name.I dont think EA will do anything to UO as Broadsword has the contract to run the business.
Well, it will eventually. UO won't be silently running on a rubble covered server somewhere after the extinction of the human race.UO will not shut down, I bet.
Step 1: 6 month and then 3 month game time codes will suddenly stop being sold for no apparent reason and with no explanation.Question, what do people think will happen if EA decide to close UO, i know many of u think this wont happen, just looking for a few answers...
Wow there’s more than one script out there? Thought they were all the sameSomewhere there is a list of games EA has shut down and it's rather extensive. They shut down several games, and launch several games, every quarter.
EA closed an MMORPG called Motor City Online way back when, they handed out free 30 day gametime codes for other EA games, along with a 30 day warning the game was permanently being shuttered.
In a way Broadsword protects the game, but in another they add yet another level of drain to the income by needing to pay an extra layer of employees, offices, etc.
I figured this post would be about the fact that the most popular scripting platform has not worked since last patch and one of the two people who updates it quickly is stepping away, shutting down his site at the end of the month. Boo hoo, no love lost for scripters I know, but not all are gold farmers, some do it to avoid carpel tunnel or having to press a key 5000 times for each 0.1 gain... or they do it because if they don't they stand no chance vs elite scripters (pvp, idocs etc). Many may quit if updates become few and far between.
Maybe it's just the fall weather, who knows.
We need to make pacts now to meet up. or we might not ever see each other again.UO will not shut down, I bet. Otherwise we meet on a freeshard, so simple Honestly, there are games in far worse shape and communities with far less options. I have confidence...
Isn't this normal corporate procedure though? clean up the books before the end of the year. If UO is still profitable then I don't see why they would shut it down, also I still feel they like the fact of owning the longest running MMORPG but that's just me heheEA shutting down Visceral Games, overhauling Star Wars game (update)
I just get nervous any time EA starts that stuff lol. You never know with them honestly. But then again I don't guess it would be any different no matter which "huge conglomerate" was at the top of the UO Helm. Once you get so far removed from those who passionately care about the game everything is based on money in/money out which is often judged and decided on by someone who probably knows nothing about video games... only "board of directors" and "street estimates" lolIsn't this normal corporate procedure though? clean up the books before the end of the year. If UO is still profitable then I don't see why they would shut it down, also I still feel they like the fact of owning the longest running MMORPG but that's just me hehe
UO and Stratics ... Two things that I will continue as long as they both last or until I drop, whichever comes first.I'll still be here @Stratics, you guys are welcome to hang out here too you know.
Hi there - I would be surprised if UO made 1.2-2m per year net profit. If there were 10,000 accounts paying $15 per month that equals a turnover of $1.8m. Turnover isn't profit, so operating costs would have to be taken out of that 1.8m. I could be very wrong, but the net profit of UO would be relatively small [but still worth having in the pot!]I don't see why they ever would, it's keeping a lot of people in business and making cash still. I'm just guessing, but they probably make about 1.2m-2m per year still atm. As long as Broadsword can cover the price of the contract, the player base stays roughly stable, and everything is relatively calm/enjoyable... there's not much reason to ever close down UO.
I for one... would tame a WW and nightmare on one of the "other shards" and start killing stuff. Then build a nice little house to start anew. I may be only 30... but I don't really like change... lol. Long live UO. Long live the players.
Of course they can’t fire them at any time. BS will have a legally binding contract with EA to administer the game. What EA can do is not renew the contract when it expires, likewise BS can do the same.I mean, EA can fire them at any time. They own the game, and the name.
The main operating cost is broadswords contract. BS are paid to administer the game. That profit margin is getting thinner with every lost sub.Hi there - I would be surprised if UO made 1.2-2m per year net profit. If there were 10,000 accounts paying $15 per month that equals a turnover of $1.8m. Turnover isn't profit, so operating costs would have to be taken out of that 1.8m. I could be very wrong, but the net profit of UO would be relatively small [but still worth having in the pot!]
What I mean is they can, within whatever legally acceptable period fire them. I just was pointing out that BS has no hold on UO.Of course they can’t fire them at any time. BS will have a legally binding contract with EA to administer the game. What EA can do is not renew the contract when it expires, likewise BS can do the same.
That’s the point at which I’d be concerned. If the contract isn’t picked up by BS then EA may can it at that point rather than trying to find another subcontractor.
Once we see the EM program go, we know the game is on its last leg. I believe Mesanna wants to shore up the loss of those subscriptions with these micro-transactions, which I think the community has been telling her to do for years. The only issue I have with UO is why should I still pay 12:99 a month for a 5 man dev team? The subscription price needs to be adjusted to the amount of content being produced and 12.99 in 2002 was fine when our dev team consisted of 30-40 people.The main operating cost is broadswords contract. BS are paid to administer the game. That profit margin is getting thinner with every lost sub.
$12.99 if you pay monthly $10 if you pay in 6 month blocks but either way pretty damn cheap for a months worth of entertainment.Once we see the EM program go, we know the game is on its last leg. I believe Mesanna wants to shore up the loss of those subscriptions with these micro-transactions, which I think the community has been telling her to do for years. The only issue I have with UO is why should I still pay 12:99 a month for a 5 man dev team? The subscription price needs to be adjusted to the amount of content being produced and 12.99 in 2002 was fine when our dev team consisted of 30-40 people.
Months more like weeks. I can buy Albion for 30 bucks and never pay a subscription again, or black desert. Considering that, based on the market I wouldn't call uo cheap.$12.99 if you pay monthly $10 if you pay in 6 month blocks but either way pretty damn cheap for a months worth of entertainment.
When they do close UO (or even before) you should try Legends of Aria. A few of the old dev team worked on it. I think most UO people would find it to be very welcoming.I think most of us will realize how much time we could've put into other things. We'll see how old we've gotten and begin yelling at kids to get off our lawns.
I personally hope it ends in the near future. I don't plan on quitting until the game shuts down, so I need them to do it for me. Hopefully I'd find another game or something that's subscription free to play with the friends I've made.
Yea but Albion is garbage.I can buy Albion for 30 bucks and never pay a subscription again, or black desert..
I am not arguing how good the game is compared to UO, I am comparing the value based on actual content. A lot of old uo players play Albion and compare it to early UO in some sort of way, maybe because it is a true risk-reward system. Either way, the amount of content we receive compared to years past is fractional. When we do get content its bug ridden or its half assed, a good example is Doom. Mesanna pumped it up to be something huge, for 1 artifact that is usable. I mean give me 3-4 hours I could come up with a complete (ALL) artifact list that are upgrades and usable. Don't worry tho, they will throw Doom another bone in 3 years, that's the typical cycle for Broadsword.Yea but Albion is garbage.
Ill have some of whatever you are smoking. The first sentence I agree with . The rest is .....well....EA, ofcourse, does know it.
so, EA, ofcourse, respects Broadsword dev team.
ultima-online and EA and Broadsword will last forever.
Broadsword and Mesanna are only subcontractors for EA, they've pretty much always owned the rights to UO. If EA would ever decide to close UO I doubt they would ever sell those rights and even if they did the price tag would be in the millions, sadly a freeshard would be our one option then@Mesanna
If this is ever in consideration, I'd like the opportunity to purchase the rights to OSI. That is, IF it ever gets to this point. You saw it here first.