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Which program? That's pretty funny.I think the time to have mentioned all those accounts being closed and the houses falling was in the last newsletter, BEFORE they actually fell down....these newsletters are way too much 'info-after-the-fact' and no real explanation is ever given for anything. Not sure I even believe people were banned for illegal program use since the producer admittedly uses an illegal program and refuses to say it is actually illegal. Another Newsletter full of nothing much at all. Still no big announcement, soon it will pass into the land of myths and legends...
I mean, the owners were notified back in April, atleast thats when the people I know who had free accounts got emailed.I think the time to have mentioned all those accounts being closed and the houses falling was in the last newsletter, BEFORE they actually fell down
No, there was not.Wasnt there a lifetime purchase in 97 or 98? Wonder if any were those.
Here is the thing. When those accounts where given out (and I had several and 2 still are active btw) they were in fact guaranteed for life. Now in my case I can understand because I wasn't the original owner. Those who were the original owner have ever right to be angry.It is unfortunate that historical and shard history houses were lost.
That said, it is entirely on the account owners that it happened. If someone had a comped account that wasn't supposed to be, they should have come forward and asked it to be fixed rather than parking important historical houses on them and walking away. The devs had every right --and responsibility-- to clean up those accounts, but the fact that the account holders had chosen to leave valuable housing on them is not the devs' fault.
I always heard that they technically weren't free for "life" but had a pre-set amount of free time which sounded crazy when they were made but is actually pretty close to expiring now. Free for 20 years in 2001 sounded like it meant forever, but now here we are only 1 year away from it. Was that not the case?Here is the thing. When those accounts where given out (and I had several and 2 still are active btw) they were in fact guaranteed for life. Now in my case I can understand because I wasn't the original owner. Those who were the original owner have ever right to be angry.
If such accounts were promised to be free for life AND still belong to the original owner, then that's different. I doubt that's the case for most of them though.When those accounts where given out (and I had several and 2 still are active btw) they were in fact guaranteed for life.
I tend to agree with you. I'm not angry about my accounts. I knew when I got them that eventually I'd have to start paying. I have nothing to complain about. 20 years on an account I didn't have to pay for was definitely a bargain. You are also correct in the fact that odds are most the original owners are no longer in possession of said accounts.If such accounts were promised to be free for life AND still belong to the original owner, then that's different. I doubt that's the case for most of them though.
What's painful is your constant complaints about everything. Not sure why you still play UOWhile I totally agree that they can do what they want with anyone's account and/or house at any time, the NICE thing to have done would be to let the community know what was going to happen before it was a done deal. Unfortunately any kind of communication seems to be painful for the Dev Team, everything has to stay shrouded in mystery as long as possible....
What's painful is your constant complaints about everything. Not sure why you still play UO
Seems to me their was a fair attempt at communicating to the account owners, an audit was done, action taken, and an explanation heads up.
If an account owners email is from three moves ago and they dont get the info well they do not really care anyway do they. They are not engaged.
How many times do we see posts of people who are engaged but can not find a house plot to place on the shard they want to play. Looks like a few plots just opened up!
Are we going to miss some historic places, sure can you set up your own now absolutley go for it.
The houses were not owned by the community but they did create good memories. Be thankful for them and go make some more.
*wipes face and tucks the prized sheepskin into his pocket**opens an old leather case and reaches inside it, pulling out a soft, well-tanned piece of sheepskin to hand to Nabin to clean the brown off his nose*
Ever occur to anyone (not you devs, devs, yall are clueless) that the owners of said falling houses probably have changed emails. I know I have. I also know everyone has friends ingame even after they quit. With a bit of notice, it might be that some of those house owners could have been notified of the situation by ingame friends who did stilll have some contact info.'
Might have saved a few accounts and gotten them paying again. But hey, who needed em anyway? We got a huuuugggeeee announcement coming up thats gonna make us the biggest game evah!
I get this. I really do. However if we are being honest with ourselves a lot of this mistrust and skepticism is well earned by the devs over the years. I think what is missed often is the fact that UO is in the endgame of it's existence. The major reason it is still operating is that those that still play have a unique bond to the game. If you keep removing the things that strengthen those bonds......*wipes face and tucks the prized sheepskin into his pocket*
It's a true friend that lets you know when you have something on your face you can't see....
Funny when any type of support is shown for something the Development team it results an attempt at public shaming. Always happy to have a good discussion. Discussions happen to have different views at times. While I respect your view that not enough notice was given. I completely disagree.
I hear a lot of people asking help to find a house on various shards. Old historic places you loved owned by players you knew had long left that were standing were the players responsibility to secure if you wanted to keep them. You've had years to contact the Devs about them and request a transfer of a property which may or may not have happened.
My favorite parts of playing UO is the community and the history of the shards I've been involved with. I am realistic though and understand things change and evolve. I get involved with the things important to me supporting them in various ways.
If people want things to be permanent they can always go create their own freeshard, sounds like there is a good bit of help and knowledge on the way for that. Otherwise $12.99 per month for someone else to set it all up for me so I can go enjoy myself and engage with my friends is pretty cheap fun with no development time spent on my part. I understand things will not always be the way I want them but, there is plenty to do and get involved with.
Fair opinion, I'm still waiting for account management to get fixedI get this. I really do. However if we are being honest with ourselves a lot of this mistrust and skepticism is well earned by the devs over the years. I think what is missed often is the fact that UO is in the endgame of it's existence. The major reason it is still operating is that those that still play have a unique bond to the game. If you keep removing the things that strengthen those bonds......
But then she says a lot of things on a long day. Many of them nothing but wishful thinking. I also doubt they can exactly see what 3rd party programs a player is running - as she stated once. Makes no sense technically. She is full of BSIt didn't state which programs, but then since they won't say which ones are now illegal, if any, I'm not sure how people would know not to use them. There used to be a list of legal programs, but despite being asked for an updated list for a couple of years they refuse to say anything.
Big Announcement:
Mesanna will step aside and retire and that is the big announcement that will bring more people back.
100%. At the risk of sounding insensitive I don't really get it. I've played since 97 myself (on and off... mostly on) and I also have the nostalgia of running through dungeons or certain places so I can see places like these meaning something to people. Sure places have sentimental value, but unless it's like Goodman's Rune Library (ATL) where it offers a valuable public service, how much use is it really getting? In the example of WYU from another post we are talking about a small house of a long gone guild... do people really just go to places like WYU house and just stare at the screen for hours at a time each day remembering what once was?The question is, how often are those places visited. We had a Museum castle going idoc on Drachenfels which I first visit when it's Status was announced.
Maybe I have a play style which is different than others, but really..
No clue, Maybe you should post over at forums.uo.com and ask....am i the only one wondering what prompted this audit? i know the devs weren't standing around the water cooler discussing old times & suddenly someone suggested killing old comp accounts. maybe EA asked for true account numbers to determine profitability? maybe the statute of limitations from the counselor lawsuit ran out?
No clue, Maybe you should post over at forums.uo.com and ask....
Are there threads that don't get locked?
Oooo. Should we take bets on how quickly the thread will get locked?
My guess is ~10 mins if posted between 12pm and 9pm E.
Well first one needs an active account.....Then one can post and start the timer
Oooo. Should we take bets on how quickly the thread will get locked?
My guess is ~10 mins if posted between 12pm and 9pm E.