Idea: Grant access to older expansions after a time for free

[Olahorand]

Even if ML is still sold on uogamecodes, I think, it would be better, to grant all existing accounts access to an expansion maybe two years after introduction for free.

How motivated would be a player to buy the old "new" expansion, if he did only to return to take a look what changed? But the more interesting changes to see are only available with those expansions?

Should a player not be able to use one of the more current expansions, if he paid long enough his monthly fee, even if he did not purchase the upgrade code for some of his accounts?

Optional: Even without the full feature set - at least the access to the entire world should be enabled after a certain time frame to each account.

*Salute*
Olahorand

 

[Coppelia]

They did that with LBR when AoS was already out for a while. They could like give UO:SE for all who still don't have.

 

[Emil Ispep]

Everytime you buy the latest expansion, you get access to all those that came before it.. If you can afford UOA you can afford an upgrade code.

 

[Olahorand]

Everytime you buy the latest expansion, you get access to all those that came before it.. If you can afford UOA you can afford an upgrade code.

sorry I am not talking about my own accounts. My 5 active accounts are up to date with ML or 9th Anni Edition.

I am talking about those former players, which EA wants to win back as paying customers (maybe?). But if they access UO maybe via Return to Britannia, they have no chance to see all the newer things - and usually will not be bothered to buy an upgrade code for 29.95 USD (which they cannot even apply on an account, which is listed as inactive in the account management system) only to check these changes.

I am also talking about those, who keep friends accounts open solely to keep the ingame house standing with memories to ingame guild or player history. While it is not necessary, that these have the latest expansion, it would be a nice gesture, to upgrade accounts, which have been paid all the time, for free. (Maybe they could make it an automatical vet reward if they do not want to allow this for all accounts, because anybody who pays an account without break, could also take a few 90 days breaks and use that money to upgrade.)

*Salute*
Olahorand

 

[Maplestone]

I think the anniversary box sets fill that niche - a low cost way to get back up to speed with a fresh install, a month or so of access and everthing up to the last expansion. The 9th edition boxes are still available in many places (although admittedly I shudder to think of what the patch time must be from that point to present).

 

[Silly Seadog]

I think the anniversary box sets fill that niche

Arrrr, but they apparently be a thing o' the past!

 

[Maplestone]

True, although at this point I can't tell if that's because the new leadership wants to focus on expansions rather than anniversaries or if UO just missed a cycle or two because of the crash-and-burn around the corporate reorg.

 

[Flora Green]

I don't know why they won't put out another gold disc. Wasn't that the one sold at Wal-Mart with the upgrade and new account codes and the advanced character token? It was under 10 bucks.

 

[Coppelia]

I think the anniversary box sets fill that niche - a low cost way to get back up to speed with a fresh install, a month or so of access and everthing up to the last expansion. The 9th edition boxes are still available in many places (although admittedly I shudder to think of what the patch time must be from that point to present).

No. It doesn't fill anything. Not only 9th anniversary box isn't available in this dimension of the universe, but it's not free. LBR access was for free when I started on official servers. It was a very good idea that attracted me. Then later I decided to buy an AoS code.
9th anni box isn't cheap at all, because the lack of ML in it. If people wanted to pay something they'd go directly to UO:ML code.

 

[Silly Seadog]

Arrrr, 9th Anniversary upgrade does include ML access!

 

[Olahorand]

But how many 9th Anniversary boxes have been available in Europe through normal shops or well known vendors like Amazon? And this is now two years ago as well.
Not that many here in Germany.
*Salute*
Olahorand

 

[Silly Seadog]

Arrrr, that be why we needed 10th & 11th editions!

 

[Olahorand]

Arrrr, that be why we needed 10th & 11th editions!

which as usual would not be distributed world wide or only with heavy delays after publish on the servers through some very special vendors.
All boxes I purchased from AoS over all subsequent expansions I never had in my hands. I ordered them to a former player who lives in USA and he did send me the codes.
So all the possible goodies in the box (i.e. the normal Ultima versions which have been in one) did never reach me.
Delivery costs and customs fee would have made it senseless.

*Salute*
Olahorand

 

[Olahorand]

Such automatic access to expansions after a certain time could also be a nice anniversary gift from EA, much more usefull for some people than the former gift waves in each chars backpack.

*Salute*
Olahorand

 

[TheScoundrelRico]

I'd love to see this. It would attract a lot of players to log in, and it would probably lure a few to buy the upgrade codes. It would take some code work since you can't currently log in without the most recent patch...those older versions would somehow have to skip over the patching system...la

 

[TheScoundrelRico]

You could almost have the old versions give availablity to Felucca only. Talk about bringing back the old school players, lol. That could be very interesting, as opposed to the retro shard we have been asking for for so long...la

 

[Xenobia]

I have 5 "lost" accounts that I would LOVE to get back but I have since changed my email, my address and my CC. I guess there is no chance of me getting them back. I could give my name and previous addresses (we are military) but that is all I could give them

 

[Serine]

I have 5 "lost" accounts that I would LOVE to get back but I have since changed my email, my address and my CC. I guess there is no chance of me getting them back. I could give my name and previous addresses (we are military) but that is all I could give them

I got 5 accounts back without knowing old email - Visa etc . But i was able to give enough information about visa owner - adresses etc to get them to change email to my current one . Took 3-4 emails between us though .

About playing free on a older client is just fine. But unsure about housing for the free players ?

 

[Silverbird]

Ummm ... I guess someone has missed something....
Short before the release of SA everyone/every account got access to ML. Only thing that is somehow left out are the house tiles that came with the 9'th anni edition.

Just check http://www.uoherald.com/news/news.php?newsid=877 .

 

[Olahorand]

Ummm ... I guess someone has missed something....
Short before the release of SA everyone/every account got access to ML. Only thing that is somehow left out are the house tiles that came with the 9'th anni edition.

Just check http://www.uoherald.com/news/news.php?newsid=877 .

Heh this thread is one year old - and yes, Mythic made this gift to us

 

[Kellgory]

They could always grant everyone access to the new expansions during the Return to Britannia promotion that they have each year during the anniversary (as long as the expansion has been released for a year or longer). So next year everyone would be granted access to SA for however long they decide to let people come back....but then after I think about it, it is probably a bad idea because that would require some programming and most likely after the event is over, everyone would have their access to SA removed due to programming glitches. Never mind, what was I thinking.

 

[Vhyle]

No. It doesn't fill anything. Not only 9th anniversary box isn't available in this dimension of the universe, but it's not free. LBR access was for free when I started on official servers. It was a very good idea that attracted me. Then later I decided to buy an AoS code.
9th anni box isn't cheap at all, because the lack of ML in it. If people wanted to pay something they'd go directly to UO:ML code.

Huh? I had no problems finding the 9th Anniversary. It's called Amazon. Found a brand new copy for $19.95, ordered it and was playing in 3 days.

And 9th DOES come with ML.

 

[Maplestone]

And 9th DOES come with ML.

(just a warning before you reply to any posts : check the dates on this thread - some necromancy was recently performed)

 

[Vhyle]

(just a warning before you reply to any posts : check the dates on this thread - some necromancy was recently performed)

LOL! Good call.

 

[Phaen Grey]

Didn't they already grant free access to all expansions up to ML a month before SA launched?

 

[RaDian FlGith]

Didn't they already grant free access to all expansions up to ML a month before SA launched?

Yes, they did. We all have ML access whether we upgraded or not.

 

[Maplestone]

Didn't they already grant free access to all expansions up to ML a month before SA launched?

(just a warning before you reply to any posts : check the dates on this thread - some necromancy was recently performed)