Are there many 12 years loyal Ultima Online Customers around ?

[popps]

Just wondering......

Ultima Online was released in 1997 and this coming September will mark 12 years that the game has been active.

Now, in order for an UO account to grant 12 years Veteran status it means that the account needs to have been active for 12 years......

Twelve years is a whole lot of time, IMHO, and mark a REALLY loyal affiliation with a product.

I am wondering how many accounts will be able to earn 12 years Veteran player status. Ten ? A hundred ? A Thousand ?

The more years go by, I imagine, the less accounts remain that can claim active existance since that now far away September 1997. Nonetheless, and because of this, the very few that may remain more and more so earn the right to a VERY LOYAL status as customers of the Company that owns the game.

And the more a customer is seen as loyal and special, over the years, the more I think it is important that the Company owning the game, may reward this very very specially loyal customers for their sticking with their game over so many years.

So, anyone knows how many may be left of these very specially loyal customers and whether there is any talking of how the company that owns the game intends to thank these customers for their special and very very long lasting loyalty ?

 

[Harlequin]

I'm one. So's the missus.

Took over another account from a relative. Considering just vet accounts, between us, we have 3 accounts since UO started in Sept 97!

I think we should get a loyalty discount for monthly subs

 

[popps]

I'm one. So's the missus.

Took over another account from a relative. Considering just vet accounts, between us, we have 3 accounts since UO started in Sept 97!

I think we should get a loyalty discount for monthly subs

I am not sure what "thank you" could be reasonable to so loyal customers from the Company which owns the game; all I am saying, is that the more the years go by and the less customers stick with the game for such an extended and continuated period of time, then those fewer remaining should be really deemed as very very special by the Company since they stayed with the game, no matter what, over so many many years.........

It would be really interesting to hear a comment from the Company's public relations or customers relations representative and see whether and how much they value extended loyalty from their customers.

Having been away for a while I lost track about who might be the representative that more deals with relations with customers but if there is one, he or she could make a brief comment in this thread about customers' loyalty and how much they may value it ?

 

[Mistura]

Booo!

Down with 11 year vets!



Truthfully, people play UO because they enjoy, its nothing to do with being loyal. Its just their good fortune that they have found something that has kept them hooked for 11 years. I think the Vets should pay the EA Execs a bonus or some kind of recognition for keeping them happy all these years
























lol... Just messing, the vets are ok

 

[popps]

Booo!

Down with 11 year vets!



Truthfully, people play UO because they enjoy, its nothing to do with being loyal. Its just their good fortune that they have found something that has kept them hooked for 11 years. I think the Vets should pay the EA Execs a bonus or some kind of recognition for keeping them happy all these years

lol... Just messing, the vets are ok

Well, yes and no.

I mean, in all business fields where customers stay loyal to a brand there is something in that particular brand which kept those customers loyal for so long.

Nonetheless, most Companies tend to value their most loyal customers because they may show as an example to other customers. That is why, occasionally, some Companies may prize publicly long time customers of theirs, so as to send a message to their customer base that they value those customers who stayed with "their" brand for so long and did not migrate to others'......

So, even though what you say is valid, still, I think, there may be worth for a Company to value their most loyal customers publicly. It shows to all of their customer base that they care and value the loyalty of their customers.

With a product like Ultima Online, I think, this is even more so since the loyalty requires continuous payment of subscription over the years which means revenues to the Company owning the game.

Therefore, the way I see it, "if" whatever rewards are conceived for the most loyal customers have a good and sound appeal to most of their customers, this, aside from prizing their most loyal customers for their long lasting and continued exceptional loyalty, might work as an incentive for some other customers to maintain their accounts as active (and provide sustained revenues to the Company) because the top loyal customer rewards are very appealing and thus worthy of keeping the account active even at times that one may think to suspend or terminate it.

So, prizing loyalty and prizing it well and better the more the years go by, I think is a good thing for those customers who stayed loyal AND for the Company who, doing so, can motivate a larger number of customers among their customer base to maintain their accounts as active and thus provide revenues to the Company.

Personally, I think there may be more revenue potential in the long run with top Rewards having a sound and good appeal to players rather than one time selling items like the Collection items (for example the 11th years).
This, because IMHO the best revenue is the monthly subscription and collection items do not exclude that players may terminate their subscription the month after they bought some codes while the goal of reaching X years Veteran status to be able to earn and use that particularly juicy reward may convince some among the customer base to keep their subscriptions active thus earning continued revenues to the Company.

That's at least my personal view on it.

 

[BajaElladan]

Hail Folks,

I know not the grand total nor the breakdown by shard...but Elladan turns 144 months this Fall.

Elladan of Baja

 

[Kallie Pigeon]

I am going to make 11 years next month so not 12 years in
september but I have kept my account active. I still play because I enjoy it.

 

[PsychoKinetic]

I've been with UO since October 10, 1997. It would have been two weeks earlier at the release but I was having too much fun with Ultima Underworld II.

The Ultimas, both online and offline, have given me more than fifteen years of fun and enjoyment.

Thats all the reward I need or expect.

 

[Stratic Fanatic]

I think account age should be determined by "time in game".

Anyone could have started an account ages ago and claim "loyal vet" even though they never/hardly ever play. I might have a 3 year account with more actual in game use than a 12 year vet.

Its like having an old car sitting in your garage that you never touch. But you claim brand loyalty merely because its sitting in your garage. Thats not loyalty.

 

[BajaElladan]

Hail Again,

I estimate I average around 40 hours per week in Britannia, times my coming 12th Anniversary.

Awesome World full of Awesome folks, creatures, and possibilities!!!

Elladan of Baja

 

[Stratic Fanatic]

Hail Again,

I estimate I average around 40 hours per week in Britannia, times my coming 12th Anniversary.

Awesome World full of Awesome folks, creatures, and possibilities!!!

Elladan of Baja

YES!
Id classify that as loyal

Erm, actually Id call that a full time job.

 

[popps]

I think account age should be determined by "time in game".

Well, correct me if I am wrong, but don't scripters and macroers spend a whole lot of time in the game even though through some automated process ?

If so, then those going against the rules (that I know of unattended macroing and scripting are not allowed) would get prized the most........
Not the right way to go, IMHO.

Anyone could have started an account ages ago and claim "loyal vet" even though they never/hardly ever play. I might have a 3 year account with more actual in game use than a 12 year vet.

But they still paid their monthly subscriptions month after month, year after year and by doing that, they DID support the game even if they were not occasionally playing, whatever the reason.

Its like having an old car sitting in your garage that you never touch. But you claim brand loyalty merely because its sitting in your garage. Thats not loyalty.

If, in order to keep that car in the garage one has to pay all the time, I think yes, it does is loyalty, IMHO.

 

[Seismic]

I've played since Sept '97 with about 3-4 accounts through that time (some breaks in between). Current account is only 40 months but I fondly remember when the game started . Remember tents? And everyone went to Deceit and Wrong dungeon?

 

[Harb]

"Technically" I hit 12 next month, and akin to Harlequin's situation - the better half turns "12" in September. Also, the guy I began with maintains an account but hasn't played in years. As to how many do remain and stay somewhat active, it's really hard to say. I know a few on Chessie who do definitely hit 12 in Sep - but it wouldn't be more than a handfull (you could count them on your fingers/ toes, but thats only one shard and only those I'm 100% certain of). An aside but something I expected to see and didn't - I still haven't seen another soul on an etheral cu - for what its worth!

 

[o2bavr6]

Sept 97 here. In fact i still play my original character that was created 140 months ago on Chessy..... errr.. i do also play other chars, but my main has a special place in my heart.

 

[RichDC]

12year vet rewards:

Customizable Keep Deeds

15year vet rewards:

Customizable Castle Deeds

(deeds so they can be re-deeded and placed but account bound like soulstones)

Oh, Im not a Vet unfortuantly. Started at T2A up until AOs. Left, lost my account cant re-activate and began back 14months ago.

 

[o2bavr6]

I still haven't seen another soul on an etheral cu - for what its worth!

Aren't the polar bears and cu's the same year reward? I ride the PB but still have 3 rewards to choose from and the Cu is a choice.

 

[MalagAste]

Consider this......

I never had a PC until 2000.... but soon after I got one..... I installed UO and started playing...... I haven't quit. (save 2 weeks tops)

So please don't judge loyalty to the game by length of time played... Trust me had I started in those "Pre-Tram" days..... I'll be totally honest... Unless I had made some spectacular friends in the first week or so.... I probably would have quit before a month finished.... especially had I started somewhere towards the "end" of the pre-tram days...

But since I started Just after tram... I've stayed and I've always loved UO..... I don't "miss" the early days... because I didn't know them... It's hard for me to "miss" Seers because I never experienced them... But the one thing I do know... I would have LOVED Seers just as much as I love the current EM's. (I wish they could do more.... but I do really love the new EM's)

Loyalty should not be based strictly on account age.... Infact it definitely should NOT be... I know there are folk who "live" near me on GL's who may have paid for their accounts since the dawn of time... but 99.8% of the last 4 or 5 years they haven't hardly logged more than 3 hours... That's defiantly NOT my idea of loyalty... So while their account may be older than mine... I'm willing to bet I have more hours logged than likely 95% of Vets with accounts >10 years....

 

[RichDC]

I will agree with you, but having an active account and playing for 12years is some feet!

 

[Mistura]

12year vet rewards:

Customizable Keep Deeds

15year vet rewards:

Customizable Castle Deeds

(deeds so they can be re-deeded and placed but account bound like soulstones)

Oh, Im not a Vet unfortuantly. Started at T2A up until AOs. Left, lost my account cant re-activate and began back 14months ago.

Very very similar to my story mate althought been back about 2 and a half years now...

 

[Harb]

Aren't the polar bears and cu's the same year reward? I ride the PB but still have 3 rewards to choose from and the Cu is a choice.

I think 9 for the bear and 10 for the cu. We took a couple cus, but honestly don't like em as much as the bears. We'll still got a couple picks left, vet rewards are the one part of the dev cycle I've lost complete faith in over the years - they never seem to prioritize catching up!! But no complaints - no need to get OT

 

[Tazar]

Aren't the polar bears and cu's the same year reward? I ride the PB but still have 3 rewards to choose from and the Cu is a choice.

The Polar Bear is for the 9th year and the Cu is 10th year.

I'll also be one of the 12th year veterans when the anniversary rolls around. If we count the whole Utima series, then I'll have to admit the true depth of my addiction and go back to 1980.

 

[Mistura]

I estimate I average around 40 hours per week in Britannia, times my coming 12th Anniversary.

Wow! That is quite unbelievable.

I would love to play UO for 40 hours a week but only if I was allowed to do that instead of my current job and retain the salary.

 

[Aboo]

*raises hand*
I'm one. I started in September 1997, my account has been active and I have played continuously ever since.

 

[Aboo]

Sept 97 here. In fact i still play my original character that was created 140 months ago on Chessy..... errr.. i do also play other chars, but my main has a special place in my heart.

Me too. She was born in Minoc on LS and she started as a tinker but over the years I changed her skills and now she is my T-Hunter.

 

[woody_cats]

i will also be 12 this year and know 3 others .

 

[TheScoundrelRico]

I think we should get a loyalty discount for monthly subs

Or a kick in the taco...la

 

[o2bavr6]

I think 9 for the bear and 10 for the cu. We took a couple cus, but honestly don't like em as much as the bears. We'll still got a couple picks left, vet rewards are the one part of the dev cycle I've lost complete faith in over the years - they never seem to prioritize catching up!! But no complaints - no need to get OT

Good to know on the CU's wasnt sure on that. Now I just have to decide if using a reward for one is worth it.

I hear ya on the lack of recent Vet Rewards, but what can you do.

 

[Morgana LeFay (PoV)]

I have been on UO since the beta. Started paying for my account in Oct 1997 (there was a free month) and never stopped.

I cannot say I played all of that time. I had a hacking in 2003 that took me away for a year and a half, but I kept paying for my subscription. Why, I have no idea...I guess I was concerned that I would want to come back and my characters and pets would be gone. I did come back, but I realize now they wouldn't have deleted my characters and pets. Oh well, I have wasted more money on stupider things.

 

[Lady_Calina]

Playing Since Nov, '97 I may take a few months break here and there for RL stuff, the soon to be 12-year accounts have never been inactive.

 

[WarUltima]

I dont know. I am a long term vet too but I also quit UO probably 7 times on and off. But somehow I always end up back in UO after trying all kinds of different games.

 

[CatLord]

Sept 97 here. In fact i still play my original character that was created 140 months ago on Chessy..... errr.. i do also play other chars, but my main has a special place in my heart.

Ditto... but Catskills.

 

[red sky]

I think account age should be determined by "time in game".

Anyone could have started an account ages ago and claim "loyal vet" even though they never/hardly ever play. I might have a 3 year account with more actual in game use than a 12 year vet.

Its like having an old car sitting in your garage that you never touch. But you claim brand loyalty merely because its sitting in your garage. Thats not loyalty.

Yeah, you have a point. But technically considering the player has to pay to keep an account active for that long then that would actually be considered being a loyal customer. Why pay for an account you don't use unless you really like the game?

 

[gunneroforgin]

Good to know on the CU's wasnt sure on that. Now I just have to decide if using a reward for one is worth it.

I hear ya on the lack of recent Vet Rewards, but what can you do.

More cannons for me,

 

[Harlequin]

12year vet rewards:

Customizable Keep Deeds

15year vet rewards:

Customizable Castle Deeds

(deeds so they can be re-deeded and placed but account bound like soulstones)

Oh, Im not a Vet unfortuantly. Started at T2A up until AOs. Left, lost my account cant re-activate and began back 14months ago.

Hate to get a deed but can't find a spot to place one... heh

 

[Harlequin]

Or a kick in the taco...la

Never liked tacos...I do like tobacco though, so for my 12th year reward, maybe I can kick the tobacco?

 

[JC the Builder]

The more years go by, I imagine, the less accounts remain that can claim active existance since that now far away September 1997.

A sizable amount of accounts are sold/given away to other people when the owner quits. So not every account that is 12 years old is owned by someone who has played that long.

 

[hen]

Hail Again,

I estimate I average around 40 hours per week in Britannia, times my coming 12th Anniversary.

Awesome World full of Awesome folks, creatures, and possibilities!!!

Elladan of Baja

Are you housebound? 40 hours a week on a game is a lot of time.

 

[miss uo]

I've been playing my main account since June 98.

 

[Sakkarah_]

140 months old here with 8 vet rewards left to pick on that account
138 months on 2nd account, with 10 rewards left
Other accounts are 110 months and less!

I keep saving my vet rewards and buying the ones I want instead. It's the hoarder in me

 

[Warpig Inc]

I have one of the well aged accounts with an aged keep. The castle in front of my keep IDOCed this week. Last time I seen the owner was 6 years ago and over that time nothing changed in the castle. So much for the Harmony Townhall.

Like to see that Gaman (or table choice of creatures) pullled cart/wagon that is like a boat on land as my 12 year reward. Hell let it be parked in a vendor market area outside Luna walls with one vendor setting. Bought from NPC with the same maintenance/decay as a boat.

 

[Sean]

2 accounts that have never closed since UO opened. Have been as high as 4, those being 8 year and 4 year accounts

 

[Sir Morder]

140 months here. 2 other accounts at 10yr and a couple around 8 yr.

 

[sablestorm]

I played Beta on my friend's account to have a look around UO. Back then I wasn't too keen on paying month to play a game, even an online one, but after giving Beta a look, it convinced me to give it a try. Thus a week after UO was released, I picked me up a copy and have been playing ever since.

I don't really need any special treatment for paying/playing that long. I wouldn't do it if I wasn't still having a blast in-game. What I am happy for, however, is the event content they've been releasing. It's something I wanted more of in the early days and I'm glad to see it come to fruition.

 

[Sean]

Good to see ya Ru, say Hi to Delly!

 

[popps]

Yeah, you have a point. But technically considering the player has to pay to keep an account active for that long then that would actually be considered being a loyal customer. Why pay for an account you don't use unless you really like the game?

That's how I see it. Paying for the account month after month, year after year is a sign, IMHO, of being willing to support the game and, therefore, of loyalty.

I have to say, though, that it is refreshing to see in such a short time I posted the thread already so many 12 years veterans showing up.

To me, a good sign of the liveliness of Ultima Online.

 

[EDA_GL]

UO 12yr Vet Reward

I O U:
Bug fixes
PvP Balance
ITTP Clarification




That counts as a reward, right??

 

[Jhym]

I'm happy if they give us rewards, but I don't count on them as a requirement.

I love the game and I stay with it through thick and thin. I argue about things I care about, and I ignore things that I don't.

If they close the game down someday I probably will mourn my characters and history for a long time. It's more than just pixels, though explaining that to someone outside is like explaining why you'd collect coins. They are pretty, they mean something to you, and damn it, you just like them.

I have to say I'd like something though.

Here's a few ideas, not that I'd expect them.

12 year rewards, only usable by 12 year accounts:

Amulet of Companionship - 10 charges, recharge 1/day, allows any character to resurrect another for 50 mana - rez with 100% hp/stam/mana. Usable once per hour.

Amulet of Imprisonment - 10 charges, recharge 1/day, allows character to chain any creature in the game for five minutes; creature cannot move, teleport, fly, or otherwise use physical movements, though it can cast spells or use abilities. Usable once per hour.

Amulet of Britannia - 10 charges, recharge 1/day, allows character to open a golden gate to any shrine; lasts 1 minute.

Amulet of Order - 10 charges, recharge 1/day, allows character to activate a 'monster-ignore' field that is 5x5 spaces around the character for 5 minutes; people and creatures within the field are ignored by monsters. If you are already flagged by a monster it does not lose aggression until you break it (LOS,hiding,etc.) Ability can be used once per hour.

Amulet of Chaos - 10 charges, recharge 1/day, allows character to summon a random monster that will do your bidding as a pet for 10 minutes. Pet is 4 control slots regardless of what it is, can be dispelled only by the owner. Pet is marked "red", is not guard killable, and can be any creature in the game. The higher level creatures (peerless, paragons) are exceedingly rare, but possible. Pet may pick up items and gold while it is fighting; when it dies anything is left on the corpse. The base pet does not have any treasure, however. May be used once per hour.

 

[Arcades]

My account is 141 months, I've had it since UO started, shared it with a friend for the first year or two, then I kept with it. Although there's something funny going on with account ages b/c about a month ago, my account turned 144 months which would mean 12-yrs already, then reverted to 143, now I checked and its 141, which makes a little more sense...so I'm not sure what the deal is here.

I was digging around the old UO Stratics Site and found a pic of my first char (since deleted) on one of the pages in the Lake Superior section. Really brought back some good memories...and the adrenaline rush with it!

What I'd like for a 12th Year Vet Reward would be an ethereal hooded shroud like the ones from the guys in alternate moonglow. That would be nice

 

[Frarc]

132, 125 and 113 months accounts. Never took a brake.