Enhanced Client

[Old Man of UO]

No, you don't want Home Premium 64 Bit, it has some bad limitations. Get Win7 Pro.

All of a sudden, EVERYONE is an expert on Windows! I'm not an expert, but I've installed Windows 7 on several machines from various previous versions and starting conditions - well used to brand new computers. Take all advice, even mine, with a grain of salt and ask someone you know and trust. Not all forum advice is good advice.

Here are the feature differences from Microsoft Windows 7 Features

If you aren't running on a corporate network, you don't want the Pro version. Sure, it has the Windows XP mode, but almost all programs are now compatible. The full system backup and restored can be done just as well with Microsoft's free software, or better with non-Microsoft disk imaging software.

In the USA, BOTH the 32-bit and 64-bit versions are in the same package on two different DVDs. European versions may be different, so check first. Also, check to see if a Windows 7 Family Pack is available - you get 3 licenses and it only cost $20 more than the single license version (in the US at least). Both versions run faster than Windows XP, the 64-bit version is faster than the 32-bit version in most cases, and lets you use more than 3GB RAM.

Also you should know, Windows 7 does NOT technically upgrade from Windows XP. Instead it creates a folder for your data and then does a clean install, and then transfers data and sometimes programs. Not all programs are happy with this, though the data should be fine. You are better off if possible to back up all your data, do a clean install of Windows 7 and then reinstall all your programs. Theoretically the upgrade should work just as well, but from my experience it doesn't always. I've ALWAYS had to reinstall at least some of the software.

Be sure to back up your data first, and then check your backup before doing the upgrade.

 

[Petra Fyde]

I think I'll shelve the whole idea of installing the enhanced client for a while. A new operating system isn't really in the budget right now, and I'd hate to end up in the same situation as poor Lucy, who hasn't been able to play uo at all since Christmas.

 

[Old Man of UO]

Thats rubbish. Especially coming from XP 64 Bit, the home edition is the version that is a waste of money. The pro version is the best and the fastest of them all. (unless you specifically need a feature of Ultimate)...

REALLY? Speed tests from Microsoft (and PCWorld and Computer World) says there is no difference between 64-bit versions of Windows 7. Actually, moving from Windows XP 64-bit to Windows 7 32-bit would most likely slow down your computer, and having 1GB or less of RAM will make it even worse.

But, I'm sure you know best.

 

[Gildar]

I said it legitimized cheating, I didn't say it *IS* a cheat now. It gives a major unfair advantage and several features that were once considered cheats.

And you still haven't named a single thing that was once considered a cheat.

 

[Locryn Finck]

Wow.

Ok, lets just change the wording shall we?

DONT WORRY ECers! NOBODY IS CALLING YOU A CHEATER! LORD CHAOS RECANTS!

That being said, can we have grown up discussion of the cold hard fact that the Enhanced Client features advantages to gameplay over CC? It isn't just cosmetic - arm weapon and auto-avoid are serious advantages that should be universal or not exist.

So again, lets just get off this "cheat" wording. It isn't cheating. Fine, great, whatever. Now defend your position on why people using EC should be given special advantages in gameplay.

 

[Llewen]

Wow.

Ok, lets just change the wording shall we?

DONT WORRY ECers! NOBODY IS CALLING YOU A CHEATER! LORD CHAOS RECANTS!

That being said, can we have grown up discussion of the cold hard fact that the Enhanced Client features advantages to gameplay over CC? It isn't just cosmetic - arm weapon and auto-avoid are serious advantages that should be universal or not exist.

So again, lets just get off this "cheat" wording. It isn't cheating. Fine, great, whatever. Now defend your position on why people using EC should be given special advantages in gameplay.

Because for the good of the game (development issues) everyone should switch to the EC and the CC should be put to rest. So it stands to reason that the devs would want to offer some real incentive to switch clients. Of course it will never work due to the general inclination of humans to be stubborn as hell...

 

[Lord Chaos]

All of a sudden, EVERYONE is an expert on Windows!

Uhmmm...I have several certifications and I work with hundreds of windows 7 installs in a wide range of computers from netbooks, laptops, business PCs to high end gaming rigs. So yeah, I'd say my knowledge is up there.

Here are the feature differences from Microsoft Windows 7 Features

Thats a really lacking list, its merely meant as an overview.

This is a better list: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_7_editions#Comparison_chart

If you aren't running on a corporate network, you don't want the Pro version. Sure, it has the Windows XP mode, but almost all programs are now compatible. The full system backup and restored can be done just as well with Microsoft's free software, or better with non-Microsoft disk imaging software.

Actually the system backup and restore feature is much more advanced than their free counterparts and works quite well. But either way, Pro versions offers many more features than that, better RAM mapping and support, better SSD support and several other things. No point in merely getting a Home Edition.

And its nonesense to say that almost all programs are compatible now, there are many programs that aren't compatible or can even run on Windows 7. Not to mention the advantage that it allows you to legally run two UOs at the same time.

In the USA, BOTH the 32-bit and 64-bit versions are in the same package on two different DVDs. European versions may be different, so check first. Also, check to see if a Windows 7 Family Pack is available - you get 3 licenses and it only cost $20 more than the single license version (in the US at least). Both versions run faster than Windows XP, the 64-bit version is faster than the 32-bit version in most cases, and lets you use more than 3GB RAM.

You only get both in the Premium Edition, not the two others. 64 Bit is not faster than 32 Bit, sometimes even to the contrary. It does give other advantages such as more RAM available.

 

[Lord Chaos]

Because for the good of the game (development issues) everyone should switch to the EC and the CC should be put to rest. So it stands to reason that the devs would want to offer some real incentive to switch clients. Of course it will never work due to the general inclination of humans to be stubborn as hell...

Or its the general tendency of humans to not want to switch to a crappy upgrade even though it might have better features.

 

[Dermott of LS]

...

Radian:

First, I won't argue the stylistic elements of 2d vs KR artwork. Some people like one, some people like the other, and I doubt we'll ever really see eye to eye on that one. The specifics of what I'm wanting to address are the technical aspects. KR artwork still needed one more good clarification pass even in the end, most of it was "there", a lot wasn't.

However, at the same time, the Legacy artwork was still an option in the KR client. Instead of scrapping the artwork, IMO they should ahve (and should add in) the same abiltity in the EC, simply make Legacy (low resolution) the default with the OPTION to use KR (high resolution).

The reason why I mention resolution above is because that is the single main issue that makes Legacy artwork good bad in the EC same as it did in the 3d client. Both clients pixelate and distort when you go OUTSIDE of the "native" Legacy artwork scale.

If there were a way to solve this issue so that zooming in and out smoothly rendered the artwork, adding or removing details accordingly while using the Legacy artwork, I would have NO PROBLEM with that. Like I said, it's not the style as much as it is the technical issues that I have between clients. Stylistically, my opinions are a LOT more complex and really a subject for a very detailed post.

Secondly, I agree 100% on the character models. I thought it was a BAD mistake when they announced KR originally to go back to the 2d sprite system. That's the reason why the patch downloads for the EC are so damned big... because they decided to use the 2d animation system (just buffed up several frames). Even though the patch system for EC is a LOT better than previous client (in that you download to the latest patch REGARDLESS of where you start vs patch 1, patch 2, etc), the download sizes could have been MUCH smaller with 3d models instead of 2d sprites on a single polygon "backboard".

I'm not as happy with the EC as I could be. I think it's been in many ways a HUGE step backwards from the KR client... artwork resolution downgraded, MANY of the UI features have been needlessly stripped and gimped (crafting menus, Atlas, Animal Lore, (until next big EC patch) custom fonts, etc). I think we're too late for right now to do yeat another "scrap and replace".

EC was the one they needed to get right. As much as I support it, both as a player and as a modder, it's not there... but at the same time, I want to make sure that people reading these boards are getting the HONEST issues with the EC and not fed lying garbage like "It legitimizes cheating" or "It's crap". Fortunately Radian, you're not doing that, thus it's enjoyable to discuss such issues.

Hope that clarifies some... we agree more than you think.

 

[Lord Chaos]

I think I'll shelve the whole idea of installing the enhanced client for a while. A new operating system isn't really in the budget right now, and I'd hate to end up in the same situation as poor Lucy, who hasn't been able to play uo at all since Christmas.

Check PM.

 

[Gildar]

So again, lets just get off this "cheat" wording. It isn't cheating. Fine, great, whatever. Now defend your position on why people using EC should be given special advantages in gameplay.

I thought we already did... the advantages the EC has are ones that should exist in both, but there are technical limitations in the CC that prevent all of them from being added to both clients. Technical limitations of the CC client are a bad reason to prevent the game from advancing.

 

[Fink]

Actually, it's also possible that the smooth motion of the EC results in motion sickness.
Since motion sickness is caused often by the disparities between perceived motions and actual motion, the primary differences in this sense between the CC and EC is the smooth motion. Limiting the frame rate to 10fps, which is the same as the CC, should in theory break up the perception of motion.

Essentially motion sickness is caused by a difference in what your senses of vision and balance perceive. This is why you can overcome seasickness by fixating on the horizon rather than the cabin around you. The pitching horizon gives you the same bearing as your balance, whereas the cabin appears fixed but is actually moving.

In gaming, if you're prone to motion sickness it's usually remedied by increasing your peripheral vision; that which surrounds the moving picture. The classic client naturally has a wide margin of fixed space around the play window, whereas the enhanced client is scalable to your entire screen. Try scaling the play window down, or sitting at a healthy distance from your monitor.

 

[Dermott of LS]

...

You mean stretching the game window across 67in of monitor space in an arc from one end of peripheral vision to the other might not be a good idea?

 

[Fink]

...

You mean stretching the game window across 67in of monitor space in an arc from one end of peripheral vision to the other might not be a good idea?

It sounds like an awesome idea to me, just a shame they crapped out on the high-res art which made the zoom feature redundant. For 67" of total immersion I would gladly endure dizziness & vomiting, but fortunately I don't get motion sickness at all. In any case, I'm limited to a mere 2x24" screen array but I do play two clients at once.

 

[Konge]

Uhmmm...I have several certifications and I work with hundreds of windows 7 installs in a wide range of computers from netbooks, laptops, business PCs to high end gaming rigs. So yeah, I'd say my knowledge is up there.

WHOA! You're a psychologist AND a computer technician!?