Love it or hate it, going free-to-play may save this game

[Wallenstein]

It's without a doubt Ultima Online has seen its peak moments, notably prior to the Age of Shadows launch. But even since then, and since Electronic Arts has taken over the game, the game we once found ourselves addicted to has become a seemingly item-based whirlwind of confusion with a consistently falling player base.

Please welcome my two examples: Dungeons and Dragons Online and Lord of the Rings Online. Both games were once subscription-based, monthly pay-to-play games just like Ultima Online is today.

Dungeons and Dragons Online, to begin, hit a point where the game seemed to be on its last leg of life and was struggling to find a way to survive. That was when Turbine did something virtually unheard of in the MMORPG market; they made the game free to play. By doing so, the subscriber base skyrocketed and the game's revenue increased by over 500% through the addition of purchasable upgrades. To this day the game is still alive and is surviving thanks to the free-to-play modification Turbine made, and Turbine is making more money than ever off of the online title. [See Article on D&D Online's Survival]

Lord of the Rings Online tried a similar feat when the game went free-to-play last year. Although it was arguably the #2-most subscribed MMORPG next to World of Warcraft, revenues were undoubtedly dwindling and Turbine wanted to try something new. So, they reviewed the success they had with D&D Online and tried it with LoTRO; since then, revenues from the game have more than tripled and the player base has increased drastically. I, myself, am now rejoining LoTRO due to the free-to-play change and am loving the concept. [See Article on LoTRO's Free-to-play Change]

Of course when free-to-play changes come, the company still has to make money somehow. This is where things like 'booster packs', expansions, additional character slots, unique housing options, vet reward-style items for paying players and other things can create a revenue stream for Ultima Online.. similar to what D&D Online and LoTRO are doing.

For $12.99 a month, Ultima Online is really not going to attract new players to the MMO market.. nor are they really going to attract experienced MMO players, because most of them have already played UO and have moved on in the past. Hate it or love it, by making this game free to play, there are a number of ways Electronic Arts can produce a revenue from it, and with the number of old (and new) players joining the game to see everything that's changed over the years due to its free status, many of them are likely to stay and spend money on purchasable options.

I mean, really, for all of the former Ultima Online players out there like myself, most of you probably would be lying if you said you'd not come back if the game were free to play. And, once realizing the player base is increasing again and the housing market picks back up, old feelings will become new and this game very well may have a shot at surviving.

 

[Trebr Drab]

It will change the game forever, there will be no going back.

Once it's FTP, they will have to sell things that are desirable. That takes away from game play. And as they sell these things they will reach saturation points, and they'll have to come up with new things to sell, ever growing the store bought parts of the game. To help counter this, they will have to sell "replenishable" items, things like potions or function in the same way.

As more players come in that accept this sort of thing, and those that don't leave, the game will change more and more to the FTP player's likes. These players will demand store bought colored ponies and everything else.

You can kiss UO as anything like what we know goodbye.

The alternative was to actually make UO better. Now they'll concentrate on selling things for survival. Such a waste. We can lay blame at the feet of Sunsword and others like dear ol' Anthony. Screw them all. There's no place left for players like me.

 

[Babble]

UO needs no saving
Lots of possibilities to play the UO you want - it has the strongest mmo freeshard community of any game - probably even stronger than wow freeshard community and that is nothing to laugh at.

 

[Alvinho]

But even since then, and since Electronic Arts has taken over the game, the game we once found ourselves addicted to has become a seemingly item-based whirlwind of confusion with a consistently falling player base.

I stopped reading here EA has always owned Ultima as the ONLINE part. Ultima ONLINE was Release BY EA not bought by EA

 

[Babble]

Yes, we all wonder how uo as sole mmo managed to survive everything EA tries to do to it since it started

 

[Podolak]

I had no idea EA always owned Ultima Online. I thought Origin started it in 1997 and EA bought Origin in the early 2000's, now I see EA bought Origin in 1992...

 

[Fat Midnight]

It's without a doubt Ultima Online has seen its peak moments, notably prior to the Age of Shadows launch. But even since then, and since Electronic Arts has taken over the game, the game we once found ourselves addicted to has become a seemingly item-based whirlwind of confusion with a consistently falling player base.

Honestly I don`t want the game to be saved... I want it to die as is and have the Ultima franchise rights bought by a huge ultima fanboy or LB.

UO was supposed to be a 2-3 year project. With the current corporate culture at EA I see no way for UO to thrive again. I am still having a blast right now and I have come to terms with the fact that the good ol` days are gone.

Sometimes the only way to fix something is to start with a fire.



Sorry if this doesnt sound sane, im on some pretty crazy RXs and have a nasty infection.

 

[Picus at the office]

I still enjoy the game as is and would worry greatly with what a f2p concept might add to the game. This said we might see life as older players whom might be playing on free shards but still maintain non-active account could come back but really the focus has to be on moving forward and fixing the old issues.

I don't want to see a blaze horse in Luna cause some dolt is willing to pay $10 for it...argg.

 

[I Play UO]

It's without a doubt Ultima Online has seen its peak moments, notably prior to the Age of Shadows launch. But even since then, and since Electronic Arts has taken over the game, the game we once found ourselves addicted to has become a seemingly item-based whirlwind of confusion with a consistently falling player base.

Please welcome my two examples: Dungeons and Dragons Online and Lord of the Rings Online. Both games were once subscription-based, monthly pay-to-play games just like Ultima Online is today.

Dungeons and Dragons Online, to begin, hit a point where the game seemed to be on its last leg of life and was struggling to find a way to survive. That was when Turbine did something virtually unheard of in the MMORPG market; they made the game free to play. By doing so, the subscriber base skyrocketed and the game's revenue increased by over 500% through the addition of purchasable upgrades. To this day the game is still alive and is surviving thanks to the free-to-play modification Turbine made, and Turbine is making more money than ever off of the online title. [See Article on D&D Online's Survival]

Lord of the Rings Online tried a similar feat when the game went free-to-play last year. Although it was arguably the #2-most subscribed MMORPG next to World of Warcraft, revenues were undoubtedly dwindling and Turbine wanted to try something new. So, they reviewed the success they had with D&D Online and tried it with LoTRO; since then, revenues from the game have more than tripled and the player base has increased drastically. I, myself, am now rejoining LoTRO due to the free-to-play change and am loving the concept. [See Article on LoTRO's Free-to-play Change]

Of course when free-to-play changes come, the company still has to make money somehow. This is where things like 'booster packs', expansions, additional character slots, unique housing options, vet reward-style items for paying players and other things can create a revenue stream for Ultima Online.. similar to what D&D Online and LoTRO are doing.

For $12.99 a month, Ultima Online is really not going to attract new players to the MMO market.. nor are they really going to attract experienced MMO players, because most of them have already played UO and have moved on in the past. Hate it or love it, by making this game free to play, there are a number of ways Electronic Arts can produce a revenue from it, and with the number of old (and new) players joining the game to see everything that's changed over the years due to its free status, many of them are likely to stay and spend money on purchasable options.

I mean, really, for all of the former Ultima Online players out there like myself, most of you probably would be lying if you said you'd not come back if the game were free to play. And, once realizing the player base is increasing again and the housing market picks back up, old feelings will become new and this game very well may have a shot at surviving.

UO will never be what it was even if the subscription rate hit a million players. You can't revive the dead.

 

[Taylor]

I was more skeptical of free-to-play before I tried a F2P FPS. My perspective now is that it can work pretty well, as long as the developers are very careful to balance for-cash items and gold items. A major downside, though, is that every time a hacker is banned, he/she is able to immediately create a new account.

Regardless, I do agree with Trebr: it would change UO significantly.

 

[ohmyGED]

All I know is that the game is still being played after 13+ years....so obviously they are doing something right....FACT.

Minus the outdated graphic, which I might add I still enjoy UO regardless, this game is still fantastic. It has kept me wanting more after all these years...minus the changes. People can choose why they come and go, and play however they choose, but ultimately it is the developmental team at EA / Mythic that will control the atmopshere and attempt to improve this game for the overall player.

I will tell you one thing.....it isn't easy to please everyone (Think of the whole "Classic Shard Debate"). But the goal should be to improve the game as a whole for everyone to enjoy, new player or old player. Everything has boundries, standards, red tape, etc.....they are working with what they can and how they can to make it pleasant for all of us.

Everyone has the freedom to express their opinions, but let the developers and team do what they are paid to do....work on one of the best games out there.


Let's put it this way --- if there were any problems with UO....do you think they would continue to spend developmental resources to add new content.

Just because certain things are broken, doesn't always mean they are easy to fix. Cut them some slack.

 

[Beer_Cayse]

like item-based Diablo clone is a fun thing?

 

[I Play UO]

All I know is that the game is still being played after 13+ years....so obviously they are doing something right....FACT.

No, that means they once DID something right.

 

[copycon]

No, that means they once DID something right.

 

[ohmyGED]

No, that means they once DID something right.

That doesn't even make sense. The game is obviously different than the original inception over a decade ago. It has been developed and manipulated over the years. If they only once DID something right, the game would have FAILED and we would no longer have the option to play.

Different changes appeases the interest of different players. Being a thief, I wasn't happy when insurance was introduced along with Trammel....but i'm sure all the other people that hated griefing were jumping for joy when carebear land was introduced.

 

[ohmyGED]

like item-based Diablo clone is a fun thing?

UO is in a far greater realm than the original Diablo.

If you don't think it is fun, then don't play. It is a simple concept. But either one of two things:

1. You still play, because you are posting on this board
2. You don't play, but miss it continue to post here anyways.

Or, I guess there is a potential third.

3. You don't play, and have nothing better to do but to post here.



One way or another, your opinion is interesting.

 

[Sarphus]

I dunno...

I haven't played in 2+ yrs and reading over some of the content that has come since then has me somewhat interested again.

UO is one of those games you can't forget forever.

 

[copycon]

That doesn't even make sense. The game is obviously different than the original inception over a decade ago. It has been developed and manipulated over the years. If they only once DID something right, the game would have FAILED and we would no longer have the option to play.

Actually, it does make sense. UO has failed. It is very clearly no longer gaining subscribers, and they have only succeeded in losing tens of thousands. They have also failed to maintain or announce a consistent direction for current and future development plans. As an example, it's well known that the High Seas expansion took 2~ months to progress from beta testing to production. No one knows who was working on it or for how long before then, but with some of the problems that have been found, the answer to that question is becoming more obvious. It's also clear that the priority is not to fix whats broken, which only gives those who are affected more reason to be dissatisfied. I would not call that a success.

Different changes appease the interest of different players. Being a thief, I wasn't happy when insurance was introduced along with Trammel....but i'm sure all the other people that hated griefing were jumping for joy when carebear land was introduced.

You are right there. Different changes appease to different players, but at the same time those changes should not force large numbers of players to defect. That is the definition of a failure.

 

[Mairut]

I wouldn't mind if they made the trial subscriptions f2p... I saw someone suggested this on another thread. Remove the 2 week time limit on trial but keep the no housing, can only mine iron ore, etc. Runescape does it, and it seems to work pretty good for them. That, and f2p players on RS are only allowed access to certain parts of the world, and only a few of the quests and all that.

The only downside (for most of you) is that current players will want to create 987432987 accounts just to hold their pixelcrack, we'd have a ton of more children playing the game, and trash talking would probably get worse on the smaller shards.

None of that would bother me because I wouldn't keep track of which of my 987432987 accounts has what on it (I wouldn't make any in the first place), I try my best to ignore children, and I play primarily on Atlantic and half of that in Fel, which means I've long since been granted Legendary Trash Talking status.

Back to the topic though: A full account status upgrade and sales from uo gamecodes would probably give the game the boosts it needs. Just don't make the ENTIRE game and it's functions f2p and I'd be fine with it.

 

[Cloak&Dagger]

All I need to say is there is HUGE absolutely RIDICULOUSLY HUGE emphasis on the word "may" in the damn title of this thread. UO can in fact be "saved" many other, more viable and ungame-changing ways. All I have to say is people who post for or against this topic do not know what they are getting themselves into or don't know what they are talking about.

Example, this post. The game does not need saving in such a way that it would warrant changing the very nature of the game (Tried that twice now?)

Next point, if they changed the game to f2p you would quit playing. No not "you" as in everyone, "you" as in the OP because you have no idea the impact it would have on the game. f2p games over time eventually become "pay or have no chance to play" games. I argue both sides of this argument because it is a viable choice, but at least know what you are getting into before suggesting something. Once it goes ftp the only way to get anything will eventually be grinding for gold, or buying it off the site. That means eventually there will be "game-breaking" artifacts, or item additions that you can only buy from the site. Lets not forget to mention we are dealing with EA (yes the company that has owned UO since before it was an idea) they are smart when it comes to squeezing money, so if sales of items were not going well because people in game were not buying them, they would create more powerful account-bound items, or even character bound items. Then what?

Also the only way Ultima can work as a f2p is actually as a hybrid, Accounts that pay monthly for their houses and accounts that are limited to not owning a house (possibly other things as well) and being free.

Could most likely go on, but I doubt you would even understand it, since you seem to fail to understand the business and its effect on games and what role that would play for UO.

 

[ohmyGED]

Actually, it does make sense. UO has failed. It is very clearly no longer gaining subscribers, and they have only succeeded in losing tens of thousands. They have also failed to maintain or announce a consistent direction for current and future development plans. As an example, it's well known that the High Seas expansion took 2~ months to progress from beta testing to production. No one knows who was working on it or for how long before then, but with some of the problems that have been found, the answer to that question is becoming more obvious. It's also clear that the priority is not to fix whats broken, which only gives those who are affected more reason to be dissatisfied. I would not call that a success.

That is the matter of YOUR opinion. The game is still around. There are still players. The game continues to generate revenue. The content within the game continues to grow.

Just because some players are disastisfied with the way things are going doesn't speak for the whole player base. Anyone that has worked in a development setting for a large scale project would understand that problems will happen. Some people don't even understand the magnitude of how difficult it can be to fix "seemingly simple" bugs....it's not easy work. Why do you think developers make such a decent salary?

If anything, the communication has grown in the past couple of years with the development team and player base. I remember in the early years that the only communication I would see was the patch report. If you want a couple of "bad scenarios" get you down about the game, go for it.

You are right there. Different changes appease to different players, but at the same time those changes should not force large numbers of players to defect. That is the definition of a failure.

No one forces a player to do anything except themselves. If they do not like the changes, it is their choice to play or not. The direction of the game is by choice of the development team. As long as the team is making money off of us and we continue the play, there is no failure as a whole in regards to the game...just the opinion of some who do not like the changes.

 

[Arcus]

Once it's FTP, they will have to sell things that are desirable. That takes away from game play. And as they sell these things they will reach saturation points, and they'll have to come up with new things to sell, ever growing the store bought parts of the game.

You do realize that they already are doing this.

As more players come in that accept this sort of thing, and those that don't leave, the game will change more and more to the FTP player's likes. These players will demand store bought colored ponies and everything else.

Look around at the forums, this is already happening.

You can kiss UO as anything like what we know goodbye.

Too many guys on the dev team, a handshake will do.

 

[Beer_Cayse]

10+ years in 2 sessions. latest was retirement in November. I post here because:
a. I wanna
b. Perhaps even my little jabs will wake up EA
c. I can ... until banned for really stepping over the line

 

[ohmyGED]

10+ years in 2 sessions. latest was retirement in November. I post here because:
a. I wanna
b. Perhaps even my little jabs will wake up EA
c. I can ... until banned for really stepping over the line

Posting on a game forum for a game that you no longer choose to play reminds me of person that has quit smoking but enjoys sitting in a room with smokers just to enjoy the "fresh air"

But hey, whatever floats your boat. Doesn't phase me. Carry on.

 

[Trebr Drab]

Once it's FTP, they will have to sell things that are desirable. That takes away from game play. And as they sell these things they will reach saturation points, and they'll have to come up with new things to sell, ever growing the store bought parts of the game.

You do realize that they already are doing this.

As more players come in that accept this sort of thing, and those that don't leave, the game will change more and more to the FTP player's likes. These players will demand store bought colored ponies and everything else.

Look around at the forums, this is already happening.

You can kiss UO as anything like what we know goodbye.

Too many guys on the dev team, a handshake will do.

Yes, yes, Arsus, and all along these last years as I've been saying UO was dieing you were one that argued with me over that too.

And yet...here we are. Desperation time. "Go FtP to save UO!"
You go ahead and shake their hands. Smoke a cigar and share a drink. A job well done.

 

[Picus at the office]

For reasons I cannot possibly explain I would be hard pressed to have to pay for "extra" stuff while I have no problem paying for 2 accounts with cash and a third every other month with gold...

 

[Arcus]

Yes, yes, Arsus, and all along these last years as I've been saying UO was dieing you were one that argued with me over that too.

And yet...here we are. Desperation time. "Go FtP to save UO!"
You go ahead and shake their hands. Smoke a cigar and share a drink. A job well done.

Im not sure if I argued with you about the dying part , it really would not have surprised me if that announced the day they pull the plug over any of the past 3 years or any day now. If I did argue that point , I can say I was wrong. I know its been on the decline for years. Subs down, too many big employee changes. Hints from behind the curtain that EAs plan was to milk it for all it can without really putting much into it.

The recent XPac was actually contrary to my last sentence IMHO. I never bought it and prolly never will but it looks decent.

Honestly, I rarely log in any more unless some friends are doing something or I feel like messing around with my house design or finding a new house spot. Once a week maybe , but just like anything I do when WoW or EvE gets a bit mundane Ill spend more time in UO.

 

[Skrag]

Free-to-play works. Hell it's the future of MMO gaming. But don't count on the cranky old saps around here to catch on.

"PLEASE DON'T REFILL ALL THOSE DEAD SHARDS WITH FREE PLAYERS! NOOOOOO! THEY MIGHT SELL SOMETHING I DON'T LIKE! KEEP THIS GAME EMPTY!"

 

[Zosimus]

Free-to-play works. Hell it's the future of MMO gaming. But don't count on the cranky old saps around here to catch on.

"PLEASE DON'T REFILL ALL THOSE DEAD SHARDS WITH FREE PLAYERS! NOOOOOO! THEY MIGHT SELL SOMETHING I DON'T LIKE! KEEP THIS GAME EMPTY!"

^^ THIS^^ Post FTW!! He knows what he is talking about.

Most games are going to F2P. When people are on set budgets are pay a set fee they only pay that fee. Now, if no montly fee ,they may buy items from the pre set budget they paid for UO. They may get a little spend happy and pay 3 dollars more a month. Its a very possible situation. Now more players mean more action in PvP, PvM, Events, Role players and guilds can be larger once again. Low populated shards could have life again.

What vexxes me is why are some current players against this. Is it pixel addiction and I have to have more then the have nots? Less players cuts the competition out. Hogging all the items up and selling them at over inflated prices in a ruined ingame economy where gold is worth nothing. The game is about community. Mythic can add many pixels to balance the game and have time to fix bugs. Messana loves to add stuff so why not charge for it. Funny that many F2P games are way more active then UO with more people. These games must be making money to still be around.

 

[Babble]

Actually the f2p incentive is that people don't have to think about a fee to start, no box .. just play and can return when they want.
And when they buy they mostly buy on impulse for what they need at the time.

And f2p if well done games have probably a higher return rate of customers than subscription games where people rather stay until powered out then move to the next 'high'

 

[Adol]

Dungeons & Dragons Online, Lord Of The Rings Online, their core gameplay is based upon the Grind-Reward/Reputation model, as are most MMOs past Everquest. "Free To Play" models that rely upon requesting payment for progress fit into that model exceptionally well. Their audience is already in that mindset, and those who stay with the game will embrace it.

Ultima Online however is a Sandbox type game. Whilst a "Free To Play" model would work for new players, and I would welcome them into the game, the reason so many of us stay with this game and not the above is because we prefer the freedom to play as we wish. If the "F2P" model became restrictive to monthly accounts, I think you would actually destroy the core population here. Mini Expansions, depending on how regular they are, is already testing the patience of those left because of the bugs involved and poor design choices... and I'm personally keeping a close eye on how the Britannia Ship is implemented; if it's functional in a way no other ship can be, I'll feel increasingly uncomfortable. "F2P" should be funding the game we have, not an entirely different marketing model.

To be entirely honest, I have made my peace with the idea the game will die eventually. If I'm still there when it does, I want it to end as it started... as something unique. Burning the remaining audience for what money you can before the product folds will be a fantastic shame; let people sign up for individual payments for each step of the final waltz sure, but don't expect us all to suddenly learn an entirely new dance.

 

[Skrag]

I love the three paragraphs of anti-F2P blab without a single actual reason included, just a bunch of whaargarble.

Protip: Diku-style (that is to say the standard Everquest/Warcraft model) games have to be MORE careful about cash shop items because grinding for new items is the ENTIRE GAME, and if people feel like that can be better accomplished with money than with playing then the game becomes utterly pointless.

UO being a sandbox with housing gives it many MORE options in terms of a cash shop. You can put a frigging lump of horse crap in the shop for $3 and someone will buy it because OMG they have a faux stable in their house and that's just the perfect touch. You could sell an item for $2 that makes your energy vortexes blue and someone would buy it because they've been looking at purple ones for 10 years and hey it's only two bucks.

But no, Captain Just-Let-It-Die here will see some horse crap in a house and be so sad that you can't farm it as a drop from somewhere that he'll quit foreverrrrrr. Not just buy it with some of the $15 per month he's not spending anymore, quit FOREVERRRRR.

Protip #2: UO has had a very extensive cash shop for years. What's more, thanks to third-party sites you can buy anything in the game for cash. What's even MORE, you ALWAYS COULD. Richard Garriott used to brag about how much IRL money UO gold was worth. There were UO houses all over Ebay 10+ years ago.

What does UO look like once you bring real money into the picture? Hell, what does UO look like WITHOUT real money in the picture? I've been playing since T2A and I've never seen a UO where cash money wasn't a huge part of the game.

 

[covert]

I may be a minority, but I don't want this game to continue forever. I want a freaking successor or sequel.

 

[Slickjack]

I love how some think failure=the longest running MMO in history.

Also, since they don't publish the numbers, where are all you "experts" getting these sub numbers and losses??

Have I missed something?

I've played since October 1997 and haven't stopped and have no plan to deactivate my 5 accounts, which are 13, 11, 10, 8, and 3 years old with 9 houses on Catskills.

I'm still making new characters and new templates. I'm still uncovering things or being taught new things from guildmates.

THIS is the only game like this! It hasn't failed! Money isn't a barometer here. It simply is the best at what it does.

 

[Skrag]

You guys really live up to the local reputation.

"I hope they shut it down" and "How would you know the game needs to get more people, besides maybe looking around?"

 

[Cloak&Dagger]

I love the three paragraphs of anti-F2P blab without a single actual reason included, just a bunch of whaargarble.

Protip: Diku-style (that is to say the standard Everquest/Warcraft model) games have to be MORE careful about cash shop items because grinding for new items is the ENTIRE GAME, and if people feel like that can be better accomplished with money than with playing then the game becomes utterly pointless.

UO being a sandbox with housing gives it many MORE options in terms of a cash shop. You can put a frigging lump of horse crap in the shop for $3 and someone will buy it because OMG they have a faux stable in their house and that's just the perfect touch. You could sell an item for $2 that makes your energy vortexes blue and someone would buy it because they've been looking at purple ones for 10 years and hey it's only two bucks.

But no, Captain Just-Let-It-Die here will see some horse crap in a house and be so sad that you can't farm it as a drop from somewhere that he'll quit foreverrrrrr. Not just buy it with some of the $15 per month he's not spending anymore, quit FOREVERRRRR.

No argument as far as the f2p model, but most games are the same as WoW, I mean most f2p games. Not saying it can not work for UO, I have argued for it, although I feel it best to be a hybrid over just opening the game to f2p (see post above).

I may be a minority, but I don't want this game to continue forever. I want a freaking successor or sequel.

Why? This game can evolve forever, what would a sequel do for it? The game could in fact evolve into anything that a sequel could possible offer...

I love how some think failure=the longest running MMO in history.

Also, since they don't publish the numbers, where are all you "experts" getting these sub numbers and losses??

Have I missed something?

I've played since October 1997 and haven't stopped and have no plan to deactivate my 5 accounts, which are 13, 11, 10, 8, and 3 years old with 9 houses on Catskills.

I'm still making new characters and new templates. I'm still uncovering things or being taught new things from guildmates.

THIS is the only game like this! It hasn't failed! Money isn't a barometer here. It simply is the best at what it does.

EA use to give out the subscription numbers in its semi-annual report to its investors (stock holders) I have not seen a recent report, but I doubt it is included now if I remember correctly they stopped this.

 

[Cloak&Dagger]

You guys really live up to the local reputation.

"I hope they shut it down" and "How would you know the game needs to get more people, besides maybe looking around?"

Well, We may not need more people...just less space. I agree we are short on people, and fall WAY short of what our numbers use to be. But then...the game sustains itself very well, and doesn't "need" new players, only enough to replace those that quit. We do however have to much space for the current player-base.

 

[Skrag]

Most F2P games I'm familiar with still have an option to subscribe for $15 a month or whatever. You get all the account priveliges there are to be had, plus X number of "free" points per month with which to buy cash shop goodies.

If you hate F2P but they added it anyway, all you'd have to do is keep paying what you're paying now, pick some "free" crap out of the shop now and then, and pretend nothing has changed except... hey... there are more people playing now.

 

[Pinco]

no need to do a full f2p.... just remove the time limit from the trial account, rename it to free account and here we have a free to play UO.
They have also to disable veteran rewards on trial account...

 

[KoolAidAddict]

Protip #2: UO has had a very extensive cash shop for years. What's more, thanks to third-party sites you can buy anything in the game for cash. What's even MORE, you ALWAYS COULD. Richard Garriott used to brag about how much IRL money UO gold was worth. There were UO houses all over Ebay 10+ years ago.

What does UO look like once you bring real money into the picture? Hell, what does UO look like WITHOUT real money in the picture? I've been playing since T2A and I've never seen a UO where cash money wasn't a huge part of the game.

Not sure about this "extensive" wordage, since there are a TON of items not for sale, but perhaps your definition is different.
As for these third party sales, and RG's bragging you spoke of, true, except it was for IN GAME items, meaning game items that COULD be gotten with PLAYING, and not ONLY with buying, as does F2P.
Yeah, some of em have the option of subs and the points yada yada, but the crap you can choose doesnt include the items you cannot get without real dollars.
Big difference in the "gotta have it now" vs the "only way to get it" issue.
Yes, UO now has items in store that can ONLY be gotten with real money, and I, for one, dont care for it, but if it keeps us afloat, then Ill just have to adapt.
Same can be said, for me anyway, about if UO was to go F2P.
Lots of issues to deal with tho, unless they keep status quo, and simply add F2P option.

Perhaps a couple F2P shards, since we have some barren ones?

 

[Vlaude]

Free-to-play works. Hell it's the future of MMO gaming. But don't count on the cranky old saps around here to catch on.

"PLEASE DON'T REFILL ALL THOSE DEAD SHARDS WITH FREE PLAYERS! NOOOOOO! THEY MIGHT SELL SOMETHING I DON'T LIKE! KEEP THIS GAME EMPTY!"

Best post in this thread right here. If the devs continue listening to those types (the cranky old saps), they'll be out of a job faster than a cat out of water. Remember the classic shard debate? They've pulled these "out with the old, in with the new" moves for many years now. Trammel? Out with the old, in with the new. AoS? Out with the old, in with the new. I see this decision being along the same lines. Besides, the cranky old saps won't go anywhere.. they have nowhere else TO go. Have fun!

 

[Phineas le Monge]

With all the downtime on Atlantic recently, I created a f2p account on LOTRO.
In this debate I would like to hear from some LOTRO vets about how going f2p has changed their game. All the proposed "pros and cons" about UO going f2p is just speculation at best. Let's hear from someone who's game has gone f2p, wether it ruined their game or improved it.
Of course, it will not be community or history that determines UO's fate. It will be $$$$.

 

[Babble]

Best check out the lotr forums, but overall it seems to be positive.
The servers are fuller, it is easier to find a fellowship and the ratio of idiots to normal players seems to have stayed constant.

 

[Arcus]

My problem with the whole free to play model is the barrier to entry.

If done poorly and the barrier to entry is set to low it causes some issues:

1) Flood of griefers - Having your account tied to a credit card or bank account can make a person think twice before doing something that they regret. If you have the threat of never being able to play the game again because you have been CC banned it can prevent some of this. Note I dont say WILL or STOP . There are always ways around it but IMHO this makes some people thin twice.

2) Hackers - For the same reasons as #1 basically. Make an account , hack hack hack. Get banned. Start a new one.

3) If the game isnt good, free or not it wont matter. F2P would bring an influx of players BUT all those who are pro F2P have to remember that this would cause a good number of people (vets) to leave. No matter how much you talk down to and insult the people who dont like F2P (looking at you Skrag) it will happen. Weigh that against the influx of new players who may or may not even like what they are getting for free.

*Hey , PSST you over there want some free sneakers made from wood and cock roach carcasses?*

Ill pass.


One more point on griefing/hackers - IP bans are going to be harder and harder to justify going forward especially considering the IPV4 space problem. Many more ISPs are going to be forced to subnet larger portions of their networks so banning an IP could mean banning a neighborhood / town . Not good for revenue.

 

[Babble]

I can do the same with trial accounts.
You can set up a trial account and a script and mine all day long then sell the ingots and still make billions of uo gold, but what for?

Same as griefing now if you want to do it. Not a good argument.

Who the hell wants to hack uo...wow, aion, lotr I understand .. but UO ...

I still agree with you though uo should not go f2p and we should advertise freeshards more to give people alternatives

 

[ohmyGED]

Why would you want to even think of a "Free to Play" model? We already have enough problems with hackers and scripters....this would just be a never ending resource for them to screw up the economy more so then it already is at this point in time.

I can understand that this convention works for different games, but unless their is an ironfist when it comes to scripting and hacking, there is clearly no benefit.

I can see numerous people running chains of F2P accounts scripting resources.....sounds like an awesome idea.


Also, people FAIL to understand that unless there is another way to generate revenue (and I hardly believe that creating a 'shop for virtue items' will do the trick) then there is no way to keep the servers up and the game prospering.

And if the development team thought it was a good idea to go to F2P....they would have used a model. Typically, there is an analyst that does their research to determine what the best strategy should be when it comes to generating money. Like I've said before.....let them do the work.

 

[Arcus]

I can do the same with trial accounts.
You can set up a trial account and a script and mine all day long then sell the ingots and still make billions of uo gold, but what for?

Same as griefing now if you want to do it. Not a good argument.

Who the hell wants to hack uo...wow, aion, lotr I understand .. but UO ...

I still agree with you though uo should not go f2p and we should advertise freeshards more to give people alternatives

Good point. Ill counter with ; they should do what blizz did. Trial account cannot trade with other players.

 

[Trebr Drab]

I can do the same with trial accounts.
You can set up a trial account and a script and mine all day long then sell the ingots and still make billions of uo gold, but what for?

Same as griefing now if you want to do it. Not a good argument.

Who the hell wants to hack uo...wow, aion, lotr I understand .. but UO ...

I still agree with you though uo should not go f2p and we should advertise freeshards more to give people alternatives

Good point. Ill counter with ; they should do what blizz did. Trial account cannot trade with other players.

Well, in UO you can just drop things on the ground.

What they need to do for UO trial accounts is have a separate server. This has been suggested many times. Maybe on a test server.

 

[Sevin0oo0]

To the OP... In the first part of your post you stated the problem, which is exactly what I thought by the time I got to the end of the Subject line

Since Electronic Arts has taken over the game

People can reason what will make it better, and what will help, but it still goes back to the people who call shots, and what They think will be best over the long term.

 

[Babble]

Well, in UO you can just drop things on the ground.

What they need to do for UO trial accounts is have a separate server. This has been suggested many times. Maybe on a test server.

At the moment they can leave trial accounts as they are, I doubt they are that much of a problem. They could do a dedicated f2p server, that might be a possiblity. Actually they would need to open several f2p servers as those would probably be fuller than normal servers, as they are f2p and people will probably try it out more.