New uo.com website is up

[Sir_Bolo]

I just noticed that the new uo.com website is up now.

The site looks good and it seems to have interesting functionality, such as multi-language support and a wiki.

It still suffers from the same issue as the previous website however: it contains very little useful content...

Hopefully the new "player wiki" section will be populated soon!

P.S. UO history nitpick: one of the website backgrounds is taken from UltimaIX art and depicts Lord Blackthorn corrupted by the Shadowlords. This is a bit out of place in UO where Blackthorn is a good king instead:

http://uo.com/wp-content/themes/ultimaonline/images/bg/4.jpg

 

[Larisa]

I don't think it's fully functional yet..at least I hope not.

The wiki has nowhere to submit information
The EM page just lists the EM sites if which half don't even work anymore

And I don't know if it's just me but this:



Does not give an accurate representation of UO....my game doesn't look like that...(Talking about the image)
When I go to a games website, I expect that the images I see on that site are from in-game and this one is just..not :/

Other then that it looks 100000000000000% better then the old one.

 

[DJAd]

New account management??

 

[Larisa]

New account management??

The account link goes to the current eamythic account management page...maybe they are still working on it?

(By the way, to whoever IS working on it, the Ultima Online link on the eamythic site needs to be changed! It links to uoherald.com which doesn't exist anymore, thanks!)

 

[HoneythornGump]

Screenshots are horrible which is the first thing I'm going to look at when I'm considering trying a new game.

Why are the screenshots terrible? Because they are the lousy CC graphics from 20 years ago. EC isn't much better (because it was tailored to appease Jurassics) but it's much better than the CC graphics overall.

Returning players already know what UO looks like ( Like Hell).

You think any new potential players are going to look at those screenshots and think "Yeah...now that's a game I want to try".

Secondly....the client.

Why are the Devs (2D Messana) still promoting the Classic Client (support of which is why UO is in the sorry shape it's in).

You do not want new players who are playing the first time using the Classic Client...put that link download and make it a tiny blotch in the corner. Hide that friggin' client from any new potential players. Yeah yeah I understand the jurassic will never give up their ****ty classic client which has been detrimental to UO in terms of attracting new players, but for god sakes don't let new players download it. The classic client should be it's own search..link whatever..hidden far away and only to be found by those specifically looking for it.

Terrible leadership and vision for this great game. The Devs, or whoever makes these decisions, are so short sighted it't not even funny.

 

[Merlin]

It's a step in the right direction.

Hopefully Wiki will begin to be populated. I wonder if the developer's have thought at all about working in conjunction with UO Guide, Petra's site and the old Stratics archives. Likely not on their priority list to focus on the Wiki, but they certainly have resources they could leverage off of.

 

[Scribbles]

I really hope with the website comes a new store and account mngmnt site..... Other wise it will pretty useless...

 

[Scribbles]

http://uo.com/events/ I am liking the fact that they have a calendar up..... it only took 2 years of pancakes to get one... but damn... it will be nice.

 

[Angel of Sonoma]

i hope they put up some pics from the US shards. the pics on uo.com are all from asian shards.

 

[Angel of Sonoma]

http://uo.com/events/ I am liking the fact that they have a calendar up..... it only took 2 years of pancakes to get one... but damn... it will be nice.

i am loving the calendar!!

 

[Deep Ellum Dan]

While I am glad they updated the website, as a professional website developer, I am sad to see they went with wordpress instead of developing their own website. Wordpress is powerful yes but its just makes everyone's website the same. Ya, maybe im picky but there is so much more that can be done when developing your own site from the ground up. I hope this works out.

 

[Deep Ellum Dan]

..the wiki... looks like we all are unable to add to the wiki... wow. Also there is hardly anything there in the wiki. Im feeling this site was rushed as it is very incomplete. In my experience, you never make a site public until it is 100% complete and ready to go. Man, this will not be good for attracting new players. I was excited about a new site until now.

 

[Merus]

As with anything, I hope this gets a professional touch up. Broken links, inconsistent information and simple typos give off a very bad vibe (if you can't even get the text on the website right, how much confidence do you have in the actual game).

That said, if executed properly, there is so much awesomeness here I might just fall out of my chair! Love the calendar. Love the myuo character search. Love the EM site links. Just pure awesomeness! (Please, please don't screw it up!)

 

[Scribbles]

I have a feeling they got to a point in which they had to update the website to keep working on it. I severely doubt this is the completed project... Well at least i hope.

Classic example of why UO needs a PR person. They always let the wolves run with stories, then they try to patch things up. Any PR person will tell you to release a statement before you release any updates or news... Derp. Control your audience UO.

 

[Merlin]

I have a feeling they got to a point in which they had to update the website to keep working on it. I severely doubt this is the completed project... Well at least i hope.

Classic example of why UO needs a PR person. They always let the wolves run with stories, then they try to patch things up. Any PR person will tell you to release a statement before you release any updates or news... Derp. Control your audience UO.

Agreed. Some official acknowledgement of the particular changes that have been updated, what is still a work in progress, etc., would be nice. Gives them some sort of statement to tamp down on any negativity running amok, well... atleast somewhat.

Maybe in the next newsletter?

 

[Old Vet Back Again]

Regardless if it's a work in progress or not...At least they are actually doing something. This year alone we have gotten a new expansion and a new website. You guys can be as negative as you want, but they are actually doing things. Things that have been needing to get done for years. Are there things that need to be addressed? Yes! But the simple fact that they are showing follow through with the tasks at hand tells me things are looking better than they have been in a LONG time.

I like the art because it is paying homage to how old this game is.

I say good job and looking forward to the future implementations!

 

[DJAd]

Just got home and having a proper look.

The calendar is a great addition (once its got stuff on it).

 

[hirikawa]

Site got really decent graphics, wish EC client looks the same (current EC graphics is disaster) It could attract retro gamers.

 

[Deraj]

So far I dig it. Hope it continues to receive regular updates and improvements.

 

[Tina Small]

Regardless if it's a work in progress or not...At least they are actually doing something. This year alone we have gotten a new expansion and a new website. You guys can be as negative as you want, but they are actually doing things. Things that have been needing to get done for years. Are there things that need to be addressed? Yes! But the simple fact that they are showing follow through with the tasks at hand tells me things are looking better than they have been in a LONG time.

I like the art because it is paying homage to how old this game is.

I say good job and looking forward to the future implementations!

I wonder what happens to a game when most of its players take to heart the old adage, "If you can't say something nice, then don't say anything at all?" Does it mean a horrendous case of apathy has set in? The trolls won? Or people are just being extra-nice and polite?

 

[MalagAste]

I totally agree about the need of a PR person. But we all know that "someone" on the DEV team always wants everything hush hush... I have no idea why... It's annoying.

There hasn't been any good communication for years. Though I will say this Kyronix does an amazing job of giving feedback when he's able/willing... Bleak... does better than the rest.

I still have zero idea what a few DEV's do... since honestly you never hear from them.

Mesanna spends more time fixing things she shouldn't have to work on... like peoples accounts.

The #1 thing that NEEDS fixed is the account mismanagement site. It needs a serious overhaul and to be jerked away from EA's direct control. Secondly we need a place to buy things that isn't the Origin store. Somewhere that EVERYONE can access and it's all the same... So everyone can buy EVERYTHING that is supposed to be there. No more of this BS where folk in some countries can't buy certain things. It's silly.

Now I also so that they ought to promote the EC more. But that would require fixing some major problems with the EC. Still having a bunch of issues with bars not updating, weird things going on with crashing now.

Though I will say the update to the website is a step in the right direction.

 

[DJAd]

Well a few items already showing on the event calendar but devs could you please put the time zone!

I have no idea if its showing in my time, that particular shards time zone or what.

Looks great so far and a fantastic edition! I hope all the EM Events + more shows up on here. Its great having everything in one location.

 

[Riyana]

A couple posts have been removed for baiting and trolling. Let's keep this about the game rather than about each other, shall we?

 

[Promathia]

Well a few items already showing on the event calendar but @Bleak @Kyronix @Mesanna could you please put the time zone!

I have no idea if its showing in my time, that particular shards time zone or what.

It see the timezone listed under the event details.

 

[Yadd of Legends]

Great start; I see the potential
First impression: It doesn't look and feel like UO. There's a certain old-school charm that this art doesn't capture. The main page at least should reflect the brand, and this doesn't. I hope it's fixed.

 

[Larisa]

It see the timezone listed under the event details.

Yeah way at the bottom

 

[DJAd]

It see the timezone listed under the event details.

Yep just noticed. You have to click on each one to see all the details. I was hoping for it when you hover the mouse over on the calendar. 1st world problems.

 

[Kayhynn]

Apparently I can't get UOHomeDecor.com listed as a fansite no matter how many emails I send or contacts I make. At least they removed all the sites that no longer exist.

 

[Veldrane]

While I am glad they updated the website, as a professional website developer, I am sad to see they went with wordpress instead of developing their own website. Wordpress is powerful yes but its just makes everyone's website the same. Ya, maybe im picky but there is so much more that can be done when developing your own site from the ground up. I hope this works out.

I'm going to agree and disagree with you here a little bit. Developing your own site from the ground up that requires a CMS is a waste of development time when there are already several CMS platforms that are up to the challenge. The draw back, as you pointed out is that the majority of WordPress sites look the same, that's where they dropped the ball. It's not difficult to develop a WP site that doesn't actually look like a WP site, but what it does take is an experienced web design & developer team. This site looks like a WP site that was designed & developed by people who are not a full-time professional web designers - or at the very least are light on experience.

 

[Deep Ellum Dan]

I will agree with you to some extent but look at what all uo.com has, there is no need for a CRM. Back in the day, we didnt have what was called CRM but were able to develop extensive sites that had user accounts and plenty of information. It does seem they do not have a dedicated developer for their website so i can understand them going this route. It took me awhile, but I single handedly developed a site more extensive than UO.com although it took me several months. So I do hope they make the best of this as of right now, there is really nothing there.

 

[MisPrinTed LiEs]

+1 @ the new uo.com

 

[THP]

theve tried the event calander b4.. soon got forgetton and not updated....oh well...finger crossed someone WILL update this one

 

[Deep Ellum Dan]

Too bad it wasn't mobile friendly

 

[Veldrane]

Too bad it wasn't mobile friendly

I agree; I made the same comment in another thread. This is 2015, there is no reason that this web site shouldn't be at least a responsive design, though adaptive would be best.

 

[Deep Ellum Dan]

It does seem the website is one of the lower of the properties. With being a division of EA, why wouldn't EA step in and lend some help with the website. If I had sometimes to create the artwork for me, with proper time, I can't have something way better created and NOT use WordPress, all custom but then again, it's because I'm a huge fan of UO and would be motivated just in that itself.

 

[Sir_Bolo]

With being a division of EA

Going off topic now - but Broadsword isn't a division of EA. They are an independent company with a contract to develop and run UO on behalf of EA.

 

[Deep Ellum Dan]

Going off topic now - but Broadsword isn't a division of EA. They are an independent company with a contract to develop and run UO on behalf of EA.

Aha, I stand corrected
I figured when EA bought a company, they owned it and decided it's fate.

 

[Lord Frodo]

Aha, I stand corrected
I figured when EA bought a company, they owned it and decided it's fate.

Broadsword is a company that started from EA/Mythic employees separate from EA with the sole purpose to support DAoC and UO.