Should EA put UO back on the retail shelf where it belongs?

[EvilPixieWorks]

Frankly… I have never understood this way of thinking. I have been playing UO for 10 years now and I’ve seen an extremely noticeable drop in the online community ever since some overpaid executive chose this path for our game. I can understand cost and production… and all that, but NOW we see game cards on retail shelves too. Game Cards… advertise the games! There is nothing on the retail shelf that says “Check out this box”… because there is no box.

I also have been around computers a long time… and one of the greatest adventures of trying a new game was picking a box up and giving it a quick look over. I never picked up a game magazine, so some “critic” could give me his PAID opinion of a game I may or may not be interested in. Word of mouth goes only so far. I don’t know how many times I’ve cruised the game isle of the 3 giant stores now… just like we had to go to specialty stores way back in the day. That’s how I originally found Ultima 4. That’s how I found every single game I loved… and a few I flat out hated, but if you don’t take a risk… you never win.

Even if it was only a game card. One of my local “convenience” stores (I’m not sure if I can say the name, but they are coast to coast and maybe over 100,000 of them in the USA alone)… first thing you see when you come in the door is a 4’x4’ wall of game cards. And guess what. No shortage of “World of Warcraft” cards. Otherwise there is zero merchandise out and around where anyone could accidentally, who isn’t already dialed in, will find it or ask questions.

Even when you consider the constant changes and updates to UO, a physical card that advertises the game on the retail shelf COULD mean more and more players will come to our shards and actually pay the bills so staff could make greater improvements. A simple card on the retail shelf… even for all of 10$ will expose a new customer to a well established and historic online game.

Not that the staff listens… BUT what do YOU think?

 

[Bazer]

Heck yea, i would love to see the boxes and cards back at Walmart and Gamestop! i would buy several of each and hand em out free if they did.

 

[Venus_AUPK]

Personally Id like to see UO put on Steam like so many other EA games, right now there are 1.65 million gamers online using steam, if only 10% of them try UO it would be a huge win.

V

 

[Tanivar]

EA would need to produce a good player guide first. After 14 years of additions to this sandbox it has gotten very complex. The learning curve is way to steep to learn to play this game if you only have a casual interest in trying out a new game. You would file 13 the game and go to a game that gives you some relevant guidence on how to play it.

It has to be comparable to taking someone who's never worked with a computer before and plopping them in front of one and expecting them to figure out how to use it without even basic how-to directions.

 

[Yellow Beard]

UO has become the "Meg" of Family Guy fame to EA. They simply don't care.

 

[Raptor85]

How about RECENT builds of UO being in the box this time though, in 2005-6ish AOS was actually re-released on CD and I saw them still on the shelf as late as 2009 or so (I admit, i probably bought 5 or 6 of these, they were $8.99 and came with advanced character token codes, and around that time i probably had 12 open accounts), then just afterwards the 10th anniversary box came out (I still see those around gamestop and such, but gamestop isn't exactly well known for it's PC selection lately, being that they hide them all in a corner in the back....)

The problem with both of these......they basically both have the AOS client in the box......so you need to install 8 years worth of patches after installing the game to play. (Yes, every box release since AOS seems to just use the AOS client....i guess EA can't afford to run off another gold master disk...lol)

Honestly though, put ML on GOG.com for $5.99 and watch the uo playerbase grow significantly.

 

[Woodsman]

EA would need to produce a good player guide first.

Requirements for the retail shelf IMO
1) Updated graphics - today's MMO players are not going to take a look unless the graphics are better than they currently are.
2) Good player guide and updated official site.
3) Have the New Player Experience up and running completely.
4) Official forums. It's only going to confuse new players if they show up on the official BioWare forums and see forums for Warhammer, Star Wars, etc., or show up at the official EA forums and see forums for games like Sims Medieval and then be told they have to go visit non-EA websites or chat on Facebook for support. I was told tonight by somebody I somewhat trust (they were right about a few things they've told me but off by a few months on the booster packs) that EA is considering official forums at some point that may tie into the UltimaForever stuff somehow or that may come about with the new player stuff.

 

[Martyna Zmuir]

Requirements for the retail shelf IMO
1) Updated graphics - today's MMO players are not going to take a look unless the graphics are better than they currently are.
2) Good player guide and updated official site.
3) Have the New Player Experience up and running completely.
4) Official forums.

This.


With several major 'high speed' ISPs considering tiered bandwith and download limits, digital distribution will be frowned on by those not wanting to waste what could be used to play.

Even a small shelf presence could be a big boost to UO.

 

[Nexus]

, there's a few options missing for my taste....

While I'd love to see UO on shelves again, I realise that it would have to be relevant in the MMO world for that to happen. Frankly UO is not relevant in the MMO Market place, and sticking boxes on a shelf is not going to change that.

UO has few selling points that can be slapped on a box that will get people's attention. I can climb on a soap box and preach about the games history, it's culture, it's community, etc. and maybe get a few people to try it out. On the other hand neither I nor EA can slap a description of that on a box and yeild the same results, UO's selling points are too deep for marketability, and the areas of the game that could be marketable are not.

Let me sum it up, You, Me, the next door neighbours pet ferret etc. we are not the Future of UO. We are the present and the Past and that is all we will ever be, they are already getting our money, sure they will try and make us happy, but they at the same time must focus on changes in the game that will draw new players.

What does this mean? UO needs modernised, the EC is a step in the right direction but it falls short very very short. UO needs to be revamped into a persistent 3D world in order to compete on a scale with games like LOTRO, WoW, Rift, and well you could toss in a lot of other games into the hat as well. I say this not to dismay the current CC fans, or the people who love the 2D isometric view but it's simple logic. There is not profit for EA to stick UO on a shelf with Box art of gameplay like this:

When other games have game play graphics like this and they don't require a Subscription, oh and this game (one in screenshot) doesn't have a shelf presence either but has over a million players.

And yes that's an actual screen shot from LOTRO, it's Rivendell Valley looking toward the Last Homely House, and not Concept Art.

UO in a world of fierce competition has become a niche game and as our lives evolve around us and our interest or available time wanes, UO will dwindle to the point of non-profitability and well... we know what will happen then. It might be next year, or 5 years from now, but it will happen. We can all either accept the inevitable and march down that road with our heads high and say "I was there til the end" or grovel in fear of what will eventually happen.

If by chance they did do something to modernise UO, it still has serious flaws, RMT sales are strictly prohibited and enforced in other games, cheating is cracked down on hard, and quite honestly UO's community, on the whole isn't the "Best of any Game". I've played and play games were you don't have the trash talking fools, you ask a question in Global Chat you get an answer, you go on a tirade that resembles one of George Carlin's 7 words skits and you get to spend some quality time with a GM instructing you on the error of your ways. Even the level of interaction between Staff and Players in some other games is completely opposite of what you see in UO.

Frankly as much as I love UO, it's been outstripped on almost every front, it's only true strength left is it's flexibility in character development. I'm worried that SW:TOR will make or break UO, if SW:TOR hits big and EA sees money finally pouring in from a MMO (War Hammer didn't do it ) I'm worried it will set the bar higher in their eyes of what UO should be earning and possibly shorten it's life span.

 

[Lady Michelle]

EA should put the codes in the stores by making game code cards something like gift cards.
The cards would have a current, and upgrade code. Also have where to register, down load the EC, and the player guide.
Even though it isn't a CD at least it will be back on the store shelves.

 

[Viper09]

Personally Id like to see UO put on Steam like so many other EA games, right now there are 1.65 million gamers online using steam, if only 10% of them try UO it would be a huge win.

V

I like the idea of putting it on steam.

As it stands UO wouldn't do too well on the shelves. The graphics look horrible compared to all the other games on the shelves. It would probably end up being a waste of money. As an example, there is a gamestop not too far away from where I live that has had the same copy of Samurai Empire sitting on the shelf for well over a year. Only good it'd do is make the graphics of every other game around it look even better, lol.

 

[Lady Storm]

If the EA exe's were smart they would put out a small flow of boxes to keep the handling stores filled.... thats my angle on it. Even though many are into online shopping and all they dont think what do kids and adults looking for play time go....... the local walmart and gamestop... Frys... the malls and local game stores..... A simple cd case with the cover art and the game cd, a printed code inside... for trial. Yes its a few pennies and some work.

BUT and I use that word here very carefully..

The buying public is not gunna see UO with the glut of online games all pushing and shoving to hawk the game they are for on line in some game mag or articles. UO should go like World of Warcraft.. they got it right... IN THE STORES... If you think about it those games disapeared off the shelfs quickly, I didnt see 1 game of UO in the discount bin.
They still sell tons of Diablo.... starcraft... and do you see them going all download off a site?? hell no cause if you want the widest sales you go hands on.

 

[aarons6]

putting uo in stores is not a good idea..
last time i saw uo in a store there were like 10 or 15 boxes in the back marked down to 4.99.

i say they should junk the CC and EC clients and make a uo client based on an engine that is like dragon age 1 and 2.. one that is true 3d with pan, tilt, zoom and rotate cameras and has the EC macro system.

 

[GalenKnighthawke]

I love the objective, unbiased nature of how the question in this poll is phrased.

Basically every Stratics poll is a push poll.

-Galen's player

 

[Tazar]

I love the objective, unbiased nature of how the question in this poll is phrased.

Basically every Stratics poll is a push poll.

-Galen's player

Too true. Especially in this case because whether or not UO is on store shelves is not up to EA/Mythic. Instead, it's up to Best Buy, Target, Walmart, etc. and honestly, these retailers can make more off of other products that move faster. For a retailer, it's all about how fast the items sell.

 

[Saphireena]

I for one think it should be on the shelves and game cards should be sold. However it needs a whole new strategy and attitude in how it's being marketed and promoted. In the past it's been struggling to keep up with the other MMOs and has sought to compete with them as an equal. Instead it should flaunt the retro experience, the return to the legend and nostalgia of the Ultima series. (maybe even packaged together with all the single player Ultimas as a bonus disc?).

One of the problems of todays MMOS is that buying a new game has become a risk (unless it's a Blizzard product) because that new shiny and hyped MMO might just be another flop that dies out as soon as it's started, as has happened with so so many. I know I felt unsure whether to buy Rift because of my experience with Age of Conan.

So with this is mind, the UO box should also boast about being the first commerical MMO and how it's still around and standing with a very active community.

In addition, UO needs to have something bigger in Facebook other than a fan page. There should be some application that allows you to turn your paperdoll into a profile pic with the Ultima Online logo pasted on top or something.

 

[EvilPixieWorks]

I love it! Great chatter, gang!

“The Meg of the EA game family”!!! lol. I love it! So true, Yellow Beard.

Trouble is… I can't be unbiased. It makes zero sense to me that such a wonderful “thing” as UO is becoming a secret because of this “misguided” idea of the overlords. Last time I saw any UO game box for sale, it was at “Game Stop” AoS… only 3 years ago. Priced as if it was new! That helps?

I live in a fairly good size “small city” of over 110k people… and new business pop up all the time… and they go under just as fast and not for lack of hard work and attracting customers. It's not like any sandwich place could stay in business for a week, hidden in the back corner of a city building basement where no one is likely to ever see it… AND it stays in business for over 14 years.

Good thinking Lady Michelle… even something like a 1 month paid card would a be a great idea. Now a days, it seems you are 10x more likely to get a gift card for a birthday or Christmas… then ever before.

I guess I should say what massive chain I was referring to… 7-11. If all they did was put a game card for UO in that chain? We’d have more players. Every store, every outlet that sells computer stuff… if nothing is available, no one is displaying anything with UO’s mark on it.

 

[Ashlynn_L]

UO would do well I Steam I think, I don't know why it's not on there. Steam already has a huge variety of games that cater to lots of different kinds of players and I'm sure some of those would give it a try.

A shelf presence is unrealistic in the current market as it costs a lot of money to do. A lot of things are moving to digital distribution and that isn't necessarily a bad thing.

 

[Nok]

Too true. Especially in this case because whether or not UO is on store shelves is not up to EA/Mythic. Instead, it's up to Best Buy, Target, Walmart, etc. and honestly, these retailers can make more off of other products that move faster. For a retailer, it's all about how fast the items sell.

*DING-DING-DING!!!* Correct, the retailer decides what is stocked on their shelves. And if they don't want UO, you can't make them stock it.

 

[Viquire]

*DING-DING-DING!!!* Correct, the retailer decides what is stocked on their shelves. And if they don't want UO, you can't make them stock it.

Uh, Nok, you uh, you missed a ding there.

This UO we have is not likely to be back on shelves again. I am however thankful we are starting to look at a larger web presence which means that someone somewhere is putting some thought and a little bit of money into the franchise. We should see some interest gains from that over time.

 

[StaticOnAtlantic]

Frankly… I have never understood this way of thinking. I have been playing UO for 10 years now and I’ve seen an extremely noticeable drop in the online community ever since some overpaid executive chose this path for our game. I can understand cost and production… and all that, but NOW we see game cards on retail shelves too. Game Cards… advertise the games! There is nothing on the retail shelf that says “Check out this box”… because there is no box.

I also have been around computers a long time… and one of the greatest adventures of trying a new game was picking a box up and giving it a quick look over. I never picked up a game magazine, so some “critic” could give me his PAID opinion of a game I may or may not be interested in. Word of mouth goes only so far. I don’t know how many times I’ve cruised the game isle of the 3 giant stores now… just like we had to go to specialty stores way back in the day. That’s how I originally found Ultima 4. That’s how I found every single game I loved… and a few I flat out hated, but if you don’t take a risk… you never win.

Even if it was only a game card. One of my local “convenience” stores (I’m not sure if I can say the name, but they are coast to coast and maybe over 100,000 of them in the USA alone)… first thing you see when you come in the door is a 4’x4’ wall of game cards. And guess what. No shortage of “World of Warcraft” cards. Otherwise there is zero merchandise out and around where anyone could accidentally, who isn’t already dialed in, will find it or ask questions.

Even when you consider the constant changes and updates to UO, a physical card that advertises the game on the retail shelf COULD mean more and more players will come to our shards and actually pay the bills so staff could make greater improvements. A simple card on the retail shelf… even for all of 10$ will expose a new customer to a well established and historic online game.

Not that the staff listens… BUT what do YOU think?

The issue is not printing a box anymore. If you have visited your local game store PC games itself has almost disappeared on store shelves due to DLC from different websites. A friend of Mine who is a regional Electronics manager for the largest multi-box store (other than walmart) has let me know that just like music market (cd's etc) PC GAMES have almost completely phased out.


No one is buying from store shelves anymore. This topic has been created 100's if not 1000's of time on this board and many others.

UO itself understands that at this point there is NO point on advertising unless 2 things happen. #1 UO 2 roles out with a new graphics engine, even though UO itself has the best "depth" of a mmo, it lacks the fundamentals that current MMO players look for graphics & depth, or #2 Goes F2P.

Bottom line is, No one buys games from store shelves anymore, and UO itself is not going to advertise unless those two things change.

 

[Nails]

Plain and simple, I would not of been playing this game if I didn't notice it years ago on a shelf at target. several accounts would of never been on for so many years. I am sure that others must have similar stories.

 

[olduofan]

I dont understand still to this day why they dropped the kr client for the ec client it looked so much better.

 

[Lady Michelle]

I dont understand still to this day why they dropped the kr client for the ec client it looked so much better.

EA and company are to busy trying to please the current players who will never switch over from 2d by making the new client what they want it to be. To me its a waste of time, and they need to focus on making the new client what it should be for the future generation.
keep the 2d client for the old generation, and build the new client for the new generation to come play UO.

 

[olduofan]

I will not play the ec but kr i would so until we get a newer client ill stick to the cc. I also agree they need to be more focused on attracting new players not making the ec be more like the cc. that being said I hope they dont go in the direction of anime/Tinkerbell type art that would be a huge mistake imo.

I remember buying all the up-grades of uo in stores up until sa and the 9th ann. I really think we need boxes in the stores. I dont see why they cant run anther promoting like 9th ann and put it in walmart again or game stop etc.

 

[Woodsman]

This renders this discussion partially moot, assuming UO is available:

Wing Commander CIC - BREAKING NEWS: EA Launches "Origin"

It turns out the GOG announcement was just the tip of the iceberg--or maybe just a distraction. It has just come out that Electronic Arts will formally launch their own "iTunes" style download service tomorrow. The system is called, wait for it, Origin, and will launch with more than 150 available games. If we don't see a Wing Commander, I'll eat my hat.

Bet EA is kicking themselves for letting Origin.com expire.

 

[olduofan]

This renders this discussion partially moot, assuming UO is available:

Wing Commander CIC - BREAKING NEWS: EA Launches "Origin"



Bet EA is kicking themselves for letting Origin.com expire.

so this is happening tomorrow from ea if so mite help out some with uo it would be nice to see posters/end caps and boxes in store as well

 

[Woodsman]

If I had to guess, I'd say they are going to leave the DOS stuff to GOG and use the Origin download service for their current games plus all of the DLC and the older Windows games.

With EA doing this, they will probably try to sell even more of their games through digital downloads. They get more money that way. A lot more money.

 

[MalagAste]

I believe I bought 2 or 3 copies of 9th anniversary from Wal-Mart years ago...


However its my opinion that until they do something MAJOR about Bugs, Scammers, Griefers, and Graphics they may as well take the game out and put it out of it's misery.


Those whom I speak to either new or returning... (Yes there still are a few of both of these)... Become very frustrated with the Griefing and Cheating that go unchecked. Those who return get very upset to find the same old bugs that were there when they left STILL unfixed today.

They often think the service is a joke... which I can not argue with them...

Sure I would LOVE to see UO on the shelf.... but I don't think it would sell... I would prefer UO got some sort of online boost .... you can't even see it on EA's site much you have to REALLY search to find it... What does that tell you????? Speaks Volumes to me.

I think F2P might be a great way to go.... only the way I think I'd set that up would be to create 2 or 3 F2P servers... Make the play there limited. Cap things like gold at 1million, cap supplies at 1k, cap houses at 8x8. This would give players the "Feel" of UO without making it somewhere to profit. Give them Fel but don't give them scrolls. Let them experience the world without the rewards... these servers would be somewhat like Pre-AoS... in that there would be limited "goods"..... no artifacts, no insurance... No Malas, Tokuno, or Ter Mur... No Elves or Gargoyles.

This would satisfy 2 realms... those who want "classic" shards... and those who want to learn UO..... if they want more like insurance, Malas, Tokuno and Ter Mur..... they want the EM's and the items then they have to pay...

Then they are able to transfer to one of the regular shards. This would keep folk from using F2P as a way to transfer bulk resources for sale cheaply because you are very limited on the F2P servers.... and it would give experience with the basic game functions.... while it promotes the game.

 

[Saphireena]

I wonder if UO would make money (and bring players) if it were turned into a web game (and embedded into a Facebook app as well of course like so many games are) and the graphics were vector (thus endlessly scalable). I think I might just try and see what some object might look in vector format.

 

[Nexus]

so this is happening tomorrow from ea if so mite help out some with uo it would be nice to see posters/end caps and boxes in store as well

Well UO:SA shows up on the "Online" genre but that's about all the recognition it gets..

I find it amusing they are using a updated modified Origin Systems logo, along with the name of a studio they folded into "Electronic Arts" main studio around a decade ago. Makes me wonder if they are using Origin because Origin Systems was better respected than EA is as a quality game development studio?

 

[Assia Penryn]

*DING-DING-DING!!!* Correct, the retailer decides what is stocked on their shelves. And if they don't want UO, you can't make them stock it.

I agree. While I'd love to see it, we don't have enough eye candy to catch a lot of retail interest. I think Steam would be a great idea. My husband and I have bought several games that way.

 

[Woodsman]

This renders this discussion partially moot, assuming UO is available:

Wing Commander CIC - BREAKING NEWS: EA Launches "Origin"



Bet EA is kicking themselves for letting Origin.com expire.

And it's live:

The Beat - An Electronic Arts Blog - EA

 

[olduofan]

I agree. While I'd love to see it, we don't have enough eye candy to catch a lot of retail interest. I think Steam would be a great idea. My husband and I have bought several games that way.

yes steam would be a good place as well I have used them (civV) with no problems to date

 

[Woodsman]

I wonder if UO would make money (and bring players) if it were turned into a web game (and embedded into a Facebook app as well of course like so many games are) and the graphics were vector (thus endlessly scalable). I think I might just try and see what some object might look in vector format.

UO makes money. If it didn't make money, EA would have canceled it in a heartbeat.

If they aren't willing to make UO 3D, there's no way they'd make it into some kind of Facebook game, especially since they'd risk losing a lot of existing players.

They are unwilling to take risks with UO anymore.

 

[Assia Penryn]

yes steam would be a good place as well I have used them (civV) with no problems to date

That's one of the games we bought.

Another Civ fan.

 

[Woodsman]

Bet EA is kicking themselves for letting Origin.com expire.

I could swear that Origin was pointing to some small company, but looks like EA did keep it.

 

[olduofan]

That's one of the games we bought.

Another Civ fan.

they also had all the upgrades/ add-ons/ boosters in a package that automatically patches them for you very easy system to use saves all your info/progress as well. Have to say I like it so far.

 

[Raptor85]

erm.....isn't the "origin.com" store just the EA store with a new url? It really does look like it to me....still 100% lacking in any of their older games too, no wing commander and the only ultima game is UO (which makes the name origin a bit ironic)

 

[Barok]

the Origin store seems to be a stripped down version of the EA store. At least at the EA store you could sort on various columns, you can't even do that at the Origin store.

Not sure why they need 2 different sites for the store.

 

[Woodsman]

Eventually the Origin.com store is supposed to be the only EA portal for downloads/digital purchases and is supposed to keep your games/profiles/etc. synced up. One article I read said it would be handling all of the purchases for the pogo crap as well.

In other words their version of steam. It gets one huge boost this year or next - it will be the only place you can download the Star Wars MMO from.

Being EA, they will probably continue the trend of charging too much for the digital download. There was some irony when I was looking at Sims Medieval, that it was cheaper to buy the boxed copy from Amazon than the download from EA.com.

And checking Origin.com just now, Sims Medieval is, you guessed it, $49.99. Now it has been on sale, but it's just really bizarre that they charge the full retail price when it's a digital download. But that's EA for you, they can be incredibly shortsighted.

On Amazon.com, Sims Medieval is $29.99 for either the download or the boxed copy.

It's kind of sad to think we are entering a point where we are probably only a few years away from boxed games disappearing. I guess it sorta saves the environment and all that jazz.

 

[Uvtha]

No. It would just be a waste of money they could spend on something else. Theres a reason its no on the shelves anymore, the only people who would buy it are the ones who already play, and they will know to buy online.

 

[Neutron Bomb]

Waste of money.

EA has "Origin" now which is an online distributor and software for games.Kinda like Steam without Steam.

 

[CovenantX]

Atleast putting the Gametime cards for UO back on Store Shelves would be great.

a few people i know would play UO if they could buy gametime at stores instead of putting an account on a credit card, *some dont have credit cards*
thus they cannot buy gametime from the UO store.

 

[Felonious Monk]

This.


With several major 'high speed' ISPs considering tiered bandwith and download limits, digital distribution will be frowned on by those not wanting to waste what could be used to play.

Even a small shelf presence could be a big boost to UO.

^This indeed^
For the sake of redundancy the graphics still bother me the most. Doesnt matter wich client I'm embarassed by both. I could forgive more if the game was more up to date in that area. Would be better at selling itself to new players as well.
just my 2 cents.........

 

[Zosimus]

It's actually cheaper for EA to sell it as a digital download then creating millions of cd's and shipping them across the world and being put on shelves. I agree with the other poster, stores want to move items fast not to take up space.

Has anybody gone shopping lately? You actually be surprised if you havent on some store policies has changed on moving items. I recently bought 2 doors originally priced at $278.00 for $17.00 each. Why so cheap and how did I come into such a steal? I was told by one of the employees that the reason is if inventory that is not selling, and if a certain inventory in the store isnt moving they drop the price to move it out. He even said I should just come buy and walk the store 3 times a week because those crazy drops on prices goes on everyday. It's cheaper for them to do that then re-ship items back to the wharehouse and hold onto it for a buyout store to buy them. I didnt even need the doors ( which are the size of my front and back door) but at that price I couldnt pass it up. I was actually there for tree roses that were $35.00 and was marked down to $5.00

Gamestop has very little pc games on the shelves at all. Walmart PC games isle is next to nothing to what it used to be years ago. I see more console games if any. Game cards are everywhere except UO. I am always buying game time cards for my daughter for wizard 101. You see a ton of game time cards for tons of games even for facebook. If UO wants to make a small advertising presence then at least put game time cards out there.

 

[In Flames]

Personally Id like to see UO put on Steam like so many other EA games, right now there are 1.65 million gamers online using steam, if only 10% of them try UO it would be a huge win.

V

This.

 

[wee papa smurf]

Big thumbs up from me