If "hot air" is what it takes to show that there is still a huge following for it, so be it, and if they want to ignore it, that is on them.
I do know that lipstick and mascara can only make a turd look appealing for so long, and I think anyone that doesn't realize that is going to be surprised.
Although I agree with the sentiment, even throwing more "hot air" at them isn't going to make a jot of difference. This debate and show of support for something "classic", has been rumbling on for
years.
Nobody can show exact figures detailing
why people have stopped playing Ultima Online. Nobody can produce numbers that can prove that a "classic" option would have a huge following, much as I'm in favour of the concept. Any numbers that anyone cares to come up with, are just more "hot air".
What it
does boil down to, is if the number crunchers and bean counters, believe there's enough potential, to providing the additional funding & staff it would require to launch any "classic" option. I think Cal has already made that clear in response to the continued prodding, with mention of a "focus group". He also mentioned, although not using these words, but no amount of
"for" or
"against" banter, here or on any other game forums would influence any decision or proposals they might make to EA.
Therefore, whatever you or I say
"for", or anyone here says
"against", won't make the slightest bit of difference, to Cal, or the bean-counters. Believe me, I've been involved in exactly the same debates with other members of these forums, you're having now.
I'm waiting for closure
"by the end of the year", just like anyone else that's interested in an official "classic" option, or even those so vehemently against the idea. In the meantime, if I want a fix of UO, then I visit pre-AoS free servers. Otherwise, at the moment, I'm playing a couple of online strategy based MMO's.
I've loved playing UO over the years and kept playing for long enough, post-Ren/post-AoS - even though I wasn't happy with the changes particularly. It was only housing and other players that kept me interested.
In it's current format, I won't be back. Continued shoddy and unfinished releases, poor to inept customer service, monotonous gameplay*, was the straw that broke this camel's back. Only the option of something pre-AoS orientated, would bring me back, even putting up with the scant regard that EA Games generally and continually shows its paying customers.
*By "monotonous gameplay", what I'm referring to is my belief that whereas in the earlier years, the players shaped the game and the gameplay, I feel more that now, the game itself has shaped the gameplay and the way players play the game. Yes, there's still a lot to do and see, but it all seems to revolve around the importance placed on obtaining items.
There's many here who will disagree with that sentiment of course, but different strokes for different folks... Whatever floats your boat.