Ultima Online's longevity

[Prince Caspian]

Last night I was hanging with some of my friends at The Pub, and the discussion turned to MMORPGs, and as usual when we get on this topic, Chris marvelled that I still play UO, when WoW is so much better.

I told him my stock answer. WoW is barely six years old. UO is over twice as old. When the world of Azeroth can boast an anniversary in the double digits, then we'll talk.

Speaking for yourself, why have you stuck with UO for so long?

 

[UOaddict21]

Stubbornness and laziness, mostly. That and the fact a couple of real cool people I've played for years with still play.

 

[kelmo]

I have not finished it yet.

 

[Babble]

Roleplaying
I am still in denial of AOS


And the sheer amount of freeshards of UO still baffles me, I think no other mmo has that number of ideas/setups/players

 

[Novak(Caci)]

Because i alredy play 2 mmos uo and eve.
I dont like so much the level grind games.
And each week young player at new haven Bank tell me pvp in uo is better then pvp in wow therfore they are back in uo.
Level grind games doesnt have so much possibilitys then uo as sanboxgame.

 

[Xanth de Orlig]

I have not finished it yet.

This ^^

and i am a house addict ....

 

[Mapper]

I have not finished it yet.

So true.

I have yet to experience and play with skills such as Bushido, Ninjitsu or Throwing!

There are some Champion spawns I still have not done and I've dodged the entire PvP scene (Not that I think I'll be trying that!).

Plenty yet to do.

 

[hawkeye_pike]

Speaking for yourself, why have you stuck with UO for so long?

Because other MMORPGs have failed to outclass UO.

 

[Lady Storm]

UO is a world into its self. You cant compare it to WoW. Its apples and oranges.
That said...
I play UO cause the wide diverse play, friends, and I havent finished collecting all the toys yet. I'm still learning...

 

[deadite]

I sometimes try to get away but I keep coming back. I think part of it is that I am comfortable in Sosaria - I was a huge Ultima fan before UO was even around. I'm still in love with the world and lore that Origin created, even if UO has become more and more of a bastardized version.

UO really built on the principals of interactivity that made games like Ultima 7 so amazing for their time. The "you're a person in this world" angle is a lot more satisfying to me than the "you're a player in this themepark" direction that most MMOs take.

 

[Trebr Drab]

I have not finished it yet.

Good luck with that.
UO has no "end game".
Which is a definite advantage of "Sandbox".
(Yeah, I know you meant it that way )

 

[Lucivius]

Variety, and the fact that I can be really good all by myself.

 

[NuSair]

Last night I was hanging with some of my friends at The Pub, and the discussion turned to MMORPGs, and as usual when we get on this topic, Chris marvelled that I still play UO, when WoW is so much better.

I told him my stock answer. WoW is barely six years old. UO is over twice as old. When the world of Azeroth can boast an anniversary in the double digits, then we'll talk.

Speaking for yourself, why have you stuck with UO for so long?

WoW is not better than UO (honestly, WoW isn't better than Everquest, tbh).

I played EQ, was in a high level raiding guild for 5 years. Played WoW for 6 months hard core. So, I have some basis of making that claim.

Sure, WoW is prettier than UO. And there are somethings that WoW has that I wish UO did (mostly dealing with the UI and chat functions). But in terms of the GAME, UO is still the best.

 

[Smokin]

Did you ask your friend to explain how wow is better, i mean other then graphics, which to me is all up to the person looking at them and wows looks like crap to me but thats mostly art. Anyways how is wows game play better.

 

[Gilmour]

i have played wow on'n'off for the past couple of years, but i always return to uo when the egozentria of wow gets to much.

main reason i prefer uo kontra wow is the following reasons:

- housing
- char customization (clothing, optional item slots, colors)
- sandbox
- skill system

and the reason i sometimes play wow is:

- dungeons
- guild n friends (have lots there as well)
- raids

on accation i play eve as well (yes got 6 open accounts in all, 4 of them for uo)

i play eve because of

- skill system
- something different from the regular mmo
- sandbox
- char advancement (reputation n skills)
- worker skills (mining engeniring)

downside of eve is currently that your character (which i prefer to have) is a 100x100 pixel avatar in the top left corner of your screen and does not YET have a character to move around with, this is coming however, at which point i will be tad more in eve i reckon.

however at times the spaceship thing becomes a bit to ... strange.

mind you, when ever i am playing either wow or eve, i 95% got a character logged in on my home shard, camping the wbb or somewhere else keeping an eye on things.

only problem i am having is deviding my primetime between my games.

 

[Sevin0oo0]

Still have some addiction left. Back when, it was exciting, challenging, adrenalin pumping, and just fun to play, plus an acct. was worth something (altho mine was crap, at one time it was worth $2000 - I still kick myself for not selling it off,).
Now I'm stuck, and hoping for a return level of the former greatness, fat chance.

 

[AirmidCecht]

I have not finished it yet.

Best answer award goes to....

I feel the same Kelmo! *grins*

 

[Storm]

I have played UO a long long time and I would have to agree with the Kelmo answer also! But would also add the diversity of what you can do the endless choices and combination's is just not heard of in the gaming industry their is not even a game the comes close in my opinion!

 

[Gorbs]

Speaking for yourself, why have you stuck with UO for so long?

I haven't. After the debacles that were Pub-16 and AOS decimated my guild I apparently stuck it out until SE was released, then cancelled my sub and started playing WoW exclusively. I really didn't have the time to perform the required work in that game to constitute playing over the last few years though, so I cancelled and decided to check back on UO when SA came out.

I've been putting in 15-30 minutes most nights since then. I'm holding out hope a number of my old friends and guildmates will get nostalgic and sign up for some more punishment, but unless a Classic shard (without garbage like glass swords) is created it probably won't happen.

 

[Ni-]

The Crack?

 

[covert]

It's easy to cut corners with a pretty face.

If I were to write down all of the things the first generation of MMOs had over what the future waves brought, I'd have a pretty severe case of carpal tunnel.

Hey, it's all business anymore. It happens with everything. Just savor it while you can.

 

[BajaElladan]

Hail Folks,

Over 13 years ago friends encouraged me to try a new online adventure called Ultima Online. These friends had played Ultima and really enjoyed it and had high hopes for Ultima Online. I obtained my Gate Scroll and cast its spell and found myself in the world of Sosaria. I joined existing friends there, and made and continue to make new friends there, and my adventure began.

During my 13+ years one account and one Character became several Characters and eventually several accounts each with several Characters. None of these Characters has yet completed their Journey and ideas for new Characters continue to "spawn."

We, my Characters and I, are part of a wondrous and marvellous virtual world comprised of a very real Community. I gleefully greet folks each time I awake in Sosaria, I miss folks when I see to little of them, and I mourn folks departed from us by choice and grieve for those whose Players have been promoted into Eternity.

My UO Friends are very much my "extended" Family. I feel their warmth, their friendship, in fewer numbers their less positive intentions and feelings, and from so many their concern for my well being.

As Kelmo and others have said, "I haven't finished it yet." UO is an amazing virtual world. It is so much more than a "game." I truly hope this world continues long after my eventual call to Heaven and into Eternity. I hope if it does in fact outlast me that I will be missed, well remembered and remembered well, and that my Friends will celebrate my time with them as I daily celebrate all they have given and give to me.

Ultima Online, like all human endeavors, isn't perfect. Debates continues as to whether it is better today than yesterday. I care only that it is better tomorrow, than it is today. We have seen many Developers come and go. Many leaders of OSI, EAMythic, and whatever the current name is, have come and gone. We seem to have Lost our King, though I and many others retain hope for his Return. We lost Seers, Counsellors, and Companions. We gained Event Moderators. We have seen expansions and now boosters. Hopefully our current crop of "Suits," loves UO at least as much as our Players do and will ensure our Tomorrow's are indeed brighter and better. Hopefully our existing Players will continue to invite others to return to Sosaria or to visit it for their first time, and our Players will continue using their creativity and imagination in doing our part to improve this, our Beloved Sosaria.

Ultima Online, like real life, is a Journey and not a destination. My Journey thru Sosaria has been awesome!!! I do NOT wish for it to end.

These and many other reasons are why I Play, why I Pay, and why I Stay!

If I could change any one thing it would be to have discounts for Multi-Account Users.

Regardless,

Play On, Have Fun, and help others to have fun with us!

Lord Elladan of Baja
Legendary Paladin of Trinsic

 

[canary]

Glutton for punishment. TBH, I suppose its the mythology and rp aspects of it, though my interests wax and wane depending on a lot of other things.

 

[Derium of ls]

I have a million reasons to leave UO


1. AoS
2. All but two of my friends left he game (only remaining are not RL friends)
3. The rares market is now dupes or event items
4. I no longer make my RL living off UO (yes this is last on the list)

there is just 4 reasons, but they are MAJOR reasons for me to leave. I have no friends left, ever since 2003 I have not done PvP or PvE, or even crafted. I honestly just loiter in game. However, I'm still here...

Why?

Because I'm faithful to UO. It's a sandbox game that was made by the best game designer ever (and ruined by the worst) it holds a lot of my memories, and above all the people. In no other game do you find people like UO players. We are the only player base that if one of us gets hacked, dozens of people donate items/gold/homes to the person. Scammers and greifers are everywhere in UO true, but most of the players will have your back, watch out for you and are true of heart. so in short...

Best... Community... EVER.

 

[uorichreallifepoor]

the answer is simple, i have not seen the words GAME OVER on my screen!!!!!!!!!!! i have loved UO from 99 on, im never gonna leave!!!!!!!!

 

[Llewen]

Ya, "I haven't finished it yet." is an excellent response. I'll be a little more longwinded and complicated. Much has already been said.

- UO has the best housing system of any MMO I've ever played, although I heard that SWG's was pretty good back in the day.

- I've played Darkfall, a hard core pvp mmo. It has aimed fps style combat, there are all kinds of reasons why Darkfall pvp should be better than UO's, but it isn't. UO has the flat out most addictive pvp I've ever experienced. It is challenging. It takes preparation and practice to be good at it. You don't spend 90% of the time in drudgery working to put together the supplies you need to pvp. The pacing is just about perfect. If you make mistakes it can be over very fast, or it can last a very long time, but there's always a lot of fast paced action.

- Putting together templates and "suits". I love putting together templates and suits. It's really like a big puzzle, and there's all kinds of fun to be had on the way to finishing the puzzle.

All we need is to put the KR graphics back into the enhanced client so that UO looks like a modern game, instead of a 15 year old nostalgia piece.

 

[Zyon Rockler]

YouTube - Cheers full theme song (from 200th show)

 

[Prince Caspian]

I have not finished it yet.

Very well put.

I was going to write a War and Peace reason to why I still play, but have realized that Kelmo's six words here sum all of it up so perfectly.

 

[Thav12]

I am just waiting to see what the finished product looks like once all the bugs are straightened out.

Sofar this UO game looks really promising, the end result must be just fabulous!!!






(Paying my development fees now for almost 11 years)

 

[Taylor]

I can't abandon my guild mates. They're like family now.

 

[MalagAste]

I've many, many reasons:

Housing design and deco being on top,

Character customization,

Sandbox,

Role-play,

I have FAR too much invested in UO to just walk away.

Friends.

Guildmates/alliance

EM's.

It's been a part of my life for the last 9 or 10 years now....... I just don't think I'd drop it ..... it's almost like home, a job and a community.


There are NO other games that remotely come close to UO.

 

[Potgut]

I dont' have the time and energy to start another mmorpg from bottom up, I know if I started playing WoW or some other MMORPgs (I have played WoW trial out of curiosity) i'd get that much more "addicted" to it again, but i'd rather use that time for other real life goals, so I just don't start playing new mmorpgs to begin with. and I'm a all or nothing kind of person, so I wouldn't be satisfied playing WoW or other mmorpgs just to play moderately, I like to achieve high things, and that usually takes a lot of time.

With UO I have already put so much time and effort into it and built a lot of good chars over the past 10 years that now I can just log in and participate with anything that's going on. It's also easy for me to get away from UO if I have to if I need to focus on real life things such as school work, study, chase girls, and such.

Diablo III looks like it will be a lot of fun, in fact it looks like it would be dangerously addicting for me (or lack of self discipline in my part xD), so I'm never going to touch it. If my life was infinite, yes i'd play it, but I also got many real life goals and dreams that I want to achieve so I just can't put any more time on new mmorpgs these days.

UO on the other hand, with all the work I have put into it over the past 10 years, is perfect for me at this time of my life.

 

[Lord Chaos]

You don't spend 90% of the time in drudgery working to put together the supplies you need to pvp.

No, in UO you use 95% of your time.

 

[Gilthas]

Because no matter what other games I've played or wherever else I've been, in the end, all roads lead home.

 

[Trebr Drab]

It started with a birthday party.

A really wild, wild, birthday party.

And when I woke up, I was in UO, and I just haven't found my way out of it yet.

 

[hawkeye_pike]

I dont' have the time and energy to start another mmorpg from bottom up

Now THAT is an interesting statment. It proves one thing: Getting started in a new game seems to feel like "work" to some players. Because the path of developing a powerful character has so little value. Maybe one of the reasons for the lack of new players is that they are so overwhelmed with UO's complexity and features, causing the feeling that they may never be able to compete and keep up?

I remember times in UO when having a character who wasn't even "half way there" was the most exciting adventure. But times have changed.

 

[Nok]

Speaking for yourself, why have you stuck with UO for so long?

Queen Mum's cookies and Mesanna's coffee cup upside the back of my head.

 

[Amren]

WoW is not better than UO (honestly, WoW isn't better than Everquest, tbh).

I played EQ, was in a high level raiding guild for 5 years. Played WoW for 6 months hard core. So, I have some basis of making that claim.

Sure, WoW is prettier than UO. And there are somethings that WoW has that I wish UO did (mostly dealing with the UI and chat functions). But in terms of the GAME, UO is still the best.

UO = solo, instant gratification.
WoW = provides something for groups of people to to together. My raiding in WoW with my 9 other friends out-classes any of the easy pve content UO has.

If I wanted to sit around my virtual house and argue with my self where to place a virtual table, yeah UO is the better game.

 

[Smoot]

UO = solo, instant gratification.
WoW = provides something for groups of people to to together. My raiding in WoW with my 9 other friends out-classes any of the easy pve content UO has.

If I wanted to sit around my virtual house and argue with my self where to place a virtual table, yeah UO is the better game.

Did you mean "easy pve content" as opposed to "hard pve content?" like killing a mongbat is easier than doing a champ spawn? Or that all UO pvm is easy?

If a group of 5 or so could raid your "raid," kill you all, and then finish the boss and loot it, then i would have to agree that wows one triumph over uo would be pve. But you cant, so a champ spawn or harrower is much harder and more complex than wow could ever be.

 

[Babble]

But if raided it would not be pvm or?

 

[Fogsbane]

Too many reasons to list, but a few of those reasons would include -

The vast amount of things that I have not had time, knowledge, or ability to accomplish in game.

Test Center and things like Shard of the Dead (yup - i said it).

And, one of the major reasons would certainly have to include every single one of you here on Stratics.

 

[Novak(Caci)]

I tryed Perpetuum but i dont like it becasue
EVe is with missions too and eve is 7 years old and a sanbox game too.
What i like in uo is as other mentioned is the housing.
So i was starting to trade becasue i was low on gold.
Then someone offred me 10 million gold for my house becuase his guild need the place and offered me biggr house for me and the 10 mill.I mean the other mmos dont have this houseing system like uo.So i was happy about the trade.
And to have artefacts furniture for the house like carpets paintings birds and fishes wich you need to feed.So uo is sanbox game.I dont know how its in wow i hear only the pve raiding is good there.Ohrer games like eve and Aion have highsector and lowsector for pvp too but uo has hioghsector raids and low sectore raids.For me the hardest pvp raids was still in uo and that is still the harrower champ.If you compare Everquest 1 with wow,then wow is a joke.
The point is Blizzard makes much advertisment for wow and player like to have it easy in a game,therfore so much play wow but it isnt said wow is good because of this.

 

[Prince Caspian]

Deep, deep, deep in the dusty archive of my addled old feeble brain....

"Of course this is an Ultima game, so that means you aren't so much wandering in a projected environment as being in running world. People close shop and go to bed at night. Use wheat in a mill, and you get flour -- use the flour with water, and you get dough -- cook it and you get bread. It's very easy to get lost in a world of such complexity, but you have a mission here, remember?"
-- Evan Brooks' review of Ultima VI

THIS is why I love Ultima, and I always will. Awesome cutting edge graphics doesn't mean NEARLY as much to me as depth. And that's where most of these MMORPGs fall short.