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UO in Stores

Cetric

Grand Poobah
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
UNLEASHED
Just kidding, i wish though.

I remember when i could buy UO at walmart.

Now new players are subject to downloading uosa/classic, and patching for a very very very long time.






Discuss
 

Bazer

Slightly Crazed
Alumni
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
i work at walmart and would kill to sell it in stores esp since i work in the electronics department, id try and sell it to all my friends in the store and even buy it for em if we would just sell it there.
 

Cetric

Grand Poobah
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
UNLEASHED
i work at walmart and would kill to sell it in stores esp since i work in the electronics department, id try and sell it to all my friends in the store and even buy it for em if we would just sell it there.
When UO-GOLD came out in the jewel cases in bulk in walmart for 10 bucks, i had tons of friends pick it up and try it out, and a few stuck with it. But with so amny online game options, i can't say the same for them downloading the game =/ You go to look at a download site with UO, and it has ads for games that "look superior", we all know uo is better, but it doesn't have that "first glance appeal" online.
 

Shelleybean

Certifiable
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
It would make me happy if they sold the jewel case version in the "bargain bin." I can't remember the last time I've seen UO in a store..... :(
 

MalagAste

Belaern d'Zhaunil
Alumni
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
UNLEASHED
Campaign Supporter
I recall I bought my first copy of UO in Wal-Mart.....

Was oh so long ago....

UO:R.......

and how I loved it.
 

Dakkon Blackblade

Seasoned Veteran
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
I'm personally happy that UO does not currently have shelf space, it's a blessing in disguise to those who would buy the game not knowing any better. They would be much better served playing WoW which does almost everything UO does much better.

Now if the classic shard gets off the ground I would obviously feel different, but then again even if it does happen I don't believe it will save the game either, I don't see UO ever climbing to large numbers of subscribers again.
 

Cetric

Grand Poobah
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
UNLEASHED
I'm personally happy that UO does not currently have shelf space, it's a blessing in disguise to those who would buy the game not knowing any better. They would be much better served playing WoW which does almost everything UO does much better.

Now if the classic shard gets off the ground I would obviously feel different, but then again even if it does happen I don't believe it will save the game either, I don't see UO ever climbing to large numbers of subscribers again.
Please cancel ur acct and leave us. KTHNX
 

ingsmsico

Visitor
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
They would be much better served playing WoW which does almost everything UO does much better.
World of Warcraft is one of the worst video games I've ever played.

EA needs to market UO for what it is. A unique, classic game that will run just fine on older PCs. Once they stop pretending it is something it is not they will get subscribers. Market it to adults and stress the community aspect of the game.

They should make a $15 SA box for the back-to-school/holiday season that comes with a free month and they should give 12 months of vet time for each of the first 3 months of gameplay. That way you can ride an ethy after 3 months, instead of 3 years. The game may not even be around in 3 years. Also, existing players will take advantage of the cheaper price to upgrade to SA if they haven't done so yet. It should come with 1 code, that will either upgrade an account or can be used to create a new account.
 

Silverbird

Slightly Crazed
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
What about starting small and adding GTCs to the local ea-stores? There was a nice working system brought into those stores, when Mythic took over the remaining DAOC players/servers from GOA.
Why cant I get any GTCs for UO when I can get them for DAOC from an eastore?
 
E

Evlar

Guest
Can't see it ever returning to the shelves, nice as the sentiment may be.

The "future" seems to be completely aimed at downloads. The humble CD or DVD disc seems to be becoming increasingly obsolete. Think about it... when you can buy a DVD player that has a USB port to plug in a data stick for buttons now. You can buy in-car stereos, again with USB ports. My van has benefited greatly from the latter... I no longer have stacks of CD's cluttering up my door pockets, seats or floor ;)

Internet connections are getting faster and faster and "big" downloads are no longer as "big" as they seemed. Unless you live in rural Spain like me that is :D

I've always preferred buying something in a box. Makes the purchase feel "real". It's becoming quickly a thing of the past though.
 

Dakkon Blackblade

Seasoned Veteran
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
Please cancel ur acct and leave us. KTHNX
Lol my accounts been cancelled for many many years, I just enjoy posting on stratics and following the classic shard to see where it goes. Like I'd actually pay money to play UO as it is now. :lol: :lol: :lol:

World of Warcraft is one of the worst video games I've ever played.
There are at least 8-10 million people who want to have a word with you about that, to bad the same cannot be said for UO sad as that may be.

EA needs to market UO for what it is. A unique, classic game that will run just fine on older PCs. Once they stop pretending it is something it is not they will get subscribers. Market it to adults and stress the community aspect of the game.
In order for them to stop pretending it's something it isn't they would need to reverse 10 years of awful design. If it continues as it has from ren through SA then it isn't pretending to be something it isn't, it is simply doing the same things other more modern games do only much worse.

tl:dr UO stopped being classic a long time ago

Internet connections are getting faster and faster and "big" downloads are no longer as "big" as they seemed. Unless you live in rural Spain like me that is

I've always preferred buying something in a box. Makes the purchase feel "real". It's becoming quickly a thing of the past though.
This right here sums it up, it is simply cheaper to offer digital downloads as opposed to retail space and with better internet connections it just makes more sense.

Although I would like to echo Evlar on the preference of buying something in a box.
 

Crysta

Babbling Loonie
Alumni
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
All the stores here still have various copies of UO sitting around.
 
S

Sergul'zan_SP

Guest
I'm not sure how important that is anymore.

Most gamers I know order their games online now. I haven't been to a game store in several years.

I haven't stepped in Wal-Mart in 8 years now. What a run.
 

MalagAste

Belaern d'Zhaunil
Alumni
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
UNLEASHED
Campaign Supporter
I'm personally happy that UO does not currently have shelf space, it's a blessing in disguise to those who would buy the game not knowing any better. They would be much better served playing WoW which does almost everything UO does much better.

Now if the classic shard gets off the ground I would obviously feel different, but then again even if it does happen I don't believe it will save the game either, I don't see UO ever climbing to large numbers of subscribers again.

WoW has one thing going for it... Pretty pixels... those do NOT make a game...

WoW is just nothing compared to UO... It's like playing any game like the old FF's or something once you reach a certain point its pointless... and Boring...

It has nothing I desire.

However we all know why many people play WoW... and that's why they are on the internet as we all know what the internet is for...

But if that's all you desire then by all means play WoW..... leave UO to those who care about it.
 
E

Evlar

Guest
WoW has one thing going for it... Pretty pixels... those do NOT make a game...

WoW is just nothing compared to UO... It's like playing any game like the old FF's or something once you reach a certain point its pointless... and Boring...
Interesting you should say such things actually.

For me, graphics are a secondary or tertiary consideration. Quality of gameplay is my primary consideration.

However, it's pixels in relation to "items" in what I consider to be an item-centric game now, that's my problem with current UO.

I'm a fan of the true sandbox that UO used to feel like. The problem is, successive developers have chased the tail of the other MMO's, rather than concentrate on the great strengths their own game possessed. Yes there were flaws and issues to contend with, but I feel they went about the progression and evolution of the game, entirely the wrong way.

Essentially, UO turned from being a sandbox into a Diablo/EQ clone. When that happened, UO was never the same again.

To their credit, the current developers are I believe, trying in the best way they can to head back towards more of a sandbox "feel", but the problem is, they can't completely reverse a good ten years of changes.

That's essentially why work on Siege and providing classic shard options, will be beneficial in the long run. The game can never compete with the likes of WoW or the many booming FTP games that are around now.

UO has to look hard at it's past, present and future strengths, forget what other games are doing, strengthen its own niche and cater fully to that market. So if there's the current prodo shards, Siege gets some much needed attention and a couple of classic shard options, UO will indeed enjoy a decent subscriber base and a strong niche for years to come.

Anyone who just thinks the current production shards are the be-all and end-all as far as UO is concerned, is either selfish or unable to see the bigger picture. It's their loss two if nothing is done regarding Siege option or classic option, because the game will just continue its haemorrhaging of subscriptions and its slow, painful death.

Finally, the game doesn't need to be back on the shelves, not that it will happen anyway. It does need to create a buzz in the gaming scene, as has the "interest" created by "classic" discussions around the net. Take advantage of that, add a little low cost viral advertising and you create even more interest.

...oh and put the game up for download on steam at "offer" prices, or drop the monthly sub fees by a third. It's an old game after all...
 

Dakkon Blackblade

Seasoned Veteran
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
My point is not that wow is a good game, I played it for an hour and couldn't stand it any longer. My point is that UO really isn't that different than any of the other more popular games it lost it's uniqueness a long time ago.

I'm actually in favor of buying a collectors edition classic box if the shard happens, much like the original, I would love to see that but I know it isn't likely to happen.
 
C

chuckoatl

Guest
UO has wow beat on many levels. If I want to make my mule into a PvPer..... its possible. I cant make my knight-elf-dorkhawk into anything but that. UO is open, and I dont need 30 people to fight something hard. In UO you can do the group thing or the solo thing.
 
S

Sergul'zan_SP

Guest
My point is not that wow is a good game, I played it for an hour and couldn't stand it any longer. My point is that UO really isn't that different than any of the other more popular games it lost it's uniqueness a long time ago.
I think this quote summarizes the last 7 years of Ultima Online. The game has spent so much time trying to be modern and inviting that it has lost it's true identity. You could, at one time, easily create templates that were PvM/PvP and compete with the best. You didn't need all the items from other games (though vanqs helped nicely).

The Ultima Online system was beautiful because it was both unique and simple.
 

Dakkon Blackblade

Seasoned Veteran
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
UO has wow beat on many levels. If I want to make my mule into a PvPer..... its possible. I cant make my knight-elf-dorkhawk into anything but that. UO is open, and I dont need 30 people to fight something hard. In UO you can do the group thing or the solo thing.
Wrong and the numbers show it, it's true that there a very few things that UO can say it has that wow doesn't but that works both ways.
 
V

Victoria Navarre

Guest
i work at walmart and would kill to sell it in stores esp since i work in the electronics department, id try and sell it to all my friends in the store and even buy it for em if we would just sell it there.
Then where would we put all the Zynga/Facebook game cards that UO would displace? It's sad that a FB game has more shelf space in WalMart than UO does.
 

Nexus

Site Support
Administrator
Moderator
Professional
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
Wiki Moderator
UNLEASHED
It would make me happy if they sold the jewel case version in the "bargain bin." I can't remember the last time I've seen UO in a store..... :(
Last one's I saw....hmm I bought 6 boxes for under $10 from Circuit City as they were doing their Going out of Business Sales.
 

Bazer

Slightly Crazed
Alumni
Stratics Veteran
Stratics Legend
we do sell one thing that lets you buy gametime for uo, the Ultimategamecard, have to search their site for uo and dosent list it on the card but they work.
 
E

Evlar

Guest
My point is not that wow is a good game, I played it for an hour and couldn't stand it any longer. My point is that UO really isn't that different than any of the other more popular games it lost it's uniqueness a long time ago.
I think this quote summarizes the last 7 years of Ultima Online. The game has spent so much time trying to be modern and inviting that it has lost it's true identity. You could, at one time, easily create templates that were PvM/PvP and compete with the best. You didn't need all the items from other games (though vanqs helped nicely).

The Ultima Online system was beautiful because it was both unique and simple.
My own sentiments in a nutshell.

Unless a publisher/developer has, or is prepared to, throw enough money at a project, nothing will compete against WoW in the subscription market stakes.

It's all about finding the right niche, accepting that niche for what it is and sticking with it.

Sadly with UO, we've seen developers come and go. All of them have tried to add something they might have felt would be beneficial, but unfortunately, they've been far too influenced by the "other" games.

Let's face the facts. There's little unique about UO now, as opposed to earlier days. It's also a game that shows it's age and likewise, it's flaws and incomplete content, far more obviously that the "other" games out there.

The main thing the game is able to draw upon, is the loyalty of the current players, or the desire of former players, who still search for something that UO once was.

Loyalty and desire will only last so long though.
 
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