Upcoming Annoucement - Taking Bets!

[Solipsist123]

If they are smart, they take UO free2play, either all the way or by at least offering new f2p-shards.
Not that going free2play is something I, personally, would be particularly fond of - but it would be the smartest thing to do. Several MMOGs have managed to grow again by switching from subs to f2p.

Merging shards is something they should have been doing for a while. I don't think the reason for not doing it up to now has been the money made from transfer tokens. I rather think that housing is probably the critical issue. Still, the population on most shards has reached a critically low level. From personal experience, I don't see any reason for two European shards anymore, there just isn't enough players. Since the Europeans don't get any support anyway, they might as well use us as guinea pigs - move the Drachenfels crowd to Europa and see what happens (mayhem, I would assume *g*).

In my opinion, UO either has to go f2p or start closing shards soon. These will be the only ways to get some West Bank Brit action back into the game...

 

[Siteswap]

F2P for limited gameplay is the way to go. More and more games are adopting this model as its proving very sucessful.

Ive played a few F2P games and nearly ALWAYS ended up shelling out some cash for enhanced gameplay/items etc. If EA decides that there is money to be made from UO by adopting this model then you can bet your bottom dollar that they WILL introduce it at some point. Theyve already got BF Heroes adopting a pure F2P model with optional micro-payments.

It could also increase paid subs. If a million people try F2P UO and only 1% are impressed enough to convert to a paid account then thats 10,000 new UO players and 10,000 accounts paying into EA's coffers.

I think its inevitable sooner or later.

The downside is we could have a million total jackasses running around the servers (in addition to the ones we have already ). At least limited funtionality on F2P accounts should keep them away from the higher end stuff that the paying account users can handle...

Im undecided if its a good idea or not from an existing players POV. It has pro's and cons...

 

[canary]

removed

 

[The_Traveler]

If they go F2P do you think they will start cracking down on gold selling sites?

 

[Siteswap]

If they go F2P do you think they will start cracking down on gold selling sites?

Probably yes ... and they'll start selling gold through their own store.

 

[olduofan]

Insider info: shard mergings will be talked about, trust me on this one.

I hope so im sick of the empty shards its time to down size and hope we can some day pick back-up

 

[Solipsist123]

If they go F2P do you think they will start cracking down on gold selling sites?

I suppose they would have to. They would probably have to crack down on free shards, too. Or maybe find ways to incorporate them in some kind of licensing model *shrugs*

 

[kennykilleduo]

Free 2 play or classic shard...


Classic shard will bring me and a few friends back..

 

[kennykilleduo]

If they are smart, they take UO free2play, either all the way or by at least offering new f2p-shards.
Not that going free2play is something I, personally, would be particularly fond of - but it would be the smartest thing to do. Several MMOGs have managed to grow again by switching from subs to f2p.

Merging shards is something they should have been doing for a while. I don't think the reason for not doing it up to now has been the money made from transfer tokens. I rather think that housing is probably the critical issue. Still, the population on most shards has reached a critically low level. From personal experience, I don't see any reason for two European shards anymore, there just isn't enough players. Since the Europeans don't get any support anyway, they might as well use us as guinea pigs - move the Drachenfels crowd to Europa and see what happens (mayhem, I would assume *g*).
In my opinion, UO either has to go f2p or start closing shards soon. These will be the only ways to get some West Bank Brit action back into the game...

Yep , but there a re players who want nothing of that ( because they dont want to lose there years worth of goods) , they can make shard transfers why not add housing to them in special areas with benefits.

 

[Siteswap]

"ADVENTURES ON THE HIGH SEAS"

Just announced...

 

[Mapper]

I was wrong. It is an expansion of sorts, WOOT!