Why I love UO and why I want it to grow - how it could be done

[Corvyn]

I posted a thread in the "ask the devs" forum, which SEEMS to have been deleted, but I think it would be good to discuss this here too. I thought it was a very positive and encouraging post. I am very passionate about this topic because I love Ultima and UO, so read it with an open mind, thank you:

---

I played UO in 2000. I stopped playing in 2003 not because I didn't like it anymore but because of RL reasons. Years later friends started to play WOW and I joined. Played that game for years with detours in LotRO, Rift, Conan, SWTOR etc... I grew tired of MMOs, they are all basically the same.

Because of all the years that passed between UO and now I forgot how UO really was but there were those memories of fun I had in UO that I never had in all those other MMOs. I dismissed them as me just being nostalgic.

Recently I thought of UO again, because of the new Richard Garriott game, that should be no secret, even here in EA territory but that's beside the point anyway.

So I thought I would give UO a try again. I honestly expected to be disappointed, to have my fond memories crushed by the harsh reality of an outdated game.... but ooooh boy I could not have been more wrong!

UO is AMAZING still. This game is the result of truly genius passionate people transforming a dream intro reality. Of what I saw the new team also does a great job keeping it alive and expanding it slowly and most of the hard core fans are happy ... more or less.

I, as almost hardcore ex-WOW player, as a guy who tried almost all bigger MMOs out there can honestly say, that UO to this day is the BEST MMO there is imo. This is not me being a fan boy, this is the honest truth.

Now I wonder, why does UO have such a low subscriber number? We don't know exact numbers of course but the last one published was 100000 and that was years ago.

I firmly believe that UO could be AT LEAST at the level of Eve Online which fills a similar niche in another genre. Actually I think it could be even more successful than that still.

But why isn't it? some might say it's the subscription fee, others that it's simply because the game is old.

I say that the answer is quite simple: This game is not lacking in the gameplay department. It's way ahead of other games there. The single most important reason why it does not attract newer players is its graphics!

Yes the 3D client was not well received but that doesn't mean the only way is to simply forget it. Yes there is the enhanced client but it's not what will make new players feel attracted to this game.

Somebody at Mythic has to find his balls again (excuse me) and create a prototype of a new 3D isometric engine that can run this game and present it to those who make decisions at EA.

I don't write this because I have to have 3D, no I am happy with the enhanced client. I write this because I want this game to GROW again, I want this around for another 15 years!

So please Mythic, why don't you dare to do something to make this game shine again. Don't touch the gameplay, we don't want a SWG debacle. But enhance the graphics. Make it pretty so new people will come and check it out and this way SEE just how awesome this game is.

This is an example of how it could look:

Here a quote from a gametrailers comment on the "High Seas" trailer:

This game has everything but a 3d version. If this game went 3D I would return in less than a heartbeat. The great mechanics are to this day unrivaled. WOW is pretty. But UO is the only game out there that COULD be a WOW killer. Just update the graphics.

So I am not the only one.

New shiny graphics will make new players come and check UO out, the old but amazing gameplay will make them stay! Why don't you do anything like that?

 

[Madrid]

Best post of 2013!

I agree 100%

UO has the content and great gameplay.

The Classic Client and it's look and feel will be the death of UO because it will never draw in new players.

I wish the Devs would drop everything and focus all their resources on getting this game looking good so we might attract some new players and ensure UO has a future.

 

[Grace of Minoc]

Best post of 2013!

I agree 100%

UO has the content and great gameplay.

The Classic Client and it's look and feel will be the death of UO because it will never draw in new players.

I wish the Devs would drop everything and focus all their resources on getting this game looking good so we might attract some new players and ensure UO has a future.

How many old players will be beyond pissed if they take away the Classic Client and its look and feel?

 

[Tanivar]

Best post of 2013!

I agree 100%

UO has the content and great gameplay.

The Classic Client and it's look and feel will be the death of UO because it will never draw in new players.

I wish the Devs would drop everything and focus all their resources on getting this game looking good so we might attract some new players and ensure UO has a future.

They would need to hire a company with people who are good at making User Interfaces for games to make an entirely new look good, feel good client to satisfy the bulk of the CC & EC fans, another company who could code in a graphics converter so that true 3D graphics could be made to work with UO's old programming language, and then a third company to make the true 3D graphics for all the extensive content UO has. Likely an expensive proposition. Your not talking a limited game world here like modern games with levels have.

 

[Tanivar]

How many old players will be beyond pissed if they take away the Classic Client and its look and feel?

With the EC the only alternative, likely many would be closing accounts. I'd be in that group. The EC just doesn't come across as a good User Interface for UO. Great content can't make a game popular if the User Interface doesn't look good & feel good.

 

[kelmo]

I posted a thread in the "ask the devs" forum, which SEEMS to have been deleted. thought it was a very positive and encouraging post.

*sighs* There is a sticky thread that explains how "Ask the Devs" works. The questions will only become visible when answered.

http://stratics.com/community/threads/faq-the-purpose-of-this-forum.168756/


Your question is still there waiting for an answer. It was posted yesterday at 4:26 pm my time.

 

[Corvyn]

*sighs* There is a sticky thread that explains how "Ask the Devs" works. The questions will only become visible when answered.

http://stratics.com/community/threads/faq-the-purpose-of-this-forum.168756/


Your question is still there waiting for an answer. It was posted yesterday at 4:26 pm my time.

Yesterday, when I was logged in I still saw my thread. when I logged out I did not *duh*. But when I logged in again, there it was again. So I assumed as thread creator I see it even if it's unanswered. BUT today I don't see it even if I am logged in. I think it's not too unreasonable for me to wonder right? Also I wrote "it seems" because of this strange logic.

Anyway it can't hurt to get a community discussion about this too...

Tanivar: There are other modern games out there with an open world which is still 3D. It's not magic anymore. This engine was amazing back in 1996, now it's 15 years later, a lot has changed. They could even enhance the 3D engine they already had.

 

[cdavbar]

With the EC the only alternative, likely many would be closing accounts. I'd be in that group. The EC just doesn't come across as a good User Interface for UO. Great content can't make a game popular if the User Interface doesn't look good & feel good.

The vanilla EC yes, has a sad UI. However, Pinco has done an amazing job. Mythic should hire Pinco to make an "official standard UI" for the EC.

 

[Dermott of LS]

...

The sad thing is that it doesn't matter if the Devs unveiled a brand new art upgrade for UO tomorrow that blew EVERYTHING out of the water in both terms of graphical quality/resolution and retaining the UO style, there is a certain segment of the UO population that will do everything they can to make sure such an attempt fails.

 

[Winker]

Best post of 2013!

I agree 100%

UO has the content and great gameplay.

The Classic Client and it's look and feel will be the death of UO because it will never draw in new players.

I wish the Devs would drop everything and focus all their resources on getting this game looking good so we might attract some new players and ensure UO has a future.

My 13 year old son love the CC and totaly hates the new client. I love the CC and would stop playing if they droped it for the new client.

I got my 13 year old son into playing UO since then he has gotten 3 of his School mates to play with him and they all love the CC.

You see some people look at the game play more than the graphics, Diablo 3 is beautiful but the game play sucks. Its called looking at the bigger picture, those who get stuck on how a game looks will never be happy and they will always be chasing the next best thing in eye candy.

 

[Dermott of LS]

...

You see some people look at the game play more than the graphics

And some people don't see the two as mutually exclusive.

Diablo 3 is beautiful but the game play sucks.

However, the gameplay sucking has nothing to do with the graphics and everything to do with the mismanagement of content.

 

[Madrid]

...

The sad thing is that it doesn't matter if the Devs unveiled a brand new art upgrade for UO tomorrow that blew EVERYTHING out of the water in both terms of graphical quality/resolution and retaining the UO style, there is a certain segment of the UO population that will do everything they can to make sure such an attempt fails.

I agree Dermott but if Ultima Online looked like Sui Generis it would start attracting new players. That game in the video has serious potential. I hope those guys get that project off the ground because it looks 10X better than Shroud of Avatar.

 

[Njjj]

The thing with UO is there is such a variety of personalities that play it ( i'm fairly sure much more than other games, which is a large part of it's charm), you can't get a majority to agree on any changes. And graphics is a more devisive issue than most. So for Mythic, you would have a very large investment, with moderate chance of bringing in new players, and a huge chance of upsetting the current core customers. Heck, they might have to maintain all 3 clients to keep people happy.

 

[Corvyn]

I agree Dermott but if Ultima Online looked like Sui Generis it would start attracting new players. That game in the video has serious potential. I hope those guys get that project off the ground because it looks 10X better than Shroud of Avatar.

Please keep in mind that Shroud of the Avatar so far uses STOCK GRAPHICS that came with the unity engine (proof: RG said it and you can even see the exact same red green dragon in another game that uses this engine: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/appleton/greed-monger-a-crafting-focused-sandbox-mmorpg?ref=live )!! They did not even try to create their own graphics yet. RG even said that so far there is only 1 artist on the team. They only worked on the tech of the game so far. So PLEASE don't judge SOTA by the graphics in the pre alpha vid. They only wanted to show off the very basic concept of the game with it and made a huge mistake by doing so or at least by not communicating the fact above enough.

I am sure as soon as they have the artists for it the look will change dramatically.

 

[Corvyn]

The thing with UO is there is such a variety of personalities that play it ( i'm fairly sure much more than other games, which is a large part of it's charm), you can't get a majority to agree on any changes. And graphics is a more devisive issue than most. So for Mythic, you would have a very large investment, with moderate chance of bringing in new players, and a huge chance of upsetting the current core customers. Heck, they might have to maintain all 3 clients to keep people happy.

I think CC and a really new shiny engine will be enough. But most important: EA would have to stand behind this undertaking 100% and sell it BIG as UO "reboot" or something. They would need a PR campaign. And please don't sell this game short by saying it would not be worth it.

 

[Tanivar]

The vanilla EC yes, has a sad UI. However, Pinco has done an amazing job. Mythic should hire Pinco to make an "official standard UI" for the EC.

Pinco has added a lot of great features to the EC, no possible way to argue that, but even he can only do so much with the EC. Even with all the fancy features he's added, he can't make the EC a good user interface. He can't make deep enough changes. Mythic needs to hire Pinco and let him take the EC apart completely and put it together right so he has a good client foundation to work with that doesn't turn off half the playerbase. Piling bells & whistles onto the EC with it's look & feel may blur the EC's faults, it can't fix them. The CC, even lacking the modern UI look and all the EC's features and Pinco added magic, still outshines the EC as far as half the playerbase is concerned per past polls. Richard Garriott's people back in the 90's knew how to make a good UI. Whoever did the EC clearly didn't. Without Pinco being able to do a six million dollar man routine on the EC, it'll never be popular enough to dethrone the CC. The rantings of all the EC's fans can't change that fact.

 

[Herman]

I think in order to make a modern 3d client for uo it have to be a new game everybody have to start from 0 again many vets would hesitate giving up 15 years of achievement and collected stuff and start fresh again for a new client

That makes creating such a client even more of a gamble when many of the existing players would not play the new uo and they have to rely on new players coming

 

[Winker]

...


And some people don't see the two as mutually exclusive.


However, the gameplay sucking has nothing to do with the graphics and everything to do with the mismanagement of content.

Cow Manure, look at coutner strike, its as old as UO and it has more people playing it world wide than Black Ops. Its all about Gameplay not eye candy

 

[Uvtha]

I posted a thread in the "ask the devs" forum, which SEEMS to have been deleted. thought it was a very positive and encouraging post. I am very passionate about this topic because I love Ultima and UO, so read it with an open mind, thank you:

---

I played UO in 2000. I stopped playing in 2003 not because I didn't like it anymore but because of RL reasons. Years later friends started to play WOW and I joined. Played that game for years with detours in LotRO, Rift, Conan, SWTOR etc... I grew tired of MMOs, they are all basically the same.

Because of all the years that passed between UO and now I forgot how UO really was but there were those memories of fun I had in UO that I never had in all those other MMOs. I dismissed them as me just being nostalgic.

Recently I thought of UO again, because of the new Richard Garriott game, that should be no secret, even here in EA territory but that's beside the point anyway.

So I thought I would give UO a try again. I honestly expected to be disappointed, to have my fond memories crushed by the harsh reality of an outdated game.... but ooooh boy I could not have been more wrong!

UO is AMAZING still. This game is the result of truly genius passionate people transforming a dream intro reality. Of what I saw the new team also does a great job keeping it alive and expanding it slowly and most of the hard core fans are happy ... more or less.

I, as almost hardcore ex-WOW player, as a guy who tried almost all bigger MMOs out there can honestly say, that UO to this day is the BEST MMO there is imo. This is not me being a fan boy, this is the honest truth.

Now I wonder, why does UO have such a low subscriber number? We don't know exact numbers of course but the last one published was 100000 and that was years ago.

I firmly believe that UO could be AT LEAST at the level of Eve Online which fills a similar niche in another genre. Actually I think it could be even more successful than that still.

But why isn't it? some might say it's the subscription fee, others that it's simply because the game is old.

I say that the answer is quite simple: This game is not lacking in the gameplay department. It's way ahead of other games there. The single most important reason why it does not attract newer players is its graphics!

Yes the 3D client was not well received but that doesn't mean the only way is to simply forget it. Yes there is the enhanced client but it's not what will make new players feel attracted to this game.

Somebody at Mythic has to find his balls again (excuse me) and create a prototype of a new 3D isometric engine that can run this game and present it to those who make decisions at EA.

I don't write this because I have to have 3D, no I am happy with the enhanced client. I write this because I want this game to GROW again, I want this around for another 15 years!

So please Mythic, why don't you dare to do something to make this game shine again. Don't touch the gameplay, we don't want a SWG debacle. But enhance the graphics. Make it pretty so new people will come and check it out and this way SEE just how awesome this game is.

This is an example of how it could look:

Here a quote from a gametrailers comment on the "High Seas" trailer:


So I am not the only one.

New shiny graphics will make new players come and check UO out, the old but amazing gameplay will make them stay! Why don't you do anything like that?

They can't change the graphics that drastically, AND they not too long ago spent a whole year a on a new set of art assets that are not even in use now, because everyone disliked them.

The only way you are going to see art like that example is in a whole new game. Which I for one support. UO is not going to change much.

And UO could never be a wow killer. It's not the kind of game that give people little adrenaline bursts of leveling and item grinding. Sandbox games just don't have the same draw, but that's fine.

 

[Uvtha]

They would need to hire a company with people who are good at making User Interfaces for games to make an entirely new look good, feel good client to satisfy the bulk of the CC & EC fans, another company who could code in a graphics converter so that true 3D graphics could be made to work with UO's old programming language, and then a third company to make the true 3D graphics for all the extensive content UO has. Likely an expensive proposition. Your not talking a limited game world here like modern games with levels have.

It would be a stupid idea in my opinion. You could either make a new game from the ground up with clean code that runs like it should, with a new graphics engine and more importantly a world DESIGNED with that engine in mind, and hype it as a new step in the Ultima franchise, or you could wrestle with 15 years coding based on a like 17 year old code base to try and covert it into something that seems modern... for a game with like 20k player. Ignoring the fact that they already DID do that and it was a huge waste of time and money. It is simply not going to happen.

It would be SO much simpler just to make a new game.

 

[Tanivar]

I think in order to make a modern 3d client for uo it have to be a new game everybody have to start from 0 again many vets would hesitate giving up 15 years of achievement and collected stuff and start fresh again for a new client

That makes creating such a client even more of a gamble when many of the existing players would not play the new uo and they have to rely on new players coming

If they can keep the tremendous amount of content UO has in the new game I think many would try it, particularly if it gave the pixel addicts the fix they demand to have. A sandbox game is a big change for many gamers used to WoW and such follow the fixed path monster whackers, but with the variety of things you can do, it may grow on them, especially if the learning curve isn't as severe as the current UO has. UO isn't set up to guide a player along through the game which may overwhelm some players.

 

[MalagAste]

I hate to say this but without totally scrapping UO and rebuilding the entire game they could NEVER have graphics like that. EVER.

 

[Spiritless]

No. UO needs a proper sequel. Too many legacy systems, etc. etc. It would probably be easier to start from scratch than turn UO into a fully fledged 3D game.

 

[Love them Redheads]

They would need to hire a company with people who are good at making User Interfaces for games to make an entirely new look good, feel good client to satisfy the bulk of the CC & EC fans, another company who could code in a graphics converter so that true 3D graphics could be made to work with UO's old programming language, and then a third company to make the true 3D graphics for all the extensive content UO has. Likely an expensive proposition. Your not talking a limited game world here like modern games with levels have.

Add in the fact that they would need to actually do some advertising and........yeah it'll never happen.

Throwing a small percentage of the cost of either developing a new game or updating the current one, at some advertising with a sweet commercial or 2 would do more to get new players than anything else.

And before the no one wants to see UO's graphics in a commercial crowd pops up, most game commercials have only a small percentage of actual gameplay in the commercial, it's usually some hyped up multi-camera creation for the majority of the run time. Imagine some pseudo hollywood action movie commercial involving a elf mage fighting a gargoyle thrower or a 6 man mixed group fighting some sterioded out 8 story tall Exodus or whatever.... it would get alot of people thinking "WoW sucks and is a grind" or "that UO has been around for 15 years, it must be good unlike all these other mmorpg's that have started up and then crashed".

Anyone with a small amount of marketing skill could shine a huge light on the many wonderful aspects of UO in a 30 second commercial.

Really how many lil dumbasses tried Wow because some guy who was in the A-team and fought Rocky told them too while watching a game play video labeled "not actual gameplay footage" along the bottom of the screen.

*In retrospect I regret wasting 2 minutes of my life even bothering to type this as new graphic or advertising will never happen*

 

[CovenantX]

How many old players will be beyond pissed if they take away the Classic Client and its look and feel?

Enough to kill the game off.

 

[Tanivar]

Enough to kill the game off.

When half the playerbase doesn't like the alternative, the EC, yeah, shutting down the CC would likely kill the game. The EA bean counters would completely freak at the drop in subscriptions as accounts closed down over the following few months. Some players would try to manage to like the EC because they love playing UO, but whether or not they could enjoy the game enough with the EC to keep playing only time would tell. UO might survive, it might not. It would be a roll of the die for EA.

 

[Gospel]

I hate to say this but without totally scrapping UO and rebuilding the entire game they could NEVER have graphics like that. EVER.

Umm, based on what? That's a bold statement and at the same time shows you know absolutely nothing about what you're talking about. Good stuff.

 

[Uvtha]

And before the no one wants to see UO's graphics in a commercial crowd pops up, most game commercials have only a small percentage of actual gameplay in the commercial, it's usually some hyped up multi-camera creation for the majority of the run time. Imagine some pseudo hollywood action movie commercial involving a elf mage fighting a gargoyle thrower or a 6 man mixed group fighting some sterioded out 8 story tall Exodus or whatever.... it would get alot of people thinking "WoW sucks and is a grind" or "that UO has been around for 15 years, it must be good unlike all these other mmorpg's that have started up and then crashed".

But... when they went to look at the game they would see the graphics. There's no point in misrepresentation when they don't have to buy the product to experience it. If they advertise the game, they should show the graphics.

Like I said before, UO is never going to be WOW. If it got LUCKY it could maybe be EVE. But I highly doubt it seeing as EVE is a modern looking game. I do think that there IS some room for growth but not so much room that a multi-million dollar ad buy would be anywhere near worth it.

UO is at its core a 15 year old game. Not just the graphics wise either. With a 14 dollar a month sub this game simply is not going to go anywhere.

 

[Cetric]

The ebst way to prolong UO is taking everything that is good about uo, and rebuilding it in a new game on a new engine, with completely new items and art honestly.

 

[Frarc]

Yesterday, when I was logged in I still saw my thread. when I logged out I did not *duh*. But when I logged in again, there it was again. So I assumed as thread creator I see it even if it's unanswered. BUT today I don't see it even if I am logged in. I think it's not too unreasonable for me to wonder right? Also I wrote "it seems" because of this strange logic.

Anyway it can't hurt to get a community discussion about this too...

Tanivar: There are other modern games out there with an open world which is still 3D. It's not magic anymore. This engine was amazing back in 1996, now it's 15 years later, a lot has changed. They could even enhance the 3D engine they already had.

Your Question is still save in the Ask the Dev's forum. As soon we can we will pass it along to the Dev's for one of the next Ask and Answer. There 100s of question still waiting but they will get their chance to be passed along in time. The Community Liaison Team (CLT) can still see them. We don't delete or remove unanswered question. We just pass them to Mesanna and the Dev's.

Just need to know the question that are selected weekly are not only the ones from Stratics but also from the other fan sites. Eventually your question will be passed.

Just got to trust us. Just like i trusted you to take you in my guild and the alliance on Drachs.And by the look of it, a passionate returning UO player, i did the right thing!

 

[cdavbar]

Here a quote from a gametrailers comment on the "High Seas" trailer:

This is B E A U T I F U L!!!!!

I am one of the people that have played from nearly the beginning, but I would love to see this. However, would I leave all I have for this? No. I have too many memories, and too many items have sentimental value of friends, good times, etc etc.

 

[Ender]

Tarnivar, the EC does have a good UI, far better than the classic client which is just far too simple.

The Counter-Strike graphics argument is a dud because one it isn't getting many new players (the original at least), two it doesn't have a subscription fee, and three it most certainly doesn't have more players than Call of Duty games, I could go on Xbox Live right now and see millions playing at 2 AM.

New graphics for UO would never work, the players won't adapt and they won't draw in new players, we've seen it three times. The only real options are keeping it struggling along til it's not profitable (a long, slow painful death really) or creating a UO2.

 

[Corvyn]

@ Ultima Online 2 topic: I would be afraid that whoever is in charge of thsi would not GET what makes UO so amazing, like the guy who was in charge of Ultima 9 for a short period of time who was like "why would you want to be able to bake bread? Ultima is about Adventure" <- this right here is the essence of not knowing anything about Utlima nd sanbox games in general.
The orignial developers are not with EA anymore. Not only Richard Garriott but also other central people like Raph Koster. btw: RG WANTED to create his new game with EA to be able to call it Ultima, they did not want to because they work on this travesty that is called Ultima Forever. (my personal optinion)
The Mythic guys should know by now what makes UO great. I don't know much about the actual team, maybe they could pull it off? I don't know.

But anyway, if you want a new Ultima (Online) game pledge and wait for Shroud of the Avatar. Don't judge by the graphics so far, it's nothing they worked on yet - it'S stock graphics with "randomly stolen" textures as RG said They don't have artists yet but worked on the tech of the game. I am eagerly awaiting that game but I still love UO.

I fear UO 2 by EA would just be another WOW clone. they would most likely but wrong people in charge.

@ You would have to rebuild it from scratch to be able to create pretty graphics: Look at World of Warcraft. They enhanced their engine incredibly. As much as I am bored of the gameplay, you can definitely do something with an old engine. Big difference: they started out in 3D. but there was a 3D client for UO... I am sure it would be a lot of work, no doubt, but it WOULD BE WORTH IT!

Of course it's a way bigger step from a 2D engine to a 3D engine, but once this is done future enhancements will be easier. it will be the groudnwork for a LOOONG UO life.

EA is clearly not interested in UO2, it failed twice. So why not go this way, enhance UO instead of risking UO2. Mythic knows the game in and out now. So even if they would have to rebuild a lot of systems, they would be able to do it, I am sure!

@Counterstrike argument: Yes but UO is not CS just as Mozart is not Linkin Park. That's why we need pretty graphics to lure new people in and get them hooked.

@ Diablo 3 is pretty but bad: I agree, but not all pretty games are good and not all ugly games are bad. Please understand the last entence I wrote in the original post: "New shiny graphics will make new players come and check UO out, the old but amazing gameplay will make them stay!"

You want UO to be around as long as possible and not have it die a slow death RIGHT?? Please don't be so short sighted.

Eve Online had to up their engine twice already. They grow steadily.

@Frarc: Yeah I know, please read my 2nd post where I describe why I assumed that. It should make sense I edited my first post now. Thanks again for the patient first re-introduction to the game. You were very kind and generous and I truly apprechiate it! Many more noob questions to follow

 

[Winker]

Enough to kill the game off.

Yup I agree, the EC plays and looks like an entirly difrent game

 

[THP]

defoo got to agree with the post...but old players like me dont like change...and to be fair wont have the gear to run high emd graphics like the video shows

i play classic..ive tried the EC and to be fair its not good..likem the old 3d...which was soooo bad....it .certainy aint gonna bring new players in for sure...this is a great post alas ''we are what we are''....... slowly dying game because no real effort was ever made to the graphic upgrade [ and the EC fails far far short]........ i hope uo survives ..yes we have a player base...but as more leave out and few come in...then end is only a matter of time...

watching the video on here....if only????

 

[Flagg]

Look at it from EA's POV.
Early 00s,an attempt to introduce new client to the game was made. It failed miserably, outcome was ugly and nobody liked it. The original Client made around 1997 proved more popular among customers.
Mid 00s, same as above.
Late 00s, same as above.
History being what it is " Hey let's see if current UO dev team manages to build a new client on top of the existing one! " prolly doesn't result in cheers in any table in EA or Mythic.


Around 2003-2006 or so, they should have at last recognized they can't manage anything superior to Classic Client without making an entitrely new game. Instead of repeatedly trying and failing horribly, the Dev team should have simply rebuild a version that on surface is pretty much 1:1 of the clasic client but written in more modern code that kills the severe hacks and exploits and allows easier and faster implementation of various small and large game/UI improvements.

It is genuinely sad how much time, money and scarce recourses has been wasted on failed client after another. It is bothersome how they all are uglier and clunkier than a Client programmed in 1996 or so. True testament to coders of original Dev team. And a reminder how infinitely dififcult it is to expand on something existing instead of building something entirely new.

None of this matters anymore. EA does not seem to have any interest or ambition to invest money or faith on UO and the Dev team. So you won't be seeing new clients or newly done graphics or new anything OP, sadly.

Free to Play would bring significant amount of fresh life to game. Tis saddening that doesn't seem to be on table either. It is pretty much only thing I could imagine bringing an actual mass of people in. Alas in all likelyhood it won't be happening either; amount of effort and investment to get it going required is, just like some new client, entirely out of the ballpark of faith and cash EA wants to show UO's way.

Current account managment and process of activating a long closed account is terrifying confusing grind of infernal **** and agony. This in itself has kept tons of old vets from coming back. It'd be nice if this one could be fixed AT LAST. It is very long lived and depressing example of how ****ing difficult it can be to fix something infinitely dysfunctional even when scope of the dysfunctional bits is pretty manageable.

 

[Corvyn]

If I compare the poll with the replies it seems UO just has a very vocal minority. No wonder the 3D client failed.

 

[Flagg]

^
Would you like it if game suddenly began looking awesome and had many more people yes/no?
I'm surprised there is as many as 4 voting " No"s tbh;p

I'd also like it if EA invested 200 mils on UO instead of TOR. I'd also like it if I could buy Garriot's house and bring topless dancers wearing spock ears in every night. It's just that nobody bothers to expand on such daydreams when actually taking time to post, since tis a bit pointless. Harsh realities to talk about and all.;p

 

[Winker]

If I compare the poll with the replies it seems UO just has a very vocal minority. No wonder the 3D client failed.

3d client failed because it was crap, nothing more nothing less. The EC is crap too, you feel like your floating through the game rather than walking or running. Sure it has some neat things that you can do that the CC cant do, and in my eyes that makes it a different game and when it come to PvP both clients should play the same but they don't the EC had a few big/massive advantages but yet no one likes it for PvP.

 

[Coldren]

If nothing else, thank you for linking to that video, OP. I hadn't seen that project yet, but it looks fantastic.

No, EA would never do that with UO, and I agree with previous posters, we need a UO2 anyway - One that corrects a lot of the issues and spaghetti code currently plaguing the existing UO, and helps streamline and accelerate development using more modern technologies.

Sui Generis.. Probably not an MMO, but if you could make an MMO look like THAT, someone would have a killer hit on their hands.

 

[Corvyn]

I am baffled by some of the replies here. In fact in such a way that I can't even bother to write up any counter arguments.

@Flag: If you think making a franchise like Ultima even more profitable is a daydream like the others you posted then I have to doubt your business sense. But whatever, I give up. SOTA is still a ray of hope. but hey maybe Richard Garriott is just a daydreamer too in your opinion and the Ultima games incl. UO only exist in our combined dreams. mind blown

 

[Cetric]

I'd love new graphics, but the EC was their best shot at new graphics due to the camera view and everything of UO and this game. And i just don't care for the EC.

With the camer aangle of uo, and a new graphics engine, the game would have to be recreated from scratch and not support old clients. I'd say that is next to impossible and a new uo would be more reasonable.

 

[Madrid]

Corvyn

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink.

When you get some of the responses you see in this thread there really is no point in responding. All you can do is roll your eyes.

The writing is on the wall.

UOStratics member Jonathan Baraon said it best... "The 2D client is UO's mortal wound".

 

[Gorbs]

You're going to waste far too much money to come up with an interface that will win the hearts and minds of all through amazing graphics for UO. However, the simplicity of the UO interface would allow for mobile play should EA want to take that route. Most of the game is point and click. Macros and typing would be an issue. Throw in an in-game VoIP system and you could possibly get around that. The best way to increase player numbers is by making the functionality appeal to larger numbers. Shiny graphics will soon be outdated anyways.

 

[Flagg]

I am baffled by some of the replies here. In fact in such a way that I can't even bother to write up any counter arguments.
@Flag: If you think making a franchise like Ultima even more profitable is a daydream like the others you posted then I have to doubt your business sense. But whatever, I give up. SOTA is still a ray of hope. but hey maybe Richard Garriott is just a daydreamer too in your opinion and the Ultima games incl. UO only exist in our combined dreams. mind blown

Fortunatelly UO related decisions aren't dependant on business sense of yours or mine. Unfortunatelly EA and Mythic have made it pretty clear where UO's spot is in grander scheme of things according to their own business sense. If future CEO of EA or somebody in Mythic starts displaying some visible interest to see a better funded, more numerous and more vibrant UO dev team.. then it might be time to start holding your breath.

I recon reason you 'can't be bothered' to argue with people has to do with how nobody here is really disageeing. Your OP is essentially all about " would it not be awesome if UO suddenly had awesome graphics, an awesome new engine everybody loved and loads of more people playing it?" Why, yes Mister Corvyn it would be awesome indeed. As long as Mythic and EA keep scale and volume of attention given to UO in scale it has been for..what, 3 years now, it is completely unrealistic to start holding your breath for some new magic engine. I'm sure another thing we can agree on is that building some awesome, awesome looking and otherwise grand 3d engine to an already existing MMO is a massive undertaking. Give me smallest reason to believe such undertaking is in works and I'll be 1st to post them smileys.

Howeveeer, if there ever is actually a significant visible push by EA to make a brand new genuinely ambitious game engine for an Ultima MMO.. I'd be surprised if they didn't just turn it into UO2 instead of trying to build everything to conditions and restrictions existing UO brings.

That is not to say there wouldn't be number of things that could boost Sub count of UO. Fixing the account managment would be a cool start;l

 

[Corvyn]

This is the problem, Mr. Flaggs, there is no sign at all that it is in the works. What you seem to miss in my argument is that I don't only think that "it would be cool for a few nerds if" but that I am convinced that this game is more than just a money sink for a few thousand die hard fans who don't realize that the game sucks in reality. I am saying that this game has everything it needs for huge success but the graphics engine. It is highly under valued by EA and as it seems by some of it's loyal players.

If everybody would only get in gear as soon as there are signs for something to happen instead of at least trying to make them happen then I guess we would still throw stones, but hey, I know, I am just daydreaming... Can't wait for your tons of arguments why posts of wishes won't change anything. I guess you missed the last few years on the internet if that turns out to be true.

Gorbs: a good engine will allow you to update graphics regularly. See: Eve Online

 

[Flagg]

Moderately new moderately ambitious game engine is something three (or 2,5?) seperate incarnations of UO Dev teams have tried. Three times majority of community has chosen client made in 1997 instead. Imagine what sort of a tale this tells in papers of Lizardmen wearing suits that ultimately decide how much cash and people UO has behind it. I doubt anyone in Mythic or EA wants to see 4th effort of similar scale. Clearly managing to do so is..problematic. I think potential customers, Mythic and EA all agree it'd had to be bigger, more ambitious investment, engine and graphics with more work and finese poured in. I can kinda see there being some sort of a small possibility of such happening someday somehow....
...but if it does, I can also kinda see it turning into a brand new MMO, UO2 or something different.

" Guys..we have a great engine here. Please remind me why it was we wanna put it to 20 year old game?"

That could result in UO2. I'd like that.

Daydreams

 

[Tanivar]

Corvyn

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink.

When you get some of the responses you see in this thread there really is no point in responding. All you can do is roll your eyes.

The writing is on the wall.

Yeah, no matter how many times that walls been painted since 1997, some simple soul writes the same old line of bull back onto it. I suspect the only way that will stop is if the simple souls die of old age before UO does.

CorvynUOStratics member Jonathan Baraon said it best... "The 2D client is UO's mortal wound".

You one of the writers on the wall? The CC is whats keeping half of UO's customers still paying their fee each month. Getting rid of the CC would certainly be UO's mortal wound, the EA beancounters would see the massive loss of paying customers that went with getting rid of the CC and pull the plug.

 

[Corvyn]

My fear is that UO is not running well but simply dieing slow. Yeah the old engine keeps old players around, but those players also eventually move on in one way or the other. I doubt that UO wins many new players atm or even in the last few years. An actual subscriber number would be very interesting. Anyway, if they only work towards preserving and not at all towards progression death comes sooner than it should come, that is my firm believe. Just slow progression won't cut it either. EA would have to pull attention to the game again and this can best be achieved by glorious visuals. You can choose not to believe me of course, but a picture says more than words and people are very visual creatures.

 

[Orgional Farimir]

How many old players will be beyond pissed if they take away the Classic Client and its look and feel?

I would close my 1 account. So that is $12 a month they would lose.