Originally posted by WSIMike

Originally posted by angryhoboman

Lol Darkfall uses a modified version of Unreal engine 1.... which was made in the late 1990's...

 

Please don't talk out of your ass.

Darkfall doesn't use any version Unreal tech.

That said...
Among its other limitations, Unreal 1 had no support at all for height-mapped terrains, much less large-scale terrains.

At *best* it would be using UT Engine 2, which has the support for terrain... but it doesn't use that either.

See for yourself...
Unreal Engine Games

 

Yea Darkfall use the "Darkfall Propriety Engine" which is the companys own engine..... The player models just looked so similiar to those of unreal tournament 1 (graphically based that is) which gave me that idea :)

Originally posted by lilreap2k3

Give it a shot. Sure $50 is pretty steep when you don't really know what you are buying. I was on the fence from a few months before EU release up until the day before NA release. I decided to give in and just try it for myself.

Ignoring all of the "haters" and "fanboys", the game isn't terrible nor is it the "second coming" as people were praising it to be. If you are looking for an mmorpg that is straight up hardcore pvp, then this may be the game you are looking for. Darkfall may not be the prettiest game, nor the most bug free; but it is good enough to warrant my $15/month.

I have had the most fun I have ever had on an mmorpg, just in the first week of playing NA. This is before big guild vs. guild battles have gotten started. My first day I joined a guild. My guild owns a city that we have been building since Tuesday morning on the 14th. Knowing that at any moment, you can be sieged by 100+ people who can kill everyone, and take your city. All that hard work gathering wood, stone, ore, etc.. gone in an instant. Best feeling I have ever had playing an mmorpg hands down.

The game is so intense. If I leave our city and go wondering off somewhere I have to watch my back at all times. Cause if I get jumped and die, everything I have on me is gone.

I've played mmorpgs since EQ/AC. My most recent being WoW on and off since '05. I didn't know what exactly I was missing out on until now.

  50$ isn't as steep as 75$ for a "world game" that you don't know when its going to be released.

Originally posted by -Zeno-

Originally posted by lilreap2k3

Give it a shot. Sure $50 is pretty steep when you don't really know what you are buying. I was on the fence from a few months before EU release up until the day before NA release. I decided to give in and just try it for myself.

Ignoring all of the "haters" and "fanboys", the game isn't terrible nor is it the "second coming" as people were praising it to be. If you are looking for an mmorpg that is straight up hardcore pvp, then this may be the game you are looking for. Darkfall may not be the prettiest game, nor the most bug free; but it is good enough to warrant my $15/month.

I have had the most fun I have ever had on an mmorpg, just in the first week of playing NA. This is before big guild vs. guild battles have gotten started. My first day I joined a guild. My guild owns a city that we have been building since Tuesday morning on the 14th. Knowing that at any moment, you can be sieged by 100+ people who can kill everyone, and take your city. All that hard work gathering wood, stone, ore, etc.. gone in an instant. Best feeling I have ever had playing an mmorpg hands down.

The game is so intense. If I leave our city and go wondering off somewhere I have to watch my back at all times. Cause if I get jumped and die, everything I have on me is gone.

I've played mmorpgs since EQ/AC. My most recent being WoW on and off since '05. I didn't know what exactly I was missing out on until now.

  50$ isn't as steep as 75$ for a "world game" that you don't know when its going to be released.

Interesting observation. Based on the features promised and stated on their website, has Darkfall been released yet? All I see is a failed shell of what was promised for almost a decade.

Remember people that live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

Originally posted by javac

at least try not to pick the uglist SS you could find... try here for example.

 

i played both and the difference in graphics between DF and AOC wasn't all that large. AoC character models and spells were hands-down better, the world and environment in DF was hands-down better.

 

naturally there's a stylistic preference in there too but a large part of whether you like or dislike DF's graphics comes down to whch race's lands you're in. ork and alfar in particular have quite desolate, barren-looking lands.

intresting info. I was inclide to try out AoC and LoTR strickly to see about the graphics issue becuase I personally love DF graphics specifically because of the world graphics and i didnt uderstand what some were complaining about.

I didnt really like the screenshots I saw online for those two games but I have found in game graphics experience is usually different. I think its mostly a style preference though.
 

Originally posted by javac

Originally posted by zymurgeist

Originally posted by lilreap2k3

 

 

 

Why do you think Darkfall "failed"? Just because it's a niche game that only a certain type of mmorpg players like? Because it has alot less people than the borefest that is WoW? Sure Tasos is full of it, but that doesn't mean the game itself isn't any good.

 

Darkfall has passed from "niche" to below sustainable population for a pay to play MMO. That's the definition of failed for a MMO. The bug zapper awaits.

 

is that why they just opened a second server? why they still haven't even released a single ad or spent a dime on marketing yet yet? the cluelessness of some of the crap you guys come up with is unbelievable...

One can say that they are burning up their reserves. They are expanding into NA market because there are more money there. But, from a business perspective, I don't see how they can make a profit with the numbers they have right now. Some games just refuse to die even with very small subscriber numbers (Horizons for example).

Originally posted by jimmyman99

Originally posted by javac

Originally posted by zymurgeist

Originally posted by lilreap2k3

  Why do you think Darkfall "failed"? Just because it's a niche game that only a certain type of mmorpg players like? Because it has alot less people than the borefest that is WoW? Sure Tasos is full of it, but that doesn't mean the game itself isn't any good.

 Darkfall has passed from "niche" to below sustainable population for a pay to play MMO. That's the definition of failed for a MMO. The bug zapper awaits.

 

is that why they just opened a second server? why they still haven't even released a single ad or spent a dime on marketing yet yet? the cluelessness of some of the crap you guys come up with is unbelievable...

One can say that they are burning up their reserves. They are expanding into NA market because there are more money there. But, from a business perspective, I don't see how they can make a profit with the numbers they have right now. Some games just refuse to die even with very small subscriber numbers (Horizons for example).

Important point to note: While it's a small game by mainstream MMO standards they are also just a small independent developer so their costs and initial overhead are also much much smaller. I suspect even that even with 15000 subs on EU-1 and 10000 (?) subs on NA-1 they would be doing alright. All depends on the running cost of the server cluster datacentre and bandwidth.

Originally posted by chokepoint

Originally posted by jimmyman99

Originally posted by javac

Originally posted by zymurgeist

Originally posted by lilreap2k3

  Why do you think Darkfall "failed"? Just because it's a niche game that only a certain type of mmorpg players like? Because it has alot less people than the borefest that is WoW? Sure Tasos is full of it, but that doesn't mean the game itself isn't any good.

 Darkfall has passed from "niche" to below sustainable population for a pay to play MMO. That's the definition of failed for a MMO. The bug zapper awaits.

 

is that why they just opened a second server? why they still haven't even released a single ad or spent a dime on marketing yet yet? the cluelessness of some of the crap you guys come up with is unbelievable...

One can say that they are burning up their reserves. They are expanding into NA market because there are more money there. But, from a business perspective, I don't see how they can make a profit with the numbers they have right now. Some games just refuse to die even with very small subscriber numbers (Horizons for example).

 

Important point to note: While it's a small game by mainstream MMO standards they are also just a small independent developer so their costs and initial overhead are also much much smaller. I suspect even that even with 15000 subs on EU-1 and 10000 (?) subs on NA-1 they would be doing alright. All depends on the running cost of the server cluster datacentre and bandwidth.

 

Thats true to some point. However, while you can have "less" development (as in smaller number of programmers, admins, GMs, QA, etc), you can't have "less" equipment. A server is a server, it has initial hardware cost, and constant maintenance cost.

Those servers cost a lot of money. Staff cost a lot of money. Even if they are making a profit, I would guess its a small one. Seeing how the game is now, a small profit will not help it grow into a better product. Stalled/slow development = soon to be outdated product = failure in the long run.

AV needs a big profit to pay off their debts, to maintain current state of the game AND to have a healthy leftovers for constant development.. I think they either have/had a new investor - so they expanded into NA. Or they are still burning their startup money. In both situations the source if income is very limited. A small or even mediocre profit will not cut it in this situation.

That 12 million dollar loan is like an anchor around their neck, they're going to be forced to make decisions for profit at the expense of PR on a continual basis ( NA double charges - smart from a profit standpoint, but horrible PR ).

Originally posted by lilreap2k3

 

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Originally posted by Orthedos
To the OP, after so many details being examined by both sides of this dog fight, I was hoping you have something solid to sell DF.  What you are saying are long known to all, and selling DF to us simply on the ground you like it, is at best a weak appeal.  Unless you have ground breaking news about improvements, I for one will just wait and see.
SW:ToR is coming, Aion is here. MO is coming.  Lots of games coming.  DF has failed, and it has a long road to go before it can recover.  Till then, its just on the wait and see list.

---

 

Sorry I didn't go into more detail, but I am having too much fun ingame.

SW:ToR may or may not be good, nobody knows yet. Aion is WoW with wings. MO could be good, but from what I have heard so far it sounds like massive battles aren't really something they plan on having, which is really a drawback to that type of game.

Why do you think Darkfall "failed"? Just because it's a niche game that only a certain type of mmorpg players like? Because it has alot less people than the borefest that is WoW? Sure Tasos is full of it, but that doesn't mean the game itself isn't any good.

Fair enough.  If you enjoy the game, by all means, and not obligation talking here.  When I am not travelling, I seldom come online here.

SW:ToR may or may not be good.  I don't know.  Aion is definitely not WoW, wings or not.  The kids from the school I sponsored play it, and I have seen him play for 2 days, when I was stuck there due to logistics.  Its not a WoW, its a mixed bag of everything, and fast paced.  Do I like it?  Marginal.  I do see it has its appeal to quite a wide span of audience.  MO, no idea, lets don't judge it because of some hearsay.

Why do I see DF as failed?  Several aspects.  First the community, PvP games live and die by the community.  DAoC lived b/c the community is great.  DF community, well you make your own judgment.  I see enough obnoxious usernames on this board alone.  Second the delivery, DF as delivered is not DF as "envisioned".  That is a bad thing.  Don't market something you cannot deliver.  That is my professional stand, my career and my earning power depends on that, "reputation".  Third and foremost, retention.  PvP game requires people to fight you, to kill you or die to your sword.  Given the fantastic retention rate, you will be fighting a handful old faces every day.  Fourth, hacking.  If a boat can fly, pigs can fly.  Fifth, griefing.  I do not mind dying.  If I choose to go PvP, I know Im going to kiss the ground a lot.  However, its dying for fun, for gameplay.  Griefing is another issue, its making life hard on others, ruining other's fun and gameplay, and I do not buy the pompom excuse of "learn to defend yourself" "price you pay as a newbie" "carebear go back to WoW" lame excuse.  Griefing in my eyes, is the worst kind of social behaviour, its just like digital rape.  Those who try to glorified their own acts of griefing are just social deviants. Imagine an invited and accepted duel vs a mob ambushing an old lady.  Hope you see my point.  I log in to play, I want my fun, and I know people want their fun too.  I do not intend to build up my level on fun, thru levying pain and disruptions on other's fun.

At the end its the gameplay that says it all.  DF brings nothing new or refreshing to the table.  Heck, in DAoC days, every weekend is a massive fight, almost non stop, for hours.  Till you are so tired you want to port back and log.  No one care to post long passages about big fights, it happens every week.  No one care to talk big about DF (the unique dungeon of DAoC) entrance encounters, keep defences.  It is always happening.  Everything DF is trying we have already seen and done much better elsewhere.  Tons of games, old games, were able to deliver a lot, much better and on way older machines.  SWG has really given us the free world of sandbox.  DAoC has the epic wars, UO has the community that keeps a FFA PvP going with honor and reason.  After tasting the best of the old ones, I have a hard time seeing any merit in DF.

Originally posted by javac

Originally posted by zymurgeist

Originally posted by lilreap2k3

 

 

 

Why do you think Darkfall "failed"? Just because it's a niche game that only a certain type of mmorpg players like? Because it has alot less people than the borefest that is WoW? Sure Tasos is full of it, but that doesn't mean the game itself isn't any good.

 

Darkfall has passed from "niche" to below sustainable population for a pay to play MMO. That's the definition of failed for a MMO. The bug zapper awaits.

 

is that why they just opened a second server? why they still haven't even released a single ad or spent a dime on marketing yet yet? the cluelessness of some of the crap you guys come up with is unbelievable...

  When you say they opened a second server are you talking about the fact that they just opened the North american server?  If so your use of the info is deceptive as they didn't open that server because the first was full it was to accomodate North american players with a server of their own as opposed to having to play under EU rules etc..  I have no problem with ops like of the game thoguh I can soundly say his reasoning for liking it don't appeal to me in any way at all, graphically DF doesn't apppeal to me either I actually agree that overall the game looks rather outdated.  I could live with open world pvp and such (though I hardly see the joy in knowing you can work months to build something up only to have a bunch of asshats take it in five minutes) but what I can't do with is the lack of lore story or direction.  First thing some will think is "oh here's another player who needs his hand held" and I'd disagree with that thought what I do want is options though and DF not only doesn't offer them the attitude displayed by Tasos gives me the impression that I as a mostly pve player am "undesirable" as there is simply not enough to do in DF and they have rarely if ever addressed the lack of "focused" content or direction.

 Though my views on the company and game are quite a bit more vocal against I think Orthedos makes some well thought out and articulated points about what is lacking in this game and one of the biggest points I forgot is community I didn't get the chance to experience alot of the games he mentions but I did in fact play SWG in it's early days and remember well the Imps that I fought against and thought highly enough of them the griefing that is quite evidently in DF didn't exist on such a wide scale heck I even had folks I fought against later give me tips on how to pvp and I certainly didn't experience alot of griefing and even less of a verbal lashing than I've seen out of the Df community who remind me often of a bunch of cavemen

Originally posted by Hammertime1

That 12 million dollar loan is like an anchor around their neck, they're going to be forced to make decisions for profit at the expense of PR on a continual basis ( NA double charges - smart from a profit standpoint, but horrible PR ).

 

Yes, that may have been the first indication that they are looking for a bigger profit. That move was fairly bad from a PR stand point, but it did get them some cash. Im curios to see what their next money-grabbing scheme would be. A game shop to spend RL money on virtual items is my best guess.