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Originally posted by kh91vy
UO has come a long way since this was originally posted. See for your self. Like anything, it has its flaws. But you will certainly find a rich and rewarding game. 
If you are interested, feel free to icq me at 74431689 (Mac). I reside on the Europa shard. I would be glad to help you get started. 

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Originally posted by vaultbrain

Originally posted by MaeEye

Originally posted by vaultbrain

Originally posted by MaeEye

It is a real shame, quite honestly.  

 

I guess EA is more worried about their current subscription rather than the people that were subscriped years ago.  

 

Classic or not, we all have to admit that UO is still one of the better MMO's out there.  

 No, its really not. Not the way it is today. As it stands now, UO is just a 2d clone of WoW. You cant make the custom characters you used to be able to back in the old days. Today, the majority of the skills are gimped beyond all functionality. The only choice players have is to be a Bushido/archer/ninja/pally with 120.0% skills, or els they are completely worthless.

Not to mention crafting is completely worthless thanks to insurance and artifacts. Time was, the only way to make money was to have some sort of crafting skill and work hard at it, get good, then start selling stuff to other players. Today, all you need to do is spend an hour in one of the old dungeons and you can walk out with close to a 100k. With insurance, no one ever looses gear. With powder of fortification, it never deteriorates. And with artifacts, why bother with player made gear? All of the old staples that made UO crafting great are gone.

Then theres the combat. PvE is uber easy, and PvP is completely poinless and item dependent. In PvE, players are invincible. Monsters are NO threat what so ever, thanks to arti suits giving players god mode. LRC suits make mages into casting machines. SSI suits make melee fighters into whilrwinds of death. In PvP, whoever has the best arti suit, speed hacks, and macros wins. It doesnt matter how skilled of a fighter you are, as long as some little puke can push one key that allows him to pull off 22004234239 moves at once, as a sword that hits you 2000 times in a second and has 100% hit lightning, fireball and harm, youre screwed.

No, UO isnt the best MMO out there. Hell, even Darkfail offers better game play. UO had its day, long long ago, back when people of vision, originality and creativity were in charge. Today, its nothing but jerk'd off morons who do whatever some corporate douch bag tells them, but ignores what the players have been begging for all these years.

I don't know.  I am going to have to disagree with you on that.  Yes, the game is nothing like how it used to be.  But how is it a WoW clone?  I fail to see that.  We still have housing, which is extremely customizable.  Vendors to sell our stuff on.  Then there is exploring the open sea ourselves in any manor we want.  Treasure hunting is extremely rewardable and fun to do with a group of people.  The customization is still there with the game.  Trying to find a full suit of LRC and having the ability to be able to cast spells without reagants, neat!  Sure, PVP isn't there anymore and it still is not the same UO.  But at least in UO there is still a world to live in and be apart of.

 

The world is still the same world from back in the late 90's, except more mysteries to explore.  I will agree that the game is now based more about items than before, but it is no where near a 'WoW' clone. 

In WoW, like in UO, crafting is pointless. In WoW, like in UO, the best suit of gear, hacks and macros wins out over player skill. In WoW, like in UO, the ingame economy is completely killed by gold farmers.

Character customization is completely killed. There are only, what, 6 functioning templates left? Even then, players have to depend on templates to have a functional character. Whatever happened to warrior mages? Warrior Thieves? Archer Mages? Pure Crafters? Imagination has been gimped, like the majority of the skills in the game.

World to live in? Sure, if you like living in an abandoned dead world where the only people ever around are gold spammers at the bank shouting web addresses all day long, or bot farmer characters farming gold and resources and the only "players" left are foul mouthed arrogant little pisspots. Oh, yes, such a vibrant world...... bah.

There are no "good" mmorpgs left. Its a EQ clone dominated market and no one has the balls to break the mold and try something new, and UO is no different.

Yes.  Living in the world.  Ever play on Atlantic or Europa?  There are still a very strong community left and some really heavy RPers in the game still.  And the best thing about it, is that you do not have to search long or hard to find them.  And as far as the templates go, you can still costumize any character you want.  It is still possible to create that archer mage that you've wanted.  Imagination has not been gimped by any means. 

There are still plenty of people left in Ultima, like I said before, just log onto Atlantic.  There is a healthy community of people.  Yes, I miss the old days of Ultima just like anyone else, but I am not blinded by nostolgia to know that UO is still one of the best MMO's out there with tons of customizations, even more so than before, and adventure waiting to be had.

Thanks.  I stopped my Mortal Online download, I just don't think this game would offer what I love in UO.  Darkfall, who knows.  I might as well give it a try.

Mainly, what I am looking for, is an adventure.  And maybe you can tell me if DFO offers this, but I want a game where I can own a house and decorate it how I want.  I want a game where there is a sense of exploration and treasure hunting and where crafted weapons and items give you the best 'stats.'  I never really was deeply into PvP, I did partake in PvP in UO when people wanted to kill me, but I never went out looking for a fight.  If that makes sense.  

Originally posted by Loktofeit

Originally posted by MaeEye

 

And please, do not base this around PvP alone.  I hardly did much PvP in UO, it was more about exploring the world, having a house and doing treasure maps.  I liked how there was risk with the PvP and I did always defend myself, but I never really went out to look for a fight.  So with that in mind, what do you recommend?

From what I've seen the two games are more akin to advanced versions of  WoW'sTarren Mills on a PVP server than UO. Wurm, EVE and Puzzle Pirates offer far more of a UO-like experience than DF or MO.

Wurm looks interesting, but honestly I couldn't imagine playing this game.  Something just doesn't look right.  

I have tried EVE several times.  I really don't know what to think of the game.  I really like the thought of a player run community and deep rulesets.  I love space too, but it seems empty to me.  I almost feel like when playing the game I am just jumping from one system to another and there really isn't much exploring. Maybe I am missing something.  

I do know there is something about EVE, though, that keeps bringing me back to try the game, at least four times now.

Originally posted by harmonica

If you played UO for 10 years, then I'm pretty sure ANY game will be fine. :P

 

People quit UO because it morphed into something else, something horrible. So yeah, Darkfall should be fine.

Thanks for the heads up.  I know I posted this a few months ago, but I now am finally going to give DF the time to try it out.  Right now I am downloading Mortal Online and Darkfall Online.

I guess what I am really looking for is a community to be apart of similar to how UO was.  I want to be able to have a house and an area I can call mine, craft, and explore the world.

To be honest, I am not sure how well either of these games will work out for me since I am looking for a MMO that is more about being in a world than just going out and killing everything.

A couple of months back I posted a thread in the Darkfall forum asking about the game.  I have yet to try the game considering how busy I have been.  

I am a veteran of Ultima Online.  When I say that, I do not mean that I only played for 3 years when the game launched.  I played UO for 10 years and still am very fond of the game.  But I feel that I should give something else a try and quite honestly I am tired of all of these EQ like games.

So I came to ask the MMORPG community, which game would feel more at home for a old UO player?  Mortal Online or Darkfall Online.

And please, do not base this around PvP alone.  I hardly did much PvP in UO, it was more about exploring the world, having a house and doing treasure maps.  I liked how there was risk with the PvP and I did always defend myself, but I never really went out to look for a fight.  So with that in mind, what do you recommend?

Whatever you do, don't listen to majority of the people that complain that UO just isn't the same anymore.  It's like listening to old people talk about how the world is different.  Yes, it is different.  But that is by no means a bad thing.

UO is still very much the most developed and mature game around in the MMO world.  People are extemely helpful in game; I had a guy help me out for about an hour hooking me up with items that make traveling a lot eaiser.  Trust me, I rarely run acorss someone that is rude in the game.  Look past the graphics and you will see a game very welcoming to someone that wants a world to play in, rather than a game. 

Also, I would not recommend a 'player-run-server' aka 'free sever.'  They lack community and just do not feel the same. 

Overall, just enjoy the game when you start.  If you have any questions just contact us here or go to uo.stratics.com, that place is a gold mine of information.

Originally posted by vaultbrain

Originally posted by MaeEye

It is a real shame, quite honestly.  

 

I guess EA is more worried about their current subscription rather than the people that were subscriped years ago.  

 

Classic or not, we all have to admit that UO is still one of the better MMO's out there.  

 No, its really not. Not the way it is today. As it stands now, UO is just a 2d clone of WoW. You cant make the custom characters you used to be able to back in the old days. Today, the majority of the skills are gimped beyond all functionality. The only choice players have is to be a Bushido/archer/ninja/pally with 120.0% skills, or els they are completely worthless.

Not to mention crafting is completely worthless thanks to insurance and artifacts. Time was, the only way to make money was to have some sort of crafting skill and work hard at it, get good, then start selling stuff to other players. Today, all you need to do is spend an hour in one of the old dungeons and you can walk out with close to a 100k. With insurance, no one ever looses gear. With powder of fortification, it never deteriorates. And with artifacts, why bother with player made gear? All of the old staples that made UO crafting great are gone.

Then theres the combat. PvE is uber easy, and PvP is completely poinless and item dependent. In PvE, players are invincible. Monsters are NO threat what so ever, thanks to arti suits giving players god mode. LRC suits make mages into casting machines. SSI suits make melee fighters into whilrwinds of death. In PvP, whoever has the best arti suit, speed hacks, and macros wins. It doesnt matter how skilled of a fighter you are, as long as some little puke can push one key that allows him to pull off 22004234239 moves at once, as a sword that hits you 2000 times in a second and has 100% hit lightning, fireball and harm, youre screwed.

No, UO isnt the best MMO out there. Hell, even Darkfail offers better game play. UO had its day, long long ago, back when people of vision, originality and creativity were in charge. Today, its nothing but jerk'd off morons who do whatever some corporate douch bag tells them, but ignores what the players have been begging for all these years.

I don't know.  I am going to have to disagree with you on that.  Yes, the game is nothing like how it used to be.  But how is it a WoW clone?  I fail to see that.  We still have housing, which is extremely customizable.  Vendors to sell our stuff on.  Then there is exploring the open sea ourselves in any manor we want.  Treasure hunting is extremely rewardable and fun to do with a group of people.  The customization is still there with the game.  Trying to find a full suit of LRC and having the ability to be able to cast spells without reagants, neat!  Sure, PVP isn't there anymore and it still is not the same UO.  But at least in UO there is still a world to live in and be apart of.

The world is still the same world from back in the late 90's, except more mysteries to explore.  I will agree that the game is now based more about items than before, but it is no where near a 'WoW' clone. 

Originally posted by colddog04

I didn't read the last 39 pages about which game people are hyped for more, but I am wondering if anyone knows the answer to a question. Which game is spending more money on development and is there a large gap between the two?

Star Wars: The Old Republic has been stated to be one of the most expensive MMORPG's to be in development and the most expensive project that EA has handled. 

Why not get both?  One is pay to play, the other is not.  So ultimately, in the end, you can afford to do so. 

Me?  I am more hyped about The Old Republic but I will not lie that Guild War 2 has my interest.  I thought the first GW was a great game, but I never did buy any of the expansions.  Shame on me.

Overall TOR is more appealing to me though.  I, for one, enjoy the art style they are using along with the story elements that are going to be tied into the game.  I love to explore and if the land is anything similar to Britannia or Azeroth, then I should have no problem getting lost in the game.

I am excited to know that you are revisiting the old MMORPGs that have almost been forgotten or covered up by newer generations. 

This was a very well written article and as a old time Ultima Online fan, I felt much nostolgia while reading it.  UO is full of a world that still strives and when you talked about the empty feel of houses that were no longer being taken care of, I could only feel a story being written as you think about it all.

I miss playing UO, I really do.  At times I tell myself I want to go back and try it out, but in the end I never give it time anymore.  Maybe this up coming weekend I will finally give the game time and dive back into the world that I once called home. 

Thanks for the read, I look forward to more!

Generally, I like the character models.

Ultima Online, World of Warcraft and Age of Conan are all my top 3 favorite MMORPG.  Ever.  I am estatic to hear that at least one of them is going to free to play freemium business model.  That way, I can continue playing one of them.  Now, I just need the other two to turn to the same model.

I can't wait to log into my character and see what new things the world has brought.

Does anyone know when this goes into affect?  Or is it just set for 'Summer' atm?

I can understand all your feelings towards EA and another UO.  When I said this was interesting I didn't necessary say I liked the idea.  This was just something I found on Eurogamer.  

Time will tell.  But I really doubt we will ever see another Ultima game.  I just don't think the market is there and most gamers anymore don't even know what Ultima is.  It would still be a very niche game.

I think some of you may find this interesting.

Source @ Eurogamer

Question-marks - that's what hangs over EA's decision to stop people giving away Ultima IV for free; that's what hangs over BioWare-Mythic creative director Paul Barnett (formerly a Warhammer Online preacher) mentioning "secret projects"; that's what hangs over the mystery MMO an EA job posting exposed yesterday.

Are all three events linked? Is EA making a new Ultima Online?

It's a leap of faith, but why else would EA suddenly demand freeware sites stop distributing Ultima IV, a game that's been openly available to fans for years - and a game around which a enthusiastic mod scene has developed?

Tweeted Paul Barnett on 19th March: "Dr Ray just visited, he looked at the secret projects and he saw that they were good."

Projects? Plural?

Then there's yesterday's job posting for an MMO Web Architect to work on a something "huge"; something "monumental".

Years ago there was a sequel to Ultima Online, called Ultima Worlds Online: Origin. But sadly it wasn't to be; the 3D project was binned by EA in 2001.

Ultima Online, created by Richard Garriott and released in 1997, is considered to be the game that popularised MMOs. And it lives on today, albeit after countless face-lifts and game changes. Even so, Ultima Online has an audience many new MMOs would turn green at.

But how would EA recreate the je ne sais quoi of Ultima Online for today's MMO audience? There are fantasy MMOs by the dozen now; could a vaunted skill-based advancement of Ultima Online and its fondly remembered but brutal die-and-lose-all-equipment thrills translate?

How would EA handle adapting the iconic isometric graphics?

Perhaps by going free to play as a browser-based game?

Question-marks: I stroke my wizard's beard at you.

Originally posted by Melgaroth

Originally posted by MaeEye

Originally posted by nileq

Be patient (sorta sounds like you are 10 years of uo) and don't expect to be maxed 6 months into the game. DF takes time.

And get into a clan, that will open alot of new possibillities for you.

Are you playing on EU or US?

I signed up for US, considering I live in the states.  

 

Everyone had a great amount to say about the game, and a quick response.  I appreciate it.  It seems like it is one of those games where you have to enjoy the journey rather than focus on the 'end game'.  Which is what UO was always about.  Make friends / enemies, adventure, explore the land.  UO wasn't much about PvE either, so to hear that the main focus of DF is just adventure and PvP sounds good to me.

 

Another question, does DF have housing?  I know I could look this up, but I would rather ask a community. 

 

Again, thanks for all the great replies so far.

Well, you will need to PVE a lot to work up your skills and also to make cash to be able to afford or craft your own gear, cause everything in the game has durability and will break eventually, plus the full loot aspect of PVP means you will lose a lot of gear if you die a lot in PVP.

There is player housing but sadly it is very limited and rather exclusive. The housing in Darkfall consists of 4 different house sizes which are (smallest to largest) cottage, house, villa, large villa, and a keep. Just for a perspective there are only, I believe, 6 keeps in darkfall. It's very expensive to own a house unless you get lucky and can find one going vulnverable and capture it with a deed. But houses are fantastic for so many reasons, extra bind spot, personal storage safe outside of a bank where you can gear up and store items, personal garden and grove, and other fluff items. All these things are addon's and cost more money on top of your house, and they are rare.

They say they are adding new house locations so who knows. At the moment all house bases are taken and have been for awhile.

Man.  This is sounding like deja-vu to me.  Limited housing.  Not enough plots.  Full loot.  Craft your own armor!  This game sound very attractive to me.  I don't want to raise my hopes up too much, but this could be my answer to a new style of UO.  Some of the videos I've seen of large scale PvP looks phenominal, more so than what UO ever delivered.  

Keeps sound like they should be very limited.  One thing that I hated in UO was that the more recent UO got, the more keeps and castles you saw.  Kind of took you out of the game.  It should be when you see a keep, that you are like 'damn, that guy must be important.'

Vendors, do they exist aswell?  Or does the game have some sort of auction house?  Like would I be able to sell stuff I crafted on a vendor at my house?

Originally posted by nileq

Be patient (sorta sounds like you are 10 years of uo) and don't expect to be maxed 6 months into the game. DF takes time.

And get into a clan, that will open alot of new possibillities for you.

Are you playing on EU or US?

I signed up for US, considering I live in the states.  

Everyone had a great amount to say about the game, and a quick response.  I appreciate it.  It seems like it is one of those games where you have to enjoy the journey rather than focus on the 'end game'.  Which is what UO was always about.  Make friends / enemies, adventure, explore the land.  UO wasn't much about PvE either, so to hear that the main focus of DF is just adventure and PvP sounds good to me.

Another question, does DF have housing?  I know I could look this up, but I would rather ask a community. 

Again, thanks for all the great replies so far.

When I mean Ultima Online vet, I don't mean one of those people that only played for 3 years.  No, I played UO for over 10 years.  

I do not know what sparked my interest in Darkfall all of a sudden, but it did.  I cannot believe this game is already two years old.  Anyways, I noticed a few stickies about the game and am currently reading up on it atm.  I am downloading the game with a 14 day free trial.  Are there any thing that I need to know about the game or some advice to give?

To me this looks like a game that is very reminiscent of  Ultima Online. 

It is a real shame, quite honestly.  

I guess EA is more worried about their current subscription rather than the people that were subscriped years ago.  

Classic or not, we all have to admit that UO is still one of the better MMO's out there.  

Your write up only helps me confirm, along with the newly release Flashpoint trailer, that this game is and looks very fun to play.

I have been excited to play SWTOR, but not this much.  Thanks for the write up.  By any chance, were you able to get a feel or hear anyone mention anything about a release date?