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Sophie's Choice

Blog entry posted by AirmidCecht, Jun 20, 2012.

So Deckard and I had some very nice chats recently.

I take that back, chat seems to indicate small lil anecdotal notes to each other.

So Deckard and I had some very nice discussions recently.

One of our topics goes around and around with the need to entice new players with the Enhanced Client while keeping old school players content with their classic ways. It seems as if everyone is expected to make a choice. Go New or Go Home. How do you introduce a new look and feel and expect everyone to understand that it is more than the graphical needs, it is also how newer gamers are used to a more advanced UI.

The Enhanced Client is essential to the growth and development of Ultima Online past it's 15yr prime.

EVERYONE is talking about this (see Deckards article: In Ink: UO in the Gaming Media)

UO is a measuring stick so many MMOs use when looking to accomplish the same longevity and yet UO seems to be losing more vet players than attracting new ones. At least that is the perception many have. I have personally encountered too many returning and new generational players (accounts handed down in the family like an heirloom) to truly believe it.

Regardless, the perception for many is there and should be recognized. It seems though many want to bring the EC vs CC into the Tram vs Fel debate. The reality is this: things evolve or they die. If you do not continue to progress you become static as if you are standing in tar waiting for someone to notice that you can't move.

It doesn't mean you can't look back, become nostalgic for the way things were and try to recreate that feeling now and then. It also doesn't mean this has to be a Sophie's Choice situation where only utter loss is felt by saying goodbye to the classic client. Ultima Online IS classic, why would you ever change that?

I've said this so many times, in so many posts and in so many emails that I feel maybe I'm wrong? Maybe the solution is not so simple as this:

Everyone is on ONE client. This is essential for development time and resources, not to mention bug fixes.

Currently with the Enhanced Client you can choose legacy options but it becomes frustrating to figure which toggle gives me the classic feel. In the end, its too much on the player to try to design his classic-ness. Pinco's UI has these options. Make them a part of the EC totally.

Then....

When you bring up UO you have the following gump pop up:

Vet player? Want NOTHING to change aesthetically or functionally?
Click Here

New to UO and/or prefer a modern gaming UI?

Click Here

Done.

No more anguish over what to do, what to do?? It's done. No debate, no tug of war, just push play.

The development time it would take to accomplish this is worth far more than developing yet another client and program that draws lines between players.

Which brings me to resources and development time. I don't look to the UO Team in VA to accomplish this major task on a tight budget. I look to Bioware in Austin to delegate the resources to those who may soon be out of a SWTOR job. Contract them out, say ,"Hey! Sorry we cut back as is typical after major launches but we do have this project you can work on in the interim....."

Win win all around.
AirmidCecht, Jun 20, 2012
 
Zosimus and Lady Tia like this.
AirmidCecht

About the Author

My characters are an extension of me. The fun, compassionate, dark side of me.
  1. AirmidCecht
    So we're agreed then. One client I was actually sort of tongue in cheek with you, sorry darlin :)
    AirmidCecht, Jun 23, 2012
    Zosimus likes this.
  2. Zosimus
    UGH. You missed the point,. Notice how I mention the KR client. That was a million times better than the EC. They scrapped the KR art so the EC is truly what they need to focus on. Mythic made that decision. For UO to move in to the future they need one client. Not a mix and call it one client.

    Plus I did not scan over it. I read it but I focused on one part since that is the true nature of UO problems. The client. Both clients are not the same and could never really be the same. May as well look at it this way. You make a peanut butter (CC) sandwich with a tomatoe (EC). Then Lets say for argument sake you add Pincos mod ( Jelly). Now if somebody says that is a good sandwich please jump off a curb and break your big toe please. UO would have a chance in a way to gain some market MMO players if they did focus on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich or tomatoe sandwich. Not a combination of both.

    To each his own but you did ask about my first post so I responded. Sorry that my opinion feels like I gave the finger to an outdated client that people like. Opinions are not always agreed upon. My finger was more pointed towards the CC not anybody in general.
    Zosimus, Jun 23, 2012
    AirmidCecht likes this.
  3. AirmidCecht
    I've heard it said by someone dear to me, its not so much getting the stick out as letting the 'spic out. :D
    AirmidCecht, Jun 22, 2012
  4. Mirt
    Ouch see she did use her words.
    Mirt, Jun 22, 2012
  5. AirmidCecht
    Z, I say this with much love. You are part of the problem! (you mad bro? me?... ME???)
    It's like there is a veil over your eyes. Yes, you need the EC but you do not need to cast aside the classic feel to accomplish it.
    I feel like you didn't even read this, just scanned and thought CC or EC? hrmmm IMO: Get rid of Classic and middle finger everyone who likes it.
    *puts stick away*
    AirmidCecht, Jun 21, 2012
  6. Zosimus
    Eh she can beat me with a stick. Sticks and stones only break bones but words can really hurt :p lol

    I like the EC for various reasons but not a true fan of some of the graphics. KR imo was good for UO.
    Zosimus, Jun 21, 2012
  7. Zosimus
    Dump the UO classic client all together. Just focus on the EC. As long as they have to dedicate time to updates and fixes to two clients it will always be a lose lose for UO. If they will continue that direction personally I think they need to add more to the subscription so they can actually "hire" people to do cover both clients.

    Look how many times they have a bug in one client and not the other. Now say Jow Blow Developer has to go back and fix it. So he fixes it but it screws up the other client. Its a see saw and asking the developers to do twice the work.

    Get rid of the classic client you also get rid of unapproved 3rd party programs for the time being. The EC client has many of the abitlities of 3rd party apps.

    I did prefer the KR client because it gave both the classic look andlooked much better.. That apparently was a mythic fail on their end.

    Personally it's time for a UO2. In this day and age I think that shipped passed with all the games coming out. UO is not so sand boxy no more :( Siege is the closest thing to the true UO sandbox game on a prodo shard.
    Zosimus, Jun 21, 2012
  8. Mirt
    Zosimus she is going to beat you with a stick. I have started toying with the EC but to be honest it hasn't worked well for me. Even with Pinco's it just seems to be clunky and require a bunch of time just to set up. Maybe if I get more time I will try it again but until then its just something I keep around and updated.
    Mirt, Jun 21, 2012
  9. AirmidCecht
    you mean dump the classic client or classic look? *gets stick ready*
    AirmidCecht, Jun 21, 2012
  10. Zosimus
    I have said many times 2 clients and a small dev team for UO do not mix. They need one client and for UO to move into the future they need to focus on the EC and dump the classic. Plain and simple.
    Zosimus, Jun 21, 2012