Dungeons & Dragons Online: Goes Free, Introduces Store

MikeB

Turbine announced today the upcoming launch of Dungeons & Dragons Online Eberron Unlimited. This latest upgrade to the game brings with it the inclusion of a free-to-play business model and microtransactions in the form of the DDO Store.

With the launch of Dungeons & Dragons Online Eberron Unlimited. players will be able to play for free with some notable restrictions: free players will have restricted access to specific races, classes, some chat options, auctions, mail, and others.

In addition, players will be able to choose a VIP subscription that will give subscribers access to all premium content and a monthly allowance of points to spend on the DDO Store.

The full press release is available below:

Turbine® ENTERS FREE-TO-PLAY MARKET

Dungeons and Dragons Online® Eberron Unlimited™ to Launch With Unlimited Free Play and In-Game Store

WESTWOOD, MA – June 9, 2009 – Turbine, Inc., the premier creator and operator of massive, persistent online worlds that foster powerful social gaming communities, today unveiled Dungeons & Dragons Online®: Eberron Unlimited™ (DDO Unlimited), a free digital upgrade that makes DDO Unlimited the world’s first free-to-play massively multiplayer online game (MMO) to offer the quality graphics and robust features previously only available in premium subscription based-games. Launching this summer, DDO Unlimited will introduce an innovative new business model that is designed to provide an extraordinary experience to players who want a choice in how they pay and play online games. Players can download and play DDO Unlimited for free with the ability to purchase additional content and items in the new DDO Store to enhance their experience. Alternatively, players can choose to join the new DDO VIP program and gain unlimited access to all premium content plus a number of exclusive benefits for a single low monthly price. Turbine has launched a new website at http://www.ddo.com where players can learn more about DDO Unlimited and signup for the Beta program which launches today.

“Historically, players of free online games were forced to sacrifice the quality of their experience,” said Jim Crowley, President and CEO. “Those days are over. The new DDO Unlimited is the most innovative, exciting and graphically rich MMO to ever hit the free-to-play market and it changes the very nature of what it means to be free-to-play.”

Turbine’s New Game Offers Players Unlimited Choice!

Ø Free means Free! – Players download and play DDO Unlimited for free by visiting www.ddo.com and within minutes can be exploring a rich, beautiful and dangerous online world crawling with legendary monsters, glorious treasures, devious traps, mind-bending puzzles and endless adventures from the world’s best known RPG. There is no time limit or level cap on free play.

Ø Visit the new DDO Store! -- The DDO Store is loaded with hundreds of convenience items as well as premium dungeon packs, additional character slots, hirelings (hired muscle), potions, character customization and more! The DDO Store is seamlessly integrated into the game play and lets the player identify new and exciting ways to enhance and customize their experience.

Ø Be a DDO VIP! – Players who elect to subscribe to DDO Unlimited will have unlimited access to every premium adventure pack, receive priority server access, 10 character slots, a shared bank slot, and a monthly allotment of 500 Turbine Points to spend in the new DDO Store.

DDO Unlimited is the award-winning massively multiplayer game with the best combat of any MMO. Entering DDO Unlimited is a snap using Turbine’s new proprietary delivery technology. Now players can download DDO Unlimited in minutes and immediately begin creating their own character to battle through one of gaming’s most immersive online worlds. Featuring the industry’s most visceral combat system, DDO Unlimited puts players into the heat of battle with full, real-time control over their character’s movement and special attacks. Only DDO Unlimited delivers premium experience for free with many innovative features, including DirectX® 10 graphics, action-based PvE and PvP combat, quests that provide a unique, immersive experience whether you play solo or with a group of friends, and advanced social networking tools that let you participate in a large and vibrant online community.

DDO Unlimited is based on the world-renowned DUNGEONS & DRAGONS® franchise of Wizards of the Coast, Inc., a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE: HAS), under license to Infogrames Entertainment S.A. Published by Atari, Inc., DDO has been enthusiastically received by many gaming critics, including The New York Times, PC Gamer, Game Informer and many more. For the latest information, please visit www.ddo.com.

 

tigris67

 Hey! This is big news actually. Too bad I own a Macintosh.

Lobotomist

About damn  time , too.

There was no logic in paying totally instanced game like DDO.

 

But free to play system will actually boost its popularity. And players will be able to choose what to pay and when.

 

Good deal for Turbies

 

strutter78

Ok this is.....interesting to say the least. I guess the questions I'll have to ask on the official forums is 1) What happens if you go F2P and already have a Drow unlocked on a server or already have a Monk created? Does that mean that you can't access them without a VIP sub? and 2) Do we get to keep everything we have earned(weapons/armor/ect) that is already on our accounts?

I was accually hoping that they would announce lifetime subs, as I already have one for LotRO, and would have liked one for this game also.

DDO beta tester, Former tester on the Mournlands server

Sarr

Repost for you, I wrote it on DDO forums:

I think what is written says:

1. F2P - You can play free and restricted like that:

2. You can have sub and all access with it ("VIP). Once it ends, you're normal FP2'er.

3. You can buy all benefits of subbed "VIP" access, by one each time, until you have full F2P game. Minus new quests coming in future updates, which subscription gives you instantly, but if you want F2P and play them - you must buy them via points. What you buy IS PERMANENT. You don't need to be VIP, it's F2P with all you've bought.

So, if you don't want to subscribe and don't want specific new quests which *you heard* are crappy, you don't need to buy them. You can even *try* those quests being subbed for one month, and then deciding is it worth buying to have it F2P from now on.

For me, this is exactly what is revealed to date.

toord

First let me say that I'm disappointed. Disappointed that fainbois are saying it was OK for Turbine to keep secrets from its player base -- that's inexcusable.

Now, I'm also mindful that the game was bleeding players right anf left and needed a shot in the arm. Even though I personally don't like the F2P aspect (and won't be re subbing), it will almost inevitably bring new people to the game and perhaps bring a new player base. It's a true shame that they had to go with the micro transaction route because that game was serious fun before I capped all my toons and got all the gear I wanted. The other BIG BIG BIG question that remain is: what will happen to all the gear and all the money that current players have? Will it disappear (will they start the game clean slate?) If so, I can guarantee you they will lose most if not all of their old school fan base.

 

Too early to tell yet. However, I don't see any lure to go back to that game specially with the F2P aspect. But, again, maybe it's a price Turbine is willing to play.

 

Peace.

strutter78

Sarr, thanks for the reply, but i think you missed my point.....

I understand that if you want all the perks as a new player you must buy them or have the VIP sub, but what I was asking since I already have a Drow unlocked, and a Monk and Warforged created is do I loose access to these characters that I already have on my account if I go to F2P? And if any of the gear that I already have will disappear or be locked if I dont sub?

Again, thanks for the reply

Deewe

Honestly Trubine just made some kind of NGE.

 

It's a bit less worse than SoE, still not only they didn't communicated with their customers base but also didn't deliver mod 9 after what 8 months of waiting?

 

Top of that they can't even publish a nice FAQ answering vet questions like: how about my drow slot?

 

And if it wasn't enough they threaten actual players not to cancell their subscription or they won't be able to renew it before the new stuff.

 

Well guess Sir Smedley is laughing hard by now.

 

 

 

Mrbloodworth

Originally posted by Deewe  
Honestly Trubine just made some kind of NGE. 

 

Not even close. Don't be stupid. The core gameplay has not been changed.

 

This was somthing that was tossed around in beta, and is just now going to happen.

Lydon

Excellent news in my opinion! Definitely going to give it a try.

dhayes68

My only question: If I've paid for the box previously but currently have an inactive account, will I be able to install, update and play for free when this rolls out or will their be a charge for the 'new' client?

Nadia

Originally posted by strutter78

do I loose access to these characters that I already have on my account if I go to F2P? And if any of the gear that I already have will disappear or be locked if I dont sub?

theres a related thread at the DDO forums

 

VIP to FREE

forums.ddo.com/showthread.php

But what happens to when you go from VIP to Free? do I loose access to 8 of my characters? Do I loose everything I have in my Shared Bank Account? Things like that.....

If you downgrade to a Free player from VIP, when you first log in you'll be prompted to pick which characters you'd like to have access to.

 

Warforged and Monk characters will not be available unless you purchase access to that race/class as those are premium choices. The shared bank account is also a premium item, so you would need to make the one-time purchase to access it as well.

 

If in the future you buy more character slots, you'll be able to choose which of your previous characters you want available.

 

Hope that explains everything!

Sarr

Originally posted by toord


First let me say that I'm disappointed. Disappointed that fainbois are saying it was OK for Turbine to keep secrets from its player base -- that's inexcusable.
Now, I'm also mindful that the game was bleeding players right anf left and needed a shot in the arm. Even though I personally don't like the F2P aspect (and won't be re subbing), it will almost inevitably bring new people to the game and perhaps bring a new player base. It's a true shame that they had to go with the micro transaction route because that game was serious fun before I capped all my toons and got all the gear I wanted. The other BIG BIG BIG question that remain is: what will happen to all the gear and all the money that current players have? Will it disappear (will they start the game clean slate?) If so, I can guarantee you they will lose most if not all of their old school fan base.
 
Too early to tell yet. However, I don't see any lure to go back to that game specially with the F2P aspect. But, again, maybe it's a price Turbine is willing to play.
 
Peace.

 

Man... Fernando Paiz confirmed it once again, that business matters kept them from saying anything:

"Hi Everyone!

Today is a big day for DDO! You have been waiting a long time for news of what we’ve been doing and wondering when M9 would be released. Well as of today, the business guys have finished doing their business things and finally we can chat with you about all of our big plans for your favorite MMO. Thank you for your patience and for sticking with us!

With today’s announcement of Dungeons & Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited, we start on the path to a big relaunch push which will bring a flood of new players into our community. Now it will be easier than ever to get all of your friends to play DDO with you. Even that cheap-o guy and your other friend who says she’s already paying a subscription for some other MMO.

But first, we have some important business to attend to with our Beta. This is a big update and we are going to make sure things are working well. The big new hotness today is the introduction of the DDO Store! The DDO Store represents a ton of new technology and features for our game service and is the foundation for offering our players new options on how they play and pay for the game. We need your help to test it, and we encourage you to hop onto Lamannia to check it out today!

But what you see on Lamannia today is not all there is to DDO Unlimited! In addition to everything in the update formerly known as “Mod 9,” which you may have seen in our last preview, we will soon be releasing a whole lot more to our Beta players. Like what? Well, in broad terms we’ve added more of what you’ve told us you want! We’ve been listening to your feedback and we’ve made an effort to address the top issues and requests.

Our next Beta update will include a new class, additional quests for both low and high level players, improvements to our challenge scaling system, options to let players configure the UI and we have fixed the lag! OK, so I can’t promise that the Lag Monster is dead for good, but we have made some huge optimizations and changes which will make him not come around nearly as often and make sure we have room for many more players on our servers. We will be sharing more details and engaging the community in specific discussions on all of these improvements in the next few weeks of the beta. Sign up today to stay on top of the latest and greatest!

Thanks again for being a part of the DDO community and helping us make the most kick-ass MMO on the planet! We look forward to a bright new future with DDO Unlimited and we hope you will enjoy the ride!

-Fernando."

Ok, you can always say "I don't believe him!". But I don't care at all. They did it right, because keeping it secret made it a press "boom", very difficult thing for a 3 year old game. Yes, I was angry to extreme during that wait. But it was worth it. It doesn't take fanboism I'm just not egoistic here.

 

And me - as a person being generally posisitve about the game I prefer - am not "fanboy". I've heard those acusations numerous times, and it's all just people argument against another person. Something like in Soviet Union - when "Party" which were single ruler had problems with opposition they usually stated what their opponent is _mind impaired or has psychiatric problems_. This was to make fun of someone, so that community would ignore him from now on (to say the least - tolerance wasn't common thing). But it was just made up argument, fabricated with purpose of making someone irrelevant and not taken seriously anymore.

Then it was Soviet Union, now MMO self-righteous know-it-all, safley hidden behind the screen can do the same.

No, not all people who are positive against many people's negativity are fanboys. I can speak for me though, so no, I am not. Turbine did it right, game may benefit from it. Even if they just didn't want to spoil the news announcing it earlier, still I think they did right.

If Turbine even spoils my fun, breaks my good game experience etc. I will say it too (and I say such things sometimes) and if it doesn't change, will leave. I won't pay for something which I criticize all the time - it's certainly not worth my cash. And time.

mindspat

Originally posted by toord


The other BIG BIG BIG question that remain is: what will happen to all the gear and all the money that current players have? Will it disappear (will they start the game clean slate?) If so, I can guarantee you they will lose most if not all of their old school fan base.

Nothing happens.  Subscribers were already changed to reflect VIP status and once this goes live new players will be able to play without any money needed.  No servers are getting wiped and all existing characters, content and items remain the way they were - in a sense, it's persistent. 

At least, that's what's being said by Turbine's reps. 

If they wipped everything and started from scratch they would be shooting themselves in teh foot. 

mindspat

Originally posted by Deewe


Honestly Trubine just made some kind of NGE.
It's a bit less worse than SoE, still not only they didn't communicated with their customers base but also didn't deliver mod 9 after what 8 months of waiting?
Top of that they can't even publish a nice FAQ answering vet questions like: how about my drow slot?
And if it wasn't enough they threaten actual players not to cancell their subscription or they won't be able to renew it before the new stuff.
Well guess Sir Smedley is laughing hard by now. 

It appears that you have absolutely no clue to what you're talking about.  This is the same as SOE's nge of Star Wars Galaxies!?! 

 

I agree, Turbine majorily fucked up by purposely witholding mod9 as a means to get more content out when this goes live.  Every play who's been waiting for Mod9 has a right to feel screwed over now having to wait an additional several months - it's most deffintely a baiting tactic and very unscrupolous. 

They have and are continuing to answer very specific questions. 

It's not a threat as much as it's a warning.  The account management is supposedly going through a revamp and Turbine is anticpating that this will be completely offline for potential new players until Unlimited goes live.  That Is the reason the apparent Warning is present. 

I still think you're either a fool or a tool to think this is the same as SWG's nge - do you even know what the nge was!?!

 

 

Mrbloodworth

Originally posted by mindspat

Originally posted by Deewe


Honestly Trubine just made some kind of NGE.
It's a bit less worse than SoE, still not only they didn't communicated with their customers base but also didn't deliver mod 9 after what 8 months of waiting?
Top of that they can't even publish a nice FAQ answering vet questions like: how about my drow slot?
And if it wasn't enough they threaten actual players not to cancell their subscription or they won't be able to renew it before the new stuff.
Well guess Sir Smedley is laughing hard by now. 

It appears that you have absolutely no clue to what you're talking about.  This is the same as SOE's nge of Star Wars Galaxies!?! 

 

I agree, Turbine majorily fucked up by purposely witholding mod9 as a means to get more content out when this goes live.  Every play who's been waiting for Mod9 has a right to feel screwed over now having to wait an additional several months - it's most deffintely a baiting tactic and very unscrupolous. 

They have and are continuing to answer very specific questions. 

It's not a threat as much as it's a warning.  The account management is supposedly going through a revamp and Turbine is anticpating that this will be completely offline for potential new players until Unlimited goes live.  That Is the reason the apparent Warning is present. 

I still think you're either a fool or a tool to think this is the same as SWG's nge - do you even know what the nge was!?!

 

 

There is more than just mod9 in this new version of the game.

mindspat

Originally posted by Mrbloodworth

Originally posted by mindspat

Originally posted by Deewe


...also didn't deliver mod 9 after what 8 months of waiting? 

I agree, Turbine majorily fucked up by purposely witholding mod9 as a means to get more content out when this goes live.  Every play who's been waiting for Mod9 has a right to feel screwed over now having to wait an additional several months - it's most deffintely a baiting tactic and very unscrupolous.  

 

There is more than just mod9 in this new version of the game.

I think you missed something... 

I believe the complaint was based on Mod9 being previed in March and the player base being led to believe it would be launched at the anniversary.  Obviously, it didn't happen and now the content that had been previewed is not coming out until his new DDO Unlimited goes live sometime towards the end of summer. 

In the least, what Turbine had done was deceptive.  They enticed the player base to remain active subscribers with the visage that content was coming when in fact they knew it was not and that if they were up front and honest with the player base over these facts it would have caused them to lose a tremendous portion of the active player base. 

That make a little more sense as to what's going on? 

 

Deewe

---

Originally posted by Mrbloodworth

---

Originally posted by Deewe  
Honestly Trubine just made some kind of NGE. 

---

 
Not even close. Don't be stupid. The core gameplay has not been changed.

---

That's why I did not say an NGE but sort of...

At least it seems mod 9, and more, will show the light with the new system.

Don't get me wrong making a F2P DDO could finally bring the game up to what it really deserves; both for the devs (many more players) and for the players (more content, faster)

Still I think they should have handled the communication with the actual player base differently.

One thing though, players that have unlocked drows or have monks should keep them without needing to pay for them. Didn't they already paid Turbine through subscriptions while the game was going poorly? Didn't they deserved the slots doing the quests to gain reputation?

My only real issue is they stick to the Eberron setting... Don't be surprised if NeveWinter Nights MMO grabs lots of DDO player even if it'll have a worse game play due to the setting.

Mrbloodworth

Originally posted by mindspat

Originally posted by Mrbloodworth

Originally posted by mindspat

Originally posted by Deewe


...also didn't deliver mod 9 after what 8 months of waiting? 

I agree, Turbine majorily fucked up by purposely witholding mod9 as a means to get more content out when this goes live.  Every play who's been waiting for Mod9 has a right to feel screwed over now having to wait an additional several months - it's most deffintely a baiting tactic and very unscrupolous.  

 

There is more than just mod9 in this new version of the game.

I think you missed something... 

I believe the complaint was based on Mod9 being previed in March and the player base being led to believe it would be launched at the anniversary.  Obviously, it didn't happen and now the content that had been previewed is not coming out until his new DDO Unlimited goes live sometime towards the end of summer. 

In the least, what Turbine had done was deceptive.  They enticed the player base to remain active subscribers with the visage that content was coming when in fact they knew it was not and that if they were up front and honest with the player base over these facts it would have caused them to lose a tremendous portion of the active player base. 

That make a little more sense as to what's going on? 

 

They told you it was delayed.

Kyleran

   “Historically, players of free online games were forced to sacrifice the quality of their experience,” said Jim Crowley, President and CEO. “Those days are over. The new DDO Unlimited is the most innovative, exciting and graphically rich MMO to ever hit the free-to-play market and it changes the very nature of what it means to be free-to-play.” 

Or, maybe, just maybe, DDO was never really up to P2P standards and finally is being downgraded to where it has always belonged.

 

Lydon

I can't speak for anyone else, but as someone who has never played the game, this has convinced me to. I think they'll see a nice boost in the number of active players. I honestly wasn't expecting this, but it'll be great to play a free to play game that appears to be polished and so much better than all the garbage out there.

todeswulf

Originally posted by Deewe


Honestly Trubine just made some kind of NGE.
 
It's a bit less worse than SoE, still not only they didn't communicated with their customers base but also didn't deliver mod 9 after what 8 months of waiting?
 
Top of that they can't even publish a nice FAQ answering vet questions like: how about my drow slot?
 
And if it wasn't enough they threaten actual players not to cancell their subscription or they won't be able to renew it before the new stuff.
 
Well guess Sir Smedley is laughing hard by now.
 
 
 

Dude not everything relates to your hate for SOE.

strutter78

Originally posted by Nadia

Originally posted by strutter78

do I loose access to these characters that I already have on my account if I go to F2P? And if any of the gear that I already have will disappear or be locked if I dont sub?

theres a related thread at the DDO forums

 

VIP to FREE

forums.ddo.com/showthread.php

But what happens to when you go from VIP to Free? do I loose access to 8 of my characters? Do I loose everything I have in my Shared Bank Account? Things like that.....

If you downgrade to a Free player from VIP, when you first log in you'll be prompted to pick which characters you'd like to have access to.

 

Warforged and Monk characters will not be available unless you purchase access to that race/class as those are premium choices. The shared bank account is also a premium item, so you would need to make the one-time purchase to access it as well.

 

If in the future you buy more character slots, you'll be able to choose which of your previous characters you want available.

 

Hope that explains everything!

Ok, so I guess old accounts that have already "earned" the drow thru faction have to "pay" for the right to play them if they go from subscribers to F2P. I also already have 9 chars on one server and 5 on another due to server merges....so I loose access to them also(char slots) that I had if I unsub. Might as well just keep the sub open, as it seems that veteran players that want to go F2P are going to get screwed out of classes and races that they have already earned. They should have just made it completely free, and went on to work on other games.

tryklon

Excellent news and a great decision by Turbine, i wish other companys would take the same action.

There are several games at the market dieing a bit everyday suffering from the lack of players, this would be a good step towards getting new players and make some profit with RMT.

Sarr

Originally posted by Lydon


I can't speak for anyone else, but as someone who has never played the game, this has convinced me to. I think they'll see a nice boost in the number of active players. I honestly wasn't expecting this, but it'll be great to play a free to play game that appears to be polished and so much better than all the garbage out there.

 

I'm glad you think so! It surely is. This would be the best F2P even now, but they will still work hard for betterment!

That's why I have DDO videos in my signature - so people can verify what I say and see the real DDO gameplay. For themselves.

PS: The best article about it to date, still fresh: www.warcry.com/articles/view/interviews/6155-DDO-Unlimited-Devs-Speak-Out-On-the-New-Model

AmazingAvery

Originally posted by Sarr

Originally posted by Lydon


I can't speak for anyone else, but as someone who has never played the game, this has convinced me to. I think they'll see a nice boost in the number of active players. I honestly wasn't expecting this, but it'll be great to play a free to play game that appears to be polished and so much better than all the garbage out there.

 

I'm glad you think so! It surely is. This would be the best F2P even now, but they will still work hard for betterment!

That's why I have DDO videos in my signature - so people can verify what I say and see the real DDO gameplay. For themselves.

PS: The best article about it to date, still fresh: www.warcry.com/articles/view/interviews/6155-DDO-Unlimited-Devs-Speak-Out-On-the-New-Model

 

Thanks for the article link Sarr. I am with Lydon on this, it encourages me to try the game more. As someone with a fair amount of disposable income if I like it I will have no problem paying for more. Giving more like this than a free trial is nice. Just to find the time now.