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Asking the community to vote
nthnaoun
Member Posts: 1,438
I don't want emotions to cloud my judgement, so I am doing something even scarier like letting the community make my decision for me. I naturally get excited at the thought of buying a new game and I don't want excitement to be the reason I buy this game, just to find out I should have waited. So here goes:
Comments
voted never - not because I dont like the game, but because it is insanely overpriced (few diversity and content, etc)
Right. I read those. I know exactly what the game is offering and how and I don't have a problem with that. My concern is about it's stability, bugs, lag, and rubberbanding issues. I understand having some lag because a lot of players are in one area. They should fix that before releasing it. If there are any rubberbanding issues they should fix it before release. Bugs with gameplay, quests, and classes should aslo be fixed before release.
The developers should release a complete game with all the problems found in Beta fixed or not release it at all. I don't know if this is the case or not with DDO since no one has stated the problems they found recently were fixed. If I knew these problems were fixed there wouldn't be a poll here now, because I would have pre-ordered it already. Since there is doubt, I need to ask the public what they think.
I just recently pre-ordered The Chronicle which will be revolutionary. I'm not sure if I want to buy DDO also especially if there are things that aren't getting fixed until after release patches, which is what I am reading on the DDO forums.
No game has been release perfect, but every game out there should have stayed in Beta longer. Just because all other MMORPG's have a crappy release does not mean that DDO has a right to follow suit. A game should not be released until it is ready. If there are things wrong in Beta that carry over into the release, then the game is not ready.
The problems aside from lag and rubberbanding that I hear of are class issues. Some spells or moves were having problems. I have not seen this adressed as being fixed yet. In my opinion too much lag and rubberbanding are game breaking, but having issues with classes are even worse. I don't hold this against a game in beta, because that is the time to find these things out, but I will hold it against the game if the problems aren't fixed before release.
No game has been release perfect, but every game out there should have stayed in Beta longer. Just because all other MMORPG's have a crappy release does not mean that DDO has a right to follow suit. A game should not be released until it is ready. If there are things wrong in Beta that carry over into the release, then the game is not ready.
I would agree if this were any other genre. Due to sheer scope of MMO's they are constantly changing, constantly being fixed and refixed and having stuff added(that will end up needing fixed). Is it annoying? Yep. It kind of just comes with the territory, and with pc gaming in general.
The problems aside from lag and rubberbanding that I hear of are class issues. Some spells or moves were having problems. I have not seen this adressed as being fixed yet. In my opinion too much lag and rubberbanding are game breaking, but having issues with classes are even worse. I don't hold this against a game in beta, because that is the time to find these things out, but I will hold it against the game if the problems aren't fixed before release.
If you don't even know what the problems are, how can you fairly judge the game? "I heard something was wrong with something or something I duno..." I haven't expierenced any rubberbanding or bad lag at all, so can't say I relate ther either.
HELLO WORLD
I voted pre-order now, I'm one of those people who wasn't really interested in this game or following it as such but got invited into the beta one day. I wasn't expecting much as I hadn't read anything about it or followed all the hype, maybe thats a good thing, games that are hyped up seem to just dissapoint people when they are released as they are expecting too much (RF Online for a lot of people it seems)
I found DDO quite fun, its got great character customizing, much better than any other MMORPG i've played, there are tons of options for building your character, you can be up to 3 classes, each race has different enhancements unique to them, there are tons of feats and combats quite entertaining also, you don't just stand there toe to toe with auto attack on like most games until the creatures dead, kobolds dodge and jump around and you can parry their attacks or dodge if you time it right. There are skills like trip where you can trip the enemy up then bash them while they are down and others that make combat more than just auto-attack.
The instanced dungeons are challenging (more so at higher levels), I found it pretty easy to get a group with the grouping interface.
I don't mind the dungeons being instanced but perhaps they could have made the world not instanced, i think it would have been more fun having a big world to explore outside the city where you could meet other players along the way. (There still is a reasonable sized world but its just instanced so only you and your party of 6-12 see eachother there)
stability problems, lag, and rubberbanding issues - I never experienced any of these, the game is very stable, the graphics lag is dependent on your machine, reubberbanding (server lag) only happens if you get disconnected. There are some bugs, but I none are game stopping.
I voted wait for free trial, or at least try the game first.
It is very different from anything on the market so you have to try out the gameplay before you decide. There are some similiarities but overall this game is as different from anything out there as EQ was when it first released. That does not mean it's a step-up, just that it's different.
It is now evening time for me and only 6 more hours of allowing you, the community, to help me decide what to do. If I pre-order this, who should I buy it off of online and will I get a box with a booklet and CD's like if I was to buy it from a store?
I did not list every single bug and issue reported by the Beta testers. If you want the list you may follow the link from this site to the DDO website and search for them yourself if you want specifics on what I am talking about. They are too many to list here. I am fully aware that these issues aren't experienced by every player, but I was under the impression that some of the spell and skill related bugs were playerbase wide.
I am getting enough positive feedback to convince me to buy the game and see for myself. But I still don't see any other reason to pre-order this game. If I get the same packaging as in store buyers I would do it, but if not I would give up the pre-order perks just to have a booklet, box, and CD.
Thanks for the feed back all.
I voted pre-order now. I have experienced some lag in the newb zones, but it always goes away within secondsand is really just a minor annoyance.
I hear a lot of people say there is no community or community interaction, but I've made more friends in beta that see me online and ask me to join a party than I ever have in 2.5 yeqrs of SWG. My friends list was 2x larger in this beta than mylist in SWG.
For the first time in a long time, I would think about my online persona and what I was going to do when I log in as opposed to logging in and wondering what I was going to do. I think the game is fun as hell.
I would pre-order on-line. Amazon or eb both send the codes to access the last five days of beta (til feb 19) and the early event. They then send the box with stuff on the 28th. experiencing the beta will help you decide if it's for you. I liked it and am ordering the limited edition.
edit:Amazon gives you immediate access to the codes in your digital locker, eb games sends them out once a week. I believe on thurs.
I just pre-ordered DDO and I already regret it and here's why. I pre-ordered it from Amazon.com and I chose to get the free shipping which will mean I will get the game in the mail around March 5th. According to the Beta site where you download the client it says that you need to use the two keys as we know. One for the 10 days beta and the other for the head start and in game item. Well after that it says you will need to input the Retail version account key at launch if you want your item and to continue playing. Well launch is on Feb. 28th, but I won't get my retail copy until Mar. 5th. I am copying and pasting the exact words for you all to read.
In order to receive the in-game bonus item and head start access program, you will need to register your Preorder Bonus Key at the new Turbine billing website.
Once you have created your account and Preorder Subscription, you will be able to use the username and password created to access the head start in the days leading up to launch. Once the retail version of the game becomes available, you will need to log into the billing website again to upgrade your account with the full retail account key. When your account key has been registered, you will be able to use the special +1 amulet with every character you create on that account!
Note: If you do not register your full retail account key, your head start subscription will expire shortly after the official launch date.
In other words it would have been better to wait till release to buy the game from a store so I could play right away.
dnisis - I'm not sure what issues you had with the EB Online store, but I pre-ordered mine with them and got the pre-order keys in the first email confirming my purchase. Now, they didn't seem to charge my account until I activated the beta account, but I didn't have any problems with having to wait for my keys.
nthnaoun - I'm sorry your experience pre-ordering the game was so bad... I would put at least a partial blame on your choices of shipping. Being that I'm currently stationed out in Iraq on deployment with the US Army, I'm going to have a similar issue of simply having to wait several weeks for the game to get to me. However, I chose to go with the more expensive, over night delivery to compensate for this. I'm thankful enough that Turbine is allowing us access to any time what-so-ever after the game's initial release to still use the downloaded client and account, rather than cutting us off on the 28th.
I would wait a month or so (that's what I'm doing). There's still a few combat exploits and major bugs. The devs also stated they were going to do a big update after launch. If they are able to fix the exploits and bugs before launch (or in the first month) and do an major update, then I will have a little more confidence in them. Plus, by week 4 or 5 most of the hardcores would have max'd out a few of their character slots and probably moved on to something else
Unless you have money to burn and nothing to do, then why not get it?
Us? If you read the post you just replied to you would know that we will not be able to access the game soon after the 28th unless we input our new key in there. Now you may be referring to just you guys in Iraq. As for over nighting to a foreign country I can tell you from military experience and from the mouths of USPS themselves that overnighting will not get you your material any faster than priority. I spent some time in Iraq during the war as a Marine Infantryman. Hell I didn't get a shower for 3 months much less get to play an MMO. Your lucky, lol. Anyways, I'm sure you miss your family though. I know I did.
As far as the poor shipping choice, you are right and I changed that already. Now I will get the game between March 1-3rd. Still days after the initial release. So the time you gain in pre-ordering, you lose after launch.
Voted "Not until free trial"
If you are really really keen about DDO then I would change that to pre-oreder or buy on release.
It is certainly good enough for you not to feel ripped off.
I personally don't think it will ever have the broad appeal of most MMORPG's but those who like it will be devoted to it.
Unfortunately, I voted never, for the reasons I have already expounded on in detail with burrek and a few other posters to this forum.
My personal, final opinion is that it simply isn't Dungeons and Dragons. At the very least, not the robust roleplaying game that I remember.
I feel that it is completely within the realm of possibility to bring the roleplaying game of my fond memories to the massive multiplayer format and I also believe that Turbine is capable of doing it. For reasons known only to them, they decided to take what are in my opinion substantial shortcuts in their development.
Abbatoir / Abbatoir Cinq
Adnihilo
Beorn Judge's Edge
Somnulus
Perfect Black
----------------------
Asheron's Call / Asheron's Call 2
Everquest / Everquest 2
Anarchy Online
Shadowbane
Dark Age of Camelot
Star Wars Galaxies
Matrix Online
World of Warcraft
Guild Wars
City of Heroes
It has been confirmed that we have until March 2nd to input the retail key in our Head Start client. There has been some petitioning to get this changed on the DDO forums. Otherwise it looks as though we won't be playing at the actual launch.
never - there just isn't enough content or replayability.
There are better games. They just don't have the D&D name.
Nick
The race doesn't always go to the swiftest, nor the battle to the strongest, but that's the way to bet.
I voted Never.
Not because I don't think it would be fun or a good game but with it's setup, it's way overprice. Sorry but Guild Wars has done the a very similar thing in terms of setup, it lacks the jumping and the better dodging system but for being completely instanced, no way should the monthly price be what it is.