Howdy, Stranger!

It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!

Dungeons & Dragons Online: Goes Free, Introduces Store

13

Comments

  • NadiaNadia Member UncommonPosts: 11,798

    Turbine issued a new FAQ last night about downgrading from VIP

     

    I posted the text in the DDO forums

    www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/thread/239392

    worth noting,

    if you downgrade from VIP, you will have access to 4 character slots, not 2

  • JeroKaneJeroKane Member EpicPosts: 7,098
    Originally posted by codejack

    Originally posted by Dr.Rock

    Originally posted by Guillermo197
    And oh.... good luck with the F2P crowd coming in. If you think WoW had a bad and immature community. Watch these F2P guys coming into your game ;)
     

    I think the fact you actually have to interact with other people in DDO to do the content, rather than just run around solo doing noddy quests, should weed out those that have no social skills.

    Really? Well, it hasn't worked so far :p



     

    You exactly read my mind lol. I still have to find the first F2P MMO title with a mature community.

    Cheers

  • IAmMMOIAmMMO Member UncommonPosts: 1,462

    Now Mythic & EA have to wake up and do the same to Ultima onilne

  • BuckaramaBuckarama Member Posts: 48

     

    I hate to be the one that says I told you so, but I told you so.

     

    I told them way back in beta it's never going to work, but what do I know. Oh that's right they are now F2P

    Tells you how well they know their customers, now the D&D elitist are going to run over by immature trailer park brats with no money to keep themselves busy in their “store” so they will go around ganking people and making life miserable for everyone that’s left.

     

    Turbine pulls out gun, shoots foot.

     

    Turbine, look back at the D&D beta boards, user name is the same – I told exactly this – and with your stupid LotRO online game to – exactly the same thing hanging on by a thread thanks to the Tolkien die hards, take his great name out and it wasn’t even a good try. Wasn’t even close to being the WoW killer you thought it was going to be.

     

    This is what happens when you let businessmen run your gaming company.

     

  • BaffaBaffa Member Posts: 37

    Another game that will turn into uninteresting crap.

    6 months and it's dead? Or can it last for a bit longer?

  • Greek_MattGreek_Matt Member Posts: 354

     Well, I played this game when it first released and it never really grabbed me - mostly because I had difficulty finding groups, or when I did they were just rushing through the same dungeon they'd run a million times before with barely a pause let alone a glimmer of interaction. Dipped in a couple of times since then, and I do like the changes they've made, but still I couldn't quite justify paying a full sub for a game that I'd only play occasionally.

    Now it seems Turbine are giving me (and many like me) an opportunity to play the game now and again as the mood takes us, paying what we want when we want. So it's a win for me, since I get to play the game for a pretty minor cash outlay (or more if I feel so moved), it's a win for Turbine because at least they'll be getting *some* money out of me (rather than none at all), and it's a win for the community because an increased population is hugely important to such a group-dependent game.

    I'm not sure I understand all the doom'n'gloom going around though. OK, so they delayed the release of their next module a few months, it's not the first MMO developer to do that. But everyone who's getting all bent outta shape over 'losing' access to their characters or unlocked content needs to step back and take a deep breath.

    Because you will lose nothing.

    For those of you who're current subscribers, you'll still have the option to carry on exactly as you always were. Keep paying your monthly sub and you get exactly the same access, content and whatever you always did. It's just that now you have the CHOICE of whether you want to continue to play it this way, or whether you'd rather dial down (or up) your cash outlay and just play the parts of the game you want to. No pressure. No obligation. It's totally up to you.

    So how is having more freedom of choice a bad thing?

  • BuckaramaBuckarama Member Posts: 48

    I guess my point is they took two of the biggest names in fantasy and turned them into crap. They had two cash cows and they failed to deliver any kind of quality to either title.

     

    I can go on and on withwhat I think is wrong with D&D online - but lets just say that most agree that the game lacks something, hence the subs or lack there of.

     

    How do you screw up D&D ? You can do anything!

  • KellorKellor Member UncommonPosts: 80

    I think Greek_Mat has it right, this new format is going to give people like me a new way to play.  I have kept my subscription since beta but don't play often.  I have trouble finding groups, I have poor gear, and I die alot. This will give me the option of increasing my party size with more hirelings, so I can complete better dungeons and maybe catch up to some others in levels. Then maybe I can find groups to adventure with.

  • LydonLydon Member UncommonPosts: 2,938
    Originally posted by Buckarama


    I guess my point is they took two of the biggest names in fantasy and turned them into crap. They had two cash cows and they failed to deliver any kind of quality to either title.
     
    I can go on and on withwhat I think is wrong with D&D online - but lets just say that most agree that the game lacks something, hence the subs or lack there of.
     
    How do you screw up D&D ? You can do anything!



    If you think LotRO lacks quality, you've clearly played very very little of what is on the market. I may not have specifically fallen in love with LotRO, but one thing I can't deny is that what was they've delivered is a finished, polished product and have kept churning out content in such a state since its release.

  • Dr.RockDr.Rock Member Posts: 603
    Originally posted by codejack

    Originally posted by Dr.Rock

    Originally posted by Guillermo197
    And oh.... good luck with the F2P crowd coming in. If you think WoW had a bad and immature community. Watch these F2P guys coming into your game ;)
     

    I think the fact you actually have to interact with other people in DDO to do the content, rather than just run around solo doing noddy quests, should weed out most of those that have no social skills.

    Really? Well, it hasn't worked so far :p

    I take it you are still playing then, I have corrected my post.

  • Dr.RockDr.Rock Member Posts: 603
    Originally posted by Taram
    I know that I, for one, will be returning to DDO to enjoy the free content and there's a good chance I may purchase 1 or 2 of the optional components as well. 

    Those optional adventure packs have got to be a hit, if only for the I have to know whats beyond that door frustration factor. I predict Gianthold as the top seller.

  • BuckaramaBuckarama Member Posts: 48
    Originally posted by Lydon

    Originally posted by Buckarama


    I guess my point is they took two of the biggest names in fantasy and turned them into crap. They had two cash cows and they failed to deliver any kind of quality to either title.
     
    I can go on and on withwhat I think is wrong with D&D online - but lets just say that most agree that the game lacks something, hence the subs or lack there of.
     
    How do you screw up D&D ? You can do anything!



    If you think LotRO lacks quality, you've clearly played very very little of what is on the market. I may not have specifically fallen in love with LotRO, but one thing I can't deny is that what was they've delivered is a finished, polished product and have kept churning out content in such a state since its release.

     

    How much do I need to play? I played all through beta and wouldn't buy the the game - you can now what? get the original and Mines for like 10 bucks? Sounds like quality to me -

  • The user and all related content has been deleted.

    "Freedom is just another name for nothing left to lose" - Janis Joplin
    image

  • TheFranchiseTheFranchise Member Posts: 241
    Originally posted by Buckarama 
    I told them way back in beta it's never going to work, but what do I know. Oh that's right they are now F2P

    Tells you how well they know their customers, now the D&D elitist are going to run over by immature trailer park brats with no money to keep themselves busy in their “store” so they will go around ganking people and making life miserable for everyone that’s left.

      

     

    How do you gank people in DDO?

  • BleakmageBleakmage Member UncommonPosts: 186

    What if its been a thousand years since I played but it was only a trial account and I never came back, but I might have a Warforged Bard character still sitting in its character slot? Will I still be able to play it even though I've never paid one penny to play t he game ever?

    Good question, eh? Maybe not. :D

  • JYCowboyJYCowboy Member UncommonPosts: 652
    Originally posted by Guillermo197

    Originally posted by JYCowboy


    So it begins!!
    First Free Realms proves that a F2P can gain good market share.
    Now P2P MMOs are converting to F2P with DDO being the first AAA game to start.
    Watch folks, other will follow.



     

    Sorry tho,

    But that is nonsense. F2P MMO's are only succesful when they are designed and developed with F2P in mind!

    And to be honest. DDO has never been a AAA title in my opinion. It was failure right of the bat in the way they designed the whole game.

    It was way too thin in content and way too small of a gameworld when it launched. And still is.

    Except for some nice designed dungeons (in wich credit is where credit is due), the rest of the game had no immersion whatsoever!

    It was one loading screen after the other! Absolutely horrible. And the MAIN reason the flopped the moment it released.

    Me and many other people who were in Closed Beta saw it coming. Hence the reason we never bought the game!

    Cheers



     

    Your explaination of DDO being designed for F2P might stand.  However, if you observe the market in MMO's what do you see?  All AAA game are trying to capture a broad segment of the general casual market.  All of them.  How many have succeded?  What type of MMO (F2P or P2P) is actually gaining significate accounts over 300k?  Unlike you, a MMO savvy and a dedicated (possibly hardcore) player, the casual player will gravitate to good reviews, high popularity games that others are joining.  Notice I didn't say fun or innovative.  The majority of people think of MMO's like brands.  You say cola and many will think Coke Cola and not RC Cola.  Its the same association with WOW.  The majority think to play an MMO, they will only think WOW.  That vaccious suction of attention hinders other MMO's to compete.  Hand out FREE samples and soon your building a customer base to compete.  The non-Blizzard companies are using this to finally break Blizz's hold on the market.  Failing MMO's who have a dedicated player base (like DDO) know this or will eventually yeild to the market, improve the quality of thier games or get out.

    But your right I only write nonsense to your macro understanding of why DDO is going F2P.

  • OzmodanOzmodan Member EpicPosts: 9,726
    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.
     
     
     

    Out of the mouth of babes spews nonsense.  Hardly effects current subscribers, they are not changing the game.

    Personally I think this is a briliant move by Turbine.  Some games fit the f2p model well,  DDO was not doing well as a subscription game.

  • Dr.RockDr.Rock Member Posts: 603
    Originally posted by Bleakmage


    What if its been a thousand years since I played but it was only a trial account and I never came back, but I might have a Warforged Bard character still sitting in its character slot? Will I still be able to play it even though I've never paid one penny to play t he game ever?
    Good question, eh? Maybe not. :D

    Warforged would not be available to you so the character would be locked. The current guesswork (and it is no more than that) is unlocking Warforged would cost you in the region of $4.50 and then you can play the F2P content.

  • luccfilholuccfilho Member Posts: 11

    Awesome news! After reading the news and the marketing campaign I think they'll finally reach the remaining long lost society of the D&D players scattered around the globe to, at least, try this one!

  • karat76karat76 Member UncommonPosts: 1,000

    I guess this will be good news for some but for me they blew the feel of D&D for me when they made it all instanced. Way back when I played Pnp even if we had an adventure prepared for us we could still go off exploring and the Dm would just go with it.

  • KitsunamiKitsunami Member UncommonPosts: 101

     Article is incorrect.

    Please update the article.

    DDO will be free in AMERICA only.

    European version will remain pay to play, and have none of this updates at this current time.

     

     

  • NadiaNadia Member UncommonPosts: 11,798
    Originally posted by Ozmodan

    Hardly effects current subscribers, they are not changing the game.

    adding a cash shop does change the game for existing subscribers

     

    to many it may make no difference

    but some players do not like RMT being added to pre-existing games

  • AhilesAhiles Member Posts: 414
    Originally posted by Kitsunami


     Article is incorrect.
    Please update the article.
    DDO will be free in AMERICA only.
    European version will remain pay to play, and have none of this updates at this current time.
     
     

     

    Well that trully sucks then.

  • NadiaNadia Member UncommonPosts: 11,798

    www.ddo-europe.com/index.php

    As the (american) Beta progresses we will release more information regarding the future plans for EU players.

     

    the link has the full Europe statement

  • TheFranchiseTheFranchise Member Posts: 241
    Originally posted by karat76


    I guess this will be good news for some but for me they blew the feel of D&D for me when they made it all instanced. Way back when I played Pnp even if we had an adventure prepared for us we could still go off exploring and the Dm would just go with it.

     

    They added some free-to-roam areas.  Someone could also go into one of the instanced outside areas and mess around if they want.  And, sure, a human DM can go with it, but a programmed computer can't.  My PnP sessions nowadays are somewhat "convention stye," where, yeah, we can go explore if we want, but it's not going to be nearly as interesting because that's not part of the module.

     

    And that's how DDO seems to me.  You're in the "area" of the main quest, and if you want to go off and do whatever in that area, no problem, and maybe some of those things would be side quests, but they're not the main reason you're there.  In my PnP playing, we also never ran into another PnP group, so PnP feels instanced anyway.

Sign In or Register to comment.