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Just saw this and thought people might be interested.
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I haven't played it for a while but it is by far the best MMO for me. The only problem for me was that there weren't enough players in the mid-levels and it's VERY depended that you have a fun group (like real DnD).
Apparently, Dungeons & Dragons Online is changing its business model. It will be playable for free, but with "micro-payment" options.
Information from the Turbine Website: DDO Goes Free to Play!
In a German article it is mentioned that this is not yet planned for customers in Europe.
Does anyone have more insights?
What are your thoughts?
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It's free... until they cancel it. This is a last gasp attempt to get people to play it. Even with a free trial a few months ago, I found it too dull to play.
It's free... until they cancel it. This is a last gasp attempt to get people to play it. Even with a free trial a few months ago, I found it too dull to play.
QFT. Though some MMOs have managed to reinvigorate themselves after a precarious downhill slide (Age of Conan, for example, has finally found its very small but functional niche for the time being), I don't think DDO is capable of doing that, especially with current (and now forthcoming) competition. I will be surprised if the game lasts out the year.
Its a terrible depiction of Eberron, also.
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I was just visiting the DDO site a while ago. Crap, as if I am not wasting enough time online as is...
At first glance, seems like the now-defunct Hellgate business model. You get to play for free online, with the option of subscribing for additional content. Basically a permanent free trial.
Seems like a shrewd move. The infrastructure is already more or less there, membership is possibly stagnating or peaking out, so they probably aren't losing much (if anything) by making it available to the rest of the general population (these are likely the people who wouldn't normally pay for a subscription in the first place).
No chances of Blizzard doing the same thing with WoW, eh?
Anybody who wants a leg up in the game, can find me on Thelanis (Wulf Ratbane, of course, among others).
I'll also answer questions here (or wherever this thread ends up) about builds and such, and show you "in game" why I think DDO has the best gameplay of any MMO.
I've really tried to get into DDO. My best friend who I don't see very often loves it. I've given it at least three tries, where I signed up for a trial account and played for a couple hours each time.
But I just can't. The engine they use for that game (and it seems like it's the same engine used in LotRO) is just terrible. The controls feel laggy and unresponsive, and combat is completely unsatisfying. I also find the interface (particularly the inventory) difficult to manage.
But I just can't. The engine they use for that game (and it seems like it's the same engine used in LotRO) is just terrible. The controls feel laggy and unresponsive, and combat is completely unsatisfying. I also find the interface (particularly the inventory) difficult to manage.
Doesn't sound at all like DDO to me.
And DDO's combat system is nothing like LOTRO-- LOTRO uses the same "Press a sequence of buttons and watch what happens" mechanic as most MMOs.
DDO's interface is more like... hmm, I'd say Tomb Raider. Or more recently, Oblivion or Fallout 3. You move, you run, you jump, you tumble, you swing, you cast, etc. all in real time.
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Originally Posted by Asmor
The engine they use for that game (and it seems like it's the same engine used in LotRO) is just terrible.
Yeah, DDO is nothing like LotRO. LotRO's interface and gameplay are like WoW.
I think the play for free/microtransaction model for DDO is very cool. I played a lot about a year or so ago but haven't in a while. This definitely makes me want to check it out again.
Quote:
It's free... until they cancel it. This is a last gasp attempt to get people to play it.
I couldn't disagree more. If it wasn't making money for Turbine, they would have canceled it long ago. It has a small but very loyal following, which is what you need to make money on the interwebs.
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I couldn't disagree more. If it wasn't making money for Turbine, they would have canceled it long ago. It has a small but very loyal following, which is what you need to make money on the interwebs.
Heck, they've still got Asheron's Call going, which started in the late '90s.
Anybody who wants a leg up in the game, can find me on Thelanis (Wulf Ratbane, of course, among others).
I'll also answer questions here (or wherever this thread ends up) about builds and such, and show you "in game" why I think DDO has the best gameplay of any MMO.
Quick question for you or anyone else familiar with it - who playable is it solo or with 2 people? Yeah, I know it's a MMO, but my wife and I really enjoyed WoW either on our own or just the two of us and would like to give DDO a try like that. We're not much into the big group stuff.
And DDO's combat system is nothing like LOTRO-- LOTRO uses the same "Press a sequence of buttons and watch what happens" mechanic as most MMOs.
DDO's interface is more like... hmm, I'd say Tomb Raider. Or more recently, Oblivion or Fallout 3. You move, you run, you jump, you tumble, you swing, you cast, etc. all in real time.
That... actually makes me want to play it less.
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Heck, they've still got Asheron's Call going, which started in the late '90s.
I imagine that if all you're doing is paying for the servers/general maintinance, you probably don't need too big of a subscriber base to turn a modest profit. Isn't Everquest still going?
LOTRO is probably the game that pays the bills, though.
I imagine that if all you're doing is paying for the servers/general maintinance, you probably don't need too big of a subscriber base to turn a modest profit. Isn't Everquest still going?
LOTRO is probably the game that pays the bills, though.
I don't know about Asheron's Call, but Everquest (both 1 & 2) is still regularly putting out new content (or they were last time I checked a few months ago). And I know for a fact that DDO has been constantly been adding new content and upgrades also.
I would imagine that an MMO that doesn't regularly add content and is stagnant would be a canceled MMO.
DDO isn't for everybody (what is?), but has been doing quite well for years now with its small loyal fanbase. With a free-to-play option, they'll increase the population on servers, making the game more fun, and thereby encouraging more people to up for the full subscription or drop some cash on microtransactions (or both). Seems like a good move to me.
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