You'll be back

[Gabrion]

This is a Doom thread (just to be clear up front).

Doom for AoC! I just want to jump in and say before it launches that all of you who think you'll be jumping ship for AoC are going to be sorely disappointed. Within a month of release (and for many not even that long), you'll realize that AoC (like too many MMOs of late) is overhyped and underperforms.

1) Graphics are nice but they are way too pretty. You wont even get to try the game unless you have a new system.

2) Load Screens - This is dead horse by now if you read any AoC forums, but the in game load screens are really dumb, really slow, and ruin the experience. Sure we are used to load screens here because of all the instancing, but that's very different from running into invisible walls as you explore an environment.

3) Launch itself will be a mess - they haven't been able to update a lot of things that needed it from beta and I predict that this will be one more MMO that meets an early demise specifically because it was pushed out of the door before it was ready (see Vanguard, Tabula Rasa, heck even the DDO early days).

Anyway, I could go on and on but I'll just leave it with a general DOOOOOOMMM!!!! for AoC.

[JacknCoke]

I have been saying this for the longest time.

[Cupcake]

This is a Doom thread (just to be clear up front).

Doom for AoC! I just want to jump in and say before it launches that all of you who think you'll be jumping ship for AoC are going to be sorely disappointed. Within a month of release (and for many not even that long), you'll realize that AoC (like too many MMOs of late) is overhyped and underperforms.

1) Graphics are nice but they are way too pretty. You wont even get to try the game unless you have a new system.

2) Load Screens - This is dead horse by now if you read any AoC forums, but the in game load screens are really dumb, really slow, and ruin the experience. Sure we are used to load screens here because of all the instancing, but that's very different from running into invisible walls as you explore an environment.

3) Launch itself will be a mess - they haven't been able to update a lot of things that needed it from beta and I predict that this will be one more MMO that meets an early demise specifically because it was pushed out of the door before it was ready (see Vanguard, Tabula Rasa, heck even the DDO early days).

Anyway, I could go on and on but I'll just leave it with a general DOOOOOOMMM!!!! for AoC.


We cannot fault people for wanting to try something new.

There will be some people that absolutely love AoC will never come back to DDO. That is their decision.

Could simply be they are tired of DDO.

It happens.

[Kingfish]

Well, I am one of those who will be trying AoC out. I'll be draggin a few folks over with me too. But, all three of my DDO accounts are paid up here until August...so, i'll be buying a couple of copies of AoC for me and my wife and a couple of 60day game cards that should take me on into August when I'll have to make the tough decision.

Can't imagine I'd ever entirely LEAVE DDO but...the updates are coming way too slow for me now. Everyone hoped that with the 6mo pricing deal Turbine got a BUNCH of us to switch to, that they would use the new 'boon' of cash to hire a few more part time devs to roll stuff out faster and with better QA...but, guess not.

I am sure I'll be back, heck, I ain't really going anyway since I'm signed up 'til August...no one will even miss me.

[Ransacked]

What cracks me up are the folks who are stating that they are leaving to check out AOC because the lag here is to bad, or there are down times.

Sinceplaying DDO shortly after launch there are some of us I'm sure who remember all the lag, downtimes, unconnectability after mods, stackable returners, etc.

Anyways after ""beta"" testing (see not really beta testing but playing here for awhile) a new MMO I told myself I'd never do it again.

I might go check out AoC... in a year.

:)

[Kingfish]

I might go check out AoC... in a year. :)

Yeah, but...then it won't be new anymore? ;)

And i've been around since a month or so after launch...and a lot of the problems this game had came with some really awesome things too. I waited a year to try City of Heroes too...and...i'll just leave THAT there. My biggest disappointment in a MMO was that I 'waited' to try SWGs...i 'tried' it out a month after SoE screwed it up...free trial later and gone.

But it just feels like I been 'married' to DDO and Turbine too long...seems i need some "Big Love" ya know...maybe AoC is it...maybe it ain't...but i will have to try.

Only time will tell...

[Ransacked]

Are you saying that You and Turbine are no strangers to love (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KANI2dpXLw)?

[Oreg]

Yeah, but...then it won't be new anymore? ;)

And i've been around since a month or so after launch...and a lot of the problems this game had came with some really awesome things too. I waited a year to try City of Heroes too...and...i'll just leave THAT there. My biggest disappointment in a MMO was that I 'waited' to try SWGs...i 'tried' it out a month after SoE screwed it up...free trial later and gone.

But it just feels like I been 'married' to DDO and Turbine too long...seems i need some "Big Love" ya know...maybe AoC is it...maybe it ain't...but i will have to try.

Only time will tell...

Interestingly enough the only online games I have stuck with were games that I was in beta or bought within a few weeks of launch. There is an air of excitement in those early days that I don't think a "year later" player will ever understand. Every "established" game I tried ended with me quitting before my trial was up. However, I still will make "trips down memory lane" in games that I played regularly at their onsets years ago.

[Missing_Minds]

1) Graphics are nice but they are way too pretty. You wont even get to try the game unless you have a new system.

I dont' even think the graphics are pretty myself. I mean the backgrounds from all the vids they have on the offical site are just super saturated. I mean if I saw greens like that in real life, I'd be seeing my eye doctor right away. bleh.

Also notice on the offical site they list the game as M for several things including nudity and sexual themes. Then go through all of the screen caps and vids. I only found TWO, just TWO instances of any shots of female characters. 1 in the game intro video, the 2nd, very very brief shots in the character generator. (Mind you, the vids just wouldn't play really so maybe other vids have more shots. Their server is either slagged or really hard up at the moment.)

So.. why hide half of the playable characters? Emmm... And this even after having to put in some (random) birthdate. This just makes me think that WoW won't be the only other place where players will cyber themselves out for gold or whatever currency it uses. AoC may just make it look better.

[Kingfish]

Are you saying that You and Turbine are no strangers to love (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KANI2dpXLw)?

**** it, Rickrolled again...

[Jondallar]

Loot Early and Loot often is the Mantra of the Powergamer. Gotta try AoC out for sure as are atleast 5 guildies (some already doing Beta). I really like DDO and will return for sure but AoC has Nipples:eek: and what Straight Male gamer nerd type can pass that up:D





edited: In green underlined Italics for Clarity

[Cupcake]

Loot Early and Loot often is the Mantra of the Powergamer. Gotta try AoC out for sure as are atleast 5 guildies (some already doing Beta). I really like DDO and will return for sure but AoC has Nipples:eek: and what gamer nerd type can pass that up:D

I know you are saying that in jest..but.... me...

[LeLoric]

2) Load Screens - This is dead horse by now if you read any AoC forums, but the in game load screens are really dumb, really slow, and ruin the experience. Sure we are used to load screens here because of all the instancing, but that's very different from running into invisible walls as you explore an environment.




I think this was put in to give a nostalgic feel of the old kings quest games. :D

[Vestario]

I tried the beta, and with my system being between the required, and the recommended, and getting about 20 FPS at the most, I will be saying that I will not be buying the game. Might get it if and when it comes out on the 360, but my system is just to slow for the game, and I am not going to spend 600 bucks to upgrade my system to play something new.

[Eelpout]

I know you are saying that in jest..but.... me...



LIAR!!! :D

[Drider]

AoC isn't a bad game, however it's not great either. I'll be playing it at least until Mod 7 drops. Of course, this all depends on the craptacular launch that is going to happen. I'm not seeing a smooth launch for Funcom.

The combat system is at least different, definitely a mix between the WoW/EQ type combat and DDO's... However, people are already starting to macro the "combos" so basically it will become a one-button push fest in that area.

The big thing is though, if you came to DDO to get away from the "kill x of this monster" or "Bring x to person A" then the quest system is nothing original.

Also the endgame is pretty much all pvp based, which is a turn off for a fair chunk of players.

[Ciaran]

Also the endgame is pretty much all pvp based, which is a turn off for a fair chunk of players.

Or raiding. You can't even start raiding until the end game.

[Jondallar]

I know you are saying that in jest..but.... me...

I will edit my post to make it more applicable;)

[Ciaran]

1) Graphics are nice but they are way too pretty. You wont even get to try the game unless you have a new system.

2) Load Screens - This is dead horse by now if you read any AoC forums, but the in game load screens are really dumb, really slow, and ruin the experience. Sure we are used to load screens here because of all the instancing, but that's very different from running into invisible walls as you explore an environment.

3) Launch itself will be a mess - they haven't been able to update a lot of things that needed it from beta and I predict that this will be one more MMO that meets an early demise specifically because it was pushed out of the door before it was ready (see Vanguard, Tabula Rasa, heck even the DDO early days).

Anyway, I could go on and on but I'll just leave it with a general DOOOOOOMMM!!!! for AoC.

Did you read this article?

http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm?GAME=191&FEATURE=1927&bhcp=1

It seems to address a lot of what you are saying. People on the forums are able to run the game on min specs and do just fine. Please don't mislead people into thinking they need a brand new system to run the game, as that really remains to be seen on launch, but judging from other people's experiences and what the devs have said, the upgrades and fixes have seemed to make it more accessible to differently spec'd machines. It's beta, it's clear that it isn't optimized and the devs even say as much.

[Gabrion]

Did you read this article?

http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm?GAME=191&FEATURE=1927&bhcp=1

It seems to address a lot of what you are saying. People on the forums are able to run the game on min specs and do just fine. Please don't mislead people into thinking they need a brand new system to run the game, as that really remains to be seen on launch. It's beta, it's clear that it isn't optimized and the devs even say as much.

Except the jist of my post is that things right now are headed for the same kind of release that has sunk several other games (or at least severely damaged them). Yes I read the damage control article where the devs try to explain away all the problems. Yes I accept the possibility that they may be telling the truth and some kind of miracle patch will be released before live.

However, it has been my experience from watching the release of several MMOs that miracle patches don't come out between open beta and launch. By the time the game is pushed into open beta it needs to be ready for the public to play with major game play issues resolved. The only thing they should really be testing is server stability by testing high volumes of traffic. I could be wrong, but I predict the launch version to have very little different from what we see now.

And I'm not misleading people about the system specs either. This is going to be an MMO in the same sense that "Ferrari only street-races" are open public events.

[Dariuss]

I think AoC will definitely have an effect on DDO...........













..........an effect roughly on par with Vanguard, but an effect nonetheless :p

[Kalanth]

AoC will launch like all MMO's, and struggle at first, and like all MMO's it will be worth playing in about a year or so. DDO did this same thing, and at this point and we see how much better the game is now.

[Kalari]

Are you saying that You and Turbine are no strangers to love (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KANI2dpXLw)?

That song is back in my head AHHH! evilness *pouts*

[Jerevon]

That's right man! I, deep down, want to come back to DDO and all of it's problems, stale content and lousy class reviews! I only need you to tell me it! I'ma cancel my preorder right now!!! lol.

[wolfy42]

There's plenty more female nudity as you play AoC, not that it's anything special.

Mithra clerics for instance (the female ones) often are bare breasted etc.

I really tried to enjoy AoC but the combat kills the game for me.

Melee and ranged combat both use a boring combo system that isn't nearly as fun as DDO to me.

I think there are plenty of WoW players who will enjoy the game, but not many long term DDO players will end up playing it.

It's not a HORRIBLE game, but it just isn't what was promised which is usually a big problem for a MMORPG.

I forced myself to play a good 40 hours in the beta to give it a good shot, but the whole time I would rather have been playing DDO.

Sad as AoC was a game I was hoping to use as an alternative between new modules (usually they only last me a month or 2) in DDO.

At least the next mod for DDO will add monks which may give me enough for more then 2 months of play, and then if the level cap goes all the way to 20....well that will really last me awhile.

So maybe I'll stop needing an alternative game.

[moorewr]

Are you saying that You and Turbine are no strangers to love (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KANI2dpXLw)?

THAT WAS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My daughter sends her love. We just watched it like 20 times.

[Ciaran]

Except the jist of my post is that things right now are headed for the same kind of release that has sunk several other games (or at least severely damaged them). Yes I read the damage control article where the devs try to explain away all the problems. Yes I accept the possibility that they may be telling the truth and some kind of miracle patch will be released before live.

However, it has been my experience from watching the release of several MMOs that miracle patches don't come out between open beta and launch. By the time the game is pushed into open beta it needs to be ready for the public to play with major game play issues resolved. The only thing they should really be testing is server stability by testing high volumes of traffic. I could be wrong, but I predict the launch version to have very little different from what we see now.

And I'm not misleading people about the system specs either. This is going to be an MMO in the same sense that "Ferrari only street-races" are open public events.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see on all accounts. It just seems foolish to me to speak with any kind of authority about something (i.e. system specs and performance) before the game launches, especially when it's been stated several times by beta testers and devs that the performance issues were due to memory leaks, etc, etc and they don't think the issues encountered were due to not having top end OS's, vidcards, etc, etc. Call it damage control or whatever you want, the fact remains they identified a problem, fixed it and tested it and it seemed to work on a low spec/low setting laptop.

Again, in time, time will tell. I certainly hope they release as smooth of a product as they can at launch, but every launch has some problem or another, it's really more about the severity of the issues and the quickness in resolving them than it is about having a totally smooth launch. Releasing a game that can't perform on a wide variety of systems within the required and recommended specs range would be suicide.

I don't know, I guess because I'm not going to it because I'm expecting it to be "The Next Big Thing" but because I like Conan and the game looks beautiful and intriguing and the combat system struck my interest has given me a different perspective. From what I hear it's not just combos, but it's a blend of that and real time combat. So instead of "spamming right click FTW" you actually have to pay attention to where you are attacking and time your combos.

[Pyromaniac]

I dont' think we'll know how it will turn out. But I'll try it out and if its good....well i might become one of those who subs to DDO for 1 month when a new mod comes out, and then waits for the next mod.

That way I can still play DDO, cut my sub costs a lot and still play all of the content that's being created.

But who knows, maybe AOC won't be something I like.

[Mr.Monster]

For those talking new system. I run 2.7 intell 2 core with 3 gigs ram and 6600 gforce vid card, and even with their debuuger running in the back ground, AoC is running very well for open beta. With each up date it runs even better.
So you will not need new systems unless you want full graphic quality.
With the little bit I have played open beta, I can say the smaller games such as TR, DDO, and others as well have something to be concerned about. With the timing of new updates and expansion release dates, from all these MMO's including WoW they are concerned about AoC.

So doom say all you want, you are just making the masses curious, and helping AoC's launch.

[Whippy]

I'm hearing early reports of it being quite poor from my friends who were in for beta. Nice enough graphics, but pain in the ass load screens, and some unplayability because of the graphics unless u are running a super computer. The quests are reported to be very linear, much like WoW... you know the standard errand running and such... talk to this npc, kill 20 of these, go back, blah blah. If thats what you like then fine, lol, but I for one won't be even looking at it... DDO rocks.

[Gabrion]

AoC will launch like all MMO's, and struggle at first, and like all MMO's it will be worth playing in about a year or so. DDO did this same thing, and at this point and we see how much better the game is now.

Not all MMOs...WoW had a pretty spectacular launch. Now they have 10 million subs. Coincidence?

(something tells me the all to common "fumble the ball for 6 months to a year then get things going" deal is really what holds back a lot of MMOs with great potential)

[query]

(something tells me the all to common "fumble the ball for 6 months to a year then get things going" deal is really what holds back a lot of MMOs with great potential)

Now if we only had an MMO to test that theory on....

[ENGRAV0]

This is a Doom thread (just to be clear up front).

Doom for AoC! I just want to jump in and say before it launches that all of you who think you'll be jumping ship for AoC are going to be sorely disappointed. Within a month of release (and for many not even that long), you'll realize that AoC (like too many MMOs of late) is overhyped and underperforms.

1) Graphics are nice but they are way too pretty. You wont even get to try the game unless you have a new system.

2) Load Screens - This is dead horse by now if you read any AoC forums, but the in game load screens are really dumb, really slow, and ruin the experience. Sure we are used to load screens here because of all the instancing, but that's very different from running into invisible walls as you explore an environment.

3) Launch itself will be a mess - they haven't been able to update a lot of things that needed it from beta and I predict that this will be one more MMO that meets an early demise specifically because it was pushed out of the door before it was ready (see Vanguard, Tabula Rasa, heck even the DDO early days).

Anyway, I could go on and on but I'll just leave it with a general DOOOOOOMMM!!!! for AoC.


You do indeed....Have an interesting OPINION. And I respect YOUR opinion. However, mine, and my experiences in AoC are quite different. Let's see, I shall start with:

1. I am running an EQ6600, 4GB Corsair Dominator 1066 RAM, 2 Raptors in RAID0, with an 80GB sata for storage, 2 BFG 8800's in SLI w/ 768 mb o/b ram each, an ASUS Extreme Striker MB, XFI Fatal1ty SC, 22" LCD gaming monitor, and liquid cooling the entire thing, So, I think I am fine, especialy with what I have already experienced. Oh, running XP 64bit.

2. I load through the load screens in 3 seconds, sometimes up to 5, only the very first load screen did I wait any longer, was odd. Sure, they are nothing new to us, but let's see what is:

2.a. The load screens are only at the entrances to specific places, the Tavern, a few quests, and I am sure there will be a few more here and there.
2.b. Well, what else? How about the FACT that I am able to hit monsters AND people that are not headed toward me. Or, that the animations are GREAT (now, this part was MY opinion).
2.c. I summon monsters, and though there are a few faults, the DO get kills. And I can ride mounts. And every piece of armor and clothing affects the appearance of your character. (Except the rings). And when I look at an item, if I already have an item in that slot, it shows me the comparison PRIOR to me having to equip it and figure out which is better. And there is NO AH to corrupt the system. AND any Plat farmer will have to be level 20 to get anything to you once you leave the Newbie Isle (Now, this is nearest I am able to tell right now, there does not appear to be any way to get back to the island once you leave it). AND So far, there has been rather good and rapid response to in game issues, and they have already responded TO ME with a response to issues I have submitted?
2.d. An actual crafting ability that allows me to make things, and in turn get them to the market (Not an AH, the price is set, and either someone buys it, or they don't) easily.
2.e. As of today, they corrected a lot of the "Invisible Walls" which were in actuality (the ones I encountered) due to running into an obstacle (like a relatively flat stone, with just a little rise to it) and posted as such. Several of the ones I had encountered were NOT there today.

3. Yours is, again, an OPINION. But in fact, they had already stated that the OPEN Beta was in FACT an older client than that being used in the CLOSED Beta. And, the FACT that every spell has an affect that is apparent, and it is NOT just a point and click attack. And You can build cities, that once certain structures are made, allow you to craft rather powerful items. AND, that as far as MY experiences, I encounter very little lag. At first, it was really bad, but after the first patch, most of it went away. Only inside did I encounter any, and it was infrequent.

And, to end this, you say it will meet an early demise, and your example used is DDO? I am a little confused here. Are you saying that it will be as unsuccesful as DDO? Not a very nice arguement to propose to these folks here.

So, these are MY views, some are MY OPINION, and some are MY OBSERVATIONS, and personal experiences so far, in the OLDER BETA.


I submitted 2 bug reports, using the in game proceedure, got a response AND resolution to one of them in 5 minutes. With the higher system requirements, it will be harder for johny go lucky 14 year old to get mommy to buy him a new computer so he can play. The skins awesome (again, this is MY opinion) and when you put your weapons away (Sheath them) they actualy appear on your Hip. When you level up, you gain bonus attacks, more specificaly, fighter types gain special attack moves, that the game freely gives you (If you turn it on) a hint to which next attack move you need to do to accomplish special attacks (like cutting off the heads of your opponent, or slitting his throat, with blood spewing forth).

I am glad that you are faithful to DDO, AoC is NOT DDO. But, I wont be going to the internet while trying to play to figure out what my recipee is, or what I am missing, or watching some dumbed down animation from some stone slowly grinding 1000's of fragments into dozens, and then again to make fewer, and fewer yet again, just to switch out a feat.

Don't mistake me for a FanBoy, rather think of it like this, I am someone who has my eyes open for a game that will employ me past the constant repetativeness of the same quest, ran the same way, with the same weapons, and the same armor, and always the same loot. Will I keep something going here in DDO? Yep, you betcha! I sure will. BUT, Do NOT mistake that for being due to the quests, the playability, or anything, ANYTHING other than the FACT that I have freinds who will NOT be going to AoC. I will gladly keep one account (and possibly both accounts) so that I can return and chat and sit around, beating some stale portal til I go insane, but at least I can have a good chat with my freinds, grab something to eat and drink, and even work on my website during that time.

I like DDO, sure. But, there are a LOT of things that the Devs should NOT be doing that are driving me away, and as my sig says, it just isn't the month to be doing such things. MONKs are coming, well, yippee I Yay! And? No new race? No news about clarifying certain issues that are EXPLODING in these forums? Just a "Do what you want, but you may get a boot", but we wont tell you what you could get a boot for? People having to switch to the internet to get support because they have an in game issue?

I am seriously glad to know that you, and under your OPINION everyone will be coming back, at least I know my freinds wont be the only ones here when I come back. Wonder what will happen with the OTHER MMOs that are getting close to coming out.

I am sorry you didn't have a very good time while playing the Beta, kinda wish you would have. But, I will go watch the blood splatter as I decappitate and push my foes off of my blade with my boot, and you are more than welcome to stay here and keep autoattack activated for the next over exploded HP fiend.

[ENGRAV0]

Almost forgot one other thing, after reading a couple posts above mine. The combat is indeed NOT just comboes, the enemies WILL BLOCK, so you can't just swing. you MUST interact and overcome their defense, as they must yours. Yes, the early quests are indeed run errands, and each errand serves a purpose. To help you understand the NEW combat system, as well as help you understand what the different strengths and weaknesses of your chosen character is. A Necro running into a crown of people will die, 99% of the time (Ok, that % is an opinion), but a Ranger of the same level will not. Did you mention that you constantly are regaining your health and mana? Or that you can spend points earned during each level to increase the rate at which you regain said stats? Or that the enemy is ALSO limited to what they can throw at you because they have the same HP and Mana bars? They do, you know. And you can see their bars as well, at least the one you have selected as a target.

[itsmezed72]

Personally, I've found the beta to be plagued with *constant* crashes, stability issues, memory leaks, and a host of other problems. The closed beta client is only slightly more stable, but even there many, many people have been hit by the 'assertion error' problem. I'm stunned that it's less than two weeks from release, frankly. Now don't get me wrong, the graphics are fantastic and it's a fun game -- when you can actually play it.

And FWIW, my system specs, so I know that isn't the problem:
Q6700 Core 2 Quad @ 3.2 ghz
4 gb Crucial Ballistix DDR2 800
150 gb Raptor HD
Sound Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty
gForce 8800 gtx

[ENGRAV0]

Hmm, odd. But, today when I logged in and teleported to the level 20 and up zones, I did encounter a lot more lag than previously had been experienced. Once I left the large group of people it seemed to almost completely go away though. The memory leaks had been announced in a thread, somewhere. I don't know which one it was, but they had addressed them.

I haven't been in the closed beta, but have been really impressed with the support I have seen so far. Yes, I know, pregame launch, gonna be there. But still, the point that two of the issues I addressed were directly responded to, with the status and what was going on, was a nice "Show" of intent.

As far as I can tell, Come Friday, it is time for Turbine to go home, hope you guys figure out to deal until Monday Type attitude. I mean heck, I got quoted on a Lag post, by Tolero hersoelf, and she said she logged in, didnt personaly experience any of the lag being reported, and then went home for the weekend. How hard is it, tell me please, to open IE (Or Firefox, or whatever you use) and look at the forums? Just one check over that weekend would have revealed an ALARMING amount of posts from various members talking about Lag. And it is STILL in the game. I don't expect miracles, I expect communication and to be kept informed, no details, for the most part, but at least a little more than "we are looking into the lag".

[Elsiah]

Hmm, odd. But, today when I logged in and teleported to the level 20 and up zones, I did encounter a lot more lag than previously had been experienced. Once I left the large group of people it seemed to almost completely go away though. The memory leaks had been announced in a thread, somewhere. I don't know which one it was, but they had addressed them.

I haven't been in the closed beta, but have been really impressed with the support I have seen so far. Yes, I know, pregame launch, gonna be there. But still, the point that two of the issues I addressed were directly responded to, with the status and what was going on, was a nice "Show" of intent.

As far as I can tell, Come Friday, it is time for Turbine to go home, hope you guys figure out to deal until Monday Type attitude. I mean heck, I got quoted on a Lag post, by Tolero hersoelf, and she said she logged in, didnt personaly experience any of the lag being reported, and then went home for the weekend. How hard is it, tell me please, to open IE (Or Firefox, or whatever you use) and look at the forums? Just one check over that weekend would have revealed an ALARMING amount of posts from various members talking about Lag. And it is STILL in the game. I don't expect miracles, I expect communication and to be kept informed, no details, for the most part, but at least a little more than "we are looking into the lag".


yeah, why won't the devs get on the forums and read about all the lag? i mean, seriously, what possible reason could they have for not using this god-sent pipeline of customer feedback when it's right here on the good ol' interweb?!

ah yes, the posters. reason enough.

because so many people experience lag issues, and so many post over and over again, i can see why the devs can get a little frustrated about having to explain some things over and over again to them. I hate lag myslef, and yeah, it does keep me from playing at times, but that's the internet. Being aware that the telecom companies are squeezing our bandwidth at random times, i can't really get mad at turbine for thier attempts to fix lag. at least they try.

and as for tolero going home for the weekend, how the hell can anyone complain about that? it's pretty crappy to insult the one dev who puts forth a herculean effort to get our honest and intelligent feedback, i have to say. so a dev deals with the 95% rate of doom and gloom, random rants and asses in general on the forums all week and wants to have a few days off? how dare they!

and as far as the OP goes, right there with you, and glad that someone said it before i could. AOC might be pretty, hell, might be an awesome game, but the reason i play an MMO at all is right here. I like multiclassing, having an infinite amount of ways to play a toon, and not having to kill 8,953,234,324 wolves to hit level 70, which looks suspiciously like level 69 but for a few more HP and SP. not my bag. if i wanted to do that, i'd play WOW. but then, i'd have to deal with ninja looting...

[ENGRAV0]

So, you want to make this personal then? Ok.

First, As to Tolreo, Don't, DO NOT quote someone, say how much you care about the game, and then wait a WEEK to do something about it.

As to you, well, bah. Easiest way to reply and not cross any line. LoL.

The posters, both positive AND negative post for a reason, don't put out that the forums are for something, and then leave them hanging, and then expect them to be happy.

You wont be in AoC, glad to hear it. Honestly, I am. One less person trying to vear subjects away from where they need to go and insist that, if you are going to say how much you care, that you SHOW it.

[baddax]

Like a wise man once said "The grass is always greener on the other side, but do you know what they use to make it that way?" Will i try out AoC probably but unless i see a vast improvement compared to the quality of DDo im not canceliing my subscription to DDo. I have played DDo for 2 years now and have seen a HUGE improvement in that epriod of time, and fully expect to continue to see a quality product with huge improvements each mod. However if i see and the lag issues, AI issues etc etc get worse or are not sgnificantly improved there is no doubt in my mind i will be searching for a new mmo home. Another thing is i have a huge amount of time and energy invested in DDO i have 6 capped characters and a host of others in developement. Changing MMo's is not something i would do on a wim. Also i think its important to rememebr that the game is still about the people and if enough good players/friends etc leave then i would say that it would definitely make staying that much harder.

[LOUDRampart]

Every MMO has problems at launch. Every one. AoC won't be any different. And other then prettier graphics, it really isn't bringing anything different then previous games out there. What they are counting on is the Conan name to bring them players... just like DDO counted on DnD name and LotR counted on that name. Heck, even WoW counted on those of us who played Warcraft to launch that game.

Will AoC be a success? Who knows at this point. Will it hurt our DDO population? I'm sure a few peeps will leave and not come back. But DDO has a pretty faithful following now, despite its issues.

[Kingfish]

...I'm sure a few peeps will leave and not come back. But DDO has a pretty faithful following now, despite its issues.

And this is what has me the most concerned...i use to think of this as a huge 'feather' in Turbine's hat. They even proudly speak of their rabid, hardcore player base that they know, no matter that they do(or DON'T do), these 'fans' will stick with DDO because it is D&D! But that also means, Turbine KNOWs they only have to toss us a few bones now and then and we'll stay. I currently have three accounts and had at one point another 2 (five total once)...so i think i am one of those HARDCORE fans.

And I would bet, DDO will still be here 5 years from now...and it will basically look exactly like it does right now. They have missed the chances for advertising (Atari's fault???) and the long downtimes between content causes the casual gamer to run to the next NEW thing...DDO will always have our few hardcore players and Turbine knows it.

Until someone comes in and shakes things up at Turbine and takes the future of this game in a different direction(release the game with a NEW mega expansion addon included on a DVD AND with a MASSIVE advertising campaign scheduled with its release)...this game will continue to be small blip and a tiny black line on the company’s net value. Turbine will continue to just hand out breadcrumbs to the rabid, hardcore D&D fan and we will STILL just gobble them down and then go on defending/apologizing for Turbine and being PROUD that we survived 8 years later!

This core of players are at once the boon to this game and our greatest liability...we won't go away so Turbine can COUNT on our money month in and month out.

[Mjay]

Tried out AoC.

Decided it stinks.

Got the thinking about simularities between DDO and AoC... Canceled DDO.

I think I'ma go play WoW.

[Stealthbr]

I bet a lot of you who are saying Age of Conan is only graphics have never played the game. Btw, is it true that NDA was lifted for lvls 1-20?

[ENGRAV0]

Yes, the NDA has been completely removed for the open beta. Anything and Everything is fair game now. Both Positive, and negative.

[Stealthbr]

Thats cool, so now I can give my thoughts about the game without having my account banned or something?

[ENGRAV0]

And post your vid's (If you made any). I have made quite a few, just not happy with the difference in the recorded and what it looked like while recording them. Think I figured out the issue though, am using a 22" wide screen, and I think when I converted it that it made ot a 4:3 ratio, stretching everything upward.

[Horrorscope]

So much to say that I'll just keep it short. Funcom calls their scenarios beta but it wasn't a beta. It was a scenario test. There are so many things that were not in the game in any beta, open or closed. Funcom says everything will be in the game when it ships, they hold it back so there is excitement for all that play the retail game. But imo so much was held back it's hard to judge the game at all and a lot of faith is needed. Balance game wide is my biggest concern. We know in this sector you can and will be burned by listening to promises and funcom is no stranger to overselling. But in the history of what beta means, that means full code being tested before release. If you haven't followed or played I think you would be pretty surprised by everything held back and then the things that were let out into the wild the last two weeks. A good portion of that wasn't what the masses were thinking, zoning/instancing for example. Funcom put an ironclad NDA on this thing from individuals to fansites that so little was known and they still actually have the NDA on.

Everyone is free to go to their site and catch up on all of the particulars. Being a DDO site I always keep an ear out for what others think of DDO or AoC vs. the field. DDO still has the fastest most advanced combat model for a mmo. Conan is just one more layer on top of the same ole. Many Conan players think they have the fastest most FPS combat model in the mmo world, but then none of those ever tried DDO, even though there is a 10 day free trial. Many think AoC has great PvE quests, pff go get me 10 airhog snorts... In DDO we laugh and cry at quests like those, they don't know what a good PvE quest is then.

Where am I at in all of this? I'm still here, will still be here. I will watch from the sidelines to see how AoC progresses. I pretty much ended up with the same feeling about AoC's scenario testing as I did with Hellgate London's beta. I said six months for Hellgate before I consider it since it wasn't done, now it seems to be dead. So that will be a pass... So where will AoC be in a handful of months from now? Something to consider or something to forget about? FWIW I waited nearly two years to jump into DDO and I'm sure that it's been a LOT better experience for me getting in now then day one, even though I thought DDO's beta was pretty good back then.

DDO still sports the most mature mmo crowd I've seen, AoC's on the flip-side.

[Borror0]

To all of you who wants to play AoC, are you sure you'll meet the requirements? (http://www.systemrequirementslab.com/referrer/srtest)

I don't even meet the recommended...

[moorewr]

Thats cool, so now I can give my thoughts about the game without having my account banned or something?

*finger hovers above report button*

:p

[Grond]

Apparently, Age of Vannever Oblivconightguard spells doom for DDO, the writing is on the wall. Or the forum... :D

[Mr.Monster]

Will AoC be a success? Who knows at this point. Will it hurt our DDO population? I'm sure a few peeps will leave and not come back. But DDO has a pretty faithful following now, despite its issues.

DDO never fully recovered from the hit it took from Vanguard "and that game failed horribly" the server merge is a result of that. DDO also has lost a lot of the pen and paper players as well, because it failed to stay true to the concept.
As for a just a few in are AoC guild alone we have 50+ people that have closed there DDO accounts in the last 2 months, and with me only able to play every so often, do to school, I am able to notice the population decrease on Khyber server, where are they going?

[Uska]

Not all MMOs...WoW had a pretty spectacular launch. Now they have 10 million subs. Coincidence?

(something tells me the all to common "fumble the ball for 6 months to a year then get things going" deal is really what holds back a lot of MMOs with great potential)

Wow's launch was horrible are you serious and just becuase 10 million people have tried means its a good game its just easy to play heck you can set up to play then go out to dinner come back and still be fine killing things.

[LOUDRampart]

Not all MMOs...WoW had a pretty spectacular launch. Now they have 10 million subs. Coincidence?

(something tells me the all to common "fumble the ball for 6 months to a year then get things going" deal is really what holds back a lot of MMOs with great potential)

I played WoW at the beginning and I don't recall a spectacular launch. It had the same "downtime to fix a fix" issues as most other games. And I surely wouldn't claim WoW's success based on launch. Most of the players joined after the dumbification of the MMO.

For me, it was RTSW that peaked my interest in WoW. Now most players don't even know what that is...

[LOUDRampart]

To all of you who wants to play AoC, are you sure you'll meet the requirements? (http://www.systemrequirementslab.com/referrer/srtest)

I don't even meet the recommended...

I surpass the recommendation in every category :D

[LOUDRampart]

DDO never fully recovered from the hit it took from Vanguard "and that game failed horribly" the server merge is a result of that. DDO also has lost a lot of the pen and paper players as well, because it failed to stay true to the concept.
As for a just a few in are AoC guild alone we have 50+ people that have closed there DDO accounts in the last 2 months, and with me only able to play every so often, do to school, I am able to notice the population decrease on Khyber server, where are they going?

It does appear that DDO took a 5K loss in subs at about the time Vanguard went live--I hadn't looked at MMOGCHART for a while. I'm hoping that AoC doesn't cause another downward spike.

I play late night/early morning (US time zones). I haven't found a significant problem finding groups yet. However Monday and Tuesday nights are getting more difficult to find PUGs, so there might be something going on...

[Borror0]

It does appear that DDO took a 5K loss in subs at about the time Vanguard went live

Where did you see that? Turbine didn't let any numbers out since some time in 2006.

[moorewr]

Where did you see that? Turbine didn't let any numbers out since some time in 2006.

He's quoting an "industry insider" site that posts numbers without any provenance. They may or may not know anything about Turbine or any other private company. They do show a plummet in subs in April-May 2007, and I admit some of last Summer was kind of thin - on my schedule anyway - on Thelanis. So who knows. Certainly there's no proof of what they post.

[LOUDRampart]

Where did you see that? Turbine didn't let any numbers out since some time in 2006.


He's quoting an "industry insider" site that posts numbers without any provenance. They may or may not know anything about Turbine or any other private company. They do show a plummet in subs in April-May 2007, and I admit some of last Summer was kind of thin - on my schedule anyway - on Thelanis. So who knows. Certainly there's no proof of what they post.

exactly.

I realize there is no concrete evidence that Turbine has released. And I take the information for what it is. Then add my own experience of having increased difficulty finding parties during the times that I play. It seems to add up that Vanguard did have an impact on DDO subs.

That brings up to present. And my hope that AoC doesn't chip off another block of subs...

[GeneralDiomedes]

Well, anyways .. be nice to the noobs and the game will continue to tread water.

[moorewr]

Well, anyways .. be nice to the noobs and the game will continue to tread water.

Next you'll be asking me to heal them! The nerve.

[jaitee]

from my time playing

ive seen people go and leave then return, more leave then return..

my first main guild, Salty-Demigods, yea disbanded for vanguard, so many left, at one point there was 1-3 people online at peak times, compare to 20-30+

my current guild, which has all made plans to play AoC, barely logs on anymore, most of them are in the AoC channel in vent now, just a few more days till AoC releases... we will see if this guild disbands too

[baddax]

And this is what has me the most concerned...i use to think of this as a huge 'feather' in Turbine's hat. They even proudly speak of their rabid, hardcore player base that they know, no matter that they do(or DON'T do), these 'fans' will stick with DDO because it is D&D! But that also means, Turbine KNOWs they only have to toss us a few bones now and then and we'll stay. I currently have three accounts and had at one point another 2 (five total once)...so i think i am one of those HARDCORE fans.

And I would bet, DDO will still be here 5 years from now...and it will basically look exactly like it does right now. They have missed the chances for advertising (Atari's fault???) and the long downtimes between content causes the casual gamer to run to the next NEW thing...DDO will always have our few hardcore players and Turbine knows it.

Until someone comes in and shakes things up at Turbine and takes the future of this game in a different direction(release the game with a NEW mega expansion addon included on a DVD AND with a MASSIVE advertising campaign scheduled with its release)...this game will continue to be small blip and a tiny black line on the company’s net value. Turbine will continue to just hand out breadcrumbs to the rabid, hardcore D&D fan and we will STILL just gobble them down and then go on defending/apologizing for Turbine and being PROUD that we survived 8 years later!

This core of players are at once the boon to this game and our greatest liability...we won't go away so Turbine can COUNT on our money month in and month out.

Im not saying i completely agree with you but let me just say one word :atari 2600, need i say more? ok so 2 words lol!

[CSFurious]

the economy is pretty tough right now & the computer that i paid a lot of money for 30 months ago runs DDO great & still runs perfectly

i cannot justify buying or upgrading a computer for a game that may or not be great

anyway, i do not want to gather 20 wolf-pelts; i played WOW for about 2 days back in 2006 & those types of quests & the
player-base made me cry

also, AOC is going to have 30+ player raid zones, i.e., if you think raiding in DDO is tough, try explaining to your real-world wife, girlfriend, kids, friends, boss, etc., why you need to spend 4 to 5 hours or more looking for the sacred breastplate of mithra every other day & the whole weekend

good luck with that


To all of you who wants to play AoC, are you sure you'll meet the requirements? (http://www.systemrequirementslab.com/referrer/srtest)

I don't even meet the recommended...

[CSFurious]

but, there are still plenty of people to play with

also, i think a lot of smart players took advantage of the 6-month subscription discount

therefore, i think DDO will make it to level 20 without difficulty


DDO never fully recovered from the hit it took from Vanguard "and that game failed horribly" the server merge is a result of that. DDO also has lost a lot of the pen and paper players as well, because it failed to stay true to the concept.
As for a just a few in are AoC guild alone we have 50+ people that have closed there DDO accounts in the last 2 months, and with me only able to play every so often, do to school, I am able to notice the population decrease on Khyber server, where are they going?

[Uska]

DDO never fully recovered from the hit it took from Vanguard "and that game failed horribly" the server merge is a result of that. DDO also has lost a lot of the pen and paper players as well, because it failed to stay true to the concept.
As for a just a few in are AoC guild alone we have 50+ people that have closed there DDO accounts in the last 2 months, and with me only able to play every so often, do to school, I am able to notice the population decrease on Khyber server, where are they going?

I belive the red to be totaly incorrect they really started with to many servers at first and I play on khyber and have only noticed a slight drop in pop, the people leaving well some will stay gone but some will come back, a lot of those leaving for aoc will not stay with it they might not come back here but wont stay there. Thought I would leave for AoC but now after seeing the many changes in development since they started and seeing the attitudes of many of the people who are going to be playing not sure I would even do a free trial now. yeah beta was beta and open beta a bit less then that really but late beta should had more working.

[Ciaran]

To all of you who wants to play AoC, are you sure you'll meet the requirements? (http://www.systemrequirementslab.com/referrer/srtest)

I don't even meet the recommended...

I have a three year old Sony Vaio desktop. I upgraded to a Radeon Visiontek 2600 HD Pro vid card for around $60 and will be placing another gig of RAM in my PC. Even without the gig of RAM I fall almost halfway between required and recommended, and Funcom stated that it is working to make the game playable across all OS and specs in the range between required and recommended. I'd guess that just meeting required means running on low settings, which from what I hear still supposedly look and perform well and the further you can get away from required and get closer to recommended, the better.

Of course, we'll see how true that all winds up being after the 20th. If I can run AoC satisfactorily with my rig, you can bet I'll be telling people that they don't need to sink a lot of money into upgrading their PC to be able to play it. Conversely, if being above required but below recommended means I can't run the game with any kind of decent FPS or at all, I'll be griping. :)

Now, if it were an Obsidian/Atari product considering the steep system requirements for graphics that don't look as good as they could/should (NWN2, anybody) I'd be skeptical. :)

[moorewr]

My Linux system really threw that test site for a loop. :rolleyes:

[Karranor]

Post Beta thoughts for AoC –

Plus’s
 Very good looking game, plain and simple.
 Destiny Quests are cool as hell.
 Huge world to explore.
 Character Customization Rocks
 You can chop peoples heads off!

Minus’s
 Combat is boring and if you call clicking 3 buttons in a particular order “interactive and exciting combat” instead of 2, I am thinking they have never played DDO. DDO Combat owns all.
 Classes are cookie cutter. You can customize through three separate feat trees for each class but at 20 it still did not make one ranger different from another.
 Llllllllllllong load times and you have to zone all over the place. Yes I zone all over in DDO but I rarely have enough time to read a 10 word tool tip while I do.
 Standard MMO open zones of campers killing wolves and… can’t even type it out this is so boring.
 Nukers need some BIG TIME WORK. I tried a few and it was very much – Target – Keep mashing the 1 key until dead. Rinse and repeat. They are supposed to have “Spell Weaving” but it is not in or it is coming later and this makes casting the ultimate of boredom.

There are plenty of other things but these are my bug ones. I will in no way give up DDO as it is such a great game. I will be playing AoC as well though. Run the Destiny quests and explore it when I can not get a group or just have a few minutes to mess around.

PS- I would not play this one an older system. This game is a hog and luckily I have a newer machine that can handle it. You can kick back the settings but then it looks like ass. If you can not play this game and enjoy the graphics might as well stick with DDO. Which in its own right is a very good looking game!

DDO FTW!