time for a new revamped engine?

[Chaosprism]

The game and content within the game is really good, the gfx engine though needs a serious overhaul.

The actual content like missions etc doesnt need to change, it's mostly the characters that need a revamp, especially poor ugly as toad half-elves. Just a higher poly count and take into account the minimum computer people are using is a lot better than a computer from 10 years ago.
it's the one thing that would push some life back into the old girl.

I'm sure this has been mentioned before, but I havent been on in some time, I wish you all the best, one day i'll find the time to come back, especially if things get a make-over.

[PermaBanned]

While I wouldn't mind some prettier images either, I suspect an engine update for our ten year old game owned by a company currently trimming fat & tristioning to mobile is unlikely at best.

Also, we do still have folks playing DDO on the same boxes now they were using at launch. Given that our new player attraction & retention rates are apearantly abismal, I think locking out any existing players through upgrading the game would do more harm than good.

[AnEvenNewerNoob]

While I wouldn't mind some prettier images either, I suspect an engine update for our ten year old game owned by a company currently trimming fat & tristioning to mobile is unlikely at best.

Also, we do still have folks playing DDO on the same boxes now they were using at launch. Given that our new player attraction & retention rates are apearantly abismal, I think locking out any existing players through upgrading the game would do more harm than good.

THIS exactly.

[Coyopa]

The game and content within the game is really good, the gfx engine though needs a serious overhaul.

The actual content like missions etc doesnt need to change, it's mostly the characters that need a revamp, especially poor ugly as toad half-elves. Just a higher poly count and take into account the minimum computer people are using is a lot better than a computer from 10 years ago.
it's the one thing that would push some life back into the old girl.

I'm sure this has been mentioned before, but I havent been on in some time, I wish you all the best, one day i'll find the time to come back, especially if things get a make-over.

This is never going to happen. That's just reality.

[sithhound]

Yeah, can't see this happening either, but half elves really, really do need a makeover (that is never gonna happen). How did something that butt ugly ever make it off the drawing board? And this was back when DDO actually had plenty of subscribers. Really, who greenlighted these abominations?
/whiny rant off
Some of those h-elf dillys are really nice for mc'ing.

[PermaBanned]

How did something that butt ugly ever make it off the drawing board?Political Correctness?

[Iwant_DiabloThree]

Nothing changes in business until the bottom starts dropping out and people in suits start worrying about their future well being. Then they just try to copy what the other guy is doing and call it their own

[Nuclear_Elvis]

While this may be too late, consider:
- WB spent reportedly $20-25 million developing Infinite Crisis at Turbine, and was willing to simply throw it away and not even preserve the game when it floundered.
- For that same money spent, we could have had:
a. New Game Engine for Turbine (and DDO specifically).
b. Quality Control to clean up >90% of all existing Bugs and non-WAI issues in DDO.
c. Enough seed money left over to start developing DDO 2.

When you really, really,....really think about this, it can anger you, if you're both a Turbine and D&D fan, that Cinderella was stuck scrubbing floors while the step-sisters went to the palace.

[scipiojedi]

Yeah, can't see this happening either, but half elves really, really do need a makeover (that is never gonna happen). How did something that butt ugly ever make it off the drawing board? And this was back when DDO actually had plenty of subscribers. Really, who greenlighted these abominations?
/whiny rant off
Some of those h-elf dillys are really nice for mc'ing.

What's with all the hate for half elves? I prefer them to humans. I mean half orcs are the worst, but half elves are fine.

[Ykt]

it's the one thing that would push some life back into the old girl.


To me bringing life back into the game would be increasing the number of players through a server merge.

I don't see how going through an enormous amount of work to redo all textures and graphics so the game looks like a more recent MMORPG is going to bring in new players. They'll still be turned off by the bugged path finding in The Grotto, the lack of people to play with, the crash on loading, etc.

[Coyopa]

the crash on loading,

Seems to me this is more an issue of player hardware than anything else. I used to experience crashing on loading. Then I got a new computer and I haven't had this happen even one time since.

[Uska]

To me bringing life back into the game would be increasing the number of players through a server merge.

I don't see how going through an enormous amount of work to redo all textures and graphics so the game looks like a more recent MMORPG is going to bring in new players. They'll still be turned off by the bugged path finding in The Grotto, the lack of people to play with, the crash on loading, etc.

Server merge will drive players away due to increased lag and angry over name issues

[sithhound]

What's with all the hate for half elves? I prefer them to humans. I mean half orcs are the worst, but half elves are fine.

Have you looked at them? In the face, I mean, not the back of the head? Just sayin. That's a face only an orthon could love.
The dilettante feats are sweet, no doubt. My main is currently a half elf this life. Thank the FSM for my spider cult mask though.

[Angelic-council]

The game and content within the game is really good, the gfx engine though needs a serious overhaul.

The actual content like missions etc doesnt need to change, it's mostly the characters that need a revamp, especially poor ugly as toad half-elves. Just a higher poly count and take into account the minimum computer people are using is a lot better than a computer from 10 years ago.
it's the one thing that would push some life back into the old girl.

I'm sure this has been mentioned before, but I havent been on in some time, I wish you all the best, one day i'll find the time to come back, especially if things get a make-over.

They already done many things to improve graphics, you just need very good computer for it to run on highest quality. But if you really want complete 'design' revamp, then I don't see it happening. There are many things that needs to be addressed... Many of the players complain about old servers and lack of life... But I don't consider turbine to be evil, they done a nice job improving this game. They seriously trying to revamp old systems like crafting, enhancements.. they does it well, but very slow. People simply don't have a time to wait around. Now, think about the design change, just how many years it would take. People on forum knows very little to nothing about what's happening at turbine office. I personally believe this game needs something that would connect many players. Tournaments, competition... we as players on forum may need to get together and think critically. Because I can suggest 100s of ideas and none of them might work. Just like urs half elf revamp etc. How many ppl do you think care about half elf.. That's the point I think.

[GregorianPL]

looks like ddo wont last for long... even first mmo called tibia still have higher player base.. https://secure.tibia.com/community/?subtopic=worlds

[Amorais]

New game engine? There is no business case for it and the MMO scene seems to be dying due to a total lack of any original ideas. Games cost so much money now that businesses simply cannot afford to take any risks. Hence cookie cutter MMO's contributing to the wholesale death of the genre. Look at Elder Scrolls online. Not one single original idea in the whole game. Wizards wearing armour? Cf DDO, exploration xp? TOR, EQ2 and loads of others, books with lore you can find? Everquest 2. Absolutely no bag space? Every MMO since 2006.

I'd love to see a DDO2 but this simply will never ever happen without some major miracle. Maybe a crowdfund to buy the licence and get a team that is passionate about the game to do the license justice. Turbine have done an ok job but the game now bears little to no resemblance to the D&D tabletop game it is named after any more. Not that thats altogether a bad thing mind, just sometimes I wish it could be less arcade and grind and more dungeons and dragons without the monty haul.

After seeing what crowdfunding can do to a franchise like Elite, I think that is the only way this game will either get a sequel or a refit to bring it up to 21st century spec.

[Paleus]

Welp, guess I was wrong. Even when the company goes through another round of layoffs and blatantly says it's transitioning to a mobile studio, people will still come on wondering if we'll get a revamped engine or a DDO2. Just, I dunno what to say to that.

[KoobTheProud]

While this may be too late, consider:
- WB spent reportedly $20-25 million developing Infinite Crisis at Turbine, and was willing to simply throw it away and not even preserve the game when it floundered.
- For that same money spent, we could have had:
a. New Game Engine for Turbine (and DDO specifically).
b. Quality Control to clean up >90% of all existing Bugs and non-WAI issues in DDO.
c. Enough seed money left over to start developing DDO 2.

When you really, really,....really think about this, it can anger you, if you're both a Turbine and D&D fan, that Cinderella was stuck scrubbing floors while the step-sisters went to the palace.

DDO was a failure at the time WB was making this decision. F2P was the way back for the franchise and it worked but it still did not make DDO a success it just prevented the early sunset of the game.

The marketing of DDO early on, in 2006 and 2007, was abysmally bad and the engine being state of the art for 2002 but not for 2006 at release contributed heavily to the problem.

We should be grateful that we got the second lease on life that F2P gave the game. We've had a lot of fun with it over the years since then and whatever comes next those were good years for gamers who like this type of game.

[Six_Gun]

The game and content within the game is really good, the gfx engine though needs a serious overhaul.

The actual content like missions etc doesnt need to change, it's mostly the characters that need a revamp, especially poor ugly as toad half-elves. Just a higher poly count and take into account the minimum computer people are using is a lot better than a computer from 10 years ago.
it's the one thing that would push some life back into the old girl.

I'm sure this has been mentioned before, but I havent been on in some time, I wish you all the best, one day i'll find the time to come back, especially if things get a make-over.

Sometimes I think it would be nice to have a brand new Eco-diesel motor put into my 2006 3/4 ton truck, but then I realize that the cost of doing that vs the cost of driving it with it's old engine until it dies doesn't make much sense. I love my truck, but eventually all things come to an end. Once my truck finally gives up the ghost I'm sure I'll eventually find a newer one that I'll grow to love, much like DDO.

[AnEvenNewerNoob]

Sometimes I think it would be nice to have a brand new Eco-diesel motor put into my 2006 3/4 ton truck, but then I realize that the cost of doing that vs the cost of driving it with it's old engine until it dies doesn't make much sense. I love my truck, but eventually all things come to an end. Once my truck finally gives up the ghost I'm sure I'll eventually find a newer one that I'll grow to love, much like DDO.

I dunno.....most of the new trucks I see keep telling me to go kill 10 of those, then go gather 10 of those, then go kill 10 of those.....................

[Six_Gun]

I dunno.....most of the new trucks I see keep telling me to go kill 10 of those, then go gather 10 of those, then go kill 10 of those.....................

I'm not a slave to one single genre of game, there are plenty of entertaining alternatives out there once this game goes belly up. The only reservations I have now is spending money on something that could be on the junk heap sooner rather then later.

EDIT - Had to replace my terminology in regards to a colloquial phrase.

[PermaBanned]

The only reservations I have now is spending money on something that could be on the junk heap sooner rather then later.Thats why all my entertainment dollars are spent on the mental equivalent of an ice cream cone: once spent, the money's value is gone and there is no lasting benefit from the purchase. I find treating my DDOllers the same way results in significantly less frustration & disapointment that way.

Fwiw: I've spent far more on ice cream in the last 7ish years than I have on DDO.