Update the Game Engine

[The_Cataclysm]

Also making a new game probably isn't possible due to Atari holding the publishing rights, and Cryptic (who is owned by Atari) making a new online D&D game.

[hugeroost]

And primarily goal: MORE MONEY

As it should be, without profit why would this game exist?

Currently I'm satisfied with the game engine, though admittedly my perspective is a bit limited as this is the only mmo I've ever played

[Gremmlynn]

In short why develop microsoft windows 7(tm) when windows 98(tm) is good enough.

Poor analogy since the argument in the OP is more along the lines of upgrading W98 to W7 functionality. This analogy argues more for developing DDO 2 than spending pretty much the same amount of effort to simply re-engine the current game.

[Damionic]

Again I don't think creating a new game is a bad thing, yes Atari might have some sort of hold on Dungeons and Dragons licence so preventing Turbine from developing a new engine, but if that's the case what is there to keep DDO:EU running when Neverwinter(tm) comes out?

The fanbase alone cannot keep Turbine afloat because currently DDO:EU is the only D&D MMO on the Market.

Neverwinter(tm) is going to take a large chunk of Turbines F2P playerbase because.

1) It will have a better Engine
2) D&D 4.0 is built for the commercial Market (user friendliness and better game balance will trump conflicting and complicated rules)
3) Casual gamers want fun/rewarding games that have enough scope to keep them interested. (that's why Lionheads Fable was such a success)

Turbines move to F2P was a great move..but without the updates in engine to keep the game fresh.

The market will walk with it's money.

[Club'in]

Yeah, this engine is getting a little long in the tooth. Consider that the game is five years old, so you would think the main engine's tech is closer to seven years old.

I was in that David Bowie quest last night (Path of Inspiration, or some such)...entered first, was facing the door waiting for my brother and other players to get in...and the textures were just yuck. Seemed like the door frame elements and the wall details were really dated looking. Practically Playstation 2 quality. And this is one of the newer quests.

[CrescentCalling_5]

Hmm... A stronger engine would make the game better... and it would unleash more possibilities.

There are some problems with this though. The first problem is that the dev's would need more time to get acquainted with the engine (as well as modify it for their purposes), and the second is that it might make DDO require a stronger PC to run it..

I just wanted to correct one of your points.

While it's true that the dev's would have to get used to the newer engines, lately a lot of game engines are steering farther from the old "dump bells and whistles and make the consumers get the hottest pc to play our game" idea to a more "strength + efficiency = power" concept.

Updating the engine to something more powerful doesn't necessarily mean creating a more taxing game, it could mean the exact opposite! People being able to play the game with a far slower connection due to efficiency of data transfer in the client and server. If the dev's try to aim for an engine that is both more easily updateable and more efficient, then the only downside we'll ever really see is a slow-down in the next few updates after the engine is implemented. Probably followed by much faster updates later on.