An Eulogy For DDO

[M113k7262]

My dear friends, colleagues and fellow players,
After traveling the servers for several weeks, I have come to one conclusion: DDO is in trouble. Quite a few people have left and most have said they will never return. DDO will also lose more people when they launch MoTU. As much as it pains me, the handwriting is on the wall. DDO is destined to go the way of another great game: Everquest. There is too much competition out there and DDO offers very little for the 16-25 group to be drawn in. I sat by helpless as EQ/EQ2 fell to ruins running down the same road DDO is currently on. To make this point even more clear, if you look on Facebook, just one of the social networking sites, the 'likes' for DDO is under 10k whereas the 'likes' for WoW is in the millions and Diablo will probably follow WoW's path rather than DDO's. As many problems as I have had over the years with the technology running DDO, I still find it to be the game that is closest to what a great MMORPG should be. In closing, I would just like to say that no matter what happens, I will be here to the end because there is no where else to go. Unfortunately, I fear that that isn't too far in the future. I don't even think it will be a year.

[Auralana7214]

Talk about a doom post...

[arminius]

My dear friends, colleagues and fellow players,
After traveling the servers for several weeks, I have come to one conclusion: DDO is in trouble. Quite a few people have left and most have said they will never return. DDO will also lose more people when they launch MoTU. As much as it pains me, the handwriting is on the wall. DDO is destined to go the way of another great game: Everquest. There is too much competition out there and DDO offers very little for the 16-25 group to be drawn in. I sat by helpless as EQ/EQ2 fell to ruins running down the same road DDO is currently on. To make this point even more clear, if you look on Facebook, just one of the social networking sites, the 'likes' for DDO is under 10k whereas the 'likes' for WoW is in the millions and Diablo will probably follow WoW's path rather than DDO's. As many problems as I have had over the years with the technology running DDO, I still find it to be the game that is closest to what a great MMORPG should be. In closing, I would just like to say that no matter what happens, I will be here to the end because there is no where else to go. Unfortunately, I fear that that isn't too far in the future. I don't even think it will be a year.

Don't be blue. And it's ok to feel off-centered.

[MRMechMan]

My condolences.

[Hafeal]

Soooooooooooooo, you are worried about DDO because of the number of Facebook 'likes' it has? Ok.

I'll go along with the resource bank that is WB and the licensing deal WoC has given DDO in FR, that there is real money riding on DDO and it is not going anywhere, anytime soon.

So, enjoy it. And if you are unhappy, take a break and come back with a fresh perspective later.

[Myrddinman]

Soooooooooooooo, you are worried about DDO because of the number of Facebook 'likes' it has? Ok.

I'll go along with the resource bank that is WB and the licensing deal WoC has given DDO in FR, that there is real money riding on DDO and it is not going anywhere, anytime soon.

So, enjoy it. And if you are unhappy, take a break and come back with a fresh perspective later.

All of this...couldn't have said it better!

+1

[Tinrae]

Yeah... I played EQ1 rather hardcore many years ago, and even logged on it again not too long ago (it really shows its age sadly)... but dang it's still kicking even after all this time, and there were people still playing that dinosaur when I did visit!

I really do not believe DDO is going to go under in the foreseeable future. Sorry. (Eq1/Eq2 are still around too btw)

Do I think there is stiff competition out there? Absolutely! I'm the first to say that I'm eagerly awaiting GW2 and I'm playing some other games in the meantime, both online and singleplayer. I'll be back for MotU, no worries.

Will I leave DDO forever? No. Just because it's not my 'main' game doesn't mean I think it's a bad one. Personally I play it in spurts because I don't enjoy grind. But I've made some really good friends here, so I will keep it installed a good long while.

I've never understood the whole black-and-white issue of whether one plays a game or not. There's shades of grey, my friend.... some people need a break for a while to play something else, or do something else.... people get bored after a while of the same thing.... it's normal and doesn't spell the end. Just means people do what they naturally do: follow the shiny!

[Maxallu]

my dear friends, colleagues and fellow players,
after traveling the servers for several weeks, i have come to one conclusion: Ddo is in trouble.

Quite a few people have left and most have said they will never return.

Numbers please, but I guess you don't have any and are just guessing

Ddo will also lose more people when they launch motu.

What?

As much as it pains me, the handwriting is on the wall.

Silly meaningless gibberish

ddo is destined to go the way of another great game: Everquest.


Care to explain? Examples?

There is too much competition out there and ddo offers very little for the 16-25 group to be drawn in.
I sat by helpless as eq/eq2 fell to ruins running down the same road ddo is currently on.

If only you cold have done somehting?

To make this point even more clear, if you look on facebook, just one of the social networking sites, the 'likes' for ddo is under 10k whereas the 'likes' for wow is in the millions and diablo will probably follow wow's path rather than ddo's.


Diablo and wow more popular than ddo? No flippin way!

As many problems as i have had over the years with the technology running ddo, i still find it to be the game that is closest to what a great mmorpg should be.

In closing, i would just like to say that no matter what happens, i will be here to the end because there is no where else to go. Unfortunately, i fear that that isn't too far in the future. I don't even think it will be a year.



wild speculation


you just wrote this: "there is too much competition out there and ddo offers very little for the 16-25 group to be drawn in." have you forgotten already?

doom!!!1!!!!!1!! curb in red.

[Grosbeak07]

Don't think your looking at the right facebook page, but as I just checked DDO has just under 100k likes.

Still who cares, how many "likes" it has on facebook.

This game doesn't have millions of players like WoW and is better for it. The game makes money... If it didn't Turbine would have shut the doors already.

Heck Asheron's Call is still going, so it too must still be making them money.

And last I checked Everquest II was still doing just fine.

[Flavilandile]

To make this point even more clear, if you look on Facebook, just one of the social networking sites, the 'likes' for DDO is under 10k whereas the 'likes' for WoW is in the millions and Diablo will probably follow WoW's path rather than DDO's.

Sorry bad example. DDO target a more mature group of people that usually despise Fesse de Bouc or when they are not openly against throwing their private life at the face of other they just ignore it.

[Mizzaroo]

My dear friends, colleagues and fellow players,
After traveling the servers for several weeks, I have come to one conclusion: DDO is in trouble. Quite a few people have left and most have said they will never return. DDO will also lose more people when they launch MoTU. As much as it pains me, the handwriting is on the wall. DDO is destined to go the way of another great game: Everquest. There is too much competition out there and DDO offers very little for the 16-25 group to be drawn in. I sat by helpless as EQ/EQ2 fell to ruins running down the same road DDO is currently on. To make this point even more clear, if you look on Facebook, just one of the social networking sites, the 'likes' for DDO is under 10k whereas the 'likes' for WoW is in the millions and Diablo will probably follow WoW's path rather than DDO's. As many problems as I have had over the years with the technology running DDO, I still find it to be the game that is closest to what a great MMORPG should be. In closing, I would just like to say that no matter what happens, I will be here to the end because there is no where else to go. Unfortunately, I fear that that isn't too far in the future. I don't even think it will be a year.

Haha. I giggled some

[Kmnh]

Oh, don't worry, this game died back at update 9. It had taken serious blows from the ship buffs and the dumbed-down physics/twf nerf, the spell pass and epic mob hp nerf hit the nail on the coffin.

[GeneralDiomedes]

Over the years, reports of DDO's death have been greatly exaggerated and delivered with much hyperbole, selective reciting of facts, odious opinions, outright lies and logic twisted by rage and sadness. Not to mention underestimation of the folks at Turbine.

[MeliCat]

1) WB bought Turbine. That's huge

2) WB somehow negotiated within this last year additiona D&D IP such that we are not just DDO Eberron anymore but DDO. Again, that's huge and points to a confidence in this interlectual property as a valuable asset.

3) Doubling maybe even trippling of staff put onto develop and run this game

4) Massive investment in an expansion and everthing else - including raising the cap.

5) Some really smart monetizing and marketing finally being done again after the hiatus of lawsuits and all that stupid stuff.


Yes I agree with you that the vast amount of change all at once is very traumatic. I don't like it. It makes me scared, confused, uncomfortable and stressed. I come to a game to get away from that in real life. To play and have fun and feel like I can achieve stuff. I don't like that here. It's good if people walk away at this time a bit if they need to. If they want to they can come back - it's one of the great things about the persistance of this place.

Review come December maybe? I think it's a bit on the early days at the moment to make such pronoucnements.

[Ilindith]

Just add a few "o", to be more dramatic.

[Mizzaroo]

just add a few "o", to be more dramatic.

doom!!!

[psi0nix]

I'd wait till everythings live before taking your bat an ball and going home.

I've been vocal in opposition to some of the changes, but you can never know just what it will be like till it hits like.

Whats on Lama is beta, a lot can change from beta to release.

Don't jump out of the boat till it's actually sinking.