Jun
9

DDO – Dodges a Bullet

11 Comments

My mind is taking an interesting twist on this news:

Dungeons & Dragons Online™: Eberron Unlimited™ (DDO Unlimited) is the free digital upgrade to DDO, the most exciting MMO with the best combat. DDO Unlimited raises the level cap to the natural D&D© limit of 20, introduces a new class, and makes subscriptions optional with unlimited free play. Set in the vast and dangerous online world of Eberron, gamers discover hidden treasure, pummel monsters, and look to evade traps left behind by an ancient race. By leveraging the most active, most realistic combat system of any online game, DDO Unlimited players deliver and feel every blow that goes into a baddie’s demise.

The question always is “why?” The answer I come up with is because Turbine can afford to try this out. With LOTRO being the success that it is, instead of canceling DDO outright, Turbine made the move to shake it up a bit. I think DDO is in the same kind of business position as Vanguard at the moment. Both great games. Both not doing as good as they should. Both are offered by companies who can leverage other successes to take chances.

One of my memories from the Monday night group while playing DDO was the constant “clicking” during combat that was heard over Skype. “Click…click click…click”. This was usually followed by Brent saying, “uhhh….I’m not hitting anything.” It is not the best combat system in the world. So…tell me then what the hell this really means:

The Fiercest Combat – DDO Unlimited features an extraordinary and heart stopping combat experience that requires players to fully engage in the battle by relying on their wits and reflexes in real time. No more clicking skills and watching the action from the sideline.

“No more clicking skills…”. Does this mean they changed the current “clicking” combat mechanics…or are they bragging about the current “real time” system that involves clicking like a mad-man? Unknown…but I would love for someone to clarify that one for me.

D out.

Posted in Editorial
11 Comments Posted by Darren

11 Responses to "DDO – Dodges a Bullet"

  • Jim says:
    June 9, 2009 at 5:07 pm

    I think they are testing out other revenue streams to put games on consoles. The biggest hurtle in getting a game on xbox, is that live requires a monthly fee. If they can make money using a F2P model they will be able to put games on consoles. But they would not be able to do this without LoTRO to back it up.

  • Seamus says:
    June 9, 2009 at 5:16 pm

    DDO will still have the mad clicking in the game. You can also activate the auto attack skill if you want, and that will auto-whack per normal MMO methods.

  • Yeebo says:
    June 9, 2009 at 5:52 pm

    My understanding is that FFXI only requires a silver (i.e., free) membership to X-box live. Presumably future MMOs ported to the X-box would follow suit.

    DDO did always seem like it would be a good fit for consoles. I also suspect that Tabula Rasa and Auto Assualt would have done better on the 360 than they did on the PC. However, I’m not ready to buy that DDO is headed for consoles until I see it.

  • SmakenDahed says:
    June 9, 2009 at 6:02 pm

    Yes, they moved away from all other MMOs where you have skills to click towards a FPS model where you just click the mouse lots. :)

    No, they haven’t changed a thing in combat.

  • Scott says:
    June 9, 2009 at 8:31 pm

    Those melee clickers who don’t pay attention have always gotten on my nerves. But then I actually bother to target the mob and pay attention when it’s dead instead of spastically swinging my weapons into thin air like the Star Wars Kid…

    Still, I’ll take DDO’s active combat over Diku stand-still-and-trade-blows any day.

  • TheRemedy says:
    June 9, 2009 at 9:42 pm

    The headlines are exaggerated, it’s merely a trial that doesn’t end. The real game still costs moolah.

    -TheRemedy, my signature will never be as good as Jason of Channel Massive but I slightly edge out Beau Turkey

  • Lars says:
    June 10, 2009 at 10:17 am

    “No more clicking skills” just refers to the standard hotbar click 1, 2, 3, and wait for them to refresh while your character autoattacks combat system.

    I liked DDO’s combat system. I just didn’t like the rest of the game.

  • Carmedil says:
    June 10, 2009 at 12:08 pm

    After a long pause of D&D in general, I have just ordered 300$ worth of D&D 4th edition books to start a pen and paper rpg campaign. Why? Because of the changes for better or worse, at least it’s new.

    When I saw the announcement about DDO I was all excited. To my surprise the online version is still the old 3,5 edition which is pretty different. There’s no chance even for free that I’m going back there. Too bad cause the buisiness model would have been nice to try.

  • We Fly Spitfires says:
    June 10, 2009 at 4:02 pm

    I’m going to check it out. I suppose that’s the beauty of the F2P business model, people will try it out just for the hell of it and maybe, just maybe, get hooked and buy some stuff from their store.

    When does it come out? Any idea what the new class will be?

  • Thallian says:
    June 11, 2009 at 5:10 pm

    I think its a great business move. It should encourage others (other MMO makers) to give it a try if it does well. Personally I can’t try out a ton of MMO’s just because they all require some annoying nagging commitment, but if there is no monthly fee then I cna jump around all I want, along with my friends and my friends’ friends etc..

  • Marchosias says:
    June 12, 2009 at 4:14 pm

    Hmmm, I wish they would bring back AC2 as F2P. I’d be back in a heartbeat. I miss my toomee!

Leave a Comment