There is some irony that the game that introduced the concept of moral avatars, the game that based character creation on moral choices of players ends up like this.
Quest for the Avatar is a search for the avatar of Mammon it would seem.
Maybe better stated as the MMO that introduced moral choices, because I believe a little known game called D&D made it popular in gaming. UI was just the the first MMO that offered it to the players in that genre.
There lies the problem,cash shops leave you with no answers,you really have no idea exactly how much the game will cost you to thoroughly enjoy as intended.
Cash shops work for ONE type of gamer ONLY and that is the type that has a limited budget or no budget at all.In other words those gamer's that there is no way no matter how hard a developer tries will get any more money from them.
Game hoppers have it best,they can pop in for a few weeks then pop out while never spending a dime.
I feel sorry for those that can spend because you usually get hooked for a little early on then lots more later.
The only score i think is too high is the Aesthetics.This game has nothing on an epic games IOS platform,not even close and i am not about to give even Epic games IOS anymore than a 7.5.You simply cannot rate aesthetics on what is acceptable,you have to understand how much the developer COULD have done.
Never forget 3 mile Island and never trust a government official or company spokesman.
overly greedy cash shop... could you expect any less from EA?
cash shops altogether are very bad for players, I love what wildstar is doing, that is going to be my MMO for sure.
Give it six months, it'll be a cash shop game.. I'd put money on it that they already have it half built in place to take over when the game bleeds too many subs.
Ill take that bet, see you in 6 months after launch.
If I wanted to play the REAL deal, I would load up my Commodore 64 emulator and play Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar.(Which I still do from time to time!)
As a teenager in grade 10 at the time, I remember how Ultima IV on the C64 was the most incredible thing I have ever experienced on a computer, even today.
When I see how EA has destroyed the good name of the Ultima franchise, I could just puke.
BTW, Richard Garriott is creating his own online game called "Shadows of the Avatar" and it was funded entirely by donations on kickstarter.
EA = Corporate greed at it's worst. So no surprise there at least.
Ultima Forever: Quest for the Avatar is a new game that brings back old-time gameplay for today's world. We've been playing it for the last few weeks and have lots to say about the game that you won't want to miss. Read on to see if you agree with our assessment and then head to the comments to offer up your thoughts.
Ultima Forever is the product of a long game of hide-and-seek between Origin and EA. Over a decade since they used the iconic license (and we aren't counting bad flash games) we have something of a canonical entry into the world of goblins, demigods, and pitchfork murders.
This iOS half-remake-half-reboot brings thumb swiping adventures back to Britannia and in the conspicuous service of "Lady" British: who says that complicated legal wrangling has to ruin your fantasy world eh? Under the service of the good "Lady" (Lord's daughter) you are tasked with saving the land and all with the aid of the classic series' eight virtues.
But you can buy a ton for $99, and I'm sure we're all ready and willing to do that (note: there are cheaper groups of gold keys, but they're all relatively pricery). And herein lies the problem. With loot chests giving out the majority of equipment, growing your character past ill-suited gear is almost impossible without delving into major grind through repeatable dungeons. Unless you are willing to part with some green to pay for your burgeoning sword collection, advancing through Britannia is going to be a very slow and painful process. Your armor breaks constantly throughout the game, and repairs cost (you guessed it) silver keys that are slow to obtain for free, or purchasable again with real money.
This cash shop stops Ultima Forever: Quest for the Avatar from becoming a very worthwhile Britannia curio, and makes it into just another pay-to-play money sink. It's a shame, but greed really kills this game."
And people wonder why so many folks slam EA. " It's in the game alright, a cancerous clawing hand that pulls the cash from your wallet if you want a so called "RPG" experience."
For shame, EA, but thankfully I've had my time in Dark Age of Camelot, so I am more than aware of what destruction on something priceless you are able to wreak.
Only playing subs games. £9.99 a month for 100% access seems fine to me. FTP is always going to have to give more than just vanity items. Not many players will pay for vanity items month after month and their are only so many " increased inventory" slots you need. At hat point the FTP producers seem to have decided that not only do the need to go p2w , but also have prices that make standard subs models seem very cheap in comparison. Even gw2 is edging more and more towards p2w and that's the only f2p game that was designed from the ground up as f2p out there.
Whenever Ultima Online was taken over by EA, I had a feeling they would eventually make a game like this. I encourage all Ultima lovers to support https://www.shroudoftheavatar.com/.
Shroud of the Avatar is the “spiritual successor” to Richard’s previous work in the FRP genre. Our primary objectives are to tell a story even more compelling than Ultimas IV-VII, create a virtual world more interactive than Ultima VII, develop deep rich multi-player capabilities beyond combat akin to Ultima Online, and offer a bold new approach to integrate them with “Selective Multi-Player”.
Oh and it's approaching $2.5 million in BACKERS. Not corporate backers mind you.
Shroud of the avatar is nothing like Ulima IV matter of fact the closest thing to originality in up coming MMOs is Citadel of Sorcery. Like ti or not its the only original MMORPG in developement that isnt a wow clone.
Am I the only person here that loved Ultima IX? Sure, it had its flaws, some of which are now fixed through patching and MUCH better computers, but it is still playable, and it has one of the most fun worlds to wander through. I still find new things when I play. You have to remember, it was the first 3d game in the series.
My blog is a continuing story of what MMO's should be like.
I've been super critical of MMORPG.com reviews and lack of editing as well as unjustifiable scores. However, this review is mostly well written and does a good job justifying the scores provided.
There are two exceptions.
First, I think your pros/cons list is a bit silly. Saying "It's Ultima" as a pro looks like you can't actually think of something positive. Perhaps "familiar story" or something is what you mean. Saying cash shop 3 times you think drives the point home, but lots of games have cash shops. Saying "expensive cash shop" would be more descriptive.
Second, not sure how Gameplay gets an 8 when it seems highly dependent upon using the expensive cash shop. I understand putting the cash shop portion of the game in the value section, but you made it quite clear that the keys are almost mandatory to continue on with the game, and keys essentially require the cash shop.
I was really pissed about this game. In order to actually play the game to the extent I would want, I would have to spend HUNDREDS of DOLLARS....please...
Another one next to Dungeon Keeper going down the greed gutter.
I could fork over like $60 to enjoy a Diablo forever or pay $99 to have an expendable amount of keys that will - you guessed it - NOT make me capable of playing forever.
This... This is ludacris and it doesn't even make a lot of sense if I lay it out in favor of EA:
Okay, this game is initially free so the game has to make up for the free players by charging the paying players more. But wait, when the game is so greedy that it makes it almost impossible to play for free, which basiclaly means everyone has to pay, then this all falls apart.
Comments
Maybe better stated as the MMO that introduced moral choices, because I believe a little known game called D&D made it popular in gaming. UI was just the the first MMO that offered it to the players in that genre.
There lies the problem,cash shops leave you with no answers,you really have no idea exactly how much the game will cost you to thoroughly enjoy as intended.
Cash shops work for ONE type of gamer ONLY and that is the type that has a limited budget or no budget at all.In other words those gamer's that there is no way no matter how hard a developer tries will get any more money from them.
Game hoppers have it best,they can pop in for a few weeks then pop out while never spending a dime.
I feel sorry for those that can spend because you usually get hooked for a little early on then lots more later.
The only score i think is too high is the Aesthetics.This game has nothing on an epic games IOS platform,not even close and i am not about to give even Epic games IOS anymore than a 7.5.You simply cannot rate aesthetics on what is acceptable,you have to understand how much the developer COULD have done.
Never forget 3 mile Island and never trust a government official or company spokesman.
Ill take that bet, see you in 6 months after launch.
If I wanted to play the REAL deal, I would load up my Commodore 64 emulator and play Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar.(Which I still do from time to time!)
As a teenager in grade 10 at the time, I remember how Ultima IV on the C64 was the most incredible thing I have ever experienced on a computer, even today.
When I see how EA has destroyed the good name of the Ultima franchise, I could just puke.
BTW, Richard Garriott is creating his own online game called "Shadows of the Avatar" and it was funded entirely by donations on kickstarter.
EA = Corporate greed at it's worst. So no surprise there at least.
Ya, I would like to see it out for Android myself. Someday!!!
Death is nothing to us, since when we are, Death has not come, and when death has come, we are not.
+1!
Awesome!
Frank 'Spankybus' Mignone
www.spankybus.com
-3d Artist & Compositor
-Writer
-Professional Amature
And people wonder why so many folks slam EA. " It's in the game alright, a cancerous clawing hand that pulls the cash from your wallet if you want a so called "RPG" experience."
For shame, EA, but thankfully I've had my time in Dark Age of Camelot, so I am more than aware of what destruction on something priceless you are able to wreak.
I've been playing it for about a week now. Not too bad. Haven't felt the need to use the cash shop so far.
Good for passing time on the way to work on the train.
What did you expect from EA they are adding cash shops to mostly single player games as well as games that shouldn't have a cash shop at all.
Best examples the purchase everything packs for BF3 and then the cash shop in Dead Space 3.
Dear EA:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Cr6ee0Pkfw
- you're welcome
The above is my personal opinion. Anyone displaying a view contrary to my opinion is obviously WRONG and should STHU. (neener neener)
-The MMO Forum Community
LMAO! Nice one!
Played: UO, LotR, WoW, SWG, DDO, AoC, EVE, Warhammer, TF2, EQ2, SWTOR, TSW, CSS, KF, L4D, AoW, WoT
Playing: The Secret World until Citadel of Sorcery goes into Alpha testing.
Tired of: Linear quest games, dailies, and dumbed down games
Anticipating:Citadel of Sorcery
My blog is a continuing story of what MMO's should be like.
I've been super critical of MMORPG.com reviews and lack of editing as well as unjustifiable scores. However, this review is mostly well written and does a good job justifying the scores provided.
There are two exceptions.
First, I think your pros/cons list is a bit silly. Saying "It's Ultima" as a pro looks like you can't actually think of something positive. Perhaps "familiar story" or something is what you mean. Saying cash shop 3 times you think drives the point home, but lots of games have cash shops. Saying "expensive cash shop" would be more descriptive.
Second, not sure how Gameplay gets an 8 when it seems highly dependent upon using the expensive cash shop. I understand putting the cash shop portion of the game in the value section, but you made it quite clear that the keys are almost mandatory to continue on with the game, and keys essentially require the cash shop.
Wish I could have read the whole review... stupid ad pops from the "hulK" and "dominos" were covering most of it, with no X to close. sigh
UO was my first mmo... so tempted... we'll see.
For most FTP models on a casual basis it's not been my experience it's too important. Unless it's SOE.
I would imagine the original UO would be a perfect port to mobile - its pretty ancient. I saw something about cards, so... not sure there.
Another one next to Dungeon Keeper going down the greed gutter.
I could fork over like $60 to enjoy a Diablo forever or pay $99 to have an expendable amount of keys that will - you guessed it - NOT make me capable of playing forever.
This... This is ludacris and it doesn't even make a lot of sense if I lay it out in favor of EA:
Okay, this game is initially free so the game has to make up for the free players by charging the paying players more. But wait, when the game is so greedy that it makes it almost impossible to play for free, which basiclaly means everyone has to pay, then this all falls apart.