UO On Steam a Reality?

Okay Uo Devs, the UO community has some questions for you . . .

#1 IS UO going to Steam?
#2 Is it true you guys are making a new shard (Very Active) for this with no xfers  . .are you guys finally giving us a shard with an economy?

No some members of the UO community have some questions.

I personally couldn't care less if UO ends up on Steam and I really bugs me when some one decides they speak for the entire "community".

Tim said:

No some members of the UO community have some questions.

I personally couldn't care less if UO ends up on Steam and I really bugs me when some one decides they speak for the entire "community".

I mean no offense when I say; I don't really care what bugs you or what doesn't. These are questions that many in the UO Community have. No where above does it say I speak for everyone in the whole community . .you inferred that. Make sure to read the entire post before making your assumptions.

#2

Tail said:

Okay Uo Devs, the UO community has some questions for you . . .

#1 IS UO going to Steam?
#2 Is it true you guys are making a new shard (Very Active) for this with no xfers  . .are you guys finally giving us a shard with an economy?

We already have #2; it's called Siege Perilous.

If they answer those questions,could they also answer the question are you guys getting rid of the classic client? 

Please be mindful of rule #1 of the Terms of Service when posting. Thank you.

The day they close cc its the end of uo.... so it will never close and btw most people i know play cc i tried ec this is damn ugly cannot beleive how people manage to play it

Fortis said:

The day they close cc its the end of uo.... so it will never close and btw most people i know play cc i tried ec this is damn ugly cannot beleive how people manage to play it

I am the opposite. The CC is damn ugly one. Whenever I use it for more than a few minutes my eyes feel like someone pulled them out and started squeezing them.

LOL The rumor mill is running at 200% here, please tell us where you got your info, do you have a real crystal ball.  By the way no the UO community does not only you do or did you become the spokes person for the community.  @Tim was right and maybe it is you that has no clue on the proper way to state a question.

Tail said:

Okay Uo Devs, the UO community has some questions for you . . .

Fortis said:

The day they close cc its the end of uo.... so it will never close and btw most people i know play cc i tried ec this is damn ugly cannot beleive how people manage to play it

AMEN or go to steam

fonsvitae said:

#2

Tail said:

Okay Uo Devs, the UO community has some questions for you . . .

#1 IS UO going to Steam?
#2 Is it true you guys are making a new shard (Very Active) for this with no xfers  . .are you guys finally giving us a shard with an economy?

We already have #2; it's called Siege Perilous.

Except Siege isn’t very active or very fun..

Cazador said:

fonsvitae said:

#2

Tail said:

Okay Uo Devs, the UO community has some questions for you . . .

#1 IS UO going to Steam?
#2 Is it true you guys are making a new shard (Very Active) for this with no xfers  . .are you guys finally giving us a shard with an economy?

We already have #2; it's called Siege Perilous.

Except Siege isn’t very active or very fun..

To each his own and all... but Siege is awesome.

First off ...
1. No  EA put its foot down on Steam. As I read the EA post  they are working on a system like Steam on their side.. who knows if that's the big news.

2. Last I heard at a meet and greet was no new shard. We have a lot of underpopulated as it is.

3. (asked by Soldahouse) As I have explained many times the only way to make a viable Classic Client was lost in the move from Redwoods shore to VA. The shipment of materials from their offices were sorted by a staffer and the original workbook was shredded, code disk and all. This made Bleak very sad as he feels it was lost on his watch... He had no idea the staffer would sort the office shipment to compact the boxes.

 Before you say well take it form the shard set up we have now... Cant. You can not back track off all the publishes from the matrix without destroying the base program.. too much of the original coding was changed to allow this to work.
Siege is the closest you will get to the old classic game..

Do you not know how to treat a "rumor" ?

Lol I heard a rumor!! Answer me now or I cancel all my EJ accounts and stop not paying!!!

Lady_Storm said:

First off ...
1. No  EA put its foot down on Steam. As I read the EA post  they are working on a system like Steam on their side.. who knows if that's the big news.

This is incorrect. EA has changed it's stance regarding Steam (as has been pointed out to you before). To keep the misinformation to a minimum, here are some sources, including EA themselves.  

"Electronic Arts has unveiled plans to return to Steam in late 2019, reversing its former split with Valve's digital PC storefront almost one decade prior...

• Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (November 15, 2019)
• The Sims 4 (Late 2019 – Early 2020)
• Unravel 2 (Late 2019 – Early 2020)
• Apex Legends (2020)
• Battlefield V (2020)
• FIFA 20 (2020)"

https://www.windowscentral.com/list-ea-pc-games-coming-steam


"Additionally, EA announced plans to bring its EA Access subscription service to Steam starting next year,..."
https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/29/20937055/ea-games-steam-access-subscription-service-pc-storefront-jedi-fallen-order-sales


Or, from EA's own statement:

"Electronic Arts and Valve have partnered to put EA games into the hands of the players on Steam. Starting next spring, EA Access—our ever-growing subscription service powered by great games and member benefits—will be making its way to Steam. EA Access is the first and only gaming subscription service available on Steam, and the fourth platform featuring an EA subscription.

The partnership kicks off with Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order™ launching on November 15—and available for pre-order today. In the coming months, players on Steam will also be able to play other major titles like The Sims™ 4 and Unravel™ Two. Multiplayer games—like Apex Legends™, FIFA 20, and Battlefield™ V—will become available next year, and players on both Origin™ and Steam will have the ability to play together."
https://www.ea.com/news/ea-and-valve-partnership


And finally, here is a pic of EA's page on Steam, showing Jedi Fallen Order, released Nov. 15 2019.


EA is already back on Steam.

Its highly likely to be on steam, and probably huge sweeping changes to seduce the new type of gamer while shrugging off the old. Its whats in style for companies now

TimSt said:

Fortis said:

The day they close cc its the end of uo.... so it will never close and btw most people i know play cc i tried ec this is damn ugly cannot beleive how people manage to play it

I am the opposite. The CC is damn ugly one. Whenever I use it for more than a few minutes my eyes feel like someone pulled them out and started squeezing them.

I wish they would get rid of the CC, not because I think either one looks better, or is easier. I heard that the only way to script and cheat like that is use the CC, not 100 percent if that is true, but it does make sense. If it is true, just my opinion they should remove it based on that, then make a option in EC to turn the character models back to CC kinda like everquest does where you can pick the new models or old ones.

I definitely can see alot of people mad though at getting rid of it. It took me years to get my friend to switch to the ec. It works good now though, and runs on low end computers, even cell phone computers that use the snap dragon 850 which isn't even a high end phone cpu any more. 

As for steam I dono if it will do anything, either way if all they did was just release it there. It didnt help ryzom at all, or everquest. I cant say I ever met some one that said I only use steam to find pc games. I have heard people say they refuse to use steam before, but never that some one only uses steam. So it isn't like it is releasing on a new platform or anything, like on xbox or playstation which some people only have those, or google play. 

I think mobile ulitma online would get alot more people, considering there isn't to much competition. You got black desert,runscape, and  albion really. Albion is the closest out of those to Uo, but it is still not UO. None of those have what ulitma online has, especially when it comes to taming. The cash shop is already like alot of other mobile games anyways. 

I have no idea how hard it would be to convert it to work on a cell phone, other than it works emulated in windows 10 on a snap dragon 850, and that runescape did it so it works on pc and mobile together on both old school and new runescape. No idea how much that cost runescape to do that, I am sure it wasn't cheap, but if it is UO goal to reach new people mobile is definitely the way to do it. There are way way way more people that have cell phones then have steam.  The only thing would be the user interface, which would have to be switched to click to move, or like a joystick and move with the keys. The EC though is modern enough I think to be used on a mobile phone, just would have to make the hot bars the right size.

@Makasouleater you do understand that you can just write a script for the EC.

Bilbo said:

@ Makasouleater you do understand that you can just write a script for the EC.

Nope I dont use scripts or even know what they are, I was going by what some one told me on the general chat that people cant cheat on the ec and use the cc. 

Rock said:

EC scripts are hardwired for no more than 10 repetitions.  Depending on the script, that could allow you to be AFK for up to 10 minutes.  The script will end.  Heck, unless you move you'll be disconnected not much longer after that.

I'm not saying it is impossible to cheat with the EC, but I don't see how someone could.

umm you can run clicks and button presses with your programable keypad. Press a key, delay xx seconds, press again.
 And the EC can be modified to get more repetitions.  

Cheaters will always find a way to cheat. Every games company, sports governing body, insurance company etc can testify to that. So can a large number of disillusioned husbands and wives. 
You can combat it and you can put measures in place to minimise it, but you can't 100% stop it.

Anyone expecting the devs to achieve that is asking the impossible.  Help them minimise it by telling them, in emails if posting here isn't appropriate, any plans you have heard of to get around these current measures. Help them instead of berating them for failing to achieve what no one else can.
I believe the correct email address is uo@broadsword.com

Pawain said:

Rock said:

EC scripts are hardwired for no more than 10 repetitions.  Depending on the script, that could allow you to be AFK for up to 10 minutes.  The script will end.  Heck, unless you move you'll be disconnected not much longer after that.

I'm not saying it is impossible to cheat with the EC, but I don't see how someone could.

umm you can run clicks and button presses with your programable keypad. Press a key, delay xx seconds, press again.
 And the EC can be modified to get more repetitions.  

Key strokes dont keep you from going afk, I was watching a show training my pet button smashing f2 for bandage and I always have to do something like move around or it kicks me. Anyways I still think that it is harder to cheat on the ec and that a steam only, with only ec client, with value anti cheat server would stop a lot of cheating. Adding in the game is buy 2 play. If you get a steam vac ban it bans you from playing on that account. So not only do you lose all your ulitma online things, but any other vac game. 

You must forgive my error there. I spent 5 weeks in hospital spread over 3 months and was not able to play at all between the stays so I lost out on a lot of EA news.  All I remember was a Statement from EA exe that said the company was going to start its own "stream".  I thought they were biting off more then they could chew... but hey its EA.

Petra is so right..
Cheating is a drug to some gamers/people. It gives them a high when they break the walls and get in or do something that they know is wrong but the thrill is so great they have to do it.   

An acquaintance of my son's now has no online device, no computer, phone with any way to get on line. 
Even his TV has to be non online, no router or service cable etc.. it sound like a made up story but I have met the guy, (We had to shut off and cover the computer screens when he comes over) and he explains that he was so addicted to hacking this was his only way to stay clean.    He said there is a help group he attends and he is far from being alone.  

This does not give the players who do so the right to hurt the game.  Yes it hurts but is far from something seen till its too late. This hurts all who come to play UO.

Lady_Storm said:

You must forgive my error there. I spent 5 weeks in hospital spread over 3 months and was not able to play at all between the stays so I lost out on a lot of EA news.  All I remember was a Statement from EA exe that said the company was going to start its own "stream".  I thought they were biting off more then they could chew... but hey its EA.

Hey no problem Lady Storm, sorry to hear about the hospital stuff. Hope you're feeling better.

I'd also like to add that we all know things change rapidly, even (especially?) corporate planning. So although EA put one game on Steam, we'll have to wait and see how much they follow through with those initial plans.   

Its funny that on the Ultima Online "greenlight" Steam page there are a few links to freeshards in the comments...

Albertus Magnus: Does the biggest and boldest endeavor mean the opening from UO on the steam plattform?
Mesanna: no

I mean lets be honest here...
I dont have hopes that UO will ever been on Steam!
I would believe that Steam would go for some sort of quality control before ever put any game on their system.
How can you expect any of this been take seriously when They cant even test properly a patch before goes live, Bugs everywhere that is never fixed or when you only have the same answer over and over, "it is on our backlog".
When they cant even fix Vendor search and just ignore the players on their own forum about the issue.
When they cant even give us the new account mgmt system that was promised 5 years ago?
You dont think those small little things , places like Steam dont know about??
For years and years and years, you have a 3rd part website that have a Vendor search 1000% better than the ingame one? . I am trying not to be negative, but on any kind of business , communication is everything, advertising is everything and we all know how is the current state of UO on that matter. When you have an Official high hanked person "here"  telling a PAID customer "Dont forget to leave your Feedback on your way out" because the customer was mad about the lack of communication? is that ok? and when we have topics like this one moved from the General Section (where everybody read) moved to a place that barely anyone comes to check?
just my 2 cents of the day! 

I didn’t think it would go on steam because of the anti cheat issues 

@Mordred
Albertus Magnus: Does the biggest and boldest endeavor mean the opening from UO on the steam plattform?
Mesanna: no
Mesanna: no
Mesanna: no

Bilbo said:

Albertus Magnus: Does the biggest and boldest endeavor mean the opening from UO on the steam plattform?
Mesanna: no

Why didn't she expand on that when she had the chance?  Coulda said that UO is planning to go or it is not planning to go.  Whether it is part of biggest and boldest or not.

What you don't understand the meaning of the word NO.  UO IS NOT GOING TO STEAM.

She said the biggest and boldist is not UO going to Steam.  She did not say UO will never go to steam.

But looking at the type of games EA sent to Steam gives me the impression that UO will not make the cut.

And all it would mean is UO could be bought from the steam platform. There hundreds of games it would be mixed in with.  People would have to search for it.

Pawain said:

Bilbo said:

Albertus Magnus: Does the biggest and boldest endeavor mean the opening from UO on the steam plattform?
Mesanna: no

Why didn't she expand on that when she had the chance?  Coulda said that UO is planning to go or it is not planning to go.  Whether it is part of biggest and boldest or not.

Yes the whole answer does make it clear at all.  Since if UO is going to Steam she would not tell us anyway...

Not talking about Steam now:

They gave us the map, at the 20th anniv party, of Rising Tide.  Now that something new is coming for 2020 why not give us a map? 

I feel that would keep some of the returning players we have now. 

Newsflash the ec client basically has scripting already included in it the cc is where most of the third party programs are used but the ec script system limited to 10x this couldnt be further from the truth. You can EASILY set ec up to repeat a legit legal IN GAME macro to cycle for a hell of a lot more than 10x please do more research before spreading this kind of misinformation the reality is the enhanced client is light years ahead of the old enhanced client ppl so love 

Oh and you want to know how to increase new player retention? Its simple bridge the gap separating a new/returning player from those players that have been here for 20 years, newsflash all of the recent changes l have seen since I came back a year ago do the exact opposite. Yes the changes hinder the old time player to an extent for example the removal of blackthornes recently BUT for the most part the new players are being discouraged from staying in a game that has such a huge generation gap.

When I came back a year ago I played for about a month and the difference as a returning was tremendous the returning player experience for me was terrible everyone I had ever known or remembered was gone and napa was so dead I was able to place a castle the first day I came back I wandered the server for a month till I randomly met a lie guild member. That showed me there is still some life left on napa but to be honest I had 1 foot out the door.

If your wondering about the generation gap between a new or returning players gear versus what is out there now hell most returning Ayers barely know what lrc is THIS gap is what is really hurting UO, I can sit here and point out TONS of advantages the old player has that can easily discourage a new player from staying