Notes on Last Week’s Developer Video for May
These are some notes and a brief compilation of some of the topics that came up during last week’s UO Developer Q&A for May of 2011 that I had forgotten to post. These somewhat follow the video, and some are my interpretation so I recommend you watch the video yourself.
Dan Bussanich – GM Akamai, in-game support.
I’ve got to say I’ve had a couple of great interactions with GM Akamai and was glad to see him in the video. From what I’ve seen on other websites, I’m not alone in liking GM Akamai. If this is a sign of an increase in responsibilities for him in regards to the community, great! I can think of no other reason for them to single him out.
Ter Mur
Sounds like some good stuff with fleshing out the back story, but I guess we won’t be seeing much until the content makes its way into UO.
Enhanced/Advanced Client Graphics
Stated they are in Phase 1 – Evaluating what they can do and use. Updating the terrain and wall tiles, and they believe they’ve corrected some of the blurriness we currently see with the EC in the terrain. Looking forward to it.
Dungeon Changes
* Revamp some mobs, bring them up-to-date
* Some of the work being done is to help new players as well as returning players.
* Taking a look at older dungeons is a part of working with new and returning players
* Gold amounts will be adjusted.
Spring Cleaning
* Delayed by finishing out the New Magincia arc and the booster packs.
* Will happen this summer.
* Design is being worked on.
Town populations
Looking at bazaar stalls in some of the other towns. UOJournal.com note: I like this idea. Some times could use a boost in activity.
Party Status Bar in CC (Classic Client) and bugs in general.
* Going to work on ensuring there is a steady flow of bug fixes in future publishes.
* Party Status Bar will be fixed.
Titles for Rare Collectors
* Lot of “ifs” involved in regard to who gets it and how they get it.
* Is possible if people want it.
Classic Shard
* Mention of people within EA and BioWare who have asked about it.
* Too many ifs about what makes up a classic shard as well as developer resources.
* Doesn’t fit into what they are doing right now.
* Want to work on the whole of UO rather than a specific subset (Classic Shard)
Rebuilding of New Magincia – both shards?
* Everything is basically the same, per the facet rules
* Mirrored completely.
New Player Experience
* Is being heavily worked on and thought about, encompasses dungeons, mobs, etc.
* Will not be exclusive to new players only.
* Veteran players will have access to it and will be able to help and mentor returning and new players.
* New players will be showing up in the towns.
Woodchucks?
Honey badgers have more support than woodchucks being added.
Future of Siege Perilous
* Will be used to help train EMs.
* New EMs will handle events there.
Renowned creatures spawning inaccessible locations
If we see them or have a location on a shard, email Mesanna
Items being added to pirate and merchant ships
* Fishing quest loot being worked on.
* More reasons to hunt pirates in the near future.
Mesanna Roulette
The answer is there will be more.
Combining Shards
* Right now not feasible with everything else that’s being done.
* Have looked at technical issues with low population shards.
* “We can’t see it happening” (UOJournal.com note: They have discussed this in the past, with the conclusion that it would upset many players and that players have a means of moving to more populated shards with transfer tokens).
Wearables
* Not looking at revamping any of the wearables
* Would like to revamp them in the future
Small soulforge on the Brit (Britannian) ship?
* Yes, this is coming
* Parrots and perches will be fixed
The Captain’s Wheel
It is a decorative item only
Plans for new currency?
Not going to happen right now
How much gold was removed (New Magincia, etc.)
* Still working on document to break it down per plot, per shard, and overall
Vet Rewards
If we have suggestions, send them in
UOJournal.com Notes
As I said, I’m glad to see GM Akamai recognized. He mentioned that he reads the forums so if we have issues to post them. I’m still waiting to see what happens with Ter Mur, but I’ve seen a few mentions in the recently Publish 70.4. I am incredibly antsy waiting on the artwork update for the Enhanced Client. I’m liking what I am hearing with the New Player Experience and it sounds like it has evolved from what was originally mentioned a few months ago, and has more of a “holistic” feel as far as the design, incorporating work on the EC as well as things like quests, dungeons, and mobs. I like that town populations are being looked at, including the vendor bazaars.
I have to single this out: It was specifically mentioned that they are going to work on a steady flow of bug fixes in future publishes. In the past, they have stated that bug fixes are sporadic and made when time permits. With the comments made, it sounds like somebody has decided it is more important. Whether it should have been a priority from the start, it appears to be one now.
I think it was a huge mistake bringing up a Classic Shard again, because that is only going to open up old wounds. I think the intent was to give some people hope that a Classic Shard would someday be realized, but they simply do not have the developer resources for a Classic Shard and nobody can agree on what a Classic Shard should be. Of course in discussing it, they mention they want to work on things that are for the good of UO as a whole rather than just a subset of players, and I agree with that being much more important. It might have been their way of saying that people within EA and BioWare are interested in UO as well. I think it would be better to discuss a Classic Shard after they’ve done everything else, such as the artwork and new player experiences. Same with the shard merger discussion. They had put both issues to rest in the past by saying they didn’t have the resources and that players could move to shards if they wanted to, and I don’t agree with bringing either issue back up, since both are pretty divisive.
Over all though, I’m very pleased with what’s being said. We all wanted most of this yesterday, but it’s happening. This is the most hopefull I’ve been since Stygian Abyss.
Note: This article originally appeared on UOJournal.com.
