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Dungeons & Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited: Eberron Unlimited Interview
MMORPG.com Managing Editor Jon Wood had a chance to speak with Fernando and Kate Piaz about the recent decision to turn Dungeons and Dragons Online into a F2P MMO.
Interviews By Jon Wood on June 26, 2009
advertisement Recently, MMORPG.com spoke with the husband and wife team of Fernando and Kate Piaz from Turbine's Dungeons and Dragons Online to talk about the game's transition from a subscription based title to the free to play model. Formerly known as Dungeons and Dragons Online: Stormreach, the new incarnation of the game will be called Dungeons and Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited.
The DDO Dynamic Duo explained that they felt it was necessary to rename DDO due to the new business model. "It's also to reflect," he elaborated, "just how far the game has come since launch." He went on to list a number of major elements that are present in today's game that weren't around at launch: soloable, PvP elements, outdoor adventures, a higher level cap, and more.
Dungeons and Dragons will be among the first major subscription based MMORPG to make the move to an item shop model. While this may seem like a good idea on the surface, industry insiders have warned that the key to the success of an item shop game is that the store not be "tacked on" at the end, but rather be fully incorporated into the game's original design.
"I think we're really fortunate with DDO,' answered Kate Piaz, "in the sense that D&D has always followed the notion that you would buy a module and play it and when you were ready to move beyond it you would go down to the hobby shop and you would expand your experience... It's not that it's a big change for us. We've always been the different MMO. We've always had mechanics that were more diverse than the other more classic MMOs so for us, this felt like a relatively easy migration because we're not trying to sell the endgame, we're not selling raid loot, we're enhancing the overall experience by providing conveniences, luxury items, cosmetic items and stuff like that that's really going to enhance the kind of gameplay that you have but don't in any way change that moment to moment gameplay."
;)
According to Fernando, Turbine as a company has set out to try to lead the charge in the way in which this business model will operate in the western world and that they are fortunate that DDO fits in so well with this idea.
From there, the conversation turned toward the way that the item shop would be structured and what exactly would be offered.
The products are broken down into two categories: First, there are services or account options, this covers things like character slots, premium classes and races, and the like. The second area of sales are consumables. From within a dungeon you can purchase items that you might need in terms of arrows, potions or similar items. This will allow players who want to the opportunity to forego leaving the dungeon and taking an XP hit to still obtain something that they need on the fly. The future will also see more cosmetic items made available through the store.
Giving players the ability to purchase items on the fly, when and where needed brings up an obvious point about the RMT sales actually having an impact on gameplay and perhaps giving paying players a distinct advantage.
"Sure," Kate answered when questioned on the subject, "but I think that you can do that right now in the game if you plan accordingly. You can walk in there with a backpack full of arrows and know that you're not going to run out. This is just providing an opportunity for people who don't have enough time to amass that inner level of knowledge about the game, or level of in-game goals to keep you flush in those ways. It's meant to close the gap between the people who have the time and are more hardcore and people who want to come in and casually play the game."
Essentially, this says that players can save their cash by planning accordingly and failure to plan might end up costing you real money.
"You can also spend a lot of time playing the game playing for free and amassing points in the store and you will have that option available to you even if you didn't spend money to buy the points," Fernando told us.
Amassing Turbine points to be used in the store through free gameplay can take a while. "You earn points as you amass total favor for a character," he said. "We're still fine-tuning how many points you get. What's in the beta right now isn't the final amount; it's probably a little low. So, we're going to give you more points for every hundred favour you achieve with every character."
Through this system, players are allowed to create a character, earn favour, delete it, start another, etc. until you had earned enough to pay for the game, they are encouraged to do so.
;)
Changing a game's primary business model is no small feat, and to fans of Turbine's DDO and followers of the MMO genre as a whole, the decision seemed to come out of left field. Not so for the game's developers though as the last few updates had been created with the possibility of this change in mind.
Since the announcement, players have been concerned that their Drow and Monk characters will suddenly become unavailable to them. The distinction seems to be the difference between whether you unlock the race or class in question within the game or not. The monk can not be unlocked in the game and is something that Turbine gives to its subscribers. It makes sense then that the monk would remain something that is going to cost players money. Drow characters, on the other hand, if you have unlocked them in the game they are yours on that shard.
Also coming on the heels of the announcement have been player accusations that the Turbine team had been purposely holding on to the content due in Module 9 so that there would be more new content when Unlimited launched. We were told that this simply wasn't the case and that there have been a number of obstacles in the way of Mod 9's launch. Fernando likened the whole process to watching sausage being made. Sure it's good to eat, but you don't want to watching someone making it. The same, it seems, can be said of MMOs.
Ever since DDO launched, players have been asking for a set of tools that would bring the game more into line with it pen and paper counterpart. Simply put, players have been looking for DM tools so that small groups (or even large) would be able to make their own DDO adventures.
"The idea and vision of that is something that is absolutely in our minds all the time," Fernando answered. "It's something that we absolutely want to shoot for in the long term of the franchise... We've even done some beginning prototypes and designs on the idea but no specific plans or timelines and I don't want to suggest that it's right around the corner. Is it something that we see in the future of the franchise? Absolutely."
Ever since DDO launched, players have been asking for a set of tools that would bring the game more into line with it pen and paper counterpart. Simply put, players have been looking for DM tools so that small groups (or even large) would be able to make their own DDO adventures.
"The idea and vision of that is something that is absolutely in our minds all the time," Fernando answered. "It's something that we absolutely want to shoot for in the long term of the franchise... We've even done some beginning prototypes and designs on the idea but no specific plans or timelines and I don't want to suggest that it's right around the corner. Is it something that we see in the future of the franchise? Absolutely."
This needs to happen. If they incorporated this then I bet there would be a huge amount of players subscribing.
And old timers re-subscribing. However, right now, their word is worthless to me and so many who feel deceived by DDOs management. If and when such change comes ... I might consider re-subbing 'till then they're gonna have to make ends meet with F2Pers.
Peace.
Does everyone need to purchase a particular module to participate in it's content....or can they be invited by the player who has purchased the adventure? Reason I ask is I don't remember PnP where everyone is sitting around the table..each with a copy of "Vault of the Drow" as a prerequisite of playing that evening.
Well, it's a bit different for an online game. I would imagine that players would have to purchase it. Otherwise the work around is to have one guild member who doesen't mind paying a buck or ten and then inviting all the players who didn't pay.
Sadly, everyone trying to join the group will need to buy access to the "content package." If someone doesn't have access to such dungeon and can't/won't buy it, the group leader can give a "guest pass" to the person -- assuming he or she has one lying around.
Peace.
Unbelieveable that (between DDO's plans for the future, and CoX's Architect, and PotBS's "User Created, Developer Vetted" Ship Models) it's only taken *8* years for us to get a few of the things on my Ultimate MMORPG list...
http://jonathonbarton.livejournal.com/154855.html
[quote="Myself, in 2001"]14th-Mar-2001 04:09 pm
I was discussing with a friend today what would make the ultimate in Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game... We both play Vampire:The Masquerade - Redemption currently. Hardly Massively Multiplayer, but it was a breakthrough in that it was the first game to offer a StoryTeller option. NeverWinterNights is looking to do the same thing. The major difference (genre aside) will be that you'll be able to walk from one GM's NWN game to another GM's NWN game. THAT sounds highly cool, in that it creates the possibility of having a persistent world that one can adventure in, moving from one place to another. It also will allow GM's to create stories that are less combat driven, and more character driven... I'm really looking forward to that.
However, I still believe that the MMORPG scene is in its infancy. I mean, like *hours* old kind of infancy. One of the reasons I think that White Wolf waited so long to produce a VtM game was that they wanted to do it *RIGHT*, which meant waiting patiently until the hardware advanced to the point that they could accomplish the "vision" on a home PC. VtM runs pretty well on a 266, and it looks *great* on my 750. I think there is still a long way to go, and many more advanced to be had... Here are some things I think need to be in a game to make it great.
1. Distributed Architecture - Allow individual GMs to host a game that can have "doorways" to other locally hosted games on other machines - Like NWN.
I think NWN is a first step in that direction, but I also think that in order for it to be "complete", there needs to be a server stub that runs on a host machine that does not require a full session of the game be spawned on the GM's machine. The GM can run the server on his own machine, or on a second machine on a home network, etc. He can then log into the game as a GM using the standard game client, just like anyone else. This is one of my biggest gripes about VtM. In order to have a chronicle "active" for people to play in, I need to leave the game itself running. I can't effectively "background" the task. I believe that making it easy for GM's to link to each other should be a trivial task...not significantly more difficult than adding somone to a web-ring is now... (in fact, that would be a good paradigm to work from.)
2. A Standardized, Extensible Modeling Schema: Another one of my biggest gripes about VtM is that the modeling seems to be limited to what's available in the boxed version. Sure, anyone can *SKIN* a model, but creating new models is a whole new challenge. The fact of the matter is that there's a whole *hell* of a lot more Creative Talent *outside* a game company, amongst it's fan base, than there is *inside* that game company, and a smart company will take advantage of that fact, use tools that the user base can get their hands on (industry standard tools would be best) and allow it's fans to do development on new models. I think the community has shown that good work is rewarded, and crappy work is forgotten quickly. An interesting development would be to take a standard humanoid model, and release a customization kit that will "stretch" the model to the dimensions input into the program, allowing a completely customized model (that can be sized to fit a real player, or to create a tall, thin elven character, f'rinstance). This would also allow the program to transmit only the model's size data, with a skin to follow, allowing the customization, without increasing network traffic too much.
3. Customization - I think that this ties into both the previous item and the next item. Users should be able to customize the look and feel of their characters to a large extent, and those changes should be transmitted across the network to players that can see that character on the fly, without having to stop the game, download the model/skin, install it, and restart. Broadband is becoming more popular every day, and I think that the added immersion created by allowing a player to actually put his/her own face on a model is worth the network hit of having to transfer a model/skin to my machine.
4. User Tools - Story Creation, Scripting, Mapping...these should all have reasonably easy to use interfaces, as well as using standard file formats wherever possible. Characters could perhaps use Maya, 3d Studio, Poser, etc. Buildings, trees, etc could use .dxf files, Autocad Native files, 3dStudio files, Poser files, etc...
I think that's it for my first rant on the ultimate MMORPG... :)[/quote]
If Turbine wanted to keep players, they should have released content and not lied about the reasons content was delayed. DDO hemoraged players through its life so far; every time they had a major nerf, a portion of the player base declined. So now they have a new financial model ("Eberron Unlimited: Whats in Your Wallet?"). However, the same management is in place, and I would presume they will make the same sort of decisions that will drive players out. My prediction is that they will have a short term increase in FTP players, but then the decline will continue as the new players get to experience the cycle of buff/nerf.
Interesting that you can earn points from playing the game! Thats a nice touch, it might be a drag to gain enough money but with the amount some people play this game I think it will benefit quite a few people.
Looking forward to this release! Very much so, especially after being impressed with the trial which made the game a much smoother and natural game experience.
Not too fussed about the DM tools, leave that for the NwN community tbh.
VIP players can use their monthly points to buy access for F2P players, but it is only a single access to the quest. So the answer in practice is yes.
Now here are some news for those that think DDO is going free
DDO WILL STILL BE P2P IN EUROPE !!!
Now.. Its intresting that all the development team will be working on DDO Eberron but EU players will be charged for absolutly NOTHING new since all new content is ONLY created for the micromanagment setup...
This is Turbine... This is the best example how not to do things...
I like the changes coming to DDO, it seems with this new business model they are going to ramp up content to the game which really can't be a bad thing for all those who wish to stay playing.
My sons liked paying DDO alongside me and I may have to dust off the old accounts and give it another try.
You've got it all wrong son.
The EU version of DDO is owned by Codemasters, it is THEY who have decided to boycott this new system, NOT turbine.
How were turbine ever going to know what codemasters would do once they they sold them the EU Publishing rights?..
Codemasters are....awful, to put it blunt, its why I'll never buy JGE. they just screw things all always.
So far DDO is a niche game.
Still it has the best combat system, even better than AoC. But the fatalties ;)
There are a few key point that need to be worked upon to take DDO to the next (deserved?) step:
Guys, you're really over negative. I think that's because you're not on the closed beta
.
I've played on DDO EU Codemasters servers. Now I'm part of the beta, to which almost everyone gets invited if you apply for it. I will never return to DDO EU Codemasters, subcsription model. I think Codem made very poor decision, because most of EU player base WILL BE PLAYING on DDO US Eberron Unlimited. Why not? No reason at all.
In other words, Codemasters are shooting themselves in the foot so hard, that it's almost unbelievable to me. This may mean total bankrupcy on D&D Online licence, if you ask me.
Though to get things straight, Codem will deploy Module 9, just minus the store and F2P model - all according to press.
I'm under NDA so I won't tell you more than tells you press. But just sing up and see this great game is going better then ever before. Unbelievably open ended. DDO 2 isn't needed at all.
content.turbine.com/pages/www.ddo.com/beta_signup/index.php
QFT
btw will it be possible for EU players to play on american ddo servers?
QFT
btw will it be possible for EU players to play on american ddo servers?
Post above:
"I've played on DDO EU Codemasters servers. Now I'm part of the beta, to which almost everyone gets invited if you apply for it. I will never return to DDO EU Codemasters, subcsription model. I think Codem made very poor decision, because most of EU player base WILL BE PLAYING on DDO US Eberron Unlimited. Why not? No reason at all."
That's disappointing but not surprising. I was with DDO at launch and saw how Turbine dropped the ball.
I don't see how an item mall fits into the D&D universe. It will cheapen the whole experience if someone has to run over to a vending machine in the middile of a dungeon in order to buy arrows. The original concept called for an immersive game.
Sing up for beta, pal.
Actually, I think this rocks. When I first played DDO, I liked the game well enough, but once I got past the noob stage I was like...WTF...why am I paying $15 a month for Guild Wars in Ebberon??
I said years ago this game would rock with GW's business model, and the item shop for THIS GAME I don't mind. It was built for it in my opinion. This was never a $15 a month game IMO.
Join the beta, you'll be glad you did.
Yeah. But I don't mean it's not worth it. I just think it's meant for this business model, and I've never seen better fit.
Want to know more specific info? I find this really the best interview, with many important questions answered for you:
www.tentonhammer.com/node/69960
I have friends that have switch to the USA versions, and are really happy of the change. More people on the servers, more alive server, better shop, better management. It don't make sense to play on the EU servers.
And now.. with whis... *cough*.. you will be punishing yourself for something, if you still want to play on the EU servers.
Just opinion from someone in *wink*wink*
When DDO:EU comes out , you will have 0% excuse not to have it installed on your PC.
And the claim for it to be first Quality AAA MMO to go free , holds water 100%
And believe me you can play it for free - completely free
Also comming from EU player - there is no lag on USA servers. I have crummy connection and still get 180 ping (which is same i get to EU servers)
So whats bad ?
Its addictive. You might find yourself speniding $$$ ;)
All I can say is:
Before you complain, sign up for beta. It will cost you nothing and you just might be pleasantly surprised.
I signed up for beta but this scares the hell out of me:
Geography All included for vips, Stormreach & vicinity only for free
I have never played D&D before but does that mean we get limited world like in runescape the (more than half of the world) where only vips/members(runescape) can go?
EDIT: and limited chat sounds kinda bad too :(
Not much is limited, as you can read over various sites : ). And you acquire those Turbine points while you play. According to Fernando Paiz (interview), players will earn more of those by playing than at present in beta.
Not much is limited, as you can read over various sites : ). And you acquire those Turbine points while you play. According to Fernando Paiz (interview), players will earn more of those by playing than at present in beta.
I signed up for beta. Let's hope I get answer fast :D I have been bored for weeks now and looking for good MMO. And I have even though of buying DDO few months back when I saw it at supermarket. It looks very good to me and is populated.
All I can say is that I think this game may become a phenomenal success in otherwise stagnant MMO industry. And I'm pretty confident here, oh yes I am.
If you join the beta, will your character be wiped at release?
This game has got me interested seeing as how I am looking for something to pass the time until FFXIV comes out
If you join the beta, will your character be wiped at release?
This game has got me interested seeing as how I am looking for something to pass the time until FFXIV comes out
Yes, they wipe at release. But if you've bought points, the full amount of points transfer to release with you. So you can buy stuff to test it in beta and then get those points back at release so you don't lose 'em.
Here's a small tip. If you plan to buy points, buy a DDO box from amazon or somewhere. You become a VIP for the 30 days that would normally be free when it was subscription only, some pointsn and so on. And if you don't want to keep subbing, you can downgrade to free after your 30 days of VIP and retain your extra storage, character slots, etc.
I played DDO for 3-4 months last year and I got like a lvl 14 and couple lvl 12's, then I just stopped playing. Will those characters wipe out? And if they do get wiped out do I get anything for paying for the game and those months that I've played?
We meant that beta server Lamannia will not be copied to live servers when new DDO: Eberron Unlimited hits live. Characters you play in closed beta (for this beta you can apply from ddo.com homepage) will stay there, but on live servers - you'll need to start over again, or - if you had some characters in the past - you can play those.
So no problem for you, if you played on DDO US and stopped without deleting them. You'll be able to use them in new DDO as well
.
EDIT: Another good, informative article from Ten Ton Hammer. MMORPG.COM, what are you waiting for?
www.tentonhammer.com/node/70586
NDA is lifted - I played a quite a bit all the way up to the end boss of the new raid (beat all the other new content in one night)
For the elite gamer - this game is a waste of time with each progressing update (to include the business model change) the target the elite game society and are continuously dumbing down the game.
Decent concept but with poor customer service - highly moderated forums so communication is limited within the community - and lack of content with a total ignoring of the player base make DDO:U a thumbs down in my opinion.
If you are a new player the existing player base is not easy to integrate into.
It's sad when you get banned for exploits, I can imagine
. Smart until banned! Man, this looks like move title or title for a song!