DDO goes F2P. - (DDO Unlimited)

[Mrbloodworth]

June 09, 2009
TURBINE® ANNOUNCES DUNGEONS & DRAGONS ONLINE®: EBERRON UNLIMITED™
Free Digital Upgrade Introduces Unlimited Free Play and Raises Level Cap; Beta Begins Today

WESTWOOD, MA – June 9, 2009 – Turbine, Inc. announced today the start of the Beta program for Dungeons & Dragons Online®: Eberron Unlimited™ (DDO Unlimited), a free digital upgrade for Dungeons & Dragons Online®: Stormreach™. DDO Unlimited will raise the level cap and add major new content, as well as make the game free to play for everyone. The new DDO Unlimited delivers heart-pounding game play featuring the industry’s best combat system, a massive world with state-of-the-art graphics and gameplay, and a rich set of features that until now could only be found only in premium subscription-based MMOs. Launching later this summer, DDO Unlimited will introduce an innovative new pricing model that allows players to download and play for free, purchasing adventure packs, items, and account services a la carte from the new DDO Store, or to subscribe to get unlimited access to all of the game’s content. Players interested in getting a sneak peak of the new DDO Unlimited can sign up for a chance to participate in the Beta program at http://www.ddo.com.
 
“Our team has spent years crafting DDO Unlimited into a powerhouse experience featuring cutting-edge graphics, a kick-ass combat system, high level content, and cutting-edge social tools. Today marks a major milestone as we prepare to launch the world’s most exciting free MMO,” said Kate Paiz, Senior Producer.
 
“Turbine is blazing a new trail with an innovative new pricing structure that will deliver a new era of choice for the growing market of online gamers, and we are very excited to invite players to work with us in the DDO Unlimited Beta program as we redefine how people play and pay for MMOs,” added Fernando Paiz, Executive Producer.
 
DDO Unlimited delivers the best combat of any MMO and the most heart-pounding action this side of a keyboard, plus a lot more!

Brand New Content & Features – DDO Unlimited will deliver a new class, increase the level cap, introduce new adventure packs including a new 12-player raid, major combat improvements and more!

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.

Mind-blowing Visuals – Explore a vast and dangerous online world that features the most advanced graphics in the industry and is stuffed with the legendary monsters, glorious treasures, devious traps, mind-bending puzzles and endless adventures from the world’s best known RPG.

Full-featured MMO – Experience sophisticated systems found only in the best games including auctions, arena death matches (Player versus Player), NPC hirelings, gambling, crafting, and powerful social tools for finding a group, forming a guild or planning an epic raid!

Easier Than Ever! – DDO Unlimited gets you playing in minutes instead of hours, using new proprietary Turbine technology. Creating a new character is incredibly simple with guides and templates that speed you through the process. Features an all-new new player experience that gives gamers their first taste of excitement quickly while teaching them how to play solo or with a group of fellow adventurers.

Link

D&D Online: Eberron Unlimited

D&D Online: Eberron Unlimited

[Lantyssa]

Huh.  I'll maybe sometimes play it for free.  Going to sign up under Bat Country.

[Ard]

Yeah, and here I was waiting for Turbine to create it's own station pass to play this on the side.  There go my excuses.

[sam, an eggplant]

Has anyone played DDO recently? What's the skinny?

[Ard]

Has anyone played DDO recently? What's the skinny?

http://forums.f13.net/index.php?topic=15619.0

[Numtini]

DDO Unlimited will introduce an innovative new pricing model that allows players to download and play for free, purchasing adventure packs, items, and account services a la carte from the new DDO Store, or to subscribe to get unlimited access to all of the game’s content

I think I suggested that in beta. It's D&D, you make money selling the modules

[tazelbain]

Hells ya.

[Slyfeind]

Smart move. I am freaking sold.

[Calandryll]

DDO Unlimited will introduce an innovative new pricing model that allows players to download and play for free, purchasing adventure packs, items, and account services a la carte from the new DDO Store, or to subscribe to get unlimited access to all of the game’s content

I think I suggested that in beta. It's D&D, you make money selling the modules

Many of us who worked there suggested it too. Hopefully it'll revitalize the game.

[Mrbloodworth]

[Evildrider]

I used to love DDO, but after playing since launch and them stringing us along for 9 months with no new game updates.  I've been pretty meh on the game.

Mind you, if you are a newer player you'll have lots of fun, the PvE in the game is well worth the play time.  The game does have a steep learning curve when it comes to character generation and progression though.

[Lantyssa]

Limited chat?

[Numtini]

Oh, while not stated while snarking on their lack of foresight, I will almost certainly install it. I can very easily see getting together with old friends from EQ or DAOC to run a dungeon now and again.

[Nevermore]

I might take a look-see at this, once I have some more time.

[Mrbloodworth]

Limited chat?

Gold farmers. If its like lotro, you cant send tells ETC...

[veredus]

Limited chat?

Gold farmers. If its like lotro, you cant send tells ETC...

Unless it's to someone on your friends list. So it's not a bad solution actually.

[Mrbloodworth]

Limited chat?

Gold farmers. If its like lotro, you cant send tells ETC...

Unless it's to someone on your friends list. So it's not a bad solution actually.

It has worked wonders in LOTRO.

[Lantyssa]

LotRO has full free-play accounts?  It's not like this is a trial.

[Mrbloodworth]

LotRO has full free-play accounts?  It's not like this is a trial.

I was referring to some of the the free trial limitations.

[Ghambit]

Do I get to keep my character if I unsubbed but come back under F2P?

[Mrbloodworth]

Do I get to keep my character if I unsubbed but come back under F2P?

Yes. but you cant play for free till it launches.

[Ghambit]

Y'know, I gotta admit I actually really liked DDO and only really stopped playing because of WoW and the fact my entire gaming community was playing it (WoW).  DDO is one of those games that you've really got to have a tight, structured adventure group to play with or else frustration sets in.

5 dedicated players a few times a week is perfect for this game.  This move was really smart imo, but there's still something missing... and that's a similar licensing system to the PnP game, where anyone can write content and sell it.  NWN picks up the slack there I guess, but it's a shame it cant all be contained under the DDO moniker. (and lo and behold NWN is trying to go online now also)

[Ard]

Yeah, I loved DDO also.  I only quit because the other people I played with quit on me.  The game isn't much fun without a dedicated static group.

[Xilren's Twin]

I am still playing primaily my capped toon.  I need like 120 more favor points to unlock my 32 point builds, but keep getting dragged into shroud raids to try and finish my greensteel crafting.  I think i have about 60 quests i havent touched at all, which was almost the sum total of quests in the game at launch.  Not happy about the further delay in mod 9.  Turbine apparently was restrained from saying why the mod was dragging months behind schedule until this announcement.  Even now, people are still pissed that they are delaying again for the marketing push on the free to play.  People understand it, but really poor job of community relations in the time it took to get to today.  Probably the legal departments fault somewhere.

I think i will try to get into the beta of this to see the new stuff.  Not really sure what they will be selling in the turbine store, so hard to say if the F2P plus microtransactions will be better than a flat monthly fee yet.

If i get in, ill be under an NDA  but still worth checking out.

[Tannhauser]

Taken from the interview...

"DDO is taking the new approach because Turbine felt it's the right title to explore free-to-play MMOs and microtransactions. Not only does the concept of paying for additional content adhere to the pen-and-paper game's reliance on modules, sourcebooks, miniatures, and such, but it also helps players who don't have as much time to play a chance to stay competitive with their friends by purchasing XP boosts and improved adventuring gear."

Holy crap.

[Lantyssa]

Bets on the new class being Druid or Warlock?

My money is on Warlock.

[Ingmar]

It turns out I forgot to unsubscribe from the last time I poked around in here (early this year) so I have a VIP beta key.  I guess they get one more month out of me, I can't put it in if I cancel.

[Ard]

Rumor I read was Favored Soul, and I have to agree with it.  It'd be easier to add than either the druid or warlock, not much in the way of custom rules that aren't already in place for the sorceror.

[Ghambit]

Taken from the interview...

"DDO is taking the new approach because Turbine felt it's the right title to explore free-to-play MMOs and microtransactions. Not only does the concept of paying for additional content adhere to the pen-and-paper game's reliance on modules, sourcebooks, miniatures, and such, but it also helps players who don't have as much time to play a chance to stay competitive with their friends by purchasing XP boosts and improved adventuring gear."

Holy crap.

That last bit is a dealbreaker.
It's one thing to charge for modules, but to fall into the f2p trap of paid acceleration/gear just kinda takes the whole feel of D&D away.
Why dont they just charge to run the damned zones??  Just like they do in league play... lay some money down to increase the tension.  I think it'd add a nice feel to the game; almost like a bunch of guys slipping quarters into the local arcade's Gauntlet machine.  (sigh)  the greed...   

[lesion]

The deal cannot be broken. You can play for free. If you want to buy XP boosts and flaming elephant chariots and support Turbine you can. If not...you don't have to! That is the deal.

The main reason I didn't pick up DDO after beta was because I was playing WoW and two concurrent game fees makes me frothy. This is dandy.

[Mrbloodworth]

The deal cannot be broken. You can play for free. If you want to buy XP boosts and flaming elephant chariots and support Turbine you can. If not...you don't have to! That is the deal.

The main reason I didn't pick up DDO after beta was because I was playing WoW and two concurrent game fees makes me frothy. This is dandy.

Basically how i feel. I think it was a good move for them.

[Lantyssa]

Rumor I read was Favored Soul, and I have to agree with it.  It'd be easier to add than either the druid or warlock, not much in the way of custom rules that aren't already in place for the sorceror.

That would be pretty easy to add.  I wonder if they'll give them wings at higher level.  Does DDO have flight?

[squirrel]

Bets on the new class being Druid or Warlock?

My money is on Warlock.

Will they bungle it as badly as NWN II did?

[CmdrSlack]

Wow, this may make DDO without a static group worth it. It may also get my old static group back from WoW.

Starting over would be worth it just to see the new new player experience and whatnot.

[Rendakor]

Do we still have to buy the box? I'm a huge D&D fan but DDO didn't seem worth the price of entry. Going f2p might make this worth trying out.