Goodbye AC2, we hardly played you.

[Shockeye]

Closing Asheron's Call 2
Dear AC2 subscribers,

In spite of our hard work and the launch of Legions, AC2 has reached the point where it no longer makes sense to continue the service. We will be officially closing the Asheron's Call 2 service on 12/30/05. Until then, we plan to run live events, but we will not be adding any content or features.

We deeply appreciate the many dedicated fans of AC2 who have stood by us over the years. You have our sincerest gratitude.

Best regards,

Jeffrey Anderson
CEO, Turbine

[Signe]

What a surprise.

[Jain Zar]

Can't say I feel sorry for them.  Make a mediocre game that's only features were being pretty and a storyline only AC1 players would probably care about and watch your game fail.

Because sequels that play nothing like their predeccesor (sp?) are going to do so well.  AC1 was one of the least grindy and more satisfying MMORPGs out there.  And it kept getting better as time passed.  AC2 wasn't even AC for Dummies. 

[Llava]

Impressive that the official thread for it is only 4 pages and doesn't seem to be growing.  That's REALLY unpopular.  Hell, there was a thread on the CoV beta boards waiting for servers to come up that was adding a page every few seconds.

EDIT

Wow, reading some info on the game.  To store items, players go to a secluded place, drop them, log back in as a mule character, then go get them.  Shit, no wonder this game failed.  Couldn't even put in a vault?  Christ.

[stray]

Because sequels that play nothing like their predeccesor (sp?) are going to do so well.  AC1 was one of the least grindy and more satisfying MMORPGs out there.  And it kept getting better as time passed.  AC2 wasn't even AC for Dummies. 

Agreed. Though I have to ask: Is it me or does WoW's combat feel very AC2-ish to anyone here?

[Cheddar]

Can't say I feel sorry for them.  Make a mediocre game that's only features were being pretty and a storyline only AC1 players would probably care about and watch your game fail.

Because sequels that play nothing like their predeccesor (sp?) are going to do so well.  AC1 was one of the least grindy and more satisfying MMORPGs out there.  And it kept getting better as time passed.  AC2 wasn't even AC for Dummies. 

Asherons Call 1 players pretty much rejected AC2 en masse.  I honestly cannot think of a single person I knew in AC1 (I was in the largest guild at the time) who even contemplated playing it.  In my opinion the game is like EQ2, but with about 50% more grind.  God, gathering alone was like having your penis sanded with the grittiest sand paper out there.  Seriously it was THAT bad.  Combat and stuff was meh, but I always felt slooow in that game.  I still have fond memories of AC1 and am tempted to resub; problem is the people make it a Soap Opera, but I guess that is part of the appeal. 

De nihilo nihil

[Rasix]

Agreed. Though I have to ask: Is it me or does WoW's combat feel very AC2-ish to anyone here?

Well, it is (kinda).  Problem is AC2's was littered with retarded ideas (wait till the mobs flashes and then hit button x for UBER DAMAGE YAY) and it wasn't balanced worth a shit. 95% of all characters couldn't kill most even level mobs.  Most mobs would chew through your HP in no time at all and your attacks were mere pittances.  The only characters that could solo without exploiting were melee tanks with a series of drains (Ferals) or unlimited healing (Defenders).

The combat, however, worked out very well with PVP. It was very fast paced, you could dodge projectiles (most), and for the most part decently balanced with several viable pvp templates.  The problem was the rest of the game, which was such a pile of shit, with it's broken chat, horrible rubber band lag, pve that was only interesting if you were exploiting, and a loot system that was very bland, dragged it all down.  I can't imagine how PVE only players managed to struggle through that piece of crap.

Plus the billing system was a goddamned joke also.  I accidentally got billed twice trying to give a friend my account without him inheritting, well... ALL OF MY FUCKING CREDIT CARD INFORMATION.

Not sorry to see this one die, although it did give me a chuckle or two while playing.

[Miasma]

We will be officially closing the Asheron's Call 2 service on 12/30/05.

That would make a fantastic gag Christmas present to someone you dislike.  I also doubt the stores that have this sitting in some bargain bin are going to know to remove it.

[Kail]

Probably showing my noobishness here, but this is the first time I remember that I've heard of a major (well, relatively) MMORPG actually completely shutting down.  I don't have the game, but I'm kind of curious what the "standard" way of handling this is; anyone know?  

I mean, you've got a lot (well, again, relatively) of people out there with copies of this game.  Presumably, Joe went to the store and bought a copy of AC2 for $50.00.  Takes it home, but can't play it without paying a subscription fee.  Pays a subscription fee.  They cancel the service anyway.  What's Joe left with?  He's got a game, but he can't play it?  Are they going to release the server code so that you can at least still play it?  Or is that considered bad form, and the consumer should feel lucky he was allowed to pay their bills for so long?  Regardless of the quality of the game, the fact that a company can just say "thanks for the money, don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out" whenever they feel like it would be kind of disturbing.

[schild]

This is where they make the client, server, and devkit available to the public. Seriously. Seriously. SERIOUSLY.

[Shockeye]

This is where they make the client, server, and devkit available to the public. Seriously. Seriously. SERIOUSLY.

Like they did with "Earth & Beyond"?

[Margalis]

The combat for WoW and AC2 are both pretty similar, you are right. You attack pretty fast, enemies attack pretty fast, and the animation typically has little to do with what is happening. In addition, your character and the enemy don't seem to interact at all. They just face each other and dance around.

That's opposed to say FFXI, where your character and the enemy attack much slower. When the enemy hits you you can be knocked back and vice-versa. The sounds effects match the animation as does the actual damage.

I personally can't stand it when combat is just people thrashing around. It really takes me out of the game. WoW was very much like that.

Edit: The fact that AC2 lasted as long as it did is actually pretty amazing. E&B was far better.

[stray]

Probably showing my noobishness here, but this is the first time I remember that I've heard of a major (well, relatively) MMORPG actually completely shutting down.

Well, EA canceled Motor City Online and Earth & Beyond. Two games that had some potential too...

As for how they handled it?

Umm....

"You're screwed".

But that could just be how EA does things.

[schild]

This is where they make the client, server, and devkit available to the public. Seriously. Seriously. SERIOUSLY.

Like they did with "Earth & Beyond"?

Meh. Rancid apples and rotting oranges.

[Shockeye]

This is where they make the client, server, and devkit available to the public. Seriously. Seriously. SERIOUSLY.

Like they did with "Earth & Beyond"?

Meh. Rancid apples and rotting oranges.

Potayto, Potahto.

[WindupAtheist]

Who would have figured AC1 would still be plugging away as it's sequel tottered off into the grave?  Oh yeah, I remember: Everyone.  Speaking of which, how's AC1 doing for subscribers?

[Rasix]

The combat for WoW and AC2 are both pretty similar, you are right. You attack pretty fast, enemies attack pretty fast, and the animation typically has little to do with what is happening. In addition, your character and the enemy don't seem to interact at all. They just face each other and dance around.

That's opposed to say FFXI, where your character and the enemy attack much slower. When the enemy hits you you can be knocked back and vice-versa. The sounds effects match the animation as does the actual damage.

I personally can't stand it when combat is just people thrashing around. It really takes me out of the game. WoW was very much like that.

You almost sound like you've never played WoW. Playing both rather extensively, I can officially say you're full of shit.  Ohh wait, you got an Orc to level 6. My bad.

Really, yah, FFXI and it's superiorly interesting combat. 

[stray]

I can't say that I've leveled too far in WoW either, but I'm just speaking in general terms. Some classes moreso than others.

As for FFXI, the required grouping/skill chaining thing kind of turned me off, so I didn't experience much in that game to begin with.

[Calantus]

They should have pulled the plug before it even went live. But that's not news to anyone. Must say I'm amazed they are pulling the plug. It's the only MMO that was ever on my radar (as in, I cared enough to check out how it was going once or twice during developement) to be pulled after going live.

[Margalis]

You almost sound like you've never played WoW. Playing both rather extensively, I can officially say you're full of shit.  Ohh wait, you got an Orc to level 6. My bad.

Really, yah, FFXI and it's superiorly interesting combat. 

Um...did you even read what I wrote? I didn't say anything about combat being deep or interesting. All I said was that in FFXI it feels like you are fighting, while in AC2 and WoW it feels like you and the enemy are having a dance-off.

Again, it FFXI the timing of the sound effects with the animation is better, the timing of losing HP with the animation is better, the animations themselves are much more distinct and vibrant, you can knock back enemies or be knocked back, etc.

I don't see how you can even compare. Watch someone use a 2-handed weapon in FFXI vs WoW.

[Rasix]

Okkie dokey.  FFXI combat didn't really feel like fighting, just felt like real time FF combat AKA every other MMORPG on the planet.  What you listed registers a hearty "meh" as far as what I'm looking for in combat, especially if it has to occur at a sub EQ pace.  WoW sounds/damage match up pretty well player side. Not always the case monster side, but I again /meh.

Really, I'll take the old UO hally hit any day as long as I'm not trimming my nails during the fight.   

[Strazos]

My female human warrior in WoW swung a 2-hander believebly enough.

FFXI has the worst combat I've ever seen in a retail game. My buddy is in one of the top guilds on his server, and they do dragon raids....

for like, 5 hours.....

on ONE dragon.


Just die, FFXI.

[Cheddar]

My female human warrior in WoW swung a 2-hander believebly enough.

FFXI has the worst combat I've ever seen in a retail game. My buddy is in one of the top guilds on his server, and they do dragon raids....

for like, 5 hours.....

on ONE dragon.


Just die, FFXI.

What. The. Fuck.  Tell me this is a gross exaggeration.  If this is not would you please ask your friend as to why they do this?  I mean is it loot driven, e-peen driven, or what?  I for some reason have blacked out Final Fantasy XI from my internet, guess I will have to read about it.

[Strazos]

I shit you not. When i was in Florida, me and my friends all played NES, MtG, ate...did other things.


He raided a dragon.

All day.

And like, 3 items drop.

[Fabricated]

FF11 was the most horrific grind I have ever experienced, and I played Ragnarok Online from beta to release.

[SurfD]

This is about where they announce they are goin to patch the AC2 graphics engine into AC1 and make AC1 one of the single most popular MMOGS of all time.

I mean christ, they should have just done that from the beginning.  AC1 with AC2 graphics could EASILY give EQ / EQ2 / WoW a run for their money.

[Rasix]

AC1 with AC2 graphics could EASILY give EQ / EQ2 / WoW a run for their money.

Shouldn't that be in green?  Really, even looking beyond the oragami quality art of AC1, I didn't find it that compelling of a game.  I don't think the style or setting translates into mass market.  With AC2 graphics and a flawless launch (AKA no patented Turbine rubberband lag or horrible mismanagment of exploitation), I think AC1 would maybe top out at 100-150k subs in today's market.  I know AC1 has probably the most die hard fanatics of any game, but I guess I just didn't "get it".

Of course, maybe with a great looking graphics engine it would be a lot easier to get drawn into the non-standard fantasy world with its goofy bestiary. 

[stray]

Huh. I would have guessed you to be an AC fan.

But I thought you were male all this time as well, so what the hell do I know?

[Hoax]

I'm with Margalis on this one, auto attack combat will never be interesting but FFXI has far superior standard melee then WoW.

Oh and just for credentials sake which suddenly we need to express an opinion around here.

FFXI:  Thf 3x/ Nin 2x/ and lower lvl's on several other jobs
WoW: Priest 60

Sorry but this type of comment really rubs me the wrong way:

"You almost sound like you've never played WoW. Playing both rather extensively, I can officially say you're full of shit.  Ohh wait, you got an Orc to level 6. My bad."

[Kairos]

omg lol nubz

In any case, I have to say that FFXI is a pretty fun game if, if you have a set group with some friends. It can get pretty awful if you're forced to depend on the general population to advance.

[Rasix]

Huh. I would have guessed you to be an AC fan.

It wasn't bad. Played it for like 2 months, got a xbow guy up to the point where I was fighting some decently hard stuff, but then it just got kind of boring.  I probably should have played on Darktide. My desire to ruin people's online lives though pretty much died with UO.

Sorry but this type of comment really rubs me the wrong way:

Should I take sensitivity training or something?    (the old board warrior is still strong in me) Perhaps it should have been reworded as, "Well, that's a valid opinion but allow me to show some skepticism as you seemed immediately dismissive of WoW after playing what was an admittedly short period of time.  You might have also played when rogue animations were somewhat broken."   

[Nija]

omg lol nubz

In any case, I have to say that FFXI is a pretty fun game if, if you have a set group with some friends. It can get pretty awful if you're forced to depend on the general population to advance.

Don't you need an EXACT number of friends? I forget the group sizes in FFXI, but from what I remember it was pretty fucking easy to get left behind.

If your friends plus one random dude filling in for you grind on those sand worms for 4 or 5 hours, it's not like you can just jump right back in with them and be merry and gay. You'll have to find some people to grind fucking sand worms for 4 or 5 hours before you can even regroup with those people.

Just thinking about FFXI makes me mad. ><

And Rasix, here's the good thing(s) about AC.

You can dodge projectiles.
You can loot items from people you kill.

Going back to basics that's all that a game really needs in order for me to have fun. Some player skill and some risk, both of which have been absent from every game SINCE AC.

[HaemishM]

Shocked, I am, SHOCKED, I tell you that such a thing has come to pass.

Seriously, though, why would Turbine keep it up? Shift the resources to D&D Online and LotR (or Middle-Earth or whatever it is) and call it a day. The game has never worked right. It's the only big-name (relatively) MMOG I've ever known that had a non-functional chat server for months. It was an awful boring game in beta, and had nothing but a shiny engine to ever appeal to anyone. I was surprised they released it.

As for releasing the server code to the public, why would the public want shitty, buggy server code? They could just go open-source for that.

[schild]

AUSTIN, Texas, May 11, 2005— Tune in to MTV2 on Friday, August 26, at 10:30 PM Eastern time to see a music video starring characters from Lineage II! MTV2's innovative show Video Mods (http://www.mtv2.com/#series/13696) combines video games and popular songs from great artists to create a killer music video. Don't miss it!

Also, be sure to catch the Stratics Video Mods contest running in conjunction with the appearance of the Lineage II video on MTV2

(http://lineage2.stratics.com/videomods.php )!  Pay close attention to the music video and you could win the Lineage II Collector’s DVD Edition, T-shirts, and more.

It feels as though that press release belongs here. Don't shoot the messenger.

[Merusk]

So all those music vids that have been made with the FRAPS program are being shown on MTV instead of the acual videos for the songs in those videos.



That's got to be killing some music video director somewhere.

Edit: Oh MTV2.  Do they still show videos there, or has it become as disfunctional and irrelevant as its parent?