I'v been hearing talk about OSI making a shard for us old schoolers. It would be extremely smart of them, they would attract many people and make some nice cash. Any of you guys have any links or news to EA talking about this? Would be appreciated, thanks.

CatHat(one of the UO Dev Team has posted once or twice about it on Stratics). He basically said it is something HE would like to do(he is a Artist btw, not a programmer, so it maybe difficult for him to do by himself LOL).

He said after they finish everything on their scedule(whatever that means) he thinks the next logical step would be to create a "Original UO shard", but the problem a lot of people have brought up is that nobody can agree with great specificy WHAT a original UO shard is...

Another problem would be with the client patches. Can't run a Pre Ren Shard with the current client since so much has changed/been added into the client. Well I guess it COULD be possible just difficult.

Everyone who's listened to my weekday show or weekend talk show knows my opinion about this all too well. So, I won't go in to a rant here about it. But, in a nutshell.. I give a pre-whatever shard 2 weeks to a month. People's memories are either really, really bad or have never played UO back in the pre-whatever days. All the pom pom toters over on U.hall are the same people who scream bloody murder when somebody suggests removing insurance. Ask them if they've considered trying Siege until such a shard were introduced and its the same response.. "I tried it but I got PK'd right away and never went back" *blinks* There is no insurance or Trammel on a pre-whatever shard... d'oh!!

I disagree, the top free shards, are all pre uor ones, at least, the top 2
For instance, the top 5 shards, out of a list of about 200, have 2674 players online currently.

Aye... being "free" tends draw quite a few people.. ;)

We'll see... I'm not saying I'm right.. I can't predict the future... but, I got my money on another ghost shard.

True, but on the other hand, there's no choice on EA's shards
I think there needs to be different types of shards, starting with pre uor would be the first step, then maybe, a pre aos one.

It's a shame Siege ever got the AOS publish, maybe they should've left that shard well alone.

I think it would be neat to have...but I would never play on it exclusively. It would be one of those shards that I build a character on and go play when the mood strikes me.

If there are enough players to warrent it...it's a good idea. But remember that UO Stratics represents a minority of the players. We have a lot of trammies who are happy being trammies! hehe

I think they should make one ONLY if it's not a big huge coding deal that will take them away from fixing certain things they've already been working on.

And, uh, what's with the free shard talk? Cease from that people!

heh... good point Adam... and another one of my rants..

Don't invest money in a pre-whatever shard before fixing Siege first...

I know many people who left EA/OSI because of the way the game has evolved. Most of these people on freeshards are paying for another online game like WoW or galaxies. Just because they know a free-shard wether pre AOS or not wont be the same as an OSI pre AoS shard. A shard was made off about 30 people on the LS server. (Name of the free server will not be named) All of those 30 plus many others who play LS, and the free server are paying for WoW aswell. Its not a point of wether you pay anymore, because alot of people didnt have a problem with it. Even when the prices went from 9.99 to 12.99. Its a matter of interest. People want to pay for something they like, and if what they like is free, then they'll take it. I am sure a good cut of the whole "free" pre AoS population would come back to OSI, reguardless of having to pay or not. (If they had a pre AOS shard on OSI that is). I am not sure if I am getting my point across or not.

Amen Cobra!!!

Minotaur said:
I currently play a free (yes I know tsk tsk, trying not to name it) pre:ren shard and it can be done. I have a Lord Blackthorns Revenge disc, that I just keep updating, and I still run pre:ren. Iv looked in the files and if you look in the old folders you can play the old music. Just double click it and it will play the old brittish music, its pretty cool, so it has all the old stuff in them. All an update is, is an addition to the old stuff, which is why on the free shard that I play (and others) you can still play with the look of pre:ren.

Cobra said:
Exactly, I don't know how many people on my shard, other free ones and other online games say they would pay for a pre:ren shard on OSI. And your right, most people don't care about paying for it, I don't see why EA hasn't already made a pre:ren shard, it would be a financially, and morally smart move. They would make money, I think they should at least try it, or give people more of a hope and answers.

No freeshards have the population of a offical EA shard... especially a pre UO -R offical shard..... hence the non consensual issue can not even come close to the level it was back then ......
Two such freeshards have players that enjoy it... its a matter of choice and not being forced to deal with it....

Threel. the population of a freeshard if paying couldnt support the developement or overhead of such a offical shard......