source taken from Stratics UO Hall ... If I could Interview a dev member I would ask!!!!!

A player recently posted what questions they would ask a dev. and Wilki kindly gave an in depth reply to them all

1. What do you think of the current state of MMORPG's ?

I think the industry is currently in a place where a working formula has been found (EQ, WoW, etc) that appeals to a certain audience that is willing to pay for the same type of gameplay. That class of game is fairly mature, for what it is. That said, I think it’s also growing a bit stale. The whole do lots of kill x of this, collect x of that, deliver this to x town type quests, kill several variations of the same monsters, grind for levels/faction/reputation, drool over items that are only really different because they have bigger numbers attached, cycle of gameplay is ripe for someone to come along and break the mold.

Personally, I'd like to see an MMO with the gameplay of a single player RPG like Oblivion. Combat that is more than turning on your normal attack, then pressing macro keys for spells/actions in the right order. You should have more control on how and when to swing your sword, block attacks, aim your bow and spells, etc.

Finally, I think NPC interactivity needs to have a lot more depth. NPC’s should have unique personalities, go about living their daily life, and not just be mannequins that stand there until a player walks up to talk to them, or robots that endlessly roam back and forth between two spots. They should interact with each other as well as with players, and players should be able to influence that interaction. They should actively try and fulfill their personal wants and needs, and perhaps enlist players who figure out what that might be (not through something as direct as a quest), and maybe reward players for doing so.

There are some technological limitations to conquer, but I don’t think it’s an insurmountable obstacle. I can’t wait to see what we’re creating in 5 years, much less 10. I think it’ll be amazing.


2. Do you currently play any games? , If so what ones?

I just picked up Oblivion last week and haven’t been able to stop playing. It took up most of my weekend!


3. Alot of players like the content from older Ultima Games is it possible we could see more classic content added in the future?

Yes! I think sometimes we’ve forgotten the Ultima in Ultima Online, but we’ve got a core group of people on the team who firmly believe that what we need is more Ultima! (Think about more cowbell... only with Ultima instead.)


4. What do you think of UO's community , fan sites?

I’m amazed at the diversity. Unlike a lot of other MMO’s, UO pretty much let’s you be what you want to be. The basic gameplay tools allow players to come up with things that, quite frankly, none of us have ever thought about before. Sometimes, they get into a bit of trouble (UO strip clubs, etc), but the content that players create themselves is something that we all admire greatly.

Likewise with fansites. They all have their own unique flavor. In many ways, there really isn’t a single community per say, but rather UO is a collection of communities. That can make it hard for us to please everyone, but that's the reason why we have such diversity.


5. When you think of the world you and the players of UO have created , What comes to mind?

Honestly? That we have some work to do. I want Sosaria to seem more alive, which will only encourage more player driven content, thus building on UO’s core strength. If we give you the tools and the foundation, you’ll build some amazing things.


6. Do you find it harder to interact with players being on the other side of the game?
Yes, because I’m always wanting to answer player’s questions in-game, but since I can’t reveal that I work for EA, I have to bite my lip quite a bit. However, when I get the chance to play around with the editor on test and create fun, I absolutely love it. Nothing is better than seeing players saying things like "That’s freakin cool!" immediately after running into something you just created.


7. If you could fix one area of UO, that you personally think needs to be fixed what would you fix?

Combat/Crafting/Items. I don’t believe you can really separate them.


8. What do you consider the biggest challenge in UO today?

Rebuilding a functioning economy.


9. What do you think is the most important part of a MMORPG , Cost of playing it , Content , Roleplaying , PVP , communinty , or the overall fun factor ( all the above)?

The overall fun factor is the most important quality of any game. If it’s not fun, people won’t play it. However, I think there is a trend in the industry to equate fun with "easy", and I don’t think that’s necessarily correct. Old school UO was a lot of fun, but it sure wasn’t easy.


10. This was taken from another site as relates to UO how would you respond to this:

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There is something to be taken from that sentiment. Just how much, of that I am not sure. I do know that UO should have more danger than it does now, but I’m not convinced it should be what it was in 1998.

Good questions and replies.

1. What do you think of the current state of MMORPG's ?


While MMORPGs have grown technologically since 1997, I think there is plenty of room for them to grow and mature in other ways that are often neglected. A lot of the MMORPGs today that have polished interfaces, graphics, etc. seem to lack "the personal touch". They seem to lack the player/environment interaction that is present in UO. I would like to see games where community and pvp (not necessarily just combatively) also grow to the next generation level, where the players' actions really matter in the game world for good or ill. I do think MMORPGs will eventually get closer to what I'm suggesting, it's just going to take time for them, the developers, and the players to evolve.

2. Do you curently play any games? , If so what ones?

From time to time I play all sorts of games, not just MMORPGs. My favorites though are Neverwinter Nights (really looking forward to NWN2), Ultima I-V, Ultima Online, Zork and all the other Infocom games, Scott Adams Text Adventures, and World of Warcraft.


3. Alot of players like the content from older Ultima Games is it possible we could see more classic content added in the future?


I would certainly love to see this

4. What do you think of UO's community , fan sites?


They are the best. UO has the best community. Hands down. That 'personal touch' that I referred to earlier is clearly visible at each of these fan sites.



5. When you think of the world you and the players of UO have created , What comes to mind?


That's a good question. As both a developer and a player, I see UO as being very immersive - especially designs such as customized housing. That's probably the single best design UO has ever had. *tips the cap to Vex* It truly allows the community the ability to shape the world - very much like a developer. I always seen UO as a means of social interaction with my peers, enemies, and friends in a sword and sorcery atmosphere.



6. Do you find it harder to interact with players being on the otherside of the game?


At times. But for the most part, it was actually easier for me to interact with the players because my passion for UO became stronger once I became a developer. I admit it was cool to possess the ability to shape the game in a way that I couldn't as a player.


7. If you could fix one area of UO , that you personally think needs to be fixed what would you fix?


I wouldn't want to fix just one area of UO. I would want to invest enough resources into it to once again make it the #1 MMORPG.


8. What do you consider the biggest challenge in UO today?



Challenge in terms of virtual combat? I would have to say other players. No AI can match the AI of another player.


9. What do you think is the most important part of a MMORPG , Cost of playing it , Content , Roleplaying , PVP , communinty , or the overall fun factor ( all the above)?


All the above. They are all equally important. A virtual world really needs to have all of these to thrive.


10. This was taken from another site as relates to UO how would you respond to this:




I would agree to a degree, but I see no reason at all that the current dev team cannot restore UO to its former glory and beyond if EA is willing to invest what it will take to make it happen.


Patrick "Leurocian" Malott

Great interview

Cathat

1. What do you think of the current state of MMORPG's ?

MMORPGs are just getting out of their infancy. I think as a whole, game developers in general are just now starting to learning how to do MMORPGs right. People had to learn from their mistakes and those of others to really get how the various games work and whats good and what truely sucks.



2. Do you curently play any games? , If so what ones?

What i play changes every few months - but right now i'm juggling Oblivion (pretty but shallow compared to the older Morrowind and its EPs) - StarFleet Command 1 & 3 (because I rebuid and MOD it when i get bored), Masters of Orion (cause thats one of the best strategy games ever made) and UO (with most of my waking hours concerning it)



3. Alot of players like the content from older Ultima Games is it possible we could see more classic content added in the future?


UH - yeah? heh - Yeah, they should - a lot of "old familar" stuff thats pretty well thought out and fun found in the old UO games. Ressurecting some old material and making new stories from it is the best way to get the "Olde ULTIMA" back in UO.



4. What do you think of UO's community , fan sites?


Haha - love em. People who are passionate about the same things I am - well how could I not. Its no simple matter setting up a really Good website either - so when folks do - I really appreciate all their hard work.



5. When you think of the world you and the players of UO have created , What comes to mind?


A whole lotta people running around "in world" wearing things i've built, in a little world i've contributed to - socializing, hacking away at stuff with weapons, and otherwise having fun.



6. Do you find it harder to interact with players being on the otherside of the game?


Hmm - i don't think i find it hard to interact with the players anywhere.. Except Maybe Fel - 'cause its hard to talk when someone is hitting you with lightingstrike



7. If you could fix one area of UO , that you personally think needs to be fixed what would you fix?


If i could only grab just one thing to fix - i guess it would be the Factions system because it allows players to make their own gameplay in a sense..
If PVP and P V NPC/ PVM made more sense and had more greater scope reward / reasons i think that could change/enhance UO in many many ways. Crontrol of leadership, regions and laws used in zones, etc. An MMOG should strive for this level of dynamic quality.



8. What do you consider the biggest challenge in UO today?


Keeping the balance of what people want and need, and what you can give them within the bounds of our own resources and Time etc.



9. What do you think is the most important part of a MMORPG , Cost of playing it , Content , Roleplaying , PVP , communinty , or the overall fun factor ( all the above)?


I think Content and Community are the two top things that make an MMORPG really fun to play. Without them you really don't have a good base for good RP or PvP and everything else that sprouts out from it.



10. This was taken from another site as relates to UO how would you respond to this:


Sounds like someone really misses the days BEFORE Insurance was introduced ito the game. Me - i'm of the opinion that Insurance/Blessed items should be limited to only a couple Items at any one time. This way you can keep some of your most precious and important loot you would never gamble - but also run the risk of losing some goods should you die. Games aren't as fun when you're not risking or winning much of anything - like playing blackjack in vegas for just pennies - blech - no real rush if you win or lose.