I was reading at the beginning of this thread, but lost track of it, so I read the last page. Seems the debate is still on as to whether the events and asides in the two Uru standallone discs can be regarded as a proper adventure game story or, as has also come to my attention, whether that story should even be considered canon, as it was (clearly) some sort of money grubbing concession to the EVIL Suits at Ubisoft.
Well, to both I say, get some perspective.
URU Live is and always was intended to be first and foremost an MMORPG. So of course, the story behind it, though broad and far reaching, had to be very open and loose, or there would have been no room for players to get immersed themselves. It's like the idea of playing a Star Wars RPG where all anyone wants to do is play the stars of the original movies, or just follow Luke, Han and Leia around and help them from the wings. Useless. You need lots of open spaces in RPG plots for interactivity that actually has consequences on the outcome of the plotline, at least in the details and timing, if not the ultimate outcome.
So of course, you could only have so much plot exposition in those two discs. The standalone was merely an introduction into what was intended to be a larger, ongoing story.
Now, as to the other side of the coin, the Concession. The Compromise. The Sellout to Ubisoft. The Standalones.
Let me tell you something about what I see in MMOs that I don't like: spending $40 to $80 dollars for a game that has no content whatsoever... and THEN having to pay for a subscription on top of that so I can get in the game. No. You can hold back lots of the content that really requires that you be online, sure, but if you give me nothing but dlls, a 3D engine that will only be updated when I get online anyway, and an access key that proves I bought the disc, only to expect me to pony up more money so I can have the actual content, you do NOT get to charge me $50 dollars. I don't care how sexy your game is, or how good the gameplay. You make me pay more than $20 for the startup disc and I had better have something useful on that piece of plastic. Otherwise, you're just being greedy. You did the development, and you need to get paid, so give me value for dollar or go die somewhere with the other failed and abandoned MMO's.
Fortunately, Uru (with 2Dni and PotS) is not like that, and has a whopping eight gorgeous ages for me to explore, as well as a whole subterranean world. And you don't have to go online to explore them. Say what you will about the original intent of that content, being allowed to explore those locations and experience all of it in 3D with my cool avatar we EVERYTHING I'd been looking for in an Adventure game AND an MMO. It got me hooked. Very little has stood up to it for me, and that's WITH the irritating puzzle-type problem solving, which I could live without, personally.
Rand gave me worlds to explore, and he didn't try to gouge me for it. Rand can expect more from me in the future.
_________________ Lee Edward McIlmoyle
Adventure Game Devotee at large
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