TGN Stratics Interview with David Georgeson Live from E3!

[Ilysess]

<p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLmVTuVGYwA" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLmVTuVGYwA</a></p><p>Take a look and see what our new producer has to say <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Gaige]

<p>Sigh.</p><p>I'm not too keen on changing a six year old game in a futile attempt to attract new users.  If they want new users, make a new game.  Oh wait, they already have 3 of those coming out in the next year.</p>

[Qanyena]

<p>Same. All I see is vetern players leaving the game as they change something the vets actualy like to play into something we can't stand. Really think he needs to rethink what hes doing.</p>

[Tuppen]

<p>As a veteran player, I like the changes.  Keep them coming.  It keeps the game feeling fresh and new.</p>

[kukubird]

<p>I keep banging my head whenever I hear them talk about attracting new players.  One of the biggest obstacles to attracting and retaining new players is the out of control economy.</p><p>I play an extrememe amount of time and I hear it every day, why does x items cost so much money etc.  It is simple and somethign SOE has ignored for too many years, inflation!  With no money sinks the game just gets more and more currency circulating, and with time the only thing holding any constant value, prices in game rocket.</p><p>Not only do prices in game rocket, but people just plain stop putting items up for sale.  If you want to make a beginner friendly game, stop trying to fix it with making it too easy and put some money sinks in. </p><p>Don't get me wrong there have been a lot of good changes, but ignoring the 10 ton Elephant in the room for 6 years is crazy.  He keeps clobbering newbies.</p>

[Pervis]

<p>Was a kind of pointless interview for anyone playing the game right now.</p><p>If things happen they way he said, the future of the game actually looks fairly good. One of the first things he said was that this game has a stable population of top end players that they want to keep. He even used the word hardcore, even though the population is nothing like what it was in T5 (which is a result of not needing to be). He said this before he said anything at all about attracting new players, which leads me to believe he does see the established player base retention as top priority.</p><p>I rolled a toon in New Halas about 2 weeks ago. Before I had been close enough to a mob to even think of attacking it, I had gained a level. My first thought was 'someone new to this game hasn't even learnt what the 5 - 7 things on their hotbar are yet, and already it is being added to.'</p><p>My impressions of that whole area were that the sub-20 game needs an overhaul. Better attention needs to be paid to when levels are expected to be achieved (level 2 should not happen until you have had 4 - 5 fights at level 1, etc). There needs to be a better in game discription of EQ2 specific elements, there needs to be better explination of the broker system (and earlier access to it), instances (lockout vs persistant), betrayal, AA caps for each level, basic advice for gear selection, things that those of us playing for years just take for absolute granted.</p><p>If I were to compare any of the starter zones in EQ2 to Tortage, EQ2 would never get a second look in (even if the rest of <em>that</em> game is crap).</p><p>The fact that he stated outright that players of this game want to work for what we get in game, and not buy them via the marketplace earns him even brownie points imo.</p><p>The fact that he is not Brenlo earns him a /cookie.</p>

[NViDiaFReaK]

<p>Ok... first off I gotta say.. Id would have rather seen some fat chick or burley dude that actually plays this game and knows about the questions they are askin, over a pretty face askin questions she has no clue about.</p><p>That said I am glad she asked the question i posed in regards to the Illusionist class, even specifically about Time Compression.  As far as his response, typical duck and cover.  No answer as to weather they are actually looking into fixing the illusionist class what so ever.. Just a BROAD generalization about how they are working on class balance.   Same answer we've gotten for 6 years.  I felt like i was back on the Illusionist boards... being ignored once again.</p><p>You can add all the fluffy pink unicorns you want to the market place, but until you actually sit down and look at what needs to be fixed with class balance, ACTUALLY hold a 2 way conversation with your player base about said balance, you will continue to see your veteran player base dwindle.  </p><p>While i do understand wanting new blood in the game, and wanting to see your subscription numbers rise.  You need to focus on retaining the players who have stuck with you thick and thin over new ones.  This is definitely not the FOTM game, it never will be its 6 years old.  Lets keep the player we have, by fixing the issues we have, before looking to bring in new people.  All they are doing is detracting from your already established players to the point of contention.</p>

[Calthine]

<p>Working on the newb experience really is nothing George hasn't <a href="http://eq2.zam.com/story.html?story=22148" target="_blank">said before</a>.  And anyone who has stopped to help a new player will probably agree that for the entry-lelve MMO-player the learning curve is a little steep.  Me, I was pleased to hear that we won't be losing the subscription model.</p>

[Orlac]

<p>I think what he means is that newbs will be made aware of Heirloom, Lore, named and other "hidden" portions of the game early on as opposed to finding out later.</p><p>As far as needing a heavyset (I'm big [Removed for Content]!) current player to ask questions, the questions are vetted by SOE before the interview regardless of who may be asking them.</p>

[NViDiaFReaK]

<p><cite>Orlac wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>As far as needing a heavyset (I'm big [Removed for Content]!) current player to ask questions, the questions are vetted by SOE before the interview regardless of who may be asking them.</p></blockquote><p>I understand that.. But having a pretty face asking questions about a game she knows nothing about.... I would have rather had someone with a vested interest int eh game asking the questions..</p><p>Yes i know the player base vetted the questions.. The illusionist question was one i posted them to ask.. But still.. You could totally tell she had no clue what she was talking about.</p>

[GrunEQ]

<p><span style="font-family: comic sans ms,sans-serif; color: #cc99ff; font-size: small;">I thought the interview went well, and most of the questions that were posted were asked.  </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; color: #cc99ff; font-size: small;">He did say we liked to earn our rewards and not use our wallets, but that the game was going to stay the same as right now.  LOL  if you still have SC you are not earning it in game.  This was the only rub.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; color: #cc99ff; font-size: small;">I'm happy to hear him talk about class balancing and trying to make each class unique and "fun" which I took to mean, they will each be viable solo, and useful in groups and raids.  Also they are looking to optimize the game for better lag control and frame rates.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; color: #cc99ff; font-size: small;">Overall it seemed positive.</span></p>

[Fyranaer]

<p>I liked the interview.  He addressed:</p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff9900;">Client Performance</span></strong> - improving framerates - This is probably the number one complaint I hear on other sites (mmorpg.com and other mmo fansites) about this game.  Performance improvements are key.  They are key to keeping gamers playing the game as new games (with better graphic engines) come out on the market.</p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff9900;">Graphics</span></strong> - SM3.0 - although this was more just a passing acknowledgement it does show that it's not just some gimmick they're trying to peddle.</p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff9900;">Class Fun</span></strong> - He acknowledged he doesn't have an indepth understanding of class mechanics and didn't try to BS the viewer.  I appreciat that.   He's a producer not a systems developer.  The important part here is that he acknowledged some classes are more fun to play and some have some issues.  He did that while side-stepping the landmine of class balance/OP.</p><p><strong><span style="color: #ff9900;">The Hopper</span></strong> - This might be the most interesting part of the interview.  They scrapped the GU plan in the works to reshape it, taking what they like out and refocusing it.  I'm curious what that refocus means.  What about the older project roadmap wasn't working?  What shape does the new roadmap have that the old didn't?</p><p>Overall, great interview.  I do wish we had a few more juicy specifics, but that's the way it goes I guess.  Thanks to IGN Stratics for doing a great job.</p>

[Gaige]

<p><cite>Calthine wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>And anyone who has stopped to help a new player will probably agree that for the entry-lelve MMO-player the learning curve is a little steep. </p></blockquote><p>Its steep in any game.  This game is six years old, they can't make it easier for newbs without ruining it for vets.</p>

[Fyranaer]

<p><cite>Gaige wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Calthine wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>And anyone who has stopped to help a new player will probably agree that for the entry-lelve MMO-player the learning curve is a little steep. </p></blockquote><p>Its steep in any game.  This game is six years old, they can't make it easier for newbs without ruining it for vets.</p></blockquote><p>Actually it's not as steep in any game.  Some games maybe, but not every other major title.  The intro areas for LotRO, AoC, and even WoW are very good about getting players up to speed, not only with the class they are trying, but the game world and UI in general.</p><p>When I returned to EQ2 after a one year hiatus it took me a few gaming sessions to acquaint myself once again to how the game works and plays, how to get my UI working again, and just be effectively functional.  The UI and the learning curve for the game could be drastically improved.</p><p>The biggest complaint I notice from new players on other sites is the game's client performance.  The number two complaint I notice is how kludgy the UI is and how hard it is to figure out how to get going.</p>

[Gaige]

<p>UI complaints for EQ2 when you're almost required to download and install addons just to successfully play WoW?  I don't buy it.</p><p>If anything the learning curve here is steep for newbs because by the time newbs turn around they're level 60, they've never been in a group, all of their gear and spells suck because they outleveled them and they have just about no idea what to do other than press a few damage spells and watch stuff fall over dead.</p>

[Calthine]

<p><cite>Gaige wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Calthine wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>And anyone who has stopped to help a new player will probably agree that for the entry-lelve MMO-player the learning curve is a little steep. </p></blockquote><p>Its steep in any game.  This game is six years old, they can't make it easier for newbs without ruining it for vets.</p></blockquote><p>How are they going to ruin it for vets?  If they only touch the newb experience that the vets all leap over anyway....</p>

[Hanokh2010]

<p><cite>Gaige wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>UI complaints for EQ2 when you're almost required to download and install addons just to successfully play WoW?  I don't buy it.</p><p>If anything the learning curve here is steep for newbs because by the time newbs turn around they're level 60, they've never been in a group, all of their gear and spells suck because they outleveled them and they have just about no idea what to do other than press a few damage spells and watch stuff fall over dead.</p></blockquote><p>I agree.  EQ2 has the best UI out there.</p><p>I don't know how they can make it any easier on new players without letting them start a character at level 50.  One can level a warden to 90 by alternating 2 buttons.  The removal of Qeynos and Freeport as starting areas has removed any need for a new player to learn the game.  The only "learning curve" is trying to find the next quest hub.</p>

[Hanokh2010]

<p><cite>Calthine wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Gaige wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Calthine wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>And anyone who has stopped to help a new player will probably agree that for the entry-lelve MMO-player the learning curve is a little steep. </p></blockquote><p>Its steep in any game.  This game is six years old, they can't make it easier for newbs without ruining it for vets.</p></blockquote><p><span style="color: #ff0000;">How are they going to ruin it for vets? </span> <span style="color: #ff0000;">If they only touch the newb experience that the vets all leap over anyway</span>....</p></blockquote><p>Deleting the Isle of Refuge was a huge first step in ruining it for me and many others.  I shudder to think what other great ideas are in the works to make the game more "fun".</p><p>The only reason that anyone leaps over the new player experience is that one is forced to do so.  The new areas are so boring and linear with nothing to look forward to but citizenship in a tiny little village, or 3 horribly laid out cities, 2 of which are impossible to navigate, why would anyone spend time on the "npe"?</p>

[Calthine]

<p><cite>Hanokh2010 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Deleting the Isle of Refuge was a huge first step in ruining it for me and many others.  I shudder to think what other great ideas are in the works to make the game more "fun".</p><p>The only reason that anyone leaps over the new player experience is that one is forced to do so.  The new areas are so boring and linear with nothing to look forward to but citizenship in a tiny little village, or 3 horribly laid out cities, 2 of which are impossible to navigate, why would anyone spend time on the "npe"?</p></blockquote><p>I wasn't a fan of that either, but it didn't ruin the game for me.  And I think you're incorrect on leaping over the new player experience.  I skip it 'cause I've done it so many times.</p>

[Gaige]

<p><cite>Calthine wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>How are they going to ruin it for vets?  If they only touch the newb experience that the vets all leap over anyway....</p></blockquote><p>That <em>never</em> happens.  They routinely break something totally unrelated to the things they're fixing/changing so I'm sorry but I have little faith that changing around the game for newbs will not have an affect on the portion of the game I play/care about.</p>

[Carpediem]

<p>I would think by this point most of the new people coming into the game are doing so because they have a friend that talked them into it and will show them around the low level stuff anyway.</p><p>Investing their time into fixing broken classes would be time better spent and would improve the game for new people and veterans alike.</p><p>David is already much better than Brenlo though from what I have seen and heard from him so far. He doesn't feel as plastic.</p>

[Shaggybodom]

<p>Being a new player to this game (about 3 weeks), I thought the new player experience went rather well. Hovering over spells/skills on my hotbar showed very good descriptions on what they all did. Out of all the MMOs I have played, EQ2 is probably the best when it comes to new players. That's just me though, I know everyone has their own opinion on it. I just wasn't very confused at all. Yea I had questions on how some mechanics worked, but all in all, it wasn't a hard game to get into at all. Having the tutorial popups was really informative and helped me out tremendously to get into the game. I already feel very comfortable with this game. </p><p>The only thing I do have complaints about is the performance but glad to see they will work on that. With my computer, I expected a bit more than Balanced settings. I do get 40+fps, but going any higher on the settings takes it down to 15-20fps with a few hitching issues.</p><p>All in all, this is 1 of the best MMOs I have ever tried out and can't wait to see what else they bring to the game.</p>

[Calthine]

<p><cite>Gaige wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Calthine wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>How are they going to ruin it for vets?  If they only touch the newb experience that the vets all leap over anyway....</p></blockquote><p>That <em>never</em> happens.  They routinely break something totally unrelated to the things they're fixing/changing so I'm sorry but I have little faith that changing around the game for newbs will not have an affect on the portion of the game I play/care about.</p></blockquote><p>Your optimism is boundless <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Gaige]

<p><cite>Calthine wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Your optimism is boundless <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>After 6 years of disappointment, you pretty much max out your cynicism skill.</p>

[Calthine]

<p><cite>Gaige wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Calthine wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Your optimism is boundless <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>After 6 years of disappointment, you pretty much max out your cynicism skill.</p></blockquote><p>After 6 years of still enjoying the game despite assorted "game-breaking" changes, my optimism is maxed <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Ilysess]

<p>The reality of the matter is that with a gaming convention as big as E3 it is not feasible to send someone who is an avid player of each game TGN Stratics supports, the cost would be astronomical <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p><p>I would like to invite anyone who is interested in this kind of reporting to get in touch with me <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> we are looking for someone who IS an EQ2 player to attend Fanfaire and do some more interviewing</p><p><cite>Tagwen@Mistmoore wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Orlac wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>As far as needing a heavyset (I'm big [Removed for Content]!) current player to ask questions, the questions are vetted by SOE before the interview regardless of who may be asking them.</p></blockquote><p>I understand that.. But having a pretty face asking questions about a game she knows nothing about.... I would have rather had someone with a vested interest int eh game asking the questions..</p><p>Yes i know the player base vetted the questions.. The illusionist question was one i posted them to ask.. But still.. You could totally tell she had no clue what she was talking about.</p></blockquote>

[Gaige]

<p><cite>Calthine wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>After 6 years of still enjoying the game despite assorted "game-breaking" changes, my optimism is maxed <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>Do you even have a character at max level, or have you ever?</p>

[Calthine]

<p><cite>Gaige wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Calthine wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>After 6 years of still enjoying the game despite assorted "game-breaking" changes, my optimism is maxed <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>Do you even have a character at max level, or have you ever?</p></blockquote><p>Of course <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> But may I remind you, max level |= veteran.</p>

[Gaige]

<p><cite>Calthine wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Of course <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /> But may I remind you, max level |= veteran.</p></blockquote><p>Sure, but a six year veteran who isn't playing/concerned with things at max level would be an extreme minority.</p>

[Calthine]

<p><cite>Gaige wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Calthine wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Of course <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /> But may I remind you, max level |= veteran.</p></blockquote><p>Sure, but a six year veteran who isn't playing/concerned with things at max level would be an extreme minority.</p></blockquote><p>I'd bet serious money you're mistaken.  Unfortunately, there's realy no way to prove it either way.</p>

[MurFalad]

<p><cite>Gaige wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Calthine wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>And anyone who has stopped to help a new player will probably agree that for the entry-lelve MMO-player the learning curve is a little steep. </p></blockquote><p>Its steep in any game.  This game is six years old, they can't make it easier for newbs without ruining it for vets.</p></blockquote><p>Firstly, I would not make the assumption that "new users"="players completely new to the genre", a certain other MMO has veteran players being burned off it due to game changes, even capturing a fraction of these players (who a few were EQ1 players) couple double numbers.</p><p>Secondly I'd be a little more optimistic there, there are a lot of things in the game that are explained badly either by in game text, or the way the game plays, one example I think of a good change they made was with the travel revamp.</p><p>Before a player new to the game found a bell, clicked on it and got a list of names to travel to, as a player I didn't know where physically any of these were.  Now we get exactly the same list of names but placed on a map, because of that I can see exactly where these go and it makes sense, its a really simple change, but it does explain the game better.  I think there are still other areas that can and should be improved such as the buff system in general where we are running around with dozens of buffs visible (why do I care if player XYZ is eating cookies?, or that he's mounted etc). </p><p>Its the same with combat, if I parry a lot or dodge or a lot its only because I've trawled through the combat logs after the fight, during the fight I don't get enough audio clues (clanging swords for parries etc), and there are just way too many spell effects going on to see if the mob does anything interesting.</p><p>Lastly, if they understand what new players need and want then they won't just implement easy content, veterans from other MMO's discovering EQ2 for the first time won't be excited if everything is safe and easy, and its only the harder content that makes players search through their spell bar to see what else they could use to improve things.</p>

[rollando]

<p>For a new player, the levelling from 1 to 89 must look like as encouraging as Napoleon's supply routes during the campaign of Russia...</p><p>It's common sense to realise that, if top end guilds want a decent pool of players to recruit from, these players must enter the game someday. Even if they just look for already experienced players : they must come from somewhere !</p><p>So, the lower level game should be a concern for everyone, veterans included.</p>

[Gaige]

<p><cite>Calthine wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I'd bet serious money you're mistaken.  Unfortunately, there's realy no way to prove it either way.</p></blockquote><p>Um, no?</p><p>The majority of content?  Level 90 content.  Do some who's during different times of the day.  Majority of players online, especially at primetime?  Level 90.</p><p>With how fast XP is now you have to purposely try to not get to level 90, and I'm telling you those types of players are the minority.</p><p>The majority of players, let alone six year veterans, have at least one toon at level 90, if not multiple toons.</p>

[Pervis]

<p><cite>Fyranaer@Everfrost wrote:</cite></p><blockquote>The number two complaint I notice is how kludgy the UI is and how hard it is to figure out how to get going.</blockquote><p>I find this quite amusing.</p><p>I reciently went around and played DDO, STO, AoC, EVE, WoW, and Allods Online. In each of those games, I tried to get my UI in to a state that I was happy with, but was unable to. In WoW, I had the option of downloading UI mods to do some of what I wanted, but even then I couldn't get everything how I wanted in. In the other games, the simple answer was "the UI is as it is, and there are no safe and reliable ways of changing it. Deal with it".</p><p>I came back to EQ2, my UI was as I left it, everything was where I wanted it and how I wanted it. I didn't have the cluttered screen from AoC, the random floating hotbuttons of WoW, the pure ugliness that is DDO, the contrived pointless waste of space that was STOs UI, or the blandness of EVE.</p><p>To say the UI in EQ2 is lacking in ANY form is just plain wrong. A right click on any window in the game will give you all the options for that particular window you could ask for in an MMO. its not hard, its the very defination of simple.</p>

[awny]

<p><cite>Pervis wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Fyranaer@Everfrost wrote:</cite></p><blockquote>The number two complaint I notice is how kludgy the UI is and how hard it is to figure out how to get going.</blockquote><p>I find this quite amusing.</p><p>I reciently went around and played DDO, STO, AoC, EVE, WoW, and Allods Online. In each of those games, I tried to get my UI in to a state that I was happy with, but was unable to. In WoW, I had the option of downloading UI mods to do some of what I wanted, but even then I couldn't get everything how I wanted in. In the other games, the simple answer was "the UI is as it is, and there are no safe and reliable ways of changing it. Deal with it".</p><p>I came back to EQ2, my UI was as I left it, everything was where I wanted it and how I wanted it. I didn't have the cluttered screen from AoC, the random floating hotbuttons of WoW, the pure ugliness that is DDO, the contrived pointless waste of space that was STOs UI, or the blandness of EVE.</p><p>To say the UI in EQ2 is lacking in ANY form is just plain wrong. A right click on any window in the game will give you all the options for that particular window you could ask for in an MMO. its not hard, its the very defination of simple.</p></blockquote><p>Its not that its a bad UI... its that new players are not really directed on how to set it up and there are SO MANY options that it can be overwhelming at first.  Chat options in particular can be really confusing.  Especially when you get the "Channel is Full" message. </p><p>  I just set mine up to look like WoW's because that is the game I came here from and was comfortable with the layout I had there. </p>

[Pervis]

<p><cite>Gaige wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><cite>Calthine wrote:</cite><blockquote>Stuff</blockquote><p>Moar stuff.</p></blockquote><p>So, I read the exchange between you to, and I hate to break it to you, but your both right.</p><p>Calthine: When the developers decided they wanted to add in more low level options with RoK, and so did TD and revamped EF, every top end raider in the game was forced to run level 30 - 40 content in order to get the two best charm slot items for each class in the entire game at the time. This is just one example of changes to the low level game affecting those playing at even the very top, and even if this was an isolated incident, is enough to totally warrent Gaige's concerns.</p><p>Gaige: Calthine knows as much about her aspect of the game as you do about yours. Her's may be an aspect of the game you have no concern about, but the game as a whole would be worse off without it. She may not understand the aspects that affect your part of the game, but that does not mean her opinions on an area of the game that where neither of you spend a lot of time is any less valid than your opinion on the matter is.</p><p>They are just as likely to screw up crafting if they revamp lower level content (again!) as they are to screw up raid content.</p>

[Pervis]

<p><cite>awnya2 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote>ts not that its a bad UI... its that new players are not really directed on how to set it up and there are SO MANY options that it can be overwhelming at first.</blockquote><p>New players shouldn't be altering the UI, not until they know the game well enough to know what they do and do not need.</p><p>The UI you start with when you load up a new toon can take you through to about level 15, if you remove the things on it that are un needed. If you figure out how to open a new hotbar from there (fairly basic stuff for anyone thats ever spent more than 5 minutes at a computer) then you should be fine until you start to group up (so anywhere from 20 to 90).</p><p>Anyone that things the default UI setup is not how they would want it much have played games with a different UI setup. If they had played other games, they would have a fairly basic understanding of where to look to change the UI to their liking.</p>

[Mustang8259]

<p>Here's the thing that comfused me: Do they already consider Shader 3.0 to be "fixed" on the live servers? Or have they fixed it on test and will be putting it out soon(tm)?  I would like to think I have at least an "average" grade PC running with 4g of ram, 3Ghz Dual-core processor, and 2 SLI'd nVidia 9500 GTs, yet If I turn on Shader 3.0 it can drop me from an average 40-50 fps to single digits with a high of 15fps and thats with running the game on the "balanced" setting... doesn't seem fixed to me...</p><p>*edited to add what setting I run on*</p>

[Calthine]

<p><cite>Pervis wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Gaige wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><cite>Calthine wrote:</cite><blockquote>Stuff</blockquote><p>Moar stuff.</p></blockquote><p>So, I read the exchange between you to, and I hate to break it to you, but your both right.</p></blockquote><p>No doubt you're right <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> </p><p>I do wish that there were public statistics we could reference somewhere in this kind of debate.  Just for fun, lol.</p>

[Sydares]

<p>A whole lot of nothing in that interview - but given the newness of Georgeson to his position, that's not something I'm surprised or even disappointed about. The nebulous promise of exciting news over the next month has me a little but leary, but we'll just have to see where that goes.</p>

[Jesdyr]

<p><cite>Calthine wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I do wish that there were public statistics we could reference somewhere in this kind of debate.  Just for fun, lol.</p></blockquote><p>I have said it in the past ... I would LOVE to have access to their character/account database(s).</p>

[Fyranaer]

<p><cite>awnya2 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Pervis wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Fyranaer@Everfrost wrote:</cite></p><blockquote>The number two complaint I notice is how kludgy the UI is and how hard it is to figure out how to get going.</blockquote><p>I find this quite amusing.</p><p>I reciently went around and played DDO, STO, AoC, EVE, WoW, and Allods Online. In each of those games, I tried to get my UI in to a state that I was happy with, but was unable to. In WoW, I had the option of downloading UI mods to do some of what I wanted, but even then I couldn't get everything how I wanted in. In the other games, the simple answer was "the UI is as it is, and there are no safe and reliable ways of changing it. Deal with it".</p><p>I came back to EQ2, my UI was as I left it, everything was where I wanted it and how I wanted it. I didn't have the cluttered screen from AoC, the random floating hotbuttons of WoW, the pure ugliness that is DDO, the contrived pointless waste of space that was STOs UI, or the blandness of EVE.</p><p>To say the UI in EQ2 is lacking in ANY form is just plain wrong. A right click on any window in the game will give you all the options for that particular window you could ask for in an MMO. its not hard, its the very defination of simple.</p></blockquote><p>Its not that its a bad UI... its that new players are not really directed on how to set it up and there are SO MANY options that it can be overwhelming at first.  Chat options in particular can be really confusing.  Especially when you get the "Channel is Full" message. </p><p>  I just set mine up to look like WoW's because that is the game I came here from and was comfortable with the layout I had there. </p></blockquote><p>Thanks.  The UI is highly configurable (including commands and chat options), but figuring that out and the rules (especially chat window rules) can be very confusing.</p><p>Other games have UI issues of their own and no one has the perfect UI.  DDO is another example of a game with a very complicated and arcane option and UI config.  Oddly its big brother LotRO, which shares a related engine, is much simpler to configure and change the UI.</p><p>It's simply an opinion I have and one that I've seen elsewhere, often.</p>

[Fyranaer]

<p><cite>Mustang8259 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Here's the thing that comfused me: Do they already consider Shader 3.0 to be "fixed" on the live servers? Or have they fixed it on test and will be putting it out soon(tm)?  I would like to think I have at least an "average" grade PC running with 4g of ram, 3Ghz Dual-core processor, and 2 SLI'd nVidia 9500 GTs, yet If I turn on Shader 3.0 it can drop me from an average 40-50 fps to single digits with a high of 15fps and thats with running the game on the "balanced" setting... doesn't seem fixed to me...</p><p>*edited to add what setting I run on*</p></blockquote><p>I wonder this too. I turned on SM3.0 last night to try it out again after I watched the interview.  It looks good mostly, but it also still exaggerates all the graphic and shadow issues I see with the game.  Everything is still much darker and often flashes between light and dark depending on the viewing angle.  I can't say it dropped my framerate though.   The only thing that kills my FPS is just certain zones (GFay, some areas of Kunark, etc).  I typically get between 40 - 60 fps in overland zones (i7/920 - 9GB ram - Nvidia 260GTX/1.8GB) in ultra high graphics with custom settings to use GPU shadows when possible.</p>

[Sydares]

<p>Although the UI system is fairly robust in terms of window management, it's one of the most restrictive when it comes do using custom scripting. I hate World of Warcraft, but the way their UI is handled is immensely superior, and the amount of mods that are <em>possible</em> to create are infinitely higher.</p>

[Nuhus]

<p><cite>Calthine wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>After 6 years of still enjoying the game despite assorted "game-breaking" changes, my optimism is maxed <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>I'll counter your optimism with my pessimism. They do need to be extremely careful in where they go with the idea for a New Gaming Experience.</p><p>I dislike every newbie expreience besides Qeynos and Freeport. The zones are so darn large, it's really getting to the point of monotonous to do the new zones without a mount.  And the quests become so linear you just cant pick up and go with a friend, you have to catch them up to the 50 quests you've already done so they can be on the same quest you are on. (exagerating of course) but you get the point. Therese ups and downs to it.</p><p>What worries me more is that the producer just say "oh, well it's just nastalgia, they don't really care. We want you to have what we <em>make</em> you have". They just blow it off, who cares. It's not like there was a large thread about it or anything, with nothing more than a reply, sorry thats what <em>we </em>want to do - from them.</p>

[Pervis]

<p><cite>Nuhus wrote:</cite></p><blockquote>The zones are so darn large, it's really getting to the point of monotonous to do the new zones without a mount.  And the quests become so linear you just cant pick up and go with a friend, you have to catch them up to the 50 quests you've already done so they can be on the same quest you are on. (exagerating of course) but you get the point. Therese ups and downs to it.</blockquote><p>This is true of all content added from RoK onwards, though.</p>

[Nuhus]

<p><cite>Pervis wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Nuhus wrote:</cite></p><blockquote>The zones are so darn large, it's really getting to the point of monotonous to do the new zones without a mount.  And the quests become so linear you just cant pick up and go with a friend, you have to catch them up to the 50 quests you've already done so they can be on the same quest you are on. (exagerating of course) but you get the point. Therese ups and downs to it.</blockquote><p>This is true of all content added from RoK onwards, though.</p></blockquote><p>Yes, and it's an issue for me, I've played through RoK enough, I played through moores once and that was enough for me. That was much worse than RoK. SF omg mind numbingly repetative, I haven't even finished all that content it was so annoying. On the plus side at least I have a mount on my higher characters, but I hate the linear quests.</p>

[MurFalad]

<p><cite>Nuhus wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I dislike every newbie expreience besides Qeynos and Freeport. The zones are so darn large, it's really getting to the point of monotonous to do the new zones without a mount.  And the quests become so linear you just cant pick up and go with a friend, you have to catch them up to the 50 quests you've already done so they can be on the same quest you are on. (exagerating of course) but you get the point. Therese ups and downs to it.</p></blockquote><p>With the comment about the mount though I don't think that's a problem with the zones being large for me, I love big zones and that feeling there is a glittering city just over the hill.  But where they really could improve things is making travelling fun, in Planetside there are no missions but sometimes someone needs to grab an ANT, head to the nearest warpgate, fill up with NTU's and head back to the base.</p><p>That would be a dull experience with the EQ2 terrain because its just not interactive enough, we slow a bit on water, but not really across different terrain (there is little reason to follow the path), and definitely not going up and down hills.  Those ANT runs in Planetside can take me 15-20 minutes, but they are strangely enjoyable trying to go for that fast path back even if there are few enemies around to add that fear factor.  Add in the threat of attack and its a blast.</p><p><cite>Nuhus wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>What worries me more is that the producer just say "oh, well it's just nastalgia, they don't really care. We want you to have what we <em>make</em> you have". They just blow it off, who cares. It's not like there was a large thread about it or anything, with nothing more than a reply, sorry thats what <em>we </em>want to do - from them.</p></blockquote><p>Looking at the history of the game when it comes to the big decisions the user base especially recently as a whole haven't been very impressive, too many people are just asking to be able to get whatever they want faster and easier (because they want that gear) and there are only a few on the forums really thinking about the long term future of the game. </p><p>One example was the item degredation, it certainly wasn't perfect but I'd say its better to have had it then be at the stage we are now.  Now we are at the stage where even average non-raiders are capping crit etc and the way forward is what?  More stats?  Tripple attack?  Flurry - I honestly have no idea what that is here.  Most people posting about it seemed to only care about their character becoming more powerful and showed no interest in the long term health of the game.</p><p>As for the original starter areas it is a shame that they have gone, I'd like to see them restored as unlockable content for people who have achieved XYZ on their account, the only downside I see is spreading the player base out at the start more (although that hasn't stopped us so far!  And I'm not a fan of the channel-the-players-along-a-linear-path style either, a crowded high street doesn't excite me anymore then a crowded adventuring world). </p><p>Personally I'm not too bothered about them now, although I still do have a wizard in Queens colony I still log into and its a shame to lose it <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />  Maybe just have them as unlockable content for the 7 year veteran reward where you can start a character and a chronomage teleports you too and from them?</p>

[dawy]

<p>There comes a point,in any games life where the bean counters have to accept that its an old product there're pushing and wont get any significant new influx of players (returnies yes,but new no that ship has sailed) and i honestly think EQ2 has reached this point,now the question is what happens next.</p><p>I was fairly happy with the interview tbh and if i'm honest the games overall health since Dave came on board,i feel after what is it now 3 years since Hartsman left the game,it finally has someone on the tiller with an idea of what way to go and while no doubt some of it will be good and indeed bad it will (hopefully) see an improvement on the,at times at least,drossy serving of the last 2 producers of the game have come up with.</p>