Last week was certainly an interesting one for those of us in MMOG land, with a phenomenal PR blunder from Blizzard dominating the headlines. Unless you were on a desert island, in solitary confinement, or just avoid anything related to Blizzard or World of Warcaft you no doubt heard the outcry over the proposed change to the WoW forums that would require all members to post with their real names. While Blizzard saw no downside to turning their forums into the newest incarnation of social media, players of a fantasy MMOG seemed to feel differently.
I don’t wish to debate the merits or pitfalls of the proposed changes, that has certainly been done enough this week, but it made me think about Susan Wu of Ohai games and her plan to make social media centric MMOGs. Players have flocked to, and fallen in love with, their initial game offering City of Eternals — a browser-based game that uses a player’s Facebook login to create their character, populate their friends list, and even create their guild. With integrated status-update-style announcements and leader boards adorned with player’s real life pictures, City of Eternals exalts the merging of real life and MMOG play. So why do gamers seem so willing to let their real information flow freely in City of Eternals and yet seem so violently opposed to it in WoW? I assume it relates back to our overall resistance to change; if Blizzard had implemented this system at the launch of WoW then I imagine there wouldn’t have been much said about it and their forums would have never have reached the level of buffoonery that they are infamous for.
This week’s review looks at a game that has been no stranger to change or controversy, Dungeons and Dragons Online.

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Controversial decisions are nothing new to MMOG developers. Even though this week’s example may have been the most widely reported, Blizzard isn’t the only company ever to spark outrage by announcing their forthcoming plans. Turbine fanned some flames of their own when they announced that their AAA title, Dungeons and Dragons Online: Strormreach, was going to shift from subscription-based to microtransaction driven. But both Turbine’s well implemented plan and the gaming community’s positive reaction put the fire out and helped change the perception of free-to-play games here in North America.
Once a faltering title that was destined for the dust bin of MMOG history DDOU is now the leader in the fastest growing segment and the model of success that many other developers are beginning to look at for aging or disappointing games. But can a formerly pay-to-play title cut it as a free-to-play? While the polish and content factors may be heavily weighted toward success, how well can the game capture players who are looking for value above all else? Let’s put Dungeons and Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited under the Microcosms microscope and find out.

Graphics

One of the unfortunate caveats that we often have to mention when reviewing a free-to-play game is that you often compare their graphics to those of their subscription-based counterparts. Coming from a major publisher and sporting the major budget that goes with an AAA title, you don’t have to worry about getting such a warning here. You will find all the spell effects, textures, shadows and lighting that you would expect, but without the system crippling requirements that leave some budget minded gamers feeling left out. In fact the scalability of Eberron Unlimited may be its best asset, especially when dealing with gamers that may choose to play a subscriptionless game due to financial considerations. Having a game that can morph from stunning on a bleeding edge system to smooth and playable on the Radio Shack machine that you got for Christmas in 2002, and do both remarkably well, is a huge upside.

The UI is clean and well laid out with a style that has its own unique flavor without feeling foreign to gamers. Some mental retraining will be needed to remap hotkeys and their function, but the game’s starting area and its myriad quests will help accomplish this pretty easily. My best recommendation, however, is to not disable the help tooltips that pop up, and to do the tutorial quests– they are less of an annoyance and more beneficial here than they are in most other games.

Gameplay

MMO gaming has become somewhat of a paradox in the last few years. What started out as something that was, by its very nature, a group and social experience has given way to becoming a solo affair with some grouping thrown in. Dungeons and Dragons Online was built to be as close to the tabletop game as possible which means it was designed for more than one player, but the developers have added a couple of features to allow solo players to be successful without compromising that feeling of interaction.
The first, and most prominent, mechanism that achieves this is The Dungeon Master (I visualize the little balding guy in the robe from the 80s cartoon series, but that could just be a me thing). The Dungeon Master is a persistent companion who sets the stage of your adventures via a voice over. In addition to the unseen guide there are mercenaries that are purchasable from an in-game vendor who will fight along side you in the game’s many instances.

Leveling and combat are both handled a bit differently in DDOU than they are in the typical MMOG offering. For each of the game’s 20 levels there are 5 “sub levels” that help to stretch out the time needed to level, keeping the pace on par with that of the tabletop game. While that may sound like a grindy mess to they typical player, this isn’t the typical game and you are introduced to rather epic feeling battles from the get go. The combat system of DDOU also gives it a more intense feel than auto attacking to kill your 10 rats. Combat is handled primarily by left clicking on the mob (or mobs) you are fighting in a fashion reminiscent of a first person action game, with spells and abilities triggered off of action bar hotkeys.
Before I get into one of the more interesting aspects of gameplay, the puzzles, let me first give you a warning about controls in DDOU. As I stated earlier, left clicking a mob in combat will cause you to swing your weapon in the direction the mouse is aimed. It will also create the same effect if you are out of combat or trying to interact with any world object and aren’t close enough. This can be a major source of frustration until you become familiar with it.
Puzzle solving was a major part of the tabletop version of D&D and this iteration stays with that theme in a major way, adding a very nice element of gameplay that is typically missing in MMOGs. Puzzles come in all shapes and sizes and are an integral part of gameplay from the intro quest line on.

Value

 

Radically changing the way a MMOG is monetized could easily be the final nail in the game’s coffin, but Turbine has pulled off nothing short of a miracle with this resurrection. With strong graphics, amazing gameplay and tons of content available, the free portion of DDOU is the strongest in the industry, and the item shop pricing is superbly handled as well. If you chose to pay for DDOU, there is still a subscription model available that unlocks all the game’s features and rewards you with an allotment of item shop currency each month. Players who make any purchase in the item shop will be upgraded to Premium membership, which could be the best overall value in all of free-to-play gaming.

Score

 

Overall DDOU receives 5 out of 5 hammers, with its amazing value easily making up for the slight downsides of the leveling system and learning curve. Blessed with the advantage of starting life as a big budget game, Dungeons and Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited has made the most of its second chance and is a model for how to properly make a free-to-play game. 

Dungeons and Dragons Online is expanding to Europe! Read on for our FAQ.
Where can I find out more details about the Codemasters European service?
You can find more information at http://www.ddo-europe.com
Who will be running the European Dungeons & Dragons Online (DDO) service?
Turbine will operate the global DDO service, including Europe, starting August 20th 2010.
What is the website address of the Turbine global DDO service?
Beginning August 20, 2010, the website address for the global DDO service is www.ddo.com. From there you can register for a free account and access the global DDO community.
Will the game continue to be provided in English, French and German?
The global English-language service will go online on August 20, 2010. Turbine is working to launch the German and French language versions later this year.
What if I don’t speak English?
Currently, the global DDO service is English only. Customer support will be provided in English. We expect to offer customer support and community features in French and German later this year.
When can we log in to the Turbine global DDO service?
Players can access the Turbine global DDO service to create a new account beginning August 20, 2010 and start playing for free.
What will happen to European characters?
Character data from the Codemasters European DDO service will be passed to Turbine after the Codemasters Online service is closed on August 19, 2010.  We will be providing free character transfers to the new global service and players will be notified when the character transfer is available. As a welcome and thank you, Turbine is offering all current and former European players 5,000 free Turbine Points, worth nearly €50, when they transfer their character(s) to the global DDO service
If our characters are transferred to the global service, will it just be the characters or all of their items and equipment as well?
We will provide more information at a later date on www.ddo.com regarding the details of the transfer of character data.
How do I play DDO moving forward?
Current European players may continue to play DDO on the Codemasters servers until August 19, 2010. After that time you will no longer be able to access your Codemasters account.
To play the DDO global service, you can create a free account at www.ddo.com. By following the character transfer opt in process that will be detailed later, you will be able to move your current DDO Stormreach characters to the newly created DDO Unlimited account, and receive 5,000 Turbine Points as a thank you from Turbine. These points can be spent in the DDO Store to add adventure packs, character slots to your account, and much more.
Are both servers transferring separately, i.e. Keeper to a new Keeper, Devourer to a new Devourer?
Additional details about character transfer and servers will be provided at a later date.
Will I have to set up new billing details after the service has transitioned?
Codemasters Online is working closely with Turbine to facilitate a smooth transition to the global service operated by Turbine. Importantly, no billing information (e.g., credit card information) will be transferred, so if you wish to become a VIP or engage in transactions going forward on the DDO global service you will need to set up new billing details with Turbine.
What version will the new service be running? Will it be DDO Unlimited?
Yes. The Turbine global DDO service runs the latest version of DDO Unlimited.

What happens if someone else already has my character’s name on the existing US service?
Additional details about character transfer will be provided at a later date.
I am a subscribing player on the Codemasters service. Will I get all the same benefits that DDO Unlimited VIPs get now?
When you sign up for the global DDO service, you may choose to become a VIP. As long as your subscription to the global service is in good standing, you will enjoy all the benefits of being a VIP player. You can view a full list of VIP benefits at http://www.ddo.com/vip
I want to know more about how Free-to-Play works.
Please visit the DDO Free-to-Play FAQ at http://www.ddo.com/ddogameinfo/faq

What if I already have an account with Turbine on the global DDO service?
After you’ve opted in to transfer your character from the Codemasters account system, you may elect to have your characters transferred to your existing DDO Unlimited account
Where are the forums for the DDO global service?
The global DDO service forums can be found at http://forums.ddo.com. At this time, the forums are English-language only and we ask that you keep your communications in English. We will make French and German forums available later this year, and apologize for the inconvenience.
Once I’ve signed up for the global DDO service, what community features do I have access to?
Players on the global DDO service can post to the forums, MyDDO, and the Compendium.

What happens to my guild?
Additional details about character transfer will be provided by Turbine at a later date.
I still have a box copy of the Codemasters EuropeanDungeons & Dragons Online® Stormreachgame client. Can I use it, or any of its special promotions, for the Turbine global DDO service?
No, the Codemasters DDO Stormreach box copy, and any special offers it contains, are not valid for the DDO global service. You may create an account, and download the game client, for the Turbine global DDO service at www.ddo.com instead.

We are very excited to announce that Turbine will be expanding its operations and will assume full control of Dungeons & Dragons Online® in Europe.   Beginning August 20th all European players can visit http://www.ddo.com to download and play the English version of DDO Unlimited with no monthly subscription required.  Turbine’s new German and French service will enter beta before the end of the year.
We are working very closely with our partner Codemasters Online to facilitate a smooth transition to our new global service.  We will be providing free character transfers to the new global service and players will be notified when the character transfer is available.  Please note that all accounts will only be accessible through our English service until our new German and French services come online.
As a thank you to our European players for their patience during this transition and to reward their loyalty, we are offering all current and former DDO Europe subscribers 5,000 Turbine Points (nearly a €50 value) when they transfer their characters. These points can be spent in the DDO Store on additional character slots, premium content, and much more.  For more information on the DDO Store and the free-to-play DDO Unlimited, please visit the DDO Unlimited FAQ.
We thank Codemasters for the outstanding job they have done publishing and operating DDO in Europe and we look forward to continuing to deliver one of the world’s best online entertainment experiences to the gamers of Europe.
For further information, please read our FAQ on Turbine’s expansion into Europe.

Freeze your blood with excitement with the return of the Risia Ice Games. The Ice Games will help you escape the sweltering heat, and get some cool prizes while you’re at it.  Available to players of all levels, test your skills on our series of slippery slopes, or just relax with friends as you glide across the ice. To get in on the action…
The Harbor
An ice skating rink is available at the base of the Lighthouse!
The ice jump begins at the top of the Harbor cliff behind the Harbormaster’s House!
House Phiarlan
An icy half-pipe is available at the back of the Bogwater Tavern!
Collect the floating white, blue, and purple ice coins and trade them with the powerful wizard, Jack Frostbite, for wondrous icy gifts, crafting recipe cards, and frosty ingredients for the Risian Eldritch Device at the Lighthouse! Jack can be found at the Bogwater half-pipe or by the Lighthouse ice rink helping to keep the ice cold!
If you find your winter sporting skills lacking, you can still earn ice coins by doing some good old fashion clobbering! Hunt down fire creatures in quests, adventure areas, and raids, who can also drop the ice coins!
Need more speed to reach the extra valuable ice coins? Tired of falling down and being laughed at by your friends in the rink? Ice skates are available for rent in exchange for ice tokens. The skates will prevent you from falling on the ice, and also give you some extra speed. Look for the rental NPC at the ice rink! Also be sure to check the DDO Store for fun wintery items!

The Risia Ice Games are available Monday, July 19th through Sunday, August 1st, 2010!

Are you a follower of DDOUnlimited on Twitter? You could win 500 Turbine Points for the DDO Store! Starting Friday June 4th (today!) through Sunday June 13th, be one of the first three to reply back to @ddounlimited with the specified phrase and get a 500 point code for the DDO Store! You must be following @ddounlimited to win, and the codes only work on Turbine’s live servers. There will be three chances to win per day at random times (you  may only win once), so make sure you’re following DDOUnlimited on Twitter  for your chance to win!