Want Combat Details, we got them!!!

[JonnyG]

Unfortunately it's for Ultima (http://www.gamespy.com/devdiary/december03/uxo2/). :(

Rivalwatch: UXO

Combat in Ultima X: Odyssey really took shape with the fourth revision. The major change was modifying the left-clicks from just changing your character's combat attitude to directly tying it to his attack swings. So, every time you click the left mouse button, your character attacks -- which seems like a simple change until you actually experience it. Allowing you to directly control every sword swing, every bow shot, and every spell cast creates a remarkable connection between you and your character. Later revisions allowed you to control your character's accuracy by attacking more slowly, as well as control your character's defense, something conspicuously absent from most MMORPG combat.
Details guys, we want details!!!

[BigJonno]

*Puts up a small booth with the sign "Want to kick JonnyG? £1 for three." sits down and waits.*


:D

[Nidhögg]

How much is £1 in USD? Will you have transatlantic billing? Can we all play at the same booth or is there an additional charge for NA people to kick jonny in europe?

jk jonny, really you are my friend, you want me in beta and will suggest that I be in ;)

[JonnyG]

Originally posted by Nidhögg
jk jonny, really you are my friend, you want me in beta and will suggest that I be in ;)
I'm assuming that was in your best Obi-Wan voice.

[BigJonno]

Woah, it's about $1.75! The pound is really kicking arse at the moment. (Well, either that or the dollar is going down the pan.) Last time I checked it was about $1.54.

(By the way, I'm not a weirdo finance geek, I just buy a lot of stuff from the US. It's the only exchange rate I get excited about, honest.)

Actually, we're doing a public "Kick JonnyG" beta test, but you can only do that if you're in Europe. Even when "Kick JonnyG" comes out you'll have to wait months for an official North American booth. You will be able to import a European booth, though. But the European booth will not let you join in kicking JonnyG with other people in NA when the NA booth is released. Plus there is now tax on your kicks, so it's actually going to cost $2.50 for three kicks.

Oh, yeah, there are some billing issues, so it'll take you six hours to register "Kick JonnyG" and you'll find out that you've been billed ten times. This is despite the fact that your first month of "Kick JonnyG" is free and you probably wont be playing after that so us having your credit card info is completely pointless.

There are some lag issues too, so you'll have to wait in line for another couple of hours before you can play "Kick JonnyG" after you've registered.

There are some placeholders in there so you wont actually be kicking JonnyG, it'll be a cardboard box with "JonnyG" written on the side.

It's buggy as well, so there's a good chance that when you go to kick JonnyG he wont be there.

[JonnyG]

At least the the placeholder will keep my butt from being sore. Which should mean that we'll be able to keep the booths up a little longer.

See now this is what I mean when I say that expectations for MMRPG's have jaded us somewhat.

[Halldor]

But but but...I gotta get in the first hour the server is open so I be uber leet and--

**the sound of a loud smack reverberates through all of Mythica HQ**

Whew. I needed that. Hmmm...when the servers are stable and I can be the uberleet Berserkick class--

**WHACK!**

Damn, why does my head hurt? In any case...see you guys in-game...everyone gets their first kick free, ja?

[BigJonno]

every time you click the left mouse button, your character attacks

Bringing this back on topic, this could be the most important evolution in MMORPGs since, well, forever. It sounds ridiculously simple but if properly implemented could be the end to boring MMORPG combat.