I don't think it kills the experience. Isn't it almost the same thing as buying a new supplement for the game that no one else at the table has, and using it to build your character? Sure, you probably can't share those upgrades in DDO, but the big difference is that DDO is free to play without mooching off your friends. Also, they've said that there will still be items you can only get through playing, not through purchase. I'm pretty sure there won't be items you can buy that you can't get through playing.
@TheRockingDead: No, in table top you have a Dungeon Master that is (or should be) a dynamic entity. He/She can decide what can and cannot be used in whatever campaign they are running. So if you have supplements that make your character better, but the DM says "yah right", you're screwed brotha.
Whereas on an online game with over-arching rules for everyone, that offers enhancements that only certain people can get, certain players get advantages that can't be evened out by a dynamic DM. This dis-advantage can only be evened out in eventual circumstances by the developers... but the chances of that happening aren't exactly high.
Any time a game introduces an aspect where players that have more real life money can have better items than players without so much real life money is a game that is completely and irreversibly broken from that point on.
@Witzbold: Well that's cause enough me to sanction your burning at the stake.
More seriously, I really liked the isometeric view of BG1 & 2 along with the beautiful artwork. I really liked NWN, but found the graphics and dungeons really dull.
I sorta wish there were more isometeric rpg's coming out. for starters they are a good layout for touch screens (thinking iphone games) since most iso rpg's don't require much more than a mouse. It cuts development costs and bugs down since your not dealing in 3D - which leaves more money for story, and polish.
I feel the same about 2d platformers. I like pretty graphics as much as the next guy, but there was tons of stuff from the snes era which was just straight up fun, and perfect as it was (other than minor slow downs due to hardware) Everyone, MS, Sony, Nintendo, should be spending a tiny budget and making some new oldschool style 2d games(rpg, r-type esc, platformers, etc.) It would cost next to nothing to produce and could be sold for cheap and continue to release sequels. It's not going to make anyone too much money, but it would get some major props from 'hardcore' people.
09/09/09
It's free so must be worth a shot. ( even though Freemium has never really worked well for me in the past)
09/09/09
06/09/09
06/09/09
Whereas on an online game with over-arching rules for everyone, that offers enhancements that only certain people can get, certain players get advantages that can't be evened out by a dynamic DM. This dis-advantage can only be evened out in eventual circumstances by the developers... but the chances of that happening aren't exactly high.
06/09/09
I'm looking at YOU Gunbound.
06/09/09
06/09/09
06/09/09
06/09/09
More seriously, I really liked the isometeric view of BG1 & 2 along with the beautiful artwork. I really liked NWN, but found the graphics and dungeons really dull.
I sorta wish there were more isometeric rpg's coming out. for starters they are a good layout for touch screens (thinking iphone games) since most iso rpg's don't require much more than a mouse. It cuts development costs and bugs down since your not dealing in 3D - which leaves more money for story, and polish.
I feel the same about 2d platformers. I like pretty graphics as much as the next guy, but there was tons of stuff from the snes era which was just straight up fun, and perfect as it was (other than minor slow downs due to hardware) Everyone, MS, Sony, Nintendo, should be spending a tiny budget and making some new oldschool style 2d games(rpg, r-type esc, platformers, etc.) It would cost next to nothing to produce and could be sold for cheap and continue to release sequels. It's not going to make anyone too much money, but it would get some major props from 'hardcore' people.
06/09/09
06/09/09
06/09/09
06/09/09
It's tremendous fun to play with friends if you're up for some old-school dungeon trawling with neat combat mechanics.