As was the case with ‘State of the Game’ posts a few days ago, it also seems not all patch notes are created equally.
Keep in mind this is a pre-patch, setting the table for Aventurine’s next BIG patch for DarkFall. Note that the pre-patch has more changes/fixes/content than some MMOs see in 6 months. From a team that was on vacation for a while. From a team which no doubt numbers the size of some games marketing/hype division.
What’s your MMO done for you lately?
Hardcore Casual 
Well, maybe some game shops prefer to do as much patching/fixing as possible BEFORE they release their product. If I see lots of and frequent patches/fixes it doesn’t necessarily make me feel good about the quality and polish of the game.
Adding content as another thing. Most often it is commendable. (Unless you are Syncaine’s epic maxed out WoW character and an expansion turns your mighty hero into just another has-been.) :-)
But DF has been out for 6+ months (the NA launch is a month old, but not the EU launch), so they are past (mostly) the stage of adding back in what was cut to hit the release date.
“•Clicking on a player’s name in chat will now open a message tab for that player
•When you are buying in bulk you can now type in the number of items you want”
oh hey there 2005!
Yea they were too busy getting mounted combat, ships, warhulks, player housing, and PvP to all work to include chat commands. Man is DF noticeably better now that they added those…
DF is definitely drawing close to the point at which I’d give it a try.
Perhaps when I get bored of Aion I’ll splurge. Could be a fun diversion.
http://wiki.ffxiclopedia.org/wiki/2009_-_(07/21/2009)_The_Version_Update_is_Here!
This is one of the weaker updates. Also release concurrently was one of the mini-expansions, it’s not listed with it.
Honestly, I remember the days when any patch note in DAOC was like opening presents at Christmas. Especially when they affected balance in some positive way. As much as people were /lol at DF for opening 1 server to a select few, obviously its easier to work at appeasing a smaller number then enduring the whines of many. So Df IMO is going to be ready at the 1 year mark, like many MMOs released lately. Looking forward to no need to a ‘blood wall’ or stuffing a comb in my keyboard to compete.
Last patch basically killed bloodwalls, at least for 90% of what people used them for. Going out to fight mobs right now gives INSANE skill gains compared to the bloodwall, and since magic costs regeants, skilling magic on a bloodwall is a great waste of money.
It amazes me how much people are happy with patches that appear closer than 6+ months apart, ala WoW. I seem to remember a game not only patched EVERY month but also added contet with that patch.
Oh how I miss you Asheron’s Call. Your monthly patches/updates were something to behold. From patching in new creatures and dungeons to adding and destorying cities there was always some thing to wait those of us who loved AC.
It seems that with the dawning of WoW, people are now content to play the same content over and over again for months and be happy.
I miss my monthly updates. :(
Damage, to be honest I wish they would keep updates slower. It sounds good, but unless you play 4-6 hours a day every day the amount of content added will outstrip your players ability to consume it.
It is possible to have so much of a good thing you feel like you never can keep up, and your players get fatigued from all the different activities you throw at them.