Dungeons & Dragons Online

Last updated

Dungeons & Dragons Online
Dungeons & Dragons Online Stormreach box.jpg
Original cover art
Developer(s)
  • Turbine (2006–2016)
  • Standing Stone Games (2016–present)
Publisher(s) Daybreak Game Company [lower-alpha 1]
Designer(s)
  • Jason Booth
  • Dan Ogles
  • Cardell Kerr
  • Ken Troop
Platform(s)
ReleaseWindows
February 28, 2006
OS X
June 25, 2012
Genre(s) Massively multiplayer online role-playing
Mode(s) Multiplayer

Dungeons & Dragons Online is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed by Turbine for Microsoft Windows and OS X. The game was originally marketed as Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach. Upon switching to a hybrid free-to-play model it was renamed Dungeons & Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited. The game was rebranded Dungeons & Dragons Online, with the introduction of Forgotten Realms-related content. Turbine developed Dungeons & Dragons Online as an online adaptation of Dungeons & Dragons (D&D), originally based loosely on the D&D 3.5 rule set. The game is set on the unexplored continent of Xen'drik within the Eberron campaign setting, and in the Kingdom of Cormyr within the Forgotten Realms campaign setting.[ citation needed ]

Contents

Gameplay

Quests are narrated by a Dungeon Master, and some of the early voiceover work was done by Dungeons & Dragon co-creators Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. [1]

Development

Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach was developed by Turbine over two years. The initial prototype and concept were created by Jason Booth, Dan Ogles, Cardell Kerr, Ken Troop, and Michael Sheidow, in coordination with Wizards of the Coast, the publisher of Dungeons & Dragons. Gary Gygax provided some narration before his death. [2]

Release

After testing was complete, a special head start event began on February 24 for those who pre-ordered, with the game opening to the public on February 28. [3] As of April 2008, there were less than 100,000 subscribers for the game. [4] In June 2009, Dungeons & Dragons Online reopened beta testing, in preparation for their new free-to-play subscription structure. [5]

The free-to-play business model was introduced with the Eberron Unlimited upgrade in the summer of 2009. [6] After the game went free-to-play, the company said subscriptions increased 40 percent by October 13 of the same year. [7] Engadget noted pros and cons from a player's perspective with the change. [8]

A beta of the OS X version was released on December 17, 2012. [9]

Post-release modules

In-game screenshot detailing the 3D graphics. SceneryofDDO.jpg
In-game screenshot detailing the 3D graphics.

By June 2009, Dungeons & Dragons Online was converted to a subscriptionless "free to play" game for players in North America, under the new name Dungeons & Dragons Online: Eberron Unlimited. The level cap was increased to level 20 and free users had access to the majority of game content; some features have to be purchased with Dungeons & Dragons Online points or unlocked through play. There is a VIP access with additional features available, as well as free DDO points. Closed beta registration opened on June 9. The game and contents were free to download on September 1 for VIP members and September 9 for the general North American public. [10]

By December 2016, Turbine was no longer developing the game, and a new studio was formed under the name Standing Stone Games, the staff of whom would be ex-Turbine. The publishing of the game was transferred from Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment to Daybreak Game Company. While a reason was not given for the transition, it was assured that the game would continue with new development. [11]

Expansions

  1. Turbine released its first Menace of the Underdark expansion [12] in June 2012. [13] The expansion increased the maximum character level and added the druid class. [14]
  2. The Shadowfell Conspiracy [15] was released in August 2013. It increased the maximum character level to 28, added 4 new races (iconic heroes) and new adventure pack located in Cormyr.
  3. With the Mists of Ravenloft, released in December 2017, [16] players venture to the lands of Barovia and ultimately fight Strahd von Zarovich. Additional features include the Aasimar race in two flavors, Vistani knife fighter, or Sentient weapons.
  4. The Masterminds of Sharn, released in May 2019, [17] sends players to Sharn, the City of Towers. It introduced two variants of the Tiefling race and a new fighting style: dual wielding crossbows. [18]
  5. In the Fables of the Feywild, [19] released in November 2020, players travel into the mystical plane of the Feywild. Apart from new adventures among the fey, the update also introduces two variants of the Shifter race, unicorn mounts, and a universal enhancement tree: the Feydark Illusionist. [20]
  6. In the mini-expansion released in August 2021 players uncover The Sinister Secret of Saltmarsh . The update also includes the Horizon Walker enhancement tree, granting new options to bow users. [21]
  7. The Isle of Dread , released in June 2022, increases the level cap to 32 and introduces two variants of the feline Tabaxi race. [22]
  8. In Vecna Unleashed, released in August 2023, players help Morgrave University neutralize the threat posed by Vecna. The mini-expansion brings balance adjustments to several classes and introduces the Machrotechnic epic destiny. [23]
  9. The 2024 expansion planned for Q2 takes players to the ruins of Myth Drannor to interfere with the plans of the Red Wizards. [24]

Reception

IGN ranked Dungeons & Dragons Online No. 11 on their list of "The Top 11 Dungeons & Dragons Games of All Time" in 2014. The magazine described as the "first MMORPG to prove that free-to-play payment plans were viable alternatives to the then-dominant subscription model". [32] Robert Hold of the NPR gave it a positive review, although he said some of the exposition seemed obvious. [33]

Awards

Lawsuits

On August 24, 2009, Turbine, Inc. filed lawsuit against Atari claiming a breach of a licensing agreement for Dungeons & Dragons. The suit alleged six counts over six years, including consistent breaches of contract, a lack of promotion and distribution, and attempting to gain additional money from Turbine's licensing of the D&D properties. Furthermore, Turbine claimed that many of the maneuvers by Atari were designed to either undercut the upcoming launch of Dungeons & Dragons: Eberron Unlimited or help Atari launch its own competing MMO. [42] Atari filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, and also filed a separate complaint to recover money owed to Atari resulting from an independent third party audit of Turbine. [43] The case was settled out of court in 2011. [44]

Ontario-based web services company Treehouse Avatar Technologies Inc. filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Turbine, Inc., which claimed Dungeons & Dragons Online had violated United States Patent No. 8,180,858 (Method And System For Presenting Data Over A Network Based On Network User Choices And Collecting Real-Time Data Related To Said Choices), which was awarded on May 15, 2012 to Treehouse's parent company WiLAN. [45] [46] Turbine settled the lawsuit by licensing WiLAN's technology. [47] [48] [49]

Notes

  1. ↑ The game was formerly published by Atari, Codemasters, and Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment.

Related Research Articles

A massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) is a video game that combines aspects of a role-playing video game and a massively multiplayer online game.

WB Games Boston is an American video game developer. The studio is best known for its massive multiplayer online role-playing games, Asheron's Call, Dungeons & Dragons Online, and The Lord of the Rings Online.

<i>Asherons Call</i> 1999 video game

Asheron's Call (AC) was a fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) for Microsoft Windows PCs, developed and published by Turbine Entertainment Software. Though it was developed by the Turbine team, it was published as a Microsoft title until 2004. The game was set on the island continent of Dereth and several surrounding smaller islands and archipelagos on the fictional planet of Auberean. The game was played in a large seamless 3D virtual world which could host thousands of players' characters at a time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Daybreak Game Company</span> American video game developer

Daybreak Game Company LLC is an American video game developer based in San Diego. The company was founded in December 1997 as Sony Online Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment, but was spun off to an independent investor in February 2015 and renamed Daybreak Game Company. On December 1, 2020, Daybreak Game Company entered into an agreement to be acquired by Enad Global 7.

Cryptic Studios is an American video game developer specializing in massively multiplayer online role-playing games. It is headquartered in Los Gatos, California, and was a wholly owned Perfect World subsidiary, and is now owned by Embracer Group through its subsidiary DECA Games.

Eberron is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) role-playing game. The game is set primarily on the continent of Khorvaire following a vast destructive war. Eberron is designed to accommodate traditional D&D elements and races within a differently toned setting; Eberron combines a fantasy tone with pulp and dark adventure elements, and some non-traditional fantasy technologies such as trains, skyships, and mechanical beings which are all powered by magic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keith Baker (game designer)</span> American writer and game designer

Keith Baker is an American game designer and fantasy novel author. In addition to working with Wizards of the Coast on the creation of Eberron, he has also contributed material for Goodman Games, Paizo Publishing and Green Ronin Publishing. In 2014, Baker and Jennifer Ellis co-founded the indie tabletop game company Twogether Studios.

<i>The Lord of the Rings Online</i> 2007 video game

The Lord of the Rings Online is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) for Microsoft Windows and OS X set in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, taking place during the time period of The Lord of the Rings. Originally developed by Turbine, the game launched in North America, Australia, Japan, and Europe in April 2007 as The Lord of the Rings Online: Shadows of Angmar. Players could create characters of four races and seven classes and adventure throughout the region of Eriador. In November 2008, the Mines of Moria expansion was released, adding the region of Moria and two new playable classes. It was followed by the Siege of Mirkwood in December 2009. In 2010 the game underwent a shift from its original subscription-based payment model to being free-to-play.

An action role-playing game is a subgenre of video games that combines core elements from both the action game and role-playing genre.

<i>Dungeons & Dragons: Dragonshard</i> 2005 video game

Dungeons & Dragons: Dragonshard is a real-time strategy role-playing video game, developed for Microsoft Windows by Liquid Entertainment, and published by Atari in September 2005. It takes place in Eberron, one of the official Dungeons & Dragons campaign settings. The game combines elements of traditional real-time strategy gameplay with role-playing elements such as hero units, and questing. Dragonshard includes two single-player campaigns, single-player skirmish maps, and multiplayer support. The single-player campaign follows the struggles of three competing factions to gain control of a magical artifact known as the Heart of Siberys.

The history of massively multiplayer online games spans over thirty years and hundreds of massively multiplayer online games (MMOG) titles. The origin and influence on MMO games stems from MUDs, Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) and earlier social games.

<i>Rift</i> (video game) 2011 video game

Rift is a fantasy free-to-play massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by Trion Worlds. Rift takes place within the fantasy world of Telara. Two competing factions, composed of a selection of races and classes, battle each other and the enemies who emerge from dynamic "rifts". The game was released in March 2011. A port of the game, called Rift Mobile, was released for Android on January 25, 2012.

<i>TERA</i> (video game) 2011 video game

TERA, also known as TERA Online, is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed by Bluehole Studio, a subsidiary of Krafton. The game was released in South Korea on 25 January 2011, in North America on 1 May 2012, and in Europe on 3 May 2012, with closed and open beta tests taking place before the launch dates. Nexon, Krafton, and Gameforge published the game in these regions, respectively. En Masse Entertainment was the North American publisher, until September 2020, while Atari handled physical distribution. In February 2013 the game was renamed to TERA: Rising concurrently with the game's launch to the free-to-play model.

Kunlun Group or their alternative name KoramGame, is a Hong Kong software developer and publisher.

<i>Neverwinter</i> (video game) 2013 video game

Neverwinter is a free-to-play massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by Cryptic Studios for Microsoft Windows in 2013, Xbox One in 2015, and PlayStation 4 in 2016. Based on the fictional Forgotten Realms city of Neverwinter from Dungeons & Dragons, Neverwinter is a standalone game and not part of the previous Neverwinter Nights series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeffrey Anderson (game designer)</span> American video game designer and entrepreneur

Jeffrey Anderson is currently serving as the founder and managing director of Kickstand, LCC. Kickstand is a boutique corporate advisory firm that offers professional guidance and consulting support to digital gaming, media and technology companies. In this role, Anderson provides seed and venture capital as well as board management, product strategy, and marketing support.

<i>The Elder Scrolls Online</i> 2014 video game

The Elder Scrolls Online, abbreviated ESO, is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG) developed by ZeniMax Online Studios and published by Bethesda Softworks. The game is a part of the Elder Scrolls series. It was released for Windows and macOS in April 2014, for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in June 2015, and for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S in June 2021.

The artificer is a playable character class in the Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) fantasy role-playing game. The Artificer first appeared as a full class in the 3.5 edition of D&D and was introduced in the Eberron campaign setting. The artificer is a unique base class that reflects many of the core themes of Eberron.

<i>Eberron: Rising from the Last War</i> Tabletop role-playing game supplement

Eberron: Rising from the Last War is a sourcebook that details the Eberron campaign setting for the 5th edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Jeremy Crawford, co-lead designer of the book, said the book "is the size of one of the core rule books of the game, it is jam packed".

References

  1. ↑ "Dungeons & Dragons Creators to Lend Voice to Stormreach". Wireless News. January 20, 2006. Archived from the original on June 11, 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  2. ↑ More, Max; Vita-More, Natasha, eds. (2013). The Transhumanist Reader: Classical and Contemporary Essays on the Science, Technology, and Philosophy of the Human Future. John Wiley & Sons. p. 123. ISBN   978-1-118-55599-6.
  3. ↑ Holt, Robert; Block, Melissa (February 28, 2006). "Dungeons and Dragons Makes Online Debut". All Things Considered . NPR. Archived from the original on June 11, 2014. Retrieved October 23, 2012.
  4. ↑ Svensson, Peter (April 13, 2008). "A Game's New Role". Telegraph Herald . Dubuque. Archived from the original on June 11, 2014. Retrieved October 26, 2012.
  5. ↑ Sposito, Sean (June 10, 2009). "Turbine offers new lure: free D&D play". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on June 11, 2014. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
  6. ↑ Fahey, Mike (June 9, 2009). "Dungeons And Dragons Online Goes Free". Kotaku . Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  7. ↑ Kuchera, Ben (October 13, 2009). "Dungeons and Dragons Online: behold the power of free". Ars Technica .
  8. ↑ "The pros and cons of free to play Dungeons and Dragons Online". Engadget . Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  9. ↑ Olivetti, Justin (December 17, 2012). "Dungeons and Dragons Online releases Mac client info". Engadget . Verizon Media. Archived from the original on December 21, 2019. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  10. ↑ "Warcry.com Article". Massively.com. July 31, 2009. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved August 3, 2009.
  11. ↑ Bree Royce (December 19, 2016). "Turbine Spins LOTRO and DDO Teams Out to New Studio, Using Daybreak as Publisher". Massively Overpowered. Retrieved December 20, 2016.
  12. ↑ Bray, Hiawatha (April 6, 2012). "PAX East lets city show it can play the game". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 30, 2012.
  13. ↑ VanOrd, Kevin (June 28, 2012). "Demons and Drow: Menace of the Underdark Arrives". GameSpot . Retrieved October 18, 2012.
  14. ↑ Kohan, Topher (January 20, 2012). "Master User Week". St. Joseph News-Press . Retrieved October 26, 2012.
  15. ↑ "DDO.com Forums". ddo.com. February 26, 2012. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  16. ↑ Fort, Suzie (October 17, 2017). "Mists of Ravenloft PreOrders Begin, Packages in 3 Flavors". mmoRPG. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  17. ↑ "Dungeons & Dragons Online's 'Masterminds of Sharn' Expansion Launches". MMOHuts. May 14, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  18. ↑ Olivetti, Justin (August 4, 2018). "Dungeons and Dragons Online announces Sharn: City of Towers expansion and Tiefling race". Massively Overpowered. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  19. ↑ Olivetti, Justin (January 22, 2020). "Dungeons and Dragons Online's 2020 roadmap includes Shifter race and Feywild expansion". Massively Overpowered. Retrieved January 23, 2020.
  20. ↑ Weber, Steven (November 5, 2020). "Dungeons and Dragons Online - Fables of the Feywild Content is Available NOW". MMORPG.com. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  21. ↑ Winter, Jason (August 4, 2021). "Explore A Spooky Town And Face New Foes In DDO's Sinister Secret Of Saltmarsh Expansion". MMOBomb.com. Retrieved August 5, 2021.
  22. ↑ Connor (June 22, 2022). "Dungeons & Dragons Online Adds New Tabaxi Race, Opens Pre-Orders For Isle Of Dread". MMO Fallout. Retrieved June 23, 2022.
  23. ↑ Neal, Chris (August 16, 2023). "Dungeons and Dragons Online releases its new Vecna Unleashed adventure DLC and Update 61". Massively Overpowered. Retrieved August 17, 2023.
  24. ↑ Marasigan, Marc (January 14, 2024). "Dungeons And Dragons Online Celebrates D&D's 50th Anniversary With Free Content". MMOs.com. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  25. ↑ "Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach for PC". GameRankings . CBS Interactive . Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  26. ↑ "Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach for PC Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  27. ↑ "Dungeons and Dragons Online". Eurogamer. September 18, 2009. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  28. ↑ "Dungeons and Dragons Online: Stormreach - PC". GameSpot. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  29. ↑ "Dungeons and Dragons Online: Stormreach for PC". GamesRadar. May 9, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  30. ↑ "Dungeons and Dragons Online: Stormreach for PC". GameTrailers . Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  31. ↑ "Dungeons and Dragons Online: Stormreach - PC". IGN. Archived from the original on August 15, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  32. ↑ Johnson, Leif (February 5, 2014). "THE TOP 11 DUNGEONS & DRAGONS GAMES OF ALL-TIME". IGN. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  33. ↑ Holt, Robert (February 28, 2006). "Dungeons & Dragons Makes Online Debut". NPR . Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  34. ↑ "RPGLand.com RPGs of the Year 2009". RPGLand.com. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
  35. ↑ "MMORPG Best F2P MMO of 2009". MMORPG.com. January 6, 2010. Retrieved January 6, 2010.
  36. ↑ "Ten Ton Hammer Best of 2009 Awards". Tentonhammer.com. Archived from the original on December 22, 2009. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
  37. ↑ "British Academy Video Games Awards (Latest Winners and Nominees)". British Academy of Film and Television Arts. October 5, 2006. Archived from the original on April 3, 2007. Retrieved February 24, 2007.
  38. ↑ "2005 Reader's Choice Award Winners". MMORPG.com. Retrieved February 24, 2007.
  39. ↑ "Best of 2006: PC (Best Persistent World Game". IGN. Archived from the original on February 24, 2007. Retrieved February 24, 2007.
  40. ↑ "10th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards". The Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on February 8, 2007. Retrieved March 1, 2007.
  41. 1 2 "Les JOL d'Or 2006". JeuxOnline. Retrieved March 5, 2007.
  42. ↑ "Atari's Dungeons and Dragon's Lawsuit [Update]". IGN. November 2021.
  43. ↑ "Atari Dismisses Turbine Lawsuit as "Frivolous"". The Escapist. September 3, 2009.
  44. ↑ "The Convoluted Story of Atari, DDO, and Neverwinter". Purple Pawn. August 16, 2011. Retrieved March 25, 2014.
  45. ↑ "Treehouse Sues Turbine over Patent Issued in 2012". gamepolitics.com. Archived from the original on October 14, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  46. ↑ "Patent US8180858 - Method and system for presenting data over a network based on network user ... - Google Patents". google.com.
  47. ↑ James Fudge (November 25, 2013). "Turbine Settles Lawsuit with Treehouse Avatar Technologies". GamePolitics.com. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved February 2, 2019.
  48. ↑ "Wi-Lan advances as unit ends patent dispute with Turbine". Proactiveinvestors NA. August 2, 2013.
  49. ↑ "Turbine settles Treehouse Avatar Technologies lawsuit via partnership". Massively. Archived from the original on January 23, 2015. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.