Asherons Call: Player Response to ACDM Review

First off I am coming from the perspective of loving the game Asheron's Call but accept that it is not perfect.

However, I had trouble agree with many of the "negative" points your reviewer made. Your reviewer said that Asheron's Call has no "atmosphere" and that it has "crippling flaws". Other than the problems with microsoft's passport system, I could not see many real flaws listed in the article, just a claim that there are some. There is only one pvp server, and I do not feel it fair to trash the game because the reviewer did not enjoy that one server. Did you try the normal servers? They have pvp as well but it is regulated. Also you mention that the game lacks "atmosphere" frequently in your article, but never really define what you mean by that. Are you referring to social or perhaps environmental atmosphere? I think AC is a star of both types. The allegiance and fellowship systems create tight communities and the dynamic weather generation engine is impressive. I agree that AC's graphics are not as impressive as some newer MMORPGS (which is understandable since they are newer). However, you did not mention the overhauls of many of the graphics made in Dark Majesty, such as new models for monsters, etc. The house system is not as buggy as people say either. There were a few instances of people losing all items in their houses, and yes it unfortunately happened, but no it did not happen to everyone. I know many people who play the game and no one I know suffered this. You also mentioned rampant scripting. Turbine primarily supports the active community who programs 3rd party applications to assist in navigating and playing the game. I think by this you maybe also meant macroing. There is some macroing in AC, however unlike other games I have played, macroing in AC is much less viable, especially at higher levels. It certainly is not nearly as "rampant" as any other game I have played (and I have played just about them all), not by a long shot.

I also should mention that I do not feel it appropriate for you to mark down the game based on your dislike of the passport system. Yes I do not agree with the passport system, but AC is a game not passport. If you were reviewing the game that is what you should stick with, not popularly slam Microsoft.

Another thing you horribly omitted from you article is Turbine, the company that makes AC. Turbine's customer service model is being imitated industry wide. You also did not mention the monthly updates in AC, the only game to offer a changing story line with new content FREE every month. You also did not mention that DM includes all such updates, to relieve the burden of downloading them for new players. You also did not mention the great new quests for new players. I made a new character just so I could enjoy them. You also did not mention that DM costs $20 and includes one month free, thus making it only $10. You also did not mention the numerous new quests that DM provides. You also claimed that AC has "no role-playing". AC does not promise role-playing. However there are many thriving role-playing groups and players.

In all I wonder how long you really played this game. I also wonder if you reviewer has graduated from college. I think you need to get more educated, serious staff, who will actually flesh out a game before forming an opinion and then looking for evidence to support what they already feel. You review did not seem to have much real information listed, except repetitively mentioning the relatively few problems associated with AC.

It is easy for me to recommend Asheron's Call, Dark Majesty.