Usually, patches are nothing less than a reason to put on a gaudy party hat and boogie on down in celebration. After all, it's almost always good news, right? Bugs are squashed! Issues resolved! Features added! Content enriched! Classes balanced! Yet sometimes, a patch arrives that leaves a sour taste in one's mouth, as it does more damage than good -- it significantly weakens a class, it introduces a host of new bugs, it shifts the gameplay focus to an undesired area, or it trivializes past achievements.
So, assuming that you were granted the divine power to roll back one patch in one MMO -- a patch, mind you, not an expansion -- which would it be? Which patch still grates on your nerves to this very day, a patch so bad that you consider it an abomination to gaming everywhere? What one update to your MMO would have been better never being born in the first place? Speak your mind, or forever hold your peace!
Reader Comments (54)
Posted: Apr 14th 2010 8:05AM (Unverified) said
Every patch that has ever nerfed paladins in WoW. Because I likes to roll OP'd son.
Posted: Apr 14th 2010 8:07AM (Unverified) said
About a year ago there was a patch in Lotro - I forget the name or number of it.
However, it was the one that caused all the NPC (and pet) AI to go into 'anti exploit' mode every second moment.
It also changed the RK's bug zapper sound effect to a less 'zappy' one, and completely neutered my LM's CC abilities, along with a host of other game-changing (at the time) issues that weren't on my want list.
Whilst I don't remember the specific patch detail any more than that, what I do know is that it caused me to unsub immediately, only to return last month.
So, yes, one patch caused me to stop giving money to Turbine for a full year. /ragequit ftw
(Thoroughly enjoying my recent return though) :D
However, it was the one that caused all the NPC (and pet) AI to go into 'anti exploit' mode every second moment.
It also changed the RK's bug zapper sound effect to a less 'zappy' one, and completely neutered my LM's CC abilities, along with a host of other game-changing (at the time) issues that weren't on my want list.
Whilst I don't remember the specific patch detail any more than that, what I do know is that it caused me to unsub immediately, only to return last month.
So, yes, one patch caused me to stop giving money to Turbine for a full year. /ragequit ftw
(Thoroughly enjoying my recent return though) :D
Posted: Apr 14th 2010 8:11AM Miffy said
I want SWG to be rolled back to 2003 to the patch where the cities and vehicles got added in. However I'd want them to add things that have been added since like collections and making your own quests and JTLS. Though I would want them to be modified so they match the player driven crafted economy. Also things like removing fast travel from JTLS so you have to wait 10 mins at Starports. Not only does this make the galaxy feel bigger but it is social content. I met lots of friends from them Starport waits. I'd also want things like TEF and and all the old hardcore mechanics that they slowly patched out to stay in.
For me all that game needed in 2003 was content and balancing. Instead SOE added Jedi and the CU and NGE, therefore ruining the whole game.
For me all that game needed in 2003 was content and balancing. Instead SOE added Jedi and the CU and NGE, therefore ruining the whole game.
Posted: Apr 14th 2010 11:43AM ultimateq said
Venekor said it. SWG's CU patch is what I would take back (assuming that it takes all later patches with it, so bye bye NGE as well).
What would I pick aside from SWG? Free Realms. The Snow Days update in December essentially NGE'd Free Realms. I would like that patch to get taken away as well.
Reply
What would I pick aside from SWG? Free Realms. The Snow Days update in December essentially NGE'd Free Realms. I would like that patch to get taken away as well.
Posted: Apr 14th 2010 8:48PM (Unverified) said
Speaking of SOE, I would would like the December 2009 Free Realms "Snow Days Patch" rolled back to the original combat system. SOE seems to like messing around with major dumbing-down of their combat systems. It was already pretty simple to begin with.... now it's....
1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,2.1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,2(maybe a "3" once in a while.
Reply
1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,2.1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,2(maybe a "3" once in a while.
Posted: Apr 14th 2010 8:56PM (Unverified) said
Oops. I didn't read far enough down. UltimateQ beat me to the 'SOE Free Realms version of the NGE' reference. By the way, if anyone from SOE reads this... I will never play another SOE game because of this annoying habit of yours.
Reply
Posted: Apr 14th 2010 8:17AM (Unverified) said
The Combat Upgrade in Galaxies. I loved the game so much, but wasn't super focused on the levelling aspect, since you didn't have to grind to really enjoy it.
After the patch I woke up naked in a river somewhere in the woods. It was an unpleasant suprise, to say the least.
After the patch I woke up naked in a river somewhere in the woods. It was an unpleasant suprise, to say the least.
Posted: Apr 14th 2010 8:29AM Lethality said
CU from SWG... hands down.
Posted: Apr 14th 2010 8:30AM (Unverified) said
Absolutely SWG ...
Galactus "The destroyer of worlds" patch
Galactus "The destroyer of worlds" patch
Posted: Apr 14th 2010 8:42AM (Unverified) said
Totally SWG, loved it pre NGE, after the NGE I too woke up naked but in the middle of the desert...
The patch ruined the game for me, havent looked at the game for more than about 2 days since...do keep trying it though to see if SOE have managed to do anything decent with it.
For me it was the loss of ability to auto attack targets that sucked the most, but I'm sure everyone has an opinion on it.
The patch ruined the game for me, havent looked at the game for more than about 2 days since...do keep trying it though to see if SOE have managed to do anything decent with it.
For me it was the loss of ability to auto attack targets that sucked the most, but I'm sure everyone has an opinion on it.
Posted: Apr 14th 2010 6:07PM (Unverified) said
The NGE in SWG for me also. I would still be playing the game if it were not for that.
Reply
Posted: Apr 14th 2010 8:49AM Starry said
I would like to see the SWG CU patch of April 2005 rolled back to Pre-CU game play, when the game was truly skill-based with limitless potential. It may have prevented the unwanted and most destructive SWG patch of all time...the NGE.
Posted: Apr 14th 2010 8:56AM (Unverified) said
It's should probably be pointed out to those that never played SWG that both CU and NGE were patches - not expansions, and therefore both qualify by the article's rules!
And yeah... Combat Upgrade in that for me.
And yeah... Combat Upgrade in that for me.
Posted: Apr 14th 2010 9:01AM (Unverified) said
+1 for the CU and NGE in SWG, killed what was a great game for me and all of my friends
Posted: Apr 14th 2010 9:29AM (Unverified) said
CU & NGE. Enough said.
Back when you really felt like a small person in a huge galaxy.
Back when you really created your own adventure - not live some
iconic characters life.
Back when it was cool to see a jedi.
sigh... That has to be one of the all time worst changes ever made to
a genuinely GREAT MMO. Like taking something that has all the
potential in the world and just smashing it into dust and dumbing it
so far down there is little trace of what used to be.
- Upem
Starsider
Back when you really felt like a small person in a huge galaxy.
Back when you really created your own adventure - not live some
iconic characters life.
Back when it was cool to see a jedi.
sigh... That has to be one of the all time worst changes ever made to
a genuinely GREAT MMO. Like taking something that has all the
potential in the world and just smashing it into dust and dumbing it
so far down there is little trace of what used to be.
- Upem
Starsider
Posted: Apr 14th 2010 9:29AM engrey said
WoW patch 2.0, basically rewarding people now for honor points, that killed world PvP. Even though I was only level 30 or so when the TM/SS fights went on it was still a blast to be a part of.
And if by patch I can get away with saying expansion it would have been BC.
And if by patch I can get away with saying expansion it would have been BC.
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