Anarchy Online - How Free is Free?
The traditional problems you might expect like missing drivers, incompatibilities, with your PC gaming platform, etc were not there. Running the setup file was the best part of the whole process. Painless!
The Best News:
Downloading The Game:
I downloaded this game from Xfire because I'm always looking for download sites that are good as some of the on line game patching systems I have run across. This was a great experience compared to what you usually have to deal with. Xfire's download engine stopped when I played and online game. Resumed to have speed with some adtivities and when to full speed when I wasn't clicking the keys. Painless hours of background tasking!
Quality Issues:
Getting Started:
The process of setting up an account with the forms interface is not as intuitive as I would like to see. It looked like the preferred user name I wanted was lost due to an activated name with a lost connection. A series of trial and error attempts did get me to the point I could log on and begin the patching process. I suspect others attempting to play might have bailed out before this point because it was a free download and they have lots of really good games to play instead of trying a new one that hassles you from the start.
Patch Upgrades:
This process took forever for some reason. The downloading engine just quit sending data after a while, repeatedly, and just didn't do anything more until you canceled and started over again. The download engine could find the end of it's process and resume, however, so all was not lost. Eventually, given enough time and effort that process completed and I was able to move on to attempting to sign on and play a game.
Graphics Setup:
You will have to pick a graphic card setting before you connect. If you are not current on these technical things, you will have to sign on and off for a few tries until it works right for you.
On my first pass I went with the default settings and I couldn't figure out what was going on in the world from a viewing perspective. After going thorough the trial and error process of figuring out how to log off and then restarting the game with the highest settings they would allow the graphics were fine (This latest PC is pretty strong, I hope it is good for more than three years).
Networking:
I'm beginning to feel all of Anarchy Online problems aren't over yet. I had disconnects in account setup, the patching process and during game play. I have not had this level of network problems with other online games.
Game Play:
Slow real-time game play combat
Navigation with W,S,E,A instead of the mouse
Poor on line help to explained use, pickup, scan, equip, unequip, etc.
REVIEW CONCLUSION:
Interesting game play environment, nice graphics, poor game play, a lot of technical problems. Game trial download, installation problems, Account Setup Problems, Game Update Problems, Network Problems and less than excellent Game Play when I don't buy a game without good graphics, and sound has no value to me and I really don't want to spend my time with the hassle!