Goodbye, New Dereth, I will always remember you fondly
By Michael Lafferty

Looking back on what Asheron’s Call 2 inspired in the wake of Turbine’s decision to close the game

In the end, it was the server numbers that did in Asheron’s Call 2, nothing else. It was a long road, and despite the problems and bugs and myriad of other things that crept up, AC2 will always hold a very fond and special place in my memory.

Yes, there were nights when I wished to scream in anguish at server lag, or chat dropping out, or because I finally had my toon the way I wanted him and there was a forced reset with the latest patch. But in retrospect, those were feelings spawned because I cared so deeply about the game.

AC2 launched November 22, 2002, but the adventure began before that. I had seen other MMOs, but not even the community-rich world of Ultima Online snared my imagination and lured me to the world of massively multiplayer games. Sure, I have fond memories of UO as well, as in the time my friend and I were testing the Microsoft SideWinder Game Voice system, and we went off exploring in different directions only to have him come running past me as fast as his toon’s legs would go. One word he uttered: “Run!” A few seconds later I saw the reason. We died, and laughed. But those moments were few and far between.

Then one day in 2002 I received the opportunity to jump into AC2 with an avatar that was basically invincible. It was a reviewer’s account, and the created tumerok could not be killed (god-mode was turned on for it, and yes, I was given the code for it and could – and did – turn it off). Of course, I couldn’t tell anyone that, so I began to wander around the world and explore. On the last night of the beta, I found myself in Molwirth, and there was a host of others there, all milling about in anticipation. The last night of the beta and their presence led me to believe that something special was about to happen.

Then the attacks began. Wave after wave of monsters spawned and attacked the town remnants, and those there to defend it.

We fought, many died and resurrected at the nearby lifestone, only to charge in and die again. One particularly large mob launched my tumerok with a tremendous blow and he flew from the hilltop in Molwirth across the road to slam into the wall on the other side.

Finally the mobs were all dead, the spawns stopped and the dev team announced the game would go down shortly to prepare for the upcoming launch. We gathered around, compatriots in arms, fellows in a trial shared, and vowed to find one another in the real game. We never did find one another. Too many servers, too many players and no real way to locate those we had known.

But at that moment, the game had me. I belonged to it.

AC2 launched and the journey began anew. From island to island, new adventures, new discoveries in the game that reset the bar in terms of graphics, and with a combat system that had no equal in the MMO genre. You could actually avoid missile shots, dodge blows and counterattack with strategy. My heart never beat so fast as when I had my first taste of PvP (player-versus-player). I had to walk away to calm down before continuing.

There were rumors floating about that the publisher had forced Turbine to release the game before it was completed and that Turbine was trying to fix and finish the game on the fly. One problem led to others. It would seem that one thing was fixed only to have three others break in the process. But still I found myself logging into the game, time and again. Whether adventuring or crafting, the game hit a chord with my gaming spirit that no other game had.

A friend showed me places she liked to go, and told me of her compatriots who climbed seemingly impossible peaks within view of her special place. She said she would often sit up there and listen to her muses while the day folded into night. If I listened close, I swear I could hear the laughter of the mountain climbers, or the songs of the muses. When she left the game for the final time, she logged out there – the one place where she saw the world spread out before her, and knew stolen moments of peace apart from the chaos of the lands below.

There was so much to learn, and the people I met from that game were some of the best game friends it has been my pleasure to know. And yes, we do adventure, on occasion, to this day in other realms.

And now, rather than close a beta, Turbine is closing Asheron’s Call 2. On a chilly night at the end of the year (and yes, it will be chilly because of the what that evening will bring), the sun will set for the final time over the land of New Dereth and the world will fade into the mists of memory.

I had ventured away from AC2 long before Turbine had reached the decision to close the game. In vain I have searched for a game to equal that initial wonder that AC2 gave me. I doubt I will ever feel that way again, though not for lack of searching. AC2 was the first MMO to enthrall me, and for that reason, it will always hold a special place in my heart.

Turbine’s decision was not unexpected, but still there is a little pain that accompanies it. Though when balanced against the warmness of the memories I will always have, New Dereth will never truly disappear. It did give me much, and it shall hold an honored place in my thoughts.

Share | Digg This | Glink It

---