Kotaku: Ultima Online

Mark Jacobs - Saviour Of Britannia

Stuart Houghton — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 16:20:00 MDT

Mythic's Mark Jacobs has revealed that Ultima Online was set to be axed by EA, but that he was able to persuade them to pump more money into relaunching the title.

In a lengthy rant on the f13.net forums, Jacobs tackled recent criticism of Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning before going on to detail the many professional and personal attacks he feels he has suffered over his 20+ year career in the games industry.

"I've been called more obscene things, accused of being responsible for every thing that went wrong in DAoC (even when I wasn't involved in the game at all after a few years because of Imperator or WAR), blamed for the state UO is in (except that EA wanted to shut down UO when they gave it to us but I convinced them to spend more money on the game), gotten death threats (and had to call in the FBI), told that I should "shut up and die" more times than I can remember,"

Death threats? People, c'mon. It's only a flippin' game.

[f13.net - thanks, JC]

10 Years Of Ultima Online

Mike Fahey — Wed, 26 Sep 2007 15:00:07 MDT

Ten years ago yesterday the age of the MMO was ushered in with the release of Ultima Online. While not technically the first MMORPG, it was the first one that gained a widespread audience, paving the way for games like Everquest and World of Warcraft. In celebration of this 10 year anniversary, Electronic Arts is inviting players from the entirety of the games 10 years to return to the game for free from now until October 9th using their old username and password to experience the recent changes that came with the Kingdom Reborn makeover. The in-game celebration includes special events like a monster hunt where players can win prizes like maps of Britannia, an ahnk pendant, commemorative sculpture, or a virtue armor set. All players will also receive a wand of fireworks and 10 decor tokens, whatever those might be. Happy 10th Ultima Online! May you last another 10 years with the tiny player base you have left over!

EA Celebrates 10 Years Of Ultima Online
A Decade of Groundbreaking MMO Gaming Celebrated with In-Game Activities, Special Items and "Return to Britannia" Campaign for Past Players

Redwood City, CA, September 25, 2007 - Electronic Arts Inc. (NASDAQ: ERTS), the world's leading interactive entertainment company, today celebrated the 10th anniversary of the classic massively-multiplayer online game (MMO), Ultima OnlineTM. Launched on September 25, 1997, Ultima Online broke new ground in the multiplayer game space and ushered in the modern MMO era. Anniversary celebrations include special in-game activities and rewards, plus a new amnesty program that invites former players back to experience the major game update, Ultima Online Kingdom Reborn, for free.

"Ultima Online has thrived for 10 years and achieved the status of an MMO classic, thanks in large part to the devoted player community," said Mark Jacobs, VP and general manager, EA Mythic. "We are very excited to celebrate this special anniversary with players."

In celebration of the 10th anniversary, EA is kicking off the "Return to Brittania" campaign, an amnesty program that welcomes former players to discover the gameplay and graphics upgrades implemented in Kingdom Reborn. Past subscribers in good standing will be able to play for free through October 9, 2007 by visiting www.uo.com/kingdomreborn/gamefiles, downloading Ultima Online Kingdom Reborn and logging in using their former account name and password.

During the in-game 10th anniversary celebration, players will be able to take part in a monster hunt with special prizes including an ankh pendant necklace, map of Brittania, Ultima Online commemorative sculpture and virtue armor set. Additionally, all players will receive 10 décor tokens and a wand of fireworks in their characters' inventory.

Ultima Online Is Reborn

Mike Fahey — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 09:20:56 MDT

Nearly a full ten years since the original game was launched in September of 1997, Ultima Online is reborn as Ultima Online: Kingdom Reborn launches in North America. Much lumber will be gathered this day in celebration of the massive graphical overhaul the game has undergone to keep up with UO's tendency to look 5-7 years old at any given time. On top of the graphics, the game has received an enhanced UI, and an updated new character experience to help ease players into the world. The update is completely free for all, with new players able to try the game four 14 days to see what they've been missing these past ten years. Part of me is tempted to give the game a try, but the other part of me that has gone back to try to find enjoyment in the game multiple times over the past decade took that part out to the woods behind my apartment and beat the shit out of it. For those not as conflicted, hit the jump for download locations.

EA MYTHIC'S ULTIMA ONLINE: KINGDOM REBORN LAUNCHES IN NORTH AMERICA
Pioneering MMORPG Receives Massive Graphic and Gameplay Update Via Free Downloadable Expansion - New 14-day Trial Available

REDWOOD CITY, Calif. - August 27, 2007 - Electronic Arts Inc (NASDAQ: ERTS), the world's leading interactive entertainment company, today announced that Ultima Online(TM): Kingdom Reborn, the latest expansion to Ultima Online, is now available for free download at UO.com and IGN's popular game download site FilePlanet. Ultima Online: Kingdom Reborn introduces a stunning graphic update, all-new user interface and updated new player experience to Ultima Online, the MMO that ushered in the modern MMO era. Ultima Online: Kingdom Reborn is available for free to all players at:

UO.com
www.uoherald.com/kingdomreborn/gamefiles

FilePlanet
http://www.fileplanet.com/promotions/uo

For newcomers to Ultima Online, a free 14-day trial of Kingdom Reborn is now available for download at: http://www.uoherald.com/kindomreborn/trial

With Ultima Online: Kingdom Reborn, the legendary kingdom has been redrawn, reengineered and rebuilt for the next decade of players seeking an epic, fantasy MMO experience. The revamped new player content welcomes those who have never adventured through the celebrated lands of Ultima Online. Additionally, enhanced visuals and brand-new user interface present the game in a whole new light to veteran players.

"As the tenth anniversary of Ultima Online's launch approaches, Kingdom Reborn introduces an entirely new experience while preserving the spirit of the classic MMO," said Mark Jacobs, VP and General Manager of EA Mythic. "Kingdom Reborn represents EA's ongoing commitment to MMOs and Ultima Online's dedicated and loyal community, some of whom have been playing the game since its launch almost ten years ago."

To learn more about Ultima Online: Kingdom Reborn, visit www.uo.com/kingdomreborn. This game is rated "T" (Teen) by the ESRB.

###

Garriot - MMO Design Must Change

Mike Fahey — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 09:40:44 MDT

Delivering a keynote speech at the Develop Conference in Brighton, Richard "Lord British of the Rat Tails" Garriott denounced the MMO genre as having grown stagnant, simply offering gamers shinier shells over the same core components that were formulated ten years ago when Ultima Online launched. Garriott explained that by reusing the same concepts, developers are underselling the potential of the genre. "We owe it to consumers to provide new kinds of gameplay." Specifically mentioned in the keynote as overused features were stale combat systems, a focus on grinding, and a general lack of AI use in the genre.

"I think it (AI) has a lot more to offer the MMO genre than a lot people has given it credit for. The richness it offers in helping create the world and making sure that players are not the only moving part in that world is really important for the MMO category."

He certainly has a point there. I'd love to see NPC interaction move past scripted events and the old 'if faction = X then' formula into something much more dynamic. Even now, ten years after the first MMO games began popping up they aren't much more complicated than graphical MUDs.

Of course he then went on to explain how his new game, Tabula Rasa, would be addressing all of these issues, giving the whole proceeding an air of, 'look at me, I am innovating, just like I did ten years ago,' but when you get right down to it the man has every right to come off like that. The genre has been swinging from his rat tails for years now and the time for innovation is upon us. To arms!

'MMO design has not changed in a decade' - Garriott [Developmag.com]

Clip: Ultima Online Kingdom Reborn

Mike Fahey — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 09:20:18 MDT

Ten years ago a force was unleashed upon the world that would change how we waste our time forever. Now EA is nearly ready to...re-unleash that same force, having spent countless resources making Ultima Online - a ten year old game - look like a seven year old game.

Okay, so it is a little compelling and I do sort of feel a tug to give it a try again, but I'm sure that'll wear off once I get killed a couple of times trying to harvest wood. Some things never change. Michael Fahey

UO: Kingdom Reborn Website Launches

Mike Fahey — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 09:20:40 MDT

Winner of the Most Dangerous Place To Be A Lumberjack award nine years running, Ultima Online is quickly approaching its 10th anniversary, and EA has just launched the website for the expansion. The site details new features being added to the game, such as a streamlined, more World of Warcraftian interface, an improved new player experience, and an all new graphics engine, complete with before and after comparisons like the one above. .

I tried contacting the UO player community for comment, but they were all busy helping a friend move. Free pizza and beer, you know how that goes.

All kidding aside, you have to hand it to the UO folks for keeping the game running in the face of the much larger, more successful MMO games that have come along since 1997. Here's hoping that the expansion doesn't put too much stress on their players' 486s. Michael Fahey

Ultima OnlineTM: Kingdom Reborn Website Launches With A Look At The Stunning New Graphics Update

Every Stone, Monster, and Dungeon Rebuilt According to Original Concept Designs - Before and After Shots Available

EA Mythic today unveiled the official website for Ultima Online: Kingdom Reborn, the expansion that ushers in a new decade of fantasy role-playing for the iconic MMORPG. Kingdom Reborn, scheduled for release this summer as a free download, provides players with an unprecedented graphics update, improved user interface, and renovated tutorial system aimed at imparting new players with a richer understanding of the world.

To learn more about Kingdom Reborn and see the transformation first-hand through before and after screenshots, visit: www.uo.com/kingdomreborn

Released in September 1997, Ultima Online features an epic storyline incorporating elements of magic and fantasy. With devoted followers around the world, Ultima Online has thrived for a decade. The game has spawned seven expansions and dozens of free content updates, making it one of the deepest, largest MMORPGs ever created.

Ultima and Ultima Online are trademarks or registered trademarks of Electronic Arts Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries.

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2007 MMO Charity Calendar

Mike Fahey — Tue, 26 Dec 2006 12:40:59 MST

With the New Year just around the corner, MMO players are going to need a new calendar to monitor how many days they can safely go without sleep before succumbing to death's icy embrace. MMO Portal has exactly what they need in the form of their 2007 MMORPG calendar, featuring art from a different game every month, signed by members of their respective dev teams. It'll cost you $14.95, and 100% of all proceeds go towards the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Tennessee.

Featured games include:

Dark Age of Camelot
Dungeons & Dragons Online
Eve Online
EverQuest II
Gods & Heroes: Rome Rising
Lord of the Rings Online
Star Wars Galaxies
The Chronicles of SpellBorn
Ultima Online
Vanguard: Saga of Heroes
Warhammer Online
World of Warcraft

If it ever seems like I am making fun of MMO players, keep in mind I have played 10 of those 12 games, and several of them aren't even out yet. The calendar may not be as hot as the Nerdcore one, but there's whole lot less shame involved. Michael Fahey

MMO Calendar 2007 [MMO Portal, via GamePolitics]

Ultima Online Gets Upgrade In Its 10th Year

Michael McWhertor — Sun, 20 Aug 2006 09:46:38 MDT

It seems that one of the MMO's that popularized the genre will continue to receive some life support, this time in the form of a totally new client. Yep, massively multiplayer online role playing game Ultima Online will see a considerable graphics overhaul and a reworked UI.

Some of the changes players can expect courtesy of producer Aaron Cohen (aka Darkscribe):

We are completely re-building the Ultima Online client with new graphics and a new easier-to-use interface.
It is an in-place upgrade. That means you will be able to keep your characters, items, houses and everything else you've earned over the past nine years.
We are committed to maintaining extremely low system specs. They will be higher than what UO launched with in 1997, but will still be far lower than almost any other MMORPG on the market.
The launch will happen in 2007.
There are many, many more surprises in store.

Hopefully they'll continue to address the problematic cheating and gold farming issues in UO, despite the massive hilarity both can cause. Michael McWhertor

Ultima Online: Kingdom Reborn

Ultima Online Deletes Trillions in Gold

Brian Crecente — Sat, 08 Jul 2006 11:30:57 MDT

Ultima Online just did some major housecleaning. A few weeks after the game started to use cheat detector PunkBuster, Electonic Arts announced that they have closed down 180 accounts and permanently deleted about 15 trillion gold pieces. That's a 15 with god knows how many zeros.

Raph Koster points out that using the exchange rate, pre-deletion, that's about $21 million dollars in real cash. If that doesn't have a mammoth impact on the economy of Ultima Online I don't know what will. One would think that it would cause a huge upswing in the value of gold, but it is probably too early to tell. Brian Crecente

The Money Pit [Edge Online]

Mythic, Ultima Online Teaming Up

Brian Crecente — Fri, 30 Jun 2006 19:19:51 MDT

Apache reports that something is afoot over at Ultima Online. The official site for the granddaddy of MMOs says they are going to be teaming up with Mythic to "forge Britannia's future."

These are exciting days for MMORPG fans here at EA. With the acquisition of Mythic, the UO team will be working with the creative folks who brought us Dark Age of Camelot and are hard at work on the spectacular-looking Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning. I'm thrilled that the UO team and Mythic will work together to forge Britannia's future.
There is much to talk about with our new partners, and it will take some time to review and finalize our plans. Because we need to take that time, we are postponing the announcement that we were going to make this week. The in-game fiction cycle will take a break for a bit and will return soon.

Tantalizing, I just wish they were a little more specific about just what Mythic and Team UO will be forging.... a 3D Ultima MMO that won't get canned, a major make-over for Britannia, a server off-switch? Brian Crecente

Mythic Teaming With Ultima Online [Camelot Vault]

Virtual Ecospheres Coming To MMOs?

Brian Crecente — Wed, 31 May 2006 17:00:47 MDT

Master MMO designer and Ultima Online graduate, Raph Koster points out the emergent artificial life simulation created by a Second Life user in the non-game.

While the thing itself is very interesting (our very own Wagner James Au has a terrrific write-up over on his site), what I find even more fascinating is Koster's reaction to it.

He calls this sort of self-sufficient world, where bee's beget plants and clouds beget rain, the future of dynamic world enviroments.

Natural resources and natural shifts in them offer plausible reasons for AIs to behave differently over time. Add in users affecting abundance or scarcity, and you get systems with changing dynamics. If it doesn't spin out of control, that is. But you can curb that with balancing mechanisms.
Going to a simulation level also allows players to interact with the world and actually affect it.

In other words, developers may begin to program ecosphere's as opposed to static graphics and AI-embedded characters. Better still, Koster says based on what he's done and seen, this way would be way cheaper. Brian Crecente

Way Cool [Raph Koster]

Free Eats with the Ultima Online Crew

Brian Crecente — Fri, 17 Feb 2006 04:06:09 MST

Electronic Arts is hosting a Redwood City Town Hall meeting on March 2 to discuss Ultima Online. The meeting, which will on the Redwood Shores campus, will include members of the UO Team and discuss some of the upcoming coolness set to land on the granddaddy of MMOs. The 3 1/2 hour meeting will include free pizza and soda and a chance to ask your own questions of the team.

EA also plans to give away some UO posters (autographed, if you like) and other sweet schwag. Since it s a bit of a long commute for team Kotaku, someone needs to go and take pictures and notes for us.

Ultima Online Town Hall Meeting [UO]