Kotaku: uo

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.

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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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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]