akalabeth
Latest
Roleplaying classic Akalabeth now free on GOG.com
In 1979, Richard Garriott launched Akalabeth: World of Doom, arguably the first computer roleplaying game and the predecessor to his seminal Ultima series. Now, thanks to GOG.com, you can own this piece of gaming history at no charge. With this offer, Akalabeth joins three other games designed by Garriott - Worlds of Ultima: The Savage Empire, Ultima Worlds of Adventure: Martian Dreams and Ultima 4: Quest of the Avatar – on GOG.com's list of free games. If that's not enough retro roleplaying game action for your tastes, GOG.com also offers the fan-favorite Ultima 7 Complete Edition at $6, or you could just grab the entire Ultima series en masse for just under $30. Purists be warned: The version of Akalabeth available on GOG.com is not the original game, but is instead a 1998 remake, created because software from 1979 just doesn't play well with modern hardware. The latter-day game hews very closely to its predecessor and for most people is a flawless translation, but devotees will be able to spot minor changes. [Image: Richard Garriott]
The Game Archaeologist: Is Ultima Online 2 a doomed prospect?
When it comes to classic MMOs that have strong nostalgic pull with veterans, the topic does arise from time to time what a sequel to any given game would look like and how it would be received in the current gamer climate. We've already talked about updating graphics here in The Game Archaeologist, but I'm talking about more than a new coat of paint -- I'm talking about a new game entirely. A Star Trek: The Next Generation to the classic Star Trek. A One Direction to the New Kids on the Block. A Madden '13 to a Madden '12. I'm stretching here. In a recent franchise producer's letter, Mythic's Jeff Skalski gave fans of Ultima Online a teeny tiny glimmer of hope that Ultima Online 2 might one day be a reality. Depending on your read of it, it could've just been a "stop asking about UO2 already" plea, a shameless way to promote Ultima Forever, or one fan talking to another about something that could happen if both parties work toward a common goal. Considering the troubled past of Ultima Online's sequels, we have to wonder: Is this more false hope than real hope? Is there any conceivable way that this 15-year-old MMO could one day be granted the same honor as EverQuest, Asheron's Call, Guild Wars, and PlanetSide by getting a sequel that actually launches? I have some thoughts on all this, which is good because otherwise there would be a whole lot of white space after the jump.
One Shots: A moment in history
Today we've captured a little Easter egg in Tabula Rasa just for you. There are numerous computers throughout the game and most of them are usable -- which means you can see interesting little messages on them. Some are bits of story or lore, others simply give the world and environment a bit more depth than it would have had otherwise. This one, however, is a blast from the past! Using a particular computer in the Cormon base in Raja Gorge fires up Akalabeth, Richard Garriott's first game, published in 1980. (Though how the NCsoft crew managed to misspell Akalabeth with the original game disks hanging in their lobby I'm not sure...!)Do you have a screenshot of your own that you think expresses a unique or memorable moment in your favorite MMO? Send them to us with a description (including game name and location) and you may see it posted here for tomorrow's One Shots. %Gallery-9798%
