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Richard Garriott is selling the manor
"We'll be honest Claudette, we both just love it. When you told us the home used to belong to Richard Garriott and that the asking price was $4.1 million, we were unsure. But this is one of the most beautiful homes we've seen in Austin. And the walk-in tunic closet? Just lovely." "Oh, I'm so glad to hear it. There's just one other ... small thing. Teensy really." "...What?" "Well, I'm legally required to tell you the home ... is constructed on a Tabula Rasa burial ground." "Surely not!" "No, no, it's true. The Neph, the Bane, the AFS, all jammed under the floorboards. They're hermetically sealed, but still ... pretty grim." "How could --" "Now, on the plus side. That lamp over there? He stole it from the International Space Station." "So you're saying I have to live over the remains of an entire MMO, NPCorpses stacked on top of each other like cordwood, but on the bright side -- space lamp?" "... So, maybe ... $3.9 million? You think?" "We'll ... we'll get back to you."
Ultima Online celebrates 14 years
Happy birthday, Ultima Online! In an era when some games last not even a year and others seek to continually reinvent themselves, the grand-daddy of the genre has made it to 14 years. To usher in the anniversary, Mythic Entertainment released publish 72.0 to the live servers last week. The patch introduces another round of the Clean Up Britannia event, which allows players to trash their junk items (thus cleaning up the servers of wasted data) in return for lucrative rewards. The devs also tweaked the Honesty virtue mechanic and added new anniversary gifts that are claimable through Halloween. Finally, the UO team has promised a high-resolution art update, one of many graphical overhauls in the game's long history. Here's to 14 more, old girl. [Update: After the break, we've embedded an anniversary video by Sosaria Reels over on the official forums at UO Stratics. Enjoy the stroll down memory lane!]
The Daily Grind: Would you play another Ultima MMO?
The last time rumors of a new Ultima MMO flew, the Massively readership collectively drooled all over our site. This time, it's less a rumor and more a what-if: In an interview with IndustryGamers, Ultima series founder Richard Garriott stated that he has his "own very particular ideas for what Ultima can and should become over time" and that he'd be open to collaboration with Electronic Arts, which currently owns the IP. Given Garriott's current interest in social media gaming, we have to wonder whether a new Ultima game -- a spiritual successor to the still-going Ultima Online and its canceled sequels -- might someday enter the MMO arena. What do you think? Should Garriott and EA make another Ultima MMO or stick to single-player romps? And if an Ultima sequel actually made it to launch, would you play it? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
Some Assembly Required: Is the sandbox dead?
Let's face it, folks, 2011 has been a fairly bad year for sandbox MMORPGs. Whether we're talking about the premature (and, ahem, forced) demise of Star Wars Galaxies, EVE Online's public relations disasters and its capitulation to the cash-shop-in-a-sub-based game fad, or Earthrise's rough launch, there hasn't been a lot to celebrate for fans of non-linear MMO gameplay in quite a while. I've even had several friends ask me point blank: Is the sandbox dead? The short answer is not just no, but hell no. Join me after the cut for a few bright spots as we look to the future, take stock of the present, and try to forget about the past.
The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Ultima X: Odyssey
Last week on The Game Archaeologist: Murder most foul! A promising sequel to a hit MMO cut down in its prime, left to die on the front steps of EA's headquarters while its team was banished into exile! With special guest star, Richard Garriott's hair braid. And now, for the exciting conclusion! As disappointed that some MMO fans were over Ultima Worlds Online: Origin's cancellation, the truth is that the industry still was young, these MMOs still had their "new car smell," and hey, there was always Ultima Online to play. It was probably the right call at the time to not create your own competition, but if that was the case, EA should've never begun it to begin with. So did the company have a major case of cancellation remorse? Or did it look at other industry sequels like Asheron's Call 2 and EverQuest II and feel as though it was being upstaged? Whatever the reason, EA decided that it had been too hasty, and it greenlit development on yet another Ultima Online sequel, this one titled Ultima X: Odyssey. It would go deeper and further into development, gather more acclaim, and generate more hype than UWO:O, and in fact would get within spitting distance of launching.
Richard Garriott addresses 'Third Grand Era of Games' at the 2011 LOGIN Conference
Richard Garriott: game developer, private astronaut, beard aficionado -- and now keynote speaker. The former developer of the Ultima series, Ultima Online, and Tabula Rasa will provide the main speech at the 2011 LOGIN Conference. Garriott will be talking about the Third Grand Era of Games that he sees us moving into, following the single-player titles of the '80s and '90s and the MMORPGs of the 2000s. It's his belief that the market for online gaming is poised to expand tenfold with the rise of casual-led, virally spread, free-to-play titles. Garriott gave a teaser for his upcoming message: "The gaming industry is dawning on - at long last - a truly global audience of both genders and all ages. What lessons of history are useful? What truly new challenges await us? What will casual online games look like in five years?" The LOGIN Conference is a convention of game and software developers who discuss advances in technology, business, design and community. It will take place from May 16-18th in Bellevue, Washington, and Garriott will deliver his keynote speech on the 17th.
Ultima Online revisits dynamic content with Magincia reconstruction
Long before RIFT barreled on to the MMO scene and made a buzz-phrase out of "dynamic content," Ultima Online developers were busily pumping out some dynamic content of their own. In the fall of 2007, the influential fantasy sandbox title saw a horde of nasty demons descend upon the hapless town of Magincia and raze it to the ground despite (or in some cases, because of) the efforts of players on each of the game's shards. The invasion was part of a larger story cycle called Warriors of Destiny, and a new event is now brewing that will bring players back to the site of the ruined town. As part of the New Magincia rebuilding process, the provisional government of Britannia is holding a lottery for 22 land plots atop the city ruins. Said plots may be used for residences or shops at the winning player's discretion. The city is also playing host to a new public gardening mechanic, and you can find all the details at the official Ultima Online website.
Ultima Online video dev diary highlights new player experience
The original PvP-centric version of Ultima Online may be dead, but the heart and soul of the sandbox MMORPG lives on thanks to a dedicated playerbase and the Mythic dev team that is continually pumping out the updates. In a new video diary, producer Calvin Crowner talks about a return to Ultima's roots in 2011 and says that doing so necessitates moving away from the checklist mentality that often permeates development cycles. "If we go through a checklist, there's no way we're going to appeal to everyone, so instead of doing that we'd rather really get back to that feel and that flavor that brought players to Britannia every day." Associate producer Bonnie Armstrong agrees and points out that Ultima is moving away from MMO-standard kill quests and focusing more on stories (which are often helped along by the dedicated event GMs on each shard). Lead engineer Derek Brinkman says this will work well with the newly optimized client and the new high-resolution environment assets. Finally, the dev team talks about the redesigned new player experience and how it is expressly intended to get players into the world quickly while the meat of the client download happens behind the scenes. Hit the jump for the full video.
Ultima Online celebrates player's 83rd birthday in game
Think Ultima Online is all about ganking, Lord of the Flies, and survival of the fittest? Think again, as the feel good story of the week comes courtesy of the long-lived granddaddy of sandbox MMOs. Speaking of long lives, UO player Hollie Macrall recently celebrated her 83rd birthday, and while we don't know for sure whether that's some sort of MMO record, we do know that the Ultima devs were duly impressed enough to reward her with an in-game flower marking the occasion. As you can see in the accompanying screenshot, Hollie was surrounded by friends and family for her virtual celebration and is also the proud owner of the one-of-a-kind item bearing the inscription "In appreciation of age and wisdom. Happy 83rd birthday Hollie from the UO Team."
Garriott's Portalarium going the social media route
Our friends at Joystiq tipped us off to the latest endeavor for MMO legend Richard Garriott (and no, it doesn't involve the intrepid developer orbiting the earth). While speaking at the Austin, Texas-based Fantastic Arcade event, Lord British dropped a few hints regarding the social media stylings that his latest company (and game), Portalarium, will feature. "You play it by clicking on a link, nothing to pay for up front, no real installation and only if you decide you really want to play it will we decide how to eventually charge you money for it," Garriott enthused. While we're not quite as excited as we would be if he'd announced an updated Ultima Online project, Portalarium bears watching, if only to see whether Garriott can still walk the walk. "Since everybody else is doing Flash and Java games, I can kick their ass pretty easy," he told attendees.
Ultima producer's letter talks classic shard
Classic Ultima Online servers have been talked about so much over the years that nowadays most people usually shrug, roll their eyes, or point you to a private server whenever the topic comes up. Game forums around the web are usually the starting (and stopping) point for such discussions, as creaky old-timers wax on about how great the genre was prior to the MMORPG equivalent of the Endless September. When Ultima Online's current producer writes about classic shards, however, it becomes a bit more interesting than wishful speculation. In a producer's letter dated August 13th, Calvin Crowner indicates that a classic shard is being subjected to serious internal discussions in order to determine the appropriate business model and assess all the risks. He also intimates that a definitive answer will likely be forthcoming prior to the end of the year. Go easy on the celebrations though, as Crowner points out that it's not quite as simple as bringing back old customers. "It [a classic shard] needs to draw, along with the hype, an audience truly interested in understanding that before there were games on rails, there was a game built on skill and the thrill of a game with consequence."
Ultima Online's Call to Arms bringing back live events
Ready to take a trip down MMO memory lane? BioWare Mythic has your ticket to adventure in the form of Ultima Online's new Call to Arms event. Players signing up for new (non-trial) accounts will be rewarded with new-player tokens that grant 20,000 gold, skill gain boosts, and premium armor and weapons. Veteran players aren't left out in the cold either, as advanced character token templates have been updated, and there's also the prospect of increased skill advancement when partying with new players. Veterans and newbies alike can also pick up the latest Ultima Online expansion, Stygian Abyss, for a new lower price. PvP arena gameplay also makes its first appearance in the long-running MMORPG, as players can now engage in one-on-one duels in two new arenas. Finally, one of the staples of classic Ultima Online gameplay is making a comeback in the form of live events. Gamemasters will be leading in-game events and story arcs as well as re-introducing characters from the game's past, all centering around the town of Magincia.
The Daily Grind: Want realism with that?
Recently, a buddy and I were discussing the merits of MMORPG realism while waiting in the ironically named fast food drive-thru line. I'm all about the "realistic" social and economic possibilities inherent in old-school Ultima Online, while he digs the accessibility and pick-up-and-play nature of more recent titles such as World of Warcraft and, presumably, The Old Republic. About the only thing we could agree on is that there's room for both in the massive genre. Realism is highly subjective. For example, a fantasy title full of wizard fire, dragons, and goblins (Ultima Online) is, in my mind, more realistic than a non-combat sandbox based on "real life" like A Tale in the Desert. What say you, Massively readers? Would you like some realism with your MMORPGs, and if so, what exactly do you mean by that?
The Daily Grind: Unfaithfully Yours
MMO gamers can be a fickle bunch. Whether its loving a game one day and bashing it the next, or hopscotching from world to world on a weekly basis, MMO infidelity runs rampant in my circle of gaming friends. As for me personally, I'm pretty unfaithful when it comes to the massive genre. Over the past month, I've logged into Age of Conan, Aion, Fallen Earth, EVE, Champions Online, Ryzom, Guild Wars, Runes of Magic, and Everquest 2. Of these, only the first three have captured my attention for more than a day, but I'm sure a time will come when I return to all of them for one reason or another. Outside of gaming, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more faithful individual. I've loved the same woman for over six years and I support my beloved Yellow Jackets even though they've won exactly one game that matters since 1990. Why then, do I have such a hard time sticking with a single MMORPG? I think it boils down to the fact that just about every game has a great idea or two, but none of them can manage to be the complete experience I've been craving since the days of Ultima Online. Ideally, developers would build on previous games, incorporating absolutely everything that was cool about older titles into their newer ones, and eventually we'd end up with the ultimate uber game that would eliminate my need to try the next flavor of the month. Realistically, budgetary constraints, marketing decisions, and a general lack of creativity have conspired to give us games that have less options than those of years past, which is why I'm continually searching for The One. If someone ever dares to make a single game that features Ultima's economy, Star Wars Galaxies' housing and entertainers, Lord of the Rings Online's music system, APB's character creation, Age of Conan's combat system, and World of Warcraft's quests and polish, they'll have at least one customer for life. What about you, dear readers? Do you suffer from MMO infidelity?
EA launches Lord of Ultima browser game
Well, it's not the genre-saving 3D sandbox that many long time Ultima vets have been pining for, but it's a start. Electronic Arts today announced the availability of Lord of Ultima, a new MMO/strategy hybrid set in the revered Ultima universe. The free-to-play browser-based game features trading, alliance creation, army creation, diplomacy, and resource management. Developed by EA subsidiary Phenomic, the game was designed from the ground up to be accessible to a wide audience. "Lord of Ultima was designed to ensure that everyone, from strategy newcomers to diehard fans, can make it to the top of the leader board. Phenomic is committed to building dynamic communities that delight players as they interact with the game, each other and the legendary world of Ultima," said Volker Wertich, Phenomic Creative Director. Check out the official site for more information or to get started.
EA's Lord of Ultima browser-based MMO officially launches next week
EA's latest attempt to rejuvenate the Ultima franchise, the browser-based MMORTS Lord of Ultima, will exit open beta and go fully live on Tuesday, April 20. The game breaks from the franchise's usual norm of medieval vigilante heroism, and places you in the fur-lined boots of an up-and-coming ruler, who must build his kingdom through trade, diplomacy and neighborly acts of sabotage. If you're curious how the game operates, you can check out some gameplay clips from the beta on YouTube. Or, alternatively, you could just hop into the beta yourself. Or you could just be patient -- it's coming out in a week. Can't you wait a single week? Geez.
Richard Garriott and the choppy waters of social gaming
The term "social games" or its frequently-used cousin "Facebook games" is one that gets talked about a lot by MMO gamers these days. Specifically, it gets talked about in a similar tone to the UbiSoft DRM nightmare or the entire Infinity Ward fiasco. So it's going to turn some heads -- and raise some hackles -- when Richard Garriott moves into the social gaming scene. Creator of the genre-setting Ultima Online and the much-discussed Tabula Rasa, Garriott has explained in an interview with Gamasutra why he made the shift and what he thinks of the social gaming scene as it stands now. In short, he sees in social and mobile games the same things that marked other major shifts in the overall philosophy of making games, making them the next big wave. It's not an uncommon sentiment, but he goes on to point out that many of the virtues these games have, such as no installation and no up-front cost, are desirable traits in any game. He goes on to discuss stories in games and how he thinks that even social games can have them, even as he advocates less emphasis on freeform player-generated narratives. Take a look at the full interview to get a clearer picture on what we can expect from Garriott next -- and considering his place in the field of MMOs, it should be notable.
Richard Garriott muses on what could have been
During a recent gala of bigwigs at the Game Business Law summit in Dallas, TX, Richard Garriott joined GameDaily for a brief interview regarding his thoughts on the state of gaming today, and what he would have done with Tabula Rasa if he would have been "in charge."Garriott explained in this interview that he would have continued to grow the game and sees MMOs more as long-term plays, where Tabula Rasa didn't really get a chance. He believes that the demand is still there for a big MMO, yet the competition is much more fierce. "Everyone just has to deal with it," he laments. As stated in a previous interview, Garriott once again expressed his desire to re-enter the gaming field, yet he's unsure if he'd rather go single-player or multi-player this time. When asked about the possibility of a return to the Ultima series, he said, "The property Ultima is still very near and dear to my heart. I think that if, by hook or by crook, I had access to that property, either in solo-player or multiplayer, I would absolutely love to continue to play in the Ultima universe."
Is MMO terminology invading database programming?
Raph Koster couldn't help but wonder when he read the blog post entitled, "Lessons Learned: Sharding for startups," if he had a hand in creating that terminology. Sharding, as this blog post put it, was a method of running databases parallel to one another and making sure that the program could look in the right one for the information it needed. All of the older MMO users in the audience, however, know that this was not the first time the term "sharding" was used with parallel databases.Raph had coined the phrase "sharding" years before during the inception of Ultima Online. The story writers were looking for a way to tie in the concept of multiple servers running parallel copies of the same world into the lore of the Ultima universe. It was at that point where they got the idea that each server was the reflection in one of the many pieces of the shattered Gem of Immortality from Ultima I -- a shard world. So, is MMO terminology leaking into mainstream database programming? Raph has the whole story over at his blog, where he traces the origins of the term "shard," how it may have gotten used over at Flickr thanks to Game Neverending, and expanded into a term of it's own right. Check out the story, it certain brings back memories of the old days.
Lord British's history of violence
If you've ever played a game made by Richard Garriott, then chances are you've probably encountered (or at least heard of) his alternate persona, Lord British. Ever since his very first game Akalabeth, the character of Lord British has been something of a digital signature for Garriott. However, being a lord comes with its personal risks, as many players are always trying to find ways to stick a knife in you.For all he might have tried, every time a game was released with Lord British in it, players would figure out ways around the code and put him in the ground. With nine Ultima games and the more well-known Ultima Online incarnation, Lord British has bitten the dust more than a few times. Many of people never played the original Ultima series or weren't there when the infamous fire spell blasted Lord British face-first into the ground. It's for this reason the you'll probably want to check out an article by CVG chronicling the many different deaths of Lord British. They even cover the way in which General British was killed during the beta for Tabula Rasa.
