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The Daily Grind: Do you stay loyal to your MMO guild?

Brianna Royce — Sat, 26 May 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Events, real-world, Guilds, MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

When I joined a guild in Ultima Online in 1997, I had no idea I was going to still be in a version of that guild almost 15 years later. Heck, I doubt I even realized that MMOs would still be a thing 15 years later! But from chatting with my fellow Massively staffers and you lovely readers, I've realized that my experience isn't shared by most people. Guilds implode. New games emerge. People move on. Drama develops. Real life happens. That sense of loyalty just isn't always worth the trouble. Guilds often exist to help members meet their goals in a single game, and when those goals are met, that's it -- it's over.

But I'll move to (and stay in) games past their expiration dates just to hang out with guildies. What about you guys? Are you loyal to a single guild or group of gaming friends, or do you drop from a guild when you drop out of a game, knowing you'll find new mates in the next big thing?

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!

The Daily Grind: Do you stay loyal to your MMO guild? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 26 May 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Game Archaeologist: Richard Garriott's haunted cache

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 22 May 2012 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Video, Events, real-world, Tabula Rasa, Ultima Online, The Game Archaeologist, Miscellaneous

Whenever you get really into a new hobby, it's natural to want to blab about it to anyone who drifts into your gravitational field. That's why we all talk about MMOs, right? It's also why any friends, family members, and coworkers have had to put up with excited rambling about my discovered love for Geocaching.

Some of you probably know Geocaching, as it's been around for over a decade now. For those of you who haven't, it's a worldwide treasure hunt that involves over a million and a half "caches" of various sizes that are hidden and then marked with GPS coordinates. Players head to the official site or one of the open-source projects to get the coordinates and go hunting for them. There's a useful two-minute introduction to this hobby on YouTube if you're curious.

I noted on our Massively Speaking podcast that Geocaching has a lot in common with MMOs: Both encourage questing and exploration, both have treasure to be found, and both plug you into a community of adventurers. Listener Terrence heard this and send in an email with an interesting revelation that ties these two hobbies even closer together, as a game developer brought his online world to a real-world location.

Ladies and gentlemen, may I present to you Richard Garriott's haunted cache.

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist: Richard Garriott's haunted cache

The Game Archaeologist: Richard Garriott's haunted cache originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ultima Online rolling out a new installment of the Awakening

Eliot Lefebvre — Mon, 21 May 2012 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Patches, News items, Ultima Online, Dungeons

Ultima Online is preparing a continuation of the game's latest global arc with tomorrow's patch. Act VI of The Awakening asks players to assist in crafting a number of alchemical preparations, with a number of rewards available for players who actively try to crack the puzzle of the correct ingredients. More information will be available from the official site as well as an in-game NPC. If you need more time to prepare, don't worry -- the quest is going active in July and lasting until mid-August.

If you're not willing to wait, the new patch also sees a revamp of the Covetous Dungeon. The first floor remains largely unchanged, but levels two and three both feature a new system for the game in which players accumulate points for defeating monsters that can later be turned in for new rewards. Last but not least, vanilla plants have been added to the game's gardening system, giving players another new thing to explore when not fighting monsters or preparing for the next part of The Awakening.

Ultima Online rolling out a new installment of the Awakening originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 21 May 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Why I play Star Wars: The Old Republic

Larry Everett — Wed, 02 May 2012 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sci-fi, Culture, Lore, MMO industry, Opinion, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Why I Play

I believe I'm like most people when I say that I cling to nostalgia. I love it when parts of my adolescence are made into movies or video games. Yes, despite it being an explode-y Michael Bay movie, I loved Transformers, and I can't tell you how many times I watched Lord of the Rings when Peter Jackson adapted J.R.R. Tolkien's masterpiece into a blockbuster. But despite Ghostbusters' status as my favorite single movie of all time, the original Star Wars trilogy had more impact on my childhood than anything else in my life. I still get childhood chills when I think about it.

From the music to the action figures, I loved them all. I still have a picture of me at six years old riding an AT-AT. Yes, even at six, I knew exactly what an AT-AT was. And although I called a lightsaber a light-saver, I grew up with Star Wars entrenched in my psyche. It was only natural that when the video games revolving around the series came out, I would take up that cause. You guys remember the crazy wireframe Death Star trench arcade? You'd better believe I was there playing that.

When Star Wars entered the MMO space, I was there with bells on. But it's not just this longing to recapture my childhood that propels me to that galaxy far, far away in Star Wars: The Old Republic. The spice addiction runs quite a bit deeper.

Continue reading Why I play Star Wars: The Old Republic

Why I play Star Wars: The Old Republic originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Game Archaeologist: Are graphical updates worth the hassle?

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:30:00 EST

Filed under: Anarchy Online, Opinion, Ultima Online, The Game Archaeologist, Miscellaneous

"I'd play this game again if the graphics were updated."

"If they re-released this game with modern graphics, it would be way more popular."

"The Game Archaeologist is my hero, and I will name my progeny in his honor."

How many times have we heard the above statements? From my perspective as someone who tries to keep tabs on classic MMOs, I see these claims quite a lot. Such sentiments pop up in nearly every other post Massively does about older games: "This title is rock-solid except for its aging visuals. Update those, and it would recapture its former glory and then some."

This has gotten me thinking whether such logic would pan out or not. With Anarchy Online's much-hyped graphics overhaul on the way, this discussion seems to crop up more often. Is the power of a graphics conversion or overhaul strong enough to pull back in previous players and fresh blood? Or is it merely slathering on new paint over a rusting hulk?

Continue reading The Game Archaeologist: Are graphical updates worth the hassle?

The Game Archaeologist: Are graphical updates worth the hassle? originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Perfect Ten: Free-to-play holdouts

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, Asheron's Call, Dark Age of Camelot, EVE Online, Final Fantasy XI, PlanetSide, Warhammer Online, Ultima Online, Free-to-play, Star Wars: The Old Republic, RIFT, Final Fantasy XIV, Perfect Ten

In the increasingly diminishing field of subscription-only MMOs, two distinct camps have formed. There is the Old Guard that has its established playerbase and is simply not interested in jumping on board the F2P train, and then there are the New Kids on the Block (which would make an excellent band name, by the way), who argue that their premium features and AAA content warrant a subscription in the F2P age.

A few years ago, doing a list of the final few F2P holdouts would have been a ridiculous proposition, but now it's actually difficult to get to 10 of these. Each company has a different reason that it hasn't given these games more flexible payment options (FPO should replace F2P; pass it on!), and while some have addressed this publicly, others say nothing and leave us to speculate on it.

For today's Perfect Ten, we're going to look at the 10 biggest current F2P holdouts in the industry and muse about what's going on behind the scenes. Will this list be impossible to do in a few years or will subscription-only titles come back in a big way? Hey, I don't predict things; I just make lists.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: Free-to-play holdouts

The Perfect Ten: Free-to-play holdouts originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 19 Apr 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Would you ever pay to beta test?

Justin Olivetti — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Betas, Culture, Opinion, Ultima Online, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

You might have read the title of today's Daily Grind and found yourself laughing uproariously, startling any small children or cats in the area. "Me? Pay for beta?" you chortle. "Why, that's the most ludicrous thing I've heard all day, and I've already been to The Onion!"

But I'd like you to stop and actually consider it for a moment. Historically, people have paid for beta access; back in the late '90s, players shelled out a few bucks to get a copy of the Ultima Online beta CD. Even today, many pre-purchases and pre-orders involve exchanges of funds so that a beta key might be reserved.

But what if MMO studios today came right out and blatantly started charging you to be a part of the beta process? Would you do it? What game would need to be involved, and for what price would you capitulate? Let us know in the comments, and please leave all "I'm already paying for a beta; it's called [Name of Launched Game]" snark at the door!

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!

The Daily Grind: Would you ever pay to beta test? originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 18 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Perfect Ten: MMO tributes to real-life people

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: World of Warcraft, City of Heroes, Dark Age of Camelot, Dungeons and Dragons Online, EverQuest II, Culture, Events, real-world, Events, in-game, Star Wars Galaxies, Ultima Online, Guild Wars 2, Perfect Ten, Miscellaneous

When a beloved friend, family member, hero, or role model dies, we feel the pain of that loss and grieve in many different ways. Part of that grieving and healing process is often entails those left behind constructing some sort of tribute to the dearly departed. Sometimes this comes in the form of a shrine of flowers, sometimes it's the establishment of a charity, and sometimes it's creating an in-game memorial that thousands if not millions of people will see over the course of years.

So while death and illness are depressing topics to dwell upon, I find the many MMO tributes that studios and even gamers have erected to be inspiring and a celebration of individual players' lives. With the help of my fellow Massively staffers, I researched 10 wonderful in-game tributes that serve to honor the lives of fellow gamers.

Continue reading The Perfect Ten: MMO tributes to real-life people

The Perfect Ten: MMO tributes to real-life people originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Leaderboard: Ultima Online vs. EverQuest vs. Asheron's Call

Justin Olivetti — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Polls, Asheron's Call, EverQuest, Culture, Opinion, Ultima Online, Miscellaneous, Leaderboard

Back at the turn of the century, you didn't have the equivalent of cable's infinite choices when it came to MMOs. No, you pretty much had the standard Big Three of network programming: Ultima Online, EverQuest, and Asheron's Call. With the subscription model firmly in place, most players had to choose their loyalty and choose it well.

For today's Leaderboard, we're going to pretend that no other MMOs exist other than those three and see how the 2012 crowd divides up between them. Would you fly your banner for Ultima Online and its enormous sandboxy world? Would you cast your lots with EverQuest, the once great and powerful king of the genre? Or would you throw in with Asheron's Call and its monthly stories?

Call it a popularity contest, a trip down memory lane, or an all-out brawl between MMO senior citizens. It's a three-way title fight on this week's Leaderboard, and only one game will live to see next week!

Continue reading Leaderboard: Ultima Online vs. EverQuest vs. Asheron's Call

Leaderboard: Ultima Online vs. EverQuest vs. Asheron's Call originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 02 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Do you miss player-written books in MMOs?

Brianna Royce — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

In her sandbox column a week or so ago, Massively's own MJ Guthrie brought up an MMO feature that's fallen by the wayside in recent years: player-written books. Ancient sandboxes like Ultima Online and modern classics like EverQuest II give players the ability to write their own books, which then populate player-run libraries, serve as tavern menus, explain quests, and mark the memory of friends who left the game. Later games, however, have sadly passed over the mechanic.

I can't say that player-written anythings have no potential for abuse and inanity. There's a guild in UO, for example, that uses books as advertising spam, and the game's designers were forced to implement a system to lock-in text to circumvent the "Dudebro was here" graffiti that miscreants would otherwise inscribe on other players' masterpieces. But the potential for cool outweighs the potential for abuse for me, and I miss writing and reading in-game books so very much.

What about you -- do you miss player-written books in MMOs? Or do you think they're a niche idea that was retired from MMO design with good cause?

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!

The Daily Grind: Do you miss player-written books in MMOs? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 10 Mar 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ultima Online inducted into new MMO Hall of Fame

Jef Reahard — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, MMO industry, News items, Ultima Online

Did you know there's an(other) MMO Hall of Fame? We first heard of its launch a few months ago, but thought it was a bit of a joke, considering the Geocities-era site design and strangely familiar logo.

Oh, and the owners decided to induct Ultima Online -- a game for which we have something of a soft spot.

In any event, the site features an MMO timeline, a World of Warcraft timeline, and a listing of UO releases, expansions, and special editions. You can also view the site's voting committee, which includes Blizzard, Sony Online Entertainment, and Wizard101 developers as well as MMO writers and fans.

[Source: MMO HoF press release]

Ultima Online inducted into new MMO Hall of Fame originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 08 Mar 2012 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Achievement Unlocked: A look at the Guinness world records of online gaming

Matt Daniel — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, MMO industry, Massively Meta, Miscellaneous

We're just over a month into the new year, and already we've got plenty to look forward to: The Secret World is expected to hit in April, TERA will follow shortly in May, and Guild Wars 2 will be out... sometime this year (we hope). But before we all start looking toward the future, let's take a moment to look back at some of the gaming achievements of the past.

Thanks to the handy-dandy Guinness Book of World Records 2012: Gamer's Edition, we've got a quick compendium of MMO-related records from the past year and then some, so if you're at all interested in the shortest-lived MMO to date or the longest time anyone's spent playing MMOs from inside a crate, join us as we take a stroll down memory lane to take a look at some notably (in)famous MMO achievements.

Continue reading Achievement Unlocked: A look at the Guinness world records of online gaming

Achievement Unlocked: A look at the Guinness world records of online gaming originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Meet the guild that's lasted over 16 years

Brendan Drain — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Events, real-world, Guilds, MMO industry, Ultima Online, Miscellaneous

Guilds are a dime a dozen in MMOs today, be they small social guilds or hardcore groups that collect a few hundred players together. Most guildmates you play with will eventually leave the guild, making way for new members giving the game a try. But what if your guild could transcend the game it was formed in, creating a community that stayed together and moved from game to game? The Syndicate is one such guild, boasting a membership of 1,200 players and a 95% retention rate. The organisation celebrates its 16th anniversary this week, having been born as an online community before the release of Ultima Online.

The Syndicate is currently active in Ultima Online and World of Warcraft, having previously been active in EverQuest, Shadowbane and other games. All members agree to follow a charter that forbids stealing, cheating, non-consensual player-killing, and immature behaviour. The Syndicate takes its identity so seriously that it's even trademarked its name and has worked with MMO companies to rename guilds using it. Developers have in turn taken advantage of The Syndicate's huge community size and code of conduct to beta test upcoming games. With its 16th birthday behind it, the guild predates most MMOs on the market today and is still going strong.

Meet the guild that's lasted over 16 years originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Garriott talks riding rockets, Man on a Mission movie

Jef Reahard — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Culture, Interviews, MMO industry, News items, Miscellaneous

Richard Garriott may not be making the MMO sequel that many of his fans crave, but he is the subject of a new documentary film called Man on a Mission. VentureBeat.com recently corralled the elusive creator of the famous Ultima franchise for an extensive interview.

The piece is mainly focused on the film, which is currently playing in select cities as well as various on-demand internet outlets. The documentary presents Garriott's career as an underdog triumph, and highlights the fact that he was rejected for NASA's astronaut program due to his poor eyesight. Garriott had the last laugh, however, as he bought his way to the international space station in 2008 and became the first second-generation astronaut in American history (and a noted supporter of private-sector space flight).

While there's precious little info regarding Garriott's current and future gaming pursuits, the interview does offer up some geeky nuggets for those interested in rockets and rocketmen. "For example, launch you think of as this loud, shaky, scary moment," Garriott explains. "In fact, on a liquid-fueled rocket like the Soyuz, it's almost perfectly silent and smooth on the inside. It's much more cerebral, it feels much more like a ballet move, lifting you ever faster into the sky, than it does a sports car dropping the clutch at a green light."

Garriott talks riding rockets, Man on a Mission movie originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ultima producer's letter teases 2012 content

Jef Reahard — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Patches, News items, Ultima Online, Sandbox

Did you know that Ultima Online turns 15 this year? It surely does, and if you're not having a geriatric fit over that fact and wondering where the time has gone, well, get off our lawns.

In all seriousness, UO grand poobah Jeff Skalski has favored the masses with a producer's letter, and he drops several hints about what's to come for the 2012 version of Sosaria. Publish 74 is officially live, and the dev team is already hard at work on its followup, which Skalski says will address "a handful of long overdue bugs" as well as further the game's dynamic story arcs.

Skalski also tells us that the artwork for the enhanced client is still in the oven, and in fact the makeover has turned out to be "more challenging than planned." As a result, it's not quite ready for primetime, but rest assured that it is still a priority. As always, more info is available at the official UO website.

Ultima producer's letter teases 2012 content originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Would you buy an advanced character?

Brianna Royce — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Business models, Classes, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Endgame, Opinion, Ultima Online, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous, Sandbox

For many years, Ultima Online has offered an advanced character microtransaction. Well, the term "microtransaction" may be stretching it -- originally priced at $30 a pop, it's more like a macrotransaction. The advanced character token allows you to boost the skills and stats of a single character according to a preset template. It won't give you a capped Bard, Treasure Hunter, or Animal Tamer overnight, but it will get you a big chunk of the way there. And for skills that are notoriously hard to train .1 by .1 all the way to 100 or 120, advanced character tokens can be a huge boon to players who've been there and done that and just want to skip the early grind.

UO's not alone in this; other games, such as Dark Age of Camelot, allow players to jump past some of the early game on their alts once they've capped a toon and proven they know the ropes of the game. Of course, those games aren't charging for the pleasure. So what do you think: Would you buy an advanced character from a game company? Or do you think you're cheating yourself and those around you by not grinding up the old-fashioned way?

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!

The Daily Grind: Would you buy an advanced character? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: What's your favorite item-quality system?

Brianna Royce — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Game mechanics, MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

Grey, white, green, blue, purple, gold. World of Warcraft may not have invented what's become the standard colors for item quality, but it's surely cemented the hierarchy in gamers' minds. Last week, Raph Koster suggested that these tiers of items are part of the "yuck" that leads to the loss of immersion across the games industry.

I think he's right. I miss the days of Ultima Online (which not coincidentally was Koster's baby), when players geared up with basic platemail of invulnerability, chainmail of fortification, and katanas of vanquishing. Halfway through UO's lifespan, that system was gutted in favor of a Diablo-esque item that turned wearables into a numbers game. The charm of my deadly poisoned kryss made by a Grandmaster Blacksmith was gone, replaced by a few dozen stats to juggle.

Do you agree with Koster? Are color-coded item tiers a design shortcut that contributes to the loss of immersion in MMOs and other games? What game has your favorite item-quality system?

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!

The Daily Grind: What's your favorite item-quality system? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 21 Jan 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This Week in MMO: Oh hey, it's Star Wars edition

Matt Daniel — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Video, Warhammer Online, News items, Opinion, Humor, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Miscellaneous

It's time for another episode of This Week in MMO, and the focal point of this week's episode is none other than the freshly launched Star Wars: The Old Republic. Gary Gannon, Mike B., and Mike Schaffnit share a conversation about the staggered launch, the early start, the newly announced grace period, and much more.

Of course, the world does not revolve only around SWTOR, so the guys also take some time to highlight other goings-on in the MMO world. Warhammer Online will be merging servers once again, which does not forecast a sunny outlook for Mythic's PvP-focused title. Also on the table is talk that the gradually less sane Richard Garriott will be returning to work on the Ultima universe. What could this mean to MMO players? Well, click on past the cut and find out for yourself.

Continue reading This Week in MMO: Oh hey, it's Star Wars edition

This Week in MMO: Oh hey, it's Star Wars edition originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 16 Dec 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Garriott's Ultimate RPG 'clearly the spiritual successor' to Ultima

Jef Reahard — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Interviews, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Ultima Online, Sandbox

The Richard Garriott crazy train is heading toward a section of track that long-time fans of the gaming god might actually appreciate. In a new interview with Eurogamer, the man behind Ultima Online talks a little less about his recent foray into social casino games and a little more about what might be Ultima Online 2.

Yes, we've seen the UO sequel smoke before. This time, though, there may be fire. "We've actually talked to Electronic Arts about [Garriott leading Ultima Online again]. I would love to have access to the Ultima property. We've had discussions at very high levels with Electronic Arts about access to the property," he explained.

Regardless of any EA deals, Garriott says that his new Ultimate RPG is "clearly the spiritual successor of the Ultima series."

Garriott's Ultimate RPG 'clearly the spiritual successor' to Ultima originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Dec 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rise and Shiny recap: Ultima Online

Beau Hindman — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, Culture, Opinion, Ultima Online, Hands-on, Humor, Rise and Shiny, Livestream

This might sound silly, but my life is super rough. Well, OK, hardly rough at all, and I'm eternally thankful for that. But once in a while, a feeling of burn-out starts to creep into my everyday gaming life, and I need to take a vacation from the constant search for new titles and trolling through gaming forums to recharge my batteries. It might sound completely dorky, but I can understand how actors can seem so insane: They are. Sometimes you just need to play a good, juicy role to reset your creative self.

There are certain games that we can always go back to, games that will instantly provide a feeling of nostalgia for those of us who have played them before. Ultima Online is one of those games, and it might just be the perfect example of a game that we can use as comfort food for our restless gamer hearts.

So I spent an official week taking a look at the game (again) and found about what I'd expect. Click past the cut!

Continue reading Rise and Shiny recap: Ultima Online

Rise and Shiny recap: Ultima Online originally appeared on Massively on Sun, 13 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Richard Garriott describes his 'ultimate' RPG

Justin Olivetti — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, Ultima Online, Humor, Miscellaneous

Before Tabula Rasa, before Ultima Online, before any of the Ultimas, Richard Garriott had a vision for what he called the "ultimate" RPG. In a lengthy Facebook post, Garriott takes us back to 1974 when he first got the idea for such a game after being influenced by Lord of the Rings and Dungeons & Dragons. Starting with BASIC games on his school's teletype and moving up through the modern era of MMOs, Garriott details how he's been pursuing a dream of creating and refining one RPG to rule them all.

He doesn't have kind words for how Ultima Online's shaped up since his absence, however, saying that elements like Elves and Ninjas were added against his wishes.

"This is only a small example of why and how Ultima has drifted away from Richard Garriott, but I have not drifted away from Ultima," he writes. "It is clear to me that I, Richard Garriott, am an essential ingredient of at least the Ultimate Ultima, if not more broadly the Ultimate RPG. Perhaps one day, now that the people who pushed me out of EA more than a decade ago are long since gone, EA will recognize that together, we could rebuild that franchise in a way that they have failed to do in the intervening years. Richard Garriott is an essential ingredient in the Ultimate Ultima!"

He ends his passionate speech with a few glimpses into the design for this "ultimate" RPG that he and his team are currently designing: "You will have customized Avatar homesteads and real roles to play in a deep, beautifully realized highly interactive virtual world. It will have virtues and the hero's journey reflected back to the player. It will have the best of synchronous and asynchronous features in use. Fiction will support your arrival from earth into this new world. I even hope to make maps, coins and other trinkets available to players of the game."

Richard Garriott describes his 'ultimate' RPG originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ultima Online producer's letter promises revitalization of classic content

Brianna Royce — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Game mechanics, Patches, News items, Ultima Online, Dungeons

Did you wonder who was captaining Ultima Online since Calvin "Uriah" Crowner left his role as producer earlier this fall? Apparently, it's been none other than Jeff Skalski, who recently penned a producer's letter to introduce himself to the UO-faithful. In it, he explains that his goals for the grand-daddy of MMOs include heavily increasing the team's interaction with the community, implementing weekly Q&A sessions, squashing bugs, and "breathing life back into areas that have long been forgotten," i.e., revamping older content.

In fact, some of that older content -- Shame, one of the original and iconic anti-virtue dungeons in classic Britannia -- is due for its revamp sooner rather than later. Publish 73, now on the test server, retools Shame with a truly massive itemization overhaul and difficulty scaling as players descend the dungeon's depths.

Ultima Online producer's letter promises revitalization of classic content originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 07 Nov 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ultima Online celebrates 14 years

Brianna Royce — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, News items, Ultima Online, Sandbox

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!]

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Ultima Online celebrates 14 years originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 30 Sep 2011 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Would you play another Ultima MMO?

Brianna Royce — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, MMO industry, Opinion, Ultima Online, Massively Meta, The Daily Grind, Miscellaneous

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!

The Daily Grind: Would you play another Ultima MMO? originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 03 Sep 2011 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Some Assembly Required: Is the sandbox dead?

Jef Reahard — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Sci-fi, A Tale in the Desert, Darkfall, EVE Online, Game mechanics, MMO industry, Ryzom, Wurm Online, Opinion, Star Wars Galaxies, Ultima Online, Free-to-play, Dawntide, Xsyon, Post-Apocalyptic, Perpetuum, Miscellaneous, Some Assembly Required, Sandbox, Crafting

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.

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Some Assembly Required: Is the sandbox dead? originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 02 Sep 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Ultima X: Odyssey

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Ultima Online, Humor, The Game Archaeologist

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.

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The Game Archaeologist and the What Ifs: Ultima X: Odyssey originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 05 Jul 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Richard Garriott addresses 'Third Grand Era of Games' at the 2011 LOGIN Conference

Justin Olivetti — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Events, real-world, MMO industry, Miscellaneous

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.

Richard Garriott addresses 'Third Grand Era of Games' at the 2011 LOGIN Conference originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 22 Mar 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ultima Online revisits dynamic content with Magincia reconstruction

Jef Reahard — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, News items, Ultima Online

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 revisits dynamic content with Magincia reconstruction originally appeared on Massively on Sat, 12 Mar 2011 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ultima Online video dev diary highlights new player experience

Jef Reahard — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Video, News items, Ultima Online, Dev Diaries

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.

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Ultima Online video dev diary highlights new player experience originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ultima Online celebrates player's 83rd birthday in game

Jef Reahard — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, Events, in-game, News items, Ultima Online

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."

Ultima Online celebrates player's 83rd birthday in game originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 09 Feb 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Garriott's Portalarium going the social media route

Jef Reahard — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Events, real-world, New titles, News items, Free-to-play, Browser, Casual

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.

Garriott's Portalarium going the social media route originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 24 Sep 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ultima producer's letter talks classic shard

Jef Reahard — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, News items, Ultima Online

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 producer's letter talks classic shard originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 16 Aug 2010 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ultima Online's Call to Arms bringing back live events

Jef Reahard — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 21:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, News items, Ultima Online

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.

Ultima Online's Call to Arms bringing back live events originally appeared on Massively on Fri, 06 Aug 2010 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Want realism with that?

Jef Reahard — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Economy, Opinion, The Daily Grind

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: Want realism with that? originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 22 Jul 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Daily Grind: Unfaithfully Yours

Jef Reahard — Wed, 05 May 2010 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: MMO industry, Opinion, The Daily Grind

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?

The Daily Grind: Unfaithfully Yours originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 05 May 2010 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EA launches Lord of Ultima browser game

Jef Reahard — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 19:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, New titles, News items, Browser, MMORTS

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 launches Lord of Ultima browser game originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Richard Garriott and the choppy waters of social gaming

Eliot Lefebvre — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Game mechanics, Interviews, MMO industry, Opinion

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 and the choppy waters of social gaming originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Richard Garriott muses on what could have been

Shawn Schuster — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Interviews, MMO industry

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."

Richard Garriott muses on what could have been originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is MMO terminology invading database programming?

Seraphina Brennan — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Culture, Opinion, Ultima Online, Academic

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.

Is MMO terminology invading database programming? originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lord British's history of violence

Kyle Horner — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: Fantasy, Events, in-game, Tabula Rasa, Ultima Online

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.

Lord British's history of violence originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 12 Feb 2008 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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