Developed by Origin Systems and originally released in September 1997, Ultima Online continues to operate today, 13 years after its inception. It's a long run for an online game; Electronic Arts' UO producer Calvin Crowner calls the seminal MMORPG the "M*A*S*H of MMOs."
But that's not really giving the MMO's staying power adequate credit -- the M*A*S*H television series only had an 11-year run.
Last month, the Gamasutra-affiliated GDC Online Awards Hall of Fame recognized UO for its contributions to the gaming industry. It's not as if UO is pulling in anywhere remotely close to the amount of subscribers and revenue that Blizzard's market-leading World of Warcraft pulls in -- the continued support of UO isn't about competing with that juggernaut or any more modern whippersnapper MMOs.
Every MMORPG gamer has farmed, but not all monetized it. For Venezuelans, it was done out of necessity. This is the story of how Venezuela became a leading country in gold farming.
After over a decade, developer Broadsword makes MMO news as a legacy shard for UO called Ultima Online: New Legacy is announced.
Interesting, I played UO from day one. My main question would be is stealing allowed and how does PVP work or is it going to be baby mode with a new name again?
From what we are seeing Trammel and Felucca are no more which brings PvP back to the forefront. According to UO.com more information will be released via the UO Newsletter.
Raph Koster, lead designer of the classic Ultima Online has started a brand new company and is looking to create a completely original IP and build a new MMO.
Man Ultima Online one of my fave MMOs of all time. Really miss it the days running around brit graveyard as a red PK'er and having a house nearby to hide and stay away from the pitchfork mobs lool
Well hopefully this will not fall by the wayside as so many smaller MMO's have done.
