Ultima Online
News, coverage and analysis tracking Ultima Online across the outlets.
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"One of the biggest mistakes game developers make," Valve's Gabe Newell warns in an unearthed clip, is treating "genuinely entertaining" player actions as hacking
Valve boss Gabe Newell warns that a significant mistake game developers make is misinterpreting entertaining player actions as hacking. He cites the "Lord British assassination" incident in Ultima Online as an example where developers should have embraced the emergent gameplay rather than rolling back the server.
Industry vet who worked on Ultima Online says the next big thing needs to have 'sh*tty graphics' to escape the…
Industry veteran Raph Koster argues that the relentless pursuit of high-resolution graphics is unsustainable due to ballooning development costs and stagnant game prices. He suggests that the next major platform innovation needs to intentionally have 'shitty graphics' to reset the cost curve and allow for new gameplay affordances, preventing established companies from dominating.
WRUP: Stat blocks for the weird dudes at your local McDonald’s edition
The Massively OP staff and community share their gaming plans for the weekend, with discussions centering on MMORPGs like City of Heroes, Final Fantasy XIV, and World of Warcraft. Several staff members also reflect on the most impactful video games from their past, with Ultima Online, City of Heroes, and Dragon Quest being frequently cited.
The Game Archaeologist: World of Warcraft is unfairly portrayed as the villain of MMO history
This article challenges the common narrative that World of Warcraft is the villain responsible for homogenizing the MMORPG genre. Instead, it argues that bad game design and a lack of approachability in pre-WoW MMOs were the primary factors that led to their decline, with World of Warcraft simply offering a more polished and user-friendly experience.
MMO Week in Review: Gamescom, Asura, and Ascension
Gamescom was the dominant event this week, bringing news for numerous MMOs including launch dates for Aion 2 and Path of Exile 2, and trailers for Dune Awakening, Sea of Remnants, and Cinder City. Star Citizen's Squadron 42 received another delay into 2027, while Guild Wars 3 revealed its Asura, and Blizzard shut down another World of Warcraft private server. Other news included updates for Throne and Liberty, Ultima Online, and The Division 2, alongside discussions on game design, AI training lawsuits, and the shutdown of the Project Ascension World of Warcraft emulator.
Classic MMORPG Ultima Online just launched a brand-new festival event ahead of its 29th birthday
Broadsword has launched a new seasonal in-game event called Shardfall for the classic MMORPG Ultima Online, ahead of its 29th anniversary. The event involves players fighting Mondain's Echo, supplying cities with resources, and earning various rewards including new books and housing decor. This update also includes quality-of-life improvements and preparations for the upcoming Halloween event.
Massively Overthinking: What did your favorite MMORPG add to the genre?
This article discusses whether popular MMORPGs have truly innovated within the genre or simply built upon existing foundations. Several writers share their favorite MMORPGs and analyze their contributions, with Ultima Online, Star Wars Galaxies, and Guild Wars being highlighted for their significant impacts on social gameplay, economies, and business models.
MMO Jukebox Song of the Week: ‘Zento’ from Ultima Online
This article discusses the nostalgic impact of game music, highlighting the track 'Zento' from Ultima Online's Samurai Empire expansion. The author shares a personal anecdote about the music's constant presence and encourages readers to share their own favorite MMO music tracks.
The Daily Grind: How many MMORPGs have you played to date?
This article discusses the common feature in MMORPGs where players know who crafted their in-game gear, noting its prevalence across many titles. It highlights the surprise of a player who, despite playing for 13 years and several MMORPGs, had never encountered this feature. The author also touches on the broader topic of player engagement with game developers and artisans.
Massively Overthinking: What year of MMOs would you pick to repeat forever?
The Massively OP staff discusses which year in MMORPG history they would choose to relive forever. Contributors like Brianna Royce, Carlo Lacsina, Chris Neal, Sam Kash, and Tyler Edwards share their picks, ranging from the early days of Ultima Online and EverQuest to the peak of World of Warcraft and the launch of Guild Wars 2.
Ultima Online’s summer roadmap includes a new event, 29th birthday gifts, and New Legacy season 2
Ultima Online's upcoming Publish 124 update, codenamed Shardfall, will introduce a new event celebrating the defeat of Mondain the Wizard and the destruction of the Gem of Immortality. The update also includes improvements to the Melisande peerless event, new stealable items, a hair dye unlock system, and lays the groundwork for the game's 29th anniversary celebration. Additionally, the article mentions the start of weekend events, continued work on the classic client, and the second season of New Legacy.
The Daily Grind: Which MMORPG do you feel like you missed out on?
This article discusses the concept of 'missing out' on MMORPGs due to linear time and the natural progression of game popularity. It uses Ultima Online as an example of a game whose peak relevance has passed, making the original experience difficult to replicate. The piece invites readers to share which MMORPGs they feel they missed out on.
Massively Overthinking: Are there any MMORPGs or MMO features that are good kinda by accident?
This article discusses MMORPGs and their features that became popular or fun by accident, often in ways unintended by developers. Examples include "alting" and the architect system in City of Heroes, content trains in Guild Wars 2, and the unintended consequences of Grand Theft Auto Online's content creator. World of Warcraft and Fortnite are also cited for features that evolved beyond their original design intent.
Raph Koster on the birth of MMORPGs and sandboxes as the ultimate expression of social gaming
Raph Koster discusses the origins of MMORPGs and sandbox games, tracing their roots from MUDs to modern titles like Ultima Online and World of Warcraft. He highlights how sandbox games represent the ultimate expression of social gaming by fostering interdependency and allowing players to engage in ways that matter to each other.
Former Ultima Online lead says MMOs are "finally free of the fever dream of imitating World of Warcraft" thanks to Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing, and more
Raph Koster, lead designer of Ultima Online, believes the MMO genre has moved beyond the World of Warcraft-imitating phase, citing the success of sandbox titles like Stardew Valley, Animal Crossing, and Minecraft. He argues that the demand for social experiences and persistent worlds, even with smaller player counts, makes it an opportune time for new MMOs like his upcoming game, Stars Reach.
Perfect Ten: The first 12 MMO expansions ever released
This article lists the first 12 official expansions released for Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs) between 1992 and 2002. It highlights key additions and impacts of expansions for titles like Neverwinter Nights, Ultima Online, EverQuest, Asheron's Call, Dark Age of Camelot, and Anarchy Online.
The Daily Grind: What’s the most neglected MMO on your hard drive?
This article discusses the phenomenon of keeping MMORPGs installed on a hard drive even when not actively playing them, often due to a sense of loyalty or the hope of returning. The author highlights The Elder Scrolls Online and Ultima Online as examples of games they personally keep but rarely play, posing the question to readers about their own neglected MMOs.
The Daily Grind: What’s the dumbest way you’ve ever died in an MMORPG?
This article discusses humorous and often frustrating ways players have died in MMORPGs, citing examples like falling to death due to poor jump timing in Guild Wars 2, accidental deaths while AFK, and forgetting to breathe underwater in Ultima Online. The piece invites readers to share their own 'dumbest' in-game deaths.
Antique MMORPG Ultima Online just released a brand-new summer event called Moonveil
The classic MMORPG Ultima Online has launched its new summer event, Moonveil, on July 1st. This marks the first year for the event, which involves a pilgrimage across Britannia with opportunities to earn exclusive rewards. The event is detailed in a developer newsletter and a video walkthrough.
Are these the 100 most influential games of all time?
Kitfox Games CEO Tanya Short discusses a list of the 100 most influential video games of all time, compiled by professional game designers. The list, assembled through the Polaris game design retreat, aims to serve as a tool for designers to improve their craft and create influential games.
