The King is Back!!!

[chrisjwhite]

Richard Garriott ready to make games again


"It's only been a month and a half since Richard "Lord British" Garriott left
NCsoft but apparently the creator of the Ultima franchise and Ultima Online is ready to get back to making games again. In a new BBC web site article Garriott indicates his next game project will return him to the genre that made him famous and rich.

He is quoted as saying, "After 25 years at Origin, the last thing I wanted to make was yet another medieval fantasy game. Now, after a very interesting break, I'm keen to get back into the fray and work on a new game. Probably medieval fantasy and probably online; there's something very powerful about getting people together."

Garriott's last project was, of course, the sci-fi MMO Tabula Rasa. After launching with much fanfare in October 2007 after a genesis of several years, NCsoft elected to shut down the game after the end of February 2009 due to poor sales. The decision came a little over a week after Garriott announced he was leaving the company."

 

[Ifful]

Richard Garriott ready to make games again


"It's only been a month and a half since Richard "Lord British" Garriott left
NCsoft but apparently the creator of the Ultima franchise and Ultima Online is ready to get back to making games again. In a new BBC web site article Garriott indicates his next game project will return him to the genre that made him famous and rich.

He is quoted as saying, "After 25 years at Origin, the last thing I wanted to make was yet another medieval fantasy game. Now, after a very interesting break, I'm keen to get back into the fray and work on a new game. Probably medieval fantasy and probably online; there's something very powerful about getting people together."

Garriott's last project was, of course, the sci-fi MMO Tabula Rasa. After launching with much fanfare in October 2007 after a genesis of several years, NCsoft elected to shut down the game after the end of February 2009 due to poor sales. The decision came a little over a week after Garriott announced he was leaving the company."

Well, now that he's back on Earth, we can probably expect great things from him again. It was too bad about TR, I loved the concept, but I think that game was ahead of its time.

 

[Goodoljoe]

Come say hi some time in UO ,Richard.Its your creation after all

 

[walter_mitty]

its all about the money now with him

 

[Maplestone]

These lands could use a king again ... ah well, to each their own path.

*sighs at the freedom to be able wake up in the morning and say "you know, I think I'll make a fantasy MMORPG today"* (well, ok, we all have that freedom ... we just aren't likely to get very far before being fired from our current jobs)

 

[GalenKnighthawke]

He's hoping, probably unrealistically, that he can build back his fortune after squandering it on a celebrity tourist's space trip.

I strongly suspect that his time is past. (I can relate.)

Of course, he's 100% free to prove me wrong.

-Galen's player

 

[GAMBIT35]

its all about the money now with him

I'm curious why you say that and why there seems to be a lot of hatred for this man on these boards. He made a game, people liked it, and he sold it. I sincerly doubt you would have done any different. Oh BTW, if he is such a *******, stop playing his game.

 

[walter_mitty]

I'm curious why you say that and why there seems to be a lot of hatred for this man on these boards. He made a game, people liked it, and he sold it. I sincerly doubt you would have done any different. Oh BTW, if he is such a *******, stop playing his game.

because he abandons everything he creates. for cash

 

[christy1221]

Come say hi some time in UO ,Richard.Its your creation after all

That would be cool if he did come say hi.

 

[Maplestone]

because he abandons everything he creates. for cash

Perhaps he enjoys creating games more than running them?

 

[Duskofdead]

Well, now that he's back on Earth, we can probably expect great things from him again. It was too bad about TR, I loved the concept, but I think that game was ahead of its time.

TR, of course, didn't work out. But let's not forget UO was something people hadn't even much coneived of yet. I had to explain the concept to people, and many of them still couldn't get it.

"What... like, thousands of people, in the same game? How the heck can that work?"

 

[GAMBIT35]

because he abandons everything he creates. for cash

So would you. Don't hate on people because they are rich. What do you think he owes you anyway?

 

[Sam the Scribe]

Come say hi some time in UO ,Richard.Its your creation after all

Why would he come back? We killed him... at least our ancestors did.

We killed the man who created our worlds from his mind and the labor of his hands... we killed... God!

We deserve to live in the flames of perdition! We deserve to have our world torn asunder and split into faucets and shards!

We... killed... God...

*sobs*

 

[Sam the Scribe]

because he abandons everything he creates. for cash

There are "creative folk" then there are "management folk"... I realize this is an oversimplification... but maybe this helps.

An architect designs a beautiful skyscraper and works long hours with the building contractors during construction to see that building rise towards the heavens.

Do you expect the architect to hang around and run the leasing office?

Safe Travels, Sam

 

[Maplestone]

"What... like, thousands of people, in the same game? How the heck can that work?"

Well, to be fair, there are some who are still arguing the point

 

[Viper09]

because he abandons everything he creates. for cash

So? Maybe it's just all about the craft and seeing it finished? He still made this game. And I would imagine that there is a reason you played or are still playing this game for so long.
I enjoy making pottery. I work on a piece until I think it is done, and when it is done I move on and make another. He made UO and after a long time he moved on and made another, was it Lineage? I think I heard his name with that game for some reason.
And you know what? I will answer that question for you. It is still a good and very unique game.

 

[Arcus]

He's hoping, probably unrealistically, that he can build back his fortune after squandering it on a celebrity tourist's space trip.

As usual, you are uninformed. He is no where near broke.

Jealous much?

 

[Lord Drakelord]

*Looks for Elivs*

 

[drinkbeerallday]

Well, now that he's back on Earth, we can probably expect great things from him again. It was too bad about TR, I loved the concept, but I think that game was ahead of its time.

why?

 

[drinkbeerallday]

So? Maybe it's just all about the craft and seeing it finished? He still made this game. And I would imagine that there is a reason you played or are still playing this game for so long.
I enjoy making pottery. I work on a piece until I think it is done, and when it is done I move on and make another. He made UO and after a long time he moved on and made another, was it Lineage? I think I heard his name with that game for some reason.
And you know what? I will answer that question for you. It is still a good and very unique game.

the initial product is of course the reason people go out and buy the game in the first place but, as we have seen with UO, what it comes down to is the people running the game.

 

[Yazman]

He made UO and after a long time he moved on and made another, was it Lineage? I think I heard his name with that game for some reason.

He didn't develop Lineage, he just helped introduce it to the United States as the company that bought out Destination Games (the place he created after leaving EA), NCSoft, wanted to bring its games into the "western" markets, especially the US. They were already extremely popular in Korea, but had no real exposure in the US.

I don't see where all this "he's in it for the money" stuff is coming from anyway... it was NCSoft that closed Tabula Rasa down, not him. That decision was made after he left the company! Lord British/Richard Garriott, to me, seems like a man who has been restricted heavily by businesses out for profit over the years.

I wonder where he is going to go now? Will he start up a new company like he did after he left EA? Or will he go to an existing one?

 

[Viper09]

He didn't develop Lineage, he just helped introduce it to the United States as the company that bought out Destination Games (the place he created after leaving EA), NCSoft, wanted to bring its games into the "western" markets, especially the US. They were already extremely popular in Korea, but had no real exposure in the US.

Ahh, ok. I didn't think he made it but I always associated him with Lineage. Now I know why. Thanks

 

[HD2300]

I wonder where he is going to go now? Will he start up a new company like he did after he left EA? Or will he go to an existing one?

Whatever project he works on, will get a lot of funding. RG might release the WoW killer in a couple of years, unless Darkfall releases PvE servers.

 

[Velvathos]

Whatever project he works on, will get a lot of funding. RG might release the WoW killer in a couple of years, unless Darkfall releases PvE servers.

Darkfall has PvE.. You mean servers with no PvP right, or something casual? Darkfall doesn't sound like a game that is made for that, not at all..

In fact, I wouldn't mind seeing UO out of the hands of EA games. Would rather UO in the hands of aventurine (Darkfall) Cause I do not see UO lasting much longer after that game comes out...

 

[HD2300]

Darkfall has PvE.. You mean servers with no PvP right, or something casual? Darkfall doesn't sound like a game that is made for that, not at all..

Yes PvE only servers.

 

[Sweeney]

Lord British will never return.. it is not in his contract. He sold off any right to Ultima Online or Lord British back in 1999 or 2000 or whatever. The only way he would come back is to pay him. It will not happen. Get over it kiddies (Misses the days when UO was 17+).

 

[Velvathos]

Lord British will never return.. it is not in his contract. He sold off any right to Ultima Online or Lord British back in 1999 or 2000 or whatever. The only way he would come back is to pay him. It will not happen. Get over it kiddies (Misses the days when UO was 17+).

Actually, he took the rights of the name "Lord British" With him.. That is why EA or the devs never mention that name anymore.. Garriot used the name "Commander British" for his character in Tabula Rasa..

 

[Sorcha of Sonoma]

I could see him buying back the rights to use the Ultima name and bringing out UO2 his way.

The only reason I didn't play TR was NCSoft.

 

[Bara]

If he bought the rights to uo, and built uo 2, I would be ecstatic.

Fantastic news. Thanks for the link.

 

[BloodstoneGL]

We don't need Richard Garriott back so much as we need Starr Long back.

 

[Amren]

He has not made a good game since Ultima 7.

Plus I doubt his next online game will come close to taking down WoW.