Any possiblity of Ultima games in EA's future?

[Coldren]

I came across an article on Slashdot about how someone is remaking Ultima VI. In the comments there were a few interesting links offered by commentators about other Ultima remakes being independently done.

A lot of the projects have been abandoned, but here's one site that had a few listed:

http://reconstruction.voyd.net/index.php?event=project&typeKeyword=remakes3d

The most impressive one, that seems to still be going, is this:

http://ultima.cfkasper.de/media.php#SCREENSHOTS:

EA must surely know how passionate some people are about the Ultima brand, particularly, Ultima Online.

Does anyone have any inside info (Devs, wink wink) about any future Ultima projects in EA's future?

It's such a great, rich world with a vast fan base, and it feels like it's been completely abandoned... Or is NetDragon our only hope?

 

[canary]

I came across an article on Slashdot about how someone is remaking Ultima VI. In the comments there were a few interesting links offered by commentators about other Ultima remakes being independently done.

A lot of the projects have been abandoned, but here's one site that had a few listed:

http://reconstruction.voyd.net/index.php?event=project&typeKeyword=remakes3d

The most impressive one, that seems to still be going, is this:

http://ultima.cfkasper.de/media.php#SCREENSHOTS:

EA must surely know how passionate some people are about the Ultima brand, particularly, Ultima Online.

Does anyone have any inside info (Devs, wink wink) about any future Ultima projects in EA's future?

It's such a great, rich world with a vast fan base, and it feels like it's been completely abandoned... Or is NetDragon our only hope?

Well, seeing as they can't even finish a freaking overhaul of the male paperdoll that has been reviled since 2007 (that Grimm said publicly was 'in the works' during a Feb interview) I'm guessing that yes, NetDragon is our only hope.

 

[Taylor]

I think Ultma's long, sentimental history would make it a challenge to create new titles for the series (or remake old ones, for that matter). Many players would be happy to reenter the story, but many others would complain that it wasn’t the Ultima that they remember.

 

[Coldren]

I think Ultma's long, sentimental history would make it a challenge to create new titles for the series (or remake old ones, for that matter). Many players would be happy to reenter the story, but many others would complain that it wasn’t the Ultima that they remember.

True, but even remakes with modern technology would be welcome, I'm sure.

Can't please everyone all the time, but what they've done (or haven't done) with the Ultima IP reeks of laziness and mismanagement...

 

[Stupid Miner]

Richard Garriot and probably the entire team is gone. If they make an Ultima game it wont be an Ultima game despite having "Ultima" in its title.

 

[Taylor]

. . . what they've done (or haven't done) with the Ultima IP reeks of laziness and mismanagement...

You can say that again. It's a great franchise. I think that the folks at Mythic understand this - they've tried to structure story arcs around the old Ultima content. It's a shame that EA hasn't caught on.

 

[Evlar]

I think Ultma's long, sentimental history would make it a challenge to create new titles for the series (or remake old ones, for that matter). Many players would be happy to reenter the story, but many others would complain that it wasn’t the Ultima that they remember.

A bit like when they do remakes of certain great classic films. Some are good, some are bad. People either like them, or they don't. I for example, loved the classic Ealing Comedy "The Lady Killers", with Alec Guinness, Herbert Lom and Peter Sellers. I absolutely loathed the "remake" with Tom Hanks. I don't mind Tom Hanks at all, but I just thought the original film was one they couldn't really touch, given the superb original cast.

It's one of the things I've thought about whilst debating "classic" UO shards. Clearly, it could never be the same as days gone by, because a large slice of what made those days great for many, was the other players. That said though, it would be nice to recapture elements of the gameplay that some of us preferred from back then, especially pre-AoS.

As for game re-makes or somewhat belated sequels, I loved the original Fallout and Fallout 2, but was concerned I might not enjoy Fallout 3 as much. I found I did and was happy. Although technologically far more advanced than its predecessors, it still managed to capture the "feel" of the alternate universe the game was set in.

So certainly, there's still mileage in the Ultima brand, not least Ultima Online. The proof in the pudding is in the eating of course, but I've already mentioned before about NetDragon buying the rights to make a 3D "version" of Ultima Online, which reportedly will strongly feature characters, lore and history of UO as we know it... but they seem to be keeping the rest close to their chests at the moment.

Obviously also, EA are looking to cash in on the brand name, by releasing the FTP-RTS online game, Lords of Ultima.

I think EA would be daft not to make as much use of the brand as they can. I think most people who've played, or play online games, should at least be aware of the "name", if not the actual product itself.

 

[BeefSupreme]

Richard Garriot and probably the entire team is gone. If they make an Ultima game it wont be an Ultima game despite having "Ultima" in its title.

Ya but he's said he'd be up for doing another one.

 

[Taylor]

Richard Garriot and probably the entire team is gone. If they make an Ultima game it wont be an Ultima game despite having "Ultima" in its title.

Ya but he's said he'd be up for doing another one.

The man bought a ticket to the moon. I doubt EA can afford his services.

 

[Lord Chaos]

You can say that again. It's a great franchise. I think that the folks at Mythic understand this - they've tried to structure story arcs around the old Ultima content. It's a shame that EA hasn't caught on.

How is it a great franchise? It has some old games to it and an outdated MMO almost no one really cares about. Its pretty much useless as a franchise and an Ultima game (unless they make it really awesome, but then it wouldn't matter what name it had) would sell badly.

 

[Evlar]

Richard Garriot and probably the entire team is gone. If they make an Ultima game it wont be an Ultima game despite having "Ultima" in its title.

Ya but he's said he'd be up for doing another one.

I believe he said something along the lines of Lord British "themed".

Read into that what you will, but I wonder about who holds the copyrights to what "names" and content.

From comments like that from RG, I'm assuming perhaps that he retains the "Lord British" name copyright, hence why we don't see the character make any appearances since RG and EA parted company. Everything else was likely bolted down securely under EA copyrights.

 

[Evlar]

Any chance you're off to Portalarium then Draconi? Or have you something else up your sleeve?

 

[BeefSupreme]

The man bought a ticket to the moon. I doubt EA can afford his services.

At some point, EA will grind the Ultima name into the ground. He'll buy it back for pennies on the dollar.
Won't be next week, or next year, but I'm pretty sure it'll happen.

 

[Coldren]

Yep, one of the conditions of the parting contract was that RG retained all rights to the "Lord British" trademark. Pretty sure EA owns everything else except for "Stones"

Everything else? Including the Virtues? (Though I'm not sure that's a concept RG developed..)

 

[chuckoatl]

No clue about the Virtues. Gameplay isn't patentable, hence why everyone can copy everyone else and change plots and storylines, but the core IP stuff like "Ultima" and "The Avatar" are protected, certainly.

Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer!

They need to remake ultima VII, and possibly V. Ultima VII and part II, the serpents isle is still one of my favorite games of all time. I have DLed it onto every computer I think I have ever owned. I still have the 3.5 discs in my filing cabnet. Origin should of never sold the rights to the game. Hind site is 20/20 I guess. It is possibly the greatest RPG series ever. I'm sure I will get some younger people saying FF is, but I played those too. For content and story, Ultima has my vote hands down.

 

[Coldren]

No clue about the Virtues. Gameplay isn't patentable, hence why everyone can copy everyone else and change plots and storylines, but the core IP stuff like "Ultima" and "The Avatar" are protected, certainly.

Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer!

Hmm... Interesting. Thanks for the info!