There's some scuttlebutt I saw indicating they will be releasing an English version at some point.Too bad NetDragon develops for Asian markets.
Which is actually a damn shame, because I would have played the Dungeon Keeper MMO.
I don't know what to think, Woodsman. I'm leaning towards EA is letting NetDragon develop a 3D version of UO and eventually it will replace the 2D version, worldwide. It makes no sense at all to me why EA would limit access to a 3D version of UO to just the Asian market. I found information on one of the NetDragon company websites that says they work with game operators around the world. Who's to say EA doesn't take advantage of those relationships NetDragon has to find game operators worldwide to run UO 3D servers? The original press release just says that NetDragon will have exclusive rights to run the game in Asia.So you think EA is going to allow NetDragon is going to release another UO alongside the existing UO, thereby going after EA customers....
Or you think EA is putting resources into a graphics update for the current UO, while allowing NetDragon to make a 3D UO....
Yeah, I did look at those forums. Doesn't sound like people who are actually playing anything new, does it? I think they were just set up for the development team to get some preliminary feedback.And Tina did you bother reading through those forums you linked to? I don't think you did, because it sounds like a whole lot of people pancakes about Chinese localization issues. It almost sounds like they are taking UO and just making a Chinese version of it, similar to what was done with Warcraft and EVE Online.
Okay, wow, those forums are horrible, they are pancakes about wanting a classic shard![]()
*leans forward* ...So you think EA is going to allow NetDragon is going to release another UO alongside the existing UO, thereby going after EA customers....
Or you think EA is putting resources into a graphics update for the current UO, while allowing NetDragon to make a 3D UO....
Website, Forum: http://uo.91.com/
91 have been identified in the EA network is currently under the authority of the beginning engraved development - 30 years of classic online games - "Ultima Online-UO"
The engine used is the "lord of the underground city," the same game engine, the next screen 91UO specific reference to the game can be.
With a common purpose of making history, we need to make the dream does not deviate from the main road classic, we are not an official group, but the maximum extent possible, the aspirations of our focus, and to harmonize the submission to the development team.
Our game development groups help advance mainly to provide and guide the development of creativity and the direction of play as the first! Late the transformation of the Society, for the first settled!
If you have not played UO, I'm sorry, we do not invite you to join our group, we only hope that those groups have had more than 3 years or 5 years old players.
UO our dreams through the pen to convey to development teams. If you really love the UO, please join our group!
It's just for the asia market onlyAnd Tina did you bother reading through those forums you linked to? I don't think you did, because it sounds like a whole lot of people pancakes about Chinese localization issues. It almost sounds like they are taking UO and just making a Chinese version of it, similar to what was done with Warcraft and EVE Online.
Okay, wow, those forums are horrible, they are pancakes about wanting a classic shard![]()
<H1 class=headline>
http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/22/ea-and-netdragon-to-make-a-new-ultima-online-for-china/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/07/22/ea-and-netdragon-to-make-a-new-ultima-online-for-china/</H1>
by Seraphina Brennanon Jul 22nd 2009 1:30PM
Fantasy, MMO industry, New titles, News items, Ultima Online
Good news everybody! EA and Chinese developer NetDragon are putting together a brand new Ultima Online! Bad news... we'll probably never see it.
This new Ultima Online sounds like more than a simple translation from the sound of the press release, as NetDragon will be collaborating with Mythic Entertainment on the new project. In addition, NetDragon will have the exclusive operating rights for the game in China, Hong Kong, Macau, and India.
However the new game sounds like it's being made for Asian audiences only -- not a brand new Ultima Online that will see a world wide release.
UO fans can still rejoice as they will be getting a brand new boxed expansion, the Stygian Abyss, thanks to the efforts of Mythic Entertainment. However, it looks like this brand new game is staying overseas for now.
Tags: china, ea, electronic-arts, mythic, mythic-entertainment, netdragon, new-title, ultima-online, uo, uo-china
I would trust BioWare more than I would trust NetDragon, and BioWare is taking control of the Ultima brand in a big way.Hey Woodsman ...
there is an old paradigm floating around UO ...
anyone BUT EA ... could do UO "better" ...
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Could you elaborate on this, please?I would trust BioWare more than I would trust NetDragon, and BioWare is taking control of the Ultima brand in a big way.
I know you are not being snarky or sarcastic. I've been keeping an eye on some of the Ultima fansites, and BioWare has been brewing up something. They did the UltimaForever.com thing, and the GOG stuff. Some of the BioWare employees have been quietly mentioning their support for Ultima.Could you elaborate on this, please?
How are they taking control of the brand in a "big way", other than re-releasing old single player console games, without even updating them?
Not being snarky or sarcastic.. I honestly would like to know what you mean.
Except that they are trying to re-use assets they already have and we are going to see terrain and walls first.For all we know, when "our" dev team says they are working on enhancing the graphics for UO, they could be working with NetDragon Websoft on graphics for a 3D version of UO.
mmmhhhmmmm ... kind of a non-sequitur thoughI would trust BioWare more than I would trust NetDragon, and BioWare is taking control of the Ultima brand in a big way.Hey Woodsman ...
there is an old paradigm floating around UO ...
anyone BUT EA ... could do UO "better" ...
![]()
I know you are not being snarky or sarcastic. I've been keeping an eye on some of the Ultima fansites, and BioWare has been brewing up something. They did the UltimaForever.com thing, and the GOG stuff. Some of the BioWare employees have been quietly mentioning their support for Ultima.Could you elaborate on this, please?
How are they taking control of the brand in a "big way", other than re-releasing old single player console games, without even updating them?
Not being snarky or sarcastic.. I honestly would like to know what you mean.
Just as important or probably more important, BioWare hosted some of the Ultima fansites/bloggers in Virginia recently and they made it clear to those fansites/bloggers that they were planning on big things for Ultima.
When was the last time anybody at EA or its studios played host to Ultima fansites/bloggers to discuss Ultima-related stuff?
China might have itcultural disposition for taking a long term view of and for things ...
Good god Fayled, you of all people know that EA has owned the OSI and the Ultima franchise for 19 years.ONCE you start "parting out" differing segments OF "things ultima"
you have effectively and realistically (yep"literally" too!)
LOST control of all things Ultima
and history clearly shows: ONCE is long past lost
lost exclusivity to emulators
which was AFTER losing "individuality" TO EA (bought OSI)
Lost "the king/creator"
Lost direction (if not before AOS, then certainly after LBR (steam-punk derivative))
If EA had been making a push for fast cash, we would not be getting the graphics, quest, and new player upgrades, we would have gotten a bigger booster/theme pack, and they would have already announced the next booster/theme pack.Plus with EA history to try to rake in fast cash and shoddy work in the past few years makes his point even stronger.
It will be some sort of profit sharing arrangement outside the Asian markets. What are they doing these days... spending 6 months looking at Excel spreadsheets... and astroturfing this forum re the Classic shard last year and all the stuff they are going to do this year. The graphics in the new boosters which you have to pay for are average, and magically you are going to have an incredible total revamp of the EC graphics. Yeah right.I don't know what to think, Woodsman. I'm leaning towards EA is letting NetDragon develop a 3D version of UO and eventually it will replace the 2D version, worldwide. It makes no sense at all to me why EA would limit access to a 3D version of UO to just the Asian market. I found information on one of the NetDragon company websites that says they work with game operators around the world. Who's to say EA doesn't take advantage of those relationships NetDragon has to find game operators worldwide to run UO 3D servers? The original press release just says that NetDragon will have exclusive rights to run the game in Asia.
Of course, no one at EA is ever going to confirm or deny any of this. All we can do is watch what the UO team at EA does with the 2D version. Are they doing things to make such a migration easier? And where the heck is Cal these days and why do we hear from him so very sporadically? I really think he and several others have been tied up with working with NetDragon Websoft's game development team. That's my hunch and I'm sticking to it at this point!
Like it took a while to revamp factions, and remove cheaters, and build a Classic shard. Dangle some carrots, spam the forums re these carrots, 12 months later dangle some new carrots and repeat.If EA had been making a push for fast cash, we would not be getting the graphics, quest, and new player upgrades, we would have gotten a bigger booster/theme pack, and they would have already announced the next booster/theme pack.Plus with EA history to try to rake in fast cash and shoddy work in the past few years makes his point even stronger.
I'm not defending them necessarily - I think the theme packs were a fast cash grab, but the other stuff is definitely not since it's going to take a while.
If EA had been making a push for fast cash, we would not be getting the graphics, quest, and new player upgrades, we would have gotten a bigger booster/theme pack, and they would have already announced the next booster/theme pack.
I'm not defending them necessarily - I think the theme packs were a fast cash grab, but the other stuff is definitely not since it's going to take a while.
The majority of gamers know how EA is. Unfinished, half arse, rushed out the door products is there company slogan.It's something that I'm glad to hear, but truth be told I wonder if it's Laidlaw and his team that really needed to learn a lesson. The fact that they made some mistakes is undeniable, but when your company is owned by someone else you only have so much creative control. If you have someone ordering you to wrap it up so they can cash in more quickly, there's not much you can do.
So EA: if this was your fault as I and many others suspect, please listen. The fans of games like Dragon Age aren't interested in annual releases and forty dollar DLC that you pass off as entirely new games. They will wait for the game to be done and done right. All you succeed in doing when you push is to run the franchise into the ground. Don't do that. Think in the long term.
heh! yeah ... I DO KNOW that ... so ... you must have missed the point I >almost made<Good god Fayled, you of all people know that EA has owned the OSI and the Ultima franchise for 19 years.
What I know is this: BioWare employees started getting more vocal about the Ultima franchise. Then Cal said something changed in January and February, and not long after he said that, the graphics upgrade, new player experience upgrade, and quest upgrade were announced along with the next booster not being a full-blown booster (but costing just as much as one![]()
). BioWare employees got a little more vocal about Ultima, then they opened up the BioWare/Mythic doors to some fansites/bloggers, then they announced UltimaForever (which featured UO in prime space) and GOG.com, with more announcements to come. Meanwhile some BioWare employee keeps pushing out twitters engaging the Ultima community and highlighting UO as well.
After the Stygian Abyss layoffs and after the switch to booster packs and dropping of expansions, I really thought EA was just going to let UO die off. Now things have changed and work is being done to attract new players.
As much as I hate what EA has done over the years to UO and Ultima, I'm willing to see how this plays out. I would feel more comfortable if there were some new hires and if BioWare would finally add UO and Camelot to their official forums alongside all of their other games, but things are at least happening.
And You Go On to talk about what "you hope" will be a "possible benefit" from somethings said by some people (still mostly unidentified) and some coincidental "promises" about "work forth coming" ...ONCE you start "parting out" differing segments OF "things ultima"
you have effectively and realistically (yep"literally" too!)
LOST control of all things Ultima.
Factions..there are bigger problems with UO. Factions is kind of like a leaky faucet in a house that's got a shaky foundation. Yes, it needs to be fixed, yes you're leaking water (or maybe players), but if you don't fix the foundation up, you're not going to have anybody around to complain about the leaky faucet.Like it took a while to revamp factions, and remove cheaters, and build a Classic shard. Dangle some carrots, spam the forums re these carrots, 12 months later dangle some new carrots and repeat.
I believe the theme packs were a cash grab.You truly believe that? The theme booster was unfinshed plain and simple. They got cash for an unfinshed product.
Jonathan (I think) and I had this conversation a while back, and we discussed whether or not things were happening at the EA level or the BioWare level. This year, EA supposedly started to truly free the studios up a bit. If they were really and truly going to do what they claimed they were going to do, then this would be driven at the BioWare level.Cal can say anything and give UO player base hope but the heads at EA can cut off that hope if it costs them a part of their bonuses. I dont blame Cal for false and empty promises. Its EA that does it and he is the scapegoat when things are not working right or it's rushed out the door.
I agree with all of this. Warhammer was launched too early, and to EA's credit, they apparently learned a very valuable lesson and are giving Star Wars some breathing room. With that said, if Star Wars goes down in flames, it could ruin EA's entire year financially, and the bloodbath that UO went through after Stygian Abyss, while probably not as bad, would leave UO incapable of seeing even booster packs released. BioWare would be gutted and the games divvied out.EA ruined Mythic Entertainment that Mark Jacob and company built. Then chase off Mark Jacob which in the end he may regret the day he agreed to merge with EA. Mythic will be remembered for there greatest game DaoC but failed on Warhammer. Bioware reputation will be measured on SW:TOR.
It came off that way and it shouldn't have and I apologize. I know DAoC players were probably not happy to hear that UO was getting graphics and quest and new player updates while DAoC was hanging out.I know you follow UO very closely and the passion and hope that they will do something about it. No offence towards you but your other topic/post the other day about DaoC forums getting redone to me was kind of like how unfair to UO that DaoC gets some love.
I agree and disagree. I got worried for UO when EA announced they were going to move from dozens of titles down to 10 or less major titles and were just going to focus on their most profitable franchises/licenses.EA is about $$$$$$$$ as any business should be but for shodddy and sub par products it's hard to say where they will be at in 10 years. They ruin the name of former good smaller companies they buy out so why not theirs while they are at it .
Hmm.. I must not have paid as much attention as you. Thank you for the explanation! I hope you are correct.I know you are not being snarky or sarcastic. I've been keeping an eye on some of the Ultima fansites, and BioWare has been brewing up something. They did the UltimaForever.com thing, and the GOG stuff. Some of the BioWare employees have been quietly mentioning their support for Ultima.
Just as important or probably more important, BioWare hosted some of the Ultima fansites/bloggers in Virginia recently and they made it clear to those fansites/bloggers that they were planning on big things for Ultima.
When was the last time anybody at EA or its studios played host to Ultima fansites/bloggers to discuss Ultima-related stuff?
Ultima (related) yes. Ultima Online no.Hmm.. I must not have paid as much attention as you. Thank you for the explanation! I hope you are correct.I know you are not being snarky or sarcastic. I've been keeping an eye on some of the Ultima fansites, and BioWare has been brewing up something. They did the UltimaForever.com thing, and the GOG stuff. Some of the BioWare employees have been quietly mentioning their support for Ultima.
Just as important or probably more important, BioWare hosted some of the Ultima fansites/bloggers in Virginia recently and they made it clear to those fansites/bloggers that they were planning on big things for Ultima.
When was the last time anybody at EA or its studios played host to Ultima fansites/bloggers to discuss Ultima-related stuff?