Ultima Online Alpha and Beta

[Bicchus Dicchus]

Howdy!

The simplified UO timeline looks something like this:

1) UO Pre-Alpha
2) Alpha
3) Beta
4) Final release
5) T2A and onward

Take a look at some shots from the Alpha and Beta versions.

Here's a shot from the Alpha:

And here's one from the Beta:

Isn't it amazing how things have changed?

Has anyone here participated in the tests? Care to share some Alpha memories?

It'd rock my socks if we could preserve as much as we can for posterity, and, well, I'm a nostalgic kinda guy

So, post your experiences, screenshots, memories from the Alpha/Beta tests!
(Maybe even Pre-Alpha too)

-Bicchus Dicchus, Hero to the People

 

[Storm]

I started back with uo4 I still have uo5 and started the online at beta time it actually was my roommates account !

I wish i still had the screen shots from then

 

[RavenWinterHawk]

Dang thats when monsters met something. Now it is the reverse. Demon slayer. One player and 25 dead deamons on the ground with nothing worthwhile to loot. So sad...

 

[Bicchus Dicchus]

UO4 and UO5.. What do you mean?

What do these designations represent, Storm?

I'm intrigued.

-Bicchus Dicchus

 

[Storm]

those were before uo went online it was warriors of destiny and I forget the name of the other give me a sec

 

[Storm]

Ultima (series) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Gilmour]

UO4 and UO5.. What do you mean?

i think he means

ultima 4 & 5.. while the "O" being a force of habit haha

ultima dates back to 1980 as single player games. (updated with help of above link)

 

[Storm]

correct Gilmour The O' is a habbit my bad lol

 

[Storm]

YouTube - Ultima 5 - Warriors of the Destiny check this out

 

[covert]

"mustic orb"

 

[Bicchus Dicchus]

Let's not derail the topic here boys.

Everyone's played the old Ultimas, especially Ultima 7 and 8.

As for the early test versions of Ultima Online, these are what fascinate me.

-Bicchus Dicchus

 

[Storm]

here you go a bunch of them
Pre Alpha: Original version of Ultima Online - Game Screenshots WoW WoT FFXI RS LoTRO L2 MS SWG EQ2 Warcraft World of Tanks

 

[Gilmour]

YouTube - Ultima 5 - Warriors of the Destiny check this out

HAHA this is epic!

 

[Bicchus Dicchus]

Storm: Yup, I know that site well - The two images in my initial post are linked from there.

You guys are awesome! Any memories from those days?

Who here still has their CD? I've got almost all of mine. Almost.

 

[Storm]

Not sure what disks i have left I know i still have when t2a came out ! but before that I think they all have been packed away or lost!

 

[covert]

I noticed the status window has levels and experience in it. It got me thinking of how drastically different the game would have been with levels.

I liked actually seeing backpacks on the players.

 

[Bicchus Dicchus]

Pre-Alpha

Alpha

This is one of the most highly-sought after versions of UO, the Pre-Release Alpha. Many believe that this is the "Missing Link" from any UO historian's collection.

Edit: Throwing in two more shots.

 

[covert]

I can only guess, but is that top screenshot at the Britain southwest bridge?

 

[Bicchus Dicchus]

I can only guess, but is that top screenshot at the Britain southwest bridge?

You are correct sir!

Here's another screenshot to bake your noodle over what might have been. (Both actions mentioned in this screenshot were more-or-less functional at the time)

 

[Storm]

the bodies laying on the ground ! on ls shard currently there is a body that looks like that!

 

[Bicchus Dicchus]

the bodies laying on the ground ! on ls shard currently there is a body that looks like that!

Some of the graphics from the Pre-Alpha are still contained within the Classic Client. This is due to a direct evolutionary engine convergence at some point between Pre-Alpha and Beta.

 

[Storm]

I have ran by that body many times it was added a year or 2 ago and every thime it has reminded me of something now I remember why lol ! funny how your memory plays tricks on you like that!

 

[Bicchus Dicchus]

 

[Morgana LeFay (PoV)]

Wow. You know, you get wrapped up in things, and time sort of goes by, and you don't really remember when some things changed...but looking at the old, and I mean old, art from the beta, etc. it makes me realize how much has changed in the CC over the years.

Thanks for posting these pics. Keep up the good work! It is good to see that at least someone still values the roots of the game, at least on some level.

(btw...PM me sometime, I'd like to discuss using some of these screen shots on my website, which is in my signature)

 

[Woodsman]

I liked actually seeing backpacks on the players.

If you like that, you ought to check out Ultima VIII.

Wait, don't!!!