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New Ultima Revealed: Free Online Strategy Game
by Chris Faylor, Jan 27, 2010 1:10pm PST
A new entry in the long-running Ultima franchise is coming from Electronic Arts, though it's not the new RPG many have been hoping for.
A free-to-play browser-based offering, Lords of Ultima is described as "an online strategy game where you build your own unique city and play with thousands of other players."
Development is being handled by EA Phemonic, most recently responsible for the similarly multiplayer-focused free-to-play online RTS-RPG BattleForge (PC).
Further details are slim, with the game currently in closed beta and only one server running at the moment. However, it appears that anyone can register and play in the ongoing beta through the game's official site, provided there's room on the server.
Comments
I'm still a bit bitter they never finished Ultima Online 2... because they had some cool ideas going on there.
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But it is actually curious that this game will be free. When Garriot said he doesn't mind if people download and play the old Ultima games, EA jumped like Golum after the precious, saying what the creator of the series said doesn't matter, they own Ultima.
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I'm surprised Ultima hasn't gone 3D using Java/Unity like Runescape. Jagex must be laughing in baths of money that there's no competitor.
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I dunno, maybe it's a good thing. Quake Live was nice since it basically extended into something with the functionality of a full-fledged game once the plugin was installed.