Ultima Online Heads for 7th Birthday With Anniversary Edition

Thanks to Yahoo for reprinting an EA press release noting a special 7th Anniversary Edition of Ultima Online has been announced, featuring the game plus the "five [previously released] expansion packs... one of seven rare and powerful anniversary [in-game] gifts... and a collector's edition of the Ultima Online Fan Guide", as well as a "full version of the classic Ultima IX: Ascension." The official UO site has a picture of the box, and over at UO Stratics, they have clarification from UO's lead programmer, part of the California-transplanted Ultima Online team, that "the primary motivation to release the Anniversary Edition is to get UO back on store shelves until the [late 2004-due] expansion is complete. At the same time we were looking for ways to give players some value [also including 'an extra character slot'] that would complement the package."

Re:Ultima IX: Ascension

[AtariAmarok]

"It is by far the most lush, detailed and beautiful world in 3D that had ever been made at the time,....I was floored at their landscape design, fitting everything into such a small area of land and making it feel like a continent packed with detail down the centimeter. No polygon in that game world was unused, it was amazing."

I felt that way about Disneyworld, except that the broad tawny expanse of the Pluto guy-in-a-suit's back just cried out to have some sort of "Lion King 1 1/2" adbill plastered on it. There's still a few unused polygons there.

Re:For anyone that tried to play.

[Pluvius]

I hear it's actually decent now that computers have advanced and patches have been released.

Rob (I'd have to play through the previous ten games first, though. I'm pretty obsessive about playing through most games in order.)