Ultima Online and Shadowbane

ShadowSaturn

In my opinion these were the greatest two games that made MMORPG's into such a miracle genre. Closely following behind them would be Everquest and Dark Age of Camelot.



You had to have been there to experience the magic.



But the passages of time spare no one. And thus many of us need a new MMORPG we can call home.



The day will come when community, freedom, open world dynamics, gear as a personalization of your character instead of as a total worth determining value and grouping will shine again as important components in this genre. And we will have games that embody these aspects and are highly artistic and well made, not some sort of product that is being pushed so CEO's can aquire mass wealth. But games, real games, real virtual worlds that come to life through the players that are filled with fantasy and magic.

sadeisinsane

I never played UO, but I did play Shadowbane, and I would have to agree with you.  It was a great game while it lasted.  Some of the people that made Shadowbane have started up a new company and are currently working on a new MMO that they have not named yet.  The company is called Stray Bullet Games.  Thought you might like to know.

Luneth7

Aye. Freedom and the ability to express simplicity with a paradoxical depth is needed in future games.



Games that divide the community into levels and gear are not the ideal design. It just spreads more and more people further apart and weaknes the community instead of strengthen It.



This genre needs more Ultima Onlines and Shadowbanes.

GlowingMoon

It's funny how Ultima Online is one of the first MMORPG's ever and yet It is also one of the greatest and best MMORPG's ever.



I agree with you TC.



Let's be optimstic about the future of MMORPG's. Hopefully there will be another game that matches Ultima Onlines wonderful design.

nariusseldon

Originally posted by ShadowSaturn


In my opinion these were the greatest two games that made MMORPG's into such a miracle genre. Closely following behind them would be Everquest and Dark Age of Camelot.



You had to have been there to experience the magic.



But the passages of time spare no one. And thus many of us need a new MMORPG we can call home.



The day will come when community, freedom, open world dynamics, gear as a personalization of your character instead of as a total worth determining value and grouping will shine again as important components in this genre. And we will have games that embody these aspects and are highly artistic and well made, not some sort of product that is being pushed so CEO's can aquire mass wealth. But games, real games, real virtual worlds that come to life through the players that are filled with fantasy and magic.

 

Nah .. UO was horrible. I started in the beta ... was excited .. then let down by the non-fun gameplay. EQ was better but there is too much down-time, too much camping, too much non-fun activities.

Never try Shadowbane though.

GlowingMoon

Originally posted by nariusseldon

Originally posted by ShadowSaturn


In my opinion these were the greatest two games that made MMORPG's into such a miracle genre. Closely following behind them would be Everquest and Dark Age of Camelot.



You had to have been there to experience the magic.



But the passages of time spare no one. And thus many of us need a new MMORPG we can call home.



The day will come when community, freedom, open world dynamics, gear as a personalization of your character instead of as a total worth determining value and grouping will shine again as important components in this genre. And we will have games that embody these aspects and are highly artistic and well made, not some sort of product that is being pushed so CEO's can aquire mass wealth. But games, real games, real virtual worlds that come to life through the players that are filled with fantasy and magic.

 

Nah .. UO was horrible. I started in the beta ... was excited .. then let down by the non-fun gameplay. EQ was better but there is too much down-time, too much camping, too much non-fun activities.

 

I would have to disagree with you. I think Ultima Online was one of the funnest MMORPG's ever made. Detailed and well thought out in It's game design.



 

ShadowSaturn

Originally posted by nariusseldon

Originally posted by ShadowSaturn


In my opinion these were the greatest two games that made MMORPG's into such a miracle genre. Closely following behind them would be Everquest and Dark Age of Camelot.



You had to have been there to experience the magic.



But the passages of time spare no one. And thus many of us need a new MMORPG we can call home.



The day will come when community, freedom, open world dynamics, gear as a personalization of your character instead of as a total worth determining value and grouping will shine again as important components in this genre. And we will have games that embody these aspects and are highly artistic and well made, not some sort of product that is being pushed so CEO's can aquire mass wealth. But games, real games, real virtual worlds that come to life through the players that are filled with fantasy and magic.

 

Nah .. UO was horrible. I started in the beta ... was excited .. then let down by the non-fun gameplay. EQ was better but there is too much down-time, too much camping, too much non-fun activities.

Never try Shadowbane though.

 

Ultima Online was a phenomenal game in my opinion even though It has aged a bit. But It's core design and mechanics would make for a very deep and good MMORPG of today, It just needs new graphics.