I can’t tell you much about my source for this; he (she?) used a dummy email address and submitted the message via the site contact form.
Anyhow, the message he sent was pretty short. In fact, it was just a link to this image:
That sure looks like Britannia!
The only other thing the email said is: “online RPG”. Not a lot to go on, I realize.
But there’s at least two tantalizing details in the shot. Three, really. The first is that it’s quite obviously a map of Britannia, and the second is that there are a number of circled locations on the map which seem to be development notes concerning where different towns and landmarks are going to end up being placed.
Lord British’s castle, for example, is situated on some nice coastal real estate.
There’s also the captivating caption just above the image (which, by the way, appears to be a still from a video embedded in a website). Paul Barnett’s name is there, as is the codename (at least, I think it’s a codename…) Ultima4Ever. Clever ploy, that.
At the same time, this looks like a very “high level” view of Britannia; I would expect that any game which actually used it would also feature a much better-looking, zoomed-in view for its actual gameplay.
Thoughts, good Dragons and Dragonettes? Does this image comport with known rumours?
Update: I see this story has made it onto Reddit. It has also been picked up by Horizons Tavern and Stratics. Thanks for the linkage, everyone!
Revenge of the Update: And now NeoGaf has picked up the story. Sweet!
Updateodus: Apparently, this is a development map, and then a “rapid prototype” early version used primarily for testing purposes. What we’re seeing here is almost certainly not reflective of the finished product.
Well that certainly looks like Britannia. It feels a tad “squarish” but it’s probably a work in progress thing. In any case it looks like the familiar landmark are there.
I doubt this will be some ingame stuff. Perhaps an ingame map?
In any case just seeing good ol Britannia feels exciting.
I fear it’s gonna be some online thing where you compete for the title of avatar… Add to that some way to generate micro payments…
If that’s it I’m not in
Interesting, I hope it’s something new and interesting, and not Farmville
Im very stoked. I would love to see an ultima addition that is more true to its history.
It’s definitely Britannia. It has Paws jotted toward the mid southern part of the map.
I’d be okay with some form of “Online Ultima IV”. This was basically the concept of Ultima X and I’ve always felt it was a great idea.
Not quite sure what I’d think of micro-transaction if there are any though.
Definitely Britannia, known landmark notes are ALL over that map. If it’s a Flash based RPG then it looks like they’re aiming for a classic jRPG look instead of the classic tiles or even upgraded tiles which is not really sitting well with me.
The other thing I when I look at that map is a possible social network game, it’s practically got Farmville stylings written ALL over it. If it’s a social net game it’s a HUGE HUGE mega turn-off. I can’t stand games that push you to increase your social network size in order to advance or has some sort of micro-transaction system where players who spend more money in the game have better characters and equipment.
I really have no interest in seeing another Ultima title unless it’s a standalone single player RPG.
I would expect/hope that Barnett’s goal with this “U4ever” is to push social network games (since based on previous rumors, this is most likely either a social network or more generally a browser based game like Lord of Ultima) farther that your usual -Ville crap, much like Richard Garriot is aiming to do with Portalarium.
In other words, not creating some Dragon Age Legends kind of game.
I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
Nope, this totally is not an ultima title. That’s too bad, I was hoping for a new ultima game too. Tis a shame.
I love how “leaked” is the way to generate internet buzz. Like, “this is stuff they don’t want you to see.” Clearly this was a planned leak. They could have just as easy leaked the entire video on youtube. It’s clearly a movie playing on a browser.
Too bad this map looks nothing like an ultima title. This definitely won’t be britannia. The map doesn’t look anything alike.
I remain cautiously optimistic, personally.
Yikes,
what am I looking at? Why does it look like we are stuck in 1992, looking at the latest release for the NES?
The old NES remake of Uiv is probably going to be better than this.
Like I said on FB, I’d rather help change out the reactor rods at Fukushima without wearing any radioactive protective gear than play ANY social network games much less one insultingly tacking on the Ultima label to it’s name in any shape or form. If they wanna make a spinoff in a different genre that’s fine by me, and I’ll most likely play it. But if they’re gonna use 4 in the title then it best be a reboot/remake and best be an actual RPG (same goes for the entirety of Ultima 1-9). But I won’t touch a social network game with a 1000′ pole, they’re the ghetto games of the internet.
http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?p=26840594
http://whois.domaintools.com/ultima4ever.com
kevinfishburne@codex:~$ nmap ultima4ever.com
Starting Nmap 5.21 ( http://nmap.org ) at 2011-03-31 23:44 EDT
Failed to resolve given hostname/IP: ultima4ever.com. Note that you can’t use ‘/mask’ AND ’1-4,7,100-’ style IP ranges
WARNING: No targets were specified, so 0 hosts scanned.
Nmap done: 0 IP addresses (0 hosts up) scanned in 1.01 seconds
kevinfishburne@codex:~$ whois ultima4ever.com
Whois Server Version 2.0
Domain names in the .com and .net domains can now be registered
with many different competing registrars. Go to http://www.internic.net
for detailed information.
Domain Name: ULTIMA4EVER.COM
Registrar: CSC CORPORATE DOMAINS, INC.
Whois Server: whois.corporatedomains.com
Referral URL: http://www.cscglobal.com
Name Server: NS1.MYTHICENTERTAINMENT.COM
Name Server: NS5.DNSMADEEASY.COM
Name Server: NS6.DNSMADEEASY.COM
Name Server: NS7.DNSMADEEASY.COM
Name Server: UDNS1.ULTRADNS.NET
Name Server: UDNS2.ULTRADNS.NET
Status: clientTransferProhibited
Updated Date: 15-mar-2011
Creation Date: 17-mar-2010
Expiration Date: 17-mar-2012
>>> Last update of whois database: Fri, 01 Apr 2011 03:44:27 UTC < <<
NOTICE: The expiration date displayed in this record is the date the
registrar's sponsorship of the domain name registration in the registry is
currently set to expire. This date does not necessarily reflect the expiration
date of the domain name registrant's agreement with the sponsoring
registrar. Users may consult the sponsoring registrar's Whois database to
view the registrar's reported date of expiration for this registration.
TERMS OF USE: You are not authorized to access or query our Whois
database through the use of electronic processes that are high-volume and
automated except as reasonably necessary to register domain names or
modify existing registrations; the Data in VeriSign Global Registry
Services' ("VeriSign") Whois database is provided by VeriSign for
information purposes only, and to assist persons in obtaining information
about or related to a domain name registration record. VeriSign does not
guarantee its accuracy. By submitting a Whois query, you agree to abide
by the following terms of use: You agree that you may use this Data only
for lawful purposes and that under no circumstances will you use this Data
to: (1) allow, enable, or otherwise support the transmission of mass
unsolicited, commercial advertising or solicitations via e-mail, telephone,
or facsimile; or (2) enable high volume, automated, electronic processes
that apply to VeriSign (or its computer systems). The compilation,
repackaging, dissemination or other use of this Data is expressly
prohibited without the prior written consent of VeriSign. You agree not to
use electronic processes that are automated and high-volume to access or
query the Whois database except as reasonably necessary to register
domain names or modify existing registrations. VeriSign reserves the right
to restrict your access to the Whois database in its sole discretion to ensure
operational stability. VeriSign may restrict or terminate your access to the
Whois database for failure to abide by these terms of use. VeriSign
reserves the right to modify these terms at any time.
The Registry database contains ONLY .COM, .NET, .EDU domains and
Registrars.
Corporation Service Company(c) (CSC) The Trusted Partner of More than 50% of the 100 Best Global Brands.
Contact us to learn more about our enterprise solutions for Global Domain Name Registration and Management, Trademark Research and Watching, Brand, Logo and Auction Monitoring, as well SSL Certificate Services and DNS Hosting.
NOTICE: You are not authorized to access or query our WHOIS database through the use of high-volume, automated, electronic processes or for the purpose or purposes of using the data in any manner that violates these terms of use. The Data in the CSC WHOIS database is provided by CSC for information purposes only, and to assist persons in obtaining information about or related to a domain name registration record. CSC does not guarantee its accuracy. By submitting a WHOIS query, you agree to abide by the following terms of use: you agree that you may use this Data only for lawful purposes and that under no circumstances will you use this Data to: (1) allow, enable, or otherwise support the transmission of mass unsolicited, commercial advertising or solicitations via direct mail, e-mail, telephone, or facsimile; or (2) enable high volume, automated, electronic processes that apply to CSC (or its computer systems). CSC reserves the right to terminate your access to the WHOIS database in its sole discretion for any violations by you of these terms of use. CSC reserves the right to modify these terms at any time.
Registrant:
Electronic Arts
Domain Hostmaster
209 Redwood Shores Parkway
Redwood City, CA 94065
US
Email: Hostmaster2@ea.com
Registrar Name….: CORPORATE DOMAINS, INC.
Registrar Whois…: whois.corporatedomains.com
Registrar Homepage: http://www.cscprotectsbrands.com
Domain Name: ultima4ever.com
Created on…………..: Wed, Mar 17, 2010
Expires on…………..: Sat, Mar 17, 2012
Record last updated on..: Tue, Mar 15, 2011
Administrative,Technical Contact:
Electronic Arts
Domain Hostmaster
209 Redwood Shores Parkway
Redwood City, CA 94065
US
Phone: +1.6506281500
Email: Hostmaster2@ea.com
DNS Servers:
ns1.mythicentertainment.com
udns2.ultradns.net
ns6.dnsmadeeasy.com
udns1.ultradns.net
ns7.dnsmadeeasy.com
ns5.dnsmadeeasy.com
Register your domain name at http://www.cscglobal.com
More to come.
Some possibly relevant information on EADC as shown in the image:
http://foursquare.com/lost_sound/checkin/4d5efdf629ef236a943d9359?s=nX05f6sHZBGiqMk0YvqejkjScsY
“Electronic Arts Dev Con 2011″
From:
https://twitter.com/#!/lost_sound/status/38738972112855040
Other mentions:
http://www.spoke.com/info/pCRcmhB/EADCMahal
http://www.linkedin.com/in/simonfong74
http://forums.electronicarts.co.uk/medal-honor-pc/1368107-do-you-like-moh.html
http://www.tuugo.sg/Companies/eadc_1073878/0250001829589
I’m going to be fucking with the image in GIMP shortly, though I agree with previous comments it looks terribly NES/SNES-like.
Editor’s Note: If you post a comment with this many links in it, it will get flagged as spam, and there’s about a 50% chance I’ll actually find it in the spam filter, because I don’t always check every last thing that gets flagged. Today, luckily, I did.
Interesting. Watching closely. Hope its not very, EA.
As someone else said, there seems to be familiar names jotted all over the map… Unless it’s the faint hint of hope making me misinterpret what my eyes see.
From what I recall, though, Richard Garriott only has the copyright for a small number of obvious characters, while Britannia was still used within EA’s Ultibominations. The names of the landmass, cities, dungeons, and so forth could be a problem; some could be uncopyrightable as they exist IRL or are too logical (“Yew” for a city in a forest, etc.), but imaginary ones could fall under the same rules as the name Ultima.
As for the future game, my response as someone that so far has only liked single-player games is essentially an answer to some of the comments above. RG has said he’s hoping to revolutionize the “social media” game platform so it *isn’t* like Farmville — that mixed with the return of Lord British makes me think he’s hoping to create the game he originally envisioned in the 70s. As I recall, he hinted that social media should be an excellent platform for the kind of immersive mutual-storytelling D&D/SCA experiences he was trying to bring to computers with Ultima.
Ultima IX (and the gaming market focusing only on young men for 15+ years) severely damaged my ability to hope that any game appeal to me, though… Whether I want to play or not will depend heavily on how it works: if it’s like Farmville or UO I’m not interested. If it’s more like a graphical version of the oddly addictive storytelling/customizing/socializing/etc. oriented Weyrmount MOO the Dragons used to hang out on long ago, I’d at least try it.
Looks like Britannia… but somehow it lacks the mountains where Despise is located (snakespine mountains i think).
Oh yeah and isn’t this some kind of proof that the Mythic insider who wrote that long post about how SWTOR will fail was not faked? (i mean it can still be exaggerated as hell but some stuff from it seems more legit now)
How could he know so much about this game (it’s an Ultima title, Paul Barnett works on it, it’s a browser game, it’s obviously some kind of U4 “remake”) when everything about it was speculation? Till now or at least some time ago we didn’t even know for sure if it’s going to be an Ultima title.
And if i remember correctly we heard about this project the first time when it came up in that post.
I looked at the maps for the Sega Master System and Super Nintendo Entertainment system Ultima games, and they are far more accurate than what is portrayed in the image. This is a simplified inspiration of Britannia, printed and photographed unless it’s an image filter. Maybe someone has an Ultima map fetish and access to a color printer. Here’s a different version:
http://www.eightvirtues.com/sanctimonia/images/gossip1.jpg
The map is folded/creased in two places and photographed at an indirect (non 90 degree) angle. My corrections weren’t enough, but still make it look somewhat normal, hopefully.
@dungy – Yeah me too, I remain cautiously optimistic.
@Xyzzy – Richard Garriott only own the copyright to Lord British. There are some obvious name in Britannia that can probably not be copyrighted (Britain, Yew, Cove, Skara Brae for instance…), but Britannia, Ultima as a whole and all that belong to EA.
@Sanctimonia – Interesting find. Ultima4Ever (Forever ?) might be a bit more than just a code name then, it seems.
Sorta like Duke Nukem Forever…
Also this:
http://www.eightvirtues.com/sanctimonia/images/EADC.jpg
The glad-handing speaker in the photo might be saying,
“I know what you’re thinking. The map may look like shit. That’s why I want to explain to you how players enter the game, and how they move up in our world. They have something called ‘energy’ which gets replenished whenever they renew their interest, whether by payment or waiting around for a day or so.”
“The sheer number of users who try it out will overwhelm our servers, and those who stay online will submit to our every whim. It’s legal spam, people. Total control of [un]willing slaves. Nothing better.”
“This underlying mechanic will power the fortune of our endeavor. Like others before us, we will monetize every emotive action of our player base to an appropriate degree. If you so desire, then so will you pay.”
Beware.
The map looks a little bit like the ones from the Pokemon games (style-wise i mean, with those big roads and that blocky look)
Let’s hope it’s also just an overview (it HAS to be an overview).
I don’t mind the “blocky tiles with rounded corners” look that much.
It’s what Ultima 5 looked like, right?
But IMHO the roads are a little too straight for a non-sci-fi world, and the little mountain icons… “An aura of cuteness doth surround thee!”
Yikes.
Also, @Sanct: ><
The more I look at this, the more I get the feeling that it’s probably some sort of conceptual map, and probably not all that reflective of just what the actual gameplay graphics will look like. Indeed, this may be a dated image no longer reflective of reality in any way.
Micro Magic: The leak did come pretty quickly on the heels of the Ultima 4 post and its ensuing controversy, I agree. And it came from a city that does, in fact, have an EA studio. Whether it came from EA directly, I have no idea, although something about the image does look “internal”.
Terrormaster & XYzzy: I realize that social network games — or online-playable games, more generally — haven’t been particularly stellar thus far. But rather like Richard Garriott, I take that as evidence that there is room for the medium to grow, rather than as evidence that the medium is crap. It’s kind of like games on phones; I remember playing Solitaire on my little Samsung flip-phone when I first got it, and yeah, it wasn’t all that great. Now I’m playing Galaxy on Fire on my iPhone; the medium has evolved, and so has the quality of games deliverable on and through it. Social gaming will be little different.
Wolfner: Actually, you’re right…where the heck are the Serpent’s Spine mountains?
By the way: EA Louse was many things (including a vitriolic asshat), but I don’t think she (at least, I think Louse was a woman) was lying about things going on at Mythic and BioWare. Her conclusions (that TOR would fail, for example) might have been wrong, but that’s not the same as being wrong in the details.
And…uh…I had heard about this project before the Louse story broke. Just for the record.
Sanctimonia: Thanks for digging all that up. Highly interesting, especially finding the registered domain name. Given what I know about this project, I kinda doubt that ultima4ever.com will be used as the final resting place of whatever Mythic releases, though I could see it being part of the marketing scheme.
And despite the somewhat cheesy spelling, I can’t disagree with the sentiment.
@WTF_Dragon – That’s a great analogy about phone games. A few years ago these were mostly crap and/or casual stuff. Now there are more and more gamer’s game and in a decade or so it will probably be the main delivery for handheld gaming.
I can see the potential for similar stuff within social network, which is why I’ve always curious (if a tad warry) about Portalarium
Clearly a concept map… if this was the late 80s/early 90s I’d say that grid is actually graph paper and this was drawn with markers. Very similar to how Origins developed lots of the Ultima games on paper.
Had this screenshot actually been leaked on April 1, I’d say “nice try”.
XYZZY:
That’s an odd thing you’re saying. The Weyrmount isn’t* a game. It’s just a place to talk to people. You want them to create an Ultima-themed social network?
*Yes, “isn’t”, not “wasn’t”. It still exists, though most of the inhabitants, myself included, have moved to talking to each other on Facebook.
Hmm, on second thought, what XYZZY describes sounds more like an Ultima-themed Second Life.
So the question now is:
Is it “April fools on you, Ultima fanboys! You thought that pic was what the game actually looks like!”, or “April fools on you, Ultima losers! The game really does look this bad!”
/I vote for option 2
I love how every post you do slightly related on this topic sounds at best like a thinly veiled troll, Handshakes.
That being said, this is not even a gameplay screenshot, so we have no idea how the game will look.
And I certainly don’t see what’s “bad” about this picture.
Thank you Sergorn. I don’t know why Handshakes feels such great deal of aggression towards this project, nor do I care, but I fail to see how a slightly misshapen Britannia proves that this game is somehow crap. I mean, the terrain of Britannia changed drastically between each version of the game, with islands appearing and disappearing at whim.
Especially since this is obviously a “work in progress” map – hence all the annotations.
Especially since this is an old image, essentially a prototype or testbed.
No, you aren’t allowed to ask. Or, rather, you are, but don’t expect me to answer.
Another cheap Ultima cash-in? When will EA learn?
Right.
I mean there’s certainly been a LOT of cheap Ultima cash-in since 1999.
Oh wait…
I certainly hope that whatever this is turns out to be something that harks back to the classics, but even if it is some kind of hybrid social RPG that I personally don’t have time for/interest in playing, it’s a great thing that it might drive a new generation to go back and discover the back catalog.
I thini one thing we also need to consider is that such a game is probably our best chance to have a new AAA Ultima someday. If this is successful, this might lead EA to feel there is more they can do to the IP and bring a new fullscale Ultima game back on track.
This is also why I’m not so bitter about LoU because even if this was a shameless use of the IP, its quite possible itz continuous success is the reason Mythic could go forward with this passion project.
Any Ultima game is good for the IP for its one more chance to see a full scale ressurection down the road. We as a community can’t let this become our Wing Commander Arena and have Ultima be burier for even more yearq because of this.
(Of course I expect some naysayers coming to say don’t want a new AAA Ultima game and how the series should stay buried. Yeah well: some of us do so don’t spoil our hopes. And newsflash: nothing would force you to play a new Ultima game if it doesnt interest you!)
One thing that’s interesting in all of this has been the rampant, wild, and (for the most part) wrong-headed — but excited! — speculation that accompanied EA’s initial legal actions. I mean, that article got Slashdotted (thanks again, Kevin!), and suddenly half the Internet was writing in and linking to me, spreading wild rumours of a new Ultima MMO, or…well, whatever.
Point is: there is a big hunger there for new Ultima properties. A big hunger. And if this is a baby-step we need to take on the way to seeing that hunger adequately addressed…hey, so be it.
My guess is that your source is either a PR or marketing person. They’ve done an excellent job driving virality here.
I’ll reserve judgement until the nature of the project is revealed, but this is sounding like Arena all over again. “Hey, EA really wants to make a true Wing Commander sequel, but if you want it you have to buy this WC-in-name-only game first to prove it.”
Even if this did lead to a proper Ultima game (assuming you can have one without LB) at best it would play like Fallout 3 or Mass Effect, which doesn’t really interest me personally.
And I’m not convinced they could ever recapture the subtle nuances that made Ultima so special, like the child-killing room from U5. Then it was just a neat little moral-dilemma easter egg; now it would play out on a painfully obvious dialog wheel (let’s see, if I want to pick the “good” answer I click upper left) and end with an achievement. (“Killed Children! 50 Points!”)
I’m exaggerating of course, but you get the idea. I also fear that the entire concept of the Eight Virtues is laughable by today’s cynical, Internet-Tough-Guy standards. But let’s see what they come up with.
Either way, between this and New Britannia it’s an interesting time to be an Ultima fan. If nothing else maybe this will lead to a DD release of the old games.
If they are *actually* working on a proper Ultima re-boot (as Obsidian would have liked to do) I’d be SO interested. The whole facebook and flash game thing just doesn’t interest me. Or maybe because I am just grumpy and old…
I refuse to allow myself to get excited by this because I don’t think I could take the disappointment of being wrong. Ultima IV will always remain my favorite game of all time and the idea of a full on remake leaves me so excited that words aren’t enough.
@Sergorn
Fair enough, Sergorn. I suppose my panties just get bunched by seeing them shutdown free fan produced projects just to reduce competition for their not-likely-free corporate production. It strikes me as a stinky move, and I suppose that slants my perception of their efforts towards the negative.
I have been rather venomous towards the project though, and that’s wrong.
I remember a rant that LOAF posted on the Wing Commander CIC — or maybe just their forums? — about Arena. Actually, it wasn’t about Arena proper, but about fan response thereto. Now, granted, Arena was a very poor excuse for a Wing Commander game, and basically a “meh” title on its own merits. Even so, LOAF made the point — and did so quite well, I think — that the combination of fan reluctance about the new game and fan disinterest in it once it released sent a message to EA that the Wing Commander IP was just not a top property anymore…which resulted in an AAA Wing Commander title being shuttered.
Sergorn made a similar point earlier:
That is exactly the case. Ultima fans have really scored some points for their favourite game in the last week and change, with all this rumour-mongering about new AAA Ultima titles, new Ultima MMOs, and suchlike. None of those rumours is true in the slightest, but all of them point to the fact — the cold, hard fact — that people are still hungry for that Ultima magic, and want more of it. Lots more, if they can get it.
So: good job, Ultima fans. Your enthusiasm has been noticed and noted, believe me.
But: now it behooves you not to drop the ball.
Now, a fair point has been made that it would be…easy for EA to hammer out another cinematic RPG, in the style of Mass Effect, Dragon Age, or Fallout 3, with the Ultima name on it, which wouldn’t necessarily interest everyone. And yeah, that’s a valid point. But then too, EA could just as easily contract out to a company like Obsidian or (dare I hope it?) the newly-independent Piranha Bytes to craft the next Ultima title. Indeed, Obsidian almost got the contract to do just that, back in 2006.
And the nice thing is that either company could probably craft a pretty damn good modern Ultima title, which captured a lot of the magic of the old games and also deftly incorporate more modern conventions in a functional — even effective — way. Indeed, if Fallout: New Vegas is any indication, Obsidian have really grokked the whole moral decision-making mechanic and made some real headway with it.
But if any of that is going to happen, it’s going to happen in the future. This game is what is going to happen now. And it will be on the success or failure of this game that EA will base future decisions about the Ultima franchise. Yeah, it’s going to be a browser game…but so what? That’s just one more medium; I’m sure there were plenty of pen-and-paper RPG gamers back in the early 1980s who scoffed at the idea of some “personal computer” being able to replicate the magic of a fine old Friday night questing session. So yeah, maybe thus far there hasn’t been a browser game that’s tickled the fancy of anyone here…does it necessarily follow that the browser-based medium is crap, and that no quality game will ever be made which uses that medium?
Of course not.
I hope, within the next couple of months, to be able to tell you way more about this title. For now, that’s just not possible. But trust me when I say that this will NOT be an Ultimaville, and this will not be Ultima 4: Arena. Nor is this some lame cash grab by EA; this is a passion project by some really dedicated Ultima fans at Mythic, right up to the guy in charge. That said, EA employees do obviously work to support themselves and their families; this game will have to make money somehow, whether via microtransactions or fixed fees. That can’t be avoided, but there is a difference between that and a lame cash grab.
Be as skeptical as you want. But don’t reject this thing out of hand, especially with what little information you have about it. That’s a very good way to ensure that Ultima stays locked away in a closet somewhere in an EA studio’s basement.
Wing Commander fans didn’t drop the ball, they saw Arena for what it was — cynical IP necromancy. I think the pipe dream of a big-budget WC revival was just a marketing tool calculated to sell a few more copies of the game. If anything, WCA’s success would have let EA know that “meh” was good enough for the Origin crowd.
Happy to judge this game on its own merits, but so far it’s an eerily similar situation. More faith in LB’s project for the time being.
Except it wasn’t a pipe dream, exactly. I still bug my cousin (he works for EA) at times, asking him to slip me some of the surviving art assets and suchlike (EA maintains a huge archive of this sort of stuff now).
He always does nothing, as he should…though he teases me with allusions and descriptions at family gatherings.
Point is: it was there, ready to go. And then…*poof*!
We’re in a similar boat here, as Ultima fans. The difference is, this isn’t a cynical cash-grab…EA could have gone to Playfish for one of those. This is something else, though exactly how much so I can’t say as yet. Soon, though.
A realistic re-imagining of Wing Commander using a hybrid of the Wing Commander, Silpheed and Gran Turismo series of games would be awesome.