At Toy 'R Us a few days ago, my wife and I spotted the above beauty. I had no idea it was back in stock. After picking it up, we jammed it into our TV's USB port, and in short order developed thumb calluses the likes of which neither of us have seen since age twelve.
Read moreSerpent Isle 1.07 Beta Artwork
Exult Phorum member, Knight Captain, has uncovered a few goodies not mentioned in The Cutting Room Floor's Proto: Ultima VII Part Two page, including the above image showing Gwenno trapped in ice.
Read moreiOS Gems: Civilization Revolution
Subject: Civilization Revolution: 3,99$ CDN
And does it ever feel good to be back. The problem is that I’m rusty as hell- both as a gamer concerned with climbing leaderboards and beating extreme scenarios, and as a guy trying to write about games. But I’ve got to give credit where it’s due. And here I credit the iOS version of Civilization Revolution, which has calmed Nathan’s fried nerves since 2011. I love it.
Read moreUltima VII in VR
No, this won't work well, but imagine Ultima VII remade in 3D, fit and ready for Oculus.
Thanks @UltimaDragons
Ultima VI Remake update: Buccaneer's cave gains staircases
AgentOrangeGuy's work in Exult to liberate Ultima VI from its 1990 roots in order to enter the world of 2000's-assisted 1992 technology is coming along swimmingly. I mean look at that: a staircase into a Buccaneer's cave. Netherworlds didn't even exist in Ultima VII, but tweaks by the Exult team make things possible.
Read moreUltima VI: Combat, Equipment, and Magic
In preparation for the eventual debut of the Exult-powered Ultima VI Remake, I am currently slogging my through Ultima VI (via Dosbox). While it remains one of the most well-crafted examples of RPG storytelling and world-building, Ultima VI has its problems. CRPG Addict has documented many, if not most of them.
Read moreUltima Underworld on the Playstation 1 (PS1)
Amazingly, the PS1 version of Ultima Underworld is populated by non-sprite 3D portions.
“The biggest difference to the environment is that all the sprite models of the original game have been replaced by all-new 3D ones. Some of the original UW sprites were pretty appalling (e.g. the bat that looked to be about a dozen pixels) but these were much improved in the sequel. Time hasn’t been entirely kind to most 3D modelling of the mid 90’s and these new models do look basic and cartoonish. They don’t move around the world smoothly either and give the impression of being pre-rendered in which case I’d far rather they had skipped the 3D modelling part and just redrawn everything the old-fashioned way. Most of them don’t look too bad – the giant rats are kind of cute, looking more like giant mice. The rotworm is possibly the worst and looks more like something left behind by one of the giant rats.”
Source: Ultima Underworld – PS1
via: Ultima Codex
Kickstarter: Underworld Ascendancy
The original Underworld (still available on GoG) still gives me shivers. I'm keeping a keen eye on this one. And, if the icons are anything to go by, native Linux, OSX, and Windows versions will be available.
Kickstarter: Underworld Ascendancy
Exult update: Blackthorn's Castle tossed about by Sutek
Long-time Exult Studio user, Crowley, has updated his long-term gargoyle NPC project by trashing Castle Blackthorn. He ties Ultima VII with its forebears by stamping the castle with the marks of the hermetic mage, Sutek. Nice touch.
If ever this mod goes live, here's one person looking very much forward to thrashing about in it.
Sword Coast Allows a DM to Run the Adventure
Enworld's Morrus unearthed this lovely:
“Developer Dan Tudge mentions the setting. “You can certainly expect to visit iconic locations along the Sword Coast and you may even run into a few familiar faces along the way.” He also goes on to talk about how the game actually works: “Dungeon Master Mode is going to allow players to quickly jump in and play as a real-time DM in a way that has never really been fully realized in a video game. DMs are able to adjust encounters, place, promote, manage and even control monsters, set traps, reward and punish party members – all in real time”
Not only that, but a Campaign Mode allows for much larger storylines, and a Single Player mode allows one player to lead a groups of adventurers recruited within the game.”
Which, if you're a fan of pen-and-paper RPGs, as well as computer MMOs, is as awesome of news as you can get. The only fly in the ointment is this:
“it’s not clear what worldbuilding tools or custom content can be included.”
Nevertheless, with Dan Tudge at the helm, and him standing on the time-honoured tradition of making your mates suffer through your stratagems, I'm hopeful.