09-27-2018, 12:21 PM
Video: A classic postmortem of the trailblazing Ultima Online
<div style="margin: 5px 5% 10px 5%;"><img src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/video-a-classic-postmortem-of-the-trailblazing-ultima-online.jpg" width="200" height="200" title="" alt="" /></div><div><p>In this 2018 GDC session, key team members Raph Koster, Starr Long, Richard Garriott de Cayeux & Rich Vogel talk about the things that went wrong and right during the development and operation of the trailblazing MMORPG <em>Ultima Online</em>.</p>
<p><em>Ultima Online </em>is Kind Of A Big Deal in the history of game development, not least of which because it was among the first wave of massively multiplayer RPGs with graphics (i.e. not MUDs) that helped lay the foundation for industry-shaping hits like <em>World of Warcraft</em>.</p>
<p>But of course, there’s so much more to be learned from the story of <em>Ultima Online.</em> Kal Ort Por! The death of Lord British. Simulated ecologies. Playerkillers. The Bank of Britain. City sieges. Weddings. Sports events. Players who were orcs. Living the Virtues. As the game turns 20 this year, there’s never been a better time to look back at how it was built.</p>
<p>So if you missed this postmortem talk at GDC this year, or just want to refresh yourself, make sure to take advantage of the fact that it’s now <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnnsDi7Sxq0">freely available on the official GDC YouTube channel!</a></p>
<p>In addition to this presentation, the <a href="http://www.gdcvault.com/">GDC Vault</a> and its accompanying <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0JB7TSe49lg56u6qH8y_MQ/feed">YouTube channel</a> offers numerous other free videos, audio recordings, and slides from many of the recent <a href="http://www.gdconf.com/">Game Developers Conference events</a>, and the service offers even more members-only content for GDC Vault subscribers.</p>
<p>Those who purchased All Access passes to recent events like GDC or VRDC already have full access to GDC Vault, and interested parties can apply for the individual subscription via <a href="http://www.gdcvault.com/inquiry/">a GDC Vault subscription page</a>. Group subscriptions are also available: game-related schools and development studios who sign up for GDC Vault Studio Subscriptions can receive access for their entire office or company by contacting staff via the <a href="http://www.gdcvault.com/demo/">GDC Vault group subscription page</a>. Finally, current subscribers with access issues can <a href="http://www.gdcvault.com/contact_us.php">contact GDC Vault technical support</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Gamasutra and GDC are sibling organizations under parent company Informa.</strong></p>
</div>
<div style="margin: 5px 5% 10px 5%;"><img src="http://www.sickgaming.net/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/video-a-classic-postmortem-of-the-trailblazing-ultima-online.jpg" width="200" height="200" title="" alt="" /></div><div><p>In this 2018 GDC session, key team members Raph Koster, Starr Long, Richard Garriott de Cayeux & Rich Vogel talk about the things that went wrong and right during the development and operation of the trailblazing MMORPG <em>Ultima Online</em>.</p>
<p><em>Ultima Online </em>is Kind Of A Big Deal in the history of game development, not least of which because it was among the first wave of massively multiplayer RPGs with graphics (i.e. not MUDs) that helped lay the foundation for industry-shaping hits like <em>World of Warcraft</em>.</p>
<p>But of course, there’s so much more to be learned from the story of <em>Ultima Online.</em> Kal Ort Por! The death of Lord British. Simulated ecologies. Playerkillers. The Bank of Britain. City sieges. Weddings. Sports events. Players who were orcs. Living the Virtues. As the game turns 20 this year, there’s never been a better time to look back at how it was built.</p>
<p>So if you missed this postmortem talk at GDC this year, or just want to refresh yourself, make sure to take advantage of the fact that it’s now <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnnsDi7Sxq0">freely available on the official GDC YouTube channel!</a></p>
<p>In addition to this presentation, the <a href="http://www.gdcvault.com/">GDC Vault</a> and its accompanying <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0JB7TSe49lg56u6qH8y_MQ/feed">YouTube channel</a> offers numerous other free videos, audio recordings, and slides from many of the recent <a href="http://www.gdconf.com/">Game Developers Conference events</a>, and the service offers even more members-only content for GDC Vault subscribers.</p>
<p>Those who purchased All Access passes to recent events like GDC or VRDC already have full access to GDC Vault, and interested parties can apply for the individual subscription via <a href="http://www.gdcvault.com/inquiry/">a GDC Vault subscription page</a>. Group subscriptions are also available: game-related schools and development studios who sign up for GDC Vault Studio Subscriptions can receive access for their entire office or company by contacting staff via the <a href="http://www.gdcvault.com/demo/">GDC Vault group subscription page</a>. Finally, current subscribers with access issues can <a href="http://www.gdcvault.com/contact_us.php">contact GDC Vault technical support</a>.</p>
<p><strong>Gamasutra and GDC are sibling organizations under parent company Informa.</strong></p>
</div>