Information about the UO Video House of Commons that is set to take place tomorrow, has been posted.
Ultima Online Video House of Commons
March 1st, 2011
7pm Eastern, 6pm Central, 4pm Pacific
Topics to be discussed:
* Follow up to last week’s Dev Video Diary (Full story with transcript)
* Current story arc (In the Shadow of Virtue) and events
* Publish 70
* Restoration of Magincia
* Concept of player-driven towns
Video streaming information will be provided at a later time.
If you are curious about the long-desired Ultima Online developer video diary that was first mentioned back in December, the one that was originally planned to be shown back in January, we have a lot more information. We have a long-delayed answer to the question of a so-called “Classic Shard”, and the answer is, not right now. We also have a reference to some major thing or things that happened between January 3rd and late February. Cal also mentions that the video is still coming.
To see these comments in their full context, as well as all of Cal’s comments, please read the the full UO.Stratics thread.
Here are the comments from Cal Crowner, the UO Producer, to start the thread off:
Yes, it’s done. So why isn’t it out? The answer to a “Why” question at the Academy is “No Excuse.” So let’s just go with that.
The intent was to frame several subjects about what we are doing for the remainder of the year in a few short minutes. Between editing and all the things that have happened between January 3rd and now, the answers have not changed, but the method in which we broadcast has many times.
Anyway, you are only waiting for one answer so here I am with flame-retardant mutant suit to field questions and avoid pitchforks.
The answer is: not right now.
In constant review of the threads and other fansites that cater to Ultima Online, we realized that the classic shard comes down to a checklist. It becomes about if you have X rules then this is what a classic shard is. The problem with this is, when working inside this constraint it’s impossible to please everyone.
Also, we DID look into the possibilities of different rulesets and took a look at what had been done in the past, and there was no viable answer that works for everyone.
Finally, it’s about opportunity cost. The more resources and time we spend on developing a classic shard… that is ONE single shard, that means other things get neglected. It would be many months of work at the expense of the wider game.
We are planning a Video House of Commons for next Tuesday, March 1st to field any questions about the coming months, Magincia as a player-driven town, Spring Cleaning, faster/simpler story arcs, arenas, UOgamecode store, shard hardware, and other topics of note.
The reason I did not want to put this in writing is because it doesn’t allow you to “see” how we feel about the game, and this answer is only part of what we want to do with Ultima Online.
Well, there you go. Have at it.
Update: Second Star Interactive appears to no longer be affiliated with Idea Fabrik, according to their website.
There is a new MMO studio and it’s going to get a lot of interest and attention from Ultima Online players, first and foremost because it has among its founders, Tim “Draconi” Cotten, the Lead Designer on Stygian Abyss for UO.
It’s called Second Star Interactive, and it’s based out of northern Virginia. It will be led by Darrin Hyrup, who helped found Mythic Entertainment. They are scheduled to release an MMO by the end of 2011 which is incredibly ambitious if you ask me. It will be based on the HeroEngine. Second Star Interactive is owned by Idea Fabrik, a German company that also owns HeroEngine and HeroCloud, so it’s sort of an in-house MMO.
If HeroEngine sounds familiar, it’s because it’s the engine that is powering EA BioWare’s upcoming Star Wars: The Old Republic MMO.
Dark Age of Camelot and Ultima Online Alumni
* Tim “Draconi” Cotten – Lead Designer on Stygian Abyss/UO
* Eric Piccione – Ultima Online and Dark AGe of Camelot
* Darrin & Lory Hyrup – Dark Age of Camelot
* Cooper Buckingham – Dark Age of CAmelot and Warhammer: Age of Reckoning
Read:
* Massively Multiplayer Fallout
* The Escapist
The UO developers are aware of the issue with new veteran rewards that popped up with today’s publish (Publish 69 notes)
The bug is that you can’t currently claim your veteran reward gift.
They are working on it.
Read: UO Herald
Publish 69 will be released onto all shards tomorrow morning during the normal shard maintenance windows.
It contains, among other things, a number of holiday-related items that need to be claimed before January 25th. Also Thanksgiving Turkeys are being turned off.
Full Publish 69 Details
* Thanksgiving Turkeys will be turned off
Each character will be able selected one of the following items:
* Antique Rocking Horse
* Christmas Tree
* Angel Decoration
* Holiday Fireflies (blinking wall decoration)
Vet Rewards:
* 1st year Dungeon teleporter
* 5th Year Metal Dye Tub
* 10th Year Choice of 3 Oval rugs. The skull and cross bones will give 1 random Treasure chest map each week, The Rose Rug will give one random seed each week, and the Dolphin will give one random MIB each week. (After the first of the year we will be putting out a change to these rugs, we will be adding a gump to pick the direction and adding a smaller size. You will be able to pick between the current size 7×7 or a 3×5)
* 13th year a new rideable Armored Boura.
Virtuebane Town Invasion
* Be aware that Virtuebane will be looking for any weakness. Town criers will give warning when the towns are about to be invaded.