Richard Garriott wants to do a Ultima-4-like-mobile game

https://twitter.com/RichardGarriott/status/888431505315291136

I like the idea but why on mobile devices only? Would be great if it would also be playable on PC.
And please, if you do this @Lord British don't do an online game. I am so fed up with online games, Please create a single player game. EA showed with Ultima Forever that an Ultima 4 like MMO Mobile Game doesn't work.

Another thing, why not make a game like Ultima 7 with modern graphics? I liked U7 much better than U4

 

Sadly, mobile is a bigger potential market. I'm tired of it as well but it seems like we PC gamers are becoming dinosaurs. That has surely been said for a decade now.

 

Essentially true, though there has been an uptick in PC gaming market share of late.

 

I can't think of a situation where I'd say "Oh great, it's an Ultima reboot on my cell phone!"

That sounds like wasted money to me. If it were simple to port over the original Ultima 4 to mobile code, then sure, cash in! But if it takes a new development team spending months/years of time and money to do that. Please don't.

Does Richard have the rights to Ultima 4? If so, perhaps that's why he wants to do that instead of Ultima-something else.

 

He actually asked if he should do one.
He didn't say he WILL do one.
That's hell of a difference.

I was tempted to response on twitter but i will take the sh**storm here:
I don't think he should do it.

 

You didn't read the link, eh ;-)?
He said it wouldn't be ultima but ultima like.
So i guess no, he hasn't ^^

 

He wants do do a game that is similar to Ultima 4, as he doesn't have the rights.

I LOVE the idea. He could even start right away

A great, classic single-Player RPG - on mobile but ALSO on PC

 

Yes he asked but this implies that he has lots of interest in doing this. Also the reactions were quite positive to the idea. So I think that he is actively pursuing the idea.

 

I did read the link.

I guess I missed the part about being ultima-like.

I've never played an Ultima game. That's not why I came here. That's not why I backed this game.

One of the reasons I never played Ultimas (other than UO for a few weeks/months) was because it was just one guy (the avatar) and I thought that seemed really stupid and limiting. In retrospect, it may have been great and I missed out. But at the time I just thought it was a dumb way to tell a very linear story.

One thing that would sound better to my ears would be if RG said something like "I'd like to make an RPG on mobile devices." The whole Ultima thing really does nothing for me. RG is a very creative guy, it would be nice to see what kind of story he could tell that DIDN'T involve "the avatar".

 

I am with the Baron in this one.
I am really trying not to say something like: please, not another ultima.
But...PLEASE not another Ultima.
Beside that he can as do as many mobile RPGs as he pleases ^^

 

What EA can and can't do shouldn't be your barometer for what's possible.

 

And so it begins...

I've never seen myself as stupid and limited

You say RG is a great guy, creative guy and yet you still wonder why he wants to reboot a ultima 4, yet you never played it ?

Did I get that right ?

Did Tabula Rasa do anything for you ?

 

You guys are unreal...

we just know he cannot do another ultima... so say what you wanna say

 

It's more about "c'mon dude, try another concept, please".

 

Actually there's a sizeable underserved market that's been clamoring for better "classic" game support on mobile for years, and the recent Beamdog ports of Baldurs Gate and Planescape Torment plus the number of vocal backers here that bought into Shroud for the hope of a new Ultima-ish product show that the market's willing to pay for what it's crying out for.

Plus a tile-based RPG is significantly less resource-intensive to produce than many other styles, so it doesn't need as much revenue potential to still be a profitable endeavor.

Not saying you should like it if it's just not your personal style in gaming. Just saying I think a good business case could be made for it so I don't think it would be a waste.

 

Just the fact that EA did it isn't proof that the concept doesn't work. It only proves that EA couldn't do it. But doesn't really come as a surprise.

 

Now you're talking... so do you have something to suggest ?

People do what they like... RG is a big fan of LARP and costumes and castles and secret doors, everyone knows that. He did try a "different" concept with Tabula Rasa... but you know how that works, the content was a little too politically incorrect.

Personally I liked it very much

 

TR has a lot of potential. It was actually quire fun to play and the fact that most people played multiple characters showed really good design and good balance. (Though I think the story left a lot to be desired).

 

Can I like this multiple times please?

 

I'm all for Portalarium making more money. I'm an investor!