Kickstarter- Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues

[fastbilly1]

thankfully they're all available on abandonware sites around the web.

And GOG.

Or does that count as an abandonware site?

No, it is a legitimate business

[Opa Opa]

thankfully they're all available on abandonware sites around the web.

And GOG.

Or does that count as an abandonware site?

Paid abandonware.

[Ivo]

If it is available in GOG, I think by definition it can not count as abandonware any more.

Ivo.

[MrPopo]

I still want to get around to playing some of the older Ultima games. Specifically 7. They look pretty fun, but seem like they'll be really hard to get into.

The first 3 are definitely primitive, frequently in a bad way. I'd say 1 is the most playable, as it doesn't require much grinding to get the necessary equipment to win. 2 suffers from 2/3 of the game's content being utterly optional, in the sense of if you explore said content you are wasting time and not progressing your quest one iota. 3 most resembles an NES RPG (who took their cues from Ultima in the first place) but it takes ages to get your levels and stats up, not to mention you need to manage your party, as exp only goes to the member who gets the killing blow.

[Menegrothx]

If you like RPGs, it's worth giving Ultima I a try. There's not a lot to it, so you're not investing a lot of time and effort. And it's cool to see how far RPGs have come since 1981, especially since console gamers are more familiar with Wizardry descendents. Read a FAQ too if you want, there's very little to spoil.

Sure the first games were more primitive (being one of the first video game RPGs and all), but Ultima 4-7 (and Underworld) were technically more advanced than many modern RPGs are. There was a lot of world simulation and sand box stuff in those games that was far ahead of it's time. As a video game trilogy, the Age of Enlightement series is pretty much unparalled in the story aspect. The moral choiches and dilemmas and ethical&philosophical themes of those games were first of their kind and are still even by modern standards complex and nuanced. Sure there isn't as much dialogue and cutscenes and stuff like that as in modern games, but what it lacks in quantity it makes up for in quality.

[Retrogamer0001]

That Kickstarter project looks really antiquated - like early 2000s level grapics and gameplay. Who would want to play this as an MMO, and how did they raise almost a million dollars already?

[Menegrothx]

That Kickstarter project looks really antiquated - like early 2000s level grapics and gameplay.

Alpha footage isn't the same as finished product. It does look dated, but so what? Disgaea games on the PS3 look dated but they're technically better than most HD eye candy RPGs on current consoles. It's better that the developers focus on gameplay mechanics and writing than graphics if they have limited resoursces. There's far too many RPGs, and video games in general, with shallow plots and lack of depth in gameplay mechanics because the design team wanted to focus on shiny graphics and cutscene roller coaster ride gameplay experience.

how did they raise almost a million dollars already?

1. It's Richard Garriotts return to the video game industry
2. It's (hopefully) the resurrection of the Ultima-game series after 14 years, 20 if we ignore the last 2 games that were ruined by EA.

Richard Garriott, being the creator of the Ultima series, is the most pivotal person in the history of video game RPGs, as the Ultima series had such a huge impact on the genre (1. the basic model of old school RPGs -> 2. "Deep" stories and consistent lore ->3. World simulation and sandbox elements ->4. Some very revolutionary 3D stuff in the Underworld series ->5. The grand daddy of MMORPGs, Ultima Online. Not the first one, but the first really succesfull and well made MMO.)

[MrEco]

If it is available in GOG, I think by definition it can not count as abandonware any more.

Ivo.

Ah, mkay. I honestly hadn't heard the term abandonware before, so I wasn't sure.

[Hazerd]

Pledge 10 grand and get a copy of Akalabeth!?

LongPlay of Akalabeth: World of Doom



People were hardcore in 1980...

[MrPopo]

If it is available in GOG, I think by definition it can not count as abandonware any more.

Ivo.

Ah, mkay. I honestly hadn't heard the term abandonware before, so I wasn't sure.

Abandonware doesn't actually have any legal meaning to it anyway; just because the rights holders are aren't doing anything with a game doesn't mean it's cool from a legal perspective to download it.