Ultima X: Odyssey canceled

[Shadari]

The writing has been on the wall for quite a while. It's official now.

http://uo.stratics.com/


Today, the decision was made to discontinue the production of Ultima X: Odyssey. This was done in order focus resources and talent on Ultima Online, the upcoming expansion, and an unannounced Ultima Online project.

“With Ultima Online thriving, and with plans for its future taking shape, we made the decision to focus all our resources on that game world,” said Anthony Castoro, producer of Ultima Online. “We look forward to making more exciting announcements about Ultima Online very soon.”

I'm pretty disappointed. I was actually kinda looking forward to this one. But I suppose it and Guild Wars would have overlapped and OSI vs. ex-D2 guys... I wonder who wins that one. An over-simplification to be sure, but still it's somewhat of a factor leading to the cancelation I bet.

The good news is that there is apparently an unannounced UO project on top of the anniversery release and the already announced expansion.

[Qenan]

So lately they're 2-for-2 on starting a new Ultima MMORPG and then canceling it...

[-Lord Ebonstone-]

Great...

[Kool Moe Dee]

Wow. I guess you can't say EA is shy about pulling the trigger on something if they think it's not going to pan out...

[HRose]

It was obvious and a very good decision. The team was already gone and so the soul of a possible game.

[Shadari]

It was obvious and a very good decision. The team was already gone and so the soul of a possible game.
That's true that a good part of the team was gone, but the game was starting to get fairly near to completion, so it seems a little odd for them to pull the plug for that reason alone. I think they were getting a bit nernous with both the market and the fact that they'd be competing with their original UO game, which despite some people's claims, is still doing very well.

[HRose]

I think they were getting a bit nernous with both the market and the fact that they'd be competing with their original UO game

More than this: they were going to fight an oedipean complex since "Tabula Rasa" is basically the same game (and probably in a better shape than UXO).

What interests me is the fact that destroying the classic Ultima Online is resulting as hard as building it.

[Mark Asher]

Could EA's online division be any more of a joke? This is the second UO sequel they've spent years working on only to cancel.

Mythica, True Fantasy Online, Warhammer Online, and now this Ultima thing. Which one is going to die next?

[stusser]

Tabula Rasa is the same game as U10 because that design was and is Garriot's idea; it's his own very personal path to solve the holy grail of massively multiplayer gaming-- making the players feel like heroes. EA tried to steal it, and as usual they fucked it up. Not that Garriot won't fuck it up too, but he'll blow through a truckload of won before the day's through.

They're supposedly working on UO2 now, and mark my words, it'll be cancelled with even less fanfare. Today's EA follows the prevailing winds, they don't take chances, and the winds are blowing against MMOGs right now.

The next one to die? Tossup between middle earth and matrix online. My money's on the matrix game since the last two movies were dogshit and turbine is nothing if not reliable. They're not particularly good, but they're reliable.

[Ibbz]

Mythica, True Fantasy Online, Warhammer Online, and now this Ultima thing. Which one is going to die next?
Multiplayer Battletech 3025 was also cancelled - It coincidentally was quite far along in development as well.

[quatoria]

I'm still boggled by Mythica being cancelled. Seemed like a great game with a solid concept, new gameplay potential, nice graphics, and it was almost fucking done. I really wanna see a post mortem on that thing.

[Sparky2003]

It was quite clearing going to suck *real* bad. Excellent decision if they do indeed intent to support UO with renewed vigor.

[synic]

VICTOLY GARRIOT!

[Jason Becker]

Man EA for all the success EA has the online market is just something they can't get a grasp on.

[algahar]

this is expected but still very unfortunate and sad... EA has closed both Westwood, and Origin, only Maxis is left. i think sooner or later it will be desolved too. the great EA devours all! run! run while u can!

[Calistas]

Check UO's subscriber numbers.. there's no need for EA to make a replacement game.. UO is still pulling in 200k+ subscribers and has done since Jan 2001. In terms of bank balance it's better and cheaper to just keep those 200k people playing UO than to splash out on paying for another game which may or may not make it.

..that and EQ execs I've talked to (ok, a while ago now!) hated everything to do with online gaming after the EA.com mess. :D

Cal

[Ben Sones]

But I think it's also fair to say that UO is never going to pull in many--or any--new subscribers. It's just too old and dated-looking. Which means that any money they pour into development for new UO expansions is merely going to maintain the existing player base. It's less risky, sure, but the potential returns are... well, pretty much zero.

[Jason McMaster]

I was pretty disappointed when I found out about this yesterday, but really I guess it doesn't need to be. If it were Garriot producing it, I would be considerably more let down, but who cares at this point.

[TheWombat]

There were some promising things in UXO, design wise, which I hope some other games will implement. But a surprise? Nope.

[Rob_Merritt]

They canceled a game that was both MMO and A Diablo clone. Great news indeed. :twisted:

[Robert Sharp]

Jesus. Stink. Ass.

[VegasRobb]

Could EA's online division be any more of a joke? This is the second UO sequel they've spent years working on only to cancel.

Mythica, True Fantasy Online, Warhammer Online, and now this Ultima thing. Which one is going to die next?

Battletech/Mechwarrior Online thingy too.