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Apr 20th '10, 04:21 PM
<p><img title="lordofultima" alt="lordofultima" src="http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/gamelife/2010/04/lordofultima-660x407.jpg" width="660" height="455" /></p> <p>A new free-to-play game based on the <cite>Ultima</cite> role-playing series puts players in control of a medieval city.</p> <p>The browser-based <cite><a href="http://www.lordofultima.com/en">Lord of Ultima</a></cite>, a massively multiplayer strategy game, was launched Tuesday by Electronic Arts.</p> <p>For lack of a better term, I’ve come to call games like <cite>Lord of Ultima</cite> “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travian"><cite>Travian</cite>-likes</a>,” due to their similarities to the German browser game. Newcomers to the genre be warned: These games are all about forming alliances with other players and leveraging the power of numbers to your advantage. Play a game like <cite>Lord of Ultima</cite> as a loner and you’re doomed to the role of punching bag.</p> <p>The <cite>Ultima</cite> games were created in the ’80s by role-playing legend Richard Garriott. After launching the pioneering MMO <a href="http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/6.05/ultima.html"><cite>Ultima Online</cite></a>, Garriott parted ways with Origin Systems, the company he founded, leaving the <cite>Ultima</cite> line in Electronic Arts’ hands. EA has kept the <cite>Ultima Online</cite> flame alive since 1997, recently updating it with new content called <a href="http://www.uoherald.com/stygianabyss/launch/"><em>Stygian Abyss</em></a>.</p> <p><a href="http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2010/04/lord-of-ultima/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Gamelife+%28Blog+-+Game%7CLife%29">EA Revives Ultima as Free-to-Play Browser Game | GameLife | Wired.com</a></p> <div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/6214430959664794120-5540146176433963865?l=ooedbone.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div><br />