Difference between revisions of "History of Ultima Online"
m |
m |
||
| (7 intermediate revisions by 2 users not shown) | |||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| + | Below is a timeline of some of the important events in [[Ultima Online]] history.<ref>The timeline is based on [http://uo.lycaeum.net/archives/007093.html Lycaeum Net's History of Ultima Online] article.</ref> | ||
| + | |||
[[File:Ultimaonline 150 white.gif|center]] | [[File:Ultimaonline 150 white.gif|center]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | |||
| + | <!-- Note for Editors: | ||
| + | Below table is arranged chronologically, you can add an entry to an appropriate location by adding: | ||
| + | |||
| + | | Date || Event | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | |||
| + | or: | ||
| + | |||
| + | | Month Day, Year || Event text | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | --> | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
! width="130" | Date !! Event | ! width="130" | Date !! Event | ||
| + | |- | ||
| + | | August 1994 ||A multi-player Ultima game is mentioned in the August issue of PC Games Plus magazine.<ref>http://uo.ultimacodex.com/2012/05/multi-player-ultima-mentioned-in-august-of-1994/<br>"''Garriott did reveal during an interview we had with him at the time Ultima 7 was released that they were planning on doing a multi-player RPG via null modem cables or a LAN.''"</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| May 13, 1996 || Alpha testings began. | | May 13, 1996 || Alpha testings began. | ||
| Line 14: | Line 31: | ||
| August 01, 1997 || The Beta test phase 2 started. | | August 01, 1997 || The Beta test phase 2 started. | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | August | + | | August 09, 1997 || [[Lord British]] has an unfortunate accident. While giving a speech to a bright-eyed [[Britannia]]n crowd, the King was engulfed in flames and spent some time in the realm of the dead. However, with the aid of his companions, he was revived shortly thereafter and finished his speech, much to the delight of those in attendance.<ref>http://web.archive.org/web/19971018083555/http://www.owo.com/town/paper.html</ref> There is a screen shot archive of the incident. <ref>http://mirror.ashkantra.de/joinuo/Documents/websites/Artfulgamer/Ultime%20Offline%20The%20Pre%20Alpha%20Experience/uol.artfulgamer.com/archives/razimus/lbd.html</ref> |
|- | |- | ||
| September 18, 1997 || [[File:Pacific.gif]] [[Pacific]] is launched.<ref>http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.computer.ultima.online/browse_thread/thread/b86d75e534ce428e/7453d3d663c8127b?hl=en<br>"''There was another guy on irc last night who claimed he had full plate after pacific went up for the first time -- for 10 minutes.''"</ref> | | September 18, 1997 || [[File:Pacific.gif]] [[Pacific]] is launched.<ref>http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.computer.ultima.online/browse_thread/thread/b86d75e534ce428e/7453d3d663c8127b?hl=en<br>"''There was another guy on irc last night who claimed he had full plate after pacific went up for the first time -- for 10 minutes.''"</ref> | ||
| Line 33: | Line 50: | ||
| October 16, 1997 || [[File:Chesapeake.gif]] [[Chesapeake]] is launched.<ref>http://groups.google.com/group/bit.listserv.games-l/browse_thread/thread/3245774da87ca1dc/11bd591db09e67a5?hl=en<br>"''The Chesapeake, as a matter of fact, came up today.''"</ref> | | October 16, 1997 || [[File:Chesapeake.gif]] [[Chesapeake]] is launched.<ref>http://groups.google.com/group/bit.listserv.games-l/browse_thread/thread/3245774da87ca1dc/11bd591db09e67a5?hl=en<br>"''The Chesapeake, as a matter of fact, came up today.''"</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | October 29, 1997 || Safety deposit boxes in [[Bank]]s: ''".. say "bank" to the banker, he will open up your personal chest."'' <ref name="oldpatch">http://update.uo.com/oldpatch.shtml</ref> | + | | October 29, 1997 || Safety deposit boxes [[File:Strong box.png]] in [[Bank]]s: ''".. say "bank" to the banker, he will open up your personal chest."'' <ref name="oldpatch">http://update.uo.com/oldpatch.shtml</ref> |
|- | |- | ||
| November 14, 1997 || [[File:Napa Valley.gif]] [[Napa Valley]] is launched.<ref>http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.computer.ultima.online/browse_thread/thread/8662c723af644f5a/7ea97d84ce997494?hl=en<br>''"Anyone notice that a new server is up. I think it said napa valley."''</ref> | | November 14, 1997 || [[File:Napa Valley.gif]] [[Napa Valley]] is launched.<ref>http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.computer.ultima.online/browse_thread/thread/8662c723af644f5a/7ea97d84ce997494?hl=en<br>''"Anyone notice that a new server is up. I think it said napa valley."''</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | December 13, 1997 || [[File:Sonoma.gif]] [[Sonoma]] is launched.<ref>http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.computer.ultima.online/browse_thread/thread/8b9f330322b03ab3/4cfa1fff8ef0eb21?hl=en<br>''"Noticed Sonomo on the server listing..is it a new server?''"</ref> | + | | December 13, 1997 || [[File:Sonoma.gif]] [[Sonoma]] is launched.<ref>http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.computer.ultima.online/browse_thread/thread/8b9f330322b03ab3/4cfa1fff8ef0eb21?hl=en<br>''"Noticed Sonomo on the server listing..is it a new server?''"</ref><ref>http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.computer.ultima.online/browse_thread/thread/2b7ad35f215c8142/cd4f39f205bd898?hl=en<br>''"Sonoma came up when, Saturday?''"<br>''"I *started* to play on sonoma about 10:00 on Saturday. I was mining when a guy in full plate came running by. I stopped right then and there. It's ridiculous that someone can get their strength up to 60 in one (1) day!''"</ref> |
|- | |- | ||
| December 16, 1997 || [[Serpent's Hold]], [[Minoc]], [[Magincia]], [[Moonglow]] and [[Ocllo]] have all gained banks.<ref name="oldpatch" /> | | December 16, 1997 || [[Serpent's Hold]], [[Minoc]], [[Magincia]], [[Moonglow]] and [[Ocllo]] have all gained banks.<ref name="oldpatch" /> | ||
| Line 53: | Line 70: | ||
| March 18, 1998 || If you remove an item from underneath something else, the above items will fall to the ground.<ref name="oldpatch" /> | | March 18, 1998 || If you remove an item from underneath something else, the above items will fall to the ground.<ref name="oldpatch" /> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | June 11, 1998 || A new free-for-all warfare method exists: Order and Chaos guilds.<ref name="oldpatch" /> | + | | June 11, 1998 || A new free-for-all warfare method exists: Order [[File:Order shield.png]] and [[File:Chaos shield.png]] Chaos guilds.<ref name="oldpatch" /> |
|- | |- | ||
| September 16, 1998 || You can now instantly log off in houses if you have the key.<ref name="oldpatch" /> | | September 16, 1998 || You can now instantly log off in houses if you have the key.<ref name="oldpatch" /> | ||
| Line 63: | Line 80: | ||
| October 22, 1998 || [[File:Drachenfels.gif]] [[Drachenfels]] is launched.<ref>http://rpgvaultarchive.ign.com/archive/19981018.shtml<br>"''We're extremely pleased to announce to Grand Opening of our first European Shard, Drachenfels!''"</ref> | | October 22, 1998 || [[File:Drachenfels.gif]] [[Drachenfels]] is launched.<ref>http://rpgvaultarchive.ign.com/archive/19981018.shtml<br>"''We're extremely pleased to announce to Grand Opening of our first European Shard, Drachenfels!''"</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | October 30, 1998 || [[File:Europa.gif]] [[Europa]] is launched.<ref>http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.computer.ultima.online/browse_thread/thread/2d9c82aaea42b4e5/478ddbd0f3511b29?hl=en<br>"''We have decided to open Europa on Friday at 12 noon CST. We have seen enough demand on Dragenfels to justify opening another shard. I just wanted to make it clear that we were always planning on opening Europa.''"</ref>[[File:Wakoku.gif]] [[Wakoku]] is launched.<ref>http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.computer.ultima.online/browse_thread/thread/4687303077488b30/f92fae989e434a85?hl=en<br>"''Finally Europa is online... but what's Wakoku?''"</ref> | + | | October 30, 1998 || [[File:Europa.gif]] [[Europa]] is launched.<ref>http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.computer.ultima.online/browse_thread/thread/2d9c82aaea42b4e5/478ddbd0f3511b29?hl=en<br>"''We have decided to open Europa on Friday at 12 noon CST. We have seen enough demand on Dragenfels to justify opening another shard. I just wanted to make it clear that we were always planning on opening Europa.''"</ref> [[File:Wakoku.gif]] [[Wakoku]] is launched.<ref>http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.computer.ultima.online/browse_thread/thread/4687303077488b30/f92fae989e434a85?hl=en<br>"''Finally Europa is online... but what's Wakoku?''"</ref> |
| + | |- | ||
| + | | November 01, 1998 || Halloween Special Event<ref>http://rpgvaultarchive.ign.com/archive/19981025.shtml</ref>: [[Abyss]] is launched for the Halloween.<ref>http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.computer.ultima.online/browse_thread/thread/c23dda5867784137/30059ddddd5ebb8b?hl=en</ref> | ||
|- | |- | ||
| − | | November | + | | November 25, 1998 || [[File:Chicken.png]] [[Farmageddon]] shard is launched for the Thanksgiving.<ref>http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.computer.ultima.online/browse_thread/thread/5ee8cdea407d7835/c432998856549a91</ref> |
|} | |} | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
Latest revision as of 16:40, 21 June 2015
Below is a timeline of some of the important events in Ultima Online history.[1]
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| August 1994 | A multi-player Ultima game is mentioned in the August issue of PC Games Plus magazine.[2] |
| May 13, 1996 | Alpha testings began. |
| May 20, 1996 | Alpha test closed with a true apocalypse scenario when a supposed speech by Lord British and Lord Blackthorn turns out to be a "setup" with the two Lords summoning hoards of monsters to slay the unsuspecting crowd. |
| June 11, 1997 | Phase 1 of Beta Test Begins.[3] |
| July 31, 1997 |  Atlantic is launched.[4]
|
| August 01, 1997 | The Beta test phase 2 started. |
| August 09, 1997 | Lord British has an unfortunate accident. While giving a speech to a bright-eyed Britannian crowd, the King was engulfed in flames and spent some time in the realm of the dead. However, with the aid of his companions, he was revived shortly thereafter and finished his speech, much to the delight of those in attendance.[5] There is a screen shot archive of the incident. [6] |
| September 18, 1997 |  Pacific is launched.[7]
|
| September 24, 1997 | Last day of the original Beta test. The beta ended with a bang, as players were treated to an "end of the world" scenario with Shadowlords, demons, and other evil creatures slaughtering every character in sight.[8] |
| September 24, 1997 | Ultima Online opens its doors to the public.[9] |
| September 25, 1997 | First Charter Edition player logs in: The official birthday of Ultima Online.
|
| October 03, 1997 |  Lake Superior is launched. [11]
|
| October 10, 1997 |  Baja is launched.[12]
|
| October 16, 1997 |  Chesapeake is launched.[13]
|
| October 29, 1997 | Safety deposit boxes  in Banks: ".. say "bank" to the banker, he will open up your personal chest." [14]
|
| November 14, 1997 |  Napa Valley is launched.[15]
|
| December 13, 1997 |  Sonoma is launched.[16][17]
|
| December 16, 1997 | Serpent's Hold, Minoc, Magincia, Moonglow and Ocllo have all gained banks.[14] |
| December 19, 1997 | Town criers started appearing in the game.[14] |
| December 22, 1997 |  Catskills is launched.[18]
|
| February 06, 1998 | A problem with the skill atrophy counter resetting when crossing server boundaries is fixed.[14] |
| February 12, 1998 | Banks are available in Jhelom, Skara Brae and Minoc.[14] |
| February 27, 1998 | Container capacity has been further reduced to 400 Stone and 250 items.[14] |
| March 18, 1998 | If you remove an item from underneath something else, the above items will fall to the ground.[14] |
| June 11, 1998 | A new free-for-all warfare method exists: Order  and  Chaos guilds.[14]
|
| September 16, 1998 | You can now instantly log off in houses if you have the key.[14] |
| September 25, 1998 | Ultima Online is one year old. |
| October 22, 1998 |  Drachenfels is launched.[20]
|
| October 30, 1998 |  Europa is launched.[21]  Wakoku is launched.[22]
|
| November 01, 1998 | Halloween Special Event[23]: Abyss is launched for the Halloween.[24] |
| November 25, 1998 |  Farmageddon shard is launched for the Thanksgiving.[25]
|
References
- ↑ The timeline is based on Lycaeum Net's History of Ultima Online article.
- ↑ http://uo.ultimacodex.com/2012/05/multi-player-ultima-mentioned-in-august-of-1994/
"Garriott did reveal during an interview we had with him at the time Ultima 7 was released that they were planning on doing a multi-player RPG via null modem cables or a LAN." - ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/19971018082611/http://www.owo.com/news.html
- ↑ http://groups.google.com/group/it.comp.giochi/browse_thread/thread/48ec60dc3308ed7c/bbd20b3a0f4888e8?hl=en
- ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/19971018083555/http://www.owo.com/town/paper.html
- ↑ http://mirror.ashkantra.de/joinuo/Documents/websites/Artfulgamer/Ultime%20Offline%20The%20Pre%20Alpha%20Experience/uol.artfulgamer.com/archives/razimus/lbd.html
- ↑ http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.computer.ultima.online/browse_thread/thread/b86d75e534ce428e/7453d3d663c8127b?hl=en
"There was another guy on irc last night who claimed he had full plate after pacific went up for the first time -- for 10 minutes." - ↑ http://web.archive.org/web/19971018085506/http://www.owo.com/town/last.html
"Tomorrow, the world as you know it comes to an end. We are closing the public beta test after the event planned for tomorrow." - ↑ http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.computer.ultima.online/browse_thread/thread/e05322a3195bf040?hl=en#
"We will be opening the servers to the public this evening, September 24th." - ↑ http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.computer.ultima.online/browse_thread/thread/ffb59f9be969b53f/c8b0245dd437fab0?hl=en
"I noticed that central was replaced with a great lakes server this evening." - ↑ http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.computer.ultima.online/browse_thread/thread/397e200268ae6132/9bf7414cf4cf38de?hl=en
"In just a few hours on Lake Superior last night, I made thousands of gold, ..." - ↑ http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.computer.ultima.online/browse_thread/thread/adf9c96efb841620/cabf7b40ac8a59b5?hl=en
"...and have tried all of the shards, including the recently opened Baja." - ↑ http://groups.google.com/group/bit.listserv.games-l/browse_thread/thread/3245774da87ca1dc/11bd591db09e67a5?hl=en
"The Chesapeake, as a matter of fact, came up today." - ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 14.7 14.8 http://update.uo.com/oldpatch.shtml
- ↑ http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.computer.ultima.online/browse_thread/thread/8662c723af644f5a/7ea97d84ce997494?hl=en
"Anyone notice that a new server is up. I think it said napa valley." - ↑ http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.computer.ultima.online/browse_thread/thread/8b9f330322b03ab3/4cfa1fff8ef0eb21?hl=en
"Noticed Sonomo on the server listing..is it a new server?" - ↑ http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.computer.ultima.online/browse_thread/thread/2b7ad35f215c8142/cd4f39f205bd898?hl=en
"Sonoma came up when, Saturday?"
"I *started* to play on sonoma about 10:00 on Saturday. I was mining when a guy in full plate came running by. I stopped right then and there. It's ridiculous that someone can get their strength up to 60 in one (1) day!" - ↑ http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.computer.ultima.online/browse_thread/thread/2db873e4bf618cdc/24200aff33bdbe67?hl=en
"I just started a new character last night on Catskills." - ↑ 19.0 19.1 http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.computer.ultima.online/browse_thread/thread/9924e629eb6a1030/da3cea7e843aa4c8?hl=en
"public server test will be held for the two new Japan servers, Asuka and Yamato, from Friday 9/25 10:00 pm (CST)." - ↑ http://rpgvaultarchive.ign.com/archive/19981018.shtml
"We're extremely pleased to announce to Grand Opening of our first European Shard, Drachenfels!" - ↑ http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.computer.ultima.online/browse_thread/thread/2d9c82aaea42b4e5/478ddbd0f3511b29?hl=en
"We have decided to open Europa on Friday at 12 noon CST. We have seen enough demand on Dragenfels to justify opening another shard. I just wanted to make it clear that we were always planning on opening Europa." - ↑ http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.computer.ultima.online/browse_thread/thread/4687303077488b30/f92fae989e434a85?hl=en
"Finally Europa is online... but what's Wakoku?" - ↑ http://rpgvaultarchive.ign.com/archive/19981025.shtml
- ↑ http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.computer.ultima.online/browse_thread/thread/c23dda5867784137/30059ddddd5ebb8b?hl=en
- ↑ http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.computer.ultima.online/browse_thread/thread/5ee8cdea407d7835/c432998856549a91