Last one, the U8 con.
Ophidian Dragon
Gee, take a wild guess :-) Hope I didn't blow up any servers with these
posts...
-OphiBoo
ULTIMA 8: PAGAN CONFERENCE
Wednesday, April 27, 1994
9:00 - 11:00 PM ET
*HOT* Room 12
(12-39 mama) PLEASE COME TO ORDER!
(12-11,Robin McShaffry) those guys are quick, let me tell you THE
CONFERENCE IS NOW FORMAL
(12-39 mama)
Thank you ORIGIN! Welcome to GAMERS and thanks for joining us
tonight. Everyone....welcome to a very special con we have THE
Lord B and THE DESIGN TEAM for the evening!
Thank you all for being here....and Origin...the screen is
yours...GA
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
Thank you for inviting us! I would like to introduce the
members of the PAGAN team here with us tonight... First my
name is Mike McShaffry, the Director of PAGAN.
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
We also have John Watson who was the Creative Director --
story, game design. Tony Zurovec, Technical Director
[programming]. Denis Loubet, Art Director; Mark Vittek, the
key implementor of PAGAN! ..puzzles, dungeons, etc. and
finally, Lord British -- Richard Garriot
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
It is a real pleasure to get the chance to talk first hand
(sort of) with the people who play our games! It gives us a
chance to talk about the stuff you had the most fun playing
and the stuff we can do better next time! So with that
done...Lets get to the questions!
(12-39 mama)
Brave men, and true! Ok...I am taking ? now and starting the
list..Leo had his hand up first...GA Leo
(12-71,Leo Drago/Ass't Sys)
Thanks Mama. ORIGIN, I would like to know if you plan to use
a similar game engine in U9, specifically with the jump/climbs
et al? GA
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
There were lots of good things and puzzles we (12-34,ORIGIN
PAGAN) could do when we implemented jumping... (12-34,ORIGIN
PAGAN) But...We need to make it better. It would be nice to be
able to target where you jump accurately...And eliminate the
totally Nintendo-like atmosphere that regular jumping created.
GA
(12-39,mama) Thank you!
Due to thhe number of participants we will limit each person
to 1 question.
(12-17,John Overall)
I enjoyed the u7 series. My question is why did you go from a
team oriented game to a single player (the Avatar)? GA
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
One of the things we wanted to accomplish with PAGANis more
action oriented play where you could crawl through windows,
jump over chasms, navigate physical challenges. This was
impossible if you had a party. It was too difficult to provide
intelligence to the NPCs who would be able to follow you
through the puzzles. In U9, were going to try to bring back
some aspects of the party, but only in areas where it makes
the game more fun by making it more interactive! GA
(12-80,Gary T)
I'd just like to ask Richard if he thinks this interface in
Pagan is better than the ones used in U7, and U7.5 since they
no longer use the voodoo memory mgr... it saves on problems
now I think... GA
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
I think that the mouse driven user interface adds simplicity
to the game. But I aggree with the necessity for having more
hot keys to get to the more frequenty used features of the
game. As far as the VooDoo Memory Manager goes, it was
something we did to get U7 to run on the machines popular at
that time. U8 uses a much better system that is easier to run
on players machines and is even easier to develop the game on
in the first place! GA
(12-80,Gary T)
I agree thanx. GA
(12-39 mama)
makes sense<g>
(12-27,Richard D. Lawson)
I would just like to start by saying I loved this game,
especially the single player mode, the fighting,and the
ending, which makes me real anxious for u9 which we all know
will be out by Christmas. My question is, will we ever find
out what happens to Pagan?
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
Are you sure you want me to give away possible story lines of
U9???
(12-39 mama) heheheheh
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
Thanks for your generous comments about PAGAN. I'm glad you
enjoyed it! As for getting out by Christmas of this year, I'm
sure you realize that the PAGAN team has just recovered from
the effort of finishing Ultima 8!
Ultima 9 is going to be a quantum leap over the technology of
Ultima 8. thanks for the rest... It will certianly take about
the same amount of time to do U9, but it will be certainly
worth the wait...as it always is.... GA
(12-42,Rick Ralsten)
Thanks. First, let me say that I have been playing Ultimas
since I was charmed and amazed by U4 back on my C-64.One of
the best things about Ultimas was the rich, detailed world and
intricate, lengthy storyline. I could look forward to easily
over 100 hours with each new Ultima, an *excellent* value for
the money. U9, on the other hand, is *way* too short! I
finished in about 50 hours! Since I'm assuming U9 will be CD-
only and space will not be a limitation, can we look forward
to a return to the glory days of good, long,satisfying CRPGs
that we have come to expect from Origin? GA
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
First let me thank you for playing Ultimas all these years!
(12-42,Rick Ralsten)
(you're welcome. It's been a blast)
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
Second, let me congratulate your accomplishmentin finishing
PAGAN in 50 hours. While it is true that PAGAN was smaller in
scope than U7, it was about 80% the size. Ultima 9 will be a
CD only game, which implies all kinds of things...
(12-80,Gary T) 630 megs to play with!
(12-83,Dan) noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
Longer game play...
More graphics....
More sound effects....
Hour long intro and endgames!
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN) ...well.... maybe not an hour
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
Anyway.... CD certianly gives us a lot of creative freedom
that we as game developers have been screaming for for years!
You can expect a game of truly epic proportions with Ultima
9..... GA
(12-39 mama)
Thanks Origin!
Could every one please state your questions rather briefly so
that we all get a chance to ask one...
(12-42,Rick Ralsten)
Thanks for your reply. That's what I wanted to hear! :)
(12-57,Emmett Doerr)
First, I'd like to say that I loved the game...you did a
fantastic job in making it. I'd like to know..if you were
planning on adding more digitized speech.. in Ultima 9, than
there is with the speech pack in Ultima 8 i.e. - full speech
for the Avatar and the other characters he talks to. GA
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
Thanks for the compliement Emmet! I'm glad you enjoyed our
game. As for your question... Ultima 8 CD Enhanced is coming
out late summer or early fall of this year and will include
amoung other things full digital speech for all characters in
the game. It is certainly our intention to continue with this
in Ultima 9. We may even be able to get some really
interesting people to do the voices....GA
(12-39,mama)
We will bite, ORIGIN...who?
(12-57,Emmett Doerr)
Great!
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
Well... who do you think would make a good voice for Lord
British???
(12-59,Yong C.) How about Jonathann Frake?
(12-76,Ted Kingsbury) Get James Earl Jones for the Guardian :)
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN) Sean Connery?
(12-17,John Overall) JAmes Earl Jones as a Titan
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN) Patrick Stewart?
(12-80,Gary T) Sean Connery
(12-59,Yong C.) Patrick Stewart
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN) Who knows?
(12-65,herc/Assoc SysOp) Beavis? <g>
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN) GA
TAP TAP TAP!
(12-11,Robin McShaffry) Not Bill Johnson -- Oooh, Jonathon Frakes
Order Please
(12-59,Yong C.) How about william Shatner
(12-84,Brian Shapiro) Well, you did Lord British in the Serpent
Isle Intro, Richard.
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
We'll let the debate continue later I'm sure
ORDER IN THE CON
(12-42,Rick Ralsten)
Bring back the Serpents from U7.5. Their voices were AWESOME!!!!!
(12-1,Morgana/Ass't SysOp)
Yeah, hou guguys, please don't speak out of turn (poor
mama)<G>
(12-71,Leo Drago/Ass't Sys)
(poor mama)
(12-39,mama)Ahhhh...blessed silence
(12-57,Emmett Doerr)
Thank you, Origin.
(12-79,Stever)
How do you open the double doors in the cave where the hammer
of strength is on the Plateau? BTW The Ultima games are the
best especially Pagan! PS Patrick Stewart would make a great
voice!
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
Those doors are there to provide an entrance into the Lost
Vale. You can't open them until the add-in module that will be
available late this summer or early fall. Good job spotting
those doors! GA
(12-42,Rick Ralsten)
(aha! I was right for once!)
(12-79,Stever)
Thanks thats what i wanted to hear!
(12-16,Anessa)
I just got U8. (Loved those quotes!) :) A question for Richard
though. I loved the early Ultimas, you seemed toput alot of
yourself in them. I thought it was great! I once read that you
were <are?> SCA. <Even the name Shaminio I believe?) Are you
still? GA
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
Yes, I still go to events occasionally. My job at Origin sure
takes alot of my time! Actually, many of my good friends
(Dupre, Iolo, Janna, Mariah) and even the Avatar are all
members of the SCA in the kingdom of Ansteorra
(12-16,Anessa)
Planning on Pennsic? :) I've read of Iolo..<Ansterorra> I
think?) Thanks Richard, perhaps we'll meet one day! GA
(12-47,Bret Wier)
Thanks, Do You Plan On Implimenting A Screen "Flip" So You Can
Get Those Items That Fall Behind The Walls? GA GA Origin
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
Whew....We've been thinking about how to accomplish this in
Ultima ever since U7. It seems to the team that the
complications associated with flipping the screen direction
around would result in confusing game play. Another option we
would like to explore is possibly popping off the walls along
with the roof! This is also really difficult technically....No
rest for the weary! GA
(12-47,Bret Wier)
Ok, Good Idea, Thanx.
(12-55,Kevin M. Burkett)
It seems like there were a lot of bugs in U8. Will the
Enhanced version be a little less buggy? Also, is more than
one add-on planned? My vote is for Sean Connery by the way!
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
Ultimas are very complex, and it certainly is a challenging
problem for us here at Origin to get the game as clean as we
can in time to satisfy all of your appitites for the next
Ultima! It is certainly true that 100,000 playtesters will
find more bugs than our hard working staff of 20-30
playtesters here at Origin.... but we still try our hardest to
make the games as clean as possible! We will incorporate as
many fixes as we can to the enhanced version.... as far as
more than one add-on...well....it's hard to say. The Lost Vale
is the only one on the drawing board... GA
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
(we fixed over 8000 bugs!)
(12-24,David B Jaromnak)
Hello Origin! Congrats on the terrific graphics, animation,
and special effects (Sounds) in Pagan, however I thought the
game was a little rough around the edges, esp. the jumping
(onto rocks). My question, since many Ultima players don't
like the heavy arcade element, are you set on keeping Ultima
a CRPG/Action Game? (will you return to pure CRPG or fine tune
the action like the example you gave...being able to select
exactly where to jump and land?)
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
Making the jumping better is certainly our goal for U9. As far
as CRPG or CRPG/Action games are defined.... I like to think
that Ultima is a game style in of itself. Ultima is a totally
interactive world that sucks the player in to it.... so
completely that you lose track of time and the real world
around you. Whether or not jumping is a part of that, I always
try to increase the reality with each succesive Ultima. Giving
the Avatar the ability to jump, climb, and maybe in U9 (swim,
crawl, swing, morph, who knows) serves to increase the reality
of the game. GA
(12-23,Steven Clayton)
I was very impressed with the Avatar's movements. 1200 frames
is a great accomplishment. What type of software was used to
create the 3d graphics. (3d studio?)
P.S> Fantastic GAME!!!
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
Thanks for the compliment! We used Autodesk 3D Studio to
generate the Avatar's animation frames, but we used our own
proprietary tools to add things like weapons, sound effects,
and other special effect to the Avatar in the game. GA
(12-23,Steven Clayton) Thanks
(12-2,Eric Ashton)
My Favorite part about the Ultima 7's was the large world. I
was a little dissapointed when I found that the world in U8
was actually Smaller and the game shorter. My question is will
U9 have a larger world and more puzzles that require thinking,
as opposed to Jumping or running?
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
You can see where the effort was applied to PAGAN....
obviously in the art, music, and programming areas.
Implementation (world building) had to be balanced with the
larger concentration on the Avatar, NPCs, and monsters. On
Ultima 9, we are planning on a development cycle that will let
us pay more attention to the world building and make a more
epic game with a complex storyline, while retaining all the
great things we found in PAGAN. GA
Thank you Origin
(12-2,Eric Ashton)
(I'll buy it as soon as it is realesd, thanx) !
(12-76,Ted Kingsbury)
I note with some trepidation your interest/fascination with
"action" and full "digital speech". Similarly your comments
about "reality". These games aren't and never will be "virtual
reality"...You mentioned that U9 would be a "quantum leap"
above U8... well I hope you study the TV program of the same
name... I feel its success is based NOT on glitzy technology,
but on characters and story.. The same goes for some other
popular TV programs such as all 3 Star Treks!!! I think that
too many game companies are spending too many resources on the
latest graphics, sounds, etc and no where nearly enough on
character devel and story and interaction.. Is the swing to
Action/arcade a marketing driven decision, your personal
opinion, or some other reasons...??? thanks... sorry this was
long.. GA
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
When I answered David's question, I think that the same can be
applied to yours...It is all a question of how to apply the
talents of the team to make the best Ultima we can. On Ultima
8, we concentrated our efforts based on our talent! On Ultima
9, we will be able to carry forward the lessons (good and not
so good) we learned on PAGAN to the next Ultima. By the way,
this is a grand tradition of Ultima design that we've kept
alive ever since thier original creation. We always do our
very best to create the best game. And then we sit back after
it has shipped, and listen to the comments of our long time
fans to help make the next one even better! GA
(12-14,W-GW) Touche'
(12-39,mama)
Thank you Origin...for the GAMES too!
(12-76,Ted Kingsbury) Thanks :)
(12-78,Ramon Abasolo)
First of all, I would like to say that I enjoy playing all ur
games. My question is more on the hardware requirements I
heard a rumor that the next Ultima will be for the Pentium.
Any truth to this? ga
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN) Not yet.....
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN) Pentiums will be too slow!
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN) (Just KIDDING!!!!)
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
Our plan is to try to keep Ultimas within reach of the
installed machine base, while pushing the limits of those
machines to make the best game possible. Actually, the current
plan is to make it run (and be FUN) on a mid-range 486(50+)
which should be a pretty wide use machine by the time U9 is
released! GA
(12-78,Ramon Abasolo)
Thanks. I was a little worried.
(12-29,Ralph M)
As a player of the whole Ultima series I must say that I have
noticed a 'trend' towards a single-threaded storyline (ie.
first find this, then get that, and talk to him next) to
trigger certain events...In past games, you could figure out
moongates in addition to hacking some dragons... Any hopes of
returning 'back to original roots' with U9 storyline.... I
miss that involved storyline, not to discredit any of the
technology :) GA
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
A challenging problem indeed!
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
Let me illustrate....If a "story" were written that could be
played in any order you would find that characters would be
hard pressed to know that event A happened before event B, but
another player might have played them in different orders, so
our writers would be required to provide meaningful
conversation and story to support both possibilities. In
Ultimas, there may be hundreds of tasks that you are called to
perform to complete the game. Older Ultimas were less complex
and less interactive and it was easy to allow players to do
this. I do aggree that a balance of good story and total
interactivity be the hallmark of any Ultima.... and we will
always strive to provide players with a maximum amount of
freedom AND a really great storyline. It is very difficult to
do, and as designers we get into very sticky situations with
the story. It will not keep us from trying though! GA
(12-29,Ralph M)
Thank you...I did enjoy them ALL..
(12-84,Brian Shapiro)
Ok, thank you. I will try to keep it as short as I can. I
would like to start off saying that I have played since Ultima
5, and I think all of them are great achievements, and that
Ultimas are the best games on the market. However, What I and
lots of other old Ultima fans saw dissapear after Ultima 7 was
the great ability to interact. Like baking bread, etc., and I
would like to know if you plan this as a return in Ultima 9 as
you will pay more attention to the plot. I also noticed a flaw
with your artificial "gravity". I threw an empty vial from a
potion against the wall and it bounced off. Shouldn't it
break? I also would like to ask if any three-button mouse
support will come minimally, and will there be any greater
support with the Pro Audio Spectrum 16?
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
First: ABSOLUTELY! The amount of interactivity will certainly
increase in Ultima 9! NPC activities will come back in force.
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
Second: We made the glass on the potion bottles too thick and
they wouldn't break.
(hee hee)
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
Third: We do not have any plans to support three button mice
at this time...GA
(12-74,Phil Albers)
I'm concerned about the decline in the Avatar's principles.
I spent 2 days trying to solve Bane and Vordion
without...breaking my oath. Will we find in U10 that we are
a new character out to defeat the Dark Avatar?
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
Hmmmm... Upon reflection it seems that you are right about the
decline in the Avatar's pureness. Maybe this will be addressed
in Ultima 9...... GA
(12-7,Lennie)
I love all the ultima's ,I'm still stuck in Ultima'7<Serpent's
Isle>.Can you tell me how to get into the Skullcrusher
Mountains, so I can contiue to enjoy ultima 7, and go on to
Ultima 8-9? I have aquired the password from the gwani,but
can't get past the gold barred door to Skullcrusher and
vasculio. If you could shed some light on this it would be
very helpful. I can't wait to get to Ultima 8. I usually only
buy origin products because I know I'm getting my moneys
worth. Thanks for such games as the Ultima series. :-)
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
Make sure you have no Gwani cloaks, then use the dog whistle
to track Batlin.
(12-7,Lennie) did already
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
Go back to Yenani and she will give you the password to get
in....
(12-7,Lennie) have the password
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
Put the appproiate rune stones on the correct altars..GA
(12-26,Leo Drago/Ass't Sys)
Thanks Mama. I just have a few comments I'd like to
make...First of all, I am disappointed at the length of U8, as
others have said... There's too much running around, and the
clues to locations are far too vague.
(12-66,Morgana/Ass't SysOp) leo crashed
ORDER PLEASE!
(12-76,Ted Kingsbury)
ok, mama... I'd like to order a coke and fries... :)
(12-39,mama) ga Wendy
(12-5,Wendy Shaffer)
Well, as yet another long-time Ultima'er (from 2, although
that isn't Alkalabeth, I guess... I have three complaints that
were already address... but one separate one, and one real
compliment... the compliment, aside from the great graphics,
superb sound, etc... is the really wonderful balance, variety,
and design of puzzless... except for the arcade segements that
slowed everything to a crawl... so they loomed very large in
frustration value...there were lots of things to do, varied
challenges, and you actually... got to think for yourself! --
which wasn't the case in, say,... Ultima 7 [get Chuckles'
answer and then follow directions to finish the game]... but
the flip side is that all those puzzless... didn't seem to
_accomplish_ much... we don't see, on camera, the Avatar
becoming really powerful...even though we're told he is, he
doesn't "walk on water" by game's end...and we don't have any
on-camera character development... and at the end of the game,
the Titan's defeat is a joke... and there's no real reward
scene showing post-Titan pagan... or any real information...so
my question! is...in Ultima 9, aside from length and arcade
corrections... will there also be more accomplishment ON-
SCREEN...? GA
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
Thanks for your kind words, Wendy. I also appreciate your
comments about PAGAN. I believe that our ability to go to CD
will allow more intense scenes for the Avatar to participate
in and help us as game designers communicate difficult
concepts like "becoming powerful." I would definately say that
U9 holds many pleasent surprizes for long time Ultima players
like yourself(and me too). GA
Welcome back, Leo...
(12-67,Leo Drago/Ass't Sys)
Thanks Mama. I'd just like to make a few comments...First of
all, I have to say that I'm disappointed in U8. I've also
played every single Ultima, and I feel U8 is a serious step
back from previous Ultimas. It seems a trend that late Ultimas
are getting shorter and shorter. I really hope U9 will have
much more gametime than U8 did. Without counting the time
wasted jumping, trying to cast spells, etc., the game must
have taken me no more than 30 hours to finish. Directions are
far too vague, which to me just seems an attempt to prolong
gametime. Not a good one either. The endgame was also a little
on the disappointing side. It couldn't have lasted more than
30 seconds. I hope you realize that it takes more than glitz
and sound to make a good CRPG...Secondly, I was very
disappointed with the sorcery spells part. A great idea, but
an awful implementation. I hope Ultimas will have much less
pixel-conscious puzzles such as this one. Lastly, I really do
hope you'll fix more bugs. I had to too reformat my whole HD
because of U8. GA
(12-39,mama)
Thank you Leo (Whew, that's it)
Origin has 15 minutes left. We have 4 questioners remaining,
and a final comment. The ? que is closed. Jeffrey is next...
(12-39 mama)
Origin...Do you care to respond to Leo?
(12-67,Leo Drago/Ass't Sys)
Er, don't I get to hear ORIGIN's comments?
(12-39 mama)
hehehehe GA Origin
(12-67,Leo Drago/Ass't Sys) Thanks. :)
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
Thank you for your comments Leo. I hope that you will continue
playing.... CD really will help us to make the games more in
tune with what you enjoy. GA
(12-46,Jeffrey Horn)
U7 was reading the HD constantly even w/VLB and 4MB of caching
controller. How do you deal w/today's...and future's... CD-
ROM data..transfer rate? Thanks in advance. I've played them
all, too. ga
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
The CD both solves and creates problems, Jeffrey. The solution
involves caching data from the CD in an intelligent manner and
not using it for frequently accessed data where time is of the
essance. We'll probably use some double caching strategy where
the hard drive is used in conjuction with the CD. Always use
the right tool for the right job! Anyway... Tony Zurovec's
job...Technical Director on U9 is certainly going to be a
challenge! GA
(12-46,Jeffrey Horn)
Another Voo Doo kind of thing? heh heh. ga
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN) Yikes!
(12-39 mama) calm down <g>
(12-31,Darren Griffis)
I've also played every Ultima. In fact I played them as they
came out...yeah So I'm an old hacker.... Anyway just to
comment on the becoming bad thing, I never felt that I was
becoming good in the first place. I always felt that my
"Avatar" was doing what needed to be done... I always enjoyed
doing anything needed to solve the problem. How many of us
havent stolen something in any of the Ultimas? So becoming bad
I think is a good idea...besides I would kinda like to pay old
Lord British back for summoning me to help out so much...(heh
heh)
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN) Hey!
(12-39 mama) Don't worry LB, we will cover ya!
(12-31,Darren Griffis)
Keep up the good work.. thats all.. thanks. ga
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
Thank you for your comments Darren. Keep playing!
(12-39 mama)
Ok..Origin...Thank you so much for this evening!
(12-27,Russell Kremer)
Are we ever gonna get various sexes and races of Avatars to
choose from again? Or, at least the handy li'l puch on the
belt to put things in?
ORDER PLEASE
(12-14,W-GW)
From U1 to U8 ... They've all been GREAT!!! Kevin, keep up the
GREAT ART!!
O R D E R !!!!
(mama)
ah....better! Thanks again, gang, and please give us your
closing remarks, Origin..ga
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
Thanks again for sharing your comments with the whole PAGAN
team. The industry has been waiting for CD to come of age and
allow us to concentrate our efforts without worrying about the
severe limitations of floppy disk space. I hope that all of
you long time Ultima fans and new player alike will continue
playing our games, just because if we can do really neat stuff
in only 14Mb the amount of space we have to ship compressed on
floppy diskettes -- just you wait until we have 500 Mb and
more to play with!
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
Thanks again all!
(12-39 mama) And Thank YOU!
(12-66,Morgana/Ass't SysOp) Thanks <applause>
(12-24,David B Jaromnak) Can't wait...the games should be awesome!
(12-84,Brian Shapiro) Hail Lord British!!!!!
(12-47,Bret Wier) Thank You ORIGIN!!!
(12-65,herc/Assoc SysOp) Thank you for being here, Origin.
(12-24,David B Jaromnak) Clap Clap
(12-49,Gene Houk) Kal Lor!
(12-84,Brian Shapiro) whooo!!!!!!
(12-70,McGee) Good Luck Shamino
(12-65,herc/Assoc SysOp)
AND A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO LORD BRITISH, FOR CONTINUING A LONG
GAMERS' FORUM TRADITION.
(ORIGIN PAGAN) - Let's ask a PAGAN question!
(12-31,Darren Griffis) Hear Hear!!!
TAP TAP TAP TAP
ORDER IN THE CON
PRIZE TIME
PRIZE TIME
(12-66,Morgana/Ass't SysOp) Oh oh!! Me me me!!
(mama) Origin would like to present a prize!
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
This is Mr.Mike now.....
Your gonna kill me?????
ORDER PLEASE
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN) Yes....
(12-11,Robin McShaffry) nope, sorry, I get that privilege
ORDER
GA ORIGIN
(12-11,Robin McShaffry) the privilege to kill mIke
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
The prize I'd like to offer is one Ultima 8 cluebook and one
audio CD of the latest Origin music.....
(12-11,Robin McShaffry) hey, cool
(12-77,Thomas P. White) Great music it is!
(12-66,Morgana/Ass't SysOp)
I want an all expenses paid trip to Austin <g>
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN) Here it is.....
(12-31,Darren Griffis) I want a job!! <G>
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN) Robin McShaffry is automatically disqualified
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
THE QUESTION:
In Pagan, how many obsidian coins does it take to buy
the....DEVASTATION SPELL!
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
First come gets it.....
(12-5,Wendy Shaffer) 500
(12-29,Ralph M) 1000
(12-67,Leo Drago/Ass't Sys) 1000
(12-74,Phil Albers) 1000
(12-77,Thomas P. White) 1000
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN) Ralph!
(12-27,Russell Kremer) 750
(12-5,Wendy Shaffer) Darn, it is 1000, isn't it
(12-55,Roy G. Carney) 200
(12-47,Bret Wier) 2500
(12-77,Thomas P. White) 100
(12-24,David B Jaromnak) 300
(12-47,Bret Wier) 2000
RALPH IS THE WINNER!
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
Please send Wayne your address....and congratulations!
(12-11,Robin McShaffry)
Anybody named Morgana is welcome in Austin, and you can even
stay at our house.
(12-29,Ralph M) Thank you :))
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN) How about another????
OH YES!
SETTLE DOWN GANG
(12-74,Phil Albers)
Did you notice, only 666 obsidian coins allowed in a pile.
Money is truly the root of all evel!!!
PLEASE
(12-5,Wendy Shaffer)
Mike, will U9 be first-person perspective or still isometric
view as in u8?
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
good spot on the money thing....Doesn't anyone want a prize?
(12-47,Bret Wier) I do
(12-16,Ben Sawyer) that deserves a prize
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
The next prize will be a copy of the Lost Vale when it comes
out later this summer..or early fall.
(12-77,Thomas P. White) Cool!
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN) And the question is......
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
What are the contents of the chest located in the catacombs
that is opened with the key from the Keymaster????
(12-67,Leo Drago/Ass't Sys) Whoa, are you serious?
(12-5,Wendy Shaffer) oil flasks
(12-74,Phil Albers) nothing
(12-76,Ted Kingsbury) nothing
(12-46,Jeffrey Horn) dynamite
(12-11,Robin McShaffry) a bomb!
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN) Phil wins!
(12-55,Roy G. Carney) nothing
(12-68,Brent Williams, KY) ...a partridge in a pear tree... P
(12-27,Russell Kremer) discs and fire gems
(12-77,Thomas P. White) nothing is right
PHIL ALBERS IS THE WINNER!
(12-76,Ted Kingsbury) too fast for me PHil
(12-46,Jeffrey Horn) wins nothing?
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
Please send your address to Wayne.....
ER
Ok mama. Free form is OK with me..........
(12-39 mama) aw RIIIIIIIIIIIGHT!
END OF TRANSCRIPT
The formal conference over, the crew settled in for some
informal chit chat. The fly on the wall collected the
info but was unable to edit it...look in CHAT.TXT for the
further adventures of ORIGIN and GAMERS in the Boots of Re
Tavern.
mama
murasaki
On 7 Apr 1998 04:06:35 GMT, Ophidian Dragon did write:
--
(12-78,Ramon Abasolo)
First of all, I would like to say that I enjoy playing all ur games. My
question is more on the hardware requirements I heard a rumor that the
next Ultima will be for the Pentium. Any truth to this? ga
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN) Not yet.....
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN) Pentiums will be too slow!
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN) (Just KIDDING!!!!)
(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
Our plan is to try to keep Ultimas within reach of the installed
machine base, while pushing the limits of those machines to make the
best game possible. Actually, the current plan is to make it run (and
be FUN) on a mid-range 486(50+) which should be a pretty wide use
machine by the time U9 is released! GA
(12-78,Ramon Abasolo)
Thanks. I was a little worried.
--
<sigh>
--
Jim Ursetto | Doctrines are scaffolding poles cast aside,
urs...@uiuc.edu | Some are too long, others too short,
e38 | There's none that suits my purpose
-------------------> Save e38. -- With apologies to Sage Ninomiya
Fortran Dragon
In article <01bd61db$5a1e28e0$d8bedfcf@widdershins>,
dev...@ix.takethisout.netcom.com says...
[Snip]
> (12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
> Our plan is to try to keep Ultimas within reach of the
> installed machine base, while pushing the limits of those
> machines to make the best game possible. Actually, the current
> plan is to make it run (and be FUN) on a mid-range 486(50+)
> which should be a pretty wide use machine by the time U9 is
> released! GA
So much for that idea. <sigh>
--
Fortran Dragon -==(UDIC)==- | "There isn't enough darkness in the world
-=={MDLAM}==- | to quench the light of one small candle."
Hidalgo Trading Company: http://home.earthlink.net/~fortran/index.html
Ophidian Dragon
Fortran Dragon <for...@earthlink.net> wrote in article
<MPG.f95bff26...@news.alt.net>...
> In article <01bd61db$5a1e28e0$d8bedfcf@widdershins>,
> dev...@ix.takethisout.netcom.com says...
> [Snip]
> > (12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
> > Our plan is to try to keep Ultimas within reach of the
> > installed machine base, while pushing the limits of those
> > machines to make the best game possible. Actually, the current
> > plan is to make it run (and be FUN) on a mid-range 486(50+)
> > which should be a pretty wide use machine by the time U9 is
> > released! GA
>
> So much for that idea. <sigh>
Damn, this was written a long time ago. I remember when a 486/66 was top
of the line. Now I have a machine that's nearly 4 times that speed (I
think...) and it's getting outdated fast.
Well, actually, I remember when the Z-80 was top of the line. Geez. Where
the hell will we be in 10 years?I just want my multi terabyte HD.
But, remember. No one could ever really need more than 510 K of memory.
-Ophidian Dragon
Phillip S Zibilich
Ophidian Dragon <dev...@ix.takethisout.netcom.com> wrote:
<SNIP>
> Damn, this was written a long time ago. I remember when a 486/66 was top
> of the line. Now I have a machine that's nearly 4 times that speed (I
> think...) and it's getting outdated fast.
Ah... The old days...
> Well, actually, I remember when the Z-80 was top of the line. Geez. Where
> the hell will we be in 10 years?I just want my multi terabyte HD.
Ah... The Z-80... What?!?!? C64 for Life!!!!
> But, remember. No one could ever really need more than 510 K of memory.
> -Ophidian Dragon
I'm still trying to figure out why we need more than 64k. GEOS ran fine
on my machine :->
--
--------------------------------------
Darkling Dragon --==(UDIC)==-- --==(unSPLUT)==--
Phillip Zibilich - Ultima Dragon and
ps...@gnofn.org Emulation enthusiast
"Time is a play thing. But when
it breaks, you're fucked."
--------------------------------------
Fortran Dragon
In article <01bd6347$5c451120$76bddfcf@widdershins>,
dev...@ix.takethisout.netcom.com says...
[Snip]
> Damn, this was written a long time ago. I remember when a 486/66 was top
> of the line. Now I have a machine that's nearly 4 times that speed (I
> think...) and it's getting outdated fast.
I was actually commenting on the idea of making U9 available and fun
on midrange PCs.
> Well, actually, I remember when the Z-80 was top of the line. Geez. Where
> the hell will we be in 10 years?I just want my multi terabyte HD.
>
> But, remember. No one could ever really need more than 510 K of memory.
512K. The original IBM PC could only address 512K RAM. 640K RAM
came later.
Photon Dragon
>
> 512K. The original IBM PC could only address 512K RAM. 640K RAM
>came later.
I was under the impression that the original PC has a 1 Meg adressable
limit. 640K RAM + 384K upper memory.
Photon Dragon | Completed : Akalabeth, Ultima, Ultima ][, Ultima III,
-==(UDIC)==- | : Ultima IV & Ultima Underworld.
per...@odyssee.net | Working on: Ultima V & Ultima VII.
David Schmidt
Photon Dragon wrote:
>
> On Thu, 9 Apr 1998 18:20:43 -0500, for...@earthlink.net (Fortran
> Dragon) wrote:
>
> >
> > 512K. The original IBM PC could only address 512K RAM. 640K RAM
> >came later.
>
> I was under the impression that the original PC has a 1 Meg adressable
> limit. 640K RAM + 384K upper memory.
Difference of general vs. specific limits.
In theory, the original PC had a 640k limit (1Meg addressable but 384k
reserved for adapter cards). However, as the very original IBM PC
only allowed 64k of RAM on the motherboard. With a limited number
of expansion slots available and very low amounts of RAM on RAM
expansion cards of the day, you could not physically get more than
512k in the machine and still have a display adapter, etc.
Of course, any extra cards for special purposes limited your
maximum memory even further.
Chocolate Breathing Dragon
Samurai
Quoth Phillip S Zibilich <ps...@gnofn.org>:
>Ophidian Dragon <dev...@ix.takethisout.netcom.com> wrote:
[munch]
>> Damn, this was written a long time ago. I remember when a 486/66
>> was top of the line. Now I have a machine that's nearly 4 times
>> that speed (I think...)
And that's only clock speed!
>> and it's getting outdated fast.
>Ah... The old days...
Hardly old. My first home computer had 48K, and a friend of mine had
a 1K machine before that. :)
>> Well, actually, I remember when the Z-80 was top of the line.
*G* As I've observed before, the first home-computing type gadget my
father brought home was an Atari 2600 console. Predates even the Z80,
AFAIK.
>> Geez. Where the hell will we be in 10 years?I just want my multi
>> terabyte HD.
If we're even using Winchester Drive technology by then -- it might
all be solid state.
>Ah... The Z-80... What?!?!? C64 for Life!!!!
Admittedly, the C64 was the best of the 8-bit computers, in my
experience (which admittedly doesn't include any flavour of Apple II).
>> But, remember. No one could ever really need more than 510 K of
>> memory.
>I'm still trying to figure out why we need more than 64k. GEOS ran
>fine on my machine :->
Gem on the Atari ST was pretty decent, too!
___________________________________________________________
\^\^//
,^ ( ..) ~~ Samurai Dragon ~~ -==(UDIC)==-
| \ \ a.k.a. d++e-N T--Om+U146MA7'L8u-uC++
\ `^--^ Paul Gilham uF-uG++uLB+uA+nC++uR nH+nP+++
\ \ \ (Remove fish to reply) nI+nPT++nS+++nT--wM-wC y+ a22
ksj ^--^ ___________________________________________________________
Lord Vassago
>Hardly old. My first home computer had 48K, and a friend of mine had
>a 1K machine before that. :)
I dont think that's possible. Having 1k of mem probably don't have any
memory for loading program files. I think the lowest mem on a home computer
i've seen is 4k
myself I have a 16k tandy , 0.5 mhz processor 1982.
Lord Vassago Dragon
Mils
> First of all, I would like to say that I enjoy playing all ur
> games. My question is more on the hardware requirements I
> heard a rumor that the next Ultima will be for the Pentium.
> Any truth to this? ga
>
>(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN) Not yet.....
>
>(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN) Pentiums will be too slow!
>(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN) (Just KIDDING!!!!)
>
>(12-34,ORIGIN PAGAN)
> Our plan is to try to keep Ultimas within reach of the
> installed machine base, while pushing the limits of those
> machines to make the best game possible. Actually, the current
> plan is to make it run (and be FUN) on a mid-range 486(50+)
> which should be a pretty wide use machine by the time U9 is
> released! GA
*Reading this and wondering, Moa wants to kill lord british, del castillo
and
himself.*
Maybe he says the truth after all.
As i've heard, it will hang on 1.44 Mb disk
Moa Dragon
mi...@club-internet.fr
Mils
> I was actually commenting on the idea of making U9 available and fun
>on midrange PCs.
Okay! I'll reprogram U9!
Not with Klik&play, but with the Games Factory i bought a few days ago!
No... it will need windows. I'll program it in BASIC!
No... it needs a computer.
Okay, i'll make the paper RPG.
No... it needs dices and pens.
Okay i'll write the book.
No... it needs to be able to read (and that
would forbid some people in the newsgroup
to access u9).
Okay, I'll tell the story to everybody who
wants to hear it...
No ... it needs an ear.
Okay, i'll contact geneticians scientists to
incorporate in gens of every foetus the
story of U9, so that 1 second old baby have
the story of U9 implemented in their memory.
No... it needs a brain...
Anyone have a perfect solve to it?
--
------------------------------------------------------------------
\||/ Moa Dragon : =<UDIC>=
| @___oo Mils Michael
/\ /\ / (__,,,,| Mi...@club-internet.fr
) /^\) ^\/ _) www.mygale.org/08/mils/main.html
=<UNSPLUT>= "NORTON UNSPLUT SHIELD"
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Fortran Dragon
My glass typewriter shows David Schmidt saying...
[Snip]
> In theory, the original PC had a 640k limit (1Meg addressable but 384k
> reserved for adapter cards). However, as the very original IBM PC
> only allowed 64k of RAM on the motherboard. With a limited number
> of expansion slots available and very low amounts of RAM on RAM
> expansion cards of the day, you could not physically get more than
> 512k in the machine and still have a display adapter, etc.
In reality, the first IBM PCs could only address 512K RAM. The other
512K RAM was reserved for system purposes. Later IBM released the
additional 128K RAM for program usage.
By the way, you could get all of that memory one card. :)
Samurai
Quoth "Lord Vassago" <lordv...@sympatico.ca>:
>>Hardly old. My first home computer had 48K, and a friend of mine
>>had a 1K machine before that. :)
>I dont think that's possible. Having 1k of mem probably don't have
>any memory for loading program files. I think the lowest mem on a
>home computer i've seen is 4k
Sorry, but that's not right. Both the Sinclair ZX80 and ZX81 had only
1024 bytes of system RAM -- only very short programs were possible on
them, but they _could_ be programmed. I'm sure other Dragons will
confirm that.
>myself I have a 16k tandy , 0.5 mhz processor 1982.
There was actually a 16K _upgrade_ available for the ZX81. :)
Ophidian Dragon
Samurai <Sam...@daisho.prestelcod.co.uk> wrote in article
<35329690...@news.prestel.co.uk>...
> Sorry, but that's not right. Both the Sinclair ZX80 and ZX81 had only
> 1024 bytes of system RAM -- only very short programs were possible on
> them, but they _could_ be programmed. I'm sure other Dragons will
> confirm that.
Hey! My calculator has 427 bytes and you better believe you can write
programs on it!
-Ophidian Dragon
David Schmidt
Fortran Dragon wrote:
[snip]
> By the way, you could get all of that memory one card. :)
Really?!?
I had been told otherwise, but as you seem to have actually worked with
the horrid things (I was working with Apple ][s at the time), I'll
change my story on this when I tell it henceforth!
Thanx
Chocolate Breathing Dragon
James Dowd
Ophidian Dragon wrote in message
<01bd675e$1cf75580$3abddfcf@widdershins>...
Speaking of calculators, I think it is funny that mine (a measly TI-86)
is more powerful than some of the computers that people have been
talking about lately. Talk about progress... :)
Fortran Dragon
My glass typewriter shows David Schmidt saying...
[Snip]
> the horrid things (I was working with Apple ][s at the time), I'll
> change my story on this when I tell it henceforth!
Eventually you could, IIRC.
Mils
Ophidian Dragon a écrit dans le message
<01bd675e$1cf75580$3abddfcf@widdershins>...
>
>
>Samurai <Sam...@daisho.prestelcod.co.uk> wrote in article
><35329690...@news.prestel.co.uk>...
>
>> Sorry, but that's not right. Both the Sinclair ZX80 and ZX81 had only
>> 1024 bytes of system RAM -- only very short programs were possible on
>> them, but they _could_ be programmed. I'm sure other Dragons will
>> confirm that.
>
>Hey! My calculator has 427 bytes and you better believe you can write
>programs on it!
427 Bytes ?
I thought it was nearly the same than mine.
Mine has 7254 bytes.
Have many games on it so...
Mils
>
>Ah... The Z-80... What?!?!? C64 for Life!!!!
Nah, Apple 2