Howdy, Stranger!
It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Quick Links
New Richard Garriott article
Arthineas
Member Posts: 231
First off I would like to say that over all I have a lot of respect for Richard as I loved his Ultima series and Ultima Online. I even like Tabula Rasa although I wish he would have stuck with his original sci-fi/fantasy concept for it.
I just read a new article on him over at Massively here-
You can see the full interview from Gamasutra here-
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/6404/the_right_amount_of_depth_lord_.php
When I read it I felt horribly disappointed. I already knew that he was looking at developing social games and he felt that it was the wave of the future. But he had not written off mmorpgs at that point. Well now it seems that he had a change of heart and is done with mmorpgs.
He seems to think that these social games can offer just as deep of an experience as a mmorpg which I find ridiculous. I do not care who makes it, a social game will never have the content and be able to offer the deep experience that a good mmorpg can offer. Plus a lot of players these days want the latest in cutting edge graphics and a game that can be played on Facebook or the Iphone can never offer that.
I guess he said eventually he is going to make a social game called Lord British's Britannia. I will probably take a look at it just because I still like him. And it might be a good time killer to replace solitaire. But Lord British's Britannia could have been so much more if it was a well thought out mmorpg.
To me it just seems like he is going for a quick money grab. What a shame and waste of talent in my opinion.
Comments
I lost all respect for Garriott when in the local paper (Austin Chronicle) he said Tabula Rasa was a new and groundbreaking game. I was on the TR beta, and it was nothing special, just another game. But Garriott was saying it was revolutionary.
Well, he may be good at marketing ideas, but obviously he cannot be trusted at all. I wouldn't accept anything he says on face value.
------------
2024: 47 years on the Net.
RG has vastly more experience in creating games than I ever will, I could not possibly tell him he is wrong when it comes to how he creates his games, I can either say "I don't like what you've created" or "Wow this is the best thing since sliced bread" but to tell the guy you've lost all respect for him when 99% of the ppl that harp on about it haven't even been through the door of a games developing company is just plain ridiculous.
I've more or less enjoyed what RG has created, I absolutely loved TR and felt it was a breath of fresh air compared to what was out there at the time, it was just a shame it was "Too our there" for most MMO gamers, which seems to be happening more often than not.
I also agree with RG's assessment of MMO's, you only have to take a look at how popular Facebook is and games such as Farmville to see that these browser games are what ppl want, millions play them, and taping into those millions is what he is after.
If I was looking to develop an online game I know which way I'd be going, not the small MMO crowd which only has WoW as the most profitable example of the industry, but to social networking sites which have millions of potential customers ready to get hooked on my social game.
his genre has passed him by.
Currently Watching: TSW. << Very Eager for a Beta invite. Have experience with Beta Testing.
Not personally a big fan of raiding or current pve endgame mmo philosophy. Nothing wrong with it, I just sort of burnt out on it.
Hardcore raider in wow from Launch to.. about 7 months ago.
Currently Playing: Champions Online.
As a man with a dragon name he is my hero but he has lost his way. If he came back to make a proper UO2, not that abomination that was on paper, I would love him once again.
The guy at the airport who 'misses' the smelly bus to New York might be missing it on purpose as he boards his shiny private jet. But yeah, that bus passed him by all right.
"What is truly revealing is his implication that believing something to be true is the same as it being true. [continue]" -John Oliver
He just may be on to something big. Maybe you guys should wait and see what he comes up with before you give up on him totally. If you think he's working on 'Farmville II' I think your gonna be dead wrong. What he proposes may take social gaming to a whole new level. We shall have to wait and see.
Bren
while(horse==dead)
{
beat();
}
Let's be honest here. If Richard made a new UO it would be huge and he would make a shitload of money off of it. He knows this but instead he is focusing on social gaming, why? Because the believes or thinks he will make even more money going that route.
Bottom line is "he's going to do whatever it takes to keep that plane parked in his garage" Even if it means making crappy social games.
Velika: City of Wheels: Among the mortal races, the humans were the only one that never built cities or great empires; a curse laid upon them by their creator, Gidd, forced them to wander as nomads for twenty centuries...
Ok, if you want to be honest... Have you viewed/read any of the interviews he's given since he formed his new company? If you think he's just going to make 'Crappy social games' I don't think you have.
Bren
while(horse==dead)
{
beat();
}
I have been following Richards career ladder for a long time now. The spiral trend is evident to me and will most likely continue in this new adventure.
Velika: City of Wheels: Among the mortal races, the humans were the only one that never built cities or great empires; a curse laid upon them by their creator, Gidd, forced them to wander as nomads for twenty centuries...
"I almost do all of my gaming now on iPhone"
This answers everything.
An honest review of SW:TOR 6/10 (Danny Wojcicki)
You are right he might be onto something big... something big for social games. I have not given up on him totally and I will always like and respect the man. But I still feel that social games are a waste of his talents.
I want a game with depth, like a virtual world. And a also a game that takes advantage of all of today's wonderful advances in graphics and technologies in general. This is something that a social game could never offer.
I want an engrossing beautiful living breathing world for my online game. Not some 15 minute time killer. Richard could make such a world that would draw in millions...
A good analogy for this would be if Leonardo Da Vinci was still alive. He goes to make another great piece of art. Yet he only draws using stick figures. This is kind of what I feel Richard is doing.
The Ultima Series went down the sewer after Ultima VII and UO was the last good game he was involved in.
Since then he has not made a single good succesfull game...
"Torquemada... do not implore him for compassion. Torquemada... do not beg him for forgiveness. Torquemada... do not ask him for mercy. Let's face it, you can't Torquemada anything!"
MWO Music Video - What does the Mech say: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FF6HYNqCDLI
Johnny Cash - The Man Comes Around: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0x2iwK0BKM
Just my opinion here but it seems to me that when Origin was bought out by EA and RG was basically forced to rush Ultima: Ascension out the door before it was ready that it took a lot of the wind out of his sails,so to speak and while he did attempt to rebound from that with projects like Tabula it just didnt happen,perhaps because of financial constraints, I don't know.
I dont really believe he does "not" have the potential and the ability to make truly great mmo's but I am not sure he has the passion and will to do them anymore . I really do wish he had not partnered with EA,or that if he had,the deal would have left him with full creative control of all things Ultima and not have to answer to bean-counters. an UO2 would have really been something sweet,imo.
Oh well, enough of all this I suppose.....
So what you're saying is took over 7 games before they started to feel not so hot? HE's worked on other successful titles past those as well. Such as EQ, Lineage 2, CIty of Heroes/V, etc...
His more recent creation was Tabula Rasa, which was poorly received, you can't expect a winner every time. That doesn't mean he's not capable of creating a new hit game.
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
Good analogy. Garriott drew stick figures and told the world it was great art. Everyone believes him since he did once create good art. Meanwhile, his new stick figure art got thrown in the trash. And now he is saying this NEXT thing will be great art! Using stick figures!
No thanks.
------------
2024: 47 years on the Net.
Every Ultima improved up to part 7 which was the climax of the series.
8 and 9 were disapointments!
UO is linked with the name Garriot a big way while eventually every other game that was a "Garriot Game" failed to meet even moderate expectations.
The games you mentioned be not real "Garriot Games", its more he salvaged his big name and fame to his favour...
PS: I loved Autoduel^^
PPS: Trying hard to remember if he had anything to do with EQ but as i did never play the game i may have it missed...
"Torquemada... do not implore him for compassion. Torquemada... do not beg him for forgiveness. Torquemada... do not ask him for mercy. Let's face it, you can't Torquemada anything!"
MWO Music Video - What does the Mech say: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FF6HYNqCDLI
Johnny Cash - The Man Comes Around: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0x2iwK0BKM
Yeah Richard had absolutely nothing to do with EQ. The main people behind EQ was Brad Mcquaid, Steve Clover and Bill Trost. There were a few others, but definitely not Richard Garriott. UO was the competition for them. So you are right in reality UO was Richard's last hit.
I did enjoy Tabula Rasa but it was lacking a certain something that I could not quite put my finger on. Evidently that was the case for a great many people because it was far from a success.
This whole conversation got me thinking about things and made me pull out a copy of the now defunct Computer Games magazine from 2004(issue 163). In it he talked about Tabula Rasa, well at least his original concept for it which I found more interesting.
But the one thing that struck me in re-reading his interview was when they asked him "You've been doing this a long time. What keeps you going at this point?" His response was "For me, its's creating worlds. Reality crafting is my shtick."
I just wish Richard would stay true to himself and remember just how much "creating worlds" meant to him.
Under games credited on Mobygames.com
Richard Garriott's Tabula Rasa (2007), NCsoft Europe Ltd.
Auto Assault (2006), NCsoft - North America
City of Heroes (Deluxe Edition) (2005), NCsoft Europe Ltd.
City of Villains (2005), NCsoft Europe Ltd.
Lineage II: The Chaotic Chronicle (2004), NCsoft - North America
EverQuest: The Ruins of Kunark (2000), Sony Online Entertainment Inc.
Ultima IX: Ascension (1999), Electronic Arts, Inc.
Ultima Online: The Second Age (1998), ORIGIN Systems, Inc.
Ultima Collection (1997), Electronic Arts, Inc.
Ultima Online (1997), Electronic Arts, Inc.
Exile II: Crystal Souls (1996), Spiderweb Software
The Need for Speed: Special Edition (1996), Electronic Arts, Inc.
BioForge (1995), ORIGIN Systems, Inc.
Crusader: No Remorse (1995), ORIGIN Systems, Inc.
Exile: Escape from the Pit (1995), Spiderweb Software
The Need for Speed (1994), Electronic Arts, Inc.
Pagan: Ultima VIII (1994), ORIGIN Systems, Inc.
Realms of Arkania Vol. 2: Star Trail (1994), Fantasy Productions Verlags- und Medienvertriebsgesellschaft mbH
Ultima: Runes of Virtue II (1993), Pony Canyon, Inc.
Ultima VII: Part Two - Serpent Isle (1993), ORIGIN Systems, Inc.
Ultima VII, Part Two: The Silver Seed (1993), Electronic Arts, Inc.
Ultima Underworld: The Stygian Abyss (1992), ORIGIN Systems, Inc.
Ultima VII: Forge of Virtue (1992), ORIGIN Systems, Inc.
Ultima VII: The Black Gate (1992), ORIGIN Systems, Inc.
Ultima: Runes of Virtue (1991), Pony Canyon, Inc.
Ultima: Worlds of Adventure 2: Martian Dreams (1991), ORIGIN Systems, Inc.
Ultima VI: The False Prophet (1990), ORIGIN Systems, Inc.
Worlds of Ultima: The Savage Empire (1990), ORIGIN Systems, Inc.
Knights of Legend (1989), ORIGIN Systems, Inc.
Omega (1989), ORIGIN Systems, Inc.
Times of Lore (1988), ORIGIN Systems, Inc.
Ultima V: Warriors of Destiny (1988), ORIGIN Systems, Inc.
2400 A.D. (1987), ORIGIN Systems, Inc.
Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness (1987), ORIGIN Systems, Inc.
Autoduel (1986), MicroProse Ltd.
Moebius: The Orb of Celestial Harmony (1986), ORIGIN Systems, Inc.
Ogre (1986), ORIGIN Systems, Inc.
Ring Quest (1985), Penguin Software, Inc.
Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar (1985), ORIGIN Systems, Inc.
Exodus: Ultima III (1983), OSI
Ultima II: Revenge of the Enchantress (1982), Sierra On-Line, Inc.
Ultima (1981), California Pacific Computer
Akalabeth: World of Doom (1980), California Pacific Computer
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
I didn't last long in TR but it had the feel to me of a FPS without the fun of an FPS. But many seemed to love it.
Epic Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAigCvelkhQ&list=PLo9FRw1AkDuQLEz7Gvvaz3ideB2NpFtT1
https://archive.org/details/softwarelibrary_msdos?&sort=-downloads&page=1
Kyleran: "Now there's the real trick, learning to accept and enjoy a game for what it offers rather than pass on what might be a great playing experience because it lacks a few features you prefer."
John Henry Newman: "A man would do nothing if he waited until he could do it so well that no one could find fault."
FreddyNoNose: "A good game needs no defense; a bad game has no defense." "Easily digested content is just as easily forgotten."
LacedOpium: "So the question that begs to be asked is, if you are not interested in the game mechanics that define the MMORPG genre, then why are you playing an MMORPG?"
Sorry but Mobygames is wrong, Richard Garriott had NOTHING to do with Runes of Kunark. UO was a direct competitor with EQ. When he left EA, he was under a no compete clause until 2000 when he formed his own company Destination Games which shortly there after got bought by NC Soft.
I have been playing these games since 98 and have been a big fan of Garriott's. I know exactly what he was and was not a part of. Here is a more accurate link for you from his own website -
http://www.richardgarriott.com/biography/
And I quote from the biography - "Richard retired from Origin in April of 2000 and formed Destination Games with his brother Robert. In 2001, Destination Games became part of NCsoft, where Richard continued to develop innovative new products."
He has state numerous times that he was under a no compete clause. Even though he was gone he was still technically a part of EA/Origin and could not leave for other opportunities until a certain time period passed. When he was free he formed Destination Games.
I also have the anniversary book from SOE detailing the history of EQ 1 and EQ 2(not to mention I played those games for years). So I know exactly all the key designers for those games too. Sorry but Richard was not involved in EQ.
Just did a search of the ROK credits and it seems he was thanked in them so my bad. That type of thing usually doesn't make the games credited section of Moby.
For every minute you are angry , you lose 60 seconds of happiness."-Emerson
Reminds me on the Origin Systems slogan: "We create Worlds"
Hey Developers!
When do you create worlds again?
"Torquemada... do not implore him for compassion. Torquemada... do not beg him for forgiveness. Torquemada... do not ask him for mercy. Let's face it, you can't Torquemada anything!"
MWO Music Video - What does the Mech say: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FF6HYNqCDLI
Johnny Cash - The Man Comes Around: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0x2iwK0BKM