🚀 go-pugleaf

swif...@access.mbnet.mb.ca (Aubrey Chen) writes:
>The point is that Origin doesn't have to push the technological front 
>every year to keep her customers buying her games. She could have easily 
>mastered the programming in the U7 system first by adding more storyline, 
>deeper philosophical contents, bigger worlds, better combat design/AI, 
>more NPC interactions etc before moving to a newer platform design like 
>U8. But most of all, if she does decide to push technological edge, make 
>sure her result products live up to her advertised hype. It almost seem 
>as if '90's programmers are obsessed with designing bigger and 
>flashier programs without substance.

	I will agree with most your points, except the storyline and philosophy
bits for U7.  If you think about it realistically, the storylines were pretty
much exhasted for the Ultima 7 games... the two add ons were more "just get in
there and kill whatever you can to gain experience" rather than story-add ons
like the WC I & II add ons were.  But I the U7 series is more than just a good
one.
	As for U8, well, its release seems to keep in line with Origin's
history of Ultima game releases - about one every 2-3 years (didn't U1 make its
appearance in 1980?)... so it was time for the next Ultima.  But the one thing I
am afraid off is that Origin will just skip to #9 very soon, instead of sticking
it out with #8 and bringing out the add-ons (I hear the one planned for it was
cancelled... according to Mr. GameBytes himself anyway) to improve whatever
disappointments the game U8 caused (rather than keeping the trophy for the most
excellent computer series ever).  Yes, I believe it eclipsed the Wizardy series
a long while ago.
	So if anyone at Origin reads this, DON'T abandon U8 yet.  It does have
POTENTIAL. :-)

							- Falcon