History VideoGame / UltimaOnline

* ObviousBeta: The ''Renaissance'' expansion was published in a non-functional state out of the box until a patch made the expansion playable.

* {{Griefer}} - This game was legendary for how griefer-friendly it was in the old days, mainly due to the designers being unaware of the [[ForumSpeak G.I.F.T]] before they loosed the public on it. See also: TheGreatPlayerVersusPlayerDebate.

The first widespread commercial success in {{MMORPG}}s, first released on September 24, 1997 by Creator/OriginSystems. Developed based on Richard Garriott's ''VideoGame/{{Ultima}}'' series of games. Initially intended for each server to host roughly 300 players the game garnered unexpectedly huge numbers. Notable for its classless and level free skill based system whereby you could create a character with any combination of skills and gained power by using them. Instead of slaughtering monsters to raise your magic skill you used magic. Using a sword would raise your swordsmanship. Also notable was the game's emphasis on [[WideOpenSandBox Sandbox]] gameplay. Little overarching storyline existed. Player freedom and enforcement of good behavior was expected. Unfortunately the developers didn't [[InternetJerk realize what they were in for]]. Approximately 1% of their total playerbase rampaged through the game world slaughtering other players by the thousands. They got around this by creating a mirror world called Trammel where PVP was heavily restricted.

Despite a rocky start the game flourished and is [[LongRunner still running]] today. Several expansion packs have added content over the years to say nothing of drastic changes added by free patches.

* AHomeownerIsYou - In the early years owning a house (or tower, or castle) was a large draw for the game.

The first widespread commercial success in {{MMORPG}}s, first released in on September 24, 1997 by Creator/OriginSystems. Developed based on Richard Garriott's ''VideoGame/{{Ultima}}'' series of games. Initially intended for each server to host roughly 300 players the game garnered unexpectedly huge numbers. Notable for its classless and level free skill based system whereby you could create a character with any combination of skills and gained power by using them. Instead of slaughtering monsters to raise your magic skill you used magic. Using a sword would raise your swordsmanship. Also notable was the game's emphasis on [[WideOpenSandBox Sandbox]] gameplay. Little overarching storyline existed. Player freedom and enforcement of good behavior was expected. Unfortunately the developers didn't [[InternetJerk realize what they were in for]]. Approximately 1% of their total playerbase rampaged through the game world slaughtering other players by the thousands. They got around this by creating a mirror world called Trammel where PVP was heavily restricted.

The first widespread commercial success in {{MMORPG}}s, first released in 1997 by Creator/OriginSystems. Developed based on Richard Garriott's ''VideoGame/{{Ultima}}'' series of games. Initially intended for each server to host roughly 300 players the game garnered unexpectedly huge numbers. Notable for its classless and level free skill based system whereby you could create a character with any combination of skills and gained power by using them. Instead of slaughtering monsters to raise your magic skill you used magic. Using a sword would raise your swordsmanship. Also notable was the game's emphasis on [[WideOpenSandBox Sandbox]] gameplay. Little overarching storyline existed. Player freedom and enforcement of good behavior was expected. Unfortunately the developers didn't [[InternetJerk realize what they were in for]]. Approximately 1% of their total playerbase rampaged through the game world slaughtering other players by the thousands. They got around this by creating a mirror world called Trammel where PVP was heavily restricted.

* StoneWall: This is normally [[SubvertedTrope subverted]] with rotting corpses, as they have a whopping 1200 hp, but do a pitiful 8-10 damage a hit. However, they also have level 5 poison, the worst kind, which takes up to a third of one's health per 5 seconds, and is almost always fatal if not cured. If, however, a player [[SetMookToKillAMook provokes]] a rotting corpse to attack another rotting corpse, it's played completely straight, as they are immune to poison, so fights between two of them can and have lasted over and hour.

* StoneWall: This is normally [[SubvertedTrope subverted]] with rotting corpses, as they have a whopping 1200 hp, but do a pitiful 8-10 damage a hit. However, they also have level 5 poison, the worst kind, which takes up to a third of one's health per 5 seconds, and is almost always fatal if not cured. If, however, a player [[SetMookToKillMook provokes]] a rotting corpse to attack another rotting corpse, it's played completely straight, as they are immune to poison, so fights between two of them can and have lasted over and hour.

The first widespread commercial success in {{MMORPG}}s, first released in 1997 by Creator/OriginSystems. Developed based on Richard Garriott's ''VideoGame/{{Ultima}}'' series of games. Initially intended for each server to host roughly 300 players the game garnered unexpectedly huge numbers. Notable for its classless and level free skill based system whereby you could create a character with any combination of skills and gained power by using them. Instead of slaughtering monsters to raise your magic skill you used magic. Using a sword would raise your swordsmanship. Also notable was the game's emphasis on [[WideOpenSandBox Sandbox]] gameplay. Little overarching storyline existed. Player freedom and enforcement of good behavior was expected. Unfortunately the developers didn't [[{{GIFT}} realize what they were in for]]. Approximately 1% of their total playerbase rampaged through the game world slaughtering other players by the thousands. They got around this by creating a mirror world called Trammel where PVP was heavily restricted.

* {{Griefer}} - This game was legendary for how griefer-friendly it was in the old days, mainly due to the designers being unaware of the {{GIFT}} before they loosed the public on it. See also: TheGreatPlayerVersusPlayerDebate.