1 | [[quoteright:306:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/origin_systems_logos.png]] |
2 | [[caption-width-right:306:[[BadassCreed "We Create Worlds"]] [[note]]Above (top to bottom): Origin Systems' logo during the 1980s, the 1990s, and in its final years[[/note]]]] |
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4 | Origin Systems was an American video game developer and publisher, best known for creating the legendary ''VideoGame/{{Ultima}}'' and ''VideoGame/WingCommander'' franchises. It was founded in March 1983 by the brothers Richard (a.k.a. "Lord British") and Robert Garriott, their father Owen[[note]]an astronaut who flew both the Skylab and the Space Shuttle[[/note]], and their buddy Chuck Bueche[[note]]who would be immortalized as Chuckles the Jester in ''Ultimas II'' through ''VII''[[/note]], right on the eve of MediaNotes/{{The Great Video Game Crash|Of1983}}, but the company's first offering, Lord British's 1983 ''VideoGame/UltimaIII: Exodus''[[note]]''VideoGame/UltimaI'' was published by the short-lived California Pacific, and ''VideoGame/UltimaII'', by Creator/{{Sierra}}, with whom Garriott fell out soon thereafter[[/note]], immediately established the newcomers among the top WesternRPG creators, a genre they would soon change forever with ''VideoGame/UltimaIV'' and its successors. |
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6 | Over its two decades of existence, many soon-to-be-famous video game developers got their start at Origin Systems, thanks to its culture of visionary game design, pushing the limits of technology, and [[DoingItForTheArt never cutting corners in pursuit of artistic goals]]. Some of these names include [[VideoGame/WingCommander Chris]] [[VideoGame/StarCitizen Roberts]][[note]]the most notable one of the bunch in Origin's heyday as he was the foundation of their ''other'' major franchise[[/note]], Creator/JohnRomero, [[VideoGame/UltimaOnline Raph]] [[VideoGame/StarWarsGalaxies Koster]], [[VideoGame/UltimaUnderworld Paul]] [[VideoGame/UnderworldAscendant Neurath]], Creator/WarrenSpector, [[VideoGame/DeusEx Harvey]] [[Franchise/{{Dishonored}} Smith]], as well as the entire company of Creator/LookingGlassStudios[[note]]whose early breakthrough hits, both ''VideoGame/{{Ultima Underworld}}s'' and ''VideoGame/SystemShock'', had all been published by Origin[[/note]]. However, like many top CRPG developers of TheEighties, Origin was hit hard by the [[MediaNotes/WesternRPG mid-90s crisis of the genre]], and encountered severe financial troubles on the publishing side of its business, despite the massive successes of the early ''{{VideoGame/Wing Commander}}s'' and ''VideoGame/UltimaVII''. Things went downhill from there. |
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8 | In September 1992, the floundering Origin was bought out by Creator/ElectronicArts, who quickly began curbing the developers' habit of artistic tinkering and prioritized commercial success instead. Infamously, ''VideoGame/UltimaVIII'' was put on such a tight schedule, it shipped in an [[ObviousBeta unfinished and barely playable state]], and although EA originally saw no potential in ''VideoGame/UltimaOnline'', its surprise early success had led them to [[ExecutiveMeddling divert Origin's resources]] away from ''VideoGame/UltimaIX'', resulting in the latter's ''extremely'' TroubledProduction and, ultimately, a [[FranchiseKiller sad end]] for one of gaming's greatest epics. |
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10 | ''Ultima IX: Ascension'', released on November 24, 1999, was the last game Origin had ever finished. The remaining founders resigned in April 2000 to form [[VideoGame/TabulaRasa Destination Games]] and, much later, [[VideoGame/ShroudOfTheAvatar Portalarium]]. Origin Systems finally disbanded in February 2004, joining Creator/{{Bullfrog|Productions}} and Creator/{{Westwood|Studios}} as the third in the [[https://www.koveras.net/files/tvtropes/ea_timeline.html long list]] of [[https://heavy.com/games/2017/10/studios-ea-has-killed-visceral-games/ developers EA had acquired and shut down]]. In a darkly ironic twist, the "Origin" trademark got a second life in 2011, when Electronic Arts appropriated it as the name of its new digital games distribution platform. For more information on the [[https://www.filfre.net/2013/05/origin-systems/ birth]], [[http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/issues/issue_14/87-The-Conquest-of-Origin fall]], and [[https://techraptor.net/content/35th-anniversary-origin-systems-ultima legacy]] of Origin Systems, see the respective link. |
11 | ---- |
12 | !!Games developed and/or published by Origin Systems: |
13 | |
14 | !!!Before Creator/ElectronicArts buyout |
15 | [[index]] |
16 | * ''VideoGame/UltimaI: The First Age of Darkness'' (1981), originally published by California Pacific Computer Company, then bought out and re-released by Sierra, then again by Origin when the trademark rights reverted to Garriott again. |
17 | * ''VideoGame/UltimaII: The Revenge of the Enchantress'' (1982), originally published by Sierra, then re-released by Origin after the trademark reverted. |
18 | * ''VideoGame/UltimaIII: Exodus'' (1983), first major game developed and published by Origin |
19 | * ''Caverns of Callisto'' (1983), developed by Chuck Bueche simultaneously with Garriott's ''Ultima III'' |
20 | * ''VideoGame/UltimaIV: Quest of the Avatar'' (1985) |
21 | * ''Autoduel'' (1985) |
22 | * ''Moebius: The Orb of Celestial Harmony'' (1985) |
23 | * ''Ogre'' (1986) |
24 | * ''Ring Quest'' (1986) |
25 | * ''2400 A.D.'' (1987) |
26 | * ''VideoGame/UltimaV: Warriors of Destiny'' (1988) |
27 | * ''Times of Lore'' (1988) |
28 | * ''Knights of Legend'' (1989) |
29 | * ''Omega'' (1989) |
30 | * ''Tangled Tales: The Misadventures of a Wizard's Apprentice'' (1989) |
31 | * ''Space Rogue'' (1989) |
32 | * ''Windwalker'' (1989), a sequel to ''Moebius'' |
33 | * ''VideoGame/UltimaVI: The False Prophet'' (1990) |
34 | * ''VideoGame/WorldsOfUltimaTheSavageEmpire'' (1990) |
35 | * ''[[VideoGame/WingCommanderTheKilrathiSaga Wing Commander]]'' (1990) |
36 | * ''Bad Blood'' (1990) |
37 | * ''VideoGame/UltimaWorldsOfAdventure2MartianDreams'' (1991) |
38 | * ''Wing Commander II: Vengeance of the Kilrathi'' (1991) |
39 | * ''VideoGame/UltimaUnderworld: The Stygian Abyss'' (1992, as publisher), developed by [[Creator/LookingGlassStudios Blue Sky Productions]] |
40 | * ''VideoGame/UltimaVII: The Black Gate'' (1992) |
41 | [[/index]] |
42 | |
43 | !!!Post-Creator/ElectronicArts |
44 | [[index]] |
45 | * ''Ultima Underworld II: Labyrinth of Worlds'' (1993, as publisher), developed by Looking Glass |
46 | * ''VideoGame/UltimaVIIPartII: Serpent Isle'' (1993) |
47 | * ''VideoGame/WingCommanderPrivateer'' (1993) |
48 | * ''Wing Commander Academy'' (1993) |
49 | * ''VideoGame/ShadowCaster'' (1993, as publisher), developed by Creator/RavenSoftware |
50 | * ''VideoGame/StrikeCommander'' (1993) |
51 | * ''VideoGame/UltimaVIII: Pagan'' (1994) |
52 | * ''Wing Commander III: Heart of the Tiger'' (1994) |
53 | * ''Wing Commander: Armada'' (1994) |
54 | * ''VideoGame/SystemShock'' (1994, as publisher), developed by Looking Glass |
55 | * ''Pacific Strike'' (1994) |
56 | * ''VideoGame/WingsOfGlory'' (1994) |
57 | * ''VideoGame/{{Bioforge}}'' (1995) |
58 | * ''VideoGame/{{Crusader}}: No Remorse'' (1995) |
59 | * ''VideoGame/CyberMage: Darklight Awakening'' (1995) |
60 | * ''VideoGame/WingCommanderIVThePriceOfFreedom'' (1996) |
61 | * ''Privateer 2: The Darkening'' (1996) |
62 | * ''VideoGame/{{Abuse}}'' (1996, as publisher), developed by Crack dot Com |
63 | * ''Crusader: No Regret'' (1996) |
64 | * ''Jane's AH-64D Longbow'' (1996) |
65 | * ''Transland'' (1996) |
66 | * ''VideoGame/UltimaOnline'' (1997), remains playable as of 2018 |
67 | * ''Wing Commander: Prophecy'' (1997) |
68 | * ''Jane's Longbow 2'' (1997) |
69 | * ''VideoGame/UltimaIX: Ascension'' (1999) |
70 | [[/index]] |
71 | |
72 | !!!CanceledVideoGames |
73 | |
74 | * ''Ultima'': |
75 | ** ''Worlds of Ultima: Arthurian Legends'' |
76 | ** ''Ultima Worlds Online: Origin'', a.k.a. ''Ultima Online 2'' |
77 | ** ''Ultima X: Odyssey'' (canceled in 2004) |
78 | * ''Wing Commander'': |
79 | ** ''Privateer 3'' / "''Privateer Online''" (or variously "''Wing Commander Online''") |
80 | ** ''Strike Team'' |
81 | ** ''Wing Commander VI'' |
82 | * ''Crusader 3: No Escape / Crusader: No Mercy / Crusader II'' |
83 | * ''Harry Potter Online'' |
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