Ultima Online: The Second Age
Encyclopedia
Ultima Online: The Second Age was the first expansion
for the Ultima Online
MMORPG
. It added several features to the game, including a new region called the Lost Lands, new creatures, and support for player-built cities. It added runebooks which could be used to hold recall runes; the player could add runes marked with the mark spell into them rather than carrying individual runes. They were not blessed, however, meaning they could be looted or stolen from a player. It also added something called young player status, at which time it eliminated the original resurrection option where one could opt to instantly resurrect but with penalties.
The Second Age was developed by Origin Systems
and published by Electronic Arts
in 1998. It was the last Ultima Online expansion designed by Raph Koster
.
Critical reaction to the game was mixed. The Second Age was given the "Online Role-Playing Game of the Year" award at the 1999 Interactive Achievement Awards. Many reviews criticized The Second Age for not expanding the game enough, especially since gamers were anticipating the 3D MMORPGs EverQuest
and Asheron's Call
.
In 2007, Ultima Online: The Second Age was re-released as a player run shard. While not supported by Electronic Arts, the original gameplay of this expansion is re-created through use of third party programs such as RunUO and Razor.
Expansion pack
An expansion pack, expansion set, or supplement is an addition to an existing role-playing game, tabletop game or video game. These add-ons usually add new game areas, weapons, objects, and/or an extended storyline to a complete and already released game...
for the Ultima Online
Ultima Online
Ultima Online is a graphical massively multiplayer online role-playing game , released on September 24, 1997, by Origin Systems. It was instrumental to the development of the genre, and is still running today...
MMORPG
MMORPG
Massively multiplayer online role-playing game is a genre of role-playing video games in which a very large number of players interact with one another within a virtual game world....
. It added several features to the game, including a new region called the Lost Lands, new creatures, and support for player-built cities. It added runebooks which could be used to hold recall runes; the player could add runes marked with the mark spell into them rather than carrying individual runes. They were not blessed, however, meaning they could be looted or stolen from a player. It also added something called young player status, at which time it eliminated the original resurrection option where one could opt to instantly resurrect but with penalties.
The Second Age was developed by Origin Systems
Origin Systems
Origin Systems, Inc. was a computer game developer based in Austin, Texas that was active from 1983 to 2004...
and published by Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
in 1998. It was the last Ultima Online expansion designed by Raph Koster
Raph Koster
Raphael "Raph" Koster is an American entrepreneur, game designer, and author of A Theory of Fun for Game Design. Koster is widely recognized for his work as the lead designer of Ultima Online and the creative director behind Star Wars Galaxies...
.
Critical reaction to the game was mixed. The Second Age was given the "Online Role-Playing Game of the Year" award at the 1999 Interactive Achievement Awards. Many reviews criticized The Second Age for not expanding the game enough, especially since gamers were anticipating the 3D MMORPGs EverQuest
EverQuest
EverQuest, often shortened to EQ, is a 3D fantasy-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game that was released on the 16th of March, 1999. The original design is credited to Brad McQuaid, Steve Clover, and Bill Trost...
and Asheron's Call
Asheron's Call
Asheron's Call is a fantasy MMORPG for Microsoft Windows-based PCs developed and published by Turbine Entertainment. It was published by Microsoft until 2004. Asheron's Call is set on the continent of Dereth and its surrounding islands on the fictional planet of Auberean...
.
In 2007, Ultima Online: The Second Age was re-released as a player run shard. While not supported by Electronic Arts, the original gameplay of this expansion is re-created through use of third party programs such as RunUO and Razor.