Ultima 6 Online: Enhanced Graphics
I periodically check the Ultima 6 Online website and forums for indications of a client update. (Which reminds me; I need to send Cear Dragon FTP information!)
This time, though, I found something rather more interesting…enhanced graphics tilesets! And the results are quite decent, I have to say:
[singlepic id=116 w=500 h=440 float=center]
Click for higher resolution version
I’ve added downloads for five different U6O graphics mods to the project entry. Check thou them out!
Somebody make it for Exult too. Otherwise, we have Archon in glorious 3D.
Make which…the online client or the enhanced graphics?
Enhanced graphics, i mean. I saw test works of HD sprites and tiles on exult forums and Exult 3D, which, i think, was canned. New graphics for original Ultima VII would be nice. I dont know, may be project Britania team remade Ultima 7 on DS engine or that mod Serpent Isle will be closer to original, than i think.
P. S. By the way, nice resource, may be the best. The best about Ultima, for me. And why no information about other Origin rpg`s such 2400, which uses Ultima engine. Or SSI “Questron” , which “is an unimaginative Ultima clone. Indeed, SSI even secured a license from Richard Garriott for the game’s “structure and style.” (C) Gamasutra.
And that handheld RPG in System Shock 2, which is also shameful early Ultima clone. Anyway cool site.
I know someone was working on HD sprites; it’s possible the project fell by the wayside. That’s always the risk with fan-made stuff like this, really…spare time, for-free projects are all well and good to have, but real life intrudes on such things with reckless abandon.
Not that I don’t agree that an HD tileset for Ultima 7 would kick ass. Actually, given the quality of the engine overall, an HD tileset for it could potentially look…well, phenomenal.
There’s just the time issue, right? It takes time to draw and align hundreds of graphics chunks, and there are always more people asking “when is this coming” than “hey, I can do cool 2D art…you need help?” (The same is largely true of 3D remakes.)
Anyhow, you are quite welcome, and I’m glad you like the site. As to the absence of other Origin titles, I’m open to the possibility of expansion. There’s no need to add Wing Commander stuff, since there’s already a number of great resources on that side of things. But I wouldn’t be averse to adding 2400 or Shadowcaster to the list of stuff I cover.
Keep in mind, though, that my initial focus was remakes, mods, patches, and tools…and that’s still what most of the site’s content and activity/traffic is focused on. Now, if I get wind of a Shadowcaster remake, I will be all over it like me on a Whopper. But apart from overhauling the whole structure of the site, there’s very little I can do to incorporate those other bits of Origin IP.
Then again, I may not need to in a few months’ time.
You are right, but i think, that Dosbox with smothed graphics ON is some kind of remake already (notice the cross-platforming nature of Dosbox) Not REAL remake of course, not even close. But some not so enhanced ports on this site counts as remakes (such as Ultima 2 for Windows. Ultima 4 for Sega Master System which was real remake is mentioned, may be some NES versions deserve mention too. I mean Ultima 3. Without placing the link to ROM, of course.
This is true; I count as “remakes” those things which are really little more than ports of one kind or another. So if there are similar ports of 2400 or Shadowcaster (or whatever), I’d be more than game to host them, albeit under a new non-Ultima category.
The question is, then: do such ports exist? I can throw some time into hunting them down once I get the site fully restored; if you know of any, feel free to drop me some links! (Just not more than a couple links per comment, or else I’ll be fishing your post out of the spam filter.)