In Por Ylem 2 Launched!
In Por Ylem was, apparently (I didn’t really know this before) one of the most popular Ultima Online freeshards. Its sequel, In Por Ylem 2 (IPY2), was released yesterday, and introduces a whole host of new features to what was apparently already a fantastic game.
For those who are unfamiliar with the game, In Por Ylem bills itself as a “classic” version of Ultima Online, and claims to look back to a time before several changes were made to the game (circa UO Rennaissance, roughly). As such, it is considered by its developers to be an attempt to start over and re-evolve the Ultima Online concept in a manner they feel is more faithful to the original concept of the game: “freedoms, player interaction, player justice and accountability, great PvP, and a broad, deep gameplay experience unrivaled in today’s online games.”
As noted, it was released yesterday, and you can obtain the “Classic UO Client” and the patch necessary to play IPY2 from the project’s download page. I will probably be adding an entry for it to Aiera at some point in the coming days, but for now interested Dragons and Dragonettes are directed to hit up its website directly.
You know, Im not really an MMO player but I did play the original UO when it released. That being said I played it because I thought it would feel like an online Ultima game, but to me the MMO model just didn’t really feel like Ultima at all.
I always liked the feel and atmosphere of the graphics and sound from the very first version of UO and I always thought it would have made for a good single player Ultima.
I’ve been playing IPY 2 and so far so good. The new features from Azzy and team that I have encountered have done lots to beef up UO’s somewhat weak PvE game.
Still, the real test will be in the coming months, after the playerbase has fanned out to include new players and grandmasters alike. Right now there are no strong players to pick on the weak, but that day will come soon enough. Only that will show if the shard is sustainable and if player justice really works.
I’ve played a couple of hours this weekend, and it brings back a lot of memories from my old UO days.
I do find it a bit of a drag trying to build up my skills and cash though, gaining blacksmith/mining skill seems harder than I recall.
Perhaps we could make an Aiera guild or something?
I have heard that gaining craft skills is a bit slower than it used to be. I wouldn’t know, having never been much of a crafter. On the plus side there is a lot more cool stuff for crafters to do now, what with pirate ship building and all that.
I’m going to give it a try for a bit. I kind of miss those old UO days, but I also don’t have the free time like I did when I was 15.
I wouldn’t be against the idea of an Aiera guild being set up in IPY2, although obviously I wouldn’t be able to log in and play all that much myself. I’m rather in the same boat as Dungy in that regard.
Played it yesterday and I’m in love again!
If anyone sees Shakezy the Apprentice Warrior, give him a shout.
Happy hunting.
UO: Second Age is a much better free server