Ultima creator, private (and second-generation) astronaut, and interview-giving-machine Richard Garriott was interviewed again by Eurogamer. This time, discussion focused on Garriott’s “Ultimate RPG” concept, and the comparison to Ultima Online was very quickly made. Garriott’s response is already all over the Internet, but just in case any of you hadn’t heard it yet, here it is:

The Ultimate RPG that Richard Garriott is making could, literally, become Ultima Online 2.

The estranged Ultima Online creator told Eurogamer he was talking to Electronic Arts “even now” about working together again.

“Sure,” answered Garriott, when asked whether Ultimate RPG could become UO2. “Yeah – theoretically that would be possible.

“We’ve actually talked to Electronic Arts about [Garriott leading Ultima Online again]. I would love to have access to the Ultima property. We’ve had discussions at very high levels with Electronic Arts about access to the property.

“We’re in discussions with Electronic Arts even now about a possible marketing and distribution relationships and things of this nature.

“I have a great fondness for Electronic Arts – I still think they’re one of the best, most powerful and competent sales and marketing and distribution companies in the business.”

But…there’s a snag:

“Electronic Arts is a big company,” he said. “There are some parts of the organisation that would love and embrace and clearly understand the logic of ‘wouldn’t it be great to work together on an Ultima’.

“And then there are other parts of the organisation who – I’m actually not sure where the resistance comes from, but it must be people who either have their own ideas about where the product should go, or have their own ideas about whether or nor I should be involved in it. And I don’t know where the counter-forces come from.

“So far we’ve not put a deal together, but of course, yeah, I would be very open to it.”

Regardless of whether an EA deal is struck, Garriott said Ultimate RPG will “clearly” be a spiritual successor to Ultima Online.

You can probably all guess that I can speak to these circumstances somewhat, and that inasmuch as I can, I also cannot. That’s the way of these sorts of things. That said, even I can’t be sure of where the “resistance” (as described) is coming from, not entirely. I can speculate a bit, and I think it boils down to two things, one of which we’ve discussed before on the site here. That facet of it, of course, is the fact that while there is tons of love for the Ultima series and IP within EA (and within the BioWare label), the IP itself hasn’t seen much action since the release of Ultima 9 and/or the cancellation of Ultima X: Odyssey. Ultima Online, while still respected as one of the pioneers in the MMORPG space, has a relatively small subscriber base compared to other modern MMOs, and at least until Jeff Skalski took over as the franchise manager it was basically just being maintained, rather than developed.

In other words, the franchise needs to be re-established in the eyes of various mucky-mucks as one that is viable as something other than a much-loved legacy product. And unfortunately, that means starting small and building up; funds aren’t going to magically free up for one of the BioWare studios to churn out a AAA Ultima piece. And, of course, there’s been all sorts of rumours and hints that BioWare Mythic have a project already active in that space. And maybe that’s where the aforementioned “resistance” ultimately stems from.

But at the same time, the rumoured Mythic project really hasn’t been described in a manner that would make one think: “Ultima Online 2!!!”

Which brings us to what might be the other facet, which was kind of spoiled above: things may be picking up on the Ultima Online side of things. There have been some interesting development rumours flying about lately pertaining to the property, some of which are downright intriguing. Client overhauls, 3D upgrades, high-resolution artwork…I’ve heard several things. And if that’s where EA is focusing their efforts, I could see them being hesitant to jump on board Garriott’s bandwagon.

There’s also the fact, I suppose, that Portalarium is still very much an untested technology. It might make sense, in another year or two, for EA to look at partnering with the company and making use of the platform. But right now, it’s only been used for poker games by its parent company (although at least one other developer has done something rather more interesting with it).

Regardless, Garriott has made clear that whether he partners with Electronic Arts or not at any point in the future, his upcoming “Ultimate RPG” will, in as many senses as possible, be a spiritual successor to Ultima Online, if not an actual successor. Even the look (and presumably the feel) will be familiar, if Garriott gets his way:

The evolution of setting from Ultima Online to Ultmate RPG doesn’t necessarily mean 3D. Ultima Online’s isometric presentation will likely be preserved, Garriott revealed.

“We’re going to be building it in tools that would give us the option to go either way [3D or isometric]. But our current assumption is it would be isometric,” he said.

“All the tools we’ve been building to date, all the world building – they assume that it’s isometric. But feasibly that decision could evolve, but pretty quickly that will be set in stone in a way that you can’t change and presumably isometric.”

Richard Garriott’s Ultimate RPG will be free to play, quick to access and straddle today’s biggest platforms.

That said, and as much a fan of the isometric perspective as I am, I do hope they improve the graphics and change the perspective a bit.

(hat tip: Infinitron Dragon and RPS)