Ultima Online gets Reborn

One of the games that got the massively multiplayer online role-playing genre off the ground was Ultima Online, released in 1997. Astonishingly, the game is still running and has stayed fresh with seven expansion packs and multiple content upgrades.

The PC game will be getting another expansion sometime in 2007, but instead of simply including new monsters to trounce and treasure to grab, the add-on will deliver a complete face-lift to the game. Ultima Online: Kingdom Reborn includes a new graphics engine and a revamped user interface, as well as a chunk of new content.

EA Mythic (formerly Mythic Entertainment) has been hard at work redrawing more than 9,000 pieces of art to get the game's look up to date and competitive with current massively multiplayer online role-playing games, like World of Warcraft. The entire landscape of the game--which EA claims consists of more than 14 million tiles--is being rebuilt as part of the upgrade. EA says the update will not interfere with the gameplay of current Ultima Online users.

EA did not reveal the list of content upgrades, but it did mention that a new playable race would be included. Further details are expected to come later this year.