Path: utzoo!utdoe!generic!pnet91!ericmcg
From: ericmcg@pnet91.cts.com (Eric Mcgillicuddy)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.apple2
Subject: Re: Ultima 6
Message-ID: <786@generic.UUCP>
Date: 30 May 91 03:00:03 GMT
Sender: root@generic.UUCP
Organization: People-Net [pnet91], Etobicoke, ON
Lines: 31

>Apple users.  It gave the usual speech on Origin's commitment to excellence
>and all, and it explained that the game was developed on and designed for
>IBM, hard-disk-based, 320x200x256 graphics.  It would seem that all of
>Origin's new releases are designed for this platform, judging by Wing
>Commander and other new Origin products.
>
>ProLine:  ryanb@pro-charlotte           \_  this fall: rjbaucom@eos.ncsu.edu

Originally, Lord British said that he was amazed at how much more he could do
with 640k of memory (previously he had not even used 128k machines) and that
was why he was doing the IBM version only, couldn't get it into 64k. I suppose
someone mentioned to him that the average Apple IIGS had a little under twice
that and that he could do even better with a Meg and a bit. A year ago Origin
threw down the gauntlet (not Gauntlet GS BTW) and asked if there was anyone
willing to program the GS version for no money up front, no guarantee of
return and only one in which to produce the finished version. I guess someone
took them up on it, judging by the rummours that an Apple II version (of some
sort) was in the works. Origin has officially quashed those rumours and there
will be no Ultima 6 for the Apple II (despite Programs Plus saying that it was
due out this summer, I called them about in March since they were advertising
it at the time).

My opinion is that the project was cancelled due to unforeseen bugs and the
probablity of not making very much money on the project. I seriously doubt
that it had anything to do with memory or 256 colour mode VGA, the graphics of
Ultima 6 are not particularly good on the IBM and the GS is more than capable
of equivalent quality with 16 colours. 


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