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From: oyster@uwmacc.UUCP (Vicious Oyster)
Newsgroups: net.games
Subject: Re: Ultima IV
Message-ID: <1810@uwmacc.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 16-Dec-85 12:38:04 EST
Article-I.D.: uwmacc.1810
Posted: Mon Dec 16 12:38:04 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 18-Dec-85 06:05:54 EST
References: <1061@bbnccv.UUCP> <18903950@uiucuxa>
Reply-To: oyster@uwmacc.UUCP (Vicious Oyster)
Organization: UWisconsin-Madison Academic Comp Center
Lines: 36

In article <18903950@uiucuxa> jm630@uiucuxa.CSO.UIUC.EDU writes:
>
>    It's better to start from the beginning because the games have progressed
>    through time and you'll appreciate them a lot more if you do start
>    at one.
>
>    I haven't played UlTIMA IV yet but I'm dyin'  to ....
> 
>          "I never met an ULTIMA I didn't like"
>
   I sent an E-mail response to the author of the original request, but thought
I'd take this opportunity to give my opinion about Sierra Online's version of
Ultima I.
   The game is unplayable.  Bugs (may be features, but the result is the same)
do things like take away your money and weapons when you die (making it next
to impossible to get more without dying several more times); resurrect you
in places where you can't do anything but wait until you starve to death
(e.g. small islands, middle of oceans); etc.   In order to get the full
effect of the strength of my opinion of the implementation, you'd have to
sit down at my computer and try to play with (or, more appropriately,
against) it for several hours.  The only reason the diskette is still in
one piece is that I was able to control my rage at being suckered into
buying the trash.   As a result of this, I have not and will not buy anything
else by Sierra Online.  Of course, if they see this and send me Ultima II
free of charge, and it's a good piece of software, I'll revise my opinion.
Until then, I'd rather use the $20 as kindling for my fireplace.
   THIS IS IMPORTANT===> According to reports, Ultima I is available on
some machines (I own an Atari) from some company other than Sierra Online.
If this is the case, ignore the comments above; the problems with the game
seem to be implementation specific.

 - Joel ({allegra,ihnp4,seismo}!uwvax!uwmacc!oyster)

Disclaimer: I have no connection with Sierra Online or any competing software
house, except as a concerned consumer.  Sierra Online and Ultima are most
probably trademarks.