Want to play some classic RPGs? ScummVM is helping to keep many classics alive and multiple Ultima titles should now work nicely in it.
On May 21 the team blogged that Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar has been added, based on work from the xu4 project. With the ability to play as the original or as an Enhanced edition with VGA graphics. The ScummVM integration gives it some extras like multiple saves, keybind configuration and more.
They also announced Ultima VI was added, based on the Nuvie project. Again this has an Enhanced mode, although it works differently, giving you things like a full-screen map and other features. They said due to a "miscommunication", the Nuvie project may also continue as a standalone project.
Today, May 25, they also announced their existing Ultima VIII integration has advanced so far that Ultima VIII can now be played through to completion!
All three games can be tested in their daily builds. Read more on the official site. However keep in mind you need the original games which can be picked up easily on GOG:
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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The comments on this article are closed.
noderunner May 25, 2020
I was a bit too young to play all of the Ultima series, but I really enjoyed Ultima Online. I'm excited to try these classics at some point in the near future.
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Quoting: EikeAnybody knows why not V and VII? They only like even numbers? :D
Not sure about "V" but in the case of "VII" there is already Exult that runs that game pretty well and improves on the original in many ways.
http://exult.sourceforge.net
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Quoting: PatolaScummVM is an incredible engine. I am not usually enthusiastic for old games, but in this case, I have to say, Ultima VIII was an amazing RPG.I liked how they made the environment more interactive with all the climbing and jumping (at least after they got the controls sorted out), and the way you had to prepare spells from reagents wasn't too bad either. But compared to Ultima VII, it was a big disappointment. Outside of Tenebrae the world felt small and empty, and there wasn't much in the way of story or side quests. In fact, it was so short that I had to play it twice. And it didn't really get any better the second time round ...
So no, not going to revisit this one.
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Avehicle7887 May 25, 2020
I first played Ultima 8 on my 486 PC which came on a CD with multiple EA games at the time, didn't know much what I was doing as I was still a kid, maybe this will be a good time to revisit it 
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slaapliedje May 26, 2020
Quoting: PatolaScummVM is an incredible engine. I am not usually enthusiastic for old games, but in this case, I have to say, Ultima VIII was an amazing RPG.
Out of all of them you picked that as the amazing one? It was buggy and wasn't anything like any of the others. :P
Quoting: EikeAnybody knows why not V and VII? They only like even numbers? :D
Quoting: FeistQuoting: EikeAnybody knows why not V and VII? They only like even numbers? :D
Not sure about "V" but in the case of "VII" there is already Exult that runs that game pretty well and improves on the original in many ways.
http://exult.sourceforge.net
Well it's the same question about 1-3. Basically 4 had xu4 to a really great level, so ScummVM can just use that engine, but from what I have seen, xu4 hasn't been updated in a LONG time, so I think ScummVM is just pulling it under it's wing, and adding it as an 'also runs...' Now as you mention, VII already has the still developed Exult engine that is very excellent to run it. VI I think also has been stuck in it's development cycle for a long time (Nuvie, though they say they're still developing it as a standalone?). VIII, I wonder if the one that had been working on it (Pagan I think was the engine?) just joined ScummVM for the help?
Edit: Ultima VIII was called Pagan, the engine to remake it was called Pentagram! I still have the map somewhere...
Now if we can get 1-3 and IX...
I've actually been thinking of playing 1-5 on the original system (well okay I got an Apple IIGS to play the original Apple II versions. Finally figured out I need a GS patched version for 3-5 to work with the Mocking Board...)
This is awesome though, HUGE Ultima fan (to the point that I am working toward the goal of fixing the Atari 8bit version so Ultima 3 and 4 display with modern video upgrades correctly!)
Last edited by slaapliedje on 26 May 2020 at 5:12 am UTC
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slaapliedje May 26, 2020
Quoting: noderunnerI was a bit too young to play all of the Ultima series, but I really enjoyed Ultima Online. I'm excited to try these classics at some point in the near future.Hey, want to play Ultima Online? I mean if we got a group going on Linux, we'd be the only ones playing. I logged in there a few months ago and it was EMPTY. Monsters everywhere. It wasn't like it used to be where you'd walk near the bank in Britain and the whole game would just crawl.
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Good news.
Personally tho I've never been an Ultima fan... Somehow every time I tried to get into it (mostly via the excellent Exult) it's mechanics just didn't work for me. Kept getting bored with aimlessly shuffling through every possible item in the very first town ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ (I think the farthest I ever got was the second one, with a horse cart or something... never actually figured out if I did everything that was supposed in the first one - this game is... scant on feedback)
Personally tho I've never been an Ultima fan... Somehow every time I tried to get into it (mostly via the excellent Exult) it's mechanics just didn't work for me. Kept getting bored with aimlessly shuffling through every possible item in the very first town ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ (I think the farthest I ever got was the second one, with a horse cart or something... never actually figured out if I did everything that was supposed in the first one - this game is... scant on feedback)
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noderunner May 26, 2020
Quoting: slaapliedjeHey, want to play Ultima Online? I mean if we got a group going on Linux, we'd be the only ones playing. I logged in there a few months ago and it was EMPTY. Monsters everywhere. It wasn't like it used to be where you'd walk near the bank in Britain and the whole game would just crawl.Now days I play the Legends of Aria server called Legends of Ultima, check it out if you haven't already!
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