ProfitPress Mega CDROM2 …eeware (MSDOS)(1992)(Eng)/ProfitPress-MegaCDROM2.B6I/MAGAZINE/MISC/NEWS0492.ZIP/ULTIMA7.TXT

Text File | 1992-05-01 | 7.7 KB | 148 lines

ORIGIN Releases ULTIMA VII: The Black Gate

The ultimate battle between good and evil begins worldwide Easter weekend
when Richard "Lord British" Garriott releases the long-awaited ULTIMA VII:
The Black Gate. Ultima VII is the latest installment in the award-winning
Ultima fantasy role-playing series and the first chapter of a new
trilogy.

As with previous Ultimas, the "engine" for Ultima VII has been entirely
redesigned and seasoned fans will recognize the changes immediately. For
the first time, game play is full-screen; conversations with non-player
characters and inventories pop up in a Windows-like style. Players with
sound boards can enjoy a fully-orchestrated original score and those with
Sound Blasters or 100% compatible cards will be able to take advantage of
another Ultima first -- digitized speech.

The game's biggest innovation is its simple and intuitive mouse only
interface. Players no longer have to memorize an array of keyboard
commands. "All you have to do is think of one mouse button as your hands
and the other as your feet, then you've mastered the interface," according
to Ultima creator Richard Garriott. "With those two buttons, you have
access to just about every command in the game."

While easy to play, Ultima VII is more technologically-advanced than ever.
In true scale, Britannia covers more than 100 square miles and holds
hundreds of objects the player can use, from weapons to sheep shears. The
environment is so real that clouds roll in before a storm and crickets
chirp in the woods at night. Dedicated players who manage to unlock the
secret of the Black Gate will be treated to one of the most fascinating
end-game sequences ever produced.

In ULTIMA VII The Black Gate, the Avatar is drawn back to Britannia by an
ominous message from another dimension. He finds a wave of gruesome
murders and unexplained social ills. At the center of it all: a malevolent
entity known as the Guardian who actually "speaks" to Britannians
telepathically. The Avatar must discover the Guardian's true intentions.
Does he want to be Britannia's protector...or its ruler?

System Requirements for ULTIMA VII The Black Gate are:

∙ Computer: IBM: 386SX, 386, 486, PS/2 50+ and
  other 100% compatible PC systems
∙ Memory: 2MB required (560 required free in main RAM)
∙ Graphics: VGA/MCGA (256 color)
∙ Sound: Ad Lib, Roland MT-32/LAPC-1, CMS Soundblaster
∙ Other: Hard disk required (game size is 21MB),
  mouse highly recommended, DOS 3.3 or higher
∙ Interface: Mouse or keyboard
∙ Suggested retail price: $79.95
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ULTIMA VII: The Black Gate Casts Contest Winners in Starring Roles

April 5, 1992 -- Austin, TX--Fantasy role-playing takes on a new dimension
with the upcoming release of ULTIMA VII The Black Gate from Austin-based
ORIGIN Systems. Thirteen contest winners--and ardent Ultima players will
actually appear as characters within the latest installment of the
top-selling series.

Players of the 1990 release of Ultima VI were urged to submit character
designs and pictures of themselves for consideration in Ultima VII. Ultima
creator and ORIGIN co-founder Richard Garriott says this may be a first in
entertainment software. "It is common for employees at a company to be
included in a game," Garriott says, "but never before, to my knowledge,
have any other fans been included to this degree. The winners will
actually be able to see and talk with their alter egos."

Garriott says thousands of entries came in from around the world. Some
winners were automatically chosen with a few, random, specially-marked
rune stones included in Ultima VI packages. The rest of the characters
were chosen by a "casting committee" comprised of Garriott and other
members of the Ultima VII design team staff.

ORIGIN develops and publishes state-of the-art entertainment software for
home computing and electronic game systems. See list for contest winners.
--------------------------------------------------------
Winners of ORIGIN's "You Can Star in Ultima VII Contest"

∙ Julie Shenton, a 25 year-old Administrative Assistant from Germantown,
Maryland, will play a tavern wench. She says the wench should be "very
flirtatious, with a sharp wit and famous throughout the land for her
kisses."

∙ B. David Gladstone, a 21 year-old musician and artist from Vista,
California, will be an artist in the guild. David says the first time he
played Ultima VI, he lost track of time and played throughout the night.
"I had to stop the next morning to go to work," he writes.

∙ Brad Neufeld is a 24 year-old self-described "hermit" from Fort McMurray
in Alberta, Canada. Since Brad says he prefers "living in the bush away
from people," he will play a hermit as well in Ultima VII.

∙ Ray Burton m and his dog, Regal, both won parts. Ray is a 23 year-old
student in Roseville, California, and Regal is a collie/shepherd mix. Ray
will play a trainer in Britannia.

∙ Lucy Sarvis of Sugarland, Texas, was thrilled to hear she would be
playing a tavern wench. Lucy is a housewife who took up computer gaming at
the age of 47. "Instead of having friends over to play cards and drink
coffee, I have them come to play computer games," she writes.

∙ Three year-old Kristy Chamberlain of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, obviously
had some help filling out her application, since her only occupation was
listed as "being cute." Kristy is typecast as a baby in Ultima
VII--possibly nobility.

∙ Mark Davis, a 33 year-old chemical stock room supervisor from Richmond,
Virginia, will play "Lord Heather," leader of a town. Mark is also an
adventurer who enjoys rock climbing and white-water rafting.

∙ Greg Cato is a 14 year-old student from Freehold, New Jersey, who already
knows three computer languages. Greg says another fantasy (as well as
starring in an Ultima) is to help program future games.

∙ Jeffrey Abrams is a 46 year-old doctor from White Plains, Maryland. He
writes that he's always been fascinated by the healing arts in earlier
ULTIMAs, so he will play a healer in Ultima VII.

∙ Joe Johnston is a 20 year-old college student from West Haven,
Connecticut. His fantasy is to be one of the most powerful people in
Britannia, so he will appear as a town leader.

∙ Rich Zella is a 19 year-old student from Romeo, Michigan. His Ultima
appetite is evident by the fact he finished Ultima VI in just eleven days
after more than a hundred hours of play. Rich plays a trainer in Ultima
VII.

∙ Jeff Niles is a 14 year-old student at Ball State University. His
character design was that of a "totally reformed thief who has purged his
deceitful ways," so Sir Jeff is a high court judge in Ultima VII.

∙ Kevin Stephens is a 14 year-old student from Boxborough, Massachusetts.
His not-so-distant future includes attaining the rank of Eagle Scout.
Kevin appears as Seara, a craftsman in Britannia.
--------------------------------------------------------
ORIGIN, 110 Wild Basin Rd, Suite 230, Austin, TX 78746
FAX [phone] Telephone [phone]

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