Interesting thread in the UO Events forum at Stratics, discussing the Ophidian alphabet mentioned in Ultima VII (probably Part II: Serpent Isle). The interest is raised because of books dropped by members of the Ophidian Army in the ongoing scenario.

Update:
It’s also being discussed in this Stratics thread

Terrance over at UOForums.com has won the raffle held by the Pacific Roleplaying Community. At $5 an entry, you had a chance at winning a piece of UO history that few have, and that routinely goes for $150 on e-bay. A great fundraiser (amazed that somebody parted with it), and a truly UO-oriented gift. Congrats.

The March 24, 2006 edition of the Five on Friday has been posted on UO.com. I though this bit from Darkscribe was very interesting, in regards to future scenarios: We had a long planning session this week that will result in a year long arc of events that will tell an epic story with long-lasting implications for Sosaria

1. Does the proficiency system have any impact on PvM, or is it just for PvP?

Wilki: It will be applied equally to both PvM and PvP. However, for weapon damage increase, there will be options to focus in both PvM and PvP WDI, or both if a player chooses to allocate their proficiencies in that manner. So far, everything else is equally applied to both, though that could change as we begin our testing phase.

2. I really enjoyed participating in the old scenarios, and more recently, the EM events. Are these ever going to return to UO?
(more…)

According to GameSpot, Raph “Designer Dragon” Koster has left Sony Online Entertainment:

Raph Koster, chief creative officer of Sony Online Entertainment, and one of the leaders behind the development of Star Wars Galaxies, has left the company, SOE reps confirmed today.

Based in Austin, Texas, Koster is widely considered an expert when it comes to the design of massively multiplayer online games. He often participates in event panels and maintains an active blog that focuses on the nuances of the genre.

Koster is leaving his post of six years “to pursue development interests outside of the company,” SOE said.

“Although his current interests take him into areas that don’t match SOE’s strategic goals, we wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors.”

Interesing news, but not surprising, after the New Game Enhancements of SWG. Long-time players will recall that he was Lead Designer on Ultima Online and
Ultima Online: The Second Age (T2A).

His personal website features many in-deph writings about Ultima Online.

GameSpot interviewed Raph Koster recently, and he had some interesting comments about where he thinks MMOs/MMORPGs are headed:

What is the MMO today? MMOs to me are a platform, and we deliver games in them. Right now, we usually do the one game per [world] but I don’t think it needs to be that way. I think a lot of the trend has been to deliver more games within one world. Crafting is now a viable sub-game and a lot of the games’ economics are coming in–like people playing arbitrage and all kinds of things like that. To me, MMOs are a platform. They’re a place that offers entertainment, where you can put games and community and socialization and all kinds of other things. That’s what the MMO is to me.

Raph “Designer Dragon” Koster was the Lead Designer on Ultima Online and Ultima Online: The Second Age (T2A).

Looks like Richard “Lord British” Garriott was inducted into the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame a few days ago. Only one person a year gets this honor, and ironically enough, the 2005 inductee was Trip Hawkins, founder of Electronic Arts, Inc.

Accompanied onstage by his mother, Ultima-creator Richard Garriott was inducted into the Academy Hall of Fame in a presentation made by his brother Robert Garriott.