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aka: Oaks
Name: Jonathan LeCraft
Years Working on UO: June 2000 (?) - ????
Position(s): Designer, World Builder, Lead Designer, Art & Animation
Worked On:
- Ultima Online: Lord Blackthorn’s Revenge - Designer/World Builder, Art & Animation
- Ultima Online: Age of Shadows - Designer
- Ultima Online: Samurai Empire - Lead Designer
- Ultima Online: Mondain’s Legacy - Designer
- Ultima Online: 9th Anniversary - ?
- Ultima Online: Kingdom Reborn - ?

Interviews/Comments on UO
- MMORPG.com Interview - November 24, 2004 (about UO:SE)

MMORPG.COM: What was the reasoning behind choosing a permutation of feudal Japan as the setting for the newest expansion?
LeCraft: There were a variety of reasons, not the least of which were the hints of Japanese culture already present in the game, like the katana. Going back all the way to Ultima I, the Land of the Feudal Lords existed and eventually disappeared…

We also did focus tests with many groups of gamers, both Ultima Online players and not, to see what themes and professions resonated best for our next expansion. The Japanese theme was only one of several possible choices. Overwhelmingly, the Samurai was the most popular, and just felt right as an addition to medieval Europe.

MMORPG.COM: What do you see as the future of Ultima Online? Will Britannia see further game expansions?
LeCraft: We see Ultima Online continuing to introduce and enhance features that make it unique among games of its genre, while respecting the investment of our longstanding community. You will most definitely see expansions for Ultima Online in the future.

MMORPG.COM: There have been two sequels to Ultima Online that have been canceled in production over the past few years. Will players ever see an Ultima Online 2 (for lack of a better name)?
LeCraft: We’ve already begun work on the next major product for UO. You could say that Samurai Empire was just a warm up for the new team (we just moved from Texas to EA’s headquarters in California.) This is one of the finest teams I’ve had the pleasure of working with during my four and a half years on UO - I’m already looking forward to what I know we’ll accomplish.

- PC.GameZone.com Interview - November, 2004 (UO:SE)

The introduction of an Asian culture into UO was an idea taken from both our players and Ultima history. Our players, both current and potential, were very receptive to the idea of an Asian-themed expansion. It also worked in well with Ultima’s rich history. A continent known as “The Land of the Feudal Lords” was thought to be destroyed in Ultima I, now rediscovered with Samurai Empire and known as the Tokuno Islands.

- Comments from Oaks - UO.com - June 1, 2001

For exactly one year now, I’ve been working at Origin Systems as a designer for Ultima Online. As these are my first comments, I believe introductions are in order. My online name is Oaks, and, had I known how many times I’d be called Oats or Oak, there’s a good chance I may have picked something else. But I like it, gosh darn it! Anyhow… who’s seen the cool magic effects in Third Dawn? I designed almost all of them, as well as worked on the Ilshenar map, dungeon Khaldun, and many bug fixes, including the change to cutting bandages.

Age of Shadows - UO.com Interview

How did you get that call sign (Oaks)? Any particular meaning? It’s the name of an old AD&D character, a crazy axe-wielding giant-killing dwarf who loved ale, women, and more ale. Did I mention ale?

Can you describe your “big break” into the gaming industry? Those 10 years of text-based mudding and late-night programming finally paid off when I interviewed at Origin.

What is your favorite thing about UO? The depth; I love that I can still discover some little detail or nuance even after years of playing and designing Ultima Online.

What is your fondest memory in UO? I’d have to say the 20-hour marathon sessions I used to do when I first started playing. We’d run to the store, buy the least healthy junk food we could find, play until server restart, take a short break, and then continue until we couldn’t stay awake at the keyboard.

Where Are They Now?
- May still be working on UO

What Else Did They Do?

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