Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar
Developer(s)	Origin Systems
Publisher(s)	Origin Systems
Designer(s)	Richard Garriott
Engine	Ultima IV Engine
Release date(s)	September 16, 1985
Genre(s)	RPG
Mode(s)	Single player
Platform(s)	Amiga, Apple II, Atari, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, FM Towns, MSX, NES, Sega Master System
Media	Floppy disk

Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar, first released in 1985 (USCO# PA-317-504) for the Apple II, is the fourth in the series of Ultima computer role-playing games. It is the first in the "Age of Enlightenment" trilogy, shifting the series from the hack and slash, dungeon crawl gameplay of its "Age of Darkness" predecessors towards an ethically-nuanced, story-driven approach. In 1996 Computer Gaming World named Ultima IV as #2 on its Best Games of All Time list on the PC. Garriott himself considers this game, along with Ultima VII, to be his favorite game from the Ultima series.^[1] Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1056x1504, 267 KB) Summary box shot for Ultima IV Licensing This image is cover art for a computer or video game, and the copyright for it is most likely owned by either the games publisher or developer. ... A video game developer is a software developer (a business or an individual) that creates video games. ... Origin Systems, Inc. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Origin Systems, Inc. ... A game designer is a person who designs games. ... Richard Garriott in Lord British attire Richard Allen Garriott (born July 4, 1961; nickname Lord British) is a significant figure in the video game industry. ... A game engine is the core software component of a computer video game or other interactive application with real-time graphics. ... is the 259th day of the year (260th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... Video games are categorized into genres based on their gameplay. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... In computer games and video games, single-player refers to the variant of a particular game where input from only one player is expected throughout the course of the gaming session. ... This article is about the family of home computers. ... The Apple II was one of the most popular personal computers of the 1980s. ... This article is about a corporate game company. ... The Atari ST is a home/personal computer that was commercially popular from 1985 to the early 1990s. ... C-64 redirects here. ... This article is about the family of closely related operating systems for the IBM PC compatible platform. ... The FM TOWNS (also spelled FM-TOWNS, FM Towns and FM-Towns) system is a Japanese PC variant, built by Fujitsu from February 1989 to Summer 1997. ... Sony MSX 1, Model HitBit-10-P MSX was the name of a standardized home computer architecture in the 1980s. ... “NES” redirects here. ... The Sega Master System ) or SMS for short (1986 - 2000), is an 8-bit cartridge-based video game console that was manufactured by Sega. ... A floppy disk is a data storage device that is composed of a disk of thin, flexible (floppy) magnetic storage medium encased in a square or rectangular plastic shell. ... The United States Copyright Office, a part of the Library of Congress, is the official U.S. government body that maintains records of copyright registration in the United States. ... The Apple II was one of the most popular personal computers of the 1980s. ... It has been suggested that Mongbat (Ultima) be merged into this article or section. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... HACK/slash is the name of a graphic novel from Devils Due Publishing. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Computer Gaming World Computer Gaming World (CGW) is the oldest video game publication still in continuous circulation. ... The Avatar enters Britannia Ultima VII is the seventh of the Ultima series of computer role-playing games. ...

Overview

Ultima IV on the Commodore 64

Ultima IV is different among RPGs in that the game's story does not center on asking a player to overcome a tangible ultimate evil. Ultima 4 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Ultima 4 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... C-64 redirects here. ...

After the defeat of each of the members of the triad of evil in the previous three Ultima games, the world of Sosaria underwent some radical changes in geography: three quarters of the world disappeared, continents rose and sunk, new cities were built to replace the ones that were lost. Eventually the world, now unified in Lord British's rule, was renamed Britannia. Lord British felt the people were unhappy and was concerned with their spiritual well-being, so he proclaimed the Quest of the Avatar: He needed someone to step forth and become the shining example for others to follow. Sosaria is the fictional world in which the majority of the Ultima series of computer games are set. ... A screenshot of Lord British in his castle from Ultima III. Lord Cantabrigian British is the name of the ruler of Britannia, kingdom of the fictional world of Sosaria, created by Richard Garriott for his computer game series Ultima. ... Britannia is a fictitious land in the Ultima universe. ...

The object of the game is to focus on the main character's development in virtuous life, and become a spiritual leader and an example to the people of the world of Britannia. The game follows the protagonist's struggle to understand and exercise the Eight Virtues. After proving his or her understanding in each of the virtues, locating several artifacts and finally descending into the dungeon called the Stygian Abyss to gain access to the Codex of Ultimate Wisdom, the protagonist becomes an Avatar. Personification of virtue (Greek ἀρετή) in Celsus Library in Ephesos, Turkey Virtue (Latin virtus; Greek ) is moral excellence of a person. ... The Ultima series of computer role-playing games featured a Virtue system that the player was required to follow in the game as the Avatar. ... While the games avoid overt references to religion, the system of Virtues is loosely based upon various aspects of Christianity and Buddhism, and the Avatar certainly shows some traits of a messiah. ...

Conversely, actions in the game could remove a character's gained virtures, distancing them from the construction of truth, love, courage and the greater axiom of infinity -- all required to complete the game. Though Avatarhood is not exclusive to one chosen person, the hero remains the only known Avatar throughout the later games, and as time passes he is increasingly regarded as a myth.

Background

Richard Garriott has stated that he began writing this game when he realized (partly from letters of enraged parents) that in the earlier games immoral actions like stealing and murder of peaceful citizens had been necessary or at least very useful actions in order to win the game, and that such features might be objectionable. Furthermore, organizations like BADD (Bothered About Dungeons and Dragons) were drawing attention to the supposedly satanic content in role-playing games in general, and the demonic nature of the antagonist of Ultima III was a good target. Richard Garriott in Lord British attire Richard Allen Garriott (born July 4, 1961; nickname Lord British) is a significant figure in the video game industry. ... Bothered About Dungeons & Dragons (BADD) was a one-person advocacy group dedicated to the elimination of Dungeons and Dragons and other role playing games. ...

The concept of virtues was inspired by a TV show about the Avatars of Hindu mythology, which described the avatars as having to master sixteen different virtues. The eight virtues used in the game were derived from combinations of truth, love, and courage, a set of motivators Garriott found worked best, and also found in works like The Wizard of Oz. The game took two years to develop, twice that of both Ultima II and Ultima III. Garriott describe the playtesting as "slightly rushed" to make the Christmas season; Garriott was the only one to finish playing through the game by the time it went out for publishing.^[2] The ten avatars of Vishnu, copyright BBT In Hindu philosophy, an avatar (also spelt as avatara) (Sanskrit: , ), most commonly refers to the incarnation (bodily manifestation) of a higher being (deva), or the Supreme Being (God) onto planet Earth. ... This article discusses the adherents of Hinduism. ... The Wizard of Oz may refer to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, 1900 book by L. Frank Baum, or any of its numerous adaptations, the most famous being the 1939 film version starring Judy Garland. ... Ultima II: The Revenge of the Enchantress (1982) is the second computer role-playing game in the Ultima series. ... Ultima III: Exodus, the third game in the Ultima series. ...

Garriot is still involved in the game-making world as of 2007, with Tabula Rasa. 2007 is a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Tabula Rasa is an MMORPG from some of the creators of Ultima Online, including Lord British, Richard Garriott. ...

Gameplay and features

Instead of the statistics-oriented character creation process typical of early computer role-playing games, in Ultima 4, players choose their character type by answering a series of ethical dilemmas. These situations do not have one correct resolution; rather, players must rank the eight virtues and whichever stands as their highest priority determines the type of character they will play. For example, choosing Compassion makes you a Bard, Honor a Paladin, Sacrifice a Tinker, and so on. In the final Fantasy games a Bard uses music as weapon. ... Paladin is a character class in Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) and later role-playing games, many of which were influenced by D&D. The class is loosely based on the paladins of medieval romance. ...

Technically, the game was very similar to Ultima III, although much larger. This was the first Ultima game to feature a real conversation system--whereas NPCs in the earlier parts would only give one canned answer when talked to, now players could interact with them by specifying a subject of conversation, the subject determined either by a standard set of questions (name, job, health) or by information gleaned from the previous answers, or from other characters. Many sub-quests were arranged around this. Ultima III: Exodus, the third game in the Ultima series. ... An NPC from the video game The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. ...

Another addition were dungeon rooms, uniquely designed combat areas in the dungeons which supplemented the standard combat against randomly appearing enemies.

The game is also notable for setting the world and tone for the games that followed in the series. After Ultima IV, the storylines became more and more linked, with many details from earlier games referred to in newer games, often in a self-explanatory way so that the player doesn't necessarily need to understand everything in the previous games, even though it helps. This is in contrast to earlier Ultima games, and many other examples in other series, which tended to favor "new antagonist is the son/daughter of the previous one" type of weak relations.

Also, the world of Britannia was first introduced here in full, and the world map in the series did not greatly change any more from this point onward.

NES version

Ultima IV on the NES

Like Ultima III, Ultima IV was ported to NES by FCI and Pony Canyon. This version, titled Ultima: Quest of the Avatar, was released in 1990. Image File history File links screenshot Nintendo Entertainment System Ultima_4 by me This is a screenshot of a copyrighted computer game or video game. ... Image File history File links screenshot Nintendo Entertainment System Ultima_4 by me This is a screenshot of a copyrighted computer game or video game. ... “NES” redirects here. ... Ultima III: Exodus, the third game in the Ultima series. ... “NES” redirects here. ... FCI is a three-letter abbreviation that can refer to: Federal Correctional Institute, Bureau of Prisons USA Fujisankei Communications International, the American equivalent of the Fujisankei Communications Group in Japan Fédération Cynologique Internationale, a dog breed standards organization Fuel-coolant interaction Framatome Connectors International Far Cry Instincts This... Pony Canyon is a large Japanese company, established on October 1st 1966, which publishes music, DVD and VHS videos, movies and video games. ...

The overall game had not been changed much, though the approach was very similar to other console RPGs of the time, particularly Dragon Quest and NES Final Fantasy games.

Graphics had been completely redone, as was the music; the overall graphical and musical tone was close to the feel of the Japanese games. The dialogue options were quite limited once again. Another change is that you cannot have all seven recruitable characters in your party at the same time, as you could in other versions. Any character over the four you could have would stay at a hostel at Castle Britannia, requiring you to return there to change characters.

However, the combat system was fairly close to the computer games, with the additional option to use automated combat.

Sega Master System version

Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar for the Master System is the first, and so far the only Ultima to be ported to a Sega console. It was released in 1990 and was both ported and published by Sega. The port features completely re-drawn graphics, a simpler conversation system and, unlike the NES version, uses the regular Ultima IV background music. Although the Master System is easily capable of displaying more complex first-person scenes than those found in Ultima IV (see Phantasy Star), this version's dungeons are viewed from a top-down perspective, much like those of Ultima VI, which was released the same year. It seems that most of these cartridges were produced for the European market, as they contain a multi-lingual (English, French and German) manual, both books from the original version as well as a folded paper map. The books were of different colour for each of the three editions (blue for the UK version), fully translated and did not fit inside the game's box. The Sega Master System ) or SMS for short (1986 - 2000), is an 8-bit cartridge-based video game console that was manufactured by Sega. ... This article is about the video game company. ... Phantasy Star game. ...

Ultima IV on modern operating systems

xu4 is a game engine recreation for Ultima IV that is available for Dreamcast, Linux, Mac OS X, RISC OS and Windows. This requires original Ultima IV for DOS files to run (Which are legally downloadable for free from the internet), and maintains compatibility with the original DOS version (you can use save files from the original DOS game on xu4, and vice versa). Game engine recreations are engine interpreters for video games that replace the original engine binary that came with the original game. ... The Dreamcast , code-named White Belt, Black Belt, Dural, Dricas, Vortex, Katana, Shark and Guppy during development) is Segas final video game console and the successor to the Sega Saturn. ... This article is about operating systems that use the Linux kernel. ... Mac OS X (IPA: ) is a line of graphical operating systems developed, marketed, and sold by Apple Inc. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... “Windows” redirects here. ...

There are two other editions currently available, using the Neverwinter Nights engine. The first is Avatarship - Ultima 4. The second is Ultima Reborn See The Ultima Reconstruction page for more details. This article is about the 2002 computer role-playing game. ...

References

• Kasavin, Greg & Soete, Tim (1998). "The Ultima Legacy". GameSpot.

1. ^ Garriott, Richard. Tabula Rasa Team Bios: Richard Garriott. NCSoft. Retrieved on 2006-09-19.
2. ^ "Inside Ultima IV", Computer Gaming World: 18-21, March 1986

GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 262nd day of the year (263rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Computer Gaming World Computer Gaming World (CGW) is the oldest video game publication still in continuous circulation. ...

External links

• Ultima IV: Quest of the Avatar at MobyGames