Dorks and dragons: Cloth maps and action figures -- actually not that cool

JCtheBuilder · 3rd May 2008, 05:38 PM

1up had a story about video game packaging. Ultima actually gets a full paragraph. But not in a good way.

Quote:

Some games got just a little too dorky (you know, other than the nerdy war games that came stuffed with hex maps and battle plans). Though this isn't exclusive to a particular era in time, early MMOs like Ultima Online and EverQuest are particularly guilty, throwing in everything from painstakingly illustrated cloth maps to (in the case of UO expansion Lord Blackthorn's Revenge) unpainted action-figure molds. Other than acting as stop signs for potential romantic partners, these crazy props served no practical purpose (the maps often were notated in whatever crazy symbol-language their game world utilized). Remember the ill-fated Ultima IX: Ascension? In addition to conforming to the organization-defying box-design pitfalls outlined above, U9's gigantic container housed a cloth map, ye olde spellbook replicas, a small deck of tarot cards, and a certificate of authenticity signed by series creator Richard "Lord British" Garriott himself. If that sort of collection doesn't get you labeled "King of the Hardcore Geeks" by everyone you know, we're not sure what will.

Ouch.

Shrink Wrapped: A History of PC Game Packaging Trends, From Awesome To Awful from 1UP.com

I think the cloth map was fine, but those action figures for LBR were over the top. I never even took mine out of the box.

**merth** · 3rd May 2008, 05:49 PM

heck mine sat on the top of my desk for at least a year! looked at it everyday, the map on the other hand got stuck back in the box never to see the light of day again

**Adam** · 3rd May 2008, 05:52 PM

I only ever bought one copy of UO, which was (From memory) UO Renaissance
I think it came with a cloth map, I honestly don't remember.

And yes, the LBR toys were...yea

Calell · 3rd May 2008, 05:56 PM

They were trying to boost Todd McFarlane since he did a lot of the artwork for the new monsters and was big into action figures at the time thanks to Spawn doing so well for a while... *shrugs* Can't blame them for trying something different. And yeah, ours sat on top of my computer, which was in the corner of the dining room at the time. I think the cloth map was on the wall... hehe I'm proud of being a net-geek.

DarksieD · 3rd May 2008, 06:56 PM

still have my cloth map and action figure...and I've been married twice...thank you very much ..so apparently the stop signs not working for me

MalagAste · 3rd May 2008, 06:57 PM

Sad to say that I actually purchased some UO Action figures that hang on my wall to this day. The original one that I got in LBR I think bit the dust due to child abuse..... (kids killed it).... As for Maps...... We have gotten several... I don't have any cloth ones.. but most the ones we have gotten, that include The Tram/Fel maps with the lost lands..... Illshnar, Tokuno, and Malas I used to have pinned to my wall near the computer... made for quick reference when I was looking for somewhere in particular to get whatever I was dreaming of hunting that day.... At anyrate ... most of that stuff is unnecessary and I suppose that makes me a very bad UO Geek/nerd if that's the case.

Nok · 3rd May 2008, 09:17 PM

Actually for me, given the choice of a $30 USD digital download and a $60 USD box with a figurine, a cloth map, a manual, etc... I'll choose the box everytime.

**merth** · 3rd May 2008, 09:19 PM

/agreed

Warsong of LS · 3rd May 2008, 10:05 PM

I gotten plenty of use out of the maps over the years. Big deal, guess I am nerd then.

2 games similar playstyles - one gives me a map and other goodies, the other does not - for a similar price? Not hard to guess which one I am going to try.

I gotten a ton of use out of the included manual from the Second Age expansion. It still sits next to my computer, in case I need the handy maps of all the old cities.

**DiP** · 4th May 2008, 04:56 AM

Dorks!!!!

I'm a closet gamer IRL, no one knows I even play computer games except the people I play them with and if anyone asks what I have a computer for, I go with the only acceptable answer , like this guy...

YouTube - Infomercial - Prank Call

Kaelyn · 4th May 2008, 07:07 AM

Just shows how the game changed. From 'dorks' who wanted cloth maps to kids who wanted toys.

The figure from lbr was just a try to get more kids in and who knows, maybe it worked then. See what WOW merchandise there is and what profit they make, too bad ea never managed that.

**DiP** · 4th May 2008, 07:50 AM

True Kaelyn, and good point. Maybe UO tried to jump on the ship too quickly (didn't have the millions of followers WoW does) with an inferior product (the actual merchandise, not the franchise).

3rd May 2008, 05:49 PM	#2
merth "Can Set Custom Title" Join Date: Nov 2006 Shard: Set AoC Posts: 1,691 Thanks: 14 Thanked 48 Times in 39 Posts	Re: Dorks and dragons: Cloth maps and action figures -- actually not that cool heck mine sat on the top of my desk for at least a year! looked at it everyday, the map on the other hand got stuck back in the box never to see the light of day again

3rd May 2008, 05:52 PM	#3
Adam Lead Administrator Owner Join Date: Oct 1990 Posts: 5,273 Thanks: 36 Thanked 312 Times in 112 Posts	Re: Dorks and dragons: Cloth maps and action figures -- actually not that cool I only ever bought one copy of UO, which was (From memory) UO Renaissance I think it came with a cloth map, I honestly don't remember. And yes, the LBR toys were...yea __________________ Get your own personal forum Like these ones - Personal forum listing Bored @ work? Play in our arcade! Useful Tips on how to use UOForums Open your own blog

3rd May 2008, 05:56 PM	#4
Calell Red-Headed Stepchild Join Date: Dec 2006 Shard: Sonoma Posts: 863 Thanks: 49 Thanked 62 Times in 49 Posts	Re: Dorks and dragons: Cloth maps and action figures -- actually not that cool They were trying to boost Todd McFarlane since he did a lot of the artwork for the new monsters and was big into action figures at the time thanks to Spawn doing so well for a while... shrugs Can't blame them for trying something different. And yeah, ours sat on top of my computer, which was in the corner of the dining room at the time. I think the cloth map was on the wall... hehe I'm proud of being a net-geek. __________________ "When the first baby laughed for the first time, the laugh broke into a thousand pieces and they went skipping about and that was the beginning of faeries." ~Sir J.M. Barrie "Miss Brant, that's NOT the position I hired you for." Last edited by Calell; 3rd May 2008 at 05:56 PM.

3rd May 2008, 06:56 PM	#5
DarksieD The old guy from Atlantic Join Date: Dec 2006 Shard: Atlantic/Lake Austin Posts: 814 Thanks: 0 Thanked 5 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Dorks and dragons: Cloth maps and action figures -- actually not that cool still have my cloth map and action figure...and I've been married twice...thank you very much ..so apparently the stop signs not working for me __________________

3rd May 2008, 06:57 PM	#6
MalagAste Join Date: Jul 2007 Shard: Great Lakes Posts: 201 Thanks: 5 Thanked 25 Times in 19 Posts	Re: Dorks and dragons: Cloth maps and action figures -- actually not that cool Sad to say that I actually purchased some UO Action figures that hang on my wall to this day. The original one that I got in LBR I think bit the dust due to child abuse..... (kids killed it).... As for Maps...... We have gotten several... I don't have any cloth ones.. but most the ones we have gotten, that include The Tram/Fel maps with the lost lands..... Illshnar, Tokuno, and Malas I used to have pinned to my wall near the computer... made for quick reference when I was looking for somewhere in particular to get whatever I was dreaming of hunting that day.... At anyrate ... most of that stuff is unnecessary and I suppose that makes me a very bad UO Geek/nerd if that's the case. __________________

3rd May 2008, 09:17 PM	#7
Nok Publisher - GameXbar Join Date: Aug 2007 Shard: Baja Posts: 910 Thanks: 262 Thanked 82 Times in 47 Posts	Re: Dorks and dragons: Cloth maps and action figures -- actually not that cool Actually for me, given the choice of a $30 USD digital download and a $60 USD box with a figurine, a cloth map, a manual, etc... I'll choose the box everytime. __________________ GameXbar: DAoC - LOTRO - MMO - UO - WAR - WoW

3rd May 2008, 09:19 PM	#8
merth "Can Set Custom Title" Join Date: Nov 2006 Shard: Set AoC Posts: 1,691 Thanks: 14 Thanked 48 Times in 39 Posts	Re: Dorks and dragons: Cloth maps and action figures -- actually not that cool /agreed

3rd May 2008, 10:05 PM	#9
Warsong of LS "Can Set Custom Title" Join Date: Apr 2007 Shard: Lake Superior Posts: 1,000 Thanks: 57 Thanked 51 Times in 41 Posts	Re: Dorks and dragons: Cloth maps and action figures -- actually not that cool I gotten plenty of use out of the maps over the years. Big deal, guess I am nerd then. 2 games similar playstyles - one gives me a map and other goodies, the other does not - for a similar price? Not hard to guess which one I am going to try. I gotten a ton of use out of the included manual from the Second Age expansion. It still sits next to my computer, in case I need the handy maps of all the old cities. __________________ Hope is the first step on the road to disappointment

4th May 2008, 04:56 AM	#10
DiP Ronin Join Date: Jan 2006 Shard: Black Water Raiders, Azeroth Posts: 8,893 Thanks: 88 Thanked 54 Times in 45 Posts	Re: Dorks and dragons: Cloth maps and action figures -- actually not that cool Dorks!!!! I'm a closet gamer IRL, no one knows I even play computer games except the people I play them with and if anyone asks what I have a computer for, I go with the only acceptable answer , like this guy... YouTube - Infomercial - Prank Call __________________ Thanks again Maddux! Adri: women don't discuss men while in the bathroom, we sacrifice small animals and smoke tampons rolls eyes

4th May 2008, 07:07 AM	#11
Kaelyn Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 78 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: Dorks and dragons: Cloth maps and action figures -- actually not that cool Just shows how the game changed. From 'dorks' who wanted cloth maps to kids who wanted toys. The figure from lbr was just a try to get more kids in and who knows, maybe it worked then. See what WOW merchandise there is and what profit they make, too bad ea never managed that.

4th May 2008, 07:50 AM	#12
DiP Ronin Join Date: Jan 2006 Shard: Black Water Raiders, Azeroth Posts: 8,893 Thanks: 88 Thanked 54 Times in 45 Posts	Re: Dorks and dragons: Cloth maps and action figures -- actually not that cool True Kaelyn, and good point. Maybe UO tried to jump on the ship too quickly (didn't have the millions of followers WoW does) with an inferior product (the actual merchandise, not the franchise). __________________ Thanks again Maddux! Adri: women don't discuss men while in the bathroom, we sacrifice small animals and smoke tampons rolls eyes Last edited by DiP; 4th May 2008 at 07:50 AM.

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