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

JCtheBuilder · 03-05-2008, 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** · 03-05-2008, 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** · 03-05-2008, 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 · 03-05-2008, 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 · 03-05-2008, 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 · 03-05-2008, 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 · 03-05-2008, 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** · 03-05-2008, 09:19 PM

/agreed

Warsong of LS · 03-05-2008, 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** · 04-05-2008, 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 · 04-05-2008, 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** · 04-05-2008, 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).

03-05-2008, 05:49 PM	#2 (permalink)
merth "Can Set Custom Title" Join Date: Nov 2006 Shard: lake austin/BWR and Tranquility Posts: 1,629 Thanks: 9 Thanked 25 Times in 16 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

03-05-2008, 05:52 PM	#3 (permalink)
Adam Owner Join Date: Oct 1990 Posts: 5,641 Thanks: 12 Thanked 107 Times in 37 Posts My Mood:	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 __________________ Question: If you can't say anything nice should you really say nothing at all? Answer: If you weren't asked for your opinion then keep a lid on it. But if asked, be tactful as possible but be honest.

03-05-2008, 05:56 PM	#4 (permalink)
Calell Red-Headed Stepchild Join Date: Dec 2006 Shard: Sonoma Posts: 606 Thanks: 10 Thanked 15 Times in 13 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 Last edited by Calell; 03-05-2008 at 05:56 PM.

03-05-2008, 06:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
DarksieD The old guy from Atlantic Join Date: Dec 2006 Shard: Atlantic/Lake Austin Posts: 832 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 2 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 __________________

03-05-2008, 06:57 PM	#6 (permalink)
MalagAste Join Date: Jul 2007 Shard: Great Lakes Posts: 86 Thanks: 0 Thanked 9 Times in 6 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. __________________

03-05-2008, 09:17 PM	#7 (permalink)
Nok Publisher - GameXbar Join Date: Aug 2007 Shard: Baja Posts: 954 Thanks: 111 Thanked 55 Times in 27 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: DAoCXbar * - LOTROXbar * - UO Toolbar * - WoWXbar *

03-05-2008, 09:19 PM	#8 (permalink)
merth "Can Set Custom Title" Join Date: Nov 2006 Shard: lake austin/BWR and Tranquility Posts: 1,629 Thanks: 9 Thanked 25 Times in 16 Posts	Re: Dorks and dragons: Cloth maps and action figures -- actually not that cool /agreed

03-05-2008, 10:05 PM	#9 (permalink)
Warsong of LS Join Date: Apr 2007 Shard: Lake Superior Posts: 637 Thanks: 15 Thanked 6 Times in 6 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

04-05-2008, 04:56 AM	#10 (permalink)
DiP Ronin Join Date: Jan 2006 Shard: Black Water Raiders, Azeroth Posts: 9,323 Thanks: 37 Thanked 23 Times in 17 Posts My Mood:	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

04-05-2008, 07:07 AM	#11 (permalink)
Kaelyn Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 52 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 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.

04-05-2008, 07:50 AM	#12 (permalink)
DiP Ronin Join Date: Jan 2006 Shard: Black Water Raiders, Azeroth Posts: 9,323 Thanks: 37 Thanked 23 Times in 17 Posts My Mood:	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; 04-05-2008 at 07:50 AM.