I'd have expected a reply like that on U'all.

Someone else played the Realm? I thought only I did.

No, what people here are worrying about is a change in the graphics, period. The current game is being scrapped and a new one put in its place.

Sends this thread back to "those other boards".

Same thing could have said the same thing about the original post.

So new graphics = new game?

Then I guess since they've changed a few graphics since their births, we've had quite a few new UO's since '97.

I'm not sure I agree that the game is being replaced at all. The only thing that is being replaced is the grapchics and user interface. The skills will all be the same. Combat will still be relatively the same (although more pleasing to the eye in my opinion). Players will all be the same. So, apart from the graphics and maybe the way certain things are done on the screen, what's being changed?

That's an ignorant response DiP. I'd have expected more.

The game has constantly grown and been refined but the 2D graphics, for the most part, have remained exactly the same since the game officially launched. They have looked the same since I was first hooked and began playing. I can go stand beside my favorite waterfall, overlooking Justice Isle, and my screen still looks exactly the same as it did the first time I visited there. Still as awesome, still as beautiful.

Game mechanics and "systems" are perhaps 5% of a graphical computer game. A graphical computer game is mostly, well, its graphics. The "game" is the pixels on the screen. Change those pixels to entirely something else, and you have changed the game.

So we have removed much of Ultima's heart & fiction (Lord British, Lord Blackthorn and other aspects being eliminated, the introduction of elves, et cetera). We have now removed the graphics from the graphical game. What will you be playing?

Well you see I've been under this impression that the atmosphere over here was a bit more mature and viewpoints & opinions could be expressed over here more freely without trolls and professional board warriors jumping out of the hedges...

Its getting ugly.

Ok, I'll see it your way and if they change what you've liked about the game it could be seen as a new game. But your not going to even give the new game a shot without even looking at it?

As far as the original point of this post goes, I must say that I have to agree with Terrance. Fiction is always good, and announcements are just fine and dandy, but I'd prefer that those two remain separated.

I am a strict roleplayer, and participating in this plot line has been something of a difficulty because 80% of it takes place on the forums and uo.com. Now, I will wait to see if this "Kingdom Reborn" concept is anything else beyond an expansion (as far as fictional relevance is concerned) but at this moment I don't think I like the idea of "tainting" the story line for the purpose of announcing anything that is considered out-of-character or does not have anything to do with the actual story of Britannia.

It's like my paladin has been pondering these vague Inu clues, fighting in a war against the Ophidian race, and delving into some ancient dungeon to help fight a terrible foe only to find: "Hey, check out our new product! Coming soon to a store near you: 2007!" I mean, does anyone understand what I'm talking about? Can anyone see the problem with this situation?

I do see how if that is the end of the Inu story line it would be complete crap, but I don't think it is the end, and it being said by Inu was just a means to let the player base know of what is going on, not the final page of the story.