Ultima Complete

Minerva · Post by **Minerva** » Thu Aug 01, 2002 5:48 am

While posting in the first RPG thread, I suddenly remembered hearing about Ultima Complete in Japan. I didn't want to go off topic, so here is the new topic.

The Ultima Complete is, as the title suggests, the complete set for the whole Ultima 1-9 with add-ons etc., and is limited version. Now, if you've already played them, it's not interesting or worth buying it; however, this set is enhanced (or remade?) to play on Win98 and XP. Personally, I'm not keen to play whole series, but would like to play some of them, which the original is not playable in my Win 98 system now.

I haven't seen any information in UK, though I found it published in Japan 21 March 2002, according to Amazon Japan. As publisher is Electronic Arts (not a third party or something), I wonder if anyone know about English (preferably UK) version, not necessarily limited editions.

I really like to finish Ultima VI...

fable · Post by **fable** » Thu Aug 01, 2002 7:50 am

"Enhanced to play on Win 98?" That's weird. Ultima VIIa and b were programmed using a proprietary expanded memory system, and as a result, never could work with Windows' extended memory system that's now standard. Origin Systems repeatedly refused to upgrade it for modern computers. The compilation of Ultima VI, VII and VIII they issued a few years back still required DOS, or a horrible, convoluted workaround that involved setting up old drivers (which Origin didn't provide), a new AUTOEXEC.BAT, a new CONFIG.SYS, and changing memory settings. There's even a website, Exult (http://exult.sourceforge.net/), which has nearly completed a Windows-compatible version of those two games, along with their respective add-ons. They had Garriott's permission.

So who's doing this, EA? And will Ultima VIIa/b run on Windows 98, now?

Tamerlane · Post by **Tamerlane** » Thu Aug 01, 2002 7:53 am

I would gladly by it just to play the older versions. I have Ultima IX somewhere here collecting dust.

Like to see what improvements they are planning to make for Ultima IX in particular.

Ned Flanders · Post by **Ned Flanders** » Thu Aug 01, 2002 8:05 am

I played Ultima III and Ultima IV. I thought both games were quite good although I never completed either.

The combat system was the most tactical of its' time, though there were few CRPG, except for Wizard's Crown. Alas, I digress.

It's interesting stuff though Minerva. I'm a sucker for those collectible compilations as well. Is this really available for windows systems.

Minerva · Post by **Minerva** » Thu Aug 01, 2002 8:19 am

@fable: It's published (?) by Electric Art Square, the same as Ultima Online (the newest one) and Star Wars games in Japan. "Enhanced" maybe not the right word to choose, as I read it in Japanese and, as often is the case in Japan, it's got rather misty discriptions.

I know VI requires DOS, not mention earlier series. However, according to Amazon Japan and another magazine I saw, the OS requirement for this particular set is Win98/XP.

I'll try to check EA Japan and other Japanese sites.

fable · Post by **fable** » Thu Aug 01, 2002 9:00 am

Thanks. I suspect the Ultima VIIa/b games are DOS-only, too, but still require all the changes to memory management, sound and video cards, etc, that the original game used. Too bad, if true: but at least Exult looks like they'll be ready to issue version 1.0 of their Ultima VII for Windows, soon.

Minerva · Post by **Minerva** » Thu Aug 01, 2002 9:12 am

Just checked Japanese site.

It's in the official site of Electronic Arts Square (EA's Japanese corp.) EA Japan (Okay, you need module for Windows from Microsoft to read Japanese, not to mention you need to read in Japanese

) It's even in Gamespot Japan. I'm trying to find if there's news translated in English somewhere.

Minerva · Post by **Minerva** » Thu Aug 01, 2002 9:23 am

Originally posted by fable
Thanks. I suspect the Ultima VIIa/b games are DOS-only, too, but still require all the changes to memory management, sound and video cards, etc, that the original game used. Too bad, if true: but at least Exult looks like they'll be ready to issue version 1.0 of their Ultima VII for Windows, soon.

It says they added something called emulator? to make earlier games playable. Ultima VII (all of them) are English version (

) with Japanese manual, because they actually never be published in Japan to begin with.

fable · Post by **fable** » Thu Aug 01, 2002 10:57 am

Originally posted by Minerva

It says they added something called emulator? to make earlier games playable. Ultima VII (all of them) are English version ( ) with Japanese manual, because they actually never be published in Japan to begin with.

The emulator was in the Origin Systems boxed set of the earlier games (I-V), too, but it can't work on Ultima VIIa/b. The emulator only deals with DOS issues, mainly relating to running speed. Ultima VIIa/b has that whole memory problem. But now you have me really curious.

Minerva · Post by **Minerva** » Thu Aug 01, 2002 1:53 pm

It seems the first 6 games plays on Windows with emulator, VII (and its add-ons) in Dos mode, and rests are on Windows with a bits fixed (with online series--bug fixed).

I suspect that the reason why VII still in Dos is it's English version: Normally, when games published in Japanese, they have to be altered to fit Japanese Windows. AFAIK, it was not possible to use English program in Japanese version of Windows, especially Win 3.x: hence, Japanese Windows & Dos always had English Mode to switch over. While the XP doesn't seem to have this problem, I suspect Ultima VII was published too early for this, and due to the lack of original Ultima VII Japanese version, EA Japan had to use original Ultima VII English version. If they are to make emulator, it would be as big job as converting whole game into Japanese to begin with. There's no point for that now, if they didn't do when the other part of the world saw the game up and running...

Just a thought.

Kborom · Post by **Kborom** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 6:55 am

Just in case anyone still looks at this thread I am currently playing U7 through DOSBox for Windows. The only "messing around" is in the DOSBox config file to switch EMS from true to false (IIRC), and it just works!!

Great game, last played it over 10 years ago!

fable · Post by **fable** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 8:36 am

Yes, DOSbox will work, at least on some systems. Better still is the Exult system, which was finished last year, and two years after this thread was started.

I strongly recommend Exult for Ultima 7.

Meanwhile, Ultima V has been redone as an extremely large mod using Dungeon Siege. I haven't found my copy of DS yet to see what it's like.

Luis Antonio · Post by **Luis Antonio** » Thu Jan 19, 2006 12:11 pm

Moved the discussion about Ultima V remake [url="http://www.gamebanshee.com/forums/showthread.php?p=775279#post775279"]here[/url], due to the fact that it was going slightly off topic, as requested by Fable. Enjoy!

Kborom · Post by **Kborom** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 2:52 pm

[QUOTE=fable]Yes, DOSbox will work, at least on some systems. Better still is the Exult system, which was finished last year, and two years after this thread was started.

I strongly recommend Exult for Ultima 7.

Meanwhile, Ultima V has been redone as an extremely large mod using Dungeon Siege. I haven't found my copy of DS yet to see what it's like.[/QUOTE]

DOSbox worked OK, Exult is just brilliant! I had to start a new game but they have added menus and various options as well as removing the need to use DOS commands anywhere.

By the way, I have the Ultima Collection (UK) version and it comes with Moslo - which I would suggest is the emulator the original poster referred to.

fable · Post by **fable** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 3:15 pm

[QUOTE=Kborom]By the way, I have the Ultima Collection (UK) version and it comes with Moslo - which I would suggest is the emulator the original poster referred to.[/QUOTE]

I've no need of it, but for the earlier games, I find DOSBox has controls to slow or speed up things very adequately. Still, it's nice to know others are out there.

Yarr · Post by **Yarr** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 11:48 am

I recently aquired Ultima 1-8, plus Ultima Worlds I&II, Ultima Underworld I&II, and Akallabeth, and I'm looking forward to playing them after I'm finished with Arcanum

I just hope I can get them to work on my system.

fable · Post by **fable** » Tue Mar 14, 2006 12:04 pm

You might look for the Exult website, if the two parts of Ultima VII won't run. You load Exult first, then it loads Ultima VII. There are actually a few feature enhancements in it, without changing game content.

Yarr · Post by **Yarr** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 9:13 am

Alright, thanks, I'll try that when I get to them

I'm struggling with Ultima I at the moment, damn it's easy to get lost in those dungeons.
Anyone know a resource-site (with hints, tips, maybe maps etc) for Ultima I? (and/or other Ultima games)

fable · Post by **fable** » Wed Mar 22, 2006 12:21 pm

Check out GameFAQs, and go to their Ultima I FAQ page. They also have excellent FAQs for the other Ultimas, and I know one or two more for Ultima VII, if you need that.

Yarr · Post by **Yarr** » Thu Mar 23, 2006 5:26 pm

Thanks mate.

I'll just ask again when I get there (U VII), if needed