Aeonite writes "Dungeons and Desktops: The History of Computer Role-playing Games chronicles the rise and fall of the Computer RPG industry, from Akalabeth to Zelda and everything in between. While the bulk of the book is devoted to the genre's 'Golden Age' in the late '80s and early '90s, author Matt Barton explores the entire history of CRPGs, from their origins in the mid '70s to the very recent past. While not entirely comprehensive, the book covers not only the major players and award-winners, but also dozens of obscure 'also-ran' as well as notable games in related genres." Keep reading for the rest of Michael's review.

VonGuard writes "Earlier this year, I spoke to Mark Rizzo, the man who manages the people who run Sony's online game servers. Rizzo learned the ropes of MMO hosting back on Ultima Online, and we chatted about where the tough problems were then versus now. Rizzo compares the operation to a 24/7 scientific simulation, albeit with some sassier and more involved end-users. His favorite innovation since those early days? Rapidly provisioning and deploying Linux installations tailor-made to their purposes. Here's my article on Rizzo and his band of 50-some-odd sysadmin-cum-dungeon-masters, written for the new newspaper The Systems Management News."

Matt Barton writes "Gamasutra is running a feature on the venerable Apple II platform, which practically defined the early home computer industry and was home to many of the greatest games and developers of all time. The authors discuss the platform's lifespan and many iterations, struggles with illegal distribution, and legendary Apple II games such as Prince of Persia, John Madden Football, and Ultima. 'How big of a problem was piracy? Although several software authors claim that they stopped developing games because of rampant piracy and the subsequent loss of revenue, piracy did expose more computer owners to more games than they otherwise would have been -- this was at a time before ubiquitous demos made it easier to "try before you buy." Another benefit of this piracy is that much of the software archived today at online repositories are the cracked versions.'"

Wired's Game|Life blog, and the site of gaming academic Henry Jenkins, discuss sandbox games and the impact of Assassin's Creed . The relevant discussion on Jenkins' site is actually written by GAMBIT lab supervisor Matthew Weise. He argues that open-ended worlds, by their very nature, require some restraints on the player's avatar. Otherwise, the game's meaning is diluted. Likewise, if you're going for a 'sandbox' world, allow that limited character unlimited opportunities. "When I think of open-ended world design I tend to think of worlds that don't involve such limitations. Call it the result of a childhood playing Ultima. I think of worlds in which, if you need to kill the dragon in the cave and you happen to have a drill, there's no reason you can't just drill straight down, bypassing all his little traps, and kill the bastard. That's open-ended to me. That's sandbox. The pleasure of such incredible agency is much more satisfying than any forced narrative structure."

simoniker writes "Areae president Raph Koster is perhaps best known as a designer of Ultima Online and the previous CCO of Sony Online Entertainment, and in an in-depth Gamasutra interview, he discusses his views on 'game grammar', the uniting of MMOs and online worlds, and the software patent problem. In particular, he's been talking about the 'barbarians at the gates' for hardcore MMO makers: 'Even the creation of the MUD in the first place was that. It was the Internet-based reaction to the stuff that had existed on the microcomputers and the Plato network and all of that. All of a sudden, "Oh, wait! We can put a text MUD on Arpanet!" And it was like, "Whoa!" and it spread like wildfire, and all of a sudden, all of that other stuff went away. So it's really possible for that stuff to be happening now with microtransactions, with portals versus traditional publishers, with digital distribution publishers versus traditional publishers, and with MMOs from MTV versus MMOs from Sony or EA or NCSoft.'"

The well known EA-run MMORPG Ultima Online is now celebrating its ten year anniversary. At the time, Gamespot referred to the game as a 'buggy, unplayable mess.' Here's to another ten years, UO. 'In recognition of the game's 10 year anniversary, EA has announced the "Return to Britannia" initiative. Past subscribers of the game can download the free Kingdom Reborn update through Ultima Online's Web site, and then play the game gratis until October 9. EA will also be hosting a number of events during this period, including a monster hunt where players can win loot such as an ankh pendant necklace, a map of Brittania, an Ultima Online commemorative sculpture, and a virtue armor set.' I think it's also worth pointing out that UO isn't the first big graphical game to hit ten years; that would be Meridian 59.

The creator of Ultima Online and Tabula Rasa and well-known designer Richard Garriot spoke at the Develop Conference in Brighton, England on the subjects of stagnating MMOG design and the NCSoft deal with Sony. His commentary on Massive game design is fairly direct: "If you look at the vast majority of MMOs that has come out since Ultima Online and Everquest, you can look at the features and they are almost exactly the same. Even though the graphics have got better and the interface is much slicker, fundamentally the gameplay is unchanged. Worse yet, there are many things that have become standard that I look at and even though they are powerful enough to encourage the behavior of people obsessed with playing these games, I don't think they are the right way of building the future."

In the world of Massively Multiplayer Online Games, guilds live and die like generations of fruit flies. In the time it takes you to read this review, another group of friends will probably have decided to go their separate ways. Due to what is commonly referred to as 'drama', and the nature of the currently most popular online game, the modern MMOG guild tends to be a short-lived affair. A book published about a single guild, then, has to be discussing a singular organization. And indeed, The Syndicate has lasted for over a decade. Well known in both Ultima Online and EverQuest, and going strong into the days of World of Warcraft, they've had numerous public successes and some notorious failures. Their tale is a strange, and utterly personal view of the history of Massive games. It's also highly self-aggrandizing and probably contentious, but that's to be expected. Legend of the Syndicate is a publication worth reading by anyone interested in the history of the Massive genre, or the future of social networks online.

Last week we asked you for questions to pass on to Turbine CEO Jeff Anderson, about their recently released Lord of the Rings Online Massively Multiplayer Online Game. There were a ton of great queries, and unfortunately Mr. Anderson had only a limited time to spare for us. Over the phone we still managed to discuss a wide variety of topics, including: their use of the license, lessons learned from the Asheron games, World of Warcraft impact on the genre, what Tolkien would have thought, and whether or not they're working on a Linux/Mac client. Make sure to give them a look, and many thanks again to Mr. Anderson for taking the time to speak with us.

Matt Barton writes "I've just posted my third (and final) installment on CRPG history at GamaSutra: The Platinum and Modern Ages. This article covers the many classics released between 1994 and 2004, including Fallout, Planescape: Torment, Ultima Underworld, and of course Baldur's Gate, Diablo, and The Elder Scrolls. It also discusses why WoW and other MMORPGs aren't descended from these CRPGs (but rather MUDs). The Platinum Age produced the finest CRPGs ever made — but the future of the stand-alone, single-player CRPG looks grim."

This video may be a little boring to some of you, but for us at Schwartz Extreme Performance, it's always great to see the cars we build on the road.LS7 twin...

Quick trip round Rockingham in the UK in an Ultima Can-Am ... andresc586, I didn't hear any turbo what I heard was a GM motor. Anyway, that car is insane. in the good way

from Ultima Sports Ltd) Ultima is the UK's leading self-assembly supercar manufacturer and, for the first time ever, its sensational Can-Am is available in component ...

It's one of the fastest cars in the world and you can make it in your shed ... ULTIMA CAN AM. It's one of the fastest cars in the world and you can make it in your shed

James Hall casts his eye over the latest offering from Ultima: At first glance, the new Ultima Can Am looks very similar to the current Spyder.

Officially sanctioned Ultima Sports Can-Am (Canam) car build and information site ... CJ's Ultima Can-Am Site. The No.1 Resource for Ultima Builders and enthusiasts

K2 Motorsports Headers on Ultima Can-AM - 1 min - Apr 15, 2006 K2 Motorsports - http://mysite.verizon.net/vze7vhc0/ () Rate: K2 Motorsports custom headers, exhaust, and intake ...

A customer in Eastern Europe wanted the capability to outrun a Bugatti Veyron at track days with a street legal package.

Before you can Post: "Ultima Can-Am" ... Share your stuff with hundreds of millions of users (just like you!) ...

Refined Reflections offer a fully mobile valeting and detailing service. Offering menu and fully custom based services, using only the best products and methods available.

This video may be a little boring to some of you, but for us at Schwartz Extreme Performance, it's always great to see the cars we build on the road.LS7 twin...

Quick trip round Rockingham in the UK in an Ultima Can-Am ... andresc586, I didn't hear any turbo what I heard was a GM motor. Anyway, that car is insane. in the good way

from Ultima Sports Ltd) Ultima is the UK's leading self-assembly supercar manufacturer and, for the first time ever, its sensational Can-Am is available in component ...

It's one of the fastest cars in the world and you can make it in your shed ... ULTIMA CAN AM. It's one of the fastest cars in the world and you can make it in your shed

James Hall casts his eye over the latest offering from Ultima: At first glance, the new Ultima Can Am looks very similar to the current Spyder.

Officially sanctioned Ultima Sports Can-Am (Canam) car build and information site ... CJ's Ultima Can-Am Site. The No.1 Resource for Ultima Builders and enthusiasts

K2 Motorsports Headers on Ultima Can-AM - 1 min - Apr 15, 2006 K2 Motorsports - http://mysite.verizon.net/vze7vhc0/ () Rate: K2 Motorsports custom headers, exhaust, and intake ...

A customer in Eastern Europe wanted the capability to outrun a Bugatti Veyron at track days with a street legal package.

Before you can Post: "Ultima Can-Am" ... Share your stuff with hundreds of millions of users (just like you!) ...

Refined Reflections offer a fully mobile valeting and detailing service. Offering menu and fully custom based services, using only the best products and methods available.