Ultima Online: Third Dawn
Ultima Online: Third Dawn, released in 2001, introduced 3D models to the Ultima Online MMORPG franchise.
Gameplay[edit]
With Third Dawn came new lands in form of Ilshenar, though for the moment, it was for playing only and not for things like settling, which would change later on.
While the game still maintained its scaled, overhead view, the character animation was much smoother. To this day, entries in the Ultima Online series include an option to use either the 2D or 3D client. Even the original Ultima Online client uses a height map for terrain and three dimensions for item and character location within the world, but the newer "3D Client" introduced with Third Dawn included 3D models for all creatures. It still, however, maintains use of 2D artwork for objects. While it has an option to zoom in, it does not allow for any rotation due to the 2D artwork still incorporated, and the way the map is constructed. Some of the 2D artwork (especially walls and trees) were improved noticeably.
Included with the Game[edit]
Third Dawn came with the following items:
- Ultima Online: Third Dawn Reference Manual
- Ilshenar Map (on the back of the combined Britannia / Lost Lands map)
Trivia[edit]
- Initially, the new land mass, Ilshenar, was accessible only via the new 3D client. This was changed later on, since the restriction could not be held up.
- Magic being used to travel to Ilshenar also was restricted at the beginning, and likewise the restriction was removed because it was deemed unpopular.
- Special U.S. and Taiwanese editions of this expansion held a special cloth map of the combined Britannia/Lost Lands map. The Taiwanese special edition also had the Ilshenar map as a cloth map (which is unique).
- Interestingly, in Korea there also exists a version featuring the local pop group "Juju Club".The box contents are the same, apart from an extra JuJu Club volume 5 Audio CD, but the cover artwork features their singer (with the singer wearing an UO necklace and ear rings) on the front of the box. This was a promotion stunt by Electronic Arts.
Gallery[edit]
Back cover
Korean Juju Club cover
See also[edit]
This article includes material originally taken from Wikipedia article Ultima Online: Third Dawn. Wikipedia material is licensed under GNU Free Documentation License.