Computer ports of Savage Empire
Worlds of Ultima: The Savage Empire was not widely ported to other systems. Unlike Ultima VI, which was translated to the Amiga, Atari ST, and Commodore 64, The Savage Empire was written only for the PC in the western video gaming market. Japan, however, later saw releases for the PC-9801 and X68000 systems (as well as a Super Famicom-port).
The IBM PC Original[edit]
The original IBM PC version of The Savage Empire was released in 1990, using a modified build of the Ultima VI engine. Legacy code and maps from Ultima VI can be found in the game's data files, such as the Realm of the Gargoyles – also see Oddities in Savage Empire.
Among its enhancements is the implementation of the Origin FX system; this allows for the appearance of in-game cutscenes, a feature of which Ultima VI is not capable. The improvement is even announced with a special introduction at the start. Conversations also take place in the larger main window, temporarily overlaying the view of the surroundings, allowing for a greater volume of text to be displayed at one time and eliminating the need to scroll down. Otherwise, the conversation system is the same, complete with red keywords. Additionally, sound effects are now routed through the sound card, rather than the PC speaker.
The game was retailed on either four 3.5" or two high density 5.25" floppy disks.
IBM PC – conversation
IBM PC – in-game
IBM PC – cutscene
IBM PC – using a spell
The PC-9801-Port[edit]
The PC-9801-port of The Savage Empire was published in 1992 by Pony Canyon, two years after the initial IBM PC release.
Graphics from the IBM PC version were upscaled to the PC-9801's maximum resolution of 640x400; however, with no artwork redrawn, only the game's text takes advantage of the system's greater fidelity. Additionally, the PC-9801's constraint of 16 simultaneously displayable colors results in a restricted palette as compared with the original. This was the same way of least resistance that Ultima VI was ported.
The PC-9801 port was retailed on either two 3.5" or two 5.25" floppy disks. Since the PC-98 has no hard disk, a special save disk has to be created.
PC-98 – conversation
PC-98 – introduction sequence
PC-98 – walking through the village
PC-98 – Avatar stats
The Sharp X68000-Port[edit]
In 1993, this port for the Sharp X68000 was published by Pony Canyon.
While the port does have a different amount of colors than the one for the PC-9801, the graphics themselves are the same scale-ups from the original. The one big graphical difference to the PC-9801 is the fact that the game does use an even higher resolution at 768x512. However, instead of using this to store more screen content, the port simply creates a bigger and more elaborate background border (that one ironically is in high-resolution).
The game retailed on two 5,25" floppy disks. Like with the PC-9801, a special save disk has to be created, as the game disks themselves do not allow for saving a game.
Sharp X68000 – introduction
Sharp X68000 – copy protection
Sharp X68000 – inventory screen
Sharp X68000 – Avatar stats
See Also[edit]
| Computer Ports | |
|---|---|
| Games | Ultima I ☥ Ultima II ☥ Ultima III ☥ Ultima IV ☥ Ultima V ☥ Ultima VI ☥ Savage Empire |