I find it odd, mostly because Questron I is nothing like any Ultima.
Well, take a look at the game mechanics and the scenario:
- same tile-size as any Apple-developed Ultima
- outdoor map with the special tiles like towns etc. which can be entered ("zoomed into")
- single-screen locations like Ultima I
- line-drawn dungeons like the first Ultimas...
- most commands are the same
- the game plays in more or less the same Tolkienesk fantasy world
To put it into other words:
The game mechanics are cloned, as was often the case with games software since a small quadratic ball hit a white line...
Quote:
That they settled means SSI thought there must have been something to it.
Indeed.
Imagine the game would've simply been called "Ultima II - The Quest for the Tome" - what would've been your thoughts?
Quote:
Questron I dates to 1984, Ultima III to 1983. Hmm looking over mobygames, I cant see any rpg thats tile based, it looks like Questron I was the first (that I can see).
I'm kinda surprised it took until 1984 and post Ultima III for there to be another tile based crpg!
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (Quality Software) is copyrighted 1981 (Atari version) and its tiles have about the same size - but the screens are static and not scrolling. Also the setting is different enough to get mixed up.
The same applies to its successors in spirit (by the same author, Stuart Smith): "The Return of Heracles" and "Adventure Construction Set".
Tunnels of Doom for the TI-99/4A from 1982 has a traditional fantasy setting and also tiles - but it's innovative enough when compared with Ultima II and (the later published) Ultima III: Party management and combat screens
I find it odd, mostly because Questron I is nothing like any Ultima.
Well, take a look at the game mechanics and the scenario:
- same tile-size as any Apple-developed Ultima
- outdoor map with the special tiles like towns etc. which can be entered ("zoomed into")
- single-screen locations like Ultima I
- line-drawn dungeons like the first Ultimas...
- most commands are the same
- the game plays in more or less the same Tolkienesk fantasy world
To put it into other words:
The game mechanics are cloned, as was often the case with games software since a small quadratic ball hit a white line...
That they settled means SSI thought there must have been something to it.
Indeed.
Imagine the game would've simply been called "Ultima II - The Quest for the Tome" - what would've been your thoughts?
Questron I dates to 1984, Ultima III to 1983. Hmm looking over mobygames, I cant see any rpg thats tile based, it looks like Questron I was the first (that I can see).
I'm kinda surprised it took until 1984 and post Ultima III for there to be another tile based crpg!
Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves (Quality Software) is copyrighted 1981 (Atari version) and its tiles have about the same size - but the screens are static and not scrolling. Also the setting is different enough to get mixed up.
The same applies to its successors in spirit (by the same author, Stuart Smith): "The Return of Heracles" and "Adventure Construction Set".
Tunnels of Doom for the TI-99/4A from 1982 has a traditional fantasy setting and also tiles - but it's innovative enough when compared with Ultima II and (the later published) Ultima III: Party management and combat screens
Mmm the days of look-and-feel lawsuits.
Exactly.
take care,
Calibrator
take care,
Calibrator