Overview
“We create worlds.” Richard Garriott—known as Lord British—built the Ultima series from teenage hobby project into genre-defining franchise. His games pioneered moral choice systems, open-world exploration, and immersive world-building. Origin Systems’ motto reflected his ambition to create not just games but living, breathing virtual worlds.
Fast facts
- Alias: Lord British.
- Company: Origin Systems.
- Series: Ultima.
- Later: Space tourist, Shroud of the Avatar.
Ultima evolution
| Entry | Year | Innovation |
|---|
| Akalabeth | 1979 | Proto-Ultima |
| Ultima I | 1981 | Open world RPG |
| Ultima III | 1983 | Party-based |
| Ultima IV | 1985 | Virtue system |
| Ultima VII | 1992 | Living world |
| Ultima Online | 1997 | MMO pioneer |
Ultima IV revolution
| Innovation | Impact |
|---|
| No villain | Become virtuous |
| Eight virtues | Moral framework |
| Self-improvement | Player growth |
| Influence | Redefined RPG goals |
Design philosophy
| Principle | Application |
|---|
| World simulation | Living, reactive environments |
| Moral choice | Actions have consequences |
| Immersion | Detailed world-building |
| Player agency | Freedom of approach |
Origin Systems
| Achievement | Impact |
|---|
| Founded | 1983 |
| Motto | ”We Create Worlds” |
| Output | Ultima, Wing Commander |
| Acquired | Electronic Arts (1992) |
Lord British in-game
| Role | Implementation |
|---|
| NPC | Appears in Ultima games |
| Killable | Famous assassination events |
| Tradition | Player-developer connection |
Space career
| Achievement | Date |
|---|
| Private astronaut | 2008 |
| ISS visit | 12 days |
| Cost | Self-funded |
Legacy
| Influence | Area |
|---|
| Open-world RPGs | Genre template |
| Virtual worlds | MMO foundations |
| Moral systems | Choice-based narrative |
| Designer as character | In-game presence |
See also