(summary: won't even launch on a new system)I bought a new computer this month with my Christmas present - Ultima IX - in mind.
U9 came out in November, but I had to wait until today to get the patched CD (previous versions all had game-stopping bugs). I installed the game, spent a few hours updating DirectX and the video drivers, and tweaked the options.ini file like the troubleshooting guide described, but the game will not launch on my system. My system of course meets all of the minimum and required specs for the game, but all I’m seeing so far of Ultima IX is a title image and it crashing to the desktop.
I searched Origin’s online help and discussion boards, and sent EA (Origin’s distributor) a tech support plea but am not at all optimistic. Maybe its just the cognitive dissonance setting in (I’m ~100 days into the 90 day return policy) but in a way I’m relieved. Not to have to devote a hundred hours or so of my time and energy to a game that has been almost universally panned for having a weak plot and poor performance.
Its also very anti-climatic. I played Ultima 4-5 in my RPG prime (middle school) and was so very much looking foreword to one last hurrah to Britannia as an adult. I guess for my return to gaming I’ll have to wait for Wizardry 8 - which will hopefully be bug free...
Re-playing Ultima 4 in the meantime,
- John
ps. it's available for a free download in 2 parts:
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Dungeon/1350/demos4.htm
http://www.moongates.com/u4/upgrade/Upgrade.htm