{{Short description|2013 video game}} {{Infobox video game |title = Ultima Forever: Quest for the Avatar |image = Ultima-Forever-Quest-for-the-Avatar.jpg |developer = Mythic Entertainment<br />Escalation Studios |publisher = Electronic Arts |release = August 7, 2013 |genre = Action role-playing game |modes = Multiplayer |platforms = iOS }} '''''Ultima Forever: Quest for the Avatar''''' was a free-to-play, cross-platform, online, action role-playing game developed by Mythic Entertainment and Escalation Studios and published by Electronic Arts. It was formally a part of the ''Ultima'' series. Information was previously released by BioWare in mid-2011 and more information was released on July 11, 2011. It was officially announced at San Diego Comic-Con on July 12, 2012 and it was fully released for iOS on August 7, 2013.<ref name=ultimacodex_1 /><ref>{{cite web|title='Ultima Forever: Quest for the Avatar' Now Available in the US App Store|url=http://toucharcade.com/2013/08/08/ultima-forever-quest-for-the-avatar-now-available/|access-date=August 7, 2013}}</ref> The game was shut down on August 29, 2014.<ref name="polygon_1"/>
==Gameplay== {{quote box|width=250px|quote=We took Ultima IV, with all of its ethical moral choice, which was innovative for its time, and updated it for the next generation.|source= —Kate Flack<ref name=theverge_1 />}}
The game was based upon ''Ultima IV'', but was considered by Mythic to be an "action role-playing game". ''Ultima Forever'' included both online play with a group, as well as a single-player mode. Unlike Ultima IV, there was a Lady British character instead of Lord British. This was due to Richard Garriott retaining the trademark rights after he left Electronic Arts. Mythic emphasized that the Virtues from the Ultima series would play an important part.
''Ultima Forever'' featured a top-down isometric point of view, with "hand-painted backgrounds and 3D characters."<ref name=kotaku_1 />
==Development== On March 31, 2011, an image of a presentation given by Paul Barnett was leaked.<ref name=ultimacodex_2/> The official Twitter account became active on April 4, 2011, and was discovered by the ''Ultima'' community at the end of May 2011.<ref name=ultimaforevertweet_1 /><ref name=ultimalegend_1 /> The official website was registered on March 17, 2010<ref name=reddit_1 /> and went live on June 2, 2011.<ref name=ultimacodex_3 />
On June 11, 2012, Mythic Entertainment General Manager Eugene Evans revealed at the Develop Conference that a new free-to-play online was going to be announced on July 12, 2012.<ref name=computerandvideogames_1 /> Later that day, the official Facebook page became active, and the official website was updated to a new design, with a brief description of the game, and a link for Beta applicants.<ref name=ultimacodex_4 />
Paul Barnett revealed on Twitter that the game would be announced at San Diego Comic-Con.<ref name=barnetttweet_1 />
==Reception==
Reception for the game ranged from mixed to negative. Most reviewers criticized the microtransaction system used.
''Forbes'' gave it a 6 out of 10 rating.<ref>[https://www.forbes.com/sites/games/2013/08/13/ultima-forever-review-the-folly-of-lady-british/+&cd=4&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us Forbes.com]{{dead link|date=January 2022|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
''Touch Arcade'' gave it three out of five stars.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://toucharcade.com/2013/08/12/ultima-forever-review-party-up-in-this-free-mmorpg/|title='Ultima Forever' Review - Party Up in This Free MMORPG|date=12 August 2013}}</ref>
''Eurogamer'' gave it a rating of 2 out of 10, calling it 'a game built for idiots, a ''Cow Clicker'' with a beard'.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-09-05-ultima-forever-review|title = Ultima Forever review| newspaper=Eurogamer.net |date = 5 September 2013}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|2|refs= <ref name=ultimacodex_1>{{cite web |url=http://forever.ultimacodex.com/2012/07/12/bioware-mythic-announces-ultima-forever-quest-for-the-avatar/ |title=BioWare Mythic Announces Ultima Forever: Quest for the Avatar |author=WtF Dragon |date=July 12, 2012 |publisher=ultimacodex.com |access-date=July 19, 2012}}</ref>
<ref name="polygon_1">{{cite web|url=http://www.polygon.com/2014/8/1/5958421/ultima-forever-ea-mythic-ios|title=Ultima Forever comes to an end months after closure of EA Mythic|last=Gera|first=Emily|date=1 August 2014|work=Polygon|publisher=Vox Media|access-date=1 August 2014}}</ref>
<ref name=theverge_1>{{cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/gaming/2012/7/19/3168750/ultima-forever-will-be-very-respectful-of-the-original-says-bioware |title='Ultima Forever' will be 'very respectful of the original' says BioWare |author=McWhertor, Michael |date=July 19, 2012 |publisher=theverge.com |access-date=July 19, 2012}}</ref>
<ref name=kotaku_1>{{cite web |url=https://kotaku.com/ultima-is-going-free-to-play-and-it-just-might-work-5925250 |title=Ultima Is Going Free-To-Play. And It Just Might Work |author=Kox, Kate |date=July 12, 2012 |publisher=kotaku.com |access-date=July 19, 2012}}</ref>
<ref name=ultimacodex_2>{{cite web |url=http://forever.ultimacodex.com/2011/03/31/is-this-an-image-of-mythics-secret-ultima-project/ |title=Is This An Image of Mythic's Secret (Ultima) Project? |author=Wtf Dragon |date=March 31, 2011 |publisher=ultimacodex.com |access-date=July 19, 2012}}</ref>
<ref name=ultimaforevertweet_1>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/ultimaforever/status/54927616284704769 |title=Art thou Humble? |author=UltimaForever |date=April 4, 2011 |publisher=twitter.com |access-date=July 19, 2012}}</ref>
<ref name=ultimalegend_1>{{cite web |url=http://www.ultimalegend.com/2011/05/31/ultima-forever-en-approche/ |title=Ultima Forever en approche ? |author=Sergorn |date=March 31, 2011 |publisher=ultimalegend.com |access-date=July 19, 2012 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303211723/http://www.ultimalegend.com/2011/05/31/ultima-forever-en-approche/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
<ref name=reddit_1>{{cite web |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/gaming/comments/hok09/ultima_forever_a_hidden_ultima_legacy_site_by_ea/ |title=Ultima Forever a hidden Ultima legacy site by EA in the making! |author=Mister_Bubbles |date=31 May 2011 |publisher=reddit.com |access-date=July 19, 2012}}</ref>
<ref name=ultimacodex_3>{{cite web |url=http://forever.ultimacodex.com/2011/06/02/ultimaforever-com-launches-for-real-this-time/ |title=UltimaForever.Com Launches (For Real, This Time!) |author=Wtf Dragon|date=June 2, 2012 |publisher=ultimacodex.com |access-date=July 19, 2012}}</ref>
<ref name=computerandvideogames_1>{{cite web |url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/357508/bioware-mythic-to-announce-new-f2p-online-game/ |title=BioWare Mythic to announce new F2P online game |author=CVG Staff|date=July 11, 2012 |publisher=computerandvideogames.com |access-date=July 19, 2012}}</ref>
<ref name=ultimacodex_4>{{cite web |url=http://forever.ultimacodex.com/2012/07/12/ultima-forever-facebook-website-live/ |title=Ultima Forever Facebook & Website Live |author=Deckard|date=July 12, 2012 |publisher=ultimacodex.com |access-date=July 19, 2012}}</ref>
<ref name=barnetttweet_1>{{cite web |url=https://twitter.com/thatbarnettblok/status/223006017540198401 |title=On way to comic con, we have a game to announce! Go go BioWare digital! |author=Barnett, Paul |date=July 11, 2011 |publisher=twitter.com |access-date=July 19, 2012 |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305061730/https://twitter.com/thatbarnettblok/status/223006017540198401 |url-status=live }}</ref> }}
==External links== * [http://ultimaforever.com/ Official site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120712123715/http://ultimaforever.com/ |date=2012-07-12 }} * [http://www.facebook.com/UltimaForever Official Facebook page] * [https://twitter.com/ultimaforever ''Ultima Forever'' Twitter] * [http://forever.ultimacodex.com/2012/07/12/bioware-mythic-announces-ultima-forever-quest-for-the-avatar/ Official Press Release at UltimaCodex.com]
{{Ultima}} {{Play4Free}}
Category:2013 video games Category:Free-to-play video games Category:Inactive massively multiplayer online games Category:IOS games Category:IOS-only games Category:Mythic Entertainment games Category:Online games shut down in 2014 Category:Role-playing video games Category:Ultima (series) Category:Video games developed in the United States