Lord of Ultima Message Board

Boobs might actually help.

EA Phenomic’s project with German developer Bigpoint, Lord Of Ultima, has launched. It’s a browser-based MMO RTS, which boasts will continue changing your territory while you’re logged out. It’s got Ultima in the title. I’m not clear why.

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Today marks the beginning of the closed beta testing process for Battlefield Play4Free (with an open beta set to kick off April 4) -- making the announcement of EA Easy boss Ben Cousins' departure all the more perplexing. Cousins recently announced his exit from the developer on Twitter, saying he's "very proud of what I've achieved in the last 4 years." He didn't say what his next job opportunity is, only teasing, "soon as I can, I let everyone know."

Cousins was instrumental in the development of EA's recent salvo of free-to-play titles like Battlefield Heroes, Lord of Ultima and BattleForge, which actually made the transition from a retail release to an F2P title. We wish Cousins the best of luck at whatever his new home may be, and hope that he continues to make things cost zero money. You're doing the Lord's work, Ben.

All new features for the faithful.

New screens to celebrate the game's launch today.

Electronic Arts is again setting its sights on conquering the lucrative lands of free-to-play gaming with Lord of Ultima, launching today on a browser near you. The online strategy game certainly has more of a "core" audience in mind -- as if the Ultima license didn't already give that away -- with players constructing kingdoms through war, trade and diplomacy.

We haven't had a chance to play yet, so we're not exactly sure where the microtransactions in this game fit in. The press release and main Lord of Ultima site are very sketchy on the details. A quick scan of the site mentioned that the game is free to play, but "there is the option to purchase additional features etc." If you've taken LoU for a spin, feel free to drop the microtransaction details in the comments below.

#launchday EA Phenomic lures unsuspecting gamers into an addictive, free-to-play, browser-based online strategy game using the name of a beloved classic role-playing franchise in Lord of Ultima, now available for play worldwide. More »

EA's latest attempt to rejuvenate the Ultima franchise, the browser-based MMORTS Lord of Ultima, will exit open beta and go fully live on Tuesday, April 20. The game breaks from the franchise's usual norm of medieval vigilante heroism, and places you in the fur-lined boots of an up-and-coming ruler, who must build his kingdom through trade, diplomacy and neighborly acts of sabotage.

If you're curious how the game operates, you can check out some gameplay clips from the beta on YouTube. Or, alternatively, you could just hop into the beta yourself. Or you could just be patient -- it's coming out in a week. Can't you wait a single week? Geez.

Found a city, lead your army and become Lord of Ultima.