If you like reading about history, and if you're a gamer, you may be interested in a pair of books that have hit the stands over the last week. "Braving Britannia: Tales of Life, Love & Adventure in Ultima Online" is out on Amazon for $19.95. "The Definitive Unauthorized Guide to Star Wars Galaxies" is also available for $25.00. If endorsements matter, Raph Koster has offered his of a sort via Twitter.
Braving Britannia
Welcome to a digital world where anything is possible. Over the past two decades, millions of players have inhabited the virtual world of Britannia inside the Massively Multiplayer Online fantasy PC game, Ultima Online. Released in 1997 by developer Origin Systems and publisher Electronic Arts, Ultima Online is known as the grandfather of MMOs. Braving Britannia: Tales of Life, Love, and Adventure in Ultima Online collects interviews with 35 of the game’s players, volunteers, and developers, revealing what they did, where they adventured, and how their lives were shaped, changed, and altered through experiences in Ultima Online’s shared virtual world. In a fantasy world of limitless potential, the only thing players seem to enjoy more than playing the game is talking about it, and yet, the true stories behind the avatars have largely gone unpublished for the past twenty years. Until now.
Unauthorized Guide to SWG
15 YEARS AFTER STAR WARS GALAXIES FIRST LAUNCHED, AN EMPIRE REMEMBERED IS A CELEBRATION OF THE BELOVED ONLINE ROLE-PLAYING GAME. This comprehensive guide gives those who played the game - and those who never got the chance - an opportunity to relive the nostalgia and excitement of this landmark entry into the MMORPG genre.
- The History of Star Wars Galaxies: Never far from controversy, Star Wars Galaxies has one of the most dramatic histories in gaming. An Empire Remembered features new insights into the games early and ongoing development, right until it's sunset in 2011.
- The Codex: Explore Galaxies species, professions, planets, quests, items, events, and gameplay mechanics in unparalleled detail.
- Over 700 Full Colour Images: The memories will come rushing back with rare images of the game, it's concept art, and promotional material. All of which are presented from the highest resolution sources available.
- The Legacy: Although it's official servers are no longer in operation, Star Wars Galaxies is still regarded as one of the most influential online sandboxes ever - unrivalled in the freedom it offered its players. Why does Galaxies legacy continue to endure, and can the emulation projects ever hope to recapture the magic?
Thanks for the tip, UltimaBook!
