Ultima Worlds Online: Origin

Ultima Worlds Online: Origin (originally titled: Ultima Online 2) also known as UO2 was to be the first sequel to the popular 1997 massive multiplayer online role-playing game Ultima Online. Origin Systems revealed that they were developing UO2 in September 1999 for release within a year or two.

UO2 was to be set in Sosaria but in an alternate timeline where a cataclysm has collided the past, present, and future of Sosaria into a single world, thus bringing an Industrial-Revolution and steampunk elements to the medieval fantasy world. Players would have been able to choose from three playable races: Juka - warriors from the Logos, the land of technology governed by Lord Blackthorn Meer - magically adept beings from ancient Sosaria Humans - from Britannia.

UO2, billed as a "2nd generation MMORPG", was to improve upon Ultima Online and previous MMORPGs. The most noticeable advancement was the competitive 3D engine that replaced UO's aging isometric view. The design also changed several aspects that players voiced dislike for in the original UO. In UO2, player vs. player combat was to be disabled by default (except in special areas, such as arenas). The game also would have emphasized grouping, including groups of 20-30 players, and reduced the ability of single players to become all-around grand-masters (i.e., prevent the notorious "tank-mage" characters that appeared in UO).

Origin Systems used music by industrial band Grim Faeries, which featured Xtina X (Christina Petro of U2 fame), Mikee Plastik, and Curse Mackey for soundtrack work on the UO2 project. Their song Love Is Hell was used as the music on the first trailer for the game, which was released in DVD format in the June 2000 issue of PC Gamer magazine. This was the first look that gamers got of the upcoming Ultima Online sequel. This helped propel Grim Faeries to an international cult status among gamers, and it made the song a hit. Origins then funded a second Grim Faeries track (Faerie Raid) to be remixed by the studio of Ken "HiWatt" Marshall (Skinny Puppy production guru), which was used for the music in the game's second trailer. The two songs were utilized within both of the official trailers and within the game programming, which premiered at E3.

In March 2001, Electronic Arts (parent company of Origin Systems) announced that development on Ultima Worlds Online: Origin would cease in order to provide additional support for Ultima Online. Although the game is no longer available, the game's two trailers can still be found on YouTube and various gaming sites.

(Some info provided by Wikipedia)