For those that weren't online a year ago to register or just didn't know about it at the time, the whole hullabaloo over the Ultima Online beta test has many online fans juggling possibilities in their mind. While beta testers admit, as it is, the product is very sketchy at this time - with gameplay problems discovered almost as often as cute defenseless bunnies are found butchered just off the beaten path. This doesn't deter the interests of would-be fans. In fact, intentional or not, the beta test hasn't developed many enemies from its exclusivity. Rather, it has sewn a considerable fan base of people who can't play it yet, but intend to flock to the service at its release.

Of course, these people aren't just going to twiddle until it officially arrives. Web pages abound for Ultima Online (and have been around since before the test). So many who can't completely immerse themselves in the whole Britannia experience, can at least get a generous idea of what it's like from screen shots, stories, news, and other sources.

If you happen to be one of the many out of luck, there's still a lot you can do before running out to the store to get the game. Firstly, you may want to save up some money, since Ultima Online won't be free. The game will be sold just like any other, on the shelves of software vendors at around fifty bucks. Included in the price will be a 'to be determined' amount of free days of play time, before a monthly cost (rumored to be $10) is charged for being on the service. Whatever your opinions of the price, it's likely there won't be a demo - so your only choice will be to dive into the game and see if you like it.

Before you buy, I'd recommend visiting my site and others for a general idea of what to expect. I plan to provide stories, tips, and such to give you an idea of how the game falls into place, if at all. Also for the Ultima-phile, you can drop by the files section and download some maps and music files to bring you another step closer to being there.

Another option is to sketch out the character you'd like to role-play. This is no 'I want to be a bowyer' task. Instead, try and flesh out what you want to play, since finding Ultima Online entertaining is ultimately a matter of self-satisfaction. You can be the best sheepherder in the land, but is that really what you want for kicks? Contrastingly, you can be the biggest badass soldier in Britannia, but that's something done many times before, not only in UO, but as a final goal in countless RPG's. Is it original enough and worth doing in a place of such infinite possibilities? Would you want to raid a town with your superhero character, dashing the hopes of countless real people? Or maybe raising an army of wildlife would be more to your liking? This is the theme that has made Ultima Online so popular up to now, and it's something you can plan just as well offline as on.

Even if you already know you want to be a kegmaster, that doesn't mean you should sign up to join the Brewmaster's Guild before you've seen the game. I would recommend joining a guild only after thorough adventuring with its leader or one of its more important members. Joining from a web page is a bad decision. Try to make sure you know what you're getting into. Do you really want to be member number 157 or do you want to be in a group where you know and trust all of its members. Such trust can only be gained from playing the game together, so wait until you get your disc to join a guild.

If you have to know everything there is, follow the UO news every day. There's usually something happening all the time, from discussions of gameplay issues to the newest pkilling (player killing) massacre. You probably won't be able to follow everything, but if you gotta know...

Finally, there is still the task of waiting, which is the difficult part. Everyone has their own way of doing it, and your method is probably just as good as mine. Origin has a preorder option available - the Ultima Online Charter Edition. If you purchase the game early at the exorbitant price of $89.37, you get all of the following:

• 90 days of unlimited free play
• Special Print of the Ultima Online painting by the Hildebrandt brothers
• Official Charter Membership Certificate from Lord British
• Cloth Map of Britannia
• Pewter lapel pin
• Full version of UO software
• Quick reference card

And then, there's the possibility that Ultima Online won't open up this September as planned (*gasp*). As of now, I would say that possibility is very real is Origin wants to release a bug-free product. Who's to say?

Enough rambling for now, I must get back to the page...

Update - 9/6

General use registration number -13:12 EST
Since OSI hasn't responded to the ravings, I have to assume the universal serial code truly is up for grabs. Naturally downloading 420 megabytes isn't a realistic possibility with 28.8 modems, but if you know someone in the beta, and have half a gig of empty space on your hard drive, this is very good news indeed. Then again, I also think this is also a ticket back into the project for Rainz and Hobbes, who were earlier banned from the beta test for exploiting bugs.

If you can get a copy of the client, here's the code you can use when prompted: FQNH-FANS-LTOO-QT

Welcome to Ultima Online!