The origins of Serpent Isle

[Sergorn]

Hey guys!

Since there has always been some uncertainty regarding how Serpent Isle started as a project and his relation to Ultima VII, I took a gamble and contacted Bill Armintrout to see if could share some light upon this.

I figure this might interest you:
http://www.ultimaaiera.com/blog/bill-ar ... rpent-isle

The point of note being that Ultima VII and Serpent Isle were never meant at any point to be a single game.

-Sergorn

[Andrea B Previtera]

Bravo!

This is possibly the most interesting piece of information I've ever read about SI. At the same time... it's like breaking the magic box to see what makes it work inside. Some things should be left unexplained, it makes for atmosphere and mystery, endless speculation and - most important - personal interpretation.

Now I won't be able to play SI without thinking of that whiteboard

[Kensu]

Wow, Serpent Isle has so many sad "might have been" scenarios associated with it. The cut content, the other add-on pack (that took place on Earth) that was passed over for Silver Seed, and now this.
I love Silver Seed, but I really wish I could've played this version of it too.

[Sergorn]

There was another addon pack on Earth planned?

Do you any details about this?

-Sergorn

[Viking]

I guess he's thinking about Arthurian Legends

[Sergorn]

That was totally unrelated to Serpent Isle, and in all likelyhood, it never was an Ultima game either.

[Kensu]

This is from an old interview with Warren Spector. Sadly this is the only time I've seen this project mentioned:

"GB: (14) Forge of Virtue was kind of a strange product. Is there anything similar going to come out for Serpent Isle?

WS: It's certainly been thought of. It's a sales thing. If SI does well, we'll be able to do it. We've got two good proposals for one already. The setting for one is Earth, the other isn't."

The whole interview is here: http://www.bootstrike.com/Ultima7si/Online/spec.html

[Kensu]

I meant "I really love Serpent Isle, but I would've like to play this version too."
SS was okay, but it doubt in engenders those kind of feeling in any gamer.

[Crowley]

I had no idea about these pirate beginnings of Serpent Isle. I do have to wonder how they would've handled the ships, considering the ones in Ultima 7 are quite small compared to the galleons people usually associate with pirates.

[monotremata]

I wonder if they were trying to take on the new Monkey Island franchise with it hehe..

Interesting reading. They hadnt even shipped SI yet but they were already working on 8 (notice Pagan was mentioned in there)? I always figured they did em one at a time..