Ultima: The Dark Core

Latest Update: January 18, 1998

Official release 1.0 now available for Internet Explorer 4.0.
Official release 1.02 now available for Netscape Navigator 4.0.
Update from release 1.01 to 1.02 is available for Netscape Navigator 4.0.
Several bugs and problems for both versions have been fixed. This includes some difficulties encountered when saving the game in specific areas.

January 17, 1998

The first beta release of Ultima: The Dark Core for Internet Explorer 4.0 is now available for download.
Documentation has been updated to account for the new IE4.0 version of the game.

January 9, 1998

A beta version of Ultima: The Dark Core using Internet Explorer 4.0's technology is now available to play off the web. It is currently incompatible with Macintosh platforms (blame MS, not me). The documentation is still being updated.

December 28, 1997

A version of The Dark Core that is compatible with Microsoft's Internet Explorer will be under development in the next few weeks. This version should not require any additional plug-ins/ActiveX controls.

October 24, 1997

Sound control has been updated a second time. The introduction and finale no longer require sound if the user does not wish to have them. The player also has an option of enabling or disabling sound and music when beginning the game, thus removing all LiveAudio and Crescendo requirements.
Tutorial, instructions, dark cookies, and bug list have been updated and reformatted.
The .EXE file is no longer available. At this time, bilbo will not serve .EXE documents.

October 19, 1997

Sound control has been updated. Clicking on the mandolin will now display a window which allows the player to turn off both sound effects and MIDI music. Note that music and sound will still play during the introduction and finales.
The game no longer determines if the user is using the Netscape browser. This code was causing errors for some users.
The tutorial and instructions have been updated.
The game is now available as a self-extracing .EXE file for convenient installation.

September 28, 1997

All documentation and text has been updated to cover the final release of the game.
A new, special appearance by our friend, the Guardian, has been added. Perhaps we should now call the game Ultima: The Dark Core, Special Edition.
More easter eggs have been added.

September 19, 1997

The bug I introduced in Preview Release 2.0 that prevented the opening of the "Disk Options" window has now been fixed. So, yes, you CAN save your game now...
An error will now longer occur when you "turn around" while facing east at the crossroads.
Emptying the bucket of water will no longer cause Javascript errors in specific areas of the game.
Fixed an error so that an object that is supposed to be hidden behind another object won't appear when the view is loaded.
Credits have been updated to reflect new beta testers.
Cleaned up several "Guardian" taunts so that our evil friend can be clearly heard over background sounds.
Possessions are now returned to you if you are "forced" out of certain areas.
Several sound formats that were previously incompatible with Netscape Navigator 4.02 and higher should now work.
More typos, grammar, that sort of stuff corrected...
Oo! Oo! Oo! Even more Easter eggs!

September 13, 1997

One of the sounds that plays on the forest path has been redone. The sound of trickling water is much more noticeable than before.
Several typos and grammatical errors have been corrected.
Oo! An easter egg has been added.

September 9, 1997

The following pages should have their broken links fixed:
The "Javascript Test" application on the System Optimization page should now work. BTW, if you got a Javascript error, that meant Javascript was enabled :)
Resizing the browser window: Sorry, we're screwed on this one. If you resize a Netscape window, the pages within that window are reloaded. This, of course, includes any Javascript embedded within those pages (all variables and objects are resest, etc.). Thus, resizing the window for The Dark Core would inevitably restart the game without warning the user.
On that note, the descriptions of certain locations would run off the text window. This may be the result of a discrepency in Netscape's implementation of tables. I think I've solved the problem by adding paragraph tags to the bottom of every text page. Why this works, I have no idea.
When you quit the game using the Disk Options window, you should no longer get "Javascript Error: ...game.diskOptionsUp has no properties".
"Response" is no longer misspelled when you speak to certain characters.
Found any Easter Eggs yet?