In 1992, Ultima Underworld changed the rules of what a fantasy RPG could be. It introduced the concept of 3D immersion, a player-authored experience, and a richly dynamic world to explore. Its influence led to a whole generation of games such as Thief, Deus Ex, BioShock, Skyrim, and Dragon Age. Underworld has been hidden away in the deepest vaults of its publisher for two decades. Only now have the original creators unchained the franchise, freeing it to innovate yet again.

Backing the game grants you unprecedented front row access to the creation of the next epoch of this storied masterpiece, Underworld Ascendant.

Otherside Entertainment, led by System Shock & Thief creator Paul Neurath, has launched a Kickstarter campaign, looking for $600,000, to complete development of Underworld Ascendant.

The original Underworlds pioneered much of what today is known as ‘sandbox’ gameplay.  Games that have come after that highlight their sandbox play, such as Deus Ex and Elder Scrolls, drew inspiration from the Underworlds.  Yet in more than a few ways, the latest games have not moved much beyond what Underworld offered all those years ago.

With Underworld Ascendant, our aim is to take sandbox play to a whole new level.  To offer players greater freedom of choice, and more open-ended ways to come up with their own clever solutions to challenges.  Making this all happen is the Improvisation Engine, which provides an array of sophisticated technologies for unleashing player creativity.  

In Underworld Ascendant, instead of the designers scripting a set solution path for a player, the Improvisation Engine puts the problem solving in the player’s hands.

Our designers lay out an encounter; setting up the monsters, traps, the physical layout, and the like.  Then the world simulation is turned on.  A set of fairly complex interactions and dynamics take place of their own accord.  The player comes into this dynamic mix, and can permeate this situation in whole range of ways, some of which the designers may have never imagined.

As an example, let's look at the game vignette we affectionately call, “Spiders on a Bridge” that Chris showed us in the video.   We saw Chris disturbing a nest of spiders.  Chris chooses to run, which, all things considered, is probably wise. There are a lot of spiders!

Chris has lots choices. For instance, he could:

• Turn and fight.
• Try to run away from the spiders long enough to lose them in the tunnels.
• Try to block the passage behind him, with a Fungal Growth spell for instance.

Instead, Chris chose to cross a wooden bridge, then destroy it behind him, cutting him off from the spiders. A clever player could come up with other ways to survive.

Let's take our example another step forward.  Chris has destroyed the bridge, saving himself from the spiders.  What now?  That bridge was the only way across the lava chasm and now it's gone.  What if there is treasure on the other side that Chris wants?

He now has a new problem to solve.  Chris might:

• Chris knows a mushroom growing spell.  If he finds the right reagents he can make those mushrooms fireproof and then create a spongy walkway across the lava stream.
• Use the plentiful spider webs that are around and construct rope and grapple.  Throw and secure it across the chasm and then hope your acrobatic skills are up to par.
• Build a boat from lava bat skins to cross the lava flow. They're fireproof, right?

How you develop your Avatar will open up new solutions.  For instance, a Thief sort of character who developers advanced skills in acrobatics will have more options to consider.  A fighter sort especially skilled with ranged weapons could be effective at sniping creatures before they could get too close.  These character specializations will tend to lead to more unique experiences between players during their play-trough, making it more fun to play again as a different type of character.