The second part of a personal journey celebrating UO's 15th Anniversary.

The importance of community in UO can't be stressed enough. Many players over the years have told me that if wasn't for the people they have met, they would have left long ago. This is also the opinion I hold. This bonding is very hard to describe but wonderful to experience. I have met a computer scientist in France, who actually flew to Canada where I live and spent a two-week vacation here.

On another occasion, we arranged a UO reunion here, where married couples and singles arrived to meet in person and share the joy of being together in real-life. Other close friendships include an ex NFL football player who later became an assistant police chief and who now cares for his horses and does tax returns. Another who is a police officer and trains other officers in self-defense and extreme force. A woman living in California who used to be an Engineering Administrator for a Fortune 500 company and now is retired and is a copy editor. And an ex-soldier with a remarkable talent for figuring out the game mechanics before any of us can. Another dear friend in Ohio, who works making interface cables for computers. A soldier who trains others in survival for duty in Iraq, or Afghanistan. It is truly amazing who you may meet in the UO community. Ultima Online was, and still is, not a kiddie game. It was intended for adults, but there is no "carding" at the door.

UO is not what other games are in terms of graphics. It never intended to be. To play UO is very easy for anyone's video card. There are two client versions that are offered; the 2D client which I have always played, or the 3D one which has a totally different player interface. I have tried it, but I find a comfort zone with the original client. I don’t like the learning curve in the 3D client but it does resemble the interface of many other competitive games.

Looking back it almost seems like yesterday I ordered that beta disc. The years have literally flown by and I realize it's been, well over fifteen years. And I can't believe what incredible experiences I have had. I still play with most of the friends I met in my early years in UO.