Episode 18 – Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness

In this episode of The Proving Grounds, we dive into the history of Ultima I: The First Age of Darkness, the groundbreaking start of Richard Garriott’s legendary RPG series. We explore its origins, gameplay innovations, and lasting influence on both CRPGs and blobbers. Along the way, we touch on Legends of Amberland as a modern callback to the classic grid-based style, and I also take a moment to issue an apology regarding some information from the last podcast — an error introduced through AI use.

Whether you’re here for nostalgia, history, or insight into how these games shaped the genre, this episode connects the past to the present in CRPGs.

🎧 Join the discussion on our Discord: https://discord.gg/nSSTqzfKmz