Emulator FAQ

An emulator, in definition, is a piece of software or hardware that
mimics something else. In the matter of Ultima Online, UO emulators
mimic the official playing servers. This allows players to run their
own “shards” – both private and public.

If you read the most up to date license agreement (available at the
Origin
support site) you will see something resembling the following
in it:

Ultima Online has been designed by Origin Systems for play only
on the Service. The Software is licensed to you for play on the
Service only. Origin does not grant you a license to use the Software
for any other purpose. You agree to play Ultima Online only on the
Service and not through any other means. You further agree not to
create or provide any other means through which others may play
Ultima Online, for example, through server emulators.

Bottom line: you cannot run a public UO server for others to play
on, and you cannot play on someone elses server. Origin wants to make
sure that if you play UO, you play it on an official server, which
requires you to have an account which you pay for. It’s called protecting
ones investment.

 

So I cannot use a server emulator at all?

If the purpose would be to actually “play” Ultima Online
then that is correct. You are not allowed to do that using an emulator.
It’s as simple as that.

However, there are situations where you could be using an emulator
in a private and single-user environment. You can install an emulator
in such a way that only *you* can enter the world. You are not allowing
others to play on your server, nor are you going to actually play
the game. (Maybe you would if you play a hermit…)

When you are alone in your world, there are several things you can
do

• You can walk or teleport around the world and have a good look
  at things without having to worry about monsters or other players
  on your tail
• You can create new structures, tile by tile. This has been done
  by people to send in new house designs (before UO:Renaissance).
• You can create scenes to be used in those wonderful comics such
  as ImaNewbie
  Does Britannia.
• You can have a good look at all the various art that is used in
  UO

Keep in mind though, that by using an emulator in such a way, you
are moving into the grey area between what is allowed and what is
not. Until today Origin has not asked any fan or comics site to stop
using the UO art that was created with the use of an emulator. Our
advice: when used with some common sense, you can enjoy your emulator
and use it to look around in Britannia and/or create interesting screenshots.

 

We support the use of emulators if only used to look at UO art or
used to create interesting UO screenshots. We do not support
public shards, or free shards, that are using such an emulator.