WHAT DO YOU DO IN A GAME WHERE YOU CAN DO ANYTHING?
ISBN: 978-1721853885
Available in Paperback, Audiobook, and Kindle eBook formats
326 pages
Journalism/Video Games
Over the past two decades, millions of players have inhabited the virtual world of Britannia inside the Massively Multiplayer Online (MMO) PC game, Ultima Online.
Wes Locher’s Braving Britannia: Tales of Life, Love, and Adventure in Ultima Online is the first nonfiction book to collect interviews with 35 of the game’s players, volunteers, and developers, revealing what they did, where they adventured, and how their lives were shaped, changed, and altered through experiences in Ultima Online’s virtual world.
Released in 1997 by developer Origin Systems and publisher Electronic Arts, Ultima Online is known as the grandfather of Massively Multiplayer Online games. At its peak, more than 300,000 people from around the world played simultaneously.
In a fantasy world of limitless potential, the only thing players seem to enjoy more than playing the game is talking about it, and yet, the true stories behind the avatars have largely gone unpublished for the past twenty years.
Until now.
Braving Britannia has been featured on:
PRESS
“WE NEED MORE VIDEOGAME FOLKLORISTS,” BRAVING BRITANNIA & THE IMPORTANCE OF PRESERVING VIDEO GAME ORAL HISTORIES @ Wired.com
THE HISTORY OF ULTIMA ONLINE: AN AUDIO INTERVIEW WITH THE GEEK’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY PODCAST @ The Geek’s Guide to the Galaxy
REVIEW: BRAVING BRITANNIA TELLS THE PEOPLE’S HISTORY OF ULTIMA ONLINE @ Sidequest
WES LOCHER BRAVES BRITANNIA: AN AUDIO INTERVIEW WITH THE SPAM SPAM SPAM HUMBUG PODCAST @ The Ultima Codex
“ANYTHING BUT ULTIMA ONLINE”: KEEPING THE ROLE-PLAYING CLASSIC RUNNING (abbreviated excerpt with producer Rick Hall) @ VentureBeat
BOOK EXCERPT: A BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT BUILDING ULTIMA ONLINE (abbreviated excerpts with Raph Koster & Chris Mayer) @ Gamasutra
INTERVIEW AND EXCERPT: THE ‘BRAVING BRITANNIA’ BOOK PRESERVES ULTIMA ONLINE’S ORAL HISTORY @ MassivelyOverpowered
NEW BOOK: BRAVING BRITANNIA – TALES OF LIFE, LOVE, AND ADVENTURE IN ULTIMA ONLINE (featuring book excerpt) @ The Ultima Codex
NEW BOOKS EXPLORE THE ROOTS OF STAR WARS: GALAXIES & ULTIMA ONLINE @ MMORPG.com
PODCASTS
Braving Britannia is featured on the following podcasts:
The Sandbox Podcast: Episode 159 – Ultima Shenanigans!
The Geekbox Podcast: Episode 475
Spam Spam Spam Humbug Podcast: Episode 109 – Wes Locher Braves Britannia (Interview)
The Geek’s Guide to the Galaxy Podcast: Episode 353 – The History of Ultima Online (Interview)
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING
“If UO had any sort of measurable impact or created lasting memories in your life, you owe it to yourself to read this book.” – Chris Mayer / Lead Programmer, Ultima Online
“I love hearing about why massively multiplayer online role playing games are so important to the those that play them, and a people’s history of the grandfather of all MMORPGs sounded like it would provide that. I wasn’t disappointed.” – Joesph Langdon / Sidequest
“My friends and I treated stories from this game like currency and this book is a bank.” – Randy / Amazon Review
“The biggest endorsement I can give this book is that it made me want to play Ultima Online again, a game I haven’t touched since 2005. It reminded me of the great times I had playing that game, and any book that can bottle up that sort of emotion deserves a full recommendation!” – Audible Review
“The diversity of sources used and the way the stories were woven together was compelling reading. I read the entire book in a single sitting.” – Gordo / Amazon Review
“This book was a fantastic read. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who played UO.” – Logan / Amazon Review
“Wes Locher’s process of reviewing 20 years of Ultima Online, its development and staying power, and contributions/contributors to the development and introduction of Massive Multiplayer Online Games (MMOG’s) had me smiling, giggling and even giving out a few belly laughs as I read along.” – E. Butler / Amazon Review
“I loved reading this book! If you played Ultima Online or are interested in early MMORPG’s I highly recommend it!” – G. Fleeman / Amazon Review
“Any true devotee of [Ultima Online] should read this book.” – TribalCat / Amazon Review
“Reading these stories really brought me back. If UO holds a special place in your heart, this is a must read.” – R. Palmer / Amazon Review
“The author did an outstanding job of letting the reader, “look behind the curtain.” If you love Ultima Online then this is the book for you. I highly recommend it.” – Greg / Amazon Review
“This book is a must for any fan of Ultima Online. It was a much needed trip down memory lane…” – Wil / Amazon Review
“Mr. Locher does an excellent job telling the stories of everyone involved in the Ultima Online project.” – S. McVey / Amazon Review
“If you’re interested in gaming, or, the things that make a game addictive and bring people together for years on end, this might be the book for you.” – luket / Amazon Review
“Wes’ book brought back a lot of nostalgic feelings.” – P. Ledgerwood / Amazon Review
“Take it from someone who played this game for many years…the book is wonderful! I loved it so much I’m going to read it again.” – Susan / Amazon Review
“The stories in this book made me reconnect to the game that brought me so much joy when i was an unhappy, awkward child who made his first friends in a magical online world.” – R. Read / Amazon Review
“Very good book, very interesting and informative about what Ultima Online is. I strongly recommend.” – Meggie / Amazon Review
“Great book on the best PC game ever made!” – K. Evringham / Amazon Review
“I love the passion of the author and the stories told.” – J. Ouellette / Amazon Review
Wes Locher 