The Collectible ULTIMA


ORIGIN Hintbooks

Origin has to date produced a total of 12 hint books for their Ultima games. A few of these are available from Electronic Arts, but most are permanently sold out. The older hint books can be a hard find these days. A couple of them appear to have had more than one printing, but it's difficult to tell unless you know what to look for.



Secrets of Sosaria Secrets of Sosaria:
A Guide to the Realm, Exodus: Ultima III
  • Publisher: Origin Systems, Inc., © 1983-1987.
  • Author: The back lists "Lord Robert" as actually bringing the work to the reader; Lord Robert is Robert Garriott, Richard's brother.
  • Characteristics: 48pp. Contains maps and hints for Ultima III.
  • Original list price: $12.95
  • Availability: None.
There are two different printings of this hintbook, one from 1983, and one from 1987. My copy of this hintbook is the latter, and was published after the hintbook for Ultima IV. I know this from the 1987 copyright date, and the address listed on the back - 136 Harvey Road. Origin didn't move its headquarters to this address until after Ultima IV was published. The '83 version has a different copyright date and the old 340 Harvey Road address, and that appears to be the only difference.


The Way of the Avatar The Way of the Avatar:
A Guide to Ultima IV
  • Publisher: Origin Systems, Inc., © 1986.
  • Author: Unknown.
  • Characteristics: 40pp. Contains maps and hints for Ultima IV.
  • Original list price: $12.95
  • Availability: None.


Paths of Destiny Paths of Destiny:
A Guide to the Mysteries of Ultima V
  • Publisher: Origin Systems, Inc., © 1988.
  • Author: "Shalineth".
  • Characteristics: 70pp. Contains maps, hints, and coordinates for important quests in Ultima V.
  • Original list price: $12.95
  • Availability: None.
There are color and black-and-white versions of this hintbook. The b&w is exactly the same as the color, except that the cover art was replaced with a grainy b&w photocopy of the original. I guess they ran out of covers and couldn't order more.


The Book of Prophecy Ultima VI Cluebook:
The Book of Prophecy
  • Publisher: Origin Systems, Inc., © 1990.
  • Author: Dr. Cat.
  • Characteristics: 75pp. Contains maps and narrative explanations of most of Ultima VI.
  • Original list price: $12.95
  • Availability: None.
This was the first hintbook to be written in a narrative style. In other words, it's actually interesting to read! It also contains a full-blown dictionary of the entire Gargoyle language, substantially larger than what appears in the Ultima VI game texts themselves. Credits for the Gargoyle language go to Herman Miller. One note: apparently there was an Commodore 64 update page for this hintbook that could be requested for free from Origin.


Malone's Guide to the Valley of Eodon The Savage Empire Cluebook:
Malone's Guide to the Valley of Eodon
  • Publisher: Origin Systems, Inc., © 1990.
  • Author: Aaron Allston.
  • Characteristics: 67pp. Contains maps, hints, a history of the Valley and a detailed walkthrough of Savage Empire.
  • Original list price: $12.95
  • Availability: None.
On page 3, "Jimmy Malone" gives the date of publication as October 1990.


The Lost Notebooks of Nellie Bly Martian Dreams Clue Book:
The Lost Notebooks of Nellie Bly
  • Publisher: Origin Systems, Inc., © 1991.
  • Author: Beth Miller.
  • Characteristics: 64pp. Contains maps, a history of Martians and a detailed narrative walkthrough of Martian Dreams.
  • Original list price: $14.95
  • Availability: None.


Mysteries of the Abyss Ultima Underworld Clue Book:
Mysteries of the Abyss
  • Publisher: Origin Systems, Inc., © 1992.
  • Author: Aaron Allston.
  • ISBN: 0-929373-08-1
  • Characteristics: 64pp. Contains game narrative and maps presented by the evil wizard Tyball, plus details on the game engine of Ultima Underworld
  • Original list price: $14.95
  • Availability: None.
This was the first hintbook to be assigned an ISBN code.


Key to the Black Gate Ultima VII Clue Book:
Key to the Black Gate
  • Publisher: Origin Systems, Inc., © 1992.
  • Author: Andrew Morris.
  • ISBN: 0-929373-09-X
  • Characteristics: 64pp. Contains maps, three kinds of walkthroughs, and extensive tables of game statistics of Ultima VII.
  • Original list price: $14.95
  • Availability: None.


Gems of Enlightenment Ultima Underworld II Clue Book:
Gems of Enlightenment
  • Publisher: Origin Systems, Inc., © 1993.
  • Author: Austin Grossman.
  • ISBN: 0-929373-12-X
  • Characteristics: 80pp. Contains maps, a walkthrough, and a thorough explanation of the game engine and mechanics of Ultima Underworld II.
  • Original list price: $14.95
  • Availability: None.
Though it doesn't explicitly say so, this was the first hintbook published after Origin merged with Electronic Arts in 1992. You can find the EA trademark on page 2.


Balancing the Scales Ultima VII, Part Two, Clue Book:
Balancing the Scales
  • Publisher: Origin Systems, Inc., © 1993.
  • Author:Sheri Graner Hobbs and Andrew Morris.
  • ISBN:0-929373-13-8
  • Characteristics: 80pp. Contains maps, a walkthrough, and a lengthy history of the Serpent Isle.
  • Original list price: $14.95
  • Availability: None.


Pentology Ultima VIII Clue Book:
Pentology
  • Publisher: Origin Systems, Inc., © 1994.
  • Author: Melissa Mead.
  • ISBN: 0-929373-18-9
  • EA Product code: EA 10031
  • Characteristics: 96pp. Contains 3D game maps, two walkthroughs, and game statistics for Ultima VIII.
  • Original list price: $14.95
  • Availability: Electronic Arts.
This was the first hintbook to display an Electronic Arts product code.


Ultima Online Guide Origin's Official Guide to
Ultima Online
  • Publisher: Prima Publishing, © 1997.
  • ISBN: 0-761509-26-7
  • Original list price: $19.99
  • Availability: Electronic Arts.
Origin's guide to Ultima Online is available now. This was published by Prima, not Origin, so it's not like Origin's other hint books - wrapped in game fiction and such. It might ought to go in the Prima book list instead. Prima has a web page that lists updates and corrections to the guide, so you may want to visit there from time to time.


Ultima Collection: The Official Strategy Guide Ultima Collection
The Ofificial Strategy Guide
  • Publisher: Prima Publishing, © 1998.
  • ISBN: 0-761514-85-6
  • Original list price: $19.99
  • Availability: Electronic Arts.
In conjunction with the release of the Ultima Collection, Prima will release this strategy guide in March 1998. It contains detailed walkthroughs for all of the cardinal Ultima games, color maps (unlike the b/w maps included with the collection itself), and some other goodies.



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