Thanks to Folko & Max testing is currently being done on the Emulator for the pre-alpha client, the client that was written by Folko & Max. It is online now, running smooth. The server does not yet have NPCs or map details like doors & ankhs but it looks nice. I cannot release testing info as it is not my server, but the completion of this project is closer than it has ever been. Folko released some screenshots here: http://folko.elitecoder.net/uoa/ I took some screenshots of it as well: 
The latest: Recently recieved a response at the polserver.com forum. Maximilian Scherr & Folko were working on an creating an emulator for the pre-alpha client. Max sent me an email and said the project was never finished but was started 2 years ago. He said the project was about 80% done. He also said that he may finish the project during his next vacation. Here are the 3 screenshots from the emulator project by Maximilian & Folko:
The latest from Sydius: "I’ve been messing with the client for a few days now, and I’d have to agree that it would be a much more practical idea to just use the more modern client and transfer the graphics. You could reproduce ALMOST every aspect of the pre-alpha client using the modern one. The only really super-cool feature of the pre-alpha client has that the modern one doesn’t is semi-transparent water. I’m still planning to write a server for it anyway, since doing so is likely not a huge project considering the lack of features in the pre-alpha anyway." Perhaps the only alternative will be to re-create the pre-alpha map, it may be easier code-wise, but it would be hard to reconstruct the actual map as no one would be able to remember what it looked like exactly, despite the many screenshots. It is a logical possibility though that is worth trying. Syd's Alpha Patcher works, but the pre-alpha client uses some type of encryption that won't allow it to open. At the UOX3.org message board Feb 7th Sydius asks, "What kind of encryption does the modern client use? Anyone here know? Maybe this old one uses the same encryption method". If you know please email me: r@razimus.com. I've posted at all the major UO Emulator/Coding Type forums that I know of, this is the list of forums I've posted about the 96 pre-alpha client project: http://www.uox3.org/ http://exult.sourceforge.net/ http://www.ryandor.com/ http://www.sphereserver.net/forums/ http://www.polserver.com/ http://noxwizard.sourceforge.net/
Progress is being made. A programmer by the name of Sydius has created a sever patcher for the alpha client called 'Syd's Alpha Patcher'. This is a good accomplishment. It is currently being tested. Syd's webpage is at: sydius.com. I have copied his file to my page, you can also download it here: Syd's Alpha Patcher v1.0 [13.7kb].
I can get the client.exe to open. The server box pops up, I choose a server such as despise.owo.com. Then the character creation window pops up, after designing a character, the login and password box pops up. Then the main client window appears and all I can see is black and a welcome message saying, "Welcome to Ultima: Shattered Legacy". Then it either freezes and crashes or this error message pops up, "Connect Failed (10060)". Obviously the simple solutions is to change the server choices, because there aren't any LOGIN.CFG files, or anything similar it is not easy. I viewed the CLIENT.EXE file as a text file and I could see the server choices and again because I don't know how to change an EXE file correctly, it does not work after changing it in any way. It seems to have a simple solution, I'm currently asking around the UoX3 message board (uox3.org) and the Ryandor's message board (ryandor.com). There are tons of UO applications out there and tons of people who know the UO program inside and out, all we need is someone interested in this project.
DISCLAIMER:The pre-alpha client is 15megs, it's tiny, the map is at least 1/100th the size of the Britannia map. It's basically an ancient DEMO. It is NOT a full client, not even close. It is ancient, it was written differently. In no way can it be patched into a full version of UO. But even if it could be patched into a full version it doesn't matter, because you can get the full version by patching from this free trial: Ultima Online: Age of Shadows 15 day Free Trial.
Welcome, this is my 'Pre-Alpha Test Re-Creation Page'. Using the oldest released UO client from 1996 there is an attempt to make the client playable offline, and online to be used as a free server. It will be much like UoX, the very successful Ultima Offline Experiment. First off I would like to mention that I am not a programmer/coder, I cannot read code, in any way shape or form, all I can do is edit the UO.CFG and LOGIN.CFG, but sadly, the 1996 client of UO doesn't have those files, nor any CFG files. It is very different from the public release version of UO. From the beginning of UO there have been very few that have attempted to re-create the Pre-Alpha test, here are the few I know about that have helped in the effort. Tamino: The first known person to attempt to re-create the pre-alpha test using the original 1996 UO pre-Alpha client. He was very successful with running the client. For more information and screenshots proving a pre-Alpha client can be opened successfully visit: Tamino's 2001 pre-Alpha client Project. wintermute_turing_ai: Like me, wintermute has been searching for the 1996 client for years, since 2001, when he heard about Tamino's project. And since Tamino disappeared he searched on goodle for many many hours. He finally decided to ask around on newsgroups and message boards until he asked at the Exult Discussion Board. On September 9th 2003 a person by the name of Covenant replied to wintermute by saying "have the full client. 15Mb perfect state :)". And finally the client was located. Covenant: Last but not least, Covenant is the source the 1996 Pre-Alpha UO client. And thanks to wintermute_turing_ai you can download it for yourself. Razimus: I've been searching for the pre-alpha client off and on since 1997. I've talked to many who participated in the 1996 tests, the most common responses were: they deleted it, lost it, or it disappeared during an upgrade. When I saw Tamino's page in 2001 I was glad to see that someone had it. In 2001 I emailed Tamino and asked him for a copy of the client and for any advances in the project, he replied and said he would give me a copy in the future and that I would be the first to know of any updates. He was never heard from again. Sydius: He has created a sever patcher for the alpha client called 'Syd's Alpha Patcher'. This is a good accomplishment. It is currently being tested. His webpage is at: sydius.com Maximillian: Recently recieved a response at the polserver.com forum. Maximillian Scherr & Folko were working on an creating an emulator for the pre-alpha client. Max sent me an email and said the project was never finished but was started 2 years ago. He said the project was about 80% done. He also said that he may finish the project during his next vacation. Folko: Worked with Maximillian in the 2002 UO pre-alpha client emulator project.
Just because the client was found, it doesn't mean all of the files are 100% un-corrupted. If you have a copy of the original 1996 client, please email me at: r@razimus.com. So far I cannot open the map file, and many other files. Some of the artwork that I can see using InsideUO appear to be warped and possibly corrupted, so finding another version might be needed but I don't know for sure at the moment.
If you can program/code, even if you only know a little you know more than I do. If you want to help in the effort of re-building a working free online version of the 96 alpha client then go to the page above and download the client. Hopefully a team can be formed that can get it functioning again. Unfortunately I'm not a programmer, I'm looking for anyone that is willing to assist in the project, which will hopefully result in a working free online alpha client. If you would like to help out please email me at: r@razimus.com.  Back to UO History Main
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