  ultima is a series of open world fantasy role-playing video games from origin systems, inc. ultima was created by richard garriott, a.k.a. lord british. several games of the series are considered seminal entries in their genre. electronic arts currently holds the brand. ==games== the main ultima series consists of nine installments (the seventh title is further divided into two parts) grouped into three trilogies, or "ages": the age of darkness (ultima i-iii), the age of enlightenment (ultima iv-vi), and the age of armageddon (ultima vii-ix). the last is also sometimes referred to as "the guardian saga" after its chief antagonist. the first trilogy is set in a fantasy world named sosaria, but during the cataclysmic events of the age of darkness, it is sundered and three quarters of it vanish. what is left becomes known as britannia, a realm ruled by the benevolent lord british, and is where the later games mostly take place. the protagonist in all the games is a canonically male resident of earth who is called upon by lord british to protect sosaria and, later, britannia from a number of dangers. originally, the player character was referred to as "the stranger", but by the end of ultima iv he becomes universally known as the avatar. ===main series=== ====the age of darkness: ultima i-iii ==== {| style="float:right; margin:0 0 0.5ex 1em; font-size:80%; line-height:90%;" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="1" summary="final fantasy was introduced in 1987 and the second installment came out in 1988. final fantasy&nbsp;iii was released in 1990 and games iv and v came out in 1991 and 1992. final fantasy&nbsp;vi was rel
Ultima Video_game_franchises