RunUO is a freely-available, open source, Microsoft .NET-based Ultima Online server emulator. It emulates the functionality of the Ultima Online servers.

The RunUO server can be reached via the standard Ultima Online client, using a utility such as UOGateway, UORice, or any other tool that removes the encryption layer from the client. UOGateway is recommended due to ease of use, as it does not require modification of the client executable.

Structure

The server itself requires the .NET framework to run. It includes a run-time compiler function that compiles C# and Visual Basic .NET scripts. In the current distribution, there are about 1,700 scripts which make up the majority of the server functions and can be freely edited with any text editor to modify virtually any setting or operation. The "Server.exe" core (about 448 kilobytes large) is open-source and can be modified; it provides the underlying functionality for the scripts, such as establishing and maintaining client-server connections and handling memory allocation, garbage collection, and script debugging.

The scripts themselves are the framework of the server. They provide the supporting structure for the world in which a player can build or play. These scripts can be easily modified by beginners to change basic settings such as the shard name or by more experienced coders to modify the rules by which the world operates. In addition, custom scripts can be added to create new objects, equipment, creatures, and other items, and will be compiled automatically the next time the server is started.

RunUO is a work in progress, and is currently on 1.0.0 meaning that the server supports the majority of functions found in the version of Ultima Online run by EA/OSI, though the additions made by the recently-released Samurai Empire expansion have yet to be included.

History

The RunUO project was founded in August 2002 by two programmers under the names of Krrios and Ryan. It started out simply as an application to test an Ultima Online client program which Krrios was writing; it did basic packet work to allow him to simulate the EA Games server. When it became seen how smooth the walking engine was, especially at a time when no other emulator handled walking well, the programmers decided to try to model other aspects of the game.

Development quickly progressed from walking and talking to the main skills of the game. In just over a year, RunUO went through thirty-six beta releases with nearly five thousand code changes and bug fixes.

External link

• RunUO.com forms the backbone of the RunUO emulator community and provides forums for discussion, support, and script submissions.