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Lord British's Lost Lunar Rover Found, After 37 Years

Lanxon writes "The guy behind Ultima Online once bought an old Russian rover, despite it being lost on the moon somewhere. And now, using images released by NASA, it has been located on the moon's surface after nearly four decades of being MIA, reports Wired. Richard Garriott, who created the Ultima Online multiplayer game, bought the Lunokhod 2 in a Sotheby's auction in New York in 1998. And so new was the discovery of his lost possession, he hadn't even heard that the craft had been discovered when Wired spoke to him." (Richard Garriott is also well known as Lord British.)

36 of 193 comments (clear)

  1. Proof he owns the moon. by Qwell · · Score: 4, Informative

    At one point, Richard Garriott declared himself to be ruler of the moon, based on him being the only non-government entity to own anything physically on the moon.

    It's a shame he doesn't make that claim more public.

    --
    As of 10/06/03, I hate COBOL developers.
    1. Re:Proof he owns the moon. by shogun · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Wouldn't that then make him a government hence annulling his claim?

      Which would then mean he isn't a government and then can validly make such a claim? /rinse and repeat /divide by zero

    2. Re:Proof he owns the moon. by KingOfTheMoon · · Score: 5, Funny

      I will suffer no claims to my throne.

    3. Re:Proof he owns the moon. by PakProtector · · Score: 4, Funny

      Dude, he's Lord British.

      Lord British.

      I think he can do whatever he wants.

      --

      Edward@Tomato - /home/Edward/ man woman
      man: no entry for woman in the manual.
      "Qua!?"

    4. Re:Proof he owns the moon. by earlymon · · Score: 5, Informative

      At one point, Richard Garriott declared himself to be ruler of the moon, based on him being the only non-government entity to own anything physically on the moon.

      Oooooook.

      http://www.lunarembassy.com/

      http://www.lunarregistry.com/

      http://archives.cnn.com/2000/TECH/space/11/20/lunar.land/

      One thing's clear: he's about to owe someone, somewhere, for parking.

      --
      Pathological kinda promises Path + Logical - but instead, you get stuck with pathetic.
    5. Re:Proof he owns the moon. by game+kid · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Yes, but he is still vulnerable to falling gold plaques, enraged catgirl goddesses of luck, and Chuck Norris.

      --
      You can hold down the "B" button for continuous firing.
    6. Re:Proof he owns the moon. by radtea · · Score: 4, Funny

      As of 10/06/03, I hate COBOL developers

      As of the 10th of June 1903 you hate COBOL developers?

      --
      Blasphemy is a human right. Blasphemophobia kills.
    7. Re:Proof he owns the moon. by Vellmont · · Score: 2, Funny

      I see you're interested in property. Well have I got a deal for you! I've got the Brooklyn Bridge, recently being sold by NYC in the wake of the recession. Mind you, the WHOLE bridge isn't for sale (who could afford that!), but what I'm selling is a percentage of ownership of the bridge! Act fast! They aren't building another one!

      Bridges not your style? How about some excellent prime real-estate in Florida?

      --
      AccountKiller
    8. Re:Proof he owns the moon. by DerekLyons · · Score: 3, Interesting

      At one point, Richard Garriott declared himself to be ruler of the moon, based on him being the only non-government entity to own anything physically on the moon.

      Well, a Grumman employee snuck a picture if his daughter onto Eagle's descent stage, and one of the astronauts lefts a bible on a rover seat, and another left a memorial [to fallen astronauts] statute... And that's just the ones we know about.
       
      So Garriot's claim is tenuous at best.

    9. Re:Proof he owns the moon. by siloko · · Score: 4, Funny

      your comment is so full of awesome i just burnt my dictionary.

    10. Re:Proof he owns the moon. by Chris+Mattern · · Score: 2, Informative

      And Rainz.

    11. Re:Proof he owns the moon. by earlymon · · Score: 2, Funny

      I, too, live on land once owned by the Spanish - my children trace then themselves back to one of the Conquistadors (name listed at a national monument, yadda yadda).

      Actually, it's land that was once either owned by no one or more accurately, was the sovereign territory of one of what we call a pueblo tribe until raiding expeditions in search of The Seven Cities of Gold raped, murdered and pillaged these native peoples. Naturally, upon defeat, these people were converted to Christianity.

      And that's when the Spanish Crown started handing out land grants - to the Conquistadors and to the monks, priests and friars taking such good care of the ignorant heathens - under threat of their immortal souls and under threat of losing their hands and feet (literally), leading to Popé's Rebellion, and that was suppressed, putting the land under the control of the Spanish governor in Santa Fe, answerable to his superior in Mexico city.

      Then there's the whole matter of how we got the land away from the Spanish.

      You can call on all of the Marines you want, but you're living on stolen land.

      In fact, it's specifically because you can call on the Marines, with superior warrior spirit, fighting skills and warmaking technology - up to and including nukes - that you're able to continue to live on stolen land.

      And by the way - vast stretches of this land (beyond the imagination of people who've never really been to the Southwest) were included in Spanish land grants where no monk, friar, prist or Spanish soldier ever set foot.

      Unless you've done your homework, you're not only living on stolen land, you could very well be living on land granted with no more original authority of occupancy by the Spanish than I have on the moon. (I didn't buy any real estate shares on the moon - I simply followed your legal precedents established by the Spanish - I looked up at it and land-granted it to myself because it was as far as my eye could see.)

      That sort of gives some legitimacy to my legal claim that is hard to pass up.

      The legitimacy of thieves backed up by ability to wage war, the latter being your own words.

      From what I've read, pretty much the whole world's land possession is the story of tribes killing and enslaving tribes until nations are established and nations killing and enslaving nations until we have the map we have today.

      Whose boundaries are still being redraw as I write this.

      So don't hand me the law and ask me to supplicate to any government as if there's something sacred in any of it where land ownership is concerned. You and I are just schmoes born into a scheme where we pay mortgages to bandits, given legitimacy by other bandits and we're making out like the bandits we descended from.

      I hereby declare myself: EarlyMon - El Primer Bandido de la Luna Grande!

      Join me hermano - the Conquista de la Luna Grande is on!

      --
      Pathological kinda promises Path + Logical - but instead, you get stuck with pathetic.
    12. Re:Proof he owns the moon. by Teancum · · Score: 2, Interesting

      I'm sorry you have such a huge chip on your shoulder and are annoyed at however the land that I live on got into the hands of my countrymen.

      Big whoop. If you want it, come get it. Just carry a big gun and be willing to die in the attempt. And don't be surprised if you do die. I'd prefer that you not kill anybody, my family in particular, but if you are that big of an ass I can't stop you anyway.

      All land is "stolen land" after a fashion if you really get down to it. The question is really over who can enforce a "civilizing" force upon that land and keep people from having to kill each other ever other year to maintain possession of that land. Even the so-called native peoples of America or elsewhere have often moved or had land change hands even before they got there in the first place. This is all a moot argument.

      My point about the Moon or any extra-terrestrial real-estate is that the same principles apply, and some silly group like the Lunar Embassy is a joke that won't really be recognized in the future except as perhaps an "initial claimant" on the property.

      I'm not sure how it is going to happen, but at some point in the future blood will be spilled to defend some piece of real estate off of the Earth. In addition, there will be some folks who will be willing to offer "protection" from those who would be bullies. These may be private corporations, sovereign entities like some of the larger governments on the Earth, or perhaps something else dreamed up by those living in space.

      As for my personal claim to the Moon, I'll claim the eastern rim of the Tycho crater. Still, there is no way for me to enforce that claim until I get there and try to kick off any squatters. So tell me, what is the difference between a squatter and the person who holds the title? I still say it is whoever has the bigger gun.

  2. Re:And the photos of the moon landing site are... by Chris+Burke · · Score: 4, Informative

    Here.

    --

    The enemies of Democracy are
  3. Just goes to show... by qsliver · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...you really need to read the fine print when buying a used car!

    --
    The above comments are the ravings of a lunatic and should be ignored completely.
  4. Re:Ebay Oportunity Awaits by Fractal+Dice · · Score: 5, Funny

    As he is someone who has made his fortune from people paying for virtual possessions, I doubt that physical possession of the item is really that important for the sale :)

    He should create an inventory of the parts of the rover and rent out custody of individual pieces on monthly subscription to those who want bragging rights to "having" something on the moon.

  5. Re:I was there, I saw the whole thing. by linzeal · · Score: 3, Funny

    Sounds like Wisconsin on St Pat's day are you sure you aren't just drunk in the Midwest again?

  6. Re:...what? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "Lord British"? Seriously? I thought Yahtzee was joking.

    And now we have people who just know Lord British as "a guy that Yahtzee has once mentioned". *sigh* Where is this world going to?

  7. Re:...what? by spleen_blender · · Score: 4, Informative

    Yeah, he should rightfully be remembered as that guy who got killed while in god mode in the game he created.

    http://www.gamestooge.com/2009/01/02/feature-the-day-lord-british-died/

  8. creator of Ultima Online? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

    amusing that that's his byline these days. didn't anyone play Ultima or Ultima ][, three or four on their ][+?

    1. Re:creator of Ultima Online? by spiderbitendeath · · Score: 2, Informative

      Nope, it was on my C64.

      --
      Sometimes when I'm working on projects things disappear, I suspect gremlins.
  9. Re:...what? by amicusNYCL · · Score: 3, Informative

    I don't know who "Yahtzee" is, other than a Hasbro trademark, but Richard Garriot has been making video games since the late 70s as Lord British. If you haven't heard of him before 2010, it's not because he's been quiet.

    --
    "Our two-party system is like a bowl of shit looking at itself in a mirror." - Lewis Black
  10. Re:...what? by ximenes · · Score: 4, Insightful

    He also hasn't made a noteable game since 1997 (or 1999 if you consider Ultima IX noteable), at best 11 years ago. While I instantly know who Lord British is, he is far from a household name to someone who was 3 when Ultima Online launched.

    That's right, it's happened to you: you got old.

  11. Re:Look Closer by c6gunner · · Score: 4, Funny

    Further observation reveals a parking ticket and booted wheel. With time elapsed, the fine comes to 100 million quatloos.

    Here are your messages:

    'You have thirty minutes to move your lunar rover.'
    'You have ten minutes to move your rover.'
    'Your rover has been impounded.'
    'Your rover has been crushed into a cube.'
    'You have thirty minutes to move your cube.'

  12. Russians are smart people by Opportunist · · Score: 3, Funny

    Not only do they get rid of their junk by sending it off world, they also find someone dumb enough to pay for it.

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  13. A little off-topic... by Enderandrew · · Score: 4, Insightful

    But this guy is largely famous for creating the Ultima franchise, which is basically all but dead, because EA sank their fangs into Origin Systems and killed the company.

    EA owns the Ultima IP. They also own Bioware, perhaps the number 1 Computer RPG shop on the planet.

    Richard Garriott isn't doing anything these days, and I imagine most gamers have never played a single player Ultima these days.

    The original Ultima games are barely playable today. The original trilogy is a little too straight forward, full of continuity holes, etc. He wasn't planning a lengthy franchise at that point.

    They need to remake the Ultima franchise from the beginning. Arguably they could just use the Dragon Age engine and toolset that Bioware just developed, though I would hope a proper Ultima game would have one seamless world as opposed to maps like Dragon Age. Someone needs to make this happen, like yesterday.

    --
    http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
    1. Re:A little off-topic... by Enderandrew · · Score: 2, Informative

      Yes, and it is very much worth linking to.

      http://www.u5lazarus.com/

      Many of the same people have been working on an Ultima VI remake, and a generic platform for Ultima remakes continuing the U5-Lazarus code.

      http://u6project.com/

      --
      http://blindscribblings.com - Tasty pop-culture in conceptual fashion.
  14. conspiracy theories by roman_mir · · Score: 3, Interesting

    you gotta love conspiracy theories surrounding the US moon landings.

    For those, still not sure, check out these pics from the Harsh Mistress herself, look for example at Apollo 14 photos, there are footstep trails visible. Ain't it cool?

  15. Never lost by mbone · · Score: 4, Informative

    Lunokhod 2 has been returning Lunar Laser Ranging (LLR) pulses since the early 1970's. Not only is it not lost, its position is known to a centimeter or better.

    Finding Lunokhod 1, which has been missing since 1971, would be a real coup, especially if LLR returns could be obtained from it.

  16. Re:...what? by Khyber · · Score: 3, Insightful

    "I thought Yahtzee was joking."

    Dude you need to turn in your geek card and walk right out the door. You're too ignorant of our world to be here. And if you don't know of Lord British, you're likely too young to boot!

    --
    Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
  17. "Britishing" hehe... by Guppy · · Score: 3, Informative

    What the hell are you talking about? The only reason I play UO is for all the "Britishing": paying real world dollars to people for cyber-sex, then player killing them as I climax. That's the only reason anyone plays UO - all the violent sex. Jesus, man, where have you been?

    Remember Old Man Murray reviews? Coined the term "Britishing":
    http://www.oldmanmurray.com/shortreviews/sr5.html

  18. Loved UO by caywen · · Score: 3, Funny

    You notice your lunar rover is missing.

    GUARDS!!

    *whack*

  19. Re:Was that worth it? by iprefermuffins · · Score: 5, Informative

    He's been around since at least 2008.

  20. Sheesh... by Anachragnome · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Sheesh.

    He owns a vehicle on the moon, yet STILL hasn't put out a decent successor to Ultima Online!

    Talk about fucked up priorities.

  21. I'm British, I Don't Own A Lunar Rover.... by pandrijeczko · · Score: 2, Insightful

    ...I just wanted to get that point across just in case our overseas friends think that we're all loonies with too much money.

    Two words Richard: "TABULA RASA".

    --
    Gentoo Linux - another day, another USE flag.
  22. Re:...what? by Peter+Bortas · · Score: 3, Funny

    And we travel in packs.