I don't understand why EA did this…Yes, they may well be in their legal rights to do so. But somehow it is like they don't understand that if there are a lot of Ultima Projects out there, this will also benefit EA's projects. Many people will hear about these, and then they will be excited, and then they will, possibly, buy the new game, the Ultima game, from EA.
I once tried to play one of the older Ultimas. I couldn't. And I thought the game was nice and all, but the graphics. I'm normally not a graphics whore, but things can go too far as well…
Maybe EA will attempt a Mass Effect style game for the Ultima IP. Perhaps they perceive that those older games will rub of negatively with the mass market rpg player.