This is probably a stupid question, but I thought I'd throw it out there anyway...

I'd totally forgotten until Wiki kindly reminded me, but there was an expansion planned for U8 called "The Lost Vale." Allegedly, it was basically completed before EA nixed the release plans.

Here's where I take a deep breath and cross my fingers... Is there a chance that this exists out there somewhere and may one day come to GOG?

The original plot docs were in fact obtained by a fan and released:

http://ultima8.ultimacodex.com/the-lost-vale-plot-documents/

Additionally, here is a blog post from Sheri Graner Ray, the design director for U8 regarding the plot & cancellation of the Lost Vale:

http://sherigranerray.com/?p=13

As Sheri points out, the game was fully developed, tested, mastered, and ready for release then cancelled the day before it was supposed to ship. As far as anyone knows the code and finished game are lost, but I have to believe *someone* somewhere still has it.

- Voyager Dragon

Thanks for the responses... And especially the link to the Sheri Graner Ray blog. Wow. The development cycle for U8 sounds brutal!

Appears that a copy fo the box did get out and into the "real" world:

The Lost Vale

This expansion to Ultima VIII was planned from the outset, and was highly anticipated, but never released; it was canceled when the main game did not sell as well as had been expected, despite being all but finished and ready for duplication.[citation needed] Hints from texts in the main game suggested that the expansion pack would have added a new story regarding resistance to the Pagan gods and followers of the old religion known as Zealans. A single Lost Vale game box surfaced in October 2005, and was confirmed to be genuine soon afterwards. It was auctioned in eBay for US$1923. Some low-resolution scans of the box are located on the web.

The scans have since been deleted, but this is interesting....can gog find a copy...hmmmmm. Would make an interiested extra at least.

The box scans are still out there. There are some on the Ultima wiki:

http://codex.ultimaaiera.com/wiki/Lost_Vale

- Voyager Dragon

Maybe we should make a kickstarter to find the one person who kept a copy of the expansion. Use the money as a lure to get him/her out of hiding...

Thank you very much for those links. I wound up becoming so interested in Sheri's blog that I read everything there and left her a comment thanking her for her work over the years. I especially enjoyed reading about her Origin years and work on the Ultimas.

It is a real crying shame about The Lost Vale but I too wonder if someone, somewhere doesn't still have the master. What a terrible waste for that to have been discarded.

I absolutely love Ultima 8 and the whole world of Pagan and I would gladly pay for any good remake or expansion (old or new). The world just have so much potential and magic in it. Count me in for any Kickstarter project regarding this or any hope for resurrection of the world of Pagan.

I really expected from Gog to release UVIII with the lost extension(The lost lost vale....)
To bad... I hope someone will found the source code or binaries back. Even if it's hard to believe.

The Auction, in fact, was only(!) for the BOX, without any contents. Too bad.

You are assuming that someone has "kept" the Lost Vale. If it didn't surface on the internet until now, I say it is very unlikely that a) a copy exists at all b) someone knowingly possesses a copy c) cares about the product enough to release it on a torrent site just for lulz.

Asking GOG why didn't they release Lost Vale is like going to your local church and asking the vicar why there is no Ark of the Covenant on display. Wrong address mate ;)

I`m the proud owner of the box - see eBay auction file. It´s the highlight of my Ultima collection. It´s stored together with many other rare Ultima items! :-)

I sell my Lost Vale Box now on eBay. Have a look in eBay auction number 301315481446.
Kind regards from Germany,
Andreas List