EA raises 'Ultima Online' rates

Electronic Arts announced Thursday that it plans to raise subscription fees for its pioneering role-playing game "Ultima Online." As of June 25, players will have to pay $13 a month to access the game's online world, up from the current $10. A prepaid three-month package costs $35, and a six-month package is $60.

"Ultima Online" was one of the first subscription-based online games to attract a widespread audience, paving the way for similar fantasy games, such as Sony's "EverQuest." The game remains a notable online success for EA, which has had difficulty attracting customers for subscription games such as "Majestic" and "The Sims Online."