Upon learning that the name of a long-standing character in the Ultima fiction - Zog, known among Ultima players as one who had learned the Armageddon spell - had wide-spread and publicly acknowledged anti-Semitic meaning, an Origin spokesperson told GameSpot News Friday that there would be no further references to Zog in any future Ultima fiction.

　　Zog entered the lexicon of US-based militia organizations and various other conspiracy theorists in the mid 1980s. Origin said it would act quickly to remove references it could from its site. In addition, Origin's David Swofford told GameSpot News an apology to gamers would appear shortly on the Ultima Online web site addressing the issue.

　　Zog, or ZOG, was first promoted by an anti-Semitic extremist organization who in the early 1980s was found to have been responsible for a string of bank robberies, numerous instances of counterfeiting, and the murder of Denver radio talk-show host Alan Berg. The group, known as The Order, coined the phrase ZOG, which in their lexicon stood for Zionist Occupied Government. It was part of the group's conspiracist theories of a Jewish-controlled government and Jewish-controlled businesses.

　　"Any reference to that is totally coincidental. If this has offended anyone, we apologize. It wasn't intended to be offensive," Swofford said.

　　Upon hearing of ZOG's racist subtext, Richard Garriott stated that it was a word he had merely made up.

　　In a post to the Ultima Online web site earlier this week, Lord British (Garriott's UO character) stated in part:

　　"Hail citizens, friends... Fellow Britannians. 'Tis with an angry heart that I speak with thee tonight. For We Have Been Betrayed! We face dangers each day. We are not cowards to cry out at the first sign of hardship. But the Zog Cabal hath gone too far! By attempting to cast the Armageddon spell, they have shown their true face. They mean ill to the entire realm. To each and every one of us.

　　"Though their motives remain a mystery, there can be no doubt as to their willingness to try again. And with any future attempt, the Zog Cabal will at best learn better how to correct their mistakes... at worst, render Britannia a total wasteland. The Zog Cabal and every being who claims membership with this fell company are enemies to us all!"

　　Late Friday afternoon, Swofford sent GameSpot News advance text of a statement he said would soon be posted on Origin's web site. That statement reads in part:

　　People have reported concerns to us about the use of the term "Zog Cabal" which recently has appeared in the fiction surrounding the Origin game, Ultima Online. While the term "Zog" refers to a fictional character from the early Ultima games created more than 15 years ago, it has been brought to our attention that the term may have anti-Semitic connotations...

　　We are dismayed about this situation and want to make assurances to all of our players that the usage of these terms was done innocently, accidentally and without any intent to harm or offend.

　　We sincerely apologize if that was the case - it certainly was not our intention. These references are already part of the Ultima Online fiction, however, going forward, Origin will not be referring to "Zog" or "Zog Cabal" in Ultima Online...

　　Swofford said the reference was "not done with intent to harm anyone."