The Ultima and Wizardry series developed in tandem and leapfrogged one another with each successive release. Both games took a fairly similar approach to role-playing, yet each earned its own distinct fanbase; Wizardry won a special place in the hearts of Japanese gamers in particular, and Ultima became a hit in Apple ][ circles. It wasn't until the arrival of the fourth Ultima game, Quest of the Avatar, that Garriott's creation leapt permanently into the lead.