Internal sales predictions for "Ultima Online" were low, as Electronic Arts president John Riccitiello remarked that "Ultima" "was never a big franchise." According to an Origin Systems employee, the game's expected maximum subscriber count was 15,000 users. However, Stefan Janicki of GameSpot later noted that it "quickly became one of the most commercially successful games ever". "CNNMoney" similarly declared it a "watershed event" and the first major hit in the Internet-only game genre. In the United States, "Ultima Online" debuted at #9 on PC Data's computer game sales rankings for October 1997. It carried a list price of $65, and its average street price was $55 for the month. A writer for CNET Gamecenter found that the title was part of a trend of role-playing successes in October, alongside "Fallout" and "". He remarked, "If October's list is any indication, RPGs are back." Between "Ultima Online"s launch on September 25 and November 13, the game sold 65,000 units. In Japan, its initial shipment of 5,000 units sold out within 15 minutes on shelves.