However, population density can also= Very Expensive, as was found with Chicago, which had something like a 14% seasonal tax on top of the usual lodging taxes. Ouch.

Also, a Major Tourist Destination, while it can be pretty much guaranteed accessable travel wise, will run into a few problems... one, the crowding& facility availability; two, the price; and three, the timing. Someplace like Disney World is designed to be the only place you visit for 2 or 3 days. How fair would it be to bring people to a major attraction like that, and then only give them one afternoon to be tourists? I'd be a little cranky, myself.

This is part of why we made the change to needing local hosts, and providing some demographic information during the voting process (and why we reserved the right to make changes if we found out some sort of deal-breaker, like very high taxes, out of reasonable range hotel rooms, or weather concerns.) The choice shouldn't just be made on the basis of "that place sounds cool!", but on the ability to have a reasonably priced Mysterium that as many people as possible can attend.

Time zones just happen to be the most easily recognizable, reasonably even, division of the continent. If we reasly wanted to break it down, we could go regional: Pacific Northwest, Southwest, Midwest, New England etc... and go on a 6 or 7 year rotation, and hopscotch around.

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I think of myself as an avid Myst/Uru player and enthusiastic fan but only a casual member of the community. I am possibly interested in attending one of these gatherings, but wonder how much I would feel out of place or whether I would get any benefit from it. I'm also thinking in terms of the registration fee, whether some access to some activities would be free just for showing up, but more of the (how can i say this diplomatically?) "rabid fan" access be granted to those paying a fee. I was going to propose a two-tier system of registration fees, but that's an administrative nightmare, i can only imagine.

As for location, well, it seems that the only reason to meet in Spokane is to have access to Cyan. Without their blessing and participation, the city itself (again, how to say this without insulting someone?) doesn't really scream "major attraction" to me. Perhaps we do need to give Cyan another year to ramp up again, but it's totally up to them to decide when would be the best time to open their doors to the admiring public.

Well, saying you wanted a reasonably priced Mysterium would not exclude an area such as Chicago, though it might mean that next time you have it outside of Chicago. And flying into a major airport is the only way to make the plane fair at least semi-affordable. I think that demographics really are key.

As for Orlando, people could extend their visit if they wanted to. Lots of people bundle a conference with some extra vacation. As for crowding, well, I don't know about Orlando, but I was at Disneyland recently (1st time) in Anaheim, and I was astounded at both the number of places to stay, and their affordability. Sometimes a big travel destination, particularly a populist one, means "affordable".

I agree that the only reason to be in Spokane is for Cyan. If they don't participate, I can't see any reason to be there. Not that it's not a nice place, I'm sure it is - but there are a lots of nice, more accessible places. I can't imagine anything worse than having Mysterium in Spokane and having Cyan not participate.

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Retired forum mod, mszv, amarez in Uru (KI 89257), other online games
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Last edited by mszv on Fri Aug 08, 2008 4:10 pm; edited 5 times in total

Mysterium not at Cyan headquarters? Don't even say that, it puts it out there!! *shivers* I'd be so heart broken! Finally I have the chance to visit Cyan AND go to Myserium....it would be beyond horrible if its not at Cyan after all.

~Kia

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What I remember of 2006 Mysterium is that it was not held AT Cyan's, but a one day visit to their offices was included. I would imagine it has always been like that, never attended any before.
Yes, I certainly hope a visit will be scheduled again next year, but I am not sure if they will open their doors with such a limited staff... we shall just have to wait and see I guess.

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The time has come for us to move on. Thanks for the wonderful friendships, pleasant interaction and 7 happy years in URU. Above all, thank you Cyan for bringing Murray and myself together. Be well, everybody

A quick aside from the debates about the location...

I have only been able to attend 1 Mysterium, the L.A. one, and I was horribly confused as to which name I should use, my avatar's name or my real name (in this case they don't coincide). For future reference, which name is a better choice? Or should we use both?

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faroguy here, faroguy there
KI#: 175342
"Where's that monkey? I need to shoot something!" - Captian Jack Sparrow

Whatever you're most comfortable with. My avatar name and real name don't coincide either. There's no pressure to be one or the other, you can be whoever you want to be.

~Kia

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Will someone please get to work on the linking books so we don't have to have this problem of where Mysterium should be held! Also take care of all this visa talk, I use MasterCard anyways.

/me runs out of room quickly.

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jek
MO:UL is:

Quote:

I have only been able to attend 1 Mysterium, the L.A. one, and I was horribly confused as to which name I should use, my avatar's name or my real name (in this case they don't coincide). For future reference, which name is a better choice? Or should we use both?

Either is acceptable, but personally I find using the avatar name more practical. Since people don't know you by your real name, if they see it on your badge they might assume they don't know you. People in the Myst/Uru community are easier to recognize by their avatar names, generally.

If you prefer to use your real name, you can-- but people will ask your avatar name anyway, so you may as well save yourself having to repeat it over and over.

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Why not put both?

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Has there been any progress in nailing down the exact date yet? I know this is early, but airfare prices are pretty low for me right now, and I would like to get the tickets while I still have the money. If not, I will just have to make sure I save it till we know the exact date and hope the prices don't go up too much.

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A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

I went to see Cyan just a week ago, having never been there. Naturally, all I could do was drive by. The place was pretty deserted - maybe 8 cars in the parking lot. Even the security gates were wide open.

Considering the business state Cyan is in now, there is nobody there from Myst/Riven/Uru* - except maybe Rand. Will Cyan still be there in a year? I wouldn't be surprised if it's not.

I think trying to draw people to a Mysterium in Spokane with the lure of a visit to cyan or Cyan's participation is a BAD IDEA. Spokane is a nice place, & the area around it is very desert-like but it also has lots of hay farms. And once you cross the border into Idaho (a 30-minute drive east of Spokane) you suddenly have trees trees trees.

New Mexico, camping or otherwise, with a road trip to the caverns etc. would, IMHO, be a much better idea. For the 10th Anniversary, go to where it all started - the desert. Not a maybe-empty building in a city.

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the journey begins again . . .

I understand what your saying, but the idea of visiting New Mexico in July does not excite me. I live in a mountain desert in Idaho and it's hot enough here at that time. My vote is to keep it in Spokane as originally planned. Of course, I have other reasons for wanting to keep it there as I have never had the opportunity to see Cyan headquarters before. Whatever is decided is fine with me, I just hope I will be able to afford to go if it is moved.

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A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

if it is in Spokane as already widely discussed and presented as a strong possibility, i will come. if not, not.

there is still much time to see how things go between now and then, so Spokane as choice number 1 and a choice number 2 if need be in a few months.....might help.

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