https://www.cmpevents.com/GDAU08/a.asp?option=C&V=11&SessID=7844

_________________
Previously known as "The stranger"

Nice find I want to attend, although I know the answer of course

_________________
http://uruforever.com

That link and other topical news items can be found at http://rel.to plus it's really "a portal to the community in and around Cyan Worlds' adventure and exploration games, the 'Myst' and 'Uru' series."

_________________
OpenURU.org: An Uru Project Resource Site
Perfect Speed Is Being There

Last edited by JWPlatt on Tue Jul 01, 2008 10:37 pm; edited 1 time in total

Herm, I wonder why Uru won't die?

O-o

Maybe cause we just enjoy the experience, the backstory, and the concept of a world underground where anything is possible? It's very exciting, to be able to create new worlds and wander around in places untouched for thousands of years.

The Millers struck gold on the concept. I for one am one of those who'd like to see this come back strong. If it doesn't, I accept it and move on after this. Third time's the charm, and if not I'll still have my good memories.

i would feel better if there were more "ordinary" players on that panel, ppl i had seen day after day, night after night actually IN the Cavern right up to the end, actually helping create and support ongoing interaction and keeping the game alive even after the end of the episodes....so many who did so much...and are still doing it..............,

In My humble and personal opinion, one of the great qualities of URU MOUL is the equality and way all are equally part of it all and none are "experts" or control any more than their own avi.

There are so many who are devoted to the game and really appreciate and know its nuances...and they are the ones who along with Cyan itself who really is responsible for the game continuing equaly with fan support, that know what it is about. I am glad to see Blake, and Rand, that is nice tho, they between deserve so much of our thanks. It is the actual players, all of us, that ARE MOUL URU, and we are NOT defined or packaged by the 'experts" or to be used for the latest trendy marketing and analysis makers. We speak for us, not them, and I do not accept my own experince being spoken for by those with their own agendas.

WE are URU MOUL......all of us, each unique, and each equally important and precious. And that is why URU MOUL is alive and strong, not because any one of us, or any group of us made it survive. It has taken ALL of us all this time and will take more.....and the continued faith and love we have for Cyan and their genius, and Cyan's faith and care for us the community. That is the magic and the reason for its suvival, ALL of US working together. So please dont try to make this out to be a player revolution or a fan rescued phenomemon to try to prove some academic theory.

The magic is in all of us together, players, Cyan, the story and the future.

_________________
MORE OR.....

Last edited by CrisGer on Wed Jul 02, 2008 4:56 pm; edited 2 times in total

I think Cris hit it right on the nail. Myst is unlike other MMOs. It's a world that is living, breathing and moving. Every day that passes, something changes. And the players are all apart of it. Now, more than ever, the game will be moved by how the players shape Uru's future.

I think this is a brilliant way to shape Uru and Myst, and I can't wait to visit the Cavern again.

Chris, it's a tallk at GDC - Game Developers Conference. The people who present at GDC are in the game development biz - not game players, and they need to have industry knowledge to present. That's how it is - and I think you know that - don't get all ingenuous on me now! (smile). Who do you think got Uru in a session - someone in the industry! I'm thinking either Celia Peirce or Ron Meiners, but that's just a wild guess on my part. As for the topic - you seem so negative, Chris. That's what you do at GDC - remember - industry talk. You talk about what happened, and you analyze it, and figure out how to make it work better, and how to have the same thing happen in another game. I think the panel is quite good. I'm extra happy that Celia Pierce and Ron Meiners are on it.

As for everyone being equal - I don't know what that means. Sure we all get to play Uru - I understand that. We play in a game with gameplay and content created by Cyan. Going forward, we'll get to make content, but I rather think it's not going to be a complete free for all. I can't see it being the same sort of sandbox as Second Life. Don't get me wrong - I like Second Life, but I can't see that same thing happening in Uru.

In terms of equality - we've actually been "less equal" than players in other games. In other games, the rules for getting the good stuff are clearly articulated, and everyone gets a shot at it. In Uru, with the episodic format - it was completely arbitrary - a lucky few got to see the episodes, and the rest of the players did not. Going forward, I hope it's a more level playing field. Perhaps you mean that we all got to experience Uru - which is how it is for any online game.


Back to the Austing GDC - unlike the San Francisco GDC, Austin focuses on online games. Here's the blurb on the site:
"The Austin Game Developers Conference is a conference for developers by developers. The content presented is dedicated to online games, audio for games, and writing for games, all embracing the unique perspective native to the independent spirit of its host city."
http://www.austingdc.net/about/index.htm

Here's the 2008 advisory board
http://www.austingdc.net/conference/advisoryboard.htm

Given that it's Austin, there is also a big emphasis on audio and music for games - makes sense, as Austin is such a music town. Austin is also becoming something of a game industry town, which is really cool.

Austin GDC is standard industry conference pricey, though (I think) less than the San Francisco one. Let's see, the cheapest 3 day pass is $395, if you went before, $495 otherwise (US dollars).

You know, it really is quite impressive that the people from our little Uru are going to be a topic in a GDC session. This, from a game that never made money. Pretty darn impresive if you ask me. It's also in the right place, the " Online Games - Social Networking & Community Track". Wow, nifty topics in that track, and it's early in the planning stage - might be more presentations.

Yes - excellent find.

_________________
Retired forum mod, mszv - played as amarez in Uru
Personal blog - http://www.amarez.com, Personal twitter - http://www.twitter.com/amareze

Last edited by mszv on Wed Jul 02, 2008 1:49 am; edited 2 times in total

CrisGer wrote:

i would feel better if there were more "ordinary" players on that panel, ppl i had seen day after day, night after night actually IN the Cavern right up to the end, actually helping create and support ongoing interaction and keeping the game alive even after the end of the episodes....

Do I count as ordinary enough? I feel pretty generic

I was absolutely thrilled to be asked to join this panel, It's a huge chance to show the uniqueness of the D'niverse community to the people on the other side of the computer screen, the game designers. Maybe even to encourage the out-of-the-box creating that makes hundreds of fans grab on and hold fast, through thick and thin. Get those game designers wondering "Why don't OUR fans throw us pizza parties and buy us nice coffee??"

Over the next couple of months, I really want to take the time to sit in a circle and get many perspectives on the community, from the community... And then I just have to figure out how to condense it all down into my time allotment O.o

*AFTER* Mysterium, though! Right now my brain is full of that.

_________________
Officially bonked R.E.B.E.L.
Mysterium 2010 Co-Chair
Storyteller
MOULAgain Houligan KI#00001498

We all know the reason....based on a great game that drew us all in...playing with people all over the world was great, getting shut down, and then given the game to play with anyway...with no new content we could place emphasis on getting to know each other...and made up our own games.
I would think that anyone who has raised kids would know that if you don't organize all their play time, they think up their own games and because they come from inside, they are very devoted to them...and those who play the new games.
We're very inventive, but we also like each other!
I hope there will be a video or at least audio of that discussion.
Eleri, I'm glad you're on that panel too...

_________________
I'm here for a good time, not a long time.
.....and I want MORE!.....

Will this presentation be available for audio download?

_________________
OpenURU.org: An Uru Project Resource Site
Perfect Speed Is Being There

JWPlatt wrote:

Will this presentation be available for audio download?

I do believe it will. Although looking at last years audio availability, they charge a small fee for them. So I dunno. As I know more, I'll pass stuff along.

_________________
Officially bonked R.E.B.E.L.
Mysterium 2010 Co-Chair
Storyteller
MOULAgain Houligan KI#00001498

mszv wrote:

The people who present at GDC are in the game development biz - not game players, and they need to have industry knowledge to present. That's how it is -

... and maybe that's the reason so many games do NOT last. They fail to consider what the audience wants. Instead, like the fashion industry, so many impose upon the playing public *their* version of what we can or cannot play and work to influence us, thus.

Lade'e

exactly my point Ladee, we and the world of URU and the community are real people enjoying a wonderful real shared experinece in a marvelous created story, so much that is good and successful and that success will continue to evolve i believe if we avoid being packaged and dissected and made and example of by "experts" who have as a main goal their own advancement and not the good of MOUL, which only really needs to be given love and generous marketing and support to flower into full bloom, not adjustment by "experts"

I am very very glad you are there Eleri, i was not referring to you when i am talking about the dangers of exploitation at all.

the only people who have any real right in discussing MOUL are the staff at Cyan who created it, and us, the community who ARE the world of URU and MOUL, tho i understand that there are ppl who do work in the field of game design and also people are professional commentators on it too.... Well intentioned and part of the wider world but what is remarkable and wonderful about MOUL is the consensus and the way everyone works together, and IS equal, we stand in line, we share and we open the circle to all who come. That is how WE are WE.

_________________
MORE OR.....

Last edited by CrisGer on Wed Jul 02, 2008 3:42 am; edited 1 time in total

OK - I think I see where you are coming from, but I could not disagree more - and I'm a member of the Uru community! Let me repeat that - I'm a member of the community and I don't see it your way, not at all. The community is not "all together on this" I repeat. The term "parasite" is a really strong word. I'm not sure who qualifies as a parasite. I'm sure not seeing consensus here, and that's fine with me. Even among players - we had lots of different opinons on what we liked and didn't like about the game.

Continuing, there isn't going to be, as you call it "generous marketing", unless there is all that analysis, nor will there be "generous support". You study games - Chris, you talk about your industry knowledge. What's wrong with analyzing Uru? Also, what's wrong with another online game having user content, learning a little something from Uru? I'm an Uru fan and I think that's a really, really swell idea! How does that take away from Uru? And maybe the people who did Uru can learn a little something, in the process. I also love, as you put it "dissection" - it's called analysis and I can't get enough of that. So, from your perspective Chris, does that make me a bad fan? Am I a parasite? I don't think I'm alone. I've seen lots of posts where people looked at Uru critically and made suggestions - we did analysis. Does that make us bad fans, in your book?

As for industry experts - let's see, Blake was the person, per Mark (Chogon), who championed Uru with Gametap - the reason why there is an Uru today! it wasn't you are me Chris, it was Blake. Without Blake, no Uru - doesn't matter how brilliant you think Cyan is/was - Cyan did go under - entire staff laid off. Blake bought it back. In my book - that means he should be on the panel. What are the lessons to be learned from that - what did he see in Uru? Is Blake a parasite? Wow, strong language. Rand Miller, head of Cyan, OK. As for Celia, I think that her writing and leadership had an influence on Uru coming back - she's done more to promote Uru, with her smart game writing, than practically anyone. Is Celia a parasite? And Ron Meiners - such a great Uru community manager, and he knows community. Is Ron a parasite? And Eleri - active in the community and an organizer of the revamped Mysterium. I just can't see what not to like. Is she a parasite?

Finally - you seem to think it's a "one way street". People who worked on Uru learned things from the other game they worked on and brought that to Uru. Then, most of them moved on and brought what they learned about Uru to other games. That's how it works. Outsiders came into Uru and brought in their different perspectives. Then they left and brought their perspectives on Uru into the games. I think we need a lot more of that, not less. In my opinion, insular is bad.

I'm still confused. I'm enjoying the discussion, but I am confused.

_________________
Retired forum mod, mszv - played as amarez in Uru
Personal blog - http://www.amarez.com, Personal twitter - http://www.twitter.com/amareze

Last edited by mszv on Thu Jul 10, 2008 4:59 am; edited 6 times in total