First of all, the biggest issue is keeping things up-to-date. Now, I'm afraid I'm not sure how it was implemented during UU, but I believe that the most logical method would be to use a server list-like setup that you see on most multiplayer games (Doom3, Team Fortress 2, and the like.), where the servers are checked against a canon setup stored a Cyan-maintained server.
By having the individual "shards" checked against a central server, this allows users casually searching for servers to connect with other people, while still allowing Cyan to maintain a fair amount of control.
Now, as is with most open-source software, OSMO will have some variants that deviate quite a ways from the standard. For this, I suggest allowing people to create "Mod packs", additional bits of code that can be installed alongside the main Uru, and are used for additional programs to be run inside Uru.
Example: someone creates a mod pack that allows Uru to be run as the base for an MMORPG-like configuration. The additional libraries for combat, leveling, and AI could be stored within a mod pack.
Now, the next problem is to address the issue of how the user would physically connect. I personally believe, since the servers would be checked against a Cyan server, that the users could also be created to be universal. In this sense, when a player first starts Uru, they're in the basic game, which can run independently from the other modifications.
Now, to connect to other servers, a player could go to the Nexus, and use this object, already present in the game, as a method to list all available servers (possibly under a Shards tab?) to the user. Once a server is selected and Linked to, the Nexus still remains in the Player's Relto, as a method to connect to other servers.
As for actual work on new concepts and content, maybe Cyan could recycle their current development neighborhood as a mode users can set their own Uru to, which then loads up the selected content from a file list.
Anyway, if any of you all out there have any suggestions, ideas, or even criticisms, you're more than welcome to post them.
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