First of all, I'm not going to pretend to follow much of the external projects of Cyan, I've now simply resigned myself to just wait and find a definite answer, because I'd prefer to always be reasonable and sit on the fence until one thing ultimately disproves the other, which at this stage hasn't conclusively happened yet. It's also worth pointing out beforehand that what I'm saying is based on little more than my own outlook of dire consequences.
As a number of you are aware I'm also a fan of the Civilization series, another great in the gaming world, whose community is also having to push through a wait-and-see situation over a new game, in this case the suggestion of a fifth recreation of the game. There is, however, a difference between the two companies and the communities they affect.
Here, Cyan appears to be at a complete stand still in communication and progress. In turn the community has a divide in attitudes between the experienced, longing for the better game given in context by the 'recent' messages some period ago, desperate to hear a single word of news over it, and like myself, the new comers, those who have yet to taste and salavate the sensation of the game, not knowing what it once was, living in, I suppose, the bliss of ignorance, keeping a sharp eye and ear to also receive the news. Over time this will cause rifts within this community, if not already, at that is the first step to how Cyan will fall, the faction of those who just can't wait anymore grows, faith will plumet, and the company may have a game without a reasonable fanbase to maintain it. Without trying to make much light of the situation, the ending may well be written at that moment.
By contrast, Firaxis is not dormont, Civilization continues in different avenues, such as the Revolution game platforms and the recently proposed Civilization Network Facebook application, and still to its own name, but it's not what the fans want, It's not Civilization V. In turn a far greater division stirs, this time it's not just whether or not the game is to be considered, but the direction by which the copmany turns to, and that, like most things, generates speculation jeered by growing frustration and want. New questions pop up; Why Facebook? Why not pull resources on creating Civ5? This adds to the fuel to the unrest; Will there be a Civ5? Why haven't they said so or not? Like Uru, Civlization will also encounter rifts, but as I see it these rifts will be more fiery and damaging. With more of the same, Firaxis too will fall, the fanbase slowly revolts as more and more question the activities of Firaxis arise, and the procession of news and the game is hasted to content a dwindling community, it becomes rushed, it becomes rubbish, it becomes very oppressive. The community dies, as does the game, as does the image of the company, and in time the company will follow.
People may argue at this stage that Cyan is taking new avenues to continue the prosperity of the company in the hopes of perhaps Uru Open Source, and I'd agree completely, but this activity is not in the name of Uru, unlike Firaxis and Civilization. I will concede though, and admit to speculate, that Cyan is endevouring to repopulate the diminished community by using Myst rather than Uru. All that aside, my point in the argument is that Cyan actually strikes me to be making the better decision by not producing news where it's not wanted or not warranted. Let us consider the two examples I've posed; the Uru community at the current stage has a general divide on the game proposed to come, the optimists with a presumed lesser understanding of the situation, and the pessimists who complain about an eternal wait of what they really really want, like a kid that's had their lollypop taken. The Civilization community is having to contend with a number of issues in the lead up to Civ5, besides the optimists and pessimists toward Civ5, we have those who are for or against the Revolution series of games and argue the point of putting Civilization on different platforms, and just recently those who are for or against the recent news of the Civilization Network Facebook application, and perhaps more importantly, those who are for or against Facebook. The result here is a greater depreciation of Civilization because it's now a combination of all the opposition of the newer games. The companies both appear to be traveling through the trouble of the public, but it strikes me that it's Firaxis that is closer to reaching the thin ice. Cyan is doing okay considering all aspects, so my suggestion here is to sit tight at allow all things to happen, only when real signs of the rapture appear should we fear for our lives.
_________________ Owner and creator of JMJ Studios D'ni Bevin Chris Sifniotis KI = 433655 Skydiver Chris = 9316160
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