myst-online posts

Some games just can't be kept down, and despite having an off then on again history, it looks like Myst Online: Uru Live is a game that's here to stay. Supported by a dedicated group of programmers using open source code, Myst Online is a free-to-play massively-multiplayer puzzle adventure game. Visit the official website fore more information and to sign up for an account. System requirements are shown after the jump.

"Myst Online: Uru Live is a massive multiplayer online game (MMOG) unlike anything else. Instead of repetitive kill/take/buy gameplay of other MMOGs, the very essence of Myst Online is to explore vast, fantastic worlds; savoring and uncovering new areas and new information at every turn. Exploring in Myst Online is an extraordinary experience, where immersing yourself in the environment gives you insight into how to move forward, and what went on before. You can explore alone, or share the journey with a select group friends or family from anywhere in the world. Create an online avatar and chat via text and voice, share images and clues, and explore the Ages of Myst Online together. You'll rediscover, restore and rebuild the ancient city of D'ni and learn about the history of its fallen civilization."

Download Myst Online: Uru Live Install Client (1.12 GB)

Gallery: Myst Online: Uru Live

Cyan Worlds, the developers and creators of Myst, have had a brutal 2008. Their online adventure-themed MMO Myst Online: Uru Live was shut down by its publisher Gametap earlier this year and last month Cyan let go of 50 team members who worked as QA testers. However fans of Myst Online have reason to be happy this weekend as the game has now been revived as an open source project.

Yep, you read that right. According to the game's official web site, "Cyan has decided to give make MystOnline available to the fans by releasing the source code for the servers, client and tools for MystOnline as an open source project. We will also host a data server with the data for MystOnline. MORE is still possible but only with the help from fans." The developer admits having a game project like this for anyone to tinker with is "scary" but adds, "...we've poured so much into UruLive, and it has touched so many, that we could not just let it whither and die. We still have hopes that someday we will be able to provide new content for UruLive and/or work on the next UruLive." There's no word on when the files for the game will be released.

[Via Massively]

There's more news today of game developers losing their jobs. Today the word got out that the Spokane-based developed Cyan Worlds, best known for their Myst series of adventure games, laid off nearly 50 workers in its QA division. Cyan Worlds had been testing games for Gamecock Media but with their recent acquisition by Southpeak Games apparently also meant that those games would no longer be tested at Cyan.

Cyan has already had issues this year as its MMO Myst Online was shut down by its online publisher Gametap. According to the article at the Spokane-based Spokesman Review, Cyan is trying to make deals with individual game developers to test their games as a way to keep revenues going. They also have a new game concept of their own that they are shopping around to various publishers.

[Via Gamasutra]

Myst Online: Uru Live has had a troubled life. First released by Ubisoft, then canceled, revived as a community project, revived under GameTap, and then canceled again. Where does this lead? Well, straight back to the community project stage, it would seem. Cyan Worlds and, more specifically, Rand Miller told the Spokesman Review that they have entered into a deal with GameTap to allow the game to be worked on by the community once again. This is great news for those players who have missed the wondrous D'ni exploration or didn't get a chance to experience the adventure gaming splendor.

There are a large number of MMO games that have stayed online even after they lose most of their audience. However there are also a number of games that completely shut down their operations; The Sims Online, Earth and Beyond, Motor City Online . . . and those are just the ones from Electronic Arts. 1Up.com has an interesting feature story on how the developers and the community of shut down MMO games deal with the aftermath.

The article focuses on three now shut down titles; one is the Cyan Worlds developed game Myst Online: Uru Live which has actually died twice; once as part of an online beta for the single player game Uru: Ages Beyond Myst and later as its own product via the game download service Gametap. Despite a number of loyal players, Gametap decided to shut down Myst Online just last April and the article quotes Cyan founder Rand Miller as saying, " I don't want to be part of the game that wouldn't die. But at the same time, we've grown to love this thing."

Another game featured in the article is the Netdevil developed car combat game Auto Assault. Its publisher NCsoft shut down the servers in August 2007, just over a year after it launched, but a group of ex-Auto Assault players are trying to develop their own similar effort called Apokalypsos. Turbine's fantasy MMO Asheron's Call 2 still has its fans two years after its shutdown; according to a Turbine team member they get petitions from ex-players trying to revive the game. It appears that a select few don't want to let go of their passions and move on. The question is; is that healthy or not?