Shorah
I tried to answer some y'all's questions (I dunno know that much : ) the other day, used too many smilies and found the reply was wiped when I hit "back" to rectify my little problem. ah well. Hope y'all understand if I skip most of the graphics this time. *rueful smile*
TAKE 2!
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query #1: I've heard there are several options for camara view. You have an avatar, yes, but I'm pretty sure you dont have to look at yourself all day long
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query 2: What was I saying? All broadband games ask enormous resources from the servers they use and ask as little as possible from the client.
& Having seen a glimpse of Mudpie at Mysterium, I can just imagine what it would be for my pc to try and keep track of all those elements at once. EEK!
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# 3 Doing things the easy way?
I dont think Cyan knows how. The team currently working on URU include many of the brilliant, dedicated, friendly, workaholics who brought you Riven ~ the game where every little bolt was rendered in its entirety (though you saw only the head) and made sure even their weirdest machines would work (at least theoretically)
IMHO ~ Cyan is using broadband because they believe its the future of gaming & interaction, the best way to give you quality 3d realtime, & because they love pushing the envelope ~ turning work back into art
I remember a Cyantist saying that they actually bother to make up at least some rendered scenes as breathatkingly beautiful as they would ideally wish......and then break them down to what most desktops should be able to play when it will be out.
Rawa went so far once as to say that the version of Uru they would LIKE to release would run optimally on a Cray (BIG BIG computer).
Putting Uru online means they dont have to drop the bar as far. Artists dig that kinda thing.
for ex: Myst ME was NOT a reworking of Myst. Its the original edition ~ before they had to make it run in 256 colors. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
# 4 comments re :owning software.
I know what you mean. I agree. Its annoying not to be able to guarantee replays after lottsa dough invested, but I have faith in Cyan's integrity and that makes a big difference to me. I know they will do all they can to be fair.
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#5 disks & modems::
Since I'm active in a community where Cyan speaks out pretty often, I know that they HAVE tried to come up with disk & modem ideas and that so far it hasnt panned out. Last I heard their thing was trying to make sure that mac users are fully supported. Hope that works out!
IMHO ~ The decision to continue the official Myst series on disk (Myst4 is not an illusion), is at least partly a recognition of those who wont be ready this fall/winter for URU.
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#6 Online gaming generally:
Most online games use disks & compression on the dl files to keep down usage rates.
As far as I know, Uru WONT require that you "keep up" (I dont like that sort of real life time imposition thing either. Thats why I passed on Animal Crossing)
The latest announcement is Myst mode :: that is, we should be able to play alone at our own pace, like the original games.
That suggests to me that they've ideas for preventing that kind of pressure but I've no clue as to how that'd be implemented.
I THINK (but cannot vouch for this) that changes are mostly additions to the larger worlds & communities. You can get there when you want or not go that way at all (again this is what Ive heard down the vine. Its only a solid promise when its in writing from Ubi/CyanWorlds)
Demos should show for certain what the reality will be closer to the release date.
As far as I know, Uru is and will be unique. They are trying to offer
~ gorgeous graphics
~thoughtful, relaxing puzzles
~extensive, peaceful explorations
~a complex, historically & scientifically based story/history for this Universe...and not require you to "learn all that" if you dun wanna
& the opportunity for community online as it has never been experienced
plus all kinds of safeguards that seek to keep it family friendly.
Because you really can share a Myst experience. You can let your toddler "drive" and your grandmother give instructions. or just get away from it all for a few. I LIKE that part a lot *very big smile*
I can't think of anybody else who has a better shot of pulling it all off, either. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="cool.gif" />
Hope it was helpful
Salar, the long-winded