Myst Online: Uru Live Status Just Announced

Here.

I cannot believe this is happening again, I am devastated.

lor

It was a blast while it lasted....oh now I'm really bummed....

I just really don't know what to say. Probably still in shock a bit, though I can't say I am suprised. The gaming world is hard and MOUL was not able to meet the fan base that was wanted. That along with the costs of developing and running the game and I am sure the current economic climate didn't help matters. (Also MOUL not being a hack/slash game - isn't it wierd that non-violent games just aren't as popular?)

As Renee said it was a blast while it lasted (though it's not gone quite yet - they have given it 60 days before shutdown)

Greydragon did say in Uru Obession hood that they were still talking with GameTap but was not able to tell us if there would be the possibility of Shards like before. If they are unable to even provide that, I am going to miss the many wonderful friends I have made in the Cavern and for that alone, I am devestated.

I'm devastated too, and I was never able to get UL running!! But I kept hoping that since I had no problem with UU, something would change. Guess I'll be one of the apparently many people who are dropping their GameTap subscriptions, because UL was the only reason they joined.

What I'm wondering now is whether there is any chance someone will start up UU again--or was that just a desperation measure to try and get someone to give UL another chance? And even more important, I wonder if there is any chance that Cyan could release the new material from this past year in CD form, as they did with POTS--I would definitely be a customer for that!!

Someone over at GT discussion forum made the comment that the original version of UL was also dropped on February 4--what a disaster day for Uru fans...

I only played MOUL a couple of times when they offered a free trial (beta) to us Europeans, but never suscribed because I never encountered any people to do the group quests with. Since MOUL was the only game offered to Europeans through GameTap, and we had no access to any of the other games, the suscription fee just didn't feel worth it to me.

I sometimes read the comments in the MOUL thread here and it did sound like you were having a great time. I kept looking forward to the day they would offer more games to make the suscription fee better value for money (e.g. Sam and Max) so I could join in and try again. Sadly, this day will now never come.

I am sorry for all of you MOUL followers. Maybe the rainbow ill shine and things will be better. Hugs.

I'd like that too. I think they'd have to alter some of the puzzles so they could be solved by a single player, but hopefully doing that wouldn't be too involved.

I've been too busy to play any game regularly for over a year and a half so I never signed up for Gametap. Since I don't expect to have enough free time to play before the summer, it looks like I'll never be able to play it unless it comes out on CD (or DVD).

I wonder if the puzzles that could only be solved by multiplayers had anything to do with not getting sufficient numbers of players to keep it going.

Soot and I had an advantage as we sit side by side, but I know from experience that those puzzles could be very frustrating.

It was a sad day when I found out that MOUL would not be continued after april hopefully they will give us back UU so we can still run in the cavern with our friends.

I am so sad but not surprised. The choir has started talking about getting ready for our next concert and now I have no idea if that is going to go anywhere or not. I hope so and we can at least broadcast it somewhere.

I'm keeping my subscription until the 60 days are up. There are plans afoot to make the St. Patrick's Day celebration our last big hurrah and I don't want to miss that.

Man, this just stinks.

PolloDiablo...i was not a really 'smart' player but i would have done quests w/you!! And i am sure others in the gameboomers would have too!! If we had known your screen name in the game! I am sad no more MOUL, but i am not going to get the 'add on' if they do it for single player (like POTS) because to me there really wasn't anything outstanding about Minkata, or the Pods or Jalek..the 2 extra Eders were interesting because of the group effort but just not enough to keep me interested. I think is a shame the game is apparently 'folding'. I just would really, really, like to know the real reason!

What is UU? I keep hearing about that on the various forums.

Hey y'all,

I was wondering how the Boomers were feeling about this.

Celtic Lark, UU stands for Until Uru. After Prologue shut down Cyan came up with a way for us to continue to play. UU was the code given out to a few people who were willing to run their own servers. These were called shards. Cyan retained control. A person bought a Kagi key to get authorized to join. You could play on any shard. Many of us played on all the shards. There was no new content, but we made up our own parties and quests, etc.

It was a lot of fun back then.

Many of us knew it was just a chance that this game might make it on GameTap. After all, we are a specialized group. Not like the mainstream gamers. But it has been fun!

Ti'chelle in the UruObsession hood #82951

Gamenut, it was because of the time difference that I couldn't find anyone, not because the people themselves weren't willing to help out. I did visit the GameBoomers neighbourhood a couple of times but because I am in Europe and most GameBoomers (and most MOUL-players, I think?) are from the United States I never met more than two or three people at the same time. As far as I know the multiplayer puzzles required about eight?

The few times I did visit I did enjoy and as I said I would have joined if more games had been added to the European GameTap line up. The fee was, in my opinion, too much for MOUL alone.

So, for the first time in my RV I have a fast enough connection to go online...as of 20 minutes ago. and...

Words can't describe how devastated I feel.

This is sorta like the MasterCard ad: I could list all the stuff I have bought or rented to be online for this best game of all, and yet the priceless bottomline eludes me...

Kate

I was thinking of you, Kate, when I saw the announcement.

Who would we contact to find out if there is any chance for:

1. New content issued on CD

2. Return of UU

I would think that there's probably more chance of #2 coming to pass--the puzzles that required more than one person would have to be reworked for a CD to be issued....

Well, I suppose it ain't over til the fat lady sings...and since MOUL will continue for another two months with GameTap we probably will hear nothing but speculation until then, Jenny.

Here is the link to the Spokane paper. Rand is obviously thinking about UU.
SpokesmanReview

I will keep up my hopes!

Kate

for the link

I stopped playing regularly about the time all the tasks that necessitated more than one player came up. I like the option of doing things on my own or not, as the mood takes me. But I still think that it's a shame that UL is shutting down.

WW

Thanks for the link to Rand's interview, Kate--I'm aware that nothing is probably going to be said before the 60 day close-down period is over, but Rand's statement gives me a little hope that some form of UU will open up...

I completely agree. I don't like having to worry about other peoples' schedules. It's hard enough to fit game time into my own schedule. I also agree with ***Tabacco's comment***

I'd hate for it to be gone forever though. From KateVa's link:

I would think they'd also have volunteers from their fanbase when it came to running servers.

Also from KateVa's link:

So is GameTap planning to have Cyan make a different game for them? Or are they talking about that quality control and testing group mentioned at the end of the article?

Jenny100 -- the situation isn't clear yet. Having Cyan create a new, original game that's published by GameTap would be wonderful, but I'm not sure that's exactly what Sanchez meant. Hmmm. Though I think GameTap already has all of Cyan's games in among their offerings already -- so a "continuing relationship" couldn't mean an old game -- it would have to mean a new game.

Wouldn't it?

Maybe all those Cyan fans who were maintaining GameTap memberships just to support Cyan shouldn't pull the plug just yet.

Unfortunately this article sort of says it all....

Here

I think the writing is on the wall here as much as it pains me to say it.... It has been a fabulous year and I am glad we had the chance.

A lot of people are heading over to Second Life where there is a good sized Uru Community. Some of the groups have grown substantially over the last couple of days, I have noticed as more "refugees" are coming in. I started checking it out this week and finally joined and was able to meet up with a lot of people I know. It has made it easier to bear the pain of losing Uru, knowing I can still stay in contact with friends and we can make our own enclave and lifestyle in another place. It will never be Uru, of course and I will treasure what I have experienced and all the wonderful friends I made there.

Anyone who makes it over to Second Life I am DMom2K Darwin and feel free to look me up.

Hi DM, yes - Silohwet and Brian have been working on their version of a bevin in SL...very nice, too - in Second Life you can replicate anything! It's a great URU community and just continues to grow there..

Thanks for the link Dudemom!

It's too bad that it's folding again though I must say I was disappointed in the content offered. They never offered us any new puzzles or exploration really. The fact that we could meet with friends and play the game together was fun but it was disappointing that there was no real content to the game other than eye candy. Did others feel that way too?

I wonder what the new online casual game discussed in the article might be? Maybe GameTap is one among the many companies Cyan is approaching with that game.

Until then, it would appear that the best way for fans to support Cyan is by purchasing Cosmic Osmo's Hex Isle.

Melanie -- No I didn't feel that way. I still haven't finished all the content offered, and I loved the ongoing story. I'd say my only disappointment was that I only saw the Bahro from a distance -- it would have been great to have seen one up close and personal, so to speak.

I signed up Dec. 29 only because of URU and because it was getting much more interesting. I signed up for a year, and here a month and a half later, it's all over.

I don't like Gametap's games, and in the fine print it clearly states "no refunds" so there you go. I wish I had had some warning, some indication that this wouldn't last and therefore could have saved some money. The only good thing is when I signed up they were offering a year at half price, if I had paid full price I would be very, very upset.

Flo

Flo, I would check with customer service. I thought I saw people posting on the MOUL forum that GameTap would do a refund but I think it would be from the time of the server shutdown on April 4. GameTap customer service can tell you if that is true or not. I plan on canceling at that time as I was there for MOUL only.

Becky, somewhere (I hate to say that but my mind has been so distracted from all this...) that Cosmic Osmo is coming to GameTap. I think Cyan's relationship with them also extends to making casual games that can play on GameTap (and as the article indicates, pay the bills) Possibly they will make other games to add on to the casual gaming list. I would hate to see Cyan go under but like all of us, they have to pay the bills..... so hard decisions had to be made.

One thread on the MOUL forum said that if they could have released the tools for fan created ages and had the main public city with the ablity to branch out into those fan made ages, than this might have taken off mightly. I have to agree there and an additional year of Until Uru would have been acceptable while they readied that material, but obviously that didn't happen.

I have to give a heartfelt thanks to all the Uru folk in Second Life who are adopting all of us refugees and showing us the way. They have made the transition less difficult and it is wonderful to be able to continue being with such extraordinary people. That was my biggest fear when this was announced, losing touch with all the great friends I have made.

I will cancel my membership (opened since the announcement of MOUL) for the same reasons. I haven't had much if any time to play this last year - but maintained a yearly subscription to support URU Live anyways.

I never got into any of the other games because I have hard copies or DL versions (or even both) of the ones I would play - the rest didn't interest me. Except for MOUL ... This is going through the whole death of URU all over again..

I wonder if one of the 'heads' of the 'boomer bevin' would maybe have some announced 'get together & say goodbye' days/evenings! Even some that are later for us in states but good for our members who are in other countries.....??? Is hard to know when 'boomer friends sometimes will be on and would be nice to acknowledge them and get a chance to say 'goodbye'.

I expect that there will be lots of parties as the time grows near for it to be shut down. Last time, when the Prologue shut down in 2004, as I recall, people spent the last several days hanging out together before the end.

It became a kind of marathon where people were going without sleep for two or three days.

Here's a link to gatorlaw's thoughts about the original Uru Live shut down mentioned above. Deja vu all over again?

When you log on to URU through Gametap, they announce that the game is shutting down April 4 but then they go on to say something about creating your own game etc.

What does that mean?

Thanks for the info Dudemom, I'll check it out.

Flo

Hi all,
Since Gametap had their own neighborhood in Uru Live, I wanted to come over and give you as much information as I had on the closing. If you want to follow the story, and have questions or comments, here is everything that was said officially, including announcements and interviews.

February 4, 2008 - announcement of Uru Live Closing, from the official Uru Live forums, copied over by the Uru community manager from the Gametap forum -
http://www.mystonline.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=14595

February 6, 2008 - Ten Ton Hammer (a site for MMO games) reports on the cancellation of Uru Live. This is an interview with Ricardo Sanchez, VP of Content and Creative Director for GameTap. I think it's a good read.
http://www.tentonhammer.com/node/21747

February 6, 2008 - article in the Spokesman Review, the local paper in Cyan's (game developer) home town,
http://www.spokesman.com/business/story.asp?ID=230680

February 8, 2008 - article by a tech columnist writing for the Spokesman Review. This is much more informative about what is going on with Cyan, and whether Cyan can run some version of online Uru themselves - short answer - legal issues to work out.
http://www.spokesmanreview.com/blogs/txt/archive/?postID=3946#more

We are talking about this over at the Myst Online Uru Live forums, where I mod, in great, some might even say "excessive" detail (not me, I rather like the discussions). Come on over if you want to read or post. The threads in the General Discussion thread are the most lively, with every sort of an opinion it's possible to have. There are also annoucements of farewell parties.
http://www.mystonline.com/forums/

Thanks for the well organized links and thoughts.

It was just a sense of waste and loss to me (and I never expected that game to affect me that way in the beginning) when after all that testing - prep - the 1st incarnation of URU live ended. Now to see it build up and then happen again - well it is an adjustment.

I do think that Game Tap tried to give it a good run, but I really only supported Game Tap because of MOUL. I thoroughly enjoy the Sam n Max re birth - but have gotten it straight from their site and then as a CD collection when the year end release was available - so otherwise nothing for me there. Rand Miller is one of the nicest people in the biz, he is enthusiastic, creative and has a firm grasp on the importance of a healthy child in our internal Psyche. Though I have never been a deep fan of the Myst series, I respect his creative drive and do adore what he envisioned and realized with URU Live - MOUL.

Game Tap - well I am sure they will be fine regardless of this game or that. Anything that supports Cyan - I will on the other hand - be there.

Spent a few hours today partying in the City and then in the karaoke Bevin. Lots of fun to be had all over the Cavern.

The choir has decided to pull together a song or two to sing goodbye, probably at the St. Paddy's Day festivities. We weren't planning on starting rehearsals again until the end of February due to the crazy schedule of our director, Dom, so we members have kind of been on our own the past few days, trying to figure out what we want to do. It looks like we have a song in D'ni that someone was already working on and perhaps an Irish song as well. Nothing is set in stone yet. But I thought I'd share the info in case it makes a difference in people canceling their subscriptions later rather than earlier.

I, too, have a persona in Second Life. I created it months ago but wasn't overly impressed with the game or the people I met so I never went back after my first attempt. However, knowing that so many of my MOUL friends will be heading there makes me willing to give it another shot. My SL name is Lark McGinnis.

Macnbc is a Moderator over at GameTap, and as a fan and member of the MO:UL forums as well, has been especially helpful during these sad times. If anyone has questions about a refund, I would try as he suggests and contact customer service. Hopefully, you'll be one of the exceptions.

I just tried SL again and I am so lost. I'm hoping one of you will be there at some point tomorrow to show me the ropes. I added the Myst groups I wanted to join but I can't figure out how to actually get to the physical locations where the MOUL refugees are. I'm trapped in a Celtic jewelry shop. Not a bad place to be, granted, except a vampire showed up tonight and I was a bit weirded out.

Maybe I need to start a SL thread...

I originally joined gametap just for Uru also but luckily have enjoyed their rpg's. They have no adventure games that I want to play since any I'm interested in, I own. Their selection of adventures really stinks. I may try Sam and Max though I really don't care for cartoons usually.

Like I said though, I really was happy to see several rpg's I don't own there that I like. It's very disappointing for those who don't play anything but adventures though and I certainly hope they will give refunds.

Mszv -- thanks for all those links!

Thanks mszv for the links making a new tidy summary. Seeing the "old timers" mszv,gatorlaw and which2 on this thread underlines how important Uru has been to the gaming community. I am glad that I have been a part of it and still have hopes that somehow the idea of Uru will live on in some way.

gamenut-we are all "heads" of the Boomer Bevin, so just name a time. We still have St Paddy's Day and now a choir concert to look forward to. I guarantee that as April approaches you will see many online.

Of course we will have a final farewell party. So many old and new friends, such a helpful and caring group-how can we not gather to celebrate the hours we have all spent together!

Kate

I will sure miss my friends made in MOUL!!! wah-wah..... I too joined GameTap just for Moul. BUT am so glad Gameboomers is here!!!

Interesting footnote from Ricardo Sanchez at Gametap:
Gamasutra Interview



Well...

Kate

Hmph. Is he suggesting that it isn't already fabulous? Okay, I may be biased...

I guess it's not just you Celtic, I thought it was a fabulous game for an MMO too!!

I don't know if they assessed their audience correctly. It isn't simply "everyone who liked Myst" because many of those who liked Myst enjoy a solitary game experience. Uru Live and its puzzles that had to be solved by groups of people did not supply that. In fact I get the impression that most of Uru Live's fans enjoyed the social aspect more than they did the adventure game part.

And since it was a new concept, they really had to give it more than a year or two to find its audience. In fact, aside from people I communicate with online, I don't think anyone I know has even heard of Uru Live.

I think you are absolutely right, Jenny. I have quite a few URU friends who don't have all the ages solved. They played the games years ago and are now enjoying helping others and being social. For me, while I enjoyed the gaming aspect, I also loved the "extra" stuff like the Cavern Choir and the karaoke nights.

I agree that more time to work out the kinks and get the word out would have been very helpful.

I'm not really very knowledgeable here because I never could get UL to work for me, but I've wondered if maybe the idea of having to have a bunch of people working together on a puzzle was a mistake. I know with UU, it was the social aspect that drew so many people, and it was fun to help someone with a problem, but trying to get a bunch of people (I read something about one puzzle taking eight people, surely that's not correct?) together at one time might be a problem. I know that some of the rpg games do that--my older son was really involved in one of them about four or five years ago, and had a whole group that played together, but they just came and went in the game, there didn't have to be any specific number present at one time.

If I misunderstood what I read about groups of people to solve puzzles, please excuse my ignorance. It still breaks my heart that I wasn't able to join in the fun...

Nope Jenny, you were right. There was one that needed a lot of folks---8 was ideal but you could do it with fewer--but not a whole lot fewer.

Soot and I were able to do one of the ones that required a group by ourselves, but that was only because we sit side by side and communicating with each other was fast and efficient.

Those group puzzles could be really frustrating depending on the group's expertise and to some extent, on lag. One time Soot and I were trying to do it, and one person missed their cue every single time which meant everyone had to do it again.

We finally left and came back later to find a different group. That group got through it on the second or third try.

Online MMORPG's do often require a group to take down a big boss, or at least that is what my WoW son tells me.

I actually like the puzzles that required us to get in groups to help out. In many of the groups I've been in, we've had more than enough people. And I find it fun to feel like I am helping others reach the goals in the game, the same way people helped me when I needed those puzzles. Granted, sometimes you get an inexperienced person leading the event but everyone is very nice and supportive.

But the puzzles that require large groups are not the norm in MOUL. The majority of the puzzles and adventures can be done on your own, if preferred. I did a mixture when solving my ages. Some things I did on my own and some I did with others - both for help and to have some fun together. It's great fun to run around the Cavern with others, especially Boomies.

GameTap started out looking like a "family friendly" online gaming portal -- lots of educational games and a significant catalog of adventure titles, with new adventures being added almost every month, plus MOUL and Sam & Max as GameTap Originals.

Then, a few months ago, GameTap revamped their site, started selling games in a new online GameTap shop, and added features that clearly were aimed at the younger, more action-oriented "hardcore" gamer.

Since then, they've pretty much stopped adding new adventures to their catalog, except the kind that can also go into the action category as well. Their game shop (as distinct from the GameTap online portal games) lists only 2 adventure titles -- both Sam & Max.

I wonder if the decision to shutter MOUL also has something to do with this new direction.

MOUL may not have been generating enough industry "buzz." So that, (I'm really guessing here), in addition to not generating the numbers of players GameTap was expecting, MOUL wasn't generating the amount of high profile attention from the general gaming press that GameTap was expecting either.

For example, look at the number of feature articles on Gamerankings for Sam & Max: Culture Shock (51), or World of Warcraft (91), or Tomb Raider Anniversary (29), and then look at the number of feature articles for MOUL (9).

I think Jenny100 makes an excellent point. Even if I had a fast connection, I would not have joined this online group. I loved, loved, loved the Myst series, but I loved it BECAUSE of the solitary feeling, not in spite of it. And I like doing WHAT I want WHEN I want to do it. In any case, it's a moot point.

I think what they really meant was....not enough support from the MOUL'ers for the other games GameTap had to offer and not actually for MOUL! To me that seems to make more sense..how can a game not be popular when at times you could not get into an area because filled to capacity???....Mary...i too like the solitary play and this was my first time to do 'group' play at times...and i have mixed feelings...first: did enjoy it when i had to do it...because had the nicest 'boomers from our 'hood help me, seceond: wished there had been a way a single player could have accomplished the puzzle. I also had an issue w/the jumping and a couple of the 'timed' puzzles BUT had i know when i was trying to do them i might have been able to get some help w/them that might have changed my mind on those timed puzzles. I did finally get more comfortable in the game and was able to enjoy the 'chat' ..and now....pffuittt....drat!

Thanks