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Myst Online: URU Live News - Interview with Rand Miller
Posted by Dana Massey on Jun 12, 2006 | 64 comments in our forums
Rand Miller, CEO of Cyan Worlds, talks to us about how URU Live was reborn. Originally developed a few years ago, the online portion of this Myst sequel was canceled by UBISoft before it ever got off the ground. Recently, Miller and his company announced a partnership with Turner and GameTap to bring it back.
In addition to our interview, we just re-added URU Live to our game list. To hype it click here.
;) MMORPG.com: What are your plans for a launch date? Will there be a beta?
Rand Miller: All we know now is that we will launch during the 2006 holiday season, and there will be a beta. MMORPG.com: Can you give us some history on the D’ni civilization and how they will play a part in the game? Rand Miller: The D'ni arrived at earth 10,000 years ago and set up shop deep underground. It was their contact with a woman from the surface that altered their history and destroyed their civilization. That woman was the grandmother of Atrus - the main character in the Myst series. Atrus learned from the D'ni and his entire family was affected. Now the D'ni are gone, but their grand underground city remains - haunted with the legacy of their power and their destruction - and ready to be rediscovered. |
The full interview is available here.
I'm an old member of UrU and the game is so far removed from your "Traditional" types of MMORPG's that it is a breath of fresh air and an alternitive to the old grind and shoot em up's that seem to rule the MMORPG worlds.
I wait with great "Antica.....pation for this resserection to hit the online community.
Didnt play Myst or Uru as i have just never really been into adventure games that much (although Lucas Arts Full Throttle was brilliant).
So consequently Im not quite sure what to make of this as most of the terminology used in the interview means zipp to me.
However I do like the notion of an online game that breaks completely from the current trend, this in itself is very positive for the industry and I hope the game is successful just so it gets other devs thinking outside the very small boxes they currently think in.
Havnt changed my mind either
I own the game, and I have since the day of launch. I can finally brush it off and launch it up into online play!!!
Although.. GameTap kind of turns me off... but that's okay! Uru is one of the best Myst games to date, it was one of the hardest ever!
Originally posted by oldmanjob
For all of you who would like to get your feet wet until UrU live comes on the scene, Cyan has set up the D'mala shard, and they will give you a free invite to play. All you have to do is install UrU Ages Beyond Myst or the Complete Cronicles, and E:mail cyan for the free invite.
ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?!? SEE YOU THERE!
Originally posted by oldmanjob
For all of you who would like to get your feet wet until UrU live comes on the scene, Cyan has set up the D'mala shard, and they will give you a free invite to play. All you have to do is install UrU Ages Beyond Myst or the Complete Cronicles, and E:mail cyan for the free invite.
How do you go about doing that?
EDIT: Anyone who wants to join up in Until Uru go HERE!
Having been a Myst fan for over a decade, I am among the many UruLive fans. I came to UruLive and entered the cavern Jan.6, 2004 and explored the amazing worlds of D'ni during prologue until Ubisoft's premature cancellation. Since that time I along with other fans waited, hoped and dreamed of the day UruLive would return. When the news came that GameTap and Cyan planned to re-launch UruLive the excitement among the fans was electric. To call UruLive a game is an insufficient discription...A better word would be and experience and I would recommend it to anyone.
SG
This is my first post here. I was drawn to the site by the Rand Miller interview on URU Live. Having been through the original Beta test and making so many friends in URU Online, I was thrilled to see it is being resurrected.
URU is very unique to the MMORPG world. No guns or combat. It might put some of the traditional MMORPG gamers to sleep, but it seems to have found a whole new brand of player that is hungering for the exploration more than the battle. An untapped market???
I joined up with the free invite referenced above and have reunited with olf friends and a lot of new players.
It will be interesting to see how the game develops!
Regards,
Dadguy
Just like to point out that not having guns or combat isn't unique to URU. The Tale in the Desert series are like this too.
OK, carry on...
Thanks, Ulujain! I intend to look that one up. I think the words I intended are "somewhat unique..."
It's not that I am offended by combat or weapons... I happen to LOVE the Tomb Raider series. I just need a break from the exhausting swordfight or martial arts kick once in a while. I find the beauty of the 3D environment and the sounds in URU allow me a virtual escape. I'd like to find other games like this.
Thanks for the response!
Dadguy
Great!
Looking forward to play Uru Live again!
Two year's of Waiting And Still Causiously Optomystic counting down the day's until release day
after taking part in the first Uru Live, I'm so glad I have stuck with the community for this long. I guess I always knew it would return someday. I can't wait!
I think the news of MMORPG carrying news about URU will bring more people here, that are more well spoken than your "average" gamer, if there is such a thing. That's the thing I've most noticed about the Myst and URU forums -> the Niceness of people and the willingness to say "you need help? Just ask and we'll be happy to". No real flame wars thankfully, but yes, disagreements from time to time. After all, we're only human ;)
The CCNT Cavern Communications Network provides live broadcasts from the Caverns of Until URU actually! You can catch some cool podcasts. The Cavern today
The relationship between Cyan and fans of the MYST series is unlike anything I've seen between other game companies and their customers. When I first signed up to access Uru online, I was highly skeptical of its premise; like thousands upon thousands of others, I had played through MYST and Riven as solo gaming experiences, and the idea of working with others online seemed threatening to me. Happily, I soon learned just how wrong I was to worry, and I developed a healthy appreciation for the community that has developed around the MYST mythos. Know any other gaming companies for whom their fans have thrown pizza parties? Didn't think so.
Likewise, during the past two years, I've witnessed how committed and supportive Cyan is to its fans. The Until Uru service, released in August 2004 and still continuing today, provides continuing online access to the original Uru universe for free. Intended to be a place of gathering until Cyan could secure financing for another attempt to start Uru Live, recently Cyan announced that they will not terminate Until Uru with Uru Live's return. That's dedication for you.
While there are others who are imminently more qualified than myself to speak on the history and the experience of Uru (especially some of the original 2003 beta testers), I'd be happy to answer whatever questions I can about what Uru is like, and how it is similar and how it is different from other MMORPGS. I'm also a World of Warcraft player (my primary 'toon on WoW is now level 57) so I have some experience by which to compare the two.
Marten,
Nice post. I was at the Takota Alley on Feb 12th, 2004 at midnight during URU Prologue. Quite an emotional night!
Equally emotional to have the game returning! I just love the feel and SOUNDS of URU. Can't wait to see what they do with it!
I have so many international friends that I am hoping to reconnect with.
See you online!
Dadguy
While on the topic of Cyan... I can't wait for Myst V to be released *squeals*
Also, I have been on the new Until Uru server for about... 12 hours straight now. It's absolutely fantastic. The people are great, and Uru is so nice when you have help to call on.
Can't wait for the extra content that true Uru Live will bring *double squeal*
Edit: Back on topic, I thought I should mention that anyone who wants to see some of the visuals from Uru in motion can check out the URLs in my signature below; Unwritten and Gorahyantee are Uru "Machinima" music videos set to Natasha Bedingfield and Coldplay songs, respectively.
Glad to see some of my fellow explorers in here. I have been with the Myst and Uru community for a LONG time. It has been quite an experience. For you guys that are more used to the combat based MMORPG's, Uru takes some getting used to. Ok, I'll describe it the best I can. Imagine your favorite sci fi or fantasy TV serial, but imagine you've just been thrown in the the middle of it. When a new world is found, you and some of your friends go and unlock the secrets left dormant in that world. There are actors, just like in SWG or WOW, but instead of showing up for events that are few and far between, the game is heavily based on regular visits by these characters, and in some instances, they began to build a personal relationship with you. In other words, you can become entrenched in the actual storyline, and you don't have to be a high level anything.....in fact there are no such limits! And the visuals, my god! Trust me, when you go and see the Great Zero (ancient device) for the first time, it totally blows your mind.
To me, when I've tried games like WOW or SWG or MxO, their emphasis on "storyline" is rather vague and lacks any real substance. But in Uru, let's say an actor you've grown close to dies or vanishes mysteriously, it effects not only you, but changes everyone and the world around them. There was a time when an actor, malcontent with the barriers set up in the underground city, decided to gather a bunch of explorers (i.e. players) and lead a revolt of sorts. He had everyone start slamming on the barriers, and broke them down, effectively opening a new area to explore and hang out in. I also got into a snapping match with this character when our views conflicted. That's the point of story in Uru: to pretend that the events of the Myst games are actually based in fact, and to immerse yourself in the unfolding drama and adventure. Whether you decide to play in character or not, they just want you to be you.....U-R-U...get it? Each of us are great characters in our own sense.
Cyan Worlds is all about telling fantastic stories. And about building communities. You make real friends in Uru. Not people that scream at you for "more dots!" People that will sit down with you and talk about where you come from, you customs, what you get from Uru. People that are artists, engineers, you name it. People who will share new discoveries, solve puzzles with you, and even share in the danger. Since I've played, I've discovered a race of creatures that are watching us from the shadows, thier cries echoing out when I least expect it. A close friend (actor) met an untimely fate, when an explosion rocked the city, as explorers looked on. Be sure to remember, if you try Until Uru (the free online community) it has no new content. It's more like a 3d chat for now with worlds to visit and solve. Uru Live will be the NEW and regularly updated content driven game. I hope you guys decide to join us.
I can't help but notice so many novice members joining the forum. Could a game like URU Live be bringing a new community of players to the MMORPG world?
It occurs to me while playing in the Until URU servers that I run into a lot of older players... a demographic that I would bet is rare in the MMORPG world. Many are seniors (a huge market) whom might otherwise have fewer recreational activities available to them as they get older. Imagine having travel and exploration of interesting worlds available from your living room?
I read an article by Laura McDonald (some know her as Gatorlaw), about online gaming by physically disabled players. There was another by a woman confined to a wheelchair that expounded her joy at being able to run and jump again with friends from all over the world. I'll see if I can find a link for them.
I think something special is going on here with URU Live.
Dadguy
That was probably the story of Janet "Pepsi" Burress. Sadly, she is no longer with us. She passed away in December 2004. Another Very Sad Day (link to Guild of Greeters Forum)
Pepsi and Aquilla are memorialized above a gathering of explorers in a video put together by the mysterious "The Hidden", who helped keep the Uru community active and working together solving riddles through the autumn and fall of 2005. Nothing quite brings people together like giving them a common goal to acheive.
The Hidden's "Underneath" video
In Marten's link I found the URU Greeters Stories:
Greeters Stories
If you go to Page 3, you'll find Pepsi's wonderful story about the thrill of running and jumping again.
I found the other stories very nice also.
Cheers,
Dadguy
Frankly, I am surprised that Uru Live is being resurrected. That said, I am thrilled that it is! This is not only good news for Myst/URU fans, but for the PC gamining industry as a whole. The industry needs games like Uru Live to ensure that the PC gaming market doesn't become overly "niched". I, for one, can't wait.
Quite a nice interview there, glad to see Uru Live is finally getting its day in the sun as it should have recieved 2 years ago.
I'd definatly recommend checking out Until Uru the D'mala Shard is free you can get an invite from an existing member.
The setting is the real world, in a recently discovered ancient city deep underground and you are you (uru) in the cavern. It is based on the classic Myst/Riven games. Exploration, problem solving, puzzles and an incredible unfolding story is what excites me most about it. Plus, a lot of us have made great friends and look forward to hanging out in the city in Until URU.
Having played the entire Myst series and having been a part of the original Uru prologue two years ago, this is something I've been looking forward to for a long time.
Don't get me wrong... killing giant ant lions is fun (and I've put down my share) but this will be something new and unique. It probably won't feel like any thing you've played before if you're not Myst-initiated.
So, all I can say is give it a try - you may be pleasantly surprised and end up using parts of your brain most "games" don't force you to access. Uh, but it's not a game... it's real... and U-R-U.
See you in the cavern!
-Est'eban
I do think that the ages of the fans are a wider gamut than your average MMORPG. Is that about right? Like more 40 to 60 years old people, I mean. :)
First, Cyan's already given some indication of how it will start. There will be 50 beta testers in the first round. As the system becomes more stable and fewer defects are found, the beta will expand, until Cyan is ready for a stress test and lets in a flood of beta testers for the final round.
Cyan has made substantial changes to the Uru engine; they've ripped out the original physics engine (mainly due to the price Havok was asking for continuing to license it) and have replaced it with another. They've had to recode a number of things to make things work "the same way they used to" with the new physics engine. Therefore, the earliest beta testers can expect something of a rough time. If you're beta testing, you will encounter problems. You will experience instabilities. Your responsibility is to find and report these problems.
Also, don't expect a story during beta. Cyan will want to keep that secret until launch.
Last but not least, beta testers will almost undoubtedly need to sign NDAs. That's "Non-Disclosure Agreements." Once you're a beta tester, you can't tell your non-beta friends about your experiences. You have to keep quiet; you'll be in on some secrets and you'll have to keep them secret.
I've signed up for beta because I am prepared to assume the above responsibilities and help Cyan to make Uru Live a success. It is a way for me to contribute. I want to caution and remind people that they shouldn't sign up because "Oh hey, this is cool." Know what you're getting into.
The cool will arrive in due time, when the game formally launches.
Long live Cyan!
That's great to know
Hopefully, we'll see each other in the beta.
Man, am I checking my mailbox obsessively or what? ;)
In the past I would have been checking my email in a frenzy waiting for confirmation that I am in, this time seems to be different, proberbly because I have lots to do >.<
Beta testing originally was so cool, proberbly the best experience (aside from meeting my fiance) that I have had in the Myst Community.
I was not prepared for just how good it was going to be, it was outstanding, met loads of people from around the world, was luckily involved in a acted scene where a character got trapped in a collapse.
I was devastated when it all got cancelled, can't wait to get back to a fully supported Uru Live :D
*goes back to watch my inbox*
-Lynx-
The fact that a game this unique can be revived gives me a glimmer of faith in the gaming industry. A lack of risk taking has held the industry back in terms of innovative gameplay, and this revival runs against that grain. Uru has the potential to be a leader in the development of new models for multiplayer gaming. This is a promising development.
I was too late for the first one. This will not happen to me a second time.
Please - PLEASE, don't let this die again!! Am a old Myst, URU player and.. Once again, am getting excited about this game!!!
Gratz to ALL that are bustin their hineys to get this off the ground once more!!
Waiting.. waiting, for Beta to come out. Hopefully, will be one of the lucky 'ones' to test it!!
The Myst series was never combat-orientated. I hope that this aspect of gaming is never incorporated into Myst. The game's line was always set to Explorer/Puzzler and with what could be incorporated into this type of game, it could be the top ranking game of all time. I for one, along with many others, have followed this game right from the start and to me, its a game of peace and dicovery.
I do hope that eventually the game will expand far beyond the comprehension we have of it now - like living in an alternate reality. The makers could incorporate such things as add-ons, which they would charge for (And i would buy straight off without no quibbles), such as age creation tools to write ages which then could be incorporated into the main game, along with bits and pieces you could add to your relto age to make it more your own little world - and I would definately pay for this!
Maybe charging for extras could be a way of making some money to help with the running costs of the game, and to keep it going.
The Myst games are the best games i have ever played and it makes it so because you cannot die - you explore and learn. D'ni is a whole different language. What started off as graphically amazing and still is, progressed to being one of the most addictive games EVER now with 3D graphics making it better still, and, with the possibility to grow beyond 'just a game'.
My thanks to the creators of MYST and the series. You have my full support.
Well said HeadCheese.
It may be me getting to my mid 30's, I just don't have the time or see the attraction of all this non-stop violence, levelling and looking for kit for no apparant reason. I've played the other Myst games (except Riven) and love them all dearly.
I'm currently playing through URU (URU prime I believe it's called) and from what I've experienced so far, I can hardly wait for Live to be launched. Such a beautiful and philisophical game. An MMO which will be truly relaxing to play after work, or late at night when the kids are in bed. No need to say AFK all the time when my daughter wants a drink =D
God, I'm sounding like a hippy...
Rand and Robyn, you did this to me you hear!!!
I'm very glad to hear Uru Live is back on the front burner again. I really did want to see that book shelf in my Realto full again. Also glad to hear clear answers to the questions, nothing dodgy, which hopefully means a clear plan of direction with Uru Live.
Looking forward to it with much anticipation!
I sure hope Cyan will work on other games besides Uru, would love for them to release some kind of eerie horror adventure game, since all their Myst games ooze atmoshere, it would be great.
PS: In case you missed it, there is a somewhat lively discussion on Uru Live also going on here: http://www.mmorpg.com/discussion2.cfm/thread/82298/ EDIT: You have to cut and paste the URL into the browser. For some reason, the web board keeps removing the "discussion2.cfm" part of the URL when you click on it.
One of the topics delved into there relates to something said above in this one... about a lack of creativity and risk-taking in the games industry these days. It is that same unwillingness to take a risk that led to Uru's original shutdown, and I have a lot to say about it in the other thread which I'd rather not repeat here. :)
It's gonna be great. A game that requires you to use your mind to solve mysteries and puzzles as opposed to war, destruction and violence, and be ever-expanding! Now thats a game thats gonna get MY full attention. And also be able to add new worlds and possibly create our own. Even if they charge for the up-keep of the server, i will be one of those people that pays for it.
This game has a long storyline that creates in your mind a feeling of another civilization that used to be - and can be once again. I still play for hours working through the whole myst series and every time hoping to find just that little bit more. I play first person shooters as well but, given the choice, i prefer this type of game - no other game will come close for me.
Now that it is going live, it has my full attention.
Keep up the good work Cyan!
I just stumbled upon the URU LIVE area and was stunned. When URU first was released I upgraded my puter just so I could play it and the live version of the game. I was crestfallen when I learned that it was cancelled. But then my spirits raised a bit with I heard that UntilUru was launched. I played around with it and then fell away. I still refused to remove URU and it's later games off my puter. I put so much time and energy to solving and finding all the add on to my Relto.
Now to find that it is back up and running makes me pause. URU was (is) an amazing game. To be able to enteract with people and build a community was the main driving force for me. Teamwork and discovery...that is what makes me play.
I'm thrilled that URU Live is back. Thrilled beyond words!
Yes, I think as Myst and URU fans, we're all tempted to bow down to any Cyantist that might pass our way (the most important of the Cyantists being Rand).
Until URU is fun, but I just can't wait until december to play URULIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I read on the UruLive forums that optional combat might happen, but in a contextual situation (ie, Maintainer training, or Relymiah (D'ni Secret Police) training)