Thoughts on User-Created Content for OS:URU

(Originally from a post I made in the MOULa forums--I decided to move it here and refine it a bit.)


OHB, I would like to thank you for the time and effort you put in, without compensation, to provide and unique and interesting experience in the cavern.  The user-created BOMB event was an excellent way to prod the community into getting together, as well as unveiling new features and capabilities of non-Cyan baked tools/features.  Not everyone is going to enjoy every aspect of social events and game content--Cyan created or otherwise.  In this case it was OHB's creation, and in this case, some people didn't enjoy it.  No one was forcing them either way. 

I don't particularly enjoy the Pod ages--they are neat for about .5 seconds to me.  Many things could be the root of that: impatience, ignorance, etc. Whatever it is--I choose not to explore the ages much at all.  Some may argue that it's no great loss, some may argue I'm doing Cyan artists a disservice by not fully appreciating the bit that someone developed. 

Tough darts. 

The same rule, I believe, goes for user-created content.  Because it was created by a human, it is bound to have flaws, be them physical flaws or the flaws of appealing to one player and not another.  As such, not all are going to enjoy said user-created content. 

Now, user-created content doesn't replace Cyan-created content.  Just for the sheer fact that user content won't appeal to the canonical nature of anything Cyan produces--I won't ignore the fact that this community is built around Cyan's MYST Mythology and therefore most items produced by Cyan will be, as a majority, appreciated, approved and enjoyed by many of the people logging into MOULa.  Cyan created content fills gaps and needs that most user-content can ever really, fully replace. 

That being said, at least someone was willing to step out and possibly over the edge to provide a bit more stir, bustle, and attention to the world of MOULa.  I don't think we should go all witch-hunt and pitchforks over something that irritated a few people or that was a bit out of the ordinary. 

We can never truly please the entire spectrum of users--if it were so, URU would have been a booming success from before day one. 

I wholeheartedly support user-created content and events and hope that others will begin to see the light as well. Only we can truly bring light to the cavern, let's not snuff it out before it's even begun to get brighter.


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If you can extrapolate a bit, the supportive feeling this post displays regarding user-created content cleanly reflects my global opinions of any open-source project.  While there is definite value to commercially created products, which is difficult to replace--I think the world of technological advancement would be a bust without the individual  ingenuity of private developers.  I whole-heartedly support open-source development, even when it moves from the private sector into a commercial venture!  We live in a capitalist world, entrepreneurial efforts are the very heart of advancement.  Why squander a good idea, some ideas need a bit more monetary support to develop: besides, developers need to make a living too!

Fanaticism in a Virtual World

I've been witness to some interesting events of late--and there was one concept that impressed me.

The Power of Anonymity.

The internet, by it's very nature, provides an excellent resource for the human race.  Yet, there still remains a sense of separation inherent to the very manner in which we access this now "indispensable" social and economical recourse.  It is this physical separation that not only effects the convenience and value of this medium but is it's biggest downfall.  This separation instills a sense of non-humanity in the person utilizing the internet, they feel automatically disconnected, and yet connected at the same time.  They now feel 100% anonymous, as long as they don't pin their name to anything and use pseudonyms and aliases to protect their identity.

ASIDE: I call this anonymity false because it really is a deception--if an investigating agency or an organization to which you have associated yourself desires, for good cause, to identify it's Anonymous users, it certainly has recourse (of course legal and illegal both) to flush out who you are, at least within 2-3 degrees of connection at very least. All they would have to do is a little virtual footwork.

People consistently utilize the false-anonymity of the internet and computer accessed resources to behave larger, greater, or more passionate about things than they really are or to an extent greater than they would normally express in their real life.  Getting worked up over a virtual social event, using fouler language in text than would ever escape their lips, performing digital actions that dramatically skew their moral compass, assuming the identity of a fictional persona unrepresentative of themselves.

While these things can be entertaining, enriching, and morally harmless in moderation, the moment that our life becomes driven and affected by these digital forces--that is when and where a problem can develop.

The bottom line appears to be escapism.  I'm a huge fan of escapism and being able to do realistic things in a digital world that would be impossible in the real one--but there are certain social and moral lines that are criss-crossed, blurred, and even erased by virtual communities, games, and social networking that I believe are degrading our quality of life.

When will the real world once again reclaim the centerpiece of our lives?

When we take a step back, breath, and let it do so.

MOULa Passion Followup

So, I reviewed my previous post and thought I'd add a quick point of explanation:

Growth in the fan-base is vital to the future success of URU and for Cyan Worlds as long as it is coupled with real income.  Exponential, or even natural, linear growth of the fan-base (i.e. load on the "free" MOULa server(s)) will kill both the company and the game if no capital is produced for Cyan Worlds.  MOULa isn't a self-sustaining enterprise, it thrives off the generosity of the fan-base.  I argue that the fan-base isn't large enough or generous enough to ever sustain long-term expansion or even really URU's sustenance.

Now, there are numerous "solutions" and ideas floating in the internet vacuum--but, I'm going to call it how I see it.

I think that Cyan Worlds Inc., no matter how much we don't want it to, is slipping away into the void of non-existence.  I feel that unless they make a dramatic shift in revenue production--i.e. a new concept/storyline, perhaps new partnerships or being acquired by a larger company--there is simply no way that I can see them sustaining themselves.  Sad, yes.

I believe the Open Source-ing of MOULa/URU is their final move, their last noble effort to keep their passion alive, before they say farewell to the fan-base and close their doors for good.

MOULa Passion

I'm a member of an online community dedicated to the series and storyline spawned by the original CD-ROM computer game MYST.  The company, Cyan Worlds Inc., is in financial duress (from what I understand) and yet is still supporting the community be hosting their first and last MMO game URU as Myst Online: Uru Live Again.  It's not a hack-n-slash MMORPG, it's an adventure/exploration game, with a collaboration and creativity emphasis.  A rich storyline and potential for going open-source are the things that I see driving the community to stay involved.  There is incredible fan-loyalty going on here.

I appreciate the loyalty and passion that is expressed by the community, there are far more individuals who are passionate about the MYST Saga in the caverns of D'ni than there are casual players of this particular MMO.  In my opinion, that is the community's biggest asset and flaw.  People seem to take things a bit too seriously, or are a bit too arrogant, or a bit too skeptical (raising my hand on that one)--there is a lot of passion flowing in that deadened, empty cavern and the numerous fan websites dedicated to URU.

Maybe we need a reality check here people--it's a game.  The community is based around a set of games, products and a storyline originally created to produce capital.  Maybe that's a bit pessimistic and lacking respect for creativity and the artists' desire to express themselves (Cyan)--but in the real world, that's what it boils down to.  I'm not saying it isn't valuable!  There are many great things that go on IC that would be physically impossible to do elsewhere in the world: social interactions and sharing of concepts, ideas, and art, and numerous other benefits.  Personally, I feel that the biggest benefit our community can see is growth.

Growth is fundamentally important for both the future of Cyan Worlds Inc., MOULa (URU), and to keep the community from collapsing.  Right now a new user may log in, play URU for a few days (weeks if they are lucky) and due to the insurmountable monolith of the numerous cliques, groups, guilds and general attitude of keeping to oneself in addition to the relatively unfriendly UI--will promptly become tired of things and stop spelunking or reading forums and generally participating.

Maybe my experience is rare--that would be excellent, I'd love to have someone show me differently!

Growth is impossible for this community unless people lighten up a bit.  I've never been an intricate part of this community--not for lack of trying.  With this comment, I've also decided to begin a personal effort to reach out and try to make an impact on this community.

Either way, if you see me (I'm not on that often--but, I'll try to be more often from now on), chat me up in the cavern--I do enjoy my virtual spelunking and exploration.  I go by Chisaipete.