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.