The Great Tree

Cycreim · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 10:20 pm Post subject:

Right now, I don't think fan-created content will ever be aimed at replacing Cyan content, physically or symbolically. What it does do is open up the game world to other stories running in parallel. How could you possibly argue with that?

EDIT: A little later, I think it's important to note... Uru with Cyan content and Uru with fan content are two different but not mutually exclusive games. I don't believe a fan-supported "official" server would be the same thing as Until Uru.

There are two groups of people who are most interested in a fan-run server: people who want to continue keeping Uru alive so they can hang out in-Cavern for whatever reason, and people who are really interested in developing Ages. Until Uru had the weirdly coloured skin and the giant cones. That's kinda funny, but not everyone will want that, and if they can continue with an "official" server in any capacity, I have a feeling that what we'll see there is top-notch stuff from the community, with its own internal story that will, hopefully, be interesting.

If you'll forgive my bluntness, the "if it's not Cyan, it's boring" mentality is pretty self-fulfilling and closed minded. Uru will never be what we want it to be. Tough beans. But we can make it as close as we want if we participate in its creation. I think MJ is already on the right track in building a Great Tree Age. The very act of doing that is interesting and we could play with that, just like the act of making the documentaries is what drove them forward. We sort of have to embrace the fan fiction aspect as a legit way of experiencing game content. We can flesh out our own story with real in-game content for the first time ever! Isn't that fantastic?
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Moiety Jean · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 10:21 pm Post subject:

::nods thoughtfully at Cyc::
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"There is a certain beautiful danger when a group of geeks get together to entertain themselves." ~Orin Drake

Professor Askew · Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 5:53 am Post subject:

First of all, Cycreim, I think you give the fans way too much credit. LOL. They had every opportunity in the world to create their own stories during the long tenure of UU and blew it....hugely. I don't think adding home-made Ages into the mix is going to solve anything. Uru fans need official guidance in order for the game to succeed. Which brings me to my second point...

My comments are based on Uru's future as an up and running MMOG. Everything you're describing is wonderful for an artist's community and hobby stop. If Uru were a successful and wildly popular online game I would still love to see some resources devoted to fan creation...kind of a testing ground for that really good stuff that could actually be integrated into "official" Uru. But, nothing you described in your post sounds like something I'd pay for nor would it garner much attention from me given my current calendar. If it were free (presumably it would be), I would probably pop my head in now and then to check it out, but I would still be hoping for a return of the real deal.

If fans took over the Lord of the Rings Online I'd walk away from that, too. It's not what I signed up for.
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Professor Daniel Askew - Securing our reality from the machinations of the Station Masters.

Cycreim · Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 9:25 am Post subject:

Right now... I'm giving the fans as much credit as I've seen them dole out. Was J.D. Barnes chopped liver? The fans don't need guidance to tell their own stories. Even with UU, they were hedged in by the static world, trying to "compete" against Cyan's established story, and had no method of going outside either of these within the game environment.

Right now I'm... disappointed. Sad

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KI: 34353

Professor Askew · Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 9:47 am Post subject:

Right now I need to make myself clearer. There have been a number of people who have contributed some wonderful ideas to the Uru tapestry. But when you compare the number of those contributors to the number of those who haven't contributed and then to the number of people who never heard of or played Uru I think you'll see we're not talking about a game for the masses. My comments are strictly for Uru the game not Uru the creative outlet, home for artists and hackers and social gatherers. I have no negative opinions about the latter...I am just rooting for the former.

Maybe Cyan should hold a contest among the fans to pitch gameplay ideas to them. The winners (small anonymous teams) would then run Uru as they see fit. This means pitching story content as well as plans for the implementation of fan-created Ages. Hmmm....
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Professor Daniel Askew - Securing our reality from the machinations of the Station Masters.

Durin Mephit · Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:52 am Post subject:

I see some strong optimism and some strong pessimism here, but I don't believe UU is an adequate meter of what the fans are or aren't capable of; I think we all have to wait and see. It's too early to knock it or praise it. We don't even know if "it" is going to happen, at all.

Right now, if folks want to continue discussion on this topic, maybe we should split the posts out to another topic so we can get back to the joyous frivolity I usually enjoy in this thread. Wink

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Durin Mephit * Member of Guild of Messengers - Unless otherwise stated, opinions are mine only and not Guild endorsed.
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Professor Askew · Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 11:37 am Post subject:

Right now there's no need to split the thread, Marten. You're right, let's wait and see. I don't think it's optimism and pessimism as much as apples and oranges. I'm just doing a crappy job of explaining my expectations of Uru the game versus Uru in general. But, it's all good.

/me shakes hands with Cycreim.

As far as returning to joyous frivolity.....

Right now........

Lalalalala Happy Happy Joy Joy. Mmmmmm...that's frivolicious!! Please pass the frivolity. Do NOT make light of my frivolity! How can you put mayonnaise on a frivolity and cheese sandwich? Preposterous! Frivosterous! You might want to blow your nose, you got a little frivolity---there, you got it. Miss, what size frivolity were you shopping for? What's on the frivoloTV tonight? Something joyous and entertaining, I hope.

And now for something completely frivolous....
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Professor Daniel Askew - Securing our reality from the machinations of the Station Masters.

homerjay · Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 1:42 pm Post subject:

Right now, I haven't posted in awhile, so I'm gonna post something of a nice lighter note Smile

Right now, I've been hooked on the last recording of the late/great Brad Delp. It's awesomely rock n rollin'
Right now, I wish to share it with ya'll
http://www.myspace.com/delpgoudreau
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Durin Mephit · Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:33 pm Post subject:

Right now,

I got a refund from the tax company that managed my tax filing last year, due to the errors. I got back more refund than I was expecting. So, happy!
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Durin Mephit * Member of Guild of Messengers - Unless otherwise stated, opinions are mine only and not Guild endorsed.
rel.to | Marten KI: 59474 | Durin M KI: 11883768

janaba1 · Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 8:09 am Post subject:

Right now interesting, upbeat music, homerjay, thanks for sharing... Razz

Right now Yeah!!! for tax refunds!!! What a wonderful surprise, Marten!!!

And right now Yeah!!! for joyous frivolity!!! ... ::walks off dancing, jiggling, giggling, singing:: ...

...

Rils · Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 11:19 am Post subject:

Right now the band Everclear is playingat my church tonight! (of all places...) Yeah for volunteering at the snack table with the wifey and getting in for free!
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Kyven · Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 2:54 pm Post subject:

Daedalus · Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 4:44 pm Post subject:

Eleri · Great Tree Member Joined: 27 May 2004 Posts: 819

*peers over Blade's shoulder*

Right now, Marten gets the Crazy Person of the Week Award. Wink

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