Myst Online goes open source (again)

If a dictionary entry for the phrase "long, strange road" existed, it likely would feature an image from Myst Online. The fantasy MMORPG began its checkered life as the multiplayer component of 2003's Uru: Ages Beyond Mist before being scrapped and subsequently revived by GameTap in 2007.

Cyan Worlds then acquired the title and released it as a free-to-play MMO, a strange move considering that the company also open-sourced Myst Online assets in 2008 but continued to support a commercial-grade centralized shard.

This morning, Rock, Paper Shotgun tipped us to the fact that Cyan is once again fanning the flames of open source by announcing that the game's MOULA client engine and associated development tools (as well as a MOULA server replacement called MOSS) will be made available and hosted on OpenUru.org. "The goal of the open source CyanWorlds.com Engine and the MOSS server is to provide a playground where new writers can learn their craft, and new maintainers can inspect it, and new cartographers can map it. The Cyan Worlds MOULA servers will continue to provide a (relatively) safe environment for the D'ni faithful to mingle and share," explains Cyan's Rand Miller.

Reader Comments (6)

Has anyone played this in any form recently? Is it full of puzzles and atmosphere??

@Naru now in 3D Yes.

"Uru: Ages Beyond Mist"
Uru: Ages Beyond Myst

"will be made available"
Have been made available.

Could you imagine if worlds could be built minecraft-style from the community? Or programmed from the ground up like an addon? And we were allowed to enter these worlds through book/portals from some main world with a safety linking-book book in tow?

Over time, good authors/programmers would gain a reputation, create more amazing worlds and contribute more great content; just like a burgeoning D'ni society would! When I was going through computer science classes (waaaay back when), I imagined writing code was much like the world building in the MYST games and books. It would be amazing if this open source concept could not only make this a reality for the creative ones, but also provide an explorer's dream for everyone who just wishes to consume the content rather than create it.

If Cyan can pull this off, more power to them.

@(Unverified)
Some company actually did want to do this waaaay back a million years ago, can't remember the name. It all went to vapor unfortunately.

@(Unverified) That is what I'm hoping for, be able to make new worlds and pass them around as books in game. Overall the game is great as it is, needs more content obviously but its pretty, the atmosphere is creepy and interesting at the same time, and it really pulls you into the story.
If more people would play it, it would me 100x better than it is as its more fun to explore with friends.
Ive solved all but 4 worlds but doing it alone got boring. and some worlds require you to have more than one person.
I hope someone integrates it with the main game so explorers like me can have fun as well.

Myst Online goes open source (again)

Reader Comments (6)

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 11:12AM Naru now in 3D said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 11:31AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 11:32AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 4:46PM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 7th 2011 7:49PM Saker said

Posted: Apr 8th 2011 10:53AM xero13 said

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