Massively http://massively.joystiq.com Massively http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://massively.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Massively http://massively.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Myst Online is alive... again... for the, um, we lost count how many times it died]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/08/myst-online-is-alive-again-for-the-um-we-lost-count-how/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/08/myst-online-is-alive-again-for-the-um-we-lost-count-how/http://massively.joystiq.com/2010/02/08/myst-online-is-alive-again-for-the-um-we-lost-count-how/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Myst fans, rejoice one more time.

The game that gives Lazarus a run for his money, Myst Online: URU Live, is kicking once more. Cyan Worlds has gotten enough money together again to start up a brand new Myst server as the first phase of making Myst Online an open source project. The cavern that's online now is mostly the same cavern that GameTap had right as the game went offline.

Best news of all? Myst Online is free. Yes, you heard us right -- free. Free as in no subscription, no paying for the client, no nothing. They're welcoming all cavern dwellers, new and old, back to the depths of D'ni. Their account creation page is getting hammered right now, as everyone wants to get back in ASAP, so if you can't create an account just give it some time.

While the game is free, servers and running a business are not. Cyan has opened up a donation page on PayPal for anyone who wants to donate towards the game's bills, so if you're feeling generous then by all means show Uru some support. The game has been through hell and back, and some help would be much appreciated around the Cyan offices. They've even said they're working on a little present for those who donate...

So, readers of Massively, can I get a shorah?

MassivelyMyst Online is alive... again... for the, um, we lost count how many times it died originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingcyancyan-worldsgametapits-alive-again-holy-crapmyst-onlinemyst-online-uru-liveopen-sourceshorahMon, 08 Feb 2010 18:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cities XL launching in North America on Oct. 9th ]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/25/cities-xl-launching-in-north-america-on-oct-9th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/25/cities-xl-launching-in-north-america-on-oct-9th/http://massively.joystiq.com/2009/08/25/cities-xl-launching-in-north-america-on-oct-9th/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


This year's October seems like a busy month for gaming, and if you're into city building games it just got a little more crowded. Monte Cristo Multimedia has announced that Cities XL will be released in North America on October 9th and that it will come in two formats. You can either get it through a digital download or by mail order in case you prefer a boxed copy, and shipping is free. Both options will be available through the official website, but it's also possible to get the digital version from Steam, Direct2Drive, Trygames, Impulse Driven and Gametap.

We're sure plenty of you are excited to hear this news, or at least the small legion of you who've been building (or have wanted to be building) massive cities for the past several months.

MassivelyCities XL launching in North America on Oct. 9th originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingcities-xldigital-distributiondirect2drivegametapimpulselaunchmonte-cristomonte-cristo-multimediaoctobersteamtrygamesTue, 25 Aug 2009 16:30:00 EST<![CDATA[The reasons why you need to play Myst Online: Uru Live]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/02/the-reasons-why-you-need-to-play-myst-online-uru-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/02/the-reasons-why-you-need-to-play-myst-online-uru-live/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/02/the-reasons-why-you-need-to-play-myst-online-uru-live/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Shorah, readers! Kehnehn rahm b'yihm shehm!

Myst Online: Uru Live seems to be one game that not only continually gets the proverbial shaft, but also knows how to come back from the dead better than the Scourge of the Eastern Plaguelands. Ubisoft canned it, Cyan Worlds brought it back via a shard system in "Until Uru", GameTap brought it back officially, GameTap canned it after one season, and now Cyan Worlds is once again attempting to put life back into their only online Myst game thanks to the extremely active and vocal community.

Mike Fahey over at Kotaku might think Uru should die already, but this blogger is currently squealing in glee in his computer chair. In an attempt to pass the glee on to you, loyal readers of Massively.com, I've compiled not only what Myst Online: Uru Live is all about, but why you should turn your attention to this massive online adventure game.

Continue reading The reasons why you need to play Myst Online: Uru Live

MassivelyThe reasons why you need to play Myst Online: Uru Live originally appeared on Massively on Wed, 02 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cyancyan-worldsfeaturedgametapjoystiqfeaturesmystmyst-onlinemyst-online-uru-liverelaunchubisoftuntil-uruuru-liveWed, 02 Jul 2008 17:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Cyan acquires Myst Online, opens game development to fans]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/01/cyan-acquires-myst-online-opens-game-development-to-fans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/01/cyan-acquires-myst-online-opens-game-development-to-fans/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/07/01/cyan-acquires-myst-online-opens-game-development-to-fans/#commentsFiled under: , ,


We all felt for the Myst community a few months back when Myst Online: URU Live was shutdown. Yet there looks to be some light at the end of the dark tunnel for fans of the unique MMO experience, as Cyan Worlds has acquired the game back from GameTap and plans to re-open its worlds for fans to not only play in, but help develop as well. With a staff that equals less than ten people total, we can understand why the developers are opting for letting the fans help develop new content. Plus, it's a really interesting prospect to have people like the Restoration Engineers creating new content in their own beloved title.

We've seen a few games take on user-created content, with Pirates of the Burning Sea coming to mind. However, the type of content one would expect for Myst Online is entirely unique to any other MMO. This is literally a chance for players to see their own stories and puzzles featured in one of their most beloved franchises. Cyan has said that they're considering a $25 per six month fee purely to maintain in-house servers for the players to run on, which is a very small price to pay for the resurrection of an MMO like this.

[via Kotaku]

MassivelyCyan acquires Myst Online, opens game development to fans originally appeared on Massively on Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingcyan-worldsgametapmystmyst-online-uru-livepirates-of-the-burning-seapotbssoesony-online-entertainmenturu-liveTue, 01 Jul 2008 16:15:00 EST<![CDATA[GameTap gets interviewed on Myst Online's untimely demise]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/07/gametap-gets-interviewed-on-myst-onlines-untimely-demise/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/07/gametap-gets-interviewed-on-myst-onlines-untimely-demise/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/07/gametap-gets-interviewed-on-myst-onlines-untimely-demise/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Recently, Ten Ton Hammer sat down with GameTap's Creative Director and VP of Content to discuss the death of Myst Online: Uru Live. The interview itself covers a lot of ground on the why and how of the game. Subjects like the reason GameTap originally picked up the title are covered, as well as how satisfied the publisher was with Cyan Worlds' first season of content. It's a fairly short interview, but there is some knowledge to be gleaned from it for anybody interested.

It's not surprising to us that their biggest disappointment was a lack of subscriber interest. We have to wonder just how many people actually ended up playing the game, considering its alternative nature. Niche titles are loved by many of us here at Massively, so one thing we've been noticing is that some developers are still trying to figure out the exact cost-to-profit ratio when creating them. Hopefully GameTap learned something from this venture and doesn't shy away from other alternative MMOs in the future.

MassivelyGameTap gets interviewed on Myst Online's untimely demise originally appeared on Massively on Thu, 07 Feb 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternative-mmocanceledcyan-worldsgametapmyst-online-uru-livesubscribersten-ton-hammerThu, 07 Feb 2008 16:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Myst Online: Uru Live Tap-ped out again]]>http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/04/myst-online-uru-live-tap-ped-out-again/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/04/myst-online-uru-live-tap-ped-out-again/http://massively.joystiq.com/2008/02/04/myst-online-uru-live-tap-ped-out-again/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,

Ricardo Sanchez, VP of Content and Creative Director for GameTap, has officially announced that they'll no longer be carrying Myst Online: Uru Live and its final day of operation will be 60 days from today, either April the 5th, or April the 7th, depending on whether they'll end it over the weekend or not.

This will doubtless hit many fans in the heart, and it's not stated exactly why GameTap's discontinuing service, but if I had to guess, I'd say they looked at the subscriber numbers vs the maintenance costs and made their fateful decision. Historically, this marks the second time this title's been canceled -- the first time, of course, being in 2004 when Ubioft gave it the axe. Our condolences to all fans of the wondrous Myst universe, and we'll wait to hear if Cyan Worlds has any final thoughts.

[Thanks, Veotax!]

MassivelyMyst Online: Uru Live Tap-ped out again originally appeared on Massively on Mon, 04 Feb 2008 17:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breakingcyan-worldsgametapmyst-online-uru-livericardo-sanchezubisoftMon, 04 Feb 2008 17:15:00 EST