Myst Online: Uru Live (PC, Mac)

One last trip down before the Exodus

Nothing is ever a coincidence in the world of Myst Online: Uru Live. When it officially launched earlier this year, the story began with the D'ni Restoration Council restarting their work "after a three year hiatus," as the original incarnation of Uru was laid to rest in 2004. When Cyan Worlds introduced the character Cate Alexander to the storyline as the benefactor with high demands, there was little question as to who they were referring to.

"We've always tried to do that to some degree in Uru," says Ryan Miller, design director for Myst Online. "We want to keep it as 'in character' as possible. It makes sense with what's going on in the game and what's going on with us as a company." The team is on the verge of topping off their first season with their finale, "Exodus," set to launch on November 1--a season that wasn't so much in place earlier this year.

For the first four months, Myst Online was updated as Cyan saw fit, and while the flow of content was steady, it led to players becoming lost in the updates, be it worlds to explore or stories to follow. However, with the birth of episodes in May 2007, the new content was packed into a solid week of exploration and drama for dedicated players.

The mysterious Bahro played an important role in season one.

"We were wanting to try something new and see if it sparked a greater interest," explains Ryan. "This was a way for us to say, 'Hey, if you're on during these days, your chance of seeing or experiencing some new content are much greater."

With the release of the season finale, "Exodus," comes a new playable age in Ahnonay. Like most of Myst Online, Ahnonay isn't entirely new, as it was a part of an expansion pack for the original Uru, The Path of the Shell. The age itself has been altered, of course, but what hasn't changed is its heavy dependence on linking. Players will see Ahnonay as it was, surrounded by a gorgeous ocean and lush gardens, and as it is today, dry and dead. For the most dedicated of players, the focus will not only be on how the season ends, but on what comes next.

"We've been kicking around a lot of plans for season two, like ramping up the guilds and player created content," says Ryan. "It won't be like say, Second Life, where players can just create anything. There will be some quality assurance involved."

However the story continues, their dedicated fan base is guaranteed to follow.

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