Funding and the Future PM meeting summary

[Eleri]

A lovely & productive evening with Mark "Moke" Dobratz! Lots of good questions from explorers, lots of innnnteresting news from Moke! Check it all out in this summary compiled by DRCL Gadren:

Business:

Question: Why don't you tell us a bit about yourself, and what you do at Cyan, Moke?
Moke: Sure, Vort. If anyone falls asleep, just kick me and I'll move on. I have had several titles at Cyan, all of them still apply to what I do. Those have been; Project Manager, Development Director and Producer. Basically, I try to solve problems, preferably before they happen. Of course, I usually miss the clues and have to solve the problems after they've exploded. Then my main purpose is to take the blame. So I guess I'm responsible for anything ugly. I've been in the game development industry for 15 years. Only the last 4 have been at Cyan, although I've know them for 6 or so...

Q: So if you can say how long were you talking to Turner for before the announcement?
M: That depends on how you look at it. We were talking to Turner before Ubisoft even entered the picture 4 years ago. We came very close to signing with them then. But that didn't work out and we reached a deal with Ubisoft. We have kept the Turner relationship going even through the Ubisoft years, because the people at Turner are so awesome. When Cyan ran out of options last summer, Turner stepped right in and worked out a way to keep us going. They have understood the talent we have and the special places we make. So we couldn't be more thrilled that we are partnering with them again.

Q: Will there be a way for interational users, and others without credit cards, to pay for Live?
M: We haven't figured out the billing system yet, but we will make sure everyone who want to join Uru Live will be able to, from wherever they are. I'm not sure about the credit card thing. I'll have to get back to you on that.

Q: What kind of marketing efforts will we see?
M: Great question, and I'm not certain. We haven't talked with Turner about this specifically, yet, but they have a pretty wide-ranging network. I certainly hope we can take advantage of that somehow. Word of mouth will always play an important part, as well.

Q: What are Cyan's plans for publicity, both positive and negative? How shall you deal with bad reviews, for example? Like, someone complaining about the navigation system.
M: We like to think of "negative reviews" as good feedback. We listen to everything. I mean, everything! When the feedback makes sense, we try to make adjustments using that information. Some of the best feedback is negative. And at the same time, we can't change the world in one day. Sometimes we get great feedback and it takes us months to do anything about it. But please be patient with us. We want Uru Live to be as good as it can be. And your voices will be a big part of that.


Technical:

Question: Will dial-up users be able to register for Uru Live?
Moke: We're definitely not going to recommend dial-up, but there's nothing to stop that from working if you have superhuman patience.

Q: I would like to ask that, if you guys are thinking this far ahead, what will happen to the D'mala Shard after the opening of URULive?
M I'm not entirely certain, but like I told the morning group, Until Uru has had - and is still serving - an important purpose for the community. When Uru Live is back and growing like a weed, I'm not sure that purpose will remain. And I can tell you that the code between Until Uru and the new Uru Live will not be compatible. I hope we can take the ambition and energy of Until Uru and channel it into a Guild system and fan-created content for Uru Live.

Q: Will Live be set up so that it is always "public" or will there be a way to do any private exploration as well (like with our current Relto library)?
M: That's one thing that won't change about Uru Live. Each explorer will be able to choose their level of interaction. They will still have their own shelf of linking books that are theirs and theirs alone. Invitations and sharing will still matter. And there will continue to be a mix of public and private areas.

Content:

Q: Moke, is there any "new content or updates" going to make it to "Until Uru" while we are waiting for "beta Uru" and "URULive" to appear? (And can I get a "Cone Shaped Hat"? Please!!!)
M: The cone-shaped hat is a great idea! Hang on while I write that down....For Until Uru, we're grateful to have the community contributing fixes to make it better. Another update of minor fixes will be coming soon...Maybe next week, even. But I must tell you, at Cyan, our focus is on Uru Live. Every minute we spend on Until Uru is a minute less toward the new Uru Live. Hopefully we'll all be able to keep enjoying what we can here on the D'mala shard until everyone of us is back in Uru Live.

Q: Glad to meet you, Moke. Does Cyan plan to integrate any of the Myst V story into the new story being developed for Uru Live? Or will the Myst V happenings not fit well or at all?
M: Myst V story will not be ignored, but it might not fit the way you expect it to. That's all I can really say about that.

Q: How does Cyan envision the dynamic storyline reaching thousands of players [how will the story spread through thousands of players in the cavern]?
M: We are counting on a couple things to help. Postings and a readerboard system are being worked on so that news can be found right in the Neighborhoods. Also, we will set up the library to have the episodes ready to experience for any who missed them. One of the biggest helps will be you guys - the community. Hopefully there will be enough involvement that friends will spread the story. Maybe even be part of the story.

Q Could you further explain the "episode library" you mentioned earlier tonight?
M: You've all been to the Library [in the City], yes? It will function like any Library... It will house books. We're really looking ahead here...for when new explorers come into Uru Live in two or three years, for example. The story may have moved on quite a bit, but they will be able to "relive" the previous episodes by visiting the Library. I know that's kind of vague... Ryan or Rand Miller could explain it much better than I. You should ask them about it the next time you see them.

Q: I'd like to know more about the Library. Will it have Books (linking), or books (reading) or both... ? How many there? And, will they have a classification of some kind?
M: Yes, I believe the Library will have both Linking Books and reading books, as many as we can make over time. I'm not sure how many that will turn out to be. Hopefully, a lot! I'm sure we can come up with a way to classify. Or maybe, the Guild of Librarians?

Q: Which of the current Guilds will you be keeping, if any?
M: I'm not sure we have the right to speak for any of the current Guilds. We want to support everyone's idea of a guild - within reason - and we will help establish a few important Guilds, as well. So, I guess, all the current Guilds will continue in some form, and others will be added.

Q: Will new explorers to Live start with the Cleft and the Journey, or will they experience something else?
M: I can tell you that new explorers will not start out in the Cleft. It will still be necessary to complete the journey, but accessible in a different way. The idea behind this, is we wanted to get people to the heart of Uru more quickly. The heart being all of you - the community.

Beta Testing:

Q: Will the beta testers be exploring some of the new areas or just what we know on new servers?
M: I'm guessing the Beta Testers will see a few new areas... But much of the new content is still "in the pipeline" so to speak, and it will be a matter of timing. The early Beta Testers will see less new areas than the later Beta Testers.

Q: Will beta testers need to join GameTap? And would it help Cyan if we joined GameTap now?
M: Good questions, and I have no certain answers yet. But things are looking like Uru Live will not reside in GameTap, so no one will necessarily have to join GameTap to join Uru Live. There certainly won't be any extra cost one way or another. If you can do the GameTap route, I'd highly recommend it. You'll get Uru, plus hundreds of great, classic games. I'm on GameTap and I play it all the time.

Q: Will beta be free or will it be the same as an Urulive membership?
M: Beta will not cost you money, but you'll have to sign a Non Disclosure Agreement and do some bug hunting for us! That could cost you some time.

[Professor Askew]

I mentioned this over at the Liaison website. I am very excited about the future of the Library. If we miss certain events in the storyline, we will no longer be forced to catch up outside of the Cavern on forums and whatnot. We'll be able to read everything right there in Ae'gura. That's awesome.

[Eleri]

So am I! I'm wodering if it'll be just like reading a summary with some pictures, or we be able to link in as a ghost observer to the event, or what?
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Eleri Underground Blog

[Mowog]

What amazing news! Looks like our "cautious optimism" can now give way to "flagrant optimism!"

Thanks for the post,

Mowog

[Eleri]

I want that on a tshirt:

URU LIVE: Flagrantly Optimistic
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Eleri Underground Blog

[James L.]

I am particularly excited about the idea of the Library becoming an actual, functional building, fulfilling its intended purpose, rather than just being another D'ni relic to ooh and aah over. Hopefully that idea will extend to other areas and buildings as well. The posibilities contained in that idea are widespread. Exciting stuff!
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James L.

[asa160]

[Eleri]

[Cycreim]

I love the ideas of the neighbourhoods coming closer to being hubs of communities in Uru. The readerboard idea is brilliant, and one of the things I found was lacking in the 'hoods. Is it going to be like an in-game forum or newsgroup, or more like an "announcements imager" like the one in the classroom?

I'm really looking forward to seeing how we (those of us from Prologue and UU) will interact with people new to Uru Live, seeing as we will have been through different journeys.

Oh boy I am so excited by all these new ideas! I can't wait to find out more!

[vidkid7]

Whoa.... no more cleft? Or just no more cleft when getting the new people started?

*speculates wildly*
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-vid (KI: 00201880)
The Age Linker's Guide
It is up to you to create your own adventures today!

[Marten]

[Reme]

I would like to Thank Eleri and Vortmax. I thought the meeting was run very well last night. Good Job to both!!! I was disappointed that I crashed out before being able to ask my question, but hope to have better luck next time.

Thanks for the quick posting of the recap.

[Anna Catherine]

[Dalken]

I agree with AnnaCat. Though I'm more optimistic now, it's not completely "flagrant optmisim" ...it's more "cautiously-flagrant optmism"
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~Dalken Starbyne

Unless otherwise stated, opinions expressed are my own and do not reflect the opinion of any organization of which I am a member.

[Tweek]

He didn't say there is no more cleft, just that we wont be starting there.
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Beneath - Journal and archive of my time in D'ni.