An interesting experiment is happening over at Cyan Worlds' Myst Online: URU Live. Cyan Worlds has had a lot of problems with funding recently and can no longer concentrate on the running and expansion of the project. This was due, in part, to GameTap stopping the distribution of the game. Therefore Cyan Worlds has handed over the reins to the fans. On first thought that seems like the logical and obvious thing to do. Then after thinking about this for a little longer the emormity of it sinks in.
Cyan Worlds is making Myst Online completely open source. That means the data for the servers, client and tools will be made available. According to some sources Myst Online will not be left to fend for itself in the big wide internet though: Cyan will leave one server open. The rest will be left up to the gamers and the fans, to create their own worlds and maintain them. Now depending on the creativity of the community this could go one of two ways. The result could be something original and exciting or as equally disappointing. Whatever the result this was a brave move by Cyan Worlds and shows it's dedication to the fans. Maybe we will other older games go down the same route.
Via: mystonline.com
