My answer? I have an emotional attachment to the world and storyline. I want to explore more of this world. I can envision myself there.
I’m not sure why Azeroth or other worlds have not drawn me equally close. Maybe it’s because D’ni was a place that was hinted at for 10 years in the Myst series until we finally got to “go” there. Maybe it’s a level of realism and lack of a cluttered user interface. Maybe it’s because I’ve met Uru’s players in game and in real life. Maybe that, when I play Uru, I play “myself” and not “my character.”
I think all of these points draw towards one word: emmersion. Whatever the reason, D’ni is a unique place that I want to continue to explore.
Thanks to some premier passes from my uncle, I enjoyed a sneak peak of the upcoming movie staring Steve Carell: Get Smart. Does it sneak in the laughs or should it have stayed classified? Here’s the details:
The Good: A nice mix of comedy and action. It’s fun to watch and will make you laugh. Most of the characters are likeable.
The Bad: Although there are a few spots where laughter filled the theater, most of the comedy is not hilarious. The movie’s main faults were a few boring spots where it falls into a stock, predictable plot.
The Bottom Line: What it lacks in comedy, it makes up for in some nice, unique action sequences. While I wouldn’t rush out to see it, I’d recommend it for a day when you’ve got some extra time. It makes me want to see the original series (which I’ve found at TVLand.com).
Although I’m saddened to see Uru Live close once again, I’d like to thank GameTap for giving it a second chance. In this industry, second chances just don’t happen.
Uru has been an exciting and inspiring experience the entire time since D’ni Guild and the DRC site teased us with the first glimpses in 2001. I still remember the first time I saw another person in the Cavern. And the Bahro Glyph tours. And the time I watched Sharper and a group of friends tear into the Pub. And trying to figure out the puzzle that took a half-dozen people to solve. And arguing with Sharper about reading his journal. And listening to Phil. And exploring Ages with my brother. And hearing from friends about the latest Relto page to find. So many friends and memories here.
Uru was a story, a community, and an experience, which makes it unlike any game or MMO. I wonder what Cyan will do to follow it. I’d love to see the story of Uru continue, perhaps in an episodic cooperative game. Although Cyan might move on to other projects, there will always be a special place in my imagination for the story of Uru.
What do you think? What is your favorite Uru memory? What do you think Cyan should work on next?
An awesome question came up while playing Imaginiff a few nights ago: Which Peanuts character are you? Before college, I probably would have identified most with Charlie Brown. Now I’m feeling a bit more like Linus. (Need some descriptions of the characters?)
{democracy:3}
What do you think? Which character are you? Which character do you think I am?
A little virtual sightseeing shows the images were taken before the Bayfront Convention Center was built. See if you can identify the Erie area locations below:
What do you think? What are your favorite locations in Erie? When do you use Google Maps? Wouldn’t be awesome to fly? Post a comment!
When Uru Live was first announced, went into beta, shut down, and then was reborn on GameTap, we all had different dreams and visions of what it would be like. At its new home on GameTap, some are thrilled and others disappointed. I’m eager to see what Season 2 will be like and will suspend judgment until then; Uru Live is still in its infancy and it’s too early to judge. But here’s one part of Uru that I’m very pleased and surprised about:
When I first saw the deserted Relto in 2003, I wasn’t that excited about it. But now that the Age has grown through various Relto pages, it’s one of my favorite Ages. It’s great to be able to customize something, call it your own, have it look cool, and watch it change and grow over time.
That’s the way I look at Uru Live now that the first season has ended. I’m not sure if the multiplayer storytelling model will work, especially since Cyan Worlds (along with Presto and Ubisoft) have done such an excellent job with a single-person story. It’s not that I’m against multiplayer; I think cooperative gameplay is the future and the fun of gaming. It’s that everyone doesn’t get to experience the story the way it’s being told in Uru Live right now. While I love the concept of information being disseminated throughout Guilds, podcasts, and opinion leaders, I’m not sure if it will be fun. (Much like the idea that all of the Uru explorers get to cooperatively set the lake light level. Awesome concept, but baking pellets isn’t fun.) World of Warcraft has the opposite problem: New players stumble upon the endgame sequence as their just starting a quest since everyone gets to play the story.
I know Uru Live can be awesome. But in Season 2, I’ll start holding it to a higher standard of being awesome and fun.
On a lighter note, I don’t dream about Myst-related things that often, but last night I had a dream that I found a new Age with various new Relto pages. First, a page added the puffer spores from Eder Gira. Next, a page flooded Relto with water. Last, a page added the Cracken from Pirates of the Caribbean. This monster, beached on my Relto, barely fit. But I removed a sharp, spikey thing from around it’s neck causing it to instantly heal and walk into the surrounding water and go for a swim.
(Although I doubt these pages will be added, I’m glad my favorite Relto page from The Path of the Shell appeared in the Uru Live season finale.)
What do you think? What is your favorite Age in Uru Live? Do you wish more video game environments would change over time? What do you like or dislike about Uru Live? What real world places do you enjoy to explore?
My brother brings news that this month World of Warcraft is featuring a Brewfest. In the game you can sample a variety of ale, including Mudder’s Milk. Although I’m not a big fan of alcohol, I am a big fan of refrences to one of my favorite episodes of the Firefly TV series. Good job, Blizzard!
I can’t wait to experience the Firefly MMO where everything is a reference to Firefly. “We should go to the crappy planet where I’m a hero!”
Speaking of MMO easter eggs, I’ve known about the feather hidden in Eder Gira of Myst Online: Uru Live for a while now. But I didn’t learn until yesterday there there’s even more scattered throughout the new Ages. Have you found them all?
What do you think? Have you been partying at the Brewfest in WoW? What is your favorite game easter egg? Where else have you seen references to Firefly?
Up here in the Northern Hemisphere, today marks the first day of Fall. This marks several special events:
The sun is directly above the Earth’s equator.
The length of day and night are approximately the same.
The second of three switches, pictured above, is switched.
This Fall is unique for a special event that won’t be occurring: For the first Fall in 17 years, I’m not returning to school. I’m now an official university graduate.
Not only are the weather and leaves changing as they always do, but my life is changing as well. It feels strange to not be back in the dorm. I still visit my friends on campus often, but it’s not as easy as running down the hall to play a round of Super Smash Bros. Trading a schedule of scattered lectures to an 8-hour day is even more difficult.
But I’m trying to approach it the same way I approach the changing seasons: During the summer, I enjoy the warmth. During the winter, I enjoy the snow. There’s no point to grumbling about how you wish the weather was different. Enjoy what you have when you have it and look forward for what’s to come. But like most things, it’s easier said then done.
What do you think? How did you deal with adjusting to life after college? Are you looking forward to changing leaves and drinking cider? If you could, would you stay in school forever? Post a comment in the original blog post or on the Facebook page which it’s syndicated.
This week I’ve got a special blog post for a special purpose. Erie Blogs, a collection of about 100 blogs from Erie residents, is challenging its bloggers and visitors to donate blood this week. So I am rallying the Penguin Army and challenging you to donate this week at the Community Blood Bank.
Incentives:
“One random donor as well as the blog that gets the most referrals will win a great prize basket with items donated by local businesses and organizations.”
You can save lives. No superpowers needed.
“This year, the Community Blood Bank is celebrating it’s 40th anniversary, and donors who participate will also be entered to win great prizes available as part of the Blood Bank’s anniversary.”
About 60 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood, but only 5 percent do.
Every donor gets a free snack when you’re done!
So let’s get out there, save some lives, and win some free loot! Tell them that Abstract Penguin Blog sent you!
The Community Blood Bank is located at 2646 Peach Street in Erie and is open Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.. On Tuesdays, the blood bank is open from 9:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
If you already donate blood but want to take the next step in helping people, consider getting your phlebotomy degree. Phlebotomy is the science of drawing blood for donations and tests.
There’s something nice about being outside. I just took a small stroll around the neighborhood. The sun should be setting in about 20 minutes or so and everyone is out walking their dog. There’s something about how a dog looks at you that makes you grin. Then the strangers walking past, seeing you grin, start to grin as well. Not too many people stop to talk; We’re seemingly far too busy for that these days. But most do say “Hello” in passing. Sometimes I do get to talk to a neighbor. I don’t see neighbors too often and there’s something nice about a small chat about what happened that day.
I’m a big fan and advocate for technology. I think Facebook is great to keep up with friends. It’s great to get with your guildmates and defeat a giant monster in World of Warcraft. These are all good, but I think there’s something missing with these interactions. And I’m worried that interacting via technology too often replaces interacting face-to-face instead of supplementing it.
How do you use IM, Facebook, and MMOs to supplement real-world conversations? Are digital conversations inferior to analog ones?
Although I’m saddened to see 
An awesome question came up while playing 
My brother brings news that this month 
