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[jefftom]

début de la conférence de presse (chogon) :

Hi all. This is certainly crazy times again. But this time it is going to be a lot different. Now that Cyan has the rights back to put MystOnline online again, we are going to try to make a go of it by ourselves (meaning self publishing). With that comes less constraints but also more responsibility. When we re-open the cavern it will not be with a big marketing bang but more of a grass roots event where we will start slowly and with the help of the fans build MystOnline into something even more special than it was in the past.
We are starting with a very small team with some big (albeit not clearly defined yet) ideas. We will start with just getting what we had at the end of MOUL up and going so we can get people in the cavern as soon as possible. Then we will start working on the roadmap which I'm positive will change as time goes on. We will probably add more items, change items and may even have to remove items. But the ultimate goal is to have a vibrant engaged MystOnline community.

<Hitana> : which countries will have access to the new Myst Online?
<Chogon> : We hope to have the entire globe have access to MORE, meaning all countries!

<Whilyam> : When do you anticipate the servers coming back online?
<Chogon> : I was waiting for that question... heh. As soon as we can. There is just Randy (not Rand) and I working on bring it back up. We want to do it as soon as possible.
<Chogon> : It is possible that it could be in months (ducks head).

<CC> : [Dhelayan] my question is, will MORE also run on the Mac again?
<Chogon> : We will be working with TransGaming to make that happen. All indications so far is yes

<Chogon> : We will have to have some kind of beta testing... but it might be small and quick this time since (theoritically) not much has changed at the start.
<nita> : will there be a need for testers for the game, if so, how and when do we sign up?
<Chogon> : The initial testing of the servers will need some testers. We haven't got far enough to have a sign up sheet yet. It will be posted on myystonline.com if/when it happens.

<Jen> : When we get an account, can we have multiple users or will it be one user per account? With gametap, 1 account had up to 5 users, and each user could have multiple avatars. Will that change?
<Chogon> : It will be one user per account with (was it?) 5 avatars. That is the way we are going to start. It might change in the future? Don't know.

<Greypiffle> : To help support functionality, will we be allowed to ue the 3DS Plugins to create plugins for our favorite 3D application?
<Chogon> : Yes. That is why I want to release the source to the plugins as well as the binaries. That way some could write their own tools.

<Veralun> : What can the international community do to promote MORE in their area/country?
<Veralun> : Will there be a promotion from Cyan's side or can fans help with that?
<Chogon> : Promoting MORE is good. You just have to be careful about being a spammer or grabbing too much of the marketing wheel.
<Chogon> : I'm not sure what the international communtiy can do specifically yet... but I'm sure y'all will have great ideas.

<MustardJeep> : Some fun things like Ages of ilathid and a few other project coming back into uru instead of standalone like they are now
<Chogon> : Oh, right. Yes, that is why we need to release the plugins for MORE so that the old ages that were standalone can be brought forward.
<Chogon> : There might have to be some kind of conversion tool written by a fan(?) to help bring them forward

<Guest_87155> : It is assumed that one of the ultimate goals of MORE is to eventually see a profitable gaming world emerge. Cyan and Gametap obviously have an agreement on how that would be handled between them. This leaves a broader question still open…
18 : 50 <Guest_87155> : Have you considered how copyright will be handled regarding any fan-created intellectual property that eventually makes its way onto the main Cyan server specifically regarding who will own this work and what mechanism will be in place to codify that ownership?
<Chogon> : Good question. Not sure I have the answer. It MORE become big enough that attracts a publisher that would really help MORE, then that would have to be determine with that agreement...
<Chogon> : but that is really hypothetical and that is not really our plan (even though plans can change) to have a publisher pick it up later.

<Simon_Bitdiddle> : Will the Guildmasters be our representatives to Cyan for flow of information or will there be clearly defined Cyanist responsibilities for various aspects of canon and policies?
<Chogon> : Cyan will still be responsibile for things like canon and policies and how things should come together. We will take input from the guilds but on the big things, Cyan will make the decisions.
<Chogon> : But also we hope that information doesn't have to go through guildmasters but flow from fans also.

<TomahnaGuy> : What is your position on storyline related content from Cyan's part? I know you guys have said that Cyan content is still "pie in the sky" but what is your stance on continuing the storyline?
<Chogon> : we definitenly want to continue the storyline. There will be story guidelines post by Cyan that for the user created content to stay away from so that we can continue.

<PiperDriver> : Will Cyan engage some of us who have server space and bandwidth to host clustered portions of the server code? And if so, how do we get on the list of volunteers?
<Chogon> : Yes. But not immediately, we will have to change some stuff on the server side. But there will have to be a registration of those servers because we would not want to have any host jumping in. So, you will have to have a static ip because we will restict it just them (sorry for getting technical)

<SCGreyWolf> : Is there a possibility of adding outside assistance for the Plasma engine to the roadmap, or does Cyan prefer to keep that to themselves? Some of us would love to help. (All rights would be retained by Cyan, of course.)
<Chogon> : You are right, it is not on the roadmap. However, I can see that we could use some help but it would a closely directed by Cyan operation.
<Chogon> : In other words, you would almost have to be an intern employee, kind of like Tweek and Denis.

<Marten> : Next is a question from Tofer who had to leave : Front end servers : Windows or Linux?
<Chogon> : Currently, the front end servers are Windows. That doesn't mean that in the future that couldn't change.

<Erik> : Aside from user-made Ages would users also be able to create content like notebooks in existing Ages? (Like a journal in your Relto that others can read)
<Chogon> : The roadmap and most of the discussions have been about age creation... but there is a lot more things that user created content can be. Such as clothing, emotes, and more objects in your relto or neighborhood

<Lontahv> : Chogon> When Fan-Created-Ages are allowed will you "legalize" pyprp... if you know what I mean. Because I've grown very used to Blender and comfortable with adding features to PyPrp and would like to continue.
<Chogon> : Yes. PuPrp will be one of the tools. When the source for the plugin get released then the authors of PyPrp can modify it to include more things. and be compatible with MORE.

<Kero> : Will we be starting logicaly at the Cleft like we did in Prologue or start in Relto scratching our heads wondering how the heek we got there?
<Chogon> : When we re-open the cavern it will be just like it was in MOUL, you will start out in Relto. Whether that changes in the future... don't know.

<CC> : [Eleri] Erik touched on this a bit, but with Age building as the primary focus, how can non age builders contribute? Will there be tools for objects and animations and avatar options? What about fan run 'characters' like JD Barnes, will there be a place for fan story?
<Chogon> : The details are worked out yet... but yes. I'm not sure how user friendly the tools will be or whether there will be something in-game to use to create.

<Nadnerb> : Will there be an offline release of the client for local testing of new ages prior to any submittal, or will we need to use full on-line server for testing from the start of development? (and in either case, how will that be handled?)
<Chogon> : Not sure how that is going to work yet. But I am thinking that to test your age you will connect to the Cyan server but be allowed to have local data.
<Chogon> : Obviously there was to be some way to tell the server what you are doing... that way you can have other people help you test multiplayer

<CC> : [JWPlatt] Could a production house like Ubisoft (not to publish Uru) add premium content like an expansion pack to make a profit and help Uru be more successful? Ubisoft isn't "grass roots, " but this question is really about who owns content and the attractive capcity to charge premiums at some point.
<Chogon> : Well, the business plan is going to have to be flexible. We will start this way... but in the future may be we could leave open the possiblity of someone like a another studio to create content for extra fees.

<Colin_Brennan> : It's been said in the roadmap that eventually users will be able to shard Myst on their own servers and host their own ages. Now, would this be more like directing the client to the server, or actually having the servers patched in through the Nexus to create a seamless transition from place to place, akin to Second Life? (Just wanted a clarification of the road map on that.)
<Chogon> : The front end shards will not necessarly host their own content but be able to control a particular instance of an age, like a particular neighborhood.
<Chogon> : But there may have to be some kind of in-game mechinism for avatars to find their way to those particular places and know they are crossing over the line to fan hosted age links.

<belford> : You (and the roadmap) mentioned releasing the 3DS Max plugin to the Guild of Writers. Right now, the GoW is literally defined as anybody who drops by the GoW forum and participates. So that means releasing the plugin to everybody. Is that what you want? Or do you see limiting it to a core developer team?
<Chogon> : Yes, it is to be released to all that want them. The GoW is just the *mechanism* to get it out. (heh)
<Chogon> : I have used the ULM to look at several and I am very impressed. I can see there needs to be more testing on them (heh) but very cool!

<CC> : <Nadnerb> Will Cyan, or would Cyan like to, accept competent fan code submissions for features, rewrites, and bugfixes in the server or client code as it did in Until Uru? e.g. The KI is a popular candidate for improvement.
<Chogon> : The short answer is yes. But I think that that will have to be more of a directed from Cyan effort like the D'mala shard updates were.

<Poseidon> : with gametap gone.. how will we be able to download and update the new game... same as before... or via some new method? also.. will the users be able to create patches for the game.. version 9 had some serious problems and limitations when uru went down
(Chogon> : All of the patches will come from Cyan. (but the origin of the patch may come from user content).

<Atheni33> : How involved is Cyan going to be with the guilds?
<Chogon> : We hope that the Guilds and Cyan will like partners in this new adventure. So, there will lots of involvment in both directions.

<Leonor> : A small matter... Can MOUL oldbies have their calendar sparklies turned on in their Relto when MORE is up?
<Chogon> : Hmmm, part of the problem will be identifying who are the oldies. Something we'll have to think about.

<Mari> : Will there be a beta team needed or will the Guild of Maintainers take care of all of that?
<Chogon> : The beta testing and the Guild of Maintainers are two seperate functions (one is tesing the servers and the other testing new content).
<Chogon> : We will have to have some kind of beta testing... but it might be small and quick this time since (theoritically) not much has changed at the start.

<Colin_Brennan> : Hi Chogon. If you could pick one part of MORE and flaunt that to the entire gaming community to get them to play MORE, what part are you choosing to flaunt and why?
<Chogon> : Hmmm, that is a tough question. It would be easy to say you have to see the whole thing... ummm, I would have to say one of the fan events like the parades or one of the plays.

<Tweek> : Cyan said they won't be adding content at the start, however the Minkata spark is pretty bugged to the point where it stops everyone getting a full set of Calendar Roses, would this be something that would be fixed at all or not?
<Chogon> : Hopefully, we can fix some of those intrusive bugs. It may not happen at the start but sometime after.

<Nadnerb> : A lot of focus is going to be on the GoW, but does Cyan see a place for outside Fan creations turning back around if their developers want and reentering Uru in MORE?Will you first open the servers and then work on a structure for UCC, or will you open the servers after you have nailed down how UCC will be handled?
<Chogon> : I'm not sure what the first question is asking... ? The second question : we will restart the servers pretty much where we left them in MOUL so that people can get back into the cavern as soon as possible.
<Chogon> : Then we will work on the roadmap and the including the things needed for user created content.

Yawni> : Are there formal plans involving Guilds not mentioned in the MORE announcement? Specifically, I'm looking at Guilds like the Archivists, who were not reintroduced during MOUL.
<Chogon> : At this point all of our plans are not formal (cast in stone). All of the guilds should be more involved (hit me over the head to remind me).
<Chogon> : And hopefully, there will be ways of creating new guilds as new areas of help are needed.
here.

<Yali> : Ok, here's one. I've always held the idea that the best way for Uru to come back in full throttle would be through a complete rehaul and re-release, with a new spanking ad campaign and such. This would entail a development period which would hence lend itself to an improved, updated Uru. We've got to admit that Uru is already a game of a past technological generation. More so, I have this desire to see it return with as much force and vigo
<Chogon> : For MORE, we are seeing more of a grass roots, build slowly process rather than the big bang a major marketing.

<Marten> : He wrote : "While ages and other 'expensive' content may come far in the future, will 'cheaper' content like stor, character chats, and journal entries be added to MORE sooner? There were not enough little details, like notebooks to the GT ages, IMHO"
<Chogon> : Yali : Yes it is possible in the future... which is not written yet.
<Chogon> : Yes, Cyan may be able to add smaller content sooner... but that will all be played by ear. But I could see that happening.

<Jamey> : Will flymode patches for Avatars be given to the writers and maintainers to examine our ages?
<Chogon> : Good question (again). Obviously there will have to be some kind of debugging tools for age creators. Not sure what they will be yet.

<Rik> : Thank you. As for the rehearsal and beta testers of MOUL (whover they may be), are they still under the NDA? Also, is there anything left in the Pipeline?
<Chogon> : As far as I know, the NDAs have not elapsed but I don't know what each individual signed.
<Chogon> : As far as the "pipeline" there is a few things left around... but still needs lots of work.

<Nadnerb> : veralun asked : When it comes to a billingsystem, can PayPal be integrated into that? This gives more ppl the possebility to pay. what billing options do you plan on?
<Chogon> : We have not picked what billing system will be use... BUT we are considering very seriously using paypal as the method to collect funds.

<DarK> : with the guilds playing a more active role in the game, and while im aware of the lack of staff, is there work on a guid hall? can one be started
<Chogon> : DarK : not sure about particular content. We will have to visit all those kinds of things and how we can get them acomplished.

<Poseidon> : will we have the ability to add on to the city and relto to make more room for the age linking books that are due to be submitted? or are these places sacred ground that only cyan can add to, also what of the ages that were conceptualized by cyan but never finished.. could we step up and turn those ages into reality for you guys?
<Chogon> : There will be sacred areas that the age creators will have to stay away from so that Cyan can continue creating content in those areas.
<Chogon> : RAWA and Rand have been working on a guideline for those areas, which should be very close to being released.

<Lynnutte> : you have a time frame as to when the cavern might be opened again? When the cavern is open again, what will be the population limit for the various areas such as the city and neighborhoods? If so, Will there be systems in place to include more people in events than area limits will allow or will the guilds be incharge of figuring that out?
<Chogon> : Cavern re-opening... soon. When it does re-open it will have the same limits and things that were on MOUL.
<Chogon> : That could very well change in the future. I do like the idea of having a simple age kind place for ampitheatre kinds of events... but that is way in the future.

<Atheni33> : I’m sure many of us have encountered disruptive players in Moul and we have had the ResEng to take care of such problems. Now that Cyan has reduced their staff how will such issues be addresses? Will we be able to ban such players from neighborhood/bevins during meetings and events? Or will there be a Guild created to address such issues?
<Chogon> : Obviously, we will be short handed, especially in the ResEng area. We are looking at several different options...

<Nadnerb> : Zardoz asked : Will Uru canon continue in MORE or will it be suspended? That is to say, should I be worried about being eaten by Bahros if I venture into MORE?
<Chogon> : It may be continued... see earlier answer.