The next project was to develop a MMO version of the game. But after a short time, Ubisoft canceled the developing process. But this year the online version of the game is back. URU Live will be the online experience of Myst. The concept of an online game in the Myst universe was inspired by a book called Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson that was featuring a virtual reality which was considered to be the successor of the Internet. The game can be downloaded, tested and played from GameTap, but unfortunately this service is not accessable from any country. In the demo version you play with a visitor status, the game being very limited in options and locations. My first contact with the game was not a very satisfying one because the demo version takes place again in Mexico, the same location used for URU: Ages Beyond Myst demo. The only online experience was the interaction with other players in Bevin (the point where you start your journey). Besides the mission in Mexico, you can visit Relto (your personal realm) which is like a small island from where you will start all the important quests, Gahreseen (where you have to go to pick up your KI), Nexus (the library where you can search any link based on private or public status), and the Bevin (the central location for all the guilds).
The KI is actually the HUD of the game. You can monitor what players are near you, the list of your buddies, and even main options of the chat. The interface of the HUD is semi-transparent giving you the ability to watch at the same time everything that moves around. The main HUD can be moved on the screen wherever you want and can be minimized or maximized. Before beginning your journey, you have to customize your character, from hair and facial forms, to clothes, sex and age. The customization is again very limited for the visitor status. So, the main quest begins in Mexico, the place where Atrus lived his childhood. The location is in the desert near a mountain. The only living spot is a caravan travel trailer with an old man sitting under its shadow. This NPC will give advises if you come back to him everytime you encounter difficulties. A few meters away from him you can see the exploration site. The place is very well hidden in a crevasse. Entering here you will meet Atrus' daughter's hologram. She will give you the first task to find all the signs that look like this one. After you find them all you can enter in the tree located in the site to activate other worlds. But this is where your journey ends as visitor. Getting back to your home realm you can see new pillars with linking books, but again these are not accessible. For problems in different worlds, you can contact the explorers (much more experienced than you) who will give you hints to go further. In Nexus library, if you access the beginners Bevin, you will get useful indications from admins and meet new players to chat. You can create guilds with your boddies. Every guild will have their own Bevin. The link to your Bevin can be public or private. URU Live will be a wonderful experience for all the Myst fans with almost unlimited content. Even the more casual ones can have some fun here. The game will be played especially by mid-age players, because of its content which makes you thing and explore instead of using your dexterity skills like other MMORPG's.