As you probably know, Uru Live opened at the end of 2006, and then was cancelled in April of 2008.
I'm leaving the older parts of this document intact, for historical interest. (And because I hate seeing my words disappear.)
This Guide contains information about using the Uru application, logging in, and getting oriented in the Uru Live world. It does not try to give you:
However, much of the material in this Guide can be discovered by exploring the world of Uru. Therefore, this Guide can be considered spoiler material for Uru in general. If this bothers you, do not read it -- or follow links to particular answers, rather than reading the whole document from top to bottom.
If you've gotten into the game, and want some non-spoiler guidance about what to try first, see "What should I be doing here?"
As the message implies, the direct cause was money. Uru Live did not attract enough players during 2007 to convince Gametap to continue their investment. More importantly, the number of players was not growing fast enough. (See "How many subscribers did Uru Live need?")
Trying to decide who was ultimately at fault has consumed megabytes of web forum argument. I doubt any single answer makes sense. Gametap funded and published the game; Cyan designed and operated it; the player community lived in it and reacted to it. Each of those aspects influenced Uru's outcome.
(This entry last updated Apr 13, 2008)
The message also says that both companies worked, for some time, to find a way to keep Uru running. That implies that the initial concern was raised much earlier than February 2008.
Cyan put Uru Live on hiatus in November of 2007, with no content released after that time. That may represent a point at which they were uncertain about Uru's future. On the other hand, it may have been a planned downtime -- a space for Cyan to rethink their approach and build up new content for a triumphant 2008.
Or, both could be true. We do not know what Cyan's artists and developers worked on through the winter of 2007-8. If their managers were in serious talks with Gametap about ways to continue Uru, it would have made sense to keep doing Uru work. It would also make sense to begin working on a new product, to keep Cyan alive in case Uru failed.
(This entry last updated Apr 13, 2008)
We can estimate the number of avatars created in Uru Live. DRC Neighborhoods were created as new avatars arrived -- one Neighborhood for every twenty avatars. The Neighborhood count reached some 7600 by Uru's end, so that's over 150,000 avatars. Of course, most of those represent either free visitors who never subscribed, or Gametap members who tried Uru once and never got hooked. Also, one regular player can create many avatars, so the "real" player number is shaved even lower.
We can try to estimate the number of players who ever logged on at a time. During the most popular moments of Uru Live's history -- the opening of Ahnonay, and the shutdown party -- I observed two to three hundred players on-line in public areas. But neither number is very meaningful. I can't estimate how many people were in private areas; and the shutdown party consisted of the die-hard players remaining after six months of hiatus and stasis.
The important count would be the number of players who logged on regularly (at least monthly) during the later episodes (May through November of 2007). I estimate this as being a few thousand. But this is only a guess, based on nothing more than gut feeling.
(This entry last updated Apr 13, 2008)
Obviously, the ultimate goal was for Uru to attract enough Gametap subscribers to support Cyan as a company. Equally obviously, that did not happen in 2007. Cyan's game division is about thirty people; Gametap subscribers pay $5 to $10 per month (of which some is credited to Uru, no doubt depending on how much Uru they played). Even at the most generous estimate, there's no way Uru had enough players to support thirty employees.
On the other hand, Gametap may not have needed Uru to become profitable in 2007. If the player base was growing at a respectable rate, they could have continued funding Cyan, in expectation that Uru would eventually repay their investment.
Greydragon's remarks around February imply that growth rate, rather than absolute size, was indeed the number that everybody was watching.
(This entry last updated Apr 13, 2008)
(This entry last updated Apr 13, 2008)
On April 3, Greydragon made the following forum post:
We've received a number of request regarding the future of Uru - specifically servers and fan created ages. Cyan is seriously considering running a server and opening up some of the Uru code so the fans can truly have a viable path for the care and feeding of Uru. The problem at this point is that we're at a place where we can't really make any decisions along that line until GameTap decides what they're going to do with Uru. We're waiting for a reply from them.We had hoped to avoid a dramatic fracturing of fans to various other communities and solutions. Here's hoping we can get an answer soon. Thanks so much for your support.
(The post was later deleted, and then reposted here .)
The way this is phrased -- "the fans can truly have a viable path" -- sounds like a return of Untìl Uru. (See "What is the history of Uru (the game)?") If that is the case, Cyan would not be creating content for Uru or spending much time on it. They would just be operating a central authentication server, and allowing fans to run Uru servers that connect to it.
(But that does not preclude the notion of players creating new content.)
In any case, we have heard no followup from either Gametap or Cyan about Gametap's plans. So the matter remains in suspension.
(This entry last updated Apr 13, 2008)
The Uru:ABM game contains a menu option for "Play Uru Live." This was intended to launch the on-line game client. Since the on-line game no longer exists, that menu option is now useless.
Cyan later released expansion packs for the single-player Uru:ABM. However, Gametap's version does not include those. To play the expanded version, look for the 2004 edition titled Uru: Complete Chronicles. That contains some (though not all) of the material that was eventually released in Uru Live.
(This entry last updated Apr 13, 2008)
They arrived on Earth nearly ten thousand years ago, but they did not colonize the surface world. They lived in a great cavern, three miles beneath what is now New Mexico. They flourished for millennia, undiscovered by surface-dwellers. They built a vast city, cultivated the Art of their Linking Books, and explored the Ages.
Then, just a few centuries ago, the D'ni civilization collapsed. The Cavern was left uninhabited.
For more information, see "What is the history of D'ni (the civilization) and the DRC?"
(This entry last updated Feb 19, 2007)
The D'ni possessed the power to travel from one Age to another. They settled in this Age we call "Earth", but they explored many others. See "What is a Linking Book?"
(This entry last updated Feb 19, 2007)
A D'ni master of the Writing Art would inscribe a volume with a precise symbolic and mathematical description of a world. If this was done properly, the first page of the book would come alive with an image of the new Age. Anyone who touches this page will be instantly transported to the book's Age.
In Uru Live, you always carry a linking book with you. It leads to your Relto Age. (See "What is Relto?") You will find many more linking books as you explore.
(You will also find perfectly ordinary books and journals. These do not transport you anywhere; you just read them.)
(This entry last updated Feb 19, 2007)
Myst was the creation of Atrus, a descendant of one of the few D'ni to survive the Fall. Atrus was a wise man and a master of the Writing Art. His two sons, however, were not so well-adjusted. They trapped their father in a sealed part of the D'ni Cavern, and then ran wild through the Ages he had created. Finally, however, they themselves fell into traps that had been left on Myst.
The explorer from Earth was able to free Atrus. He then ventured into the Age of Riven to rescue Atrus's wife, Catherine. Thus reunited, the couple left to raise their youngest child -- a girl named Yeesha.
(This entry last updated Feb 21, 2007)
However, your avatar doesn't start with a KI. (You are, after all, a explorer from the surface world.) One of your first goals when you start the game will be to pick up a KI. (See "Getting a KI device".) Until you do this, many functions will be unavailable to you.
In case you're curious: it's called a "KI" because it has a D'ni numeral 3 engraved on it. (We don't know why.) The D'ni symbol for 3 looks sort of like the English letters KI.
(This entry last updated Feb 15, 2007)
Your Relto is your starting point, your refuge, and your home. It contains a hut, which contains bookshelves, where you keep your linking books. It also contains a wardrobe, which allows you to change your clothing and appearance. As you explore Uru, you may find ways to enhance and customize your Relto.
The Relto Age was written by Yeesha, the daughter of Atrus.
(This entry last updated Nov 29, 2006)
Most Neighborhoods are called "Bevin" -- possibly this is just the D'ni word. Some players just say "'Hood", as a short form of "Neighborhood".
You have a home Neighborhood. You can change your home to a different Neighborhood, but you'll need help from someone who already lives there. See "How do I change my home to a different Neighborhood?" You can also create a new one: see "How do I create a new Neighborhood?"
(This entry last updated Jan 05, 2007)
(This entry last updated Nov 29, 2006)
The Cleft was (re-)discovered about twenty years ago by John Loftin and Elias Zandi. The property is currently owned by Jeff Zandi.
(This entry last updated Nov 29, 2006)
The Nexus terminal is activated by your KI device. If you don't have a KI yet, you can't use the Nexus. (See "Getting a KI device".)
(This entry last updated Feb 15, 2007)
The common areas of Uru, such as the Neighborhoods and the City, are independent of the Journey Ages. You can explore these areas and meet other players without beginning the Journey.
The Journey begins with the Cleft. See "How do I begin the Journey?"
(This entry last updated Nov 29, 2006)
As you can see, the DRC is a fictional, "in-character" organization. We (the players) take the role of explorers, working with (or perhaps against) the DRC. The DRC is not Cyan Worlds Incorporated.
(Maybe that's obvious, but I'm saying it anyway. Oh yes -- the DRC may be fictional, but the web site is real. :)
The members of the DRC may appear in Uru Live as characters. You can talk to them (in-character, of course). You may also meet characters who are not part of the DRC, and may even be working against them.
These people interact with each other, too. You can see a summary of past DRC events on the Myst Online web site, on the Story So Far page. Fan sites such as Uru Obsession also follow these events, and post summaries and chat logs.
(This entry last updated Oct 28, 2007)
However, it is worth mentioning two people you are likely to meet early in your exploration of Uru:
Jeff Zandi, son of Elias Zandi: current owner of the New Mexico property which contains the Cleft and the entrance to the D'ni cavern. See "What is the Cleft?"
Yeesha, daughter of Atrus and Catherine, younger sister of Sirrus and Achenar. (See "What happened in Myst and Riven?") She wrote the Relto Age where your Uru journey begins. See "What is Relto?"
(This entry last updated Feb 21, 2007)
Instances of an Age are (usually) very similar, but they are completely separate worlds. If you visit an instance, you will only see other players who are in the same instance. If you push a button to open a door, it only opens in your instance.
Some Age instances are private (like Relto); but others are shared between groups of players (see "What is the Neighborhood (Bevin)?"). The City ("What is the City (Ae'gura)?") is unusual, because it has both group instances and a "common" instance which can be reached by everybody. See "How do I reach the City (Ae'gura)?"
(This entry last updated Jan 05, 2007)
This should take you to the Uru trial page. This page lets you download the standalone Uru client (for Windows or Intel Mac). There is also a link to create a Gametap account.
(The "get account" link should take you to Uru's signup page.)
You must have a Gametap account to play. (You can get a free "visitor" account, which includes a limited preview of Uru. See "What is a visitor?". Also note that Gametap is offering a promotional one-month one-dollar subscription.)
If you have the Gametap Deluxe Player, you can select "Myst Online: Uru Live" in the Adventure category. (Select it; click "Get the Game"; wait for the game to download; click "Play" and then "Start Play".)
If you don't have the Gametap Deluxe Player, download the standalone Uru client.
The first time you run the client, it will display an "Updating..." dialog box. This is an additional large download (roughly two gigabytes) which includes common data files and the current Ages of the Uru world. Your patience will be rewarded.
Uru is also available in the following countries: Australia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom. (Cyan intends to add to this list over time.)
Download the standalone Uru client, and sign up for a Gametap account, as described above.
Uru is available for Intel Macs. (See the system requirements.)
Download the standalone Uru client, and sign up for a Gametap account, as described above.
You can download the Mac client for no additional cost.
In the game client, sign in with your Gametap ID and password. This will give you access to all your existing avatars.
(This entry last updated Oct 09, 2007)
The first time you start Uru Live, you will create an avatar. Each time you start Uru Live after that, you will see a dialog box which allows you to play with an existing avatar, or create a new one. You can have up to five avatars at once.
(This entry last updated Nov 29, 2006)
Visitors are also severely restricted in avatar design. You only have a few hair, face, and clothing options.
If you upgrade to a paying account, you will become a full "explorer", able to do everything in Uru.
(This entry last updated Sep 06, 2007)
If you do not yet have an avatar, the Create Player dialog box will appear. (After the Gametap and Cyan logos.)
(If you already have an avatar, you can create another. Select one of the empty slots in your avatar list.)
The Create Player dialog box has the following sections:
"Explorer Name": Enter a name for your character, and choose your sex. (Your name and gender are fixed once you create the avatar. You can create a new avatar later, but not change the name or sex of an existing one. So choose well.)
"Invitation code": Leave this field blank. It is not currently used.
Once you choose your name and gender, press the "Explore Uru" button. You will then go to Avatar Customization. This lets you adjust your appearance -- facial features, hair color, clothing, etc. (These choices are not final. You can return to Avatar Customization whenever you want, while playing Uru Live. See "How do I change my avatar's appearance?")
(If you are trying the free preview of Uru, your appearance options are very limited. See "What is a visitor?")
When you're happy with your appearance, hit the ">>Uru" button in the top corner of the screen. You will link to your Relto Age.
(This entry last updated Feb 18, 2007)
Uru is the story of an exploration: the discovery of a lost City in a cavern, deep within the Earth.
As the opening movie says, there are two paths: you can explore Uru alone, or go to meet other players. You can begin with either path, and switch back and forth as you wish.
Explore together: Go inside the hut, open the far-left linking book, and click on the image panel. This will take you to a Neighborhood (Bevin) in the Cavern. From there, your goal is to reach the Gahreesen Age and acquire a KI (an electronic device worn on the hand). Then you will be able to go to the Nexus Age and reach other Neighborhoods of the City.
The Neighborhood and City areas are gathering places, where you will meet other players. You can explore further to find puzzles which require groups of players to solve together.
Explore alone: Open the pillar, select the book inside, and click on the image panel.
The area this takes you to is the beginning of a Journey, which can be solved by a solitary adventurer.
To return to the beginning: To return to this island (Relto) at any time, press the F3 key, open the book, and click on the image panel.
(This entry last updated Mar 23, 2007)
You can return to Relto at any time. To open your Relto linking book, hit the F3 key; or move the mouse to the bottom edge of your screen, on the left, and click the book button. Open the book and click the linking panel to link home.
If you ever find yourself in mortal danger -- falling off a cliff, or into bubbling magma, or whatever -- your character will automatically slap the Relto book and link to safety. Players refer to this as a "panic link".
(Your Relto book is always attached to your belt. Unlike every other linking book in the Myst saga, it travels with you when you link through it!)
(This entry last updated Jan 09, 2007)
Enter your Relto hut, and look on the bookshelf. The Neighborhood linking book is the leftmost book; it is blue-green, with a tracery of gold curves.
If you do not have a Neighborhood book, something is wrong. Contact Support. (Unless you've deleted it yourself, as part of creating or changing Neighborhoods. See "How do I create a new Neighborhood?" or "How do I change my home to a different Neighborhood?")
(If you are a visitor, playing the free trial of Uru, you will be directed to the Guild of Greeters Bevin instead of your home Neighborhood. The Greeters can help you get oriented and answer your questions.)
(This entry last updated Sep 06, 2007)
Enter your Relto hut, and look on the bookshelf. The Nexus linking book is the second book from the left; it is yellow, with a green geometric wheel design on it.
If you have never visited the Nexus, you will not have a Nexus book yet. Go to your Neighborhood. (See "How do I reach my home Neighborhood?") Go upstairs from the fountain, and across the bridge. If you explore a bit, you should find a circular room containing linking books. Use the one in the center of the room. This will take you to the Nexus.
(There are also Nexus linking books in many other Ages. In Gahreesen, for example, there is a Nexus book on a pedestal near the KI dispenser.)
(This entry last updated Nov 29, 2006)
From a Neighborhood (see "How do I reach my home Neighborhood?"): Go upstairs from the fountain, and across the bridge. If you explore a bit, you should find a circular room with several linking books. Use the one on the left, beneath the left stained-glass panel. This will take you to Gahreesen.
From your Relto Age: If you have completed the Cleft (see "How do I begin the Journey?") you will have four pillars in Relto. Standing in the door of your hut and looking out, note the farther pillar on the left side. Go to this pillar and touch the hand carving. Inside the pillar is the Gahreesen linking book.
(If you have opened this pillar already and used the linking book, it will have moved to your Relto hut bookshelf. It's the olive book, with a stylized picture of a person reading a book.)
When you link to Gahreesen, you will appear in a small five-sided courtyard.
Note: If you enter Gahreesen from a Neighborhood, most of the Age will be blocked off. (You will find a barrier just past the KI dispenser.) To explore the rest of the Age, you must begin the Journey and enter Gahreesen from your Relto. You will then find the barrier moved aside.
(This entry last updated Sep 11, 2007)
From your Neighborhood (see "How do I reach my home Neighborhood?"): Go upstairs from the fountain, and across the bridge. If you explore a bit, you should find a circular room with several linking books. Use the cloth-covered tablet by the balcony.
From the Nexus (see "How do I reach the Nexus Age?"): Make sure you have a KI device (see "Getting a KI device"). Then link to the Nexus and click on the hand slot of the terminal. Select "Ferry Terminal", and then press the large circular button at the top. A linking book will appear.
From Kadish Tolesa: Go right (from where you enter the Age) to a large clearing, and climb the steps to the platform in its center. You should find a linking book. This leads to a cathedral-like gallery in the City.
From your Relto Age: If you have ever linked to the City from either the Neighborhood or from Kadish Tolesa, you will have a linking page for the gallery in your City book. This is the third book from the left on your Relto bookshelf; it is brown, with a white hand symbol. Once you have either of these pages, you can link directly from Relto to the City.
Note: When you travel to the City from the Nexus, you are linked to a common instance of the City. (See "What is an Age instance?") The common City has a population limit of 100 players at a time. If the City is full, the Nexus terminal will not let you go there. The other three methods take you to a more private instance of the City, which will have fewer players.
(This entry last updated Jul 04, 2007)
The KI dispenser machine is in the Gahreesen Age. So travel there first. (See "How do I reach the Gahreesen Age?")
When you link to Gahreesen, you'll appear in a small five-sided courtyard. Go out, past the sign which says "Please retrieve your KI." You'll have to explore a little bit. Don't panic; you can't get very lost.
The KI dispenser is a glowing blue machine. Touch the slot. You'll see your hand slide in, and emerge with a KI strapped to it. That's it.
To verify that your KI is working, press the F2 key; or move your mouse to the bottom edge of your screen, on the left, and click the disk button. A circular control should appear in the upper left of your screen. Hit F2 again (or click the top-right button on the control disk) and you should get a full-screen overlay with the KI interface. Hit F2 a third time (or press the top-right button again) to close the overlay interface.
(This entry last updated Nov 29, 2006)
Linking books can also have multiple pages. When you first find a linking book, it will be open to one page. This is the main entry point of an Age. However, you will sometimes find alternate entry points -- a book which links to that Age, but to another location within that Age. When you link through such a book, its entry point will be added as a new page in the linking book on your Relto bookshelf. Flip through the pages of your linking books to choose your Age entry point.
You will also find the means to add bookmarks to some of your linking books. A bookmark is a cloth scrap which is placed before all the linking pages; flip backwards to find it. If present, the bookmark allows you to link to the last location that you bookmarked in that Age.
Your Relto linking book can also have multiple pages. The pages after the first are green symbols, not linking pages. The purpose of these pages, and the means of acquiring them, will not be disclosed here.
(This entry last updated Nov 29, 2006)
However, not all Ages follow this rule:
The common instance of Ae'gura (see "What is the City (Ae'gura)?") is not represented by a book on your shelf. You can reach it via the Nexus.
When you first link to the Cleft, you will not get a Cleft linking book on your shelf. It will appear there when you complete the Journey. (See "What is the Journey?")
If you link to Gahreesen from the Neighborhood, you will not get a Gahreesen linking book. It will appear there when you complete the Cleft and link to Gahreesen as part of your Journey. (See "How do I begin the Journey?")
(This entry last updated Mar 23, 2007)
In the center of the island is a pillar. Click on the hand symbol to open the pillar. Within you will find a linking book for the Cleft. (See "What is the Cleft?") The clues there will lead you to the Journey proper.
You can explore the Cleft freely. You can return to Relto at any time, explore other parts of Uru, and then return to the Cleft.
However, once you complete the Cleft, the Cleft linking pillar will no longer be openable. See "Why can't I open this Relto pillar?"
The Gahreesen Age is unusual: it is reachable from the Neighborhoods, but it is also part of the Journey. If you enter Gahreesen from a Neighborhood, most of the Age will be blocked off. (You will find a barrier just past the KI dispenser.) To explore the rest of the Age, you must begin the Journey and enter Gahreesen from your Relto. You will then find the barrier moved aside.
(This entry last updated Nov 29, 2006)
In the course of the Journey, you will discover other pillars; each can be opened to reveal a new linking book. Once you use such a linking book, it will be moved to your Relto shelf. The empty pillar cannot be opened after that. So if you can't open the pillar, check your bookshelf.
(This entry last updated Nov 29, 2006)
However, if a bug or some other problem has truly made an Age unplayable, there is a procedure for resetting it. This will undo everything you have done in that Age -- machines will be off, puzzles will be unsolved.
First, you must delete your existing linking book. Go to your Relto bookshelf. Click the "remove" tab below the Age book. (This tab is marked with the symbol of a square with a dot inside.) Confirm that you want to delete the book. The book will slide inwards. Leave it there.
Now, go back to where you found the book originally. (For example, if you are resetting Gahreesen, go to the Relto pillar that held it. The pillar will be open.) Use the book. You will enter the Age at its beginning.
Note: this procedure does not reset your Journey progress. Cloths you have touched are still counted as touched.
Some Ages cannot be reset: the City, the Cleft, Nexus, the Neighborhood. (The Neighborhood "remove" tab is used to switch Neighborhoods or create new ones. See "How do I change my home to a different Neighborhood?" "How do I create a new Neighborhood?")
(This entry last updated Mar 01, 2007)
Not all controls on the disk are functional yet. Currently, only the following buttons work:
A handy diagram of the KI disk, plus other information, can be found at the Guild of Greeters.
(This entry last updated Jan 26, 2007)
The top right corner shows what Age you are in, and the current time (New Mexico time!)
The bottom line shows your name, your KI number, and the Neighborhood which is your home.
The left column begins with the selection box. This holds the name of the person you have most recently clicked on.
Below this box are three icons. I will refer to these as Files (the trapezoidal grid); People (a stylized person with outstretched arms); and Controls (two gears).
Below the three icons you'll see a list of options, which varies depending on which icon is selected. (If this list is long, you can scroll it with the arrows at the bottom.) On the right is a panel which can display further information.
This brings up a list of folders, one for each Age you have visited. There is also a folder called "Incoming".
Each folder can contain journal entries and photographs you have taken. The "Incoming" folder contains messages broadcast from the DRC. (You should check these every time you log in.)
This brings up a list of five folders: "Age Players", "Buddies", "Neighbors", "Recent", "Ignore List". Below these are a list of visitor lists, one for each of your private Ages. Select a folder or visitor list to view its contents.
The visitor lists show which people have permission to visit each of your private Ages.
This brings up an option labelled "KI Controls", followed by settings for your home Neighborhood.
"KI Controls" contains a slider which controls the chat message font size. A second slider controls how long chat messages remain visible before they fade out. (Move this all the way right if you don't want them to fade out at all.) There is also a privacy control, which prevents random strangers from sending you messages or KI mail.
(This entry last updated Jan 24, 2007)
(This entry last updated Nov 29, 2006)
Click that line. Then type in your friend's KI number. He'll be added to the list.
(If your friend is in the same Age as you, you can enter his name instead of his number. If he's elsewhere, or not logged in, you'll need the number.)
Another method: bring up the text prompt, and type "/addbuddy NUMBER". (Or "/addbuddy NAME", if the person is in the same Age.) Don't forget the initial slash.
If a person has spoken to you recently, or is a neighbor, or is in the same Age as you, you can add him to your buddy list without asking his KI number. Select "Age Players", "Neighbors", or "Recent" (whichever is appropriate), and then select the person's name. His character info will appear in the right panel.
You will see small white triangles, next to the folder names in the left column. Each of these triangles is an "add" button; it adds the person to the folder it points to. Click the triangle which points to "Buddies". The character shown on the right will be added to your buddy list.
(This entry last updated Nov 29, 2006)
To delete the name from the buddy list, press the glowing button on the right, which looks like a square with a dot inside. (This is the D'ni numeral zero, which also means "erase" or "remove".)
Another method: bring up the text prompt, and type "/removebuddy NUMBER". (Or "/removebuddy NAME".) Don't forget the initial slash.
(This entry last updated Nov 29, 2006)
First you must find the person in one of the folders. If the person is in the same Age as you, select "Age Players". If he shares your home Neighborhood, select "Neighbors". If he is on your buddy list, select "Buddies". If he has spoken to you recently, select "Recent".
When you see the person's name, select it. His character info will appear in the right panel.
You will see small white triangles, next to the folder names in the left column. Each of these triangles is an "add" button; it adds the person to the folder it points to. Click the triangle which points at the Age visitor list. (You may have to scroll the left column down. The scroll arrows are at the bottom of the column.)
When you click the triangle, the person is added to that Age's visitor list. (He'll receive KI-mail saying so.) He can then go to the Nexus terminal; he will find the Age in the "Private links" list of the Nexus terminal.
(If you want to invite a player to several Ages, you'll have to repeat this process several times. Unfortunately, this is tedious.)
(This entry last updated Nov 29, 2006)
To delete the name from the visitor list, press the glowing button on the right, which looks like a square with a dot inside. (This is the D'ni numeral zero, which also means "erase" or "remove".)
(This entry last updated Nov 29, 2006)
Stand close together. You should then bring up your Relto book (hit F3). Click the "share book" (hands) symbol on the left page. Your cursor will turn to an open-book symbol. Click (once!) on your friend's avatar. Then wait.
At this point, your friend will see your Relto page appear. He should click on the linking panel.
If this is successful, you will both see your avatar hold out the Relto book, and his avatar touch the page. Then he will link out. He is now in your Relto.
(This entry last updated Nov 29, 2006)
To let another person use one of your books, go to the bookshelf. Flip up the locking tab above the book. If the tab is up, anyone in your Relto can open the book and link through it. If the tab is down, only you can use that book.
You may also want to open the book and turn to a particular page. Other people cannot turn the pages of your books.
(This entry last updated Nov 29, 2006)
However, you can invite a friend into them, to explore with you.
First, each of you needs a KI device. (See "Getting a KI device".) You should also add each other to your buddy lists. (See "How do I add a person to my buddy list?")
Next, you must visit each Age yourself, so that they appear in your KI lists. All the Age linking books should be on your Relto shelf. If they are not, go to each linking book, enter it, and then link back to Relto.
Then open the KI interface, and add your friend to the Age visitor list for each of the puzzle ages. (See "How do I allow someone to visit one of my private Ages?")
Your friend can then go to the Nexus terminal. Your Ages will be listed under "Private links". He can link to whichever Age you have agreed to play.
(Remember that you can chat with someone on your buddy list even if he is in a different Age. See "How do I choose who I'm talking to?")
(This entry last updated Nov 29, 2006)
To talk, just start typing. Any key should make the text input prompt appear, in the upper left area of the screen.
(However, if you have remapped some keys to be movement keys, you'll have to hit a different key first to bring up the prompt. If you've mapped a particular key to "Start Chat", you'll have to hit that key to bring up the prompt. You can also bring up the prompt by moving the cursor to the bottom edge of the screen, on the left, and clicking the disk or "chat" button.)
To cancel the text input prompt, hit ESCAPE.
(This entry last updated Nov 29, 2006)
(If the list is too long, you may have to scroll down to see all of it. The scroll arrows are just above the list. However, in a busy age, both the scrolling and the name selection tend to revert unexpectedly.)
You can also select the three category headers, to speak to an entire group of people.
There are also special commands you can type to send messages to particular people (or groups of people), even if you do not have a KI device yet. See "What special commands are available at the chat prompt?"
(This entry last updated Dec 04, 2006)
If the person is in the same Age as you, just select his name in the list below the KI control disk.
If the person is bespeaking you from another Age, you can add him to your buddy list. Open your KI interface, press the People icon, and select "Recent". The names of players who have recently spoken to you will appear. Select the one you want to reply to. His character info will appear in the right panel.
You will see small white triangles, next to the folder names in the left column. Each of these triangles is an "add" button; it adds the person to the folder it points to. Click the triangle which points to "Buddies". The character shown on the right will be added to your buddy list.
Once you have done this, the person's name will appear under "Buddies" in the player list under the KI disk. You can select it there to speak directly to him.
(This entry last updated Nov 29, 2006)
If someone is speaking to the entire Age, his name will be in purple. (In a very crowded Age, these messages may go only to nearby players, not the entire Age.)
If someone is speaking to your neighbor group, his name will be in pink, and it will say "From Person:" instead of just "Person:"
If someone is speaking to his buddy list, his name will be in green, and it will say "From Person:" instead of just "Person:"
If someone is speaking directly to you, his name will be in yellow, and it will say "From Person:" instead of just "Person:"
(This entry last updated Dec 04, 2006)
(This entry last updated Nov 30, 2006)
Many of these commands replicate functions of the KI device. (See "What are the features of the KI control disk?") However, these commands are available even before you get your KI.
When entering someone's name in one of these commands, be careful about spelling, punctuation, and capital letters. All must match exactly.
The commands marked name-number (/addbuddy, /removebuddy, /ignore, /unignore) accept either the name of a person in your current Age, or the KI number of anyone. So if you get into a chat with someone in another Age, you'll want to exchange KI numbers so that you can buddy each other. (see "How do I learn my KI number?")
(This entry last updated Mar 22, 2007)
The KI interface will come up, and a blank message will appear. You can edit the caption (headline) and the body of the message. Just click to place the cursor, and then edit, like any editable text string.
To find this message again, select the "Files" icon (the trapezoidal grid) in the KI interface. Then select the Age folder for the Age in which you created the message. The list of messages and photos for that Age will appear.
You can edit a message at any time (even after you've KI-mailed it to someone, or posted it on an imager!) Select it, and then edit the caption and body of the message, as before.
(This entry last updated Dec 04, 2006)
The KI interface will come up, and the image will appear. You can enter a caption by clicking and editing the caption string.
To find this photograph again, select the "Files" icon (the trapezoidal grid) in the KI interface. Then select the Age folder for the Age in which you took the photo. The list of messages and photos for that Age will appear.
(This entry last updated Nov 29, 2006)
You will see a list of folders, one for each Age you have visited. For KI-mail you have received, select "Incoming". For journal entries, photographs, and messages you have sent, select the Age folder which contains the item you want to delete.
Then select the item. The text or photo will appear in the right panel.
To delete the item, press the glowing button on the right, which looks like a square with a dot inside. (This is the D'ni numeral zero, which also means "erase" or "remove".)
Note that messages from the DRC cannot be deleted (or edited).
(This entry last updated Dec 02, 2006)
Then select the person you want to send the message to. You can select his name in the player column beneath the KI disk; or you can find his name under "Age Players", "Buddies", "Neighbors", or "Recent" in your KI interface. (Select the People icon to see these lists.)
Once you select the person, his name will appear in the selection box -- the box above the three icons in the KI interface.
Now go back to your message. If you've been fiddling with the KI lists, it may have disappeared from the right panel. You'll have to find it again. Select the Files icon, and then select the folder for the Age in which you created the message. Select the message.
Once your message is visible in the right-hand panel, and the recipient's name is visible in the selection box, you're ready to send. There will be a glowing white triangle pointing from the message to the player's name. Simply click this. The message will be sent.
(This entry last updated Nov 29, 2006)
There's another, sneakier way to reply. You can edit the body of message which has been sent to you. If the sender hasn't deleted it, he'll actually see your changes reflected in his copy of the message! A KI-mail message is shared between the sender and recipient; either of you can add text, or edit existing text, and you'll both see the result.
(In fact, you can send a message to many people, and it will be shared among all of them.)
(This entry last updated Nov 29, 2006)
First, create a message or take a photograph. (See "How do I create a message?" "How do I take a photograph?")
Then walk up to the imager. The KI symbol below the imager should glow once. (If it doesn't, make sure you're in your home neighborhood!)
Open your KI interface. At the bottom of the player list (below the KI disk), there should be a category "Devices". Under this you'll see "D'ni Imager Left". Select this -- it will appear in the interface's selection box.
You can now send your message to "D'ni Imager Left", just like sending KI-mail to another player. See "How do I send KI-mail to another player?"
Note that you can edit a posted message at any time. You don't even have to be standing near the imager to do this. Find the message in your Neighborhood Age folder (under the Files icon). Edit the text however you want. The change will immediately be reflected in the imager's image cycle.
(This entry last updated Nov 29, 2006)
The only true way is to post a new message. An imager only holds five messages, so if you add another, the oldest one is wiped to make room.
You can modify a message at any time (see "How do I post a message on my Neighborhood imager?"), so it may be sufficient to delete the contents of the message and let it be blank.
(This entry last updated Dec 04, 2006)
If you are a registered explorer, the Neighborhood book on your Relto shelf always takes you to your home Neighborhood.
If you are a visitor, playing the free trial of Uru, the book will take you to the Guild of Greeters Bevin instead of your home Neighborhood. The Greeters can help you get oriented and answer your questions.
(This entry last updated Sep 06, 2007)
Click a column header to sort the list by name or population. Click again to reverse the sort.
(It is particularly handy to sort in decreasing order of population. This brings the Neighborhoods with the most people to the top of the list. If you're looking for people to hang out with, those are the ones to try.)
(This entry last updated Dec 12, 2006)
This is a two-step process. You must have both the Neighborhood and Nexus books on your shelf (see "How do I reach the Nexus Age?")
First, you must delete your existing Neighborhood book. Go to your Relto bookshelf. Click the "remove" tab below your Neighborhood book. (This tab is marked with the symbol of a square with a dot inside.) Confirm that you want to delete the book. The book will slide inwards. Leave it there.
Now, go find your friend who belongs to the Neighborhood you are joining. (You should leave through your Nexus book, since your Neighborhood book is in the pushed-in state.)
Your friend must bring you to his Relto. (See "How do I allow a person to visit my Relto?" Only backwards, because you're visiting his Relto.) Then he must unlock his Neighborhood book, by flipping up the locking tab above it.
You should then go to his bookshelf, open his Neighborhood book, and link through it. When you do this, you become a member of his Neighborhood. Your old Neighborhood book on your own bookshelf will automatically be replaced by a new one which links to your new home.
(This entry last updated Mar 01, 2007)
First, you must delete your existing Neighborhood book. Go to your Relto bookshelf. Click the "remove" tab below your Neighborhook book. (This tab is marked with the symbol of a square with a dot inside.) Confirm that you want to delete the book. The book will slide inwards. Leave it there.
Now, go to the Nexus and activate the terminal. Press the button in the upper left, with the symbol of a person reading a book. You will be asked to confirm that you want to create a new Neighborhood and make it your home. If you say "yes", it will be done.
(You can still travel to your old Neighborhood; it will be listed under "Private Links" in the terminal interface.)
Note that you are limited to creating Neighborhoods once per day.
(This entry last updated Jan 24, 2007)
(This entry last updated Jan 24, 2007)
Every member of the Neighborhood must switch to a different home. (See "How do I change my home to a different Neighborhood?") You should also remove all the visitors from its visitor list. (See "How do I revoke someone's invitation to visit one of my private Ages?") Once this is done, the Neighborhood should be cleaned up within a few days.
(This entry last updated Nov 29, 2006)
The top right corner of the interface screen shows the name of the Age you're in.
(Actually, it shows your Age or location. Some areas of the game are implemented as separate locations, even though they are part of the same Age. For example: the Neighborhoods, the Ae'gura city locations, the gallery, Sharper's office, and the Cleft are all in the same Age -- the world that the D'ni called "D'ni" and we call "Earth".)
(This entry last updated Nov 29, 2006)
(KI images that other people send you are not stored on your computer. They are only visible inside the game.)
If you are using Windows:
Open your top-level "My Documents" folder, and then open the folder called "Uru Live".
If you are using a Mac:
This is, unfortunately, more complicated. Start in the Library folder in your home directory. Then dig down through this chain of folders:
You might want to create a Finder shortcut to the "Uru Live" folder and put it somewhere more convenient.
(This entry last updated Mar 23, 2007)
Even if your client crashes, or if you lose your connection to the server, you will come back to find that your character has not lost any progress.
(This entry last updated Nov 29, 2006)
This means that you shouldn't need to back it up. Even if you wipe your hard drive, or delete the Gametap client, or reinstall Uru/Gametap on a new computer, you will be able to log in with your original account and password. You'll find your avatar waiting for you -- you won't lose anything.
(Except for the little avatar image in the login dialog box. That's kept on your hard drive. If you lose it, you can create a new one: see "How do I set my avatar thumbnail image?")
(This entry last updated Feb 17, 2007)
(This entry last updated Nov 29, 2006)
Enter your Relto hut, and open the wardrobe. You will then see the avatar customization screen. This is exactly the same interface you used to create your avatar in the first place. You can change any of the choices you made then. (Except your name and gender -- those are fixed.)
If you have picked up clothing, hats, or other accoutrements anywhere in Uru, they will all be available as appearance options in your wardrobe.
You can also set your avatar thumbnail image from this screen.
(This entry last updated Nov 29, 2006)
To set this portrait, go to Relto and enter your wardrobe (see "How do I change my avatar's appearance?"). Click on the magnifying glass to get a close-up view of your face. You will then see a small camera icon below the magnifier icon. Click the camera to set your avatar thumbnail. You may wish to use the arrow keys to adjust your facing, or wait for a particularly fetching expression to cross your face.
(This entry last updated Nov 29, 2006)
You will then see a list of command keys. Select one and press a keyboard key to assign it. You can assign up to two keys to each command.
Most of the commands are self-explanatory, but:
(This entry last updated Jun 24, 2007)
It is possible to reverse this. Go to the Mac System Preferences, Keyboard&Mouse, Keyboard, and check the box that says "Use the F1-F12 keys to control software features...." Then the F-keys will work in Uru, but you'll have to hold down "fn" to change the screen brightness and volume. (All the time, not just in Uru.) This is probably not what you want.
A better solution is to change the key commands in Uru. See "How do I change the movement keys?".
Alternatively, plug in a full-size external keyboard (into the Mac's USB port). The F-keys on the full-size keyboard will work normally.
(This entry last updated Apr 08, 2007)
You can also adjust the contrast and brightness of your monitor, of course. You probably want maximum contrast. Then you can juggle brightness and gamma.
(If you find that the black regions of your monitor are turning grey, try turning brightness down and gamma up.)
(This entry last updated Nov 29, 2006)
Even before you get your KI device (see "Getting a KI device") you can receive messages from remote players, if they are broadcasting to your Neighborhood list. There are special commands you can type to send messages back. See "What special commands are available at the chat prompt?"
(This entry last updated Nov 29, 2006)
You'll have to log out and then log back in. To log out, move the cursor to the lower right corner and press the X button.
(If you select "Logout", you'll go back to the avatar selection dialog. If you select "Quit", you'll go all the way back to the Gametap interface. "Logout" is faster if you want to log back in immediately.)
(This entry last updated Jul 04, 2007)
There are other ways of reaching the City (see "How do I reach the City (Ae'gura)?") These take you to a more private instance of the City, which will have fewer players.
(This entry last updated Jul 04, 2007)
The bug occurs much more often in the common instance of the City. If you go to a more private instance of the City, where there are fewer players, the doors will usually work. See "How do I reach the City (Ae'gura)?".
The doors in the Neighborhood will sometimes also get stuck. (These are not automatic doors; you're supposed to push the blue button to enter.) The book room doors are only openable by a member of that Neighborhood. The classroom doors should work for anybody.
(This entry last updated Jul 04, 2007)
(The "Knowledge Base" link contains frequently asked support questions. Consult that first, if you're not sure what's going on.)
To submit a bug report, you must first register an account. Your Uru Live account does not automatically work here; it's a separate registration system.
When you select "Register", you will see a typical web-site registration page. Fill in your Uru Live (Gametap) ID under "Uru Live Account". Then fill in as much information about your computer hardware as you know.
(Note: you may select the same username and password for your support account as for your regular Uru Live (Gametap) account. It's easier to remember that way, but it's not required.)
Once you're logged in, select "Submit a Ticket". Then fill out the bug report form.
(This entry last updated Jul 04, 2007)
Start the Gametap client. Select the "My Gametap" disc in the lower left; select "Account Settings"; select "Billing Info".
You can also update your account by going to the Gametap web site and logging in.
Go to the Gametap web site. Log in with your Uru ID and password. (The ID you log in with initially, which may be different from your avatar name.) Then change the URL in your browser to:
https://account.gametap.com/storefront/myst/regpath/billingInfo.do
(This entry last updated Apr 29, 2007)
This is confusing, at best. It does not mean you can get full access to all of Uru Live for free.
Gametap offers a free "Gametap Green" account. This allows you to explore a few areas of Uru as a visitor. (See "What is a visitor?").
This confusing notice has been posted, in one form or another, since Uru Live launched. (During 2007 it said "until Dec 31, 2007" -- this year they simply bumped the date.) It does not mean that the visitor system will be cancelled at the end of 2008. As far as we know, you will be able to try the free trial of Uru for as long as Uru exists.
(This entry last updated Jan 02, 2008)
The Uru:ABM game contained a menu option for "Play Uru Live." This was intended to launch the on-line game client. However, that version of the on-line game no longer exists. The current Uru Live uses a different client, running on different servers; it is operated in partnership with Gametap, not with Ubisoft. You cannot use the old Uru:ABM game to reach it.
To play the current Uru Live, go to the Uru Live web site. (See "How do I get the Uru client?")
Note that nearly all the material from Uru: Complete Chronicles has now been incorporated into Uru Live.
However, you cannot transfer your character or progress from the old single-player Uru into Uru Live. You will have to create a new character.
(This entry last updated Nov 10, 2007)
(This entry last updated Apr 10, 2008)
(This entry last updated Feb 16, 2007)
The Greeter's Guild has many FAQs and help documents.
Uru Obsession follows events in the Uru world. You can find news postings and chat logs that fans have collected.
The D'niPedia Information Archive is a detailed encyclopedia of names, places, and events in the Myst saga.
An old version of this Guide. This was written in 2003, to cover the Uru Live Prologue. Much of that information is obsolete, but it includes some discussion of the Prologue cancellation, and it may make an interesting comparison to the present.
(This entry last updated Oct 28, 2007)
belford at KI#00188183. (Please sign KI messages, since
"from" information sometimes gets lost.) Or, if you see me in the
game, just shout.
You can also send email to erkyrath (at) eblong (dot) com.
(Pardon the anti-spam munging.)
I hang out on the Uru web forums, but that's not a great way to contact me. I may not see private web messages for many days at a time.
(This entry last updated Jan 24, 2007)