I'm not normally one to step into the spot-light, and I'm not normally one to speak up on a contentious issue. I'm a relatively easy-going and tolerant person. But I've been standing on the side-lines of the ADM-issue, and I can't stay out of it anymore. Sydney Austin's belligerence has gone too far, and it went too far long ago. I try to stay In-Character as much as possible (though I don't make a big deal about people being Out-Of-Character), but this goes far beyond the In-Character scope of Uru. In the Out-Of-Character forum on the ADM web-boards, Sydney Austin posted this message (slight spelling & punctuation-corrections added):
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"Yes maybe my character of Sydney may not the perfect person. Who wants to play with a perfect character that is boring? She has flaws. I created her and the Movement to try to get a story line going and to get more people involved in the game. Hey wow, look, its working! I had over 100 people in the ADM Bevin last night. Do you see the response I am getting from various threads? I have made movement members and explorers pumped up (good and bad). They are playing more in IC. They are creating websites (antidrcmovement.org). They helped write my speech. A lot of people are getting involved. More are coming to URU. Are you bored anymore?! Do you think maybe Cyan is waiting for some of us to push the story ahead? You can choose to ignore me and Sydney if you like, or you can join me and see where this goes. You can even help me change my story if it gets you the player and explorer more involved.
Lets have a blast!
Your Friend
Vicki Austin (Sydney)"
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I was absolutely *appalled* when I read this! I, for one, am here to publicly denounce the Anti-DRC Movement. My comments are below, along with a few fitting verses from "Words" by the Watcher (only because they fit the situation--not because I actually think the ADM is what these
verses were originally referencing):
"I created her [the character Sydney Austin] and the movement to try to get a story line going and to get more people involved in the game."
It would be bad enough if someone was being as abrasive and belligerent as Sydney Austin has been because they *actually* thought the DRC were corrupt, power-seeking tyrants. But to raise this kind of fiery abyss *merely to create in-game story* is despicable!!! Contention only serves to fissure
a community, not to unite it. And this community has seen first-hand the effects of contention in the history of several of the Myst/Uru/D'ni web-boards.
"Minds are soft, hearts are callused. In the new place chaos reigns." --Words 2:10-11
"Are you bored anymore?!"
Yes. I'm quite bored with "Sydney Austin" and her antics. So is a great deal of the community. In fact, we're beyond bored--we're sick of it! We're sick of the fact that every time we come into Uru, virtually all we find story-wise is contention and politics--the last things this community needs!
"...to get more people involved in the game. Hey wow, look, its working!...More are coming to URU..."
I come into Uru quite regularly, and I've seen little or no increase in the number of people, or at least no increase in the increase of people. Sydney's/Vicki's little movement isn't helping Uru, it's only hurting it. Not only are people sick of finding nothing but contention in Uru, some are even not coming in as often anymore because of it!
"Poison fills the hearts of many" --Words 1:115
"A new one reigns. To send them away; To push away; To divide." --Words 4:29-31
Sydney/Vicki wants more story? Fine. We all do! And though I understand that Cyan's pressed for time, resources, and money, I share everyone's impatience at wanting more story and content. And I'm fine with players wanting to start their own story-lines--that's how the Great Tree started--but there are limits. And this Vicki Austin has crossed them.
"The patient find solace in the wait. While the restless follow the path of folly. Follow the patient path." --Words, 2:78-80
"The future is always revealed to those who wait. But the proud have no patience. Because of pride, the destruction will come." --Words 4:81-83
Sydney/Vicki thinks she's actually accomplishing something? As far as most of the explorers present were concerned, she made an absolute "donkey" of herself at the gathering with Cate Alexander in the Meeting Place's Bevin on Thurs, April 26th. Explorers left and right were telling Sydney to calm down and let Cate talk, yet Sydney continued to ramble on with her standard abusive accusations.
"All of them look over you. And they do not see the right path." --Words 5:74-75
I'm all for new story--even fan-created story. But such contentious avenues will only hurt Uru more than help. Uru is in a precarious position:
1- Cyan may have gotten funding from GameTap, but they're still only working with about half the
employees they had before.
2- Cyan doesn't have nearly as much content prepared in advance as they did in the days of
Prologue.
3- GameTap may be more pro-Uru than UbiSoft, but they're still a Producer, and have to make their
decisions based on the financial success of Uru.
4- Uru is far from the "top-of-the-charts all-the-rage" game like World of WarCraft--Uru won't last if we can't get higher numbers.
Uru Live has been given a second chance--but I'm still worried about it, and I know many others are as well. Uru already has few numbers, but with the lack/ill-frequency of new story & new content, there's a significant danger of losing some of the people we already have. Creating a
contentious, belligerent, political environment only fuels that fire. Uru means "Grand Community"--but contention will only fester, not foster. And it's absolutely terrible that this Vicki Austin has purposely created this contention through her "Sydney" character & the ADM merely "to try to get a story-line going".
"Seek knowledge and you will find evil. Seek wisdom and you will find knowledge. Seek truth and you will find wisdom. Seek love and you will find truth." --Words 5:90-3
Sydney/Vicki Austin: Do the Uru community a favor and GET LOST.
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