GameTap has launched a 500-player beta of Uru Live, which could be loosely referred to as Myst Online. The game originally launched several years ago, immediately tanking in February 2004 due to lack of funds, and leaving behind a small but heartbroken fanbase.

These fans have kept the game alive in the form of fansites and a developer-made freeware version of the game called Until Uru.

Says GayGamer:

GameTap has improved the game with new sound support and a new physics engine that makes it much easier and faster to interact with others, something that bogged down the original game, and if things go as planned Uru Live may begin to incorporate content generated by its incredibly creative player community. If that works out, we could be in for ages and ages of fun. Here's hoping.

I am hoping for a less eye-searing alternative to Second Life's very cool content generation tools in something more closely approximating an actual game. I will be attempting to get in on the beta, and if that doesn't work I'll give the game itself a whirl when it launches. Eliza Gauger

Uru Live Lives! [GayGamer]

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