Dusante says: Nice to be here, thanks.

Kha'tie says: For those who don't know you, tell us a bit about your history in the Myst Fan community and your websites. When was the very first Uru fan site, "Mudpie Obsession" created?

Dusante says: Actually, Myst Obsession was the first website to be created, but it was closed down shortly afterward. It was created by Alex or "Gehn" and the forums opened in 2000. I first got Myst in 1994, at the time I was in Grade 4 and my parents got me and my brother a computer for Chistmas, but first he had us open the CD-Roms that came with the computer! I opened up two CD's: MYST and Carmen Sandiego

Kha'tie says: Wow you must have been excited!

Dusante says: I thought "Wow CD's I can't wait to hear the music" and stuck them into the CD player.

randomos says: What did it sound like?

Dusante says: Hehe the CD's didn't play. My dad stopped me to tell me that they didn't go into a CD player, and I wondered what the heek they were for then.

randomos says: That's a totally sweet picture.

Dusante says: That's when he showed us the new computer that accepted CD's. I couldn't believe it when we fired up Myst!

randomos says: Did you explore it together? With your dad and your brother?

Dusante says: We didn't - we all wanted to drive so badly!So we played seperately and talked about it and gave each other hints. It's no fun to watch others play when you want to play so badly!

randomos says: I think a lot of people did that- would share their experiences with others who were playing too. I guess that's really what a lot of our community is about, onlineI mean. Do you think it's similar? Is that what motivates you to be so involved in the community?

Dusante says: Possibly, being in the community allows you to talk with other people who have played the games and you don't have to share the same computer with them. But all I know is that I love being in the community and want to contribute!

randomos says: You do an awesome job of both!

Dusante says: Thanks.

Kha'tie says: How did you get involved with Gehn and the website then?

Dusante says: Oooh it was ages ago, in 2001 I was impatiently anticipating the release of Myst III Exile and somehow somewhere I came across a webboard called Mudpie Obsession. I had never joined a web board, and this one was nice and small, around 50 people but only 10 or so regular members, and I just decided to join. I got to know the people there, and Gehn running the website, and one time I was just bored playing with flash and didn't really have anything useful to make, so I tried making a "flash intro" for Mudpie Obsession. Gehn thought it was pretty cool and asked if I wanted to join the Mudpie Obsession team. I said yes! And I've been on ever since.

randomos says: I've always admired your graphics style - you have a very fine eye. What do you think of as your inspirations?

Dusante says: When I did the skin for Myst Obsession, my main inspiration was Myst and Riven, I wanted it to feel natural and earthy. The perfect inspiration was a very neat handmade photo album I picked up in Mayreau island, it was all made of leaves, so for all the graphics I scanned the photo album for the textures on the site. Although we were pressed for time and didnt get to use the exact design we wanted for the website skin system so we made a compromise and made it similar to the UO skin.

Kha'tie says: So, how has the site has grown and transitioned over the years? I mean, obviously, when you heard the name of Mudpie was "Uru" you changed from Mudpie Obsession to Uru Obession. What other changes have their been?

Dusante says: There were a lot of changes, especially server changes. Up until we knew the official name of Uru we had used all free domains and webhosting services. We also had Aloys host the forums on his private server for a while, which saved the forums pretty much. When we knew the final name, Uru, we bought a domain name and have paid for a server ever since then. We have also changed as far as staff has gone, as we grew since the release of Uru, we've needed more website staff, mods, and news posters to help keep up with the demand. I can't imagine what we'd do without the team!

randomos says: Dus, how big is your team these days?

Dusante says: For website staff we have: Achysan, Aloys, Dan'ni, Erithan, Gehn, TheGreatTree, Lumen and me. For the Forum staff it's BgJff, Jack, Lonelyto25, Mystycalchyk, Squeebee and Tonedog. For Supermods it's Foo, Goldah and Linkin' Imp.And just recently our news staff is Animan, The Psion and EyeDE. A lot of people great people!!

randomos says: It's amazing the energy a great team can create isn't it? You and your team deserve a lot of credit.

Dusante says: We all do different things, it's like a collective.

randomos says: Right! everyone contributing in their own way. And the whole is just awesome. What is your favorite part (this week) of the site?

Dusante says: Oh we just launched a new "Community Today" news section that spans both the website and the forum. We created it to try and promote other forums and websites and highlight the interesting things going on around the community as well as periodically focus on other websites with site focus articles. I'm currently working on one, I hope it makesfor an interesting read! So that' is my favourite part right now, although the Library and gallery are a close second.

randomos says: That's great section, and we want to do the same thing on the Mystworlds site- we're just slower, lol. There's so much great stuff going on at all times in this community. Another favorites question- Do you have a favorite Age?

Dusante says: Hmmmmm it's hard to say. I have different favourites for different reasons, like in Uru Live, Gira was my favourite because it was the least succeptable to inhibiting multiplayerbugs, so it was a good place to hang out in. That and the day night cycle made it a lot more dynamic, a lot easier to spend more time there.

randomos says: If you could add one thing to your Relto, what would it be?

Dusante says: An ocean!

randomos says: That would be great! Any particular ocean?

Dusante says: It would be so much like myst, and to just swim around to the little islands would be nice.

randomos says: Swimming does seem very Myst-like, doesn't it? Immersion in a new world...

Dusante says: Oooo, if I could choose, maybe a nice shallow carribean shore with palm trees sticking out of the water all warm and shallow with fish and coral... yeah, can't wait to swim in X2!

randomos says: Perhaps a nice cool beverage too?? With an umbrella in it? Or would you be too busy swimming with the dolphins?

Dusante says: Yeah, rum punch and a nice hammock over the water... oh and that too!

randomos says: Are you excited about Path? That will be coming out in just a few weeks now.

Dusante says: Yeah I'm very excited for it, I have high expectations when it comes to games so from what I've heard so far it must be great!

randomos says: Dus, it must have been fun (mostly?) watching the community grow and change over the years? You've been here a while now, and from a young age.

Dusante says: It is exciting seeing the changes, and how it grows, especially with Uru Live; that was a huge catalyst for the online community. But getting to know so many awesome indiviuals has been the most rewarding.

randomos says: It really... opened some eyes in a way, didn't it? Really... helped to spark the community. And grow it too.

Kha'tie says: It gave fans a mission! Gave them a common goal and even though that aspect is gone now, the feeling lives on.

Dusante says: Yeah a lot of new people were introduced to the franchise via Uru Live.

Kha'tie says: It has changed the dynamic of the community and given us a whole huge influx of new ideas and new passion!

Dusante says: That's another thing that's got me so excited by Revelation, I can't wait to see the new people it brings in with it, to surprise a lot of people who thought pre-rendered was dead and possibly send out the pre-rendered genre with a bang as computers are now getting poweful enough to have graphically complex games in realtime 3D.

randomos says: This has been a great interview Dusante- your stellar contributions to the community have brought a lot to many people, and created a real hub. Thanks so much to you (and your team!)... And is there anything you'd like to add? Or do you have a message you'd like to get out there?

Dusante says: Hmmmmm, not much of a message except BUY REVELATION and URU and whatever Myst game you dont have!

Kha'tie says: Thanks SO much for chatting with us Dusante! We look forward to what Uru and Myst Obsession have in store for us in the months and years to come!

Dusante says: No problem, I look forward to what our great community managers have up their sleeves as well.

randomos says: I think we're just trying to not get in the way LOL.

randomos says: Well, I am! Katie's still young and nimble!

Dusante says: No way, you guys have done so much for the community I don't know what we'd do without you guys!

randomos says: It's an amazing group of people... we just try to support wherever we can. Really an exceptional bunch, in so many ways.