I played this game for a long time, and then I didn't play at all, so I am kind of a noob but also an old player. I am a noold, and when I started playing again (last Friday, actually), I was struck by how the new housing system seems to have emptied out the public streets. At first I thought Ur had become filled with hikkomori Glitchen, but now having read a bit about routes, I was then struck by how a shadow Ur seems to have sprung up via neighbor sign posts.
When last I played the Tree Warz were so intense they were one of the reasons I left the game, plus the endless discussion about what constitutes griefing vs. multi-lateral free play, or whatever the gaming term for "Dilige et quod vis fac" is. Anyway, the Tree Warz are also no-more, an obvious by-product of the new housing arrangements. I mean, I guess they are..is that correct?
I love the idea of routes, so this post is not meant to lament the abandonment of public spaces (unless this has in fact been an unforeseen event with drastic consequences to the devs' plans for the game)-- in fact, it seems like it opens up such a huge opportunity to re-think public space in the game. And my question is, is public space being re-thunk, and by who? Has there been any discussion about this? Lastly, any links to said discussion would be very welcome