The Zone is also procedurally generated during play. In MY0, the GM is usually finding out what happens right along with the players.

The way the metaplot is buried, within the event cards, and the map, means the Big Picture is sort of out of the GM’s hands.

Where as with SWN you have these factions, and you’re kind of waiting for the player’s to stumble upon your Big Picture. In MY0 there are other factions, but they don’t come into play until revealed through the games mechanics. So the GM is never ahead of the player’s really, he’s working with only what’s been brought forth through the fiction at the table.

I love the faction turn in SWN. It speaks to a part of me that enjoys that lonely fun, but there is def a disconnect between its spreadsheets and what occurs at the table.