Myst Online
The unique world and history at Myst lies before you to explore.
No pricing system has been confirmed as yet, but publisher Ubi Soft has clearly got Myst Online at the heart of its rapidly developing online strategy through Ubi.com. Indeed, Cyan’s plan of not only weekly but almost daily additions to the game world seem very ambitious. "That's the strength and the challenge: We have got to build stuff continuously that will keep people engrossed and wondering what's going to be there next week".
In keeping with the ‘Ages’ theme of the Myst adventures, the team are saying that a new Age is planned for inveiglement every month after the game is released. These multiple Ages will be far less populated than most massively-multiplayer games, with the aim being one of exploration with your friends. This will preserve the Myst feel of intimacy, as will each player possessing their own individual ‘Age’, in which items collected on travels can be stored, and private meetings with friends held. This Age will also act as a focal point for your avatar’s ‘linking books’, the method of transportation between Ages that will be familiar to Myst fans.
The next world available to explore is that of your ‘neighbourhood’, the area surrounding your own inhabited by similar players, this area will act as a point of socialising, to gather before exploring the endless extents of the Myst universe. Another area is the huge and diverse City, a region accessible by all from which linking books can be sought, to allow the player and his comrades to explore the many Ages.
Throughout the various and diverse Ages there will be numerous mini-games and puzzles to solve which will allow progression. Again, one of themes from Myst returns in this unusual title. As with Myst, there will be no sense of levels, character statistics or money. So Cyan are already avoiding the usual trappings of a MMORPG, a brave decision, but hopefully one that will not leave the game devoid of interest or drama entirely. As we mentioned previously, Myst will not be a competitive game, in fact, Cyan seem to be aiming at creating more of an environment and system for discovery and socialising, rather than competition. Though apparently arenas for proving your worth will still be present in a minor-form.
As we draw to a close what is known of Myst Online, it is interesting to note that what Cyan is creating is certainly not in the mould of an online role-playing game. Quite the opposite. Whilst the focus is on adventuring and interaction, this game is of a gentler more sober kind, without the violence of battle or the constant competition of levelling-up. Myst Online owes far more, in fact, to a glorified chat-room, than any ‘game’ in the traditional sense, which may actually be a breath of fresh air for a genre that could definitely use a break from the old routine. Indeed, if Myst Online can attract the mass market with its non-threatening or non-daunting approach, then surely it will have been a success in every sense.
We look forward to witnessing Cyan’s approach to environment design, and the depths they go to bring the world of Myst to life in glorious and ever-expanding 3D.
Myst Online will be out toward the end of 2003, and we look forward to bringing you more on this unusual, minimalist and daring title as and when we get it.
Comments
Wow...I hope it flies. I've been hoping for someone to come out with something that avoided the usual violent coventions (cliches) of the genre. After awhile, most of the MMOGs I've played feel more like pointless work than fun: commonly referred to by players of these games as the "treadmill" effect. It would be really great to see something creative, cooperative, and just...kinder. All of the current MMOG's require one to take the role of a killer, which can become so tedious. Good luck Cyan. I'll be there at launch.
The Myst/Riven games are perfect for me; I love the exploration, the puzzle solving, the beautiful landscape and the colors....each world is like a paradise!! I love the worlds the Cyan team creates!!! The Myst/Riven worlds are adventurous, marvel filled and never boring!!! I can not wait to play the new one!!!
I'm really not a big fan of Myst, but this game sounds like it might just turn out to be the best MMOG ever made
I still really have no idea how this game will play. I mean, what do you do, just walk around and look at the scenery? There was a story in the prior Myst games and you solved puzzles. I'm not sure how they can incorporate it for a game which thousands are participating in.
I'm surprised by your comment that Cyan created the "hardly envelope-pushing, Myst series". When I first learned of Myst, it was one of only a handful of games available in the genre, and was only available on CD - something that was definitely considered both innovative and risky at the time.
I see Myst Online as a continuation of something Cyan does very well - raising the calibre of Computer Adventure Gaming to its highest, and classiest level. I chose a computer with a CD-ROM drive to play Myst.
I'll chose my next computer's specs to play Myst Online.
~ Kha'tie
: )
now heres something i didn't think i'd see in a million years.. phatty phat tho! Loved this series from the beginning!
I can't wait until it comes out!!! :)
I'm French, so I will write in French, because my English is too bad... Sorry for you, I hope you will understand me.
La saga Myst deviendrait donc infinie avec un nouveau défi, myst on line... J'ai joué pour la première fois à Myst quand j'avais 14ans, et ça a été pr moi une expérience vraiment très forte. J'ai récidivé trois ans après avec Riven ,et là encore, je n'ai pas été déçu. Ce genre de jeux est pour moi très reposant, enrichissant, et surtout, me fait oublier les tracas de la vie quotidienne. Espérons que Mys Online sera à la hauteur, qu'il sera accessible à tous malgré le fait qu"il soit on-line. J'attends beaucoup de ce jeu, comme j'avais bcp attendu des jeux précédents de Cyan, et je n'ai jamais été déçu, bien au contraire. Espérons que ce soit la même surprise avec ce prochain jeu. Une chose est sûre, je suis très impatient de voir son évolution.
Affaire à suivre
This article helps solidify a theory long held in DaDungeon (where The Mental Mob is "normally" in residence).
From the very beginning of public (read "online") responses to Cyan's MYST and RIVEN games, the impression has been this:
"This is the seed - the acorn - from which a huge growth will result."
And it seems to be proving to be so.
The growth is beginning to take on form now, direction.
New branches are gaining fibre and strength as they reach out into the great infinite realm of possibilities.
Direction is unbounded.
Subject matter, whether for purposes of entertainment, education, or socialization is also unlimited in choices.
This will indeed mature into one Massively Anticipated, Massively Participated, presicts The Mental Mob.
The world id FULL of thirsty minds.
They are thirsty for adventure, not mandatory hoops through which they must jump, slaughtering all that moves along the way.
And believe DaDUngeon, underground locations are only the starting points. To get a little ummm, derivatory here: "To infinity . . . and beyond!"
Please, please make a Mac version. We are devoted fans. The original MYST was created firstly on and for the Mac. Don't forget about your origins :)
I hope you guys are planning a Mac version of this series ...
Cyan, you are horrible horrible people. Do you really want all gamers to suffer this bad? Please, let Myst die a quiet death and go find something else to do. Please.
Myst, Riven and Exile is the best gaes i the world
Myst, Riven and Exile is the best games in the world
Jeg elsker bare Riven og Exile jeg har ikke prøvet Myst så det kan jeg ikke sige noget om, men Riven og Exile er verdens bedste spil.
I come from Denmark and i'm only 12 yers old so i'm not so good at english.
To all that dont now: mudpie is like the other myst games you can just play with your freinds
The Myst series of games are by far the best games I have yet to encounter for the PC. My next computer will be a Mac, and I hope UbiSoft will have the entire series on DVD for the Mac by then. Meanwhile, I hope Myst Online becomes reality. I prefer roaming around in make-believe worlds of peace than on patrol in fantasy worlds of violence.
cool picts
Myst, Riven, and Exile - yes, Exile - why's nobody talking about Exile? -
All great stuff.
Mudpie/Myst online/Parable? Dunno. I think I'm gonna miss a whole lot of good fun because I've been playing since the first one - when I was 25 or so... that was ten years ago, I'm 35 now, two kids, a wife... I don't have the time to invest to get the most out of the game - exploring, finding new things.
Same things goes for Star Wars online.
Yup, I'll be missing a whole lotta fun.
Here's to hoping for another single-player game from Cyan sometime.
MYST will never die! It is the embodiment and representation of all things that should be used when making a good game: A good storyline/plot, surreal characters and most of all very well thought out environments/graphics.
If you put all those together you get what millions have fans have come to admire, cherish, and come to know as the world of Myst.
The best
I absolutely disagree with Mr. Guttridge's statement that the Myst series is "hardly envelope-pushing".
My family owns three game consoles and a tremendous amount of current games-- not one can match the detail and realism that Exile displays.
I believe that Guttridge enjoys the mindless task of shooting anything that moves, rather than exploration and discovery. Hopefully someone better qualified to write on this topic will come along and make a more balanced judgement.
I love Myst and Riven very much.All the ages are like a peradise.
Neil, perhaps you should find a game that does not require the use of your brain, but your reflexes only.
The Myst series is obviously far too difficult for you; as I am sure are reading, tying your shoes, and eating without a bib. Here is my recommendation my slow-witted friend: go away. We who enjoy Myst and Riven do not care what you think. Happily, we do not have to worry about that often, do we? Cyan has done a superb job. You will probably have to move to Oregon because putting gas in your car is too difficult a task for you.
its just simple math, MO will be the pinnacle of all interactive electronic entertainment:
myst = good
online games = good
myst+online game = GOOD!
it makes perfect sense...
:D
I am stuck in the game and can not find a hint page anywhere can you help me. And why does the game play one time then the next time I try it tottaly screws up and freezes my comp.and mess up the screen?
i hate this set up but the game totally rules good luck and farewell
I love Myst! Its great just exploring and looking around! Good luck everyone!
game looks great! the landscapes remind me of morrowind :-D
stupid mafia advertisment video, everywhere i click it's always playing! please remove it! anyways game looks awsome myst will be a big hit!
em em em em um um i i i ii love mmmmyst its stimulating visit my web site on it at www.coxie.co.uk
I'm a little worried about this. Myst was great as a puzzle game and it was meant to be just that, but I can't imagine it as anything different.
WHERE DO I SIGN UP
yea you all suck
its pretty good
jason.mcgaw