Myst Comes to the Net in 2003

erichj writes "Reuters is reporting that Cyan Worlds announced that they will be releasing an online version of the popular adventure game Myst for internet play in 2003. Users will pay a fee for the privilege of unraveling the mystery online." The article mentions some multiplayer functionality, but I can't really tell if the online version will be new puzzles or not.

Comments

Alternatively, it could be cool

[sam_handelman]

Well, the puzzles could require some kind of cooperation. That wouldn't be too hard. You could even introduce some kind of variable elements, to keep it interesting. If the puzzle doesn't change from game to game, either randomly or depending on what other people do, this would get really annoying, of course, since some jerk who already knew the whole puzzle would just race through it.

Most likely, you'll just have to coordinate lever pulling with someone in another room, which would be just like Myst only with the added frustration, I mean fun, of online social interaction.

If they did this right they would've looked to good, simple/innovative, mutiplayer boardgames for inspiration.

Clue - where there was some information (needed to solve the mystery) that only certain players could get, and you have to pool the info, that could be cool.

Settlers of Katan - there could be items (not just information) that you need from other players, but you have to trade other stuff you actually need (or may need) to get it. An economy of items (where you need X of each item over the course of the game, maybe) could be interesting.

Slasher - one of the other players IS the villain; the identity of the evil one is actually determined during the course of play.

Features introduced by other players could be worked into the puzzles, somehow. This would be incredibly difficult to do in an interesting way; it would also require a level of interaction with the environment well beyond what was present in the The Manhole (anyone else remember The Manhole?)

Myst has beautiful artwork, but I've always had this problem where you don't inject anything into the game; you might as well be watching a movie, to my mind (not intended as a Troll.) This would be a good opportunity for them to remedy that with a vengeance - not only would you alter the storyline in a real way, but so would a bunch of other people.

Theme of the game (no, it's not original Myst!)

[Fwongo]

I submitted some much more detailed info as a stor. I'm a member of the Myst fan community (and to a very limited extent an "insider" ) ... here is what I sent, hope it's informative:

Cyan and UbiSoft just announced Myst Online, a MMORPG based on the Myst universe. It will take place in the present, with you playing a modern-day adventurer (you could even customize your character's model to look like yourself) exploring the ruins of the ancient underground city of D'ni, the inhabitants of which practiced the art of creating portals to parallel universes (called "Ages") by describing them in great detail in special books (the original Myst and Riven games each took place in one of these parallel universes). You will also get the ability to explore some of these Ages, and more and more as Cyan adds them on.

The game will be focused on cooperative puzzle solving and exploration, and as with all Cyan games, violence will not be a focus (or maybe not present at all - that would be a first for an MMORPG, wouldn't it? <g>). It will feature voice-based communications via your computer microphone, as well as traditional text-based chat.

Based on advance screenshots (this being the most impressive one) the game is just gorgeous. This and this are some more screenshots. The release date is set at 2003, pricing is as yet undisclosed.

Finally, here's the official press release at Avault (which has a screenshot of its own, click the thumbnail for a larger version :P).

Incidentally, the original Myst is way too small to fit the typical population of a MMORPG. :)