Myst (game): Difference between revisions

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| publishers=Brøderbund, Midway Games, Mean Hamster Software, Sunsoft
| publishers=Brøderbund, Midway Games, Mean Hamster Software, Sunsoft
|designers=Robyn Miller, Rand Miller
|designers=Robyn Miller, Rand Miller
| releases=Mac OS: Sep 24, 1993 <br>Windows: 1994 <br>3DO: Mar 17, 1995 <br>Saturn: Sep 1995 <br>Atari Jaguar: 1995 <br>PS1: Sep 30, 1996 (NA) <br>PS1: Nov 15, 1996 (PAL) <br>Windows: May 2000 (M:ME) <br>Pocket PC: Feb 2005 <br>PSP: 2006 (JP & EU) <br>PSP: 2008 (US) <br>DS: Dec 7, 2007 (EU) <br>DS: May 13, 2008 (NA) <br>iOS: May 2, 2009 <br>Ps3: May 18, 2012 <br>CD-i <br>3DS <br>AmigaOS
| releases=Mac OS: Sep 24, 1993 <br>Windows: Mar 1994 <br>([[#Re-releases and ports|additional releases]])
| genres=graphic adventure, puzzle
| genres=graphic adventure, puzzle
| mode=Single-player
| mode=Single-player
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'''''Myst''''' is a pre-rendered adventure computer game, with a simple point-and-click interface. Developed by [[Cyan]]) and published by [[Brøderbund]], it was released on September 24, 1993 after roughly two years of work. Its tremendous success sparked four sequels, several re-releases and bundles, a complete remake, three novels, a spin-off computer game series, and arguably an entire new genre of games heavily inspired from ''Myst's'' simplicity and style of puzzles, the solving of which is required in order to progress in, and complete, the game.
'''''Myst''''' is a pre-rendered adventure computer game, with a simple point-and-click interface. Developed by [[Cyan]]) and published by [[Brøderbund]], it was released on September 24, 1993 after roughly two years of work. Its tremendous success sparked four sequels, several re-releases and bundles, a complete remake, three novels, a spin-off computer game series, and arguably an entire new genre of games heavily inspired from ''Myst's'' simplicity and style of puzzles, the solving of which is required in order to progress in, and complete, the game.


''Myst'' also very subtly introduced an entire civilization's story and history to the player, the [[D'ni (race)|D'ni]]. The D'ni-related themes are much further developed in the first sequel, ''[[Riven: The Sequel to Myst|Riven]]'', in the three novels and in the ''[[Uru]]'' spin-off series. The events of Myst take place in 1806 AD, or 9462 DE.
''Myst'' also very subtly introduced the story and history of an entire civilization, the [[D'ni (race)|D'ni]], to the player. The D'ni-related themes are much further developed in the first sequel, ''[[Riven: The Sequel to Myst|Riven]]'', in the three novels and in the ''[[Uru]]'' spin-off series. The events of Myst take place in 1806 AD, or 9462 DE.


''Myst'' was widely acclaimed for the then-unusual amount of graphical detail. It was one of the first games to ship on CD-ROM, rather than floppy disks, and actually came bundled with some CD-ROM drives of the time, which were still an unusual piece of hardware to have in the home PC market.
''Myst'' was widely acclaimed for the then-unusual amount of graphical detail. It was one of the first games to ship on CD-ROM, rather than floppy disks, and actually came bundled with some CD-ROM drives of the time, which were still an unusual piece of hardware to have in the home PC market.
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The game begins at and revolves around [[Myst]] Island. The [[Stoneship]], [[Mechanical]], [[Selenitic]], and [[Channelwood]] [[Age]]s are featured (all four of which contain numerous clues to solving the game); those of [[Haven]] and [[Spire]] are hinted at though not expanded upon until ''[[Myst IV: Revelation]]''; and [[Earth|D'ni]] (more specifically: [[K'veer]]) is seen at the end, with the imprisoned [[Atrus]] sitting there at a desk.
The game begins at and revolves around [[Myst]] Island. The [[Stoneship]], [[Mechanical]], [[Selenitic]], and [[Channelwood]] [[Age]]s are featured (all four of which contain numerous clues to solving the game); those of [[Haven]] and [[Spire]] are hinted at though not expanded upon until ''[[Myst IV: Revelation]]''; and [[Earth|D'ni]] (more specifically: [[K'veer]]) is seen at the end, with the imprisoned [[Atrus]] sitting there at a desk.
Myst was named after Jules Verne's Mysterious Island.<ref name="Inverse Interview">{{cite web|url=https://www.inverse.com/gaming/myst-cyan-worlds-oral-history|title=Into the Myst: The Oral History of America's Oldest Surviving Indie Game Studio|author=Adam Morgan|website=Inverse|published=March 15, 2023|access-date=2024-01-17}}</ref>


== Masterpiece Edition ==
== Masterpiece Edition ==
An updated version was released in May 2000: the images were re-rendered in 24-bit truecolor (instead of the original 8-bit palette), the score was re-mastered, and sound effects were enhanced.
An updated version was released in August 1999: the images were re-rendered in 24-bit truecolor (instead of the original 8-bit palette), the score was re-mastered, and sound effects were enhanced.


== Re-releases and ports ==
== Re-releases and ports ==
{{See also|realMyst|Myst (2020)}}
''Myst'' has been remade various times and ported to multiple platforms:
''Myst'' has been remade various times and ported to multiple platforms:
* Mac System 7.1: September 24, 1993
* Mac System 7.1: September 24, 1993
* Windows 3.1: 1994
* Windows 3.1: March 1994<ref>{{cite forum post|url=https://www.filfre.net/2020/02/myst-or-the-drawbacks-to-success/|author=Jimmy Maher|title=Myst (or, The Drawbacks to Success)|forum=The Digital Antiquarian|date=February 21, 2020}}</ref>
* Sega CD (never released): 1994<ref>"[https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3AEGM2_US_02.pdf&page=59 Next Wave - Sega CD - Myst (Sunsoft)]". EGM<sup>2</sup>. No. 2. Sendai Publishing. August 1994. p. 59.</ref><ref>"[https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3AEGM2_US_05.pdf&page=74 Next Wave - Sega CD - Myst (Sunsoft)]". EGM<sup>2</sup>. No. 5. Sendai Publishing. November 1994. p. 74.</ref>
* Sega CD (never released): 1994<ref>"[https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3AEGM2_US_02.pdf&page=59 Next Wave - Sega CD - Myst (Sunsoft)]". EGM<sup>2</sup>. No. 2. Sendai Publishing. August 1994. p. 59.</ref><ref>"[https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3AEGM2_US_05.pdf&page=74 Next Wave - Sega CD - Myst (Sunsoft)]". EGM<sup>2</sup>. No. 5. Sendai Publishing. November 1994. p. 74.</ref>
* 3DO Interactive Multiplayer: March 17, 1995
* 3DO Interactive Multiplayer: March 17, 1995
* Sega Saturn: September, 1995
* Sega Saturn: September, 1995
* Atari Jaguar: 1995<ref>"[http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-jaguar-myst_s6654.html Atari Jaguar Myst]". Atari Mania. Accessed June 6, 2020.</ref>
* PlayStation 1: September 30, 1996 (NA)
* PlayStation 1: September 30, 1996 (NA)
* Atari Jaguar: 1995<ref>"[http://www.atarimania.com/game-atari-jaguar-myst_s6654.html Atari Jaguar Myst]". Atari Mania. Accessed June 6, 2020.</ref>
** November 15, 1996 (PAL)
** November 15, 1996 (PAL)
* Myst: Masterpiece Edition: May 2000<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20080317044812/http://www.ubi.com/US/Games/Info.aspx?pId=196 Myst: Masterpiece Edition]", Ubisoft, 2000. Archived from the original on March 17, 2008.</ref>
* Philips CD-i: 1996
* [[realMyst]]: Interactive 3D Edition: November 2000 (PC)<ref>Walker, Trey (October 20, 2000). "[https://web.archive.org/web/20110525163227/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/adventure/realmyst/news.html?sid=2643165&mode=recent Real Myst Shipping in Early November]". GameSpot. Archived from the original on May 25, 2011.</ref>
* AmigaOS: 1997
** January 2002 (Mac OS)
* Myst: Masterpiece Edition: August 24, 1999 (Windows)<ref name="tcrf">"[https://tcrf.net/User_talk:Daxeria#Myst:_Masterpiece_Edition User talk:Daxeria]" (section "Myst: Masterpiece Edition"), The Cutting Room Floor, accessed November 16, 2020.</ref><ref name="mjourney">"[https://www.mystjourney.com/myst/versions/ Myst Masterpiece and realMyst]", Myst Journey, accessed November 14, 2020.</ref>
** June 22, 2000 (Mac OS)<ref name="tcrf"/><ref name="mjourney"/>
* Windows Mobile/Pocket PC: February 2005<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20121213032053/http://www.cyanworlds.com/products/mystppc.php Myst for PocketPC]". Archived from the original on December 13, 2012. Retrieved April 27, 2014.</ref>
* Windows Mobile/Pocket PC: February 2005<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20121213032053/http://www.cyanworlds.com/products/mystppc.php Myst for PocketPC]". Archived from the original on December 13, 2012. Retrieved April 27, 2014.</ref>
* PlayStation Portable: 2006 (JP and EU)<ref> "[https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/11/23/myst-set-for-psp Myst Set for PSP]". IGN. November 22, 2005.</ref>
* PlayStation Portable: 2006 (JP and EU)<ref> "[https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/11/23/myst-set-for-psp Myst Set for PSP]". IGN. November 22, 2005.</ref>
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* Nintendo DS: December 7, 2007 (EU)
* Nintendo DS: December 7, 2007 (EU)
** May 13, 2008 (NA)<ref>Purchese, Rob (June 7, 2007). "[https://web.archive.org/web/20070625064437/http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=77459 Myst heads to DS]". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on June 25, 2007.</ref>
** May 13, 2008 (NA)<ref>Purchese, Rob (June 7, 2007). "[https://web.archive.org/web/20070625064437/http://www.eurogamer.net/article.php?article_id=77459 Myst heads to DS]". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on June 25, 2007.</ref>
* iOS: May 2, 2009
* iOS: May 5, 2009<ref name="mjourney" />
** June 14, 2012 (realMyst)
* Nintendo 3DS: 2012
* [[realMyst: Masterpiece Edition]]: February 7, 2014<ref>Matulef, Jeffrey (February 7, 2014). "[https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-02-07-myst-gets-remade-again-in-realmyst-masterpiece-edition Myst gets remade, again, in realMyst: Masterpiece Edition]". Eurogamer. Retrieved May 13, 2020.</ref>
* PlayStation 3: May 18, 2012<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20130208101235/http://us.playstation.com/games-and-media/games/myst-ps3-psp.html Myst, A PS One Classic Adventure Game For The PS3™ & PSP® System - PlayStation®]". Us.playstation.com. May 15, 2012. Archived from the original on February 8, 2013.</ref>
* PlayStation 3: May 18, 2012<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20130208101235/http://us.playstation.com/games-and-media/games/myst-ps3-psp.html Myst, A PS One Classic Adventure Game For The PS3™ & PSP® System - PlayStation®]". Us.playstation.com. May 15, 2012. Archived from the original on February 8, 2013.</ref>
* Android: January 26, 2017 (realMyst)<ref>Webster, Andrew (January 26, 2017). "[https://www.theverge.com/2017/1/26/14357340/myst-game-android-announced-mobile-release-date Iconic adventure game Myst debuts on Android today]". The Verge.</ref>
** April 26, 2017 (Riven)<ref>Takahashi, Dean (April 26, 2017). "[https://venturebeat.com/2017/04/26/classic-game-riven-follows-myst-onto-android-smartphones/ Classic game Riven follows Myst onto Android smartphones]". VentureBeat.</ref>
* Nintendo Switch: May 21, 2020 (realMyst: ME)<ref>Romano, Sal (May 13, 2020). "[https://www.gematsu.com/2020/05/realmyst-masterpiece-edition-for-switch-launches-may-21 realMyst: Masterpiece Edition for Switch launches May 21]". Gematsu. Retrieved May 13, 2020.</ref>
* CD-i
* 3DS
* AmigaOS


== References ==
== References ==

Latest revision as of 08:21, 17 January 2024

For the Age, see Myst.
Myst
Myst game box.png
Developer Cyan
Publishers Brøderbund, Midway Games, Mean Hamster Software, Sunsoft
Designers Robyn Miller, Rand Miller
Releases Mac OS: Sep 24, 1993
Windows: Mar 1994
(additional releases)
Genres graphic adventure, puzzle
Mode Single-player
ESRB rating E
Media CD-ROM
Input Keyboard, mouse
Followed by Riven


Myst is a pre-rendered adventure computer game, with a simple point-and-click interface. Developed by Cyan) and published by Brøderbund, it was released on September 24, 1993 after roughly two years of work. Its tremendous success sparked four sequels, several re-releases and bundles, a complete remake, three novels, a spin-off computer game series, and arguably an entire new genre of games heavily inspired from Myst's simplicity and style of puzzles, the solving of which is required in order to progress in, and complete, the game.

Myst also very subtly introduced the story and history of an entire civilization, the D'ni, to the player. The D'ni-related themes are much further developed in the first sequel, Riven, in the three novels and in the Uru spin-off series. The events of Myst take place in 1806 AD, or 9462 DE.

Myst was widely acclaimed for the then-unusual amount of graphical detail. It was one of the first games to ship on CD-ROM, rather than floppy disks, and actually came bundled with some CD-ROM drives of the time, which were still an unusual piece of hardware to have in the home PC market.

The first Hypercard stack that eventually evolved into Myst was created April 21, 1991 9:54AM PST[1]. The original version of Myst was released for Macintosh computers on September 24, 1993.

The game begins at and revolves around Myst Island. The Stoneship, Mechanical, Selenitic, and Channelwood Ages are featured (all four of which contain numerous clues to solving the game); those of Haven and Spire are hinted at though not expanded upon until Myst IV: Revelation; and D'ni (more specifically: K'veer) is seen at the end, with the imprisoned Atrus sitting there at a desk.

Myst was named after Jules Verne's Mysterious Island.[2]

Masterpiece Edition[edit | edit source]

An updated version was released in August 1999: the images were re-rendered in 24-bit truecolor (instead of the original 8-bit palette), the score was re-mastered, and sound effects were enhanced.

Re-releases and ports[edit | edit source]

See also: realMyst and Myst (2020)

Myst has been remade various times and ported to multiple platforms:

  • Mac System 7.1: September 24, 1993
  • Windows 3.1: March 1994[3]
  • Sega CD (never released): 1994[4][5]
  • 3DO Interactive Multiplayer: March 17, 1995
  • Sega Saturn: September, 1995
  • Atari Jaguar: 1995[6]
  • PlayStation 1: September 30, 1996 (NA)
    • November 15, 1996 (PAL)
  • Philips CD-i: 1996
  • AmigaOS: 1997
  • Myst: Masterpiece Edition: August 24, 1999 (Windows)[7][8]
  • Windows Mobile/Pocket PC: February 2005[9]
  • PlayStation Portable: 2006 (JP and EU)[10]
    • 2008 (US)
  • Nintendo DS: December 7, 2007 (EU)
    • May 13, 2008 (NA)[11]
  • iOS: May 5, 2009[8]
  • Nintendo 3DS: 2012
  • PlayStation 3: May 18, 2012[12]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Email from RAWA to RIUM+, dated October 26, 2007 5:50 AM
  2. Adam Morgan. "Into the Myst: The Oral History of America's Oldest Surviving Indie Game Studio", Inverse, March 15, 2023, accessed 2024-01-17.
  3. Jimmy Maher, "Myst (or, The Drawbacks to Success)", The Digital Antiquarian, February 21, 2020.
  4. "Next Wave - Sega CD - Myst (Sunsoft)". EGM2. No. 2. Sendai Publishing. August 1994. p. 59.
  5. "Next Wave - Sega CD - Myst (Sunsoft)". EGM2. No. 5. Sendai Publishing. November 1994. p. 74.
  6. "Atari Jaguar Myst". Atari Mania. Accessed June 6, 2020.
  7. 7.0 7.1 "User talk:Daxeria" (section "Myst: Masterpiece Edition"), The Cutting Room Floor, accessed November 16, 2020.
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Myst Masterpiece and realMyst", Myst Journey, accessed November 14, 2020.
  9. "Myst for PocketPC". Archived from the original on December 13, 2012. Retrieved April 27, 2014.
  10. "Myst Set for PSP". IGN. November 22, 2005.
  11. Purchese, Rob (June 7, 2007). "Myst heads to DS". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on June 25, 2007.
  12. "Myst, A PS One Classic Adventure Game For The PS3™ & PSP® System - PlayStation®". Us.playstation.com. May 15, 2012. Archived from the original on February 8, 2013.