Exploring Myst Online on the eve of launch
by Jared Rea 
{ Feb 14th 2007 at 11:13PM }
A few short hours remain before the official release of Myst Online: Uru Live and the caverns are buzzing with excitement. A trip down to the city docks reveals small collections of players huddled together in both dance and wild speculation as to what the D'ni Restoration Council has in store for tonight's release.You either get it or you don't and with Myst Online, it doesn't just click if you do. It consumes. The mere thought of a massively multiplayer version of the worlds foremost interactive Hypercard is enough to send most gamers into exile, left to wonder where their favorite medium went wrong. The core of Myst Online does in fact boil down to pointing and clicking on random objects. Much like previous entries in the series, however, such a black and white description does nowhere near the justice it deserves.
Gallery: Myst Online: Uru Live
From the moment you receive your Ki (your all-in-one PDA), a world beyond random switches and levers is opened. You're plugged into a neighborhood with other players to meet and greet. You're taking screenshots of important clues and captioning them appropriately. You're creating journal entries to archive the facts combed from the endless mountain of books. If World of Warcraft and the ilk are fueled by Mountain Dew and pizza rolls, Myst Online is powered with fine red wines and tiny cheeses. It is to be savored and utilized to please the nether regions of your palette. It is a slow, consuming burn and once you've put in the time and entered your first Linking Book, the pointing and clicking merely becomes a vessel for your knowledge.
How else are you going to discover the arcane secrets of that touch plate puzzle if you don't read the 40 page journal of the man who designed it? Or how about figuring out the D'ni numbering system without resorting to Google? Chances are you're not.. Unless, of course, you implore the help of the community.
And now, the massively multiplayer portion of the game makes sense.
The problem with Myst throughout the years has always been the difficulty of entry. It's easy to get flustered over the piles of books and astrological flimflam. If you've got the nerve to become something of a social butterfly, Myst Online provides the support you need. Even if you can't tell your elbow from your neighborhood, the Guild of Greeters DRC are at your service, providing an hourly tour of the Cavern that covers everything you need to know to get started.
The entire project -- nearly ten years of development in the making -- is beautiful. From the amazing worlds found within the Linking Books to the elegance of its social networking, Myst Online: Uru Live is a captivating experience. It won't change the mind of the cynics who can't help but loathe the series and that's understandable. For the passionate nerd, however, Myst Online is almost required loving.
[Update: We got our ever so helpful groups mixed up. Still, the Guild of Greeters are a valuable resource to the game!]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ck @ Feb 14th 2007 11:30PM
Myst has always been one of my favorite universes. The stories from the original games were okay, but it wasn't until I actually started reading the novels that I got sucked in. The whole D'ni culture to me is fascinating and wonderfully vivid. The fact that you can explore all of these worlds is something extraordinary. If only I could upgrade my craptastic video card on my computer, I might be able to enjoy some good ol' journal action.
Shaun @ Feb 15th 2007 1:01PM
Ah, the D'ni numbering system! Deciphering that in Riven was one of my proudest "gaming" moments ever. Base ** for the win!
REUYL @ Feb 15th 2007 12:58AM
I'd totally play Myst Online... if I didn't have to sign up for GameTap.
Tsietisin @ Feb 15th 2007 1:31AM
Ah the memories. I remember back when I was playing Uru during beta. I enjoyed the game back then so I look forward to seeing what the game has become now.
chad @ Feb 15th 2007 2:41AM
Europe gets shafted again. The last time I played this was back in Canada when we got that letter from Rand telling us our uru world was over.
When I made the move from Canada to the UK I never imagined how vastly different the entire gaming culture was. From price to availability to different systems it's completely different.
I mean wtf was the Spectrum and why does everybody in this country talk like it's the grandfather of gaming??
Milquetoast @ Feb 15th 2007 2:18PM
I freakin' loved the mood of Uru. Soooo great.
Thrawn @ Feb 15th 2007 7:18AM
I'm filled with disgust and an odd sense of foreboding...
vid @ Feb 15th 2007 8:03AM
This is my favorite online game... and one of my favorite games PERIOD.
tsahnocub @ Feb 15th 2007 8:25AM
Myst Online: Uru Live is available in many other Eurpoean countries, just not through the Gametap Installer. There will be a special signup page for international users that will allow them to activate and pay for an account and a standalone Myst Online installer that will run the program without needing the Gametap software.
Crrash @ Feb 15th 2007 8:29AM
yay Myst :D love it also specially because of the books, just the games as games dont work. You have to put the full story together to be able to apreciate it.
also europe didnt get shafted, but some minor countries like portugal (where i come from) wont be able to play it for a while (uk can)
Daniel @ Feb 15th 2007 9:30AM
GameTap is only $9.99 a month and is worth it beyond description.
I mean with games from the Sega Genesis, Master System, Neo Geo, PC, Arcade, Atari 2600, etc., I am in retro video game heaven.
MasterPug @ Feb 15th 2007 9:51AM
To 9: Gee, that doesn't sound like a corporate shill.
Seriously though, Sam & Max + Uru for 10 bucks? Deal. Especially considering that most MMO's cost $15 these days. All of the other games are just a really nice added bonus. I pretty much lost all of my free time last month to CivIII.
Agent MOO @ Feb 15th 2007 11:13AM
Sit, uru, sit. Good boy.
Budgie @ Feb 15th 2007 12:14PM
Just a small wee correction. It is the ResEng (restoration engineers)of the DRC who give the hourly tours--orientations for newcomers. The Guild of Greeters helps newcomers and others and especially tries to provide a welcoming and comfortable entry into an awesome environment.
jensen @ Feb 15th 2007 2:32PM
I tested URU for most of the original beta period, before it was canceled. It was pretty.
Can you have more than a dozen people in an age now without it lagging to an unplayable state?
Is there enough stuff to do to keep it occupied? Most of the gameplay during the beta consisted of finding bugs (and I'm not talking about the firefly puzzle).
UvulaBob @ Feb 15th 2007 1:39PM
#2: "I'd totally play Myst Online... if I didn't have to sign up for GameTap."
Yeah! Who needs to pay 5 bucks a month less than WoW for an excellent online experience that also includes a bunch of excellent time-killing games from our childhood!
RAGE AGAINST THE GAMETAP MACHINE!
Jared @ Feb 15th 2007 4:23PM
The comment hasn't appeared yet, but thanks Budgie for the correction. I got the two groups flipped around in my head.
Carol/VzNevada @ Feb 16th 2007 8:55AM
I loved every game that Cyan came out with. I think Rand Miller and his brother are remarkable and over the top when it comes to being creative.
Knowing that Uru is back and will be here for along time is very comforting. I have spent hours on end exploring Uru and enjoying the fantastic scenery while there. I'm thrilled to be a part of this :-)
VzNevada Menoptra