Earlier this year I received a devastating blow. My all time favorite online computer game Myst online: otherwise known as URU Live went offline, died, was discontinued: whatever you want to call it. Even though a huge group of us were practically religious about URU, Game Tap discontinued it. I was truly addicted to that game.
I started playing Myst in grad school when I was supposed to be studying for exams. Riven and Exile (Myst II and III) took even more of my attention. I sat up all hours trying to find the right combination of levers to make the bridge work or trying to find a way into a locked room. I had never seen these types of graphics before. I was not only mesmerized by the stunning scenery and the 360 degree movement: I didn’t have to shoot or hack my way through bloody bodies to get where I had to go.
As time passed I skipped Revelation and End of Ages (Myst IV and V). Although I own them I have yet to play them. The reason I have not played them is because I found them after I found and bought a combo Myst package called Complete Chronicles and URU. (Meant to be a pun: You Are You. Get it? Pronounced Oooroo.)
With this game I actually saw myself: my avatar: running, jumping and swimming through beautiful and fantastic landscapes. Just when I thought this could not possibly get any better I went online. That was in 2007. Then, the crash. This year we lost our beloved game and online play buddies when the game was shut down.
Although I preferred to play alone I loved going to the forums and chatting with others who were even more into the game then I was. The forum is still there, but I only go there sporadically since there basically is no game to discuss.
So now, months later, I am still having withdrawal symptoms. I tried to play Myst IV but after URU it seems primitive. I have to get used to the little floating hand which looks really silly.
There is a bright spot. CYAN Worlds is trying, off and on to resurrect the game. I think it will be a shadow of its former self. Time will tell. Hope springs eternal.
