Cyan Worlds Closes

ThPhox writes "Several former employees are reporting on their blogs that Cyan Worlds, the creator of the Myst series of games for Macintosh and PC, has apparently closed. Myst was the best selling PC game of all time, until The Sims, and inspired four sequels, three novels, and a spin-off MMORPG. In 1993, it had amazing graphics, and was one of the first games to be released on CD-ROM. Riven, released in 1995, stunned the world with unparalleled graphics and story. Cyan, you will be greatly missed. But, as they say; 'Perhaps the ending, had not yet been written...'"

Sounds about right....

[ShyGuy91284]

The reason that studio existed was for Myst. Now that the Myst series has ended, the closed. I'm greatful that they made sure to finish up the series (I don't think it was selling so great, so I'm surprised they were able to finish it). I read the Myst books too. Good reading.

Re:We could re-do Myst...better, even!

[HishamMuhammad]

These days, any one of us could crank out Myst classic inside a month on our desktop.

Let me guess... you have never written a pro-grade level, have you?

What I don't get, is why this genre is so often praised and so seldom successfully imitated?

Maybe because it's not as easy as you picture it?

Sorry about the cynicism, couldn't resist. Writing games is hard -- by downplaying its difficulty, you sound very naive. In most games, programming is not the hardest part, and even that is not easy to pull off "just right". Having the tools to do the art is one thing; the artists' work is another -- and that's very time-consuming and takes a lot of talent.

Re:Wow.

[Anonymous Coward]

See. That's what makes this message board so great: Even though you complain about it, you still have the right to do so. That's what our moderators are fighting for, aren't they? If you tried that over at k5, they would cut your blaspheming fingers off at a public ceremony!

I think you should support our editors, because anything less is treason!

Re:Also the last great Mac-only game

[cowscows]

While the mac game world is but a small asteroid compared to the windows game horde, Myst was not the end of mac-exclusive entertainment. A little company called Bungie produced a number of games exclusively for the mac before eventually transitioning to windows/xbox. Ambrosia software doesn't make the huge retail blockbusters, but Escape Velocity was as engrossing to me as any windows game I've ever played, and I know I'm not the only one who thinks that. There's plenty of even smaller scale, yet incredibly well done shareware games coming out for the mac. I remember having tons of fun playing Airburst with friends while in college.

Sure, the huge publishing companies don't do exclusive mac games anymore. They're all about making the most money possible, they're going to go after the biggest market. But there have been many Mac specific games that I hold in just as high esteem as I do Myst.

Sad

[FlyByPC]

...So we lose one of the few companies to produce interesting games that don't involve shooting anything that moves. Yes, perhaps the plot and/or interface of some of their games could have stood a bit of work. But Cyan was one of the few companies producing games that appeal to the intellect and sense of adventure -- rather than to the players' adrenaline levels. Somewhat like complaining that the only sushi bar in town got only mediocre reviews -- when the alternative is the local greasy spoon.

Who's next, Microids??