The Mac Observer: Wasting Time With The Idiots - New Myst Games May Make Your Pants Explode

Gary: You mean the news about all the ass kicking games that are about to come to the Mac. Like Westlake Interactive's announcements that their Mac ports of Tomb Raider3: The Last Revelation and Deus Ex are both in beta stages as now? And that they already have their first playable version of The Sims for the Mac up and working?

Gary: Then was it Terminal Reality's announcement of their killer off-road driving game 4x4 Evolution or the Lucas announcement that the new Star Wars Super Bombad Racing game is coming to the Mac?

Randy: Okay that's pretty darn cool too but that's not why I'm freaking out.

Gary: Uh, okay, was it the demonstration at the E3 by those crazy Voodoo card vendors 3dfx. I heard they showed off a real live Mac based dual chip Voodoo5 AGP board. And then basically waved their butts in ATI's face for saying a multiprocessor graphics card would not work in the Mac AGP slot.

Randy: Hey man you can't freak out yet. They aren't scheduled to come out until the fourth quarter this year.

Gary: Awwww man. That was a good unconscious spasm. I don't know if I will be able to hit the floor that hard by next Christmas.

Randy: Well, here's the deal. Myst3: Exile is currently in production and it looks fantastic.

Gary: Man I love those kids over at Cyan. I'm sure Myst3 is going to kick some serious buttox.

Gary: Maybe. I'll just stay on the floor until you are done. What are you telling me? Cyan isn't doing the next game in the Myst saga. I mean come on, they created the whole damn thing. Who could possibly step into the captain's chair and actually make a decent follow up to Myst and Riven?

Randy: The only studio that could. Presto Studios, the creators of the incredibly successful Journeyman series of adventure games, has been contracted by Mattel to take over the Ages of Myst.

Gary: Holy cow, that is a piece of pants filling news. But good news at that. Presto Studios is the only developer I would trust to do the next Myst right. I loved every one of their Journeyman games.

Randy: Exactly. Presto's Journeyman titles have been the only games to stand toe to toe with the creativity and craftsmanship of the Myst legacy. And you want to know the kicker.

Gary: I'm not sure. My pants are pretty full. Another shocker and this could get messy for everybody. Oh, what the hay, it's laundry day tomorrow anyway. What's the kicker?

Randy: Myst3 is going to be in full 360-degree panoramic perspective. But not the grainy degraded quality that standard QTVR offers. Presto has developed their own 3D panoramic engine that maintains the incredible image quality that Myst and Riven fans have come to expect.

Gary: Well I'm just going to have to blow a bowel now. I remember how cool Journeyman 3 was with the killer panoramic technology they used. I can only imagine how beautiful Myst3 will look.

Randy: You don't have to imagine. You can see the new Quicktime trailer for Myst3 at the new Myst3.com web site. The web site is loaded with lots of stills of the game. And man, it looks stunning!

But rather than make everybody scramble for a peek we have some concept art work here. I think everyone will be pleased with what they see.

Gary: Oh yeah! This is going to be an awesome game. But any word on the actual story line of Myst3?

Randy: Well I hear tell it's about two stupid guys who live in a cave in New York and spend way too much time on their computer.

Gary: Boy they sound like losers! Hey…what the…

Randy: Oh and they are. I can assure you. But all I could find out about the Myst3 story is that the it centers around a character from one of Atrus' Ages who wants revenge on Atrus' family for the destruction caused by Sirrus and Achenar.

Gary: Schweeeeeeeeeeee! Go Presto! Make us proud. But wait a minute. If Presto is making Myst3. Who is making Myst 4?

Randy: Who else but the original crew at Cyan.

Gary: This is too good to be true. Poke me with the hedge trimmers just to make sure I'm not dreaming.

Randy: No, it's true. And there's twist here too. Myst 4, currently called Myst Dimensions is a totally free movement first person 3D adventure game.

Gary: Now you are just being silly man. How can you make a Myst game that runs in a Quake style engine? How could it possibly look when compared to the quality super crisp artwork of the first two Myst games.

Randy: I don't know yet but I did managed to dig up a still of the Myst 4 3D engine in action. Richard Watson, one of the staff at Cyan says that with the exception of the camera position, which was moved up for a higher view, this is what game play looks like.

Gary: Whoa! Stop it with the amazing news flashes. My head is going to pop.

Randy: Better that than you pants again. But there's just one more thing I found out about Myst Dimensions. It is supposed to be a multiplayer on-line title that utilizes high bandwidth connections.

Gary: As if E3 didn't already turn up some great news for Mac games, this takes the cake.

Randy: I feel the same way. In this day and age of fragalishious Quake III and Unreal Tournament type first person shooters, I still love the adventure genera the most. These two titles are going to be on the top of my wish list for the rest of the year.

Gary: And some new pants.

Randy: What?

Gary: For your wish list, new pants.

Randy: Why you're the one who is about to Johnny Popin' Fresh in your Toughskins.

Gary: Well actually these are your pants. I borrowed them because all mine are filthy.

Randy: Oh no! You didn't! What is wrong with you?

Gary: I don't know, lazy, stupid, hung-over…take your pick.

Randy: How about dead!

Gary: But how about I spring for a copy of Myst3 when it comes , to make it up to you.

Randy: Well, okay. Fair enough, but keep the pants. I don't ever want them back.

Gary: Smart choice.