September 30, 2004
"Gamers prepare to sacrifice hundreds of hours to the magic of Myst"
Great review by Marc Saltzman, National Post. Here's a glimpse: "The latest incarnation in the multi-million-unit-selling Myst franchise is not only the most life-like adventure in the series to date, but it's arguably the closest thing we've seen to virtual reality in a computer game."



New MystIV Help Forum at MystObsession
Because MystIV is out, MystObsession has created a forum for assistance: Myst IV: Revelation Journey Help. Check it out.



New Positions Available at DPWR.NET
Alahmnat posted: "Help Wanted! Yup, DPWR is looking to expand its staff again. With the new reconstruction completed, there are openings for more people as traffic and participation increase. I made a small request a couple of days ago for some temporary help with the Archive, but I think I'd like to extend that request to a more permanant position." More details in the post.



Myst IV Revelation Trailer at Landmark Theatres
From MystWorlds: "Landmark Theatres will be hosting a 45 second Myst IV Revelation Trailer on all of their 204 screens during October! 20 major markets will have the full-screen trailer, which, from all reports, is awesome. Start your journey into Myst IV Revelation with a very immersive experience!"



MystIV Soundtrack Will be Released at a Later Date
In a post by Kha'tie: "The Soundtrack is not yet ready for release. Rather than not include the soundtrack in the Collector's Edition at all, it was decided to gather a few tracks which represent the music and place it in the CE. Considering you get some other things, and that it's not that much more in cost, I think this is reasonable. The Soundtrack will be available at a future date.



Recovery of Lost Stories
I have successfully recovered the lost stories and reconstructed the news page. The entries for the 27th and 28th are now correct. My apologies for any inconvenience. (Reminder: I now have an RSS feed available; the URL is http://news.patchallel.com/news.xml)



September 29, 2004
MystIV Creature Named for Dan'ni!
From MystWorlds: "Genevieve Lord, Myst IV Revelation Producer had an interesting revelation of another sort recently. "We decided our frog in Haven needed a name," she explained. "There was really only one choice." The frog in Haven will officially be known as "Dan'ni", honoring the age-old tradition of naming frog-like creatures for annoying fans.
"Dan'ni" or AVID Myst Fan Daniel Sadowski, was on hand recently in Germany to help Genevieve present the game to reporters. Due to his unnatural fear and loathing for the frogs, Genevieve thought it was only fitting that they carry his own name. "It is a perfect fit," she continued. "Really, no other name would do. Danni is the name of our Haven Frog!"
Congratulations, Dan'ni."



Apologies To All
Several of you noticed missing stories; thanks for your help. I've reconstructed the thread as best I could. I used my new RSS feed to help do this. For anyone interested in using the feed on their site, send me an email. Thanks again.



GameSpot Reviews Myst IV
And there's spoilers aplenty! Dozens of new screenshots. Here's the first paragraph: "The latest in the beloved Myst series of graphical adventure games capably continues the traditions that started more than 10 years ago. Like its predecessors, Myst IV Revelation is a deliberately paced first-person-perspective adventure game whose controls are almost instantly intuitive--and yet its incredibly complex and challenging puzzles are about as far from instantly intuitive as possible. However, as with most great adventure games, there's a cohesive underlying logic to the Myst IV's lengthy series of complicated trials. Furthermore, this latest chapter in the Myst series features some dazzlingly beautiful sights and amazing sounds. Much of the game is truly a wonder to behold, and while unraveling the story will probably be an interesting incentive for longtime fans of Myst, it's the thrill of being able to fully and freely explore the game's imaginative and remarkably lifelike worlds that often proves to be the biggest incentive for pushing past Myst IV's near-impenetrable puzzle barriers. Then again, solving the game's puzzles can be very rewarding; just be sure to bring plenty of patience and a keen eye for detail." Read the rest here.



More DRS News
Gadren wrote to me: "The DRS will be having a meeting today, 4 pm EST. It is most likely about the Umbra/Penumbra situation." Check out the thread here. Thanks, Gadren!



Final of Four MystIV Images From Deg
The final image appeared and it's great! I've put all four on their own page. Thanks, Deg!



September 28, 2004
Log of Revelation Chat Now Available
Amon-re has produced a log. Check it out. Thanks, Amon-re!



Reminder: Live Chat with Team Revelation Today
Set for 2PM EST, 11AM PST, here are the scheduled participants:
Genevieve Lord (Producer)
Patrick Fortier (Lead Game Design/Creative Director)
David Laquerre (Game Designer)
Mary DeMarle (Writer)
Jack Wall (Musical Director)
Olivier Le?Lonardi (Lead artist on Haven PC/ Artistic director on Myst XBOX)
Gwenae?Nl Heliou (Technical Director - Rendering)
Se?Lbastien Yelle (Level Designer for Spire)
David Laquerre (Game Designer). http://chat.ubisoft.fr/



ComputerVideoGames.com Previews MystIV
It's not much of a preview, however. The writer seems more interested in making snide remarks, such as: "...boasts an original track from none other than coffee table favourite Peter Gabriel (apparently Enya was busy)."



Genevieve Lord Interviews on Myst IV Revelation
From MystWorlds: "Genevieve Lord is coming to your town! Well... what we mean is her voice, via radio interview! Tomorrow, during the launch of Myst IV Revelation, Genvieve Lord, the Producer, will be doing marathon interviews (and a live chat discussion also)! Check the list below to catch her:
5:10-:20 Cable Radio NATIONAL News/Talk
5:20-:30 WTRC Elkhart, IN News/Talk
5:30-:40 WTOP-AM NATIONAL News/Talk
5:40-:50 KMZU-FM Kansas City News/Talk
5:50-:00 WIOD-AM Miami News/Talk
6:00-:10 KCMN-AM Colorado Springs News/Talk
6:10-:20 Good News Broadcasting (via Internet) NATIONAL Talk - Religious
6:20-:30 WVNU Cincinnati Adult Contemp
6:30-:40 WGRF-FM Buffalo Classic Rock
6:40-:50 Bloomberg Radio NATIONAL News/Talk
6:50-:00 American Urban NATIONAL News/Talk
7:00-:10 KXKX-FM Kansas City Country
7:15-:20 KBRC-AM Mt. Vernon, WA News Talk
Thursday, September 30
12:00-:10 Westwood One NATIONAL News"



Cones in Relto
Idmo, with the help of Kirk, produced a very interesting hack: Cones in Relto.



September 27, 2004
News From Vivarium of D'ni®
Posted to the main page: "It is with a very heavy heart that to announce that the Vivarium of D'ni®, a library advocacy group for the advancement of D'ni® cybrarianship is on indeterminate hiatus until further notice. Due to unfortunate circumstances, our neighbourhood on the Tapestry server will not be available as well as any further meetings until I return."
Also on the site was a report on the Merril Collection Library Tour in July.



New and Updated DPWR.net
Be sure to check out the wonderful new site that Alahmnat has created: DPWR.net.



MystIV Preview at Gamespot (Including Gameplay Videos)
Here's the opening paragraph: "For more than a decade now, the Myst series has enjoyed its status as being the definitive example of the modern graphical adventure game. The series has always allowed players to explore richly detailed, photorealistic, yet surreal and creatively striking worlds, while solving puzzles and unraveling intriguing stories. And, judging by our first impressions with the latest game in the series, Myst IV Revelation seems very much in line with the delivering the sort of cerebral, wonder-filled gameplay experiences as its predecessors. The game eschews the fully 3D environments of last year's Uru: Ages Beyond Myst and instead presents '90s-era old-school adventure gameplay, in which you're free to rotate your first-person perspective to look all around you, though your movement is node-based rather than free-roaming. With that said, Myst IV delivers an undeniably striking visual presentation--and the world of the game has a surprisingly tactile feel. In other words: We're quite impressed with what we've seen of the game so far." Read the rest (and see new screenshots and gameplay videos) here. Major, major gameplay spoilers! (Note: I've created a page for the images here.)



Lots of Updates From MYSTerium.ch
The Making of Myst IV: The Saga
"In this previously unreleased and final part of the Making of Myst IV, we are taking a look behind the saga of the Myst games. It's a 45 MB download!"

Myst IV Contest: Win a Myst IV Bag or a Poster
"Participating is easy: Just write me why you should get the Myst IV bag or one of the five posters. I'll contact the winners by e-mail. Don't forget to include your address. I'm looking forward to your mails. This contest ends on October 8 2004. | mail me |"

Pirated MystIV Available
"On September 23 cruel pirates put Myst IV: Revelation via BitTorrent online. They removed all localization data to make the download smaller - it's still more than 6.5 GB. It's not unusual that games and movies appear online before their official release dates. But: Don't pirate!"



New, Exclusive Revelation Images at D'ni Explorer's Guild
One per day for the next few days. The release of the first image was actually Saturday and there's one for Sunday, but not today yet. Here's the link:  4 Exclusive Screenshots for Myst 4. As always, beware of spoilers.



September 26, 2004
More News from the DRS
Gadren sent this along: "Two people named Umbra and Penumbra have showed up from time to time in the Cavern...telling about how they lived in the tunnels and some diggers had come, destroying her home in a cave-in. Since the DRS have been digging in the tunnels, they want to talk to these people. However, they have been changing their KI numbers often, to avoid detection.
"Anyone with information about these people should contact a DRS member at once."
Here are links to the forum entries: A Disturbing Event and Umbra/Penumbra situation, IMPORTANT!
Thanks, Gadren!



September 25, 2004
New From the DRS
Brena's back! Check out the log in Daniel Andersen's Journal. And new intrigue involving Charne, Andersen & Quinn.



Now Vote for the Name of the Australia Gathering
Simon Lai, aka Magician, wrote to The Lyst: "Dear all, The poll to choose the best name for the Aussie Mini Mysterium is ready. To vote, please create a profile at Myst Community (if you have not yet done so), at MYSTcommunity.com and then please go to the thread: Poll for Aussie Mini Mysterium's new name, Come and vote for the best event name! Best regards, Simon Lai, aka Magician." Looks like "Mystralia" has an early lead.


September 24, 2004
Lots of News From MystWorlds:
First, the forums are up! Check them out here: Myst-Riven-Exile, Uru: Ages Beyond Myst and Myst IV: Revelation.
Reminder: Myst Fans Meeting in Montreal
"This weekend, starting evening on Friday September 24 and ending afternoon on Monday September 27, Myst Fans are gathering in Montreal for a "Mini-Mysterium"! You can read all about it in the Myst Obsession Forums and check out the Itinerary for the weekend! Hope to see you there."
DPWR Given Revelation Artifacts
"In honor of the release of Myst IV Revelation next week, the D'ni Pedia/Writer's Ring DPWR.NET has been given a sneak peek at some of the items from Myst IV Revelation! Several artifacts from the game have been documented and set to the D'niPedia for inclusion in the Information Archive. The Archive now includes entries for a pair of Serenian gloves, Achenar's Belt, and a Serenian instrument. Enjoy!"
LIVE CHAT WITH TEAM REVELATION
"On Tuesday, September 28, 2004 the Myst IV Revelation Development Team members will be in Ubisoft Chat, #MystWorlds channel, to answer your questions!" Details are here.



Other News
Aussie Mini-Mysterium Name Contest Ends Soon
Simon wrote to The Lyst: "Just a reminder that in just under 12 hours from now, the submission for the Aussie Mini Mysterium name contest will be due... so if you're interested in entering, please get your entry in ASAP." Email entries to ccmage@tpg.com.au.



From the Cavern
This appeared on UruObsession's Cavern Today: "Former DRC member and DRS linguist Brena Lynn Mills has gone missing. The following log has the discussion from last night."



September 23, 2004
Introducing the Tapestry Activities Group
Irinna posted: "TAG- We’re it!!
We are pleased to announce the formation of an activities group on the Tapestry shard!! The planning committee that brought you Eric’s party is now the Tapestry Activities Group (TAG). We have also added one new member, giving us an even 8 to our team of coordinators. There was such a great response to the party and so many people have asked for more events. We are very excited and are in the works of planning some new things. Updates and events will be posted mainly on the Tapestry forum. For those of you wishing to be involved in helping, stay tuned for announcements for volunteers to help host and run events. It would be great to see lots of events going on all shards. We hope that the formation of TAG will help inspire other shards to create event groups as well. There can never be enough parties!!!!
Meet the TAG Team: TheThunder, Trisha, Twi-lite, Greypiffle, Jeff, Ashtar, Deius and Irinna"
Don't forget to check out the Group site for the Bridge Builders in Uru. Thanks, Deius!



Myst 4 Dev Team Shirt on eBay
You've probably seen it in pictures and some of you probably have one; one of the team is selling theirs. Jocelyn Strob, who did prerendered special effects has put their shirt for sale, but before you grab your wallets, the bidding starts at $120! Check it out: Myst 4 Revelation long sleeve dev team exclusive Roots.



Official Release of MystIV Concept Art
In a previous story, I drew attention to a series of concept art images that were released to those who solved Revelationist's puzzle. Well, the image have been officially announced to the community at MystWorlds: Myst IV Revelation Concept Art.



September 22, 2004
JustAdventure Reports on Dali Exhibit
SquarejawHero writes: "Sometimes, strange things happen. Really strange things. Take Dali's paintings for example - now they're pretty strange. So what better place for a Myst game to open than at his Museum on the South Bank in London?" Read the rest here: Myst Revelations Exhibit @ Dali Museum. Caution: There are spoilers in the article.



Peter Gabriel in the News
There are two articles about Peter Gabriel's contribution to the game, including a surprise or two, so I'm not posting the contents of the articles, just links. Spoiler warning: Peter Gabriel Makes A Revelation and Peter Gabriel Collaborates with Award-Winning Composer Jack Wall to Create Immersive Experience and Lends His Voice to the Game. (Even the title is a spoiler; sorry!) These articles are also mentioned at MystWorlds, plus they have a soundtrack sample: Listen to a soundtrack sample. It's a zip file.



September 21, 2004
The Latest From the D'ni Explorers Guild
From Deg: "21 September 2004 - Tokotah Rooftop
"New Research: Mysti and various Explorers Guild staff have been hard at work compiling information and photographs on the various areas in Ae'gura. I am very pleased to present the result of his hard work in the D'ni Age Doc.  View the document at http://www.explorersguild.net/reference/dni/index.php

"Ongoing Discussion: Although the Ubi.com forums may be down, there's still great Uru discussion at the D'ni Explorers Guild.  We welcome all explorers to join in on the theories and discussion.  Visit the forums at http://www.explorersguild.net/forum

"Exploration Resources:  If you love mushrooms and Shroomie, then you're in luck! Almak has created a beautiful Teledahn screensaver that the D'ni Explorers Guild is proud to offer to you. It features breathtaking images from the Teledahn Age. The screensaver music can be turned off in the options. The screensaver also comes with a program to install and uninstall the file.  Download it later this month at http://www.explorersguild.net/about/downloads.php." Thanks Deg!



News From the Dutch Myst Gathering
From MystWorlds: "Over 30 Myst Fans in The Netherlands got together on September 11 & 12, in Amersfoort. Read all about it, inside..."



UbiSoft Forums Are Down
As noted earlier, all of Ubi's forums are down for upgrades. Expected return is September 23rd, Thursday. Other forums, such as MystObsession, UruObsession and In-Character forums at the D'ni Explorers Guild are available.



September 20, 2004
Winners Announced in Revelationist's Puzzle
This was posted today: "The Week 4 Winners in Revelationist's Contest have been posted, along with a GRAND PRIZE winner who was randomly drawn from all the winners. Congratulations, everyone! Special Thanks to Revelationist (whoever you are) for all the fun... "
And the Grand Prize winner was: Loki5654! The winner receives the following:Myst IV Revelation, Collector's Edition, Myst IV Mug, Myst IV T-shirt, Myst IV notepad, Myst Worlds Timeline and a Audigy Soundcard.



Announcing the New Myst Embassy
Eleri wrote to The Lyst: "Officially Unofficial, the people who brought you the Uru Demo CD, are pleased to announce the formation of The Myst Embassy A center for fan-based support of the Myst Universe.
The Embassy's first sponsored Event is REVELATION RELEASE PARTIES. Share in the celebration by hosting a release party in your own home town! Embassy Homepage. Release Parties."



New DPWR.net Site Coming Soon
Alahmnat wrote: " I've been keeping this a secret long enough... time for some news.
With the impending release of Myst IV: Revelation right around the corner, combined with the release of the new version of Invision Power Board and Invision Gallery (the scripts that make this site work), I took it upon myself to dump a great deal of time into refining the look and feel of this site, and re-focus it on what it was originally designed as: an Archive of information and a Library for stories. You'll still be able to get your news and community information as always, but now getting information out of the Archive will hopefully be easier than ever, and participating in the Library a more unique experience."
Read the rest of his post here.



September 18, 2004
Check Out "Officially Unofficial"
Not sure how I missed this: "Officially Unofficial." Subtitled "Fan Marketing Team," the Permanent Staff is Eleri, Foo, Dan'ni, Professor Askew, VAXJedi and EricL. Included are Company Representatives: Patrick Fortier, Katie Postma, Ryan Warzecha and Bill Slease. From a post dated July 22: "Welcome to Officially Unofficial, the home of the people whobrought you the Uru Fan Demo CD!
"Please take some time to look around, and maybe create a demo CD or two to give to your friends. Also take time to register and visit our forum, where we hope you will have an enjoyable stay. Thanks!"



Help Rename the Aussie Mini-Mysterium
Simon Lai, aka Magician, wrote to The Lyst: "A few have already heard it direct from me, so this email is just to
make it official.
"(A) I've been nagged, harassed and whined to for the past few weeks for a better name to Aussie Mini Mysterium... I can see their point. For those people with lots of creativity, please submit ideas to me
privately (ccmage@tpg.com.au) for the most catchy title to the Aussie Mini Mysterium event. This contest is open to everyone.
There are only 3 rules to the contest:
1) it must contain "Myst" - either as a prefix, suffix or stuck somewhere in the middle
2) it must relate to Australia in some way or form
3) Each person can submit up to a maximum of 2 ideas for the title.

"You have until the noon of Saturday, 25th of September 2004 (Australian Sydney Eastern Standard Time) to submit your entry. All entries will be posted at Myst Community forum as part of an online poll. The poll will
run until noon of Saturday, 2nd of October, 2004, and at the end the winner will be announced. The winner shall receive a small prize from me (prize yet to be determined).

"(B) Now for the second piece of news - the Tshirt Logo Design Contest. All interested individuals will have until the noon of the 30th of October (Australian Sydney Eastern Standard Time) to submit their entries to me privately (ccmage[at]tpg.com.au). This contest will involve designing TWO logos - one for the front and another for the back of the shirt. This contest is open to everyone.

"The rules surrounding the front of the shirt logo design will be the same as Mysterium. Below is the slightly modified info from Scraper regarding the 2004 Mysterium Logo contest: "...What we need is a black and white (no grey, please) design incorporating the falling man that we can use on the front of a Tshirt.
All submissions will become property of CyanWorlds, Inc. Please send submissions to ccmage[at]tpg.com.au by noon on 30th of October, 2004. You can find a copy of the falling man design at
http://home.wi.rr.com/scraper/images/fallingman.jpg . Please be sure they are in .jpg or .gif format..."

"The rules surrounding the back of the shirt logo design will also be the same as Mysterium. Below is the slightly modified info from Scraper regarding the 2004 Mysterium logo contest: "... The design may be full colour. At this time, the size and resolution of the design submission is unimportant. When the winning design is chosen, we will ask the artist for a version which meets specific requirements. Please be sure they are in .jpg or .gif format..."

"Each person may submit a maximum of 2 entries (ie. 2 back images and 2 front images).

"Note that the front images will be judged separately to the back images by an independent panel of people (yet to be determined). Winners will receive a small prize from me (prize yet to be determined).
Best regards, Simon Lai"


September 17, 2004
Another Report From the Exhibition
MystWorlds has a report from Keith Loard, alias Tweek, who visited the museum. Read his report here.
And Foo and gelf56 posted some photos taken there. Warning: Tons of spoilers!



First Report From Dali Museum
As mentioned earlier, The Dali Museum in London is hosting an exhibition of art from the Myst series, focusing on MystIV. We've all been anxious to hear about how it looks and the first person to attend, Slackmum, has posted her experience: "Yay, been to the exhibition, had lunch looking out at Big Ben and The Houses of Parliament.
"The exhibition was pretty quiet when I went. Two rooms, pic, models, costumes, the demo being shown (sound system still being played with) and a few computers with Myst 4 up and running. Had a little play, took a few pics (hope to post them later) hid from the security guard. This was because there were Picasso's wall hangings still there in between all the myst stuff. I could find no merchandise to buy.
"I had a really great time." Thanks, Slackmum!



September 16, 2004
UbiSoft Forums Will Be Closed September 21-23
Khatie posted: "Hi All,
This is just a quick note to let you all know that all of the Ubisoft forums will be down starting on September 21st for up to three days. We hope to have them back up by the 23rd, but unforeseen technical complications may end up pushing the date we bring them back up to the 24th.
"That said, we are migrating the software to our forum-provider's new code base, which hopefully means better forums."



New MystIV Images From Revelationist
As noted earlier, Revelationist posted: "There is something special; it just got delayed. Hang in there, it's coming!" Well, it's here: "Thanks for your patience: MystIV Revelation Concept Art." The link goes to two pages of concept art that are not available from the main MystWorlds menu. Several of the images have been seen before, some never. As always, spoilers abound. Thanks, Revelationist! Note: I've put the new images on their own page: Revelationist's Concept Art.



The DRC Helps Visitors to D'ni
This was posted by Victor Laxman: " Greetings once again.
Roughly six months have passed since the D'ni Restoration Council was disbanded and the restoration efforts were abandoned for lack of funding. Our funding situation has not changed, but there are still many who are feeling the call to go to D'ni.
Several of us who worked on the restoration have been working to make it possible for small groups to gather in D'ni. If you are interested, you can find details of how to arrange this <here>.
It won't be the same - the restoration teams will not be there to open new areas, but at least those who are interested will again be able to access the areas that were opened before the restoration efforts were stopped. Be careful down there. Victor Laxman."

And a recent post by Keith Lord, D'ni Historian & Chairman of the RestorersGuild Council:
"The Restorers Guild have had contact with the DRC since they pulled out of the cavern.
Dr. Watson is currently working with the Cyanworlds company.
Victor we saw not long back it is thanks to him that the path back down to D'ni is open once again.
We have not see any other members except a glimpse of Douglas Sharper but then technically he is not of the DRC.
Yes the RestorersGuild are working with another team who have dubbed themselves H'uru in bringing new area's to the explorers we hope to bring more information on this as time goes on. Memebers of the RG are currently very busy with documentation of history and technology. We do have some discoveries we plan to release to you over the next month or so.
The RestorersGuild can be found here: RestorersGuild.Org. Regards, Keith."



September 15, 2004
Interesting Quotes in The Inventory
Here's the small article included in this month's The Inventory: "Myst IV and something...else. Genevieve Lord, the producer of Myst IV, gave us a presentation of her new game at the booth of Ubisoft. There are many previews around the net, so there is probably not much new to say about it except that most Myst fans will love it and most, but not all, Myst haters will hate it. Same procedure as every Myst. I was very impressed by the amount of motion they put in the prerendered backgrounds. Many animations, fog, water ripples, insects, animals, wind in the plants and much more movement create a living world. I was also impressed by the amount of data: Myst IV comes on two DVDs with 13 GB of data. Wow. I also asked Genevieve Lord if she can tell us anything about Something Else, the super secret next game Cyan is working on since finishing Uru. She wasn't allowed to tell us anything, but she said that it will be "really something else, something completely different". Draw your own conclusions, but my hopes to see a new adventure game by Cyan sank." Anybody else think of Monty Python when you read "something completely different?" Download The Inventory from JustAdventure.



Changes to MystCommunity.com
Make note of the following changes: "MYSTcommunity's domain-related settings have recently changed. You may have to log back in. Please make sure that your bookmarks and cookies point to www.mystcommunity.com rather than myst.chucker.rasdi.net. If you still cannot log in properly, try and temporarily disable pseudo-firewall software such as ZoneAlarm. For troubleshooting, try the Feedback & Support Questions forum."



Another Bigger Movie From Jürg
Jürg posted: "The Making of Myst IV: The Music. I'm proud to present you another (bigger) look behind the scenes of Myst IV. This time Jack Wall and other people from the Revelation team talk about the sound and music of Myst IV. It's a 58.1 MB download!"



September 13, 2004
Interactive Myst IV Desktop
From Jürg at MYSTerium.ch: "Swiss Myst-Fan Rolf Eichenberger offers a great piece of software for Mac and PC: An interactive Myst IV desktop, that will make it easier to wait till September 30. The Flash based interactive desktop features several Myst IV pictures to choose from."



MystIV System Requirements
Jürg also posted this today:

September 12, 2004
New H'Uru Server Software May Be TPotS Compatible
Almlys posted: "Shorah b'shemtee,
The H'uru server team announces the H'uru server project to the public.
It was February 2004, when the end of Live was announced. Then, several people started to capture the transmissions between the Uru servers and the client. At least more than 1 GByte of Uru traffic was captured. A lot of continuous sad hours playing Uru when everybody was crying.
After the official servers were stopped, some people started to study the protocol, and to figure out the closed specifications.
The first server attempts started to work. It was fantastic, you were able to ping the server and log into the game to end with a nice crash, there was a lot of work to do.
Then a group of people with a common objective formed the H'uru Server Team.
The first beta server started to run in late March, and the project continued in secret due to legal issues. Several things changed since the first server that was only able to do ping responses. Several months of development later, some weeks before the public release of Untìl Uru, we had for the first time a working game server, that allowed to walk with your friends in any age.
When Untìl Uru was released, we where going to stop the project, but then, we saw something interesting.
Our server worked with The Path of The Shell!!!, and Untìl Uru servers are totally incompatible with Tpots.
We continued the development, having some unexpected an awesome results.
I decided to create a Gallery with screen shots at different stages of the development.
http://almlys.dyns.net/web/imgs/gallery/
Since the above server could go down I decided to upload some screen shots as a backup.
We have received some type of permission to release the sources of the H'uru server project, but we must say this: This software is not supported by Cyan, this software is not official, this software may be incompatible with any past, present and future Cyan projects. Your game or machine can crash or be damaged if you connect to a shard running the H'uru server software. This software is not the plasma server, is not a modification of the plasma server, and It don't contains any source code of the plasma server. It's a completely different server software written from scratch
The H'uru server software sources are going to be released as an open source project very soon.
There will be server binaries for Linux, Windows and other platforms.
The H'uru server is a group of small servers applications, that consists of:
* A vault server, that will requires access to a MySql database.
* An Auth server, that will requires access to a MySql database and to Cyan's Global Auth server for the authentication of the end users.
* A Tracking server, controls all the running server processes and logged players.
* A Lobby server, controls and routes the player to the World of Uru, and forks new Game servers on demand.
* A Game server, does all the hard stuff.
Since the entire network code is going to be released, this code opens access to easily develop compatible applications with the H'uru and Plasma servers. At the same time that some type of p2p technologies can be investigated and implemented to be able to talk with players that are in another shard for example.
This code will also help to the shard admins to administrate their servers more easily, since there will be console based tools that will allow you to do changes in the vault that will be immediately broadcasted to all players.
We are going to give full support to player created ages, at the same time that we are going to add network code to the open source cross platform version of Uru.
The ending Never will be written."

September 10, 2004
News on Revelationist's Puzzle
The puzzle, Looks Like the Start of Something Big..., began August 10th with an image, presumably from MystIV. An image was added each day, with the 29th image posted September 7th. Nothing since then. mrm3fan found an image by following this logic: "If you go to revelationist.com and enter the code we have (the letters in the order from there jpg name) with a .html at the end you will be taken to a page with a finished (and without all those hidden letters) image that we have been working on. Linky." The image is indeed the composite of the smaller images. Matt myat posted: "but is it the end of the puzzle?..." to which Revelationist replied: "There is something special; it just got delayed. Hang in there, it's coming!"



New MystIV Footage at MYSTerium.ch
Jürg has added some new footage, from a German TV show. Lots of spoilers. Thanks, Jürg!



More Activity by the DRS in Ae'Gura
Check out the latest in UruObsession's Cavern Today.



September 9, 2004
MystIV is Gold; For Real, This Time!
The previous announcement was premature, apparently, but now it's officially official! The news has been released to the various gaming sites and here's what they have to say:
Gamespot: Myst IV golden. "Myst-mad PC gamers moved one step closer to puzzle heaven today."
GamesIndustry.biz: MYST® IV REVELATION GOES GOLD.
Bluesnews.com: Myst IV: Revelation Gold.
GameGossip.com: Myst IV Revelation Goes Gold.
HomeLan.com: Myst IV: Revelation Goes Gold.
Avault.com: Myst IV Revelation is Gold.
Voodoo Extreme: Myst IV: Revelation Gone Gold.
Note: All the sites are listing September 28th as the release date.



Winners Announced in the H'Uru/COBBS Logo/Slogan Contest
LiquorCooChee posted the winners:
COBBS Log by Tweek


H'Uru logo by NetWatcher:


And slogan by Bogardan Mage: "H'uru: Ages Beyond Uru"
Congratulations to the winners!



September 8, 2004
Good News for Until Uru Users
In response to queries about the longevity of UU, greydragon posted: "The thing you have been waiting for...There are no plans to shut UU down; however we reserve the right to shut it down if we need too.
Thanks, Ryan"



New, Bigger Version of Myst4 "Access" Movie
The movie, currently available on the MystIV site, is rather small. Jürg has brought us a much larger version (640x480, 49MB) at MYSTerium.ch. Thanks, Jürg! (Warning: Tons of spoilers in this movie!)



London's Dali Museum to Host Myst Exhibition
Aquila sent this to The Lyst: "London's Dali Museum to host Myst exhibition."
Here's the article:
"Prestigious South Bank art gallery launches unique videogame art exhibition."
"The Dali Museum in the heart of London's South Bank area is set to host an art exhibition from the Myst series of games later this month, in a world-first collaboration between the art and videogaming worlds.
"Running over the weekend of the 17th to the 19th of September, the exhibition will showcase artwork from the Myst series along with other elements from the development process designed to create an interactive experience that will allow fans to explore the imaginary worlds of the game.
"The latest game in the series, Myst IV Revelation, will be launched at the exhibition - which is believed to be the first of its type in the world, and is certainly the first time that a major London art gallery has run an exhibition for a game.
"The Dali Museum is located in the County Hall Gallery in the South Bank, next to the London Eye and across the river from Westminster Palace, and has shown exhibits of work from acclaimed artists such as Picasso alongside its permanent exhibition of the works of Salvador Dali.
"Dali's dreamlike and surreal landscapes provide the ideal backdrop for Myst IV's fantastical surreal world," according to Jenny Bidwell, head of marketing at the County Hall Gallery. "Salvador Dali and Myst both strive to push the boundaries and challenge our perception of reality. We are delighted to host this exhibition that provides the unique opportunity for the public to witness continued influences of the great surrealist."
" Myst IV Revelation will be released in late September. The Myst exhibition at the Dali Museum will be open from the 10am to 6pm from the 17th to the 19th of September, and entry to the exhibition is free."
Thanks, Aquila!



The D'Olympics Are Coming! The D'Olympics Are Coming!
Posted by LaReh: "Just in from D'Olympics planners!
"The D'Olympics are coming! The D'Olympics are coming!
"And we need help.
"Nyrphame Danilaise and I are recruiting vic . . . I mean volunteers, to help the DOC set up and test events for the D'Olympics. Nyrph and I have been appointed as the Volunteer Managers. (But if I do this right, she'll do most of the work. Oops! . . . Did I say that out loud?) We need people willing to set aside some time to help us run through proposed events so we can check course layout, system load and performance, venue selection, and things of this nature.
"We hope to be able to predict and optimize parameters like these and others:
1. How many contestants can compete at once before the system performance suffers?
2. Can we allow spectators (if so, how many) into a venue without damaging performance?
3. What are the logistical problems in getting people from place to place on time?
4. Linking in/out. Will large numbers linking into and out of different venues cause problems for the host shard?
"These are the immediate issues we are trying to pin down at the moment. There will be others we will deal with as they arise.
"NOTE: We will be drafting rules and polishing procedures for the events at the same time. This is likely to be a fairly lengthy process, so be prepared for some idle time between test runs. Come prepared to wait. Bring a sandwich. Bring a book. Or better yet, bring a friend to visit with!
"How can you help? PM either Nyrph or me (Tyr-anun) and let us know when you can be online and available. We will consolidate and organize your responses, and contact you to let you know how, when, and where you can help out.
"The "fun factor" of the D'Olympics largely depends on how well we can predict, process, and preclude potential problems. We look forward to working with you to make this effort a success.
Thanks. Tyr-anun, D'Olympics Volunteer Manager (Translation: "Too slow to actually compete")
So, contact Tyr-anun or Nyrphame Danilaise at the GOG forums post haste!"




September 7, 2004
It's Confirmed: MystIV Has Gone Gold!
As mentioned earlier, Patrick posted this to the MO forum "Gold..." Much has been made of this somewhat unofficial announcement, but Kha'tie made it official: "MYST IV REVELATION GOES GOLD!!
Myst IV Revelation went "gold" today! Producer Genevieve Lord, wrote: "Congratulations and thanks to all who were involved in this complex but fabulous project. All involved can be very proud of what has been achieved." THANK YOU to the team at Ubisoft Montreal for completion of what looks like a VERY spectacular additon to the Myst Worlds family! Congratulations!"



Upcoming Gathering at the Great Zero
EyeDE posted: "Plans are underway to recreate a working Great Zero, although information on the event is limited, Pali64, one of the main organisers of the event says that progress is on schedule. The Great Zero will form the centre piece for a gathering to be held from the 25th February 2005 through to the 27th, in Zurzach, Switzerland.
"The event is to include a number of activates from general discussion, to Maker hunts and paper chases, there will also be KI’s given out, and a Great zero activation ceremony.
"This looks to be an amazing project, we hope to bring you more information on the event as it comes out, so keep watching." Rezeero CT 2005 Website, including Event schedule. Thanks, EyeDE!



Come Join "A Special Challenge for Futo!"
Mystdee posted: " Hi everyone, there is a new puzzle challenge for Futo, but everyone is welcome to participate! Check it out HERE."



Adrenaline Vault Reviews Uru: The Path of the Shell
And they seemed to like it: "The Path of the Shell is a largely satisfying, if not spectacular, finale to the Uru series. The story has fascinating twists and turns, the graphics and sound are excellent, the written materials are absorbing, and the tone is downright intriguing. However, interface problems, relatively brief and inconclusive gameplay, repetitive backtracking, and uneven puzzles detract from your enjoyment. As a budget expansion pack, you nonetheless get your money's worth if this type of gameplay is your cup of tea. In any case, this offering can serve to tide fans over until Myst IV Revelation comes out later this year." Read the full review here.



September 6, 2004
MystIV: Revelation Goes Gold!
Posted by Pat09 (Patrick Fortier): "Gold..."



Six New Uru Wallpapers
Created by Eat_My_Shortz and Mystical Explorer, they are available through the UO/MO Forum: New Myst Wallpapers, by Eat_My_Shortz and Mystical Explorer. Thanks, guys!



September 5, 2004
Choose the Best H'Uru Logo, COBBS Logo and Poll Phrases/Slogans
Head over to COBBS to vote for the H'Uru logo, the COBBS logo and Phrases/Slogans.



Myst IV Site Named Site of the Month by Internet TINY Awards
The Internet TINY Awards has chosen the MystIV: Revelation site as Site of the Month! The site, designed by Soleil Noir, recieved this praise: "The creators of this site did a great job of recreating the worlds of Msyt, the riddles and attention to detail is great!" - and -
"One of the most creative, interactive sites I've ever seen. A very insightful and appropriate use of Flash that's very pretty (and fun!) to boot. It really feels like Myst, and the personalization touches (journal, etc) are one-of-a-kind."



September 4, 2004
End of Week Four of Revelationist's Puzzle
Thursday's puzzle was indeed Uru, with the found letters spelling "Help Yeesha free the Bahro." Friday's puzzle was, not surprisingly, MystIV. The puzzle was a different style, however, starting with matching pairs of images showing concept art and the final image. This lead to two large images, broken up into pieces. When the pieces were clicked, two new pages (named "Who Am I?") opened with jumbled words. DudeMiester posted the jumbled words and the decoded messages:
"Zayvun, tbzjbshy mpmaf flhy vsk. Clyf zthya, iba mllsz tvyl jvtmvyahisl dpao opz wofzpjhs zpkl. Pz vmalu nbpklk if ltvapvuz yhaoly aohu ylhzvu. Ohz ulcly ruvdu ovd av lewylzz hwwyvwyphalsf hyvbuk vaolyz. Ohz h aluklujf av nv vclyivhyk," which becomes:
"Strong, muscular fifty year old. Very smart, but feels more comfortable with his physical side. Is often guided by emotions rather than reason. Has never known how to express appropriately around others. Has a tendency to go overboard." Who am I? Achenar.
"Yhkmr lxoxg rxtk hew lnixk pah'l tuex mh dxxi t wxmtbexw obxp hy max ubz ibvmnkx bg abl axtw tm tee mbfxl. Vtevnetmxd tgw itmbxgm. Hulmbgtmx mh t ytnem. Abl vtef xqmxkbhk abwxl mhgl hy uhmmexw-ni tgzxk. ybeexw pbma xqvxllbox ikbwx. Mxkkbybxw hy twfbmmbgz onegxktubebmr hk lahpbgz pstdgxll," whcih becomes:
"Forty seven year old super genious who's able to keep a detailed view of the big picture in his head at all times. Calculated and patient. Obstinate to a fault. His calm exterior hides tons of bottled-up anger. Filled with excessive pride. Terrified of admitting vulnerability or showing weakness." Who am I? Sirrus.
The real surprise came when the prize was announced: a copy of MystIV to all ten winners! Congrats, all!



September 3, 2004
Vault Wipe on Tapestry Shard
Those of us who participated in the Uru Beta remember two dreaded words: vault wipe. That meant a complete loss of all status, avatars and all progress. That's what is happening on the Tapestry shard. Here's the post by The Thunder: "Earlier tonight, everyone in the cavern was informed of an imminent vault wipe, due to the recent corruption. Yes, its true, Eric is wiping the vault. Im sorry, I dont know what to say people, but please post if you have any additional information.”



Myst IV Write-Up at MacWorld UK
By Jonny Evans, at MacWorld UK: Myst IV creators make Revelations. Here's a glimpse: " Three years in the making, Ubisoft is applying the finishing touches to its much-anticipated game release, Myst IV Revelation.
This latest baton-carrier of the phenomenonally successful Myst is set to ship simultaneously for Macs and PCs this October, and took a team of "at least" 75 people three years to create.
Myst IV Revelation reveals more about the scheming brothers Sirrus and Achenar, who featured in the first, second and third installments of the Myst franchise. I spoke with game producer, Genevieve Lord, who offered a glimpse beneath Myst IV's petticoats." Read the rest here.



DRS Gathering in Ae'Gura
Dan'ni posted: "I just got a message from Naraya Summers, the head of DRS (DRS took care of the Cavern after DRC left), that tonight at about 2pm EST (7pm GMT) DRS will host a small welcome gathering in the DRS Neighborhood! Come and join us during that event! Get to meet the people who're working on bringing the Cavern back to life!
Naraya gave me a small list of the DRS members who should make an appearance tonight:
Naraya Summers, head of DRS, archeologist
Steven Quinn, technologist
Daniel Andersen, linguist
Ryan Charne, architectural engineer and
Jonathan Thorton, DRS's sponsor
It is not certain yet whether or not the sixth member of the DRS's council, linguist Brena Mills, will make an appearance tonight.
More info about the DRS here: DRS Website. (Note: Anything having to deal with the DRS storyline will be on the Tapestry Shard.)



Let's Party!
Trisha posted: "We're having a party! In appreciation to Eric for all he has done for us at Tapestry, we're throwing a party for him. Please come and join in the fun as we celebrate Eric and the opportunity he's given us. In a situation like this, planning a surprise party would be difficult, so we've openly invited Eric to the party.
WHO: Everyone!!!
WHAT: Games!!!! Dancing!!!! Music!!!!
WHEN: Wednesday night, Sept. 8th, 9-11:00 EST
WHERE: DRC 5 Hood on Tapestry shard
DRESS: Proper attire for the evening is leather jackets and jeans, of course! You can wear any color of leather jacket and jeans. You can even throw on a pair of shades if you like.
RULE: NO TALKING ABOUT BUGS, CRASHING, OR OTHER MINOR ANNOYANCES. We want Eric to come and have fun!!!!!!!
Eric has turned on the lanterns and decked out the hoods for us! Dancing under the lanterns will provide lots of opportunities for pictures! We invite all reporters, photographers, and videographers to come and record the fun. If you're willing to take pics, videos, or write up the events of the night, please post here and let us know. Thanks!!
Our friends at Cyan are being invited to attend, so it should be a fun night for all!!"



September 2, 2004
Revelationist's Puzzles
First, the Week Four: Back Where it All Began... puzzle: Yesterday was indeed focused on Exile. The letters spelled: "Saavedro seeks revenge against Atrus." Today's puzzle is Uru.
Second, the Looks Like the Start of Something Big... puzzle now has 23 images. Revelationist adds them to this site each day, in addition to posting them at the MystWorlds Forum.



Help Write the History of the Guilds
futo posted: " If you like to write in character, this is your oppertunity. The Guild of Cartographers, the Guild of Puzzle Makers, and the Guild of Writers are forming their own website that shows all of the guild halls in one location. One idea that you can use is that they are all on a single island in the D'ni lake.

"Feel free to write away and post it here. The final journal or story will probably be a combination of the best ideas presented rather than one person's work, unless someone creates an exceptional work that everyone loves. So don't fall in love with what you write and be prepaired that most likely some, but not all of your ideas will be used.

"For now we are calling the island "Guild Island" but a more D'ni name can be created. The buildings we have found on the island are presently being renovated for our use. Here is the progress we are making on the the Guild Halls... GoC Great Hall GoPM Great Hall The resulting document will most likely be found among the Relto Books on the home page. Have fun!"



Minor Mention of M4 in CGW
Here's their blurb: "Myst IV: Revelation. A mystical new adventure. Sep 01 '04
PUBLISHER: Ubisoft DEVELOPER: Ubisoft Montreal GENRE: Adventure RELEASE DATE: 2005
"The original Myst was an engaging adventure that none of its sequels have quite matched. Myst IV: Revelation is the latest attempt to reinvigorate the franchise by hearkening back to the original Myst’s story of Sirrus and Achenar. This time around, the two brothers are searching for their missing baby sister Yeesha, and it’s up to you to help them find her.

"The hook: Revelation returns to the “inside-a-bubble” mode of exploration, but the game’s vivid animation and sound help immerse the player in the action. Furthermore, the point-and-click control scheme will look and feel familiar to Myst veterans, but Ubisoft believes adding sound effects to the controls will add more tactility to the various objects you’ll encounter (e.g., click a table and you’ll get a wood-knocking sound). Revelation will also boast a built-in hint system that guides you through the game’s more difficult challenges.

"The snare: For many, the last Myst game, Uru: Ages Beyond Myst, was a disappointment. Revelation promises to go back to the series’ roots in hopes of regaining the acclaim that Myst once enjoyed.

"The Word: MYSTIFYING"



Excellent Preview of M4 by GameSpy
Written by Sal Accardo, it's loaded with spoilers, but well worth reading: MystIV Revelation. Here's the summary: "Spiffy - The Myst series returns to its roots with gorgeous graphics, interesting puzzles and a new story. Iffy - Can the latest installment sidestep convoluted puzzles?"



September 1, 2004
Update to Revelationist's Puzzle
Both puzzles are moving along:
Looks Like the Start of Something Big... now has 22 images.
Week Four: Back Where it All Began... completed Day One, focusing on the original Myst. The puzzle was a walk through Myst, where a series of letters were placed. The letters spelled "IMMERSIVE WORLDS."
Day Two contained, yes, you guessed it, Riven! Same basic format, moving through Riven looking for letters. These spelled "CINEMATIC AGES."
Day Three is here but nothing has appeared yet. Can we assume it will be Exile?



Stephan Martiniere Designed Something Else™
John Chakerian wrote to The Lyst that he had found an interesting profile page for Stephan Martiniere, who created the concept art for Uru. Here's the site: Stephan Martiniere. The site requires signup, but I've grabbed the pertinent info:
"Current Projects: Although I "officially" completed the concept designs and illustrations for the upcoming, as yet unnamed sequel to Uru, I am still finishing a few last minute designs. I am currently writing and designing a short comic book story for a Star Wars graphic novel that will rejoin the entire design team from Star Wars: Episode 3. I am also preparing for a major exhibit of my work for the sci-fi convention "les utopiales" in Nantes, France this coming November. I am also scheduled to do some production painting for the upcoming movie Underworld 2."
I'm glad to see Stephan involved in "Something Else.™"

Updates at Sehv Tsahno
Matthew of the Sehv Tsahno project let me know that there are some updates: Sehv Tsahno. Here's just a brief glimpse of the updates: "Hit up the multimedia section for new screen shot goodness, and hey - it never hurts to revisit the video and music sections. There's also a new screenshot and a new wallpaper featuring the amazing art of forum-goer Inki over at URU Obession. Remember, the screen shots you see in the multimedia section aren't necessarily the same version as what's in the final game. Pieces change."
Thanks, Matthew!



Sign up for futo's Jigsaw Design Class
Pa'trick posted: "Having designed about thirty jigsaw puzzles I have developed a number of techniques that will allow the student to create high quality jigsaw puzzles which have multiple layers of solution like those in Futo's Italian Vacation Puzzle.
"I you really want to learn how to create high quality puzzles sign up here today. Registration will close on Friday September 3rd and the first class will be held on Saturday September 4th. There will be regular assignments, due dates, and puzzles to be made.
"All of the students works will be archived in the new Guild of Puzzle Makers Guild Hall. The best puzzle will get special accomidation and will be posted on "The Wall of Honor" in the Great Hall of the Guild of Puzzle Makers.
"This is a great class for new members of the Guild of Puzzle Makers because who want to progress from Apprentice to Guildsman. The class will last 3 months and you will create at least 5 puzzles.
"There is some inexpensive ($15) software to download or if you have some image manipulation skills with a Photoshop type software that will do. There are also some "by hand" techniques that can be used, so if you don't like the first tow options there are other choices. So If you have no technical skills, you can still take this class. So sign up today!"

Late August Stories
Montreal Mini-Mysterium
Complete Chronicles is GCM Editor's Choice
Introducing the D'Olympics From the D'LA
Put In Your Vote for Myst News
inki's Avi Portraits