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GameTap Announces its first "Myst Online: Uru Live" Podcast and Official Companion Website

Wed, 12/13/2006 - 12:03pm — Bill Loguidice

In the world of videogames, there are few times when something that failed has been given a second chance at success. GameTap has certainly done its part with not only bringing officially licensed emulation to PC users in the US, but also by taking on classic properties cast-off by their original publishers, such as "Sam & Max" and "Myst Online: Uru Live". It's the latter for which we have the latest press release, direct from GameTap. While I have the original game sent by a friend who used to work at Ubisoft, I never did get a chance to try it. I'm certainly not the biggest Myst fan out there, but I do have countless conversions of the original that started it all and this massively multiplayer version does seem intriguing and takes some of the best elements from the later games. As a GameTap subscriber myself, I'll definitely try to check this re-launch out.

The full press release follows:

GAMETAP ANNOUNCES ITS FIRST “MYST ONLINE: URU LIVE” PODCAST AND THE OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF GAMETAP.COM/MYSTONLINE

Today GameTap released its first podcast in support of the highly anticipated launch of “Myst Online: Uru Live” which is available for download and hosting from the all new GameTap.com/mystonline/ website. The podcast features Myst co-creator Rand Miller providing his thoughts on the game and explaining how the intrigue-driven nature of “Myst Online: Uru Live” differentiates it from the rampant combat-focused style of most other massively multiplayer online games currently available.

Along with the podcast, the official Myst Online web site is now live at: GameTap.com/mystonline/. Besides having up-to-date information on “Myst Online: Uru Live,” the new site has a Community section which includes Forums, Shot of the Day, Contests, In Game Events, Out of Game Events, Developers, and Community Web Sites. There also sections of the site where users can download wallpapers, screensavers, screenshots, artwork and the latest news and information about the game. Videos like the game trailer, TV spot, and gameplay footage will also be available for viewing.

Scheduled to debut soon, “Myst Online: Uru Live” received an overwhelmingly positive response when it was announced by GameTap at the E3 convention in May.

Launched by Turner Broadcasting in 2005, GameTap currently delivers more than 750 of the greatest console, computer and arcade games on demand, including original and exclusive episodic properties. In addition, GameTap offers more than 600 original entertainment programs, popular video streams and thriving virtual communities to broadband-connected PCs. For more information, visit www.gametap.com.


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Wed, 12/13/2006 - 3:08pm — Bill Loguidice
Bill Loguidice's picture

Matt Barton wrote:By the

Matt Barton wrote:
By the way, I couldn't find the podcast you mentioned at the link...?

http://www.gametap.com/home/myst/media_downloadables.html

======================================
Bill Loguidice, Managing Director
Armchair Arcade, Inc.
(A PC Magazine Top 100 Website)
======================================


Wed, 12/13/2006 - 2:18pm — Matt Barton
Matt Barton's picture

By the way, I couldn't find

By the way, I couldn't find the podcast you mentioned at the link...?


Wed, 12/13/2006 - 2:12pm — Matt Barton
Matt Barton's picture

Myst Uru was unquestionably

Myst Uru was unquestionably the WORST game in the Myst series; it was a catastrophe. See my reviews of it at Gameology. However, one of the reasons it was so bad was that it was, in effect, a salvage. The game was originally meant to be a massively multiplayer game, but ended up as a very awkward single-player campaign.

I'll post a bit of my review here for your consideration:

Cyan foolishly decided to maintain at least one MYST tradition: You can't carry any items (Why the $@$@#)@ not??) But this didn't stop them from making several puzzles that involve moving objects around. So, how can you move things around if you can't pick them up or push them? Knock them around with your feet and knees, of course! It's like playing soccer without the ability to kick. At least one puzzle involves moving two different crates that will serve as a bridge. You have to move them a LONG way, down some dimly lit corridors. Needless to say, the knee-bumping maneuver is clumsy at best, and it took me almost an hour to get the damn things in place. The "knee bumping" technique of moving objects around DEFINITELY gets a full five hits on my "crack pipe" test for adventure game development. I just can't believe Cyan could have been so utterly pathetic. But wait--there's more!

I'm eager to see if they're improved on these problems in the Game Tap version and whether they've reverted back to their original vision. The original idea called for player-created modules and puzzles that required multiple players to solve. It certainly sounded neat in principle, at least.

If so, this game might very well be worth taking out a subscription to Game Tap for!


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