Thank you Cyan Worlds for a stunning adventure.

Myst V: End of Ages was absolutely amazing.

My full review will arrive sometime on Thursday, due to work.

Curse my lust for gold.

Act One: Hooray

Today is a fine day. It is the day where two fabulous games are unleashed upon the world:

Myst V: End of Ages AND Indigo Prophecy

Now, as is normal, these games are not going to have made their way to store shelves yet. They’re all boxed up in the back of trucks driving around the continent. By the end of the week, I hope to own one, if not both, of these games. My first choice is going to be Myst V, since I fully intend to see the “stranger“‘s adventure to its completion. On the other hand, Indigo Prophecy provides an engaging storyline and innovative gameplay. This will make it hard to ignore.

And tomorrow, Lost returns to ABC for a second season. Finally, we may have some questions answered. What is down the hatch? Is Sawyer alive? What are the Others going to do with Walt? So many questions!

Act Two: Sickness Spreading

Everyone seems to be plagued by a sickness. I call it, “Admiration for the next-generation consoles”. All three of them have huge flaws. The XBox 360 has its “interesting” pricing strategy. The Playstation 3 controller, as Scott at VGCats represented it, was designed by Bruce Wayne. The Revolution is intriguing and devestating at the same time.

As I’ve already outlined, the new Revolution controller is the product of some forward thought from a brilliant strategist, merged with the incomplete thoughts of a fetal chimp. The motion sensor technology in the Revolution’s controller is innovative. It is also extremely cool. However, it also has issues. Once again, I can refer to the wisdom of VGCats to illustrate my point.

Nintendo designed a controller with NOTHING but a port for add-ons. So, they can literally pile cash into large burlap sacks and take it to the bank (which they will rob, based on their money grabbing mentality). And, that is the only thing I have a problem with. Nintendo has a reputation of releasing sub-par hardware only to replace it with an “improvement”.

Case in point, how many versions of the Game Boy Advance have we seen now?

Yeah. So, when the add-ons start rolling out, we’ll be faced with the same scenario. Why buy when something bigger and better will come along?

Frankly, I’m going to spend my money on a PSP, for the sake of loading up some classic ROMs, some movies of my choosing, and GTA:LC. If I change my mind, I’ll just buy a wicked computer system next year. Sadly, I think I’m starting to grow bored with video games in general. The entire industry, despite being rated so highly, is beginning to grow sluggish. I’ve been disappointed by CAPCOM, Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance SP, Prince of Persia: Warrior Within, and the Revolution controller. I’ve had more enjoyment from playing Mike Tyson’s Punchout for the NES. That isn’t a good sign.

I’m really only staying on board the whole “gaming wagon” for Myst V, Indigo Prophecy, Grand Theft Auto, Tales of Eternia and Tales of Legendia. Otherwise, the horizon looks gloomy.

When the first shots of the Nintendo Revolution came streaming back from the Tokyo Game Show, everyone exploded with some sort of emotion. Scott Ramsoomair at VGCats was stricken with grief and paralysis. Avid gamer Caleb and “not-so-avid-gamer-but-stubborn-wannabee” Joshua seem to be entirely for revolution.

I, on the other hand, am quite the counter-revolutionary.

It isn’t the appearance of the controller that worries me, but it is the mechanics. I’m not overly concerned that the controller looks like a television remote control. I’m concerned with how games will be made and played in the future, in regards to Nintendo.

Let’s take a look at the problems with the Revolution’s controller:

Functionality

i) Buttons Before the controller was even unveiled to the general public, Nintendo had taken a stance that controllers had “too many buttons and joysticks” and they claimed their new controller would make gaming simpler. However, some games NEED a great deal of buttons.

It’s time for a button count:

Nintendo Gamecube: two analog sticks, 4 face buttons, 3 shoulder buttons and a D-Pad. Nintendo Revolution: one motion “stick”, one face button, one shoulder button and a D-Pad Nintendo Revolution w/ Add-On: 2 “analog” sticks, one face button, three shoulder buttons and a D-Pad.

Let’s recap, shall we? Gamecube Total: 2 sticks, 7 buttons, D-Pad Revolution Total: 2 sticks, 4 buttons, D-Pad

This presents a SERIOUS problem, as far as certain games are concerned. For my purposes, we will consider two types of games.

The first game is your typical fighting game. In this variety of game, a button is traditionally assigned to guard, low attack (or horizontal strike), high attack (or vertical strike) and kick. Furthermore, there is required a “joystick” of some description to move the character. This is not available on standalone Revolution controller. Nintendo makes it absolutely necessary to purchase their add-on device to play any fighter game. Thanks a lot for that Nintendo.

The second game we need to consider is an RPG like the NamcoTales game, or even something like Xenosaga. In this variety of game, different pre-rendered attacks are assigned to certain buttons. This means that during a string of attacks, you can activate a spell by pressing simply “B” and a direction. “A” is assigned as the melee attack. Unfortunately, with the Revolution’s standalone controller, this would be your only option. You would be unable to jump, block, or change which opponent you are attacking. Even with the Nintendo Revolution add-on, you’d be given a mere two extra buttons, making it impossible for you to change the opponent you are attacking. The RPG of that type would be impossible to play, making the Nintendo Revolution an unfavourable home for the NamcoTales RPG’s, which are the third most popular RPG series in Japan. But guess who has the next Tales release? Sony. Oh well.

What Nintendo has failed to realize is that full-motion RPG’s are a lot more favourable with people because the fighting style is more involving than your average turn based RPG. Due to the new control design, Nintendo has limited themselves solely to the realm of turn based RPG’s. For shame.

ii) Sans Joystick

I’m not going to deny that the technology incorporated into the system is cool. It just will not work at this point in time. Why? They’ve limited themselves from getting a lot of third-party support. For the past while, third party games would be featured on all three platforms. This new controller style will make that impossible. Third party games will only be able to fit within the controls of X360 and PS3. Otherwise, the game designers and developers would have to completely redo the control setup to accomodate the Revolution’s controller. In their eyes, it might not be worth it. How many third party games have Nintendo users lost out on by siding with the Revolution? Capcom’s pulled out of Nintendo exclusivity agreements lately, so we can’t expect much from them. Other companies will likely side with the more reliable companies of Sony and Microsoft. Nintendo promised a decent Zelda sequel, and we’ve waited half a decade. They promised a line up of DS games. Where the hell are they? Now, with the Revolution, they’ve promised the world. Why the hell should we trust them?

Also, yes Josh, the controller would work great with a lightsaber game. If their line up is entirely lightsaber games, Nintendo is set. Also, who is to say LucasArts will even develop games for the Revolution. It is an inferior system, and I doubt Rev will be delivered any third party exclusives. The world is starting to hate Nintendo, and their gaming empire will crash to the ground.

Also, the console may be cheap, but they’ll rape the consumer up the ass in controller add-ons.

I had more to say, but I’m incredibly bored of Nintendo now, and don’t really want to write anymore.

Behold, the future of Nintendo…

Nintendo…I once believed in you…

When the Sega Genesis was the hottest thing ever, I still hugged my NES close.

When everyone else began switching to compact discs, I stuck by you and your cartridges.

When you released the Gamecube, and everyone made fun of it, I stayed on board.

When you released the revamped Game Boy Advance SP, I supported you and bought one.

When you released the DS, I bought one, despite the criticism. You failed to release any good games at launch, but I stuck with you anyway.

Now…your revolution comes. It was the event that I thought would shut every other PS and XBOX fanboy up. And you deliver this? You’ve doomed yourself. You’ve…forsaken those who have stuck with you through the good and the bad for something a “random person” can pick up and play. Why?

I used to trust you Nintendo. You used to be cool.

What happened to the Nintendo I knew?

I’ve thrown my lot in with other companies now…

Goodbye.

Act One: Hit and Run

When I arrived at school this morning at 8:40, it seemed very much like an average day. My attendance in English Literature (ETS4U) with Mr. Esposito remained immaculate. He was even kind enough to inform me that my critique on the T.S. Eliot poem known as “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” was so exquisite that it was going to be used as a class example. So, I’ve made my mark in Marketing, History and Literature. I kick ass.

The annual explanation of the student handbook by Mr. Doherty was spiced up this year by an interlude from Ms. Cupido. There is something about her tone that makes it sound like she hates you with a passion. After this tiresome event, we returned to Lit. Class and read the beginning of a play. Erin Wagner and some guy named Aaron read the first scene out loud for us. It was delightful. We then decided to partake in a glass of Chardonay out on the boardwalk.

Period 2: I made my usual journey home to let out the dog. Sophie, being a puppy of ten weeks, has a bladder the size of a bottle cap but an intestinal tract the size of me. I swear that dog is off. We went outside. She played for a bit, before digging up virtual “wigs” of grass from our lawn. After going inside, I deceived her (for the umpteenth time) to go into her crate by offering her the sweet succulent treat she desires: bananas.

Period 3: I returned to school ten minutes early to ask Mr. Ort a few questions regarding his style of tests. Instead of Mr. Ort, I am met with the dwarfish stature of Mr. Gaylor. Since he is not Mr. Ort, and has no access to his mind in any form, I was left to enter the test blind and alone. Nevertheless, I am confident in my ability to “ace” the test.

Period 4: I walk to the van. Kevin and Jacob are already there. Apparently, they are going to Kevin’s house. Since I work in Home Entertainment that night, the deal is Jake is “supposed” to watch Sophie. Unfortunately, he is abandoning his duties for some Branson get together. After a brief arguement, we get in the van and pull out of the parking spot. We’re leaving the lot itself, when several trucks drive from the paved lot to the gravel lot and speed away.

I stop - naturally - to avoid a collision with them. A black Monte Carlo was pulling out on the opposite side of the parking lot, backing towards us. When I stopped, it stopped. I presumed there was a mutual understanding that the trucks going through the parking lot were a hazard, and movement in that direction should be suspended until that time.

Apparently, I was wrong.

I pulled up slightly, only to be met with the sound of Kevin and Jake yelling “Honk the horn!”

I turn to see what the problem is. The black Monte Carlo hasn’t stopped backing up. I steer to the right and hit the gas, and I quickly tap the horn. But it is too late. The back of the van is hit. A cloud of dust engulfs the vehicle. We can’t see anything, but we feel the van moving. The dust settles, and the black Monte Carlo is straightening out beside us. They look over, look worried, and speed away.

Kevin vaults out of the side door and looks at the damage. The bumper is about to fall off, and there are several dents in the side of the vehicle, dangerously close to the gas tank. I have no doubt that if I hadn’t steered right and accelerated, the Monte Carlo would have impacted the side passenger door and crushed Kevin’s leg.

Jacob runs inside. He make two stops: at the phone, he calls my mother and the police. In addition, he gets Mrs. Roxborough. She comes outside, and Mr. Kiffman arrives as well to survey the incident.

While we wait for the police, I go inside and phone work. I tell them what happened, and I don’t know what happens now, but I may not be able to work. They pretty much tell me that I’m working, even if the cops were to throw me in jail. Whatever.

I go back outside. We wait for 45 minutes before the cop arrives. Jake described the vehicle as magenta…and she didn’t see us…despite the crowd around the car.

She takes down my personal info. She looks at my license, and the insurance for the car. She takes down Jake’s info. She takes down Kevin’s info. She completely ignores my detailed explanation of the events. I was irritated, but I didn’t show it.

Then, the guy who hit us returns. He tells the cop some sob story about how he drove away because of a fear that he’d be made fun of by the hicks who saw it go on. Of course, he ignores the fact that Jake, Kevin and I stayed present and were subjected to the taunts, jeers, and snide remarks of our peers. But whatever.

So, the cop buys his sob story. The cop says we dont have to fill out statements. The entire thing is dropped. I don’t even think she filed a report. It’s bullshit. Bull-freakin’-shit. $3000 damage. He said he’d pay it, but the father seems to be backing out. If the police didn’t file a report, then the event pretty much didn’t happen.

Fuckity fuck.

The release of Myst V: End of Ages is going to arrive within a few weeks. Unfortunately, the release of this game also signifies the death of its parent company, Cyan Worlds. After the incredible “blunder” that was Uru - which I purchased - Cyan Worlds was left toppling from years of wasted labour and squandered funds. So, they began to shape Myst V as a finale to their entire series and their entire company.

It grieves me greatly to lose Cyan Worlds to the ravages of destruction. They are one of an extremely small group of companies that propogates a certain level of intelligent gaming. Even though many would frown and say that Myst games are excessively difficult, the undeniable fact is that these games make you think more than any other. It is because of my history with Myst that I liked the Metroid Prime series on Nintendo Gamecube. It has a certain blend of Myst like exploration and reading, mixed with a bit of sexy female bounty hunter gun fights.

But Myst…it was the elite. Sitting right now, in my desk drawer, are all of the Myst games released to date. In fact, I have two copies of the original Myst and two copies of Myst III (because I bought the Myst IV collector’s edition). I’ve played them through on many occasions, and felt such contentment with their successful conclusion that I can’t even express it in words. With Cyan Worlds melting into nothing, the gaming universe will become limited in certain aspects. The familiar streets will be contorted into shapes and figures that I can no longer recognize. I’ll tap a shopkeeper on the shoulder and say, “What happened to the chaps who made Myst?” He’ll shrug his shoulders and walk away, leaving me to weep in the sands of an unforgiving desert.

R.I.P. Cyan Worlds R.I.P. Myst

I grew up playing your games. I’ve been fully absorbed into D’ni culture. I learned how to count in D’ni numerals. I befriended Atrus. I saved Catherine. I rescued the D’ni survivors. I stopped Sirius, and I felt sadness as Achenar sacrificed his life for Yeesha. I’ve lived Myst, and now to have its future taken away is like being violated. I can’t say I like it. It leaves a foul taste behind. Did my quest to find the white page mean nothing? When I plummeted down the Star Fissue to grasp the Linking Book, did I realise that it would all lead to nothing?

No. That isn’t fair. Myst has done plenty of good.

Thanks for the memories.

“Briefly he looked about him at the room he’d made, pleased by his efforts, then, picking up his pen again, he began to write, setting down the final words. The ending that was not a final ending.”

I think I’m going to play…no…live Myst…for old time’s sake.

• Jordan