Myst the game becomes Myst: the book, a full-on ‘digital’ novel

Remember Myst? If not, good for you. It’s one of the most tiresome games ever made. An full-motion-video (FMV) crapfest released in the early 90s, Myst was and is an obscure as hell puzzle game. It featured a book in-game that would act as the guide and hub for all adventuring. And from digital to physical, that book is now Myst itself. Video time.

Right. So it’s a neat trick. Cut out a hole in a Harpers Magazine, a publication that dates back to the 18th century, and plonk in a tiny computer with an even tinier flat screen. Instant kudos.

In a nutshell though, you can play Myst with this book. It’s a mouse-only title, therefore ideal for the touchscreen environment. It’s just not the most practical way, both financially or physically to get your Myst on. The creator of the book, Mike Ando spent a fortune, therefore this is a one-time-only deal for Myst fans.

The computer is nothing special, but then again Myst used to run on a 486 PC. That’s a 50Mhz CPU for you younglings. The retro-fitted PC runs Windows XP, has a 1.6Ghz Atom CPU, a 5-inch touchscreen and roughly two hours of battery life. Clearly the parts were ripped from a netbook, minus the wee touchscreen. The book is loaded with Myst plus its myriad sequels.

Finally, price. The book, plus the computer costs a whopping US$15 625. That’s right, but in all fairness, it’s a century-old piece of literature, ripped open for our amusement. Craziness costs money.