I’ve often been captivated by the stories shared by Rand Miller, the creator of Myst, about how he and his brother Robyn managed to fit their groundbreaking 3D puzzle game onto a modest CD-ROM back in 1993. Each recounting leaves me in awe. For those who have experienced the thrill of exploring the Mechanical Age or retrieving pages for Achenar, Miller’s tales of developing the game using Mac’s early HyperCard software are equally astonishing.
If you consider yourself a fan of Myst, the Video Game History Foundation has an incredible treat for you: an extensive collection of behind-the-scenes interviews, B-roll footage, and other video artifacts from Miller’s collection at Cyan Worlds.
The VGHF, a non-profit organization focused on preserving video games and related media, embarked on a mission to digitize Cyan Worlds’ archives after discovering a plethora of Beta and VHS tapes chronicling the company’s game history tucked away in Miller’s office. Library director Phil Salvador took it upon himself to preserve these valuable materials, which encompass the entire Myst series, along with a wealth of footage from Riven, Uru, and various sequels and remakes.
Cyan meticulously documented every media appearance and mention in its history, so you can enjoy numerous takes of Atrus (played by Rand Miller) imploring you about pages, along with a Spokane sizzle reel underscoring the significance of Cyan Worlds to the local economy. The Cyan collection is a valuable addition to the VGHF database, which features everything from vintage gaming magazines to development documents, all available for free. And as with any non-profit, contributions to support their mission are always welcome.
