Riven
Developer(s)	Cyan, Inc.
Publisher(s)	Brøderbund Software (PC/Mac) Acclaim (Saturn) Enix (PS1/Saturn) (Japan) Mean Hamster Software (Pocket PC)
Designer(s)	Robyn Miller Richard Vander Wende
Release date(s)	(Win/Mac) (Hybrid CD-ROM) October 29, 1997 (PS1) November 30, 1997 December 23, 1997 February, 1998 (Saturn) April 09, 1998 (Pocket PC) December 20, 2005
Genre(s)	Graphic adventure
Mode(s)	Single player
Rating(s)	ESRB: K-A (original rating) ESRB: E (re-releases)
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows, PS1, Mac OS, Sega Saturn, Pocket PC
Media	CD-ROM (5) / DVD (1)

Riven is the sequel to the highly successful computer game Myst. Directed by Robyn Miller and Richard Vander Wende and produced by Rand Miller, Riven was distributed initially on five compact discs and later released on a single DVD-ROM with a 14 minute making-of video. The Myst style of gameplay in which the player clicked on objects within prerendered still images and videos was maintained in this sequel, however it was enhanced with many animated scenes. It is widely regarded by players of Myst and other adventure games to be the most artistically beautiful and heuristically difficult game in the Myst franchise. A book called From Myst To Riven chronicled the game's development, with emphasis on the game's genesis stemming from the unexpected mainstream commercial success with Myst. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Riven Box Cover This is the cover art for a video game. ... A video game developer is a software developer (a business or an individual) that creates video games. ... Photo of Cyan Worlds Cyan Worlds, Inc. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Brøderbund Software was a maker of computer games, educational software and the Print Shop productivity tools. ... The Enix Corporation ) was a company that produced Japanese video games and manga. ... Mean Hamster Software, Inc. ... A game designer is a person who designs games. ... Robyn Charles Miller (born August 6, 1966, in Dallas, Texas) co-founded Cyan Worlds (originally Cyan) with brother Rand Miller. ... Richard Vander Wende, at work In 1986, Richard Vander Wende went to work at Industrial Light and Magic (ILM), working on projects like Willow and Innerspace as a concept designer. ... A hybrid CD-ROM is a compact disc which contains software which may be used by either an IBM PC (or compatible) computer or an Apple Macintosh without needing to purchase separate discs. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... is the 302nd day of the year (303rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1997 1997 in games 1996 in video gaming 1998 in video gaming Notable events of 1997 in video gaming. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... is the 334th day of the year (335th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Japan. ... December 23 is the 357th day of the year (358th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom. ... 1998 1998 in games 1997 in video gaming 1999 in video gaming Notable events of 1998 in video gaming. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Japan. ... April 9 is the 99th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (100th in leap years). ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... is the 354th day of the year (355th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 2005 in games 2004 in video gaming 2006 in video gaming Notable events of 2005 in video gaming. ... Video games are categorized into genres based on their gameplay. ... Adventure games are a type of computer entertainment programs and video game, characterized by investigation, which may include exploration, puzzle-solving, interaction with game characters, and have a focus on narrative rather than reflex-based challenges. ... In computer games and video games, single-player refers to the variant of a particular game where input from only one player is expected throughout the course of the gaming session. ... The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is a self-regulatory organization that applies and enforces ratings, advertising guidelines, and online privacy principles for computer and video games in the United States. ... The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) is a self-regulatory organization that applies and enforces ratings, advertising guidelines, and online privacy principles for computer and video games in the United States. ... Windows redirects here. ... The Sony PlayStation ) is a video game console of the 32/64-bit era, first produced by Sony Computer Entertainment in the mid-1990s. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Sega Saturn ) is a 32-bit video game console, first released on November 22, 1994 in Japan, May 11, 1995 in North America and July 8, 1995 in Europe. ... The Dell Axim x30, a Pocket PC A Pocket PC, abbreviated P/PC or PPC, is a handheld-sized computer that runs a specific version of the Windows CE operating system. ... The CD-ROM (an abbreviation for Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (ROM)) is a non-volatile optical data storage medium using the same physical format as audio compact discs, readable by a computer with a CD-ROM drive. ... Size comparison: A 12 cm Sony DVD+RW and a 19 cm Dixon Ticonderoga pencil. ... A computer game is a game composed of a computer-controlled virtual universe that players interact with in order to achieve a defined goal or set of goals. ... Myst (or MYST) is a graphic adventure computer game designed and directed by the brothers Robyn and Rand Miller. ... Robyn Charles Miller (born August 6, 1966, in Dallas, Texas) co-founded Cyan Worlds (originally Cyan) with brother Rand Miller. ... Richard Vander Wende, at work In 1986, Richard Vander Wende went to work at Industrial Light and Magic (ILM), working on projects like Willow and Innerspace as a concept designer. ... Photo of Rand Miller Rand Miller co-founded Cyan Productions (now Cyan Worlds) with brother Robyn Miller (the two Miller Brothers) and became famous from the unexpected success of their computer game Myst, which remained the number one-selling game for the remainder of the 1990s. ...

Name

Riven is also the name of the Age in which the majority of the game takes place. In the Myst storyline this was the fifth Age written by Gehn, father of Atrus, and like all of Gehn's Ages is unstable and doomed to die. Gehn coldly refers to it as simply "The Fifth Age." The meaning of the English word "Riven", "violently divided, split, or torn apart", is applicable to the Age of Riven, which has been geographically split asunder by the instabilities inherent in all Gehn's Ages; the world is physically split into five separate islands, with a huge "star fissure" penetrating one of the islands; and the native inhabitants' society is similarly split into factions who either worship or despise Gehn. Myst franchise Games Myst Riven Myst III: Exile Myst IV: Revelation Uru: Ages Beyond Myst Myst V: End of Ages Ages of: Myst Riven Myst III: Exile Myst IV: Revelation Uru Myst V: End of Ages Novels Myst: The Book of Atrus   Tiana   Dni   Marrim Comic Books #0... Gehn is a character in Riven, the sequel to Myst. ... Myst franchise Games and their Ages Novels Book of Atrus Book of Tiana Book of Dni Book of Marrim Comic Books #0   #1 Miscellaneous Dni   Dni Ages   The Art   Timeline   Items   Kings   Language   Numerals   People   Wildlife   Organizations Brøderbund   Cyan   Presto   Ubisoft   DRC Note: Fictional details...

The name "Riven" also demonstrates connections with the game's key numerological figure, the number five - the word "Riven" is five letters long, the "V" in the game's typographical presentation of the word is slightly larger than the other letters (when seen in-game or on its box art), "V" is the Roman numeral for five, and the complete title of the game, "Riven: The Sequel to Myst", is also composed of five words.

The number five in general is so significant to the game, that a whole (now-defunct) website was devoted in detecting references of five in the game scenery, scenario, even the title and the package itself [1]. For instance, even the bolts that are seen on the game's metal machinery have five-pointed heads, and there are five islands, and a base-twenty five (five squared) numbering system used by the natives. There is a five-doored rotating circular room that provides one of the game's puzzles, and the solution to one of the puzzles requires the sequential activation of five stone tablets in a designated order of sequence.

Story

Although Riven is the sequel to Myst, it ties up many loose ends in the novel, Myst: The Book of Atrus. Riven starts right where Myst left off, in the basement of K'veer in D'ni where Atrus remained imprisoned at the end of Myst. The player once again assumes the role of the Stranger, Atrus's friend. Atrus needs the Stranger's help, as his wife Catherine is trapped on the Age of Riven, written by his mad father Gehn who has proclaimed himself God of Riven and rules over its inhabitants. Myst franchise Games Myst Riven Myst III: Exile Myst IV: Revelation Myst V: End of Ages Uru: Ages Beyond Myst Ages of: Myst Riven Myst III: Exile Myst IV: Revelation Uru Novels Myst: The Book of Atrus   Tiana   Dni Comic Books #0   #1 Miscellaneous Dni Ages   The... Myst franchise Games Myst Riven Myst III: Exile Myst IV: Revelation Myst V: End of Ages Uru: Ages Beyond Myst Ages of: Myst Riven Myst III: Exile Myst IV: Revelation Uru Novels Myst: The Book of Atrus   Tiana   Dni Comic Books #0   #1 Miscellaneous Dni Ages   The... Myst franchise Games Myst Riven Myst III: Exile Myst IV: Revelation Myst V: End of Ages Uru: Ages Beyond Myst Ages of: Myst Riven Myst III: Exile Myst IV: Revelation Uru Novels Myst: The Book of Atrus   Tiana   Dni Comic Books #0   #1 Miscellaneous Dni Ages   The... Myst franchise Games and their Ages Novels Book of Atrus Book of Tiana Book of Dni Book of Marrim Comic Books #0   #1 Miscellaneous Dni Ages   The Art   Culture   Guilds   History   Timeline   Items   Kings   Language   Numerals   People   Wildlife   Organizations Brøderbund   Cyan   Presto   Ubisoft   DRC Note: Fictional...

Because Atrus is requesting that the Stranger link to Riven, free Catherine, and trap Gehn, he equips the Stranger with a Trap Book, a book that "appears to be a linking book back into D'ni" but is "actually a one man prison." Atrus tells the Stranger that he or she must trap Gehn in this book, find Catherine, and then "signal" him, and without much more explanation sends the Stranger into the dying world of Riven to accomplish these tasks. Myst franchise Games and their Ages Novels Book of Atrus Book of Tiana Book of Dni Book of Marrim Comic Books #0   #1 Miscellaneous Dni Ages   The Art   Culture   Guilds   History   Timeline   Items   Kings   Language   Numerals   People   Wildlife   Pyst   Organizations Brøderbund   Cyan   Presto   Ubisoft   DRC Spoiler... Myst franchise Games Myst Riven Myst III: Exile Myst IV: Revelation Myst V: End of Ages Uru: Ages Beyond Myst Ages of: Myst Riven Myst III: Exile Myst IV: Revelation Uru Novels Myst: The Book of Atrus   Tiana   Dni Comic Books #0   #1 Miscellaneous Dni Ages   The...

Atrus as seen in Riven

The stranger proceeds to accomplish the tasks set by Atrus. Catherine is found on a small island in the 5th age, which is only accessible by a Linking book from Gehn's 233rd age (headquarters). Catherine is released and Atrus is summoned. Whilst summoning Atrus the 5th age begins to collapse. Catherine and Atrus escape into another age and the Stranger falls into the void. Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ...

Alternate endings

To see the main ending the player must trap Gehn and free Catherine before opening the star fissure. However, there are nine alternate endings. Each of them include a game over. Myst franchise Games and their Ages Novels Book of Atrus Book of Tiana Book of Dni Book of Marrim Comic Books #0   #1 Miscellaneous Dni   Dni Ages   The Art   Timeline   Items   Kings   Language   Numerals   People   Wildlife   Organizations Brøderbund   Cyan   Presto   Ubisoft   DRC Note: Fictional details... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

You open the star fissure with the trap book, but without trapping Gehn.

• Atrus arrives and asks the player where Catherine is, and notes that the trap book is empty. He says, “I don’t understand!”. Gehn, appears behind him with Cho and says "You never did!" Atrus turns and says "Father." Gehn yells "Father!? I am no longer your father because you are no longer my son!" then shoots Atrus. He picks up the real Linking Book, believing it to be his gateway back to D’ni and freedom, and walks to you, smiling. He says “I don’t know what you thought you were doing, but thank you. I finally am…" He gestures with the book. "...free.”^[1] He turns and walks away, gesturing to Cho to shoot you. He obeys before following him.

You trap Gehn, but open the star fissure without rescuing Catherine.

• Atrus arrives and asks "Where's Catherine?" He takes the book from you and looks in it. He says to you "I don't understand. You've captured Gehn...but why did you signal me? There's no time left. The age is collapsing. I've got to get back before it's too late." He holds the book over the fissure and says "Your way is clear. You are free to go home now. Farewell, my friend," then uses the linking book to escape. The book then falls into the star fissure. You then fall into the fissure to return home. However, a voice-over of Atrus says that Gehn has finally been defeated, but at a great cost. "So much work," he mourns. "Gehn is at last defeated, but the price of this defeat...is dear. The people of Riven must try to hang on in a world that is dying. And I am sentenced to a futile task of nursing Riven's fatal wounds. Of Catherine, I will never know her fate."^[2]

You trap yourself in Tay or Jungle Island's cave that leads to it.

• A rebel will acquire the trap book. After talking with another rebel in Tay, he/she will close the book.

You trap yourself in any other area before meeting Gehn.

• You find yourself in Gehn's office age and see Cho stretching his shaking hand out to the panel. Gehn then appears in front of you, holding the trap book. He walks over to his desk, picks up his gun, and then shoots you without a word. Putting down his gun, he says, "Forgive me. I don't believe we've met. I am Gehn. You must be the one whom Atrus sent to trap me." He continues as you begin to black out, saying that he is sorry that you must pay the price of Atrus's faults and that he wishes to see his son take responsibility. The final words that you hear him say are "In the meantime, you have my sympathies."^[2]

You trap yourself in any other area, after meeting Gehn.

• Gehn discovers and kills you the same way as above but adds, "I see you've found the book. Thank you for returning it to me. It seems, however, circumstances have changed."^[2]

You refuse to enter the trap book after encountering Gehn three times.

• Gehn shoots you, saying that you should have given him a second chance.^[2]

You trap Gehn in the book, but later release him in Riven, trapping yourself.

• Gehn gives you his thanks and mocks your evident stupidity. He then closes the trap book.^[2]

You trap Gehn in the book, but release him in Tay, trapping yourself.

• Holding his gun, Gehn says to you, "It appears that the Moiety and I will finally be able to discuss our differences face to face." The remainder of his speech is the exact to that of the other ending where you release Gehn in Riven. He then closes the trap book.^[2]

You open the star fissure without the trap book (either Gehn or the Moiety have it).

• (Although it is not possible to free Catherine without trapping Gehn because the code to Catherine's cell is not generated by the game until the music box is discovered and thus cannot be brute-forced, the star fissure's code is generated at the start of the game and can be brute-forced as a result, or discovered by retrieving Catherine's journal and reverting to an earlier saved game.) You fall into the fissure just as Atrus links to Riven. There is no voice-over.

In computer science, a brute-force search consists of systematically enumerating every possible solution of a problem until a solution is found, or all possible solutions have been exhausted. ...

Hints of D'ni

Riven is based on and expands the ultimate past and historical background of Myst, fully described in the two books (the third is Riven's sequel). Beyond language there is other information available to the player. Items such as Gehn's journal and his book in the laboratory explain more of Gehn's past and his relationship with his wife, Keta. Indeed, the presence of detailed written journals and of items such as the scientific apparatuses and the other personal articles contained in the lab has been viewed as one of the game's great strengths, providing subtle, nuanced clues that reward the perceptive, observant player, and can even justify repeat viewings of the game after completion [2].

The game introduces a great deal of information pertaining to the culture and language of D'ni. The D'ni language was first used in this game, both in written form and spoken by characters (such as Cho, a Rivenese person trained to speak basic D'ni phrases). The system of D'ni numerals and a system of symbols used for describing colors are also introduced, and it is necessary for the player to acquaint themselves with those systems and apply them in order to solve certain key puzzles. This article is about the race of people. ... Myst franchise Games and their Ages Novels Book of Atrus Book of Tiana Book of Dni Book of Marrim Comic Books #0   #1 Miscellaneous Dni   Dni Ages   The Art   Timeline   Items   Kings   Language   Numerals   People   Wildlife   Organizations Brøderbund   Cyan   Presto   Ubisoft   DRC Note: Fictional details... Myst franchise Games Myst Riven Myst III: Exile Myst IV: Revelation Myst V: End of Ages Uru: Ages Beyond Myst Ages of: Myst Riven Myst III: Exile Myst IV: Revelation Uru Novels Myst: The Book of Atrus   Tiana   Dni Comic Books #0   #1 Miscellaneous Dni Ages   The... Myst franchise Games Myst Riven Myst III: Exile Myst IV: Revelation Myst V: End of Ages Uru: Ages Beyond Myst Ages of: Myst Riven Myst III: Exile Myst IV: Revelation Uru Novels Myst: The Book of Atrus   Tiana   Dni Comic Books #0   #1 Miscellaneous Dni Ages   The...

Ages

Main article: Ages of Riven

Unlike Myst, the point of the game is not to travel to Ages, solve puzzles, return to the hub, and then proceed. Rather than adopting that centrally-oriented approach of Myst, almost all of Riven's action takes place on the five islands of the Riven age. Most of the gameplay consists of solving puzzles in order to access new areas of the islands: bridges, maglevs and linking-books provide the players with that access to the areas they have not yet reached. Indeed, Riven being a game in the Myst series, the player will locate the tradmark linking-books which let him/her "link" to other worlds or ages. Myst franchise Games and their Ages Novels Book of Atrus Book of Tiana Book of Dni Book of Marrim Comic Books #0   #1 Miscellaneous Dni   Dni Ages   The Art   Timeline   Items   Kings   Language   Numerals   People   Wildlife   Organizations Brøderbund / Red Orb   Cyan   Presto   Ubisoft   DRC Note...

Riven includes the following Ages:

• D'ni (K'veer), the starting Age. Atrus briefs the Stranger on the mission's purpose, as well as bestowing upon the stranger a journal and a prison book. The events in this age are entirely scripted, meaning that it is presented in the form of a video-sequence that the player passively observes.

• Riven, or Gehn's 5th Age, where the main adventure takes place. It consists of five islands linked by a fast 'tram' system, in addition to other, less conventional transports.

The islands are:

• Temple Island: The stranger begins here and likewise experiences the principal end-games in this location. This island is actually comprised of three very close, adjacent isles, with short bridges facilitating pedestrian access between them. Several of Riven's landmarks reside on Temple Island, including an enormous golden dome divided in half, the gate room puzzle, the Temple, and the generator within said dome. It is necessary to activate the generator in order to power Gehn's 233rd Age books.

• Jungle Island: This island has several areas, including Riven's only settlement. It can be accessed by the tram (to/from Temple Island and to/from Plateau Island) and a mining cart (to/from Crater Island). After arriving from Temple Island, the Stranger is presented with several paths. The first fork leads either down to a tropical lagoon and part of the settlement or up to a rope bridge. One large axe and one very enormous axe sit embedded in the landscape surrounding the rope bridge. After crossing the bridge, there are three available routes, one providing access to the mining cart transport, one leading to the 'forest', the third allowing passage to a different part of the settlement. The forest holds several mysteries, including the island's dome and a trepidating symbolic "wahrk" tree-totem, while the settlement has a one-person submarine for transport across a shallow inland lake. Jungle Island also has the only access to Tay, the Moiety Rebels' Age.

• Crater Island (Book Assembly Island): Accessed by the mining cart from Jungle Island, this land is dominated by a large central lake with several rusted, industrial-looking constructions on the lake's edge. It is supposedly where Gehn conducts his experiments in Riven, and is the location of his laboratory. Also, a small 'ytram' (a frog-like creature) trap can be used by the Stranger sits in a cavern, as does the island's dome. Several essential clues to a "victory' outcome are found in the laboratory. The island's tram sits behind the laboratory and leads to the fourth Island.

• Plateau Island: The most complex island, Plateau Island has several unique features, but virtually no foliage. Two trams (also called "maglevs" or "magcars", referring to their magnetic levitation and propulsion technology) access the island, with the first coming from Crater Island and the second from Jungle Island. Upon exiting the tram on the left platform, the stranger, after climbing a flight of stairs, comes upon the first, and larger, of the two maps. (The large map covers over half the island, while the smaller is a petite grid no larger than a coffee table.) A small canyon-like pathway leads through the map to an elevator. The elevator takes the Stranger to the top floor, which houses the second map and the first map's controls as well as the island's dome. If the Stranger exits onto the tram's right-side platform, another, more ominous, elevator appears and takes the Stranger through a pool of Riven's unique water to a cave below. There, various monitors receive security feeds from cameras around Riven. The second tram can be found in the depths as well.

• Prison Island: Also known as 'Catherine's Island,' it is where Gehn has incarcerated Atrus' wife, Catherine. The land appears to be a gigantic tree trunk with a small path leading out to the dome. This small piece of land can only be accessed via a single linking book in Gehn's 233rd age. Very little can be explored, as it is impossible to see Catherine's cell (when freed, she immediately runs up to the Stranger and destroys the elevator's controls).

Two other, smaller ages are also in the game:

• Gehn's 233rd Age: Gehn's home and headquarters, it is a small tower sitting atop a mountain. The terrain itself appears desolate, bleak and inhospitable, with yellow and red dominating the skies and no flora or fauna to speak of. However, the Stranger cannot venture outside the building and explore the environment. Only Gehn's small house can be examined. Gehn has several unique collectibles in his residence, as well as linking books to all five islands, including the only book linking to Prison Island. The Stranger arrives in a cell, and cannot escape until Gehn has been dealt with. Upon arriving, Gehn delivers a heartfelt, albeit fictitious, account of his changed ways.

• Tay: The Moiety Rebels' Age can only be accessed by traveling a hidden passage in a Jungle Island cell. A puzzle, involving selecting the correct columns, reveals the Tay linking book. Similar to Prison Island and 233rd age, very little can be explored. The age itself, whether it's the surrounding cliffs, the inland lake, the cloudy skies, or the rebels' fortress (see game cover, above), can be simply described as gray and foreboding. After linking only a small room with a statue and ambush party can be accessed. Once the rebels ambush the Stranger, a boat ride across the lake reveals some of the environment. However, the Stranger regains control in a prison, and links from there to Riven after receiving his/her possessions. This world is the one originally displayed on Riven's box cover.

Riven in the rest of the Myst franchise

A large part of the novel Myst: The Book of Atrus takes place on Riven. The book is chronologically set roughly 20 years before the events in Myst and then bridges the gap between that game and Riven. As a continuity, Riven could be considered a sequel to Book of Atrus, providing closure to the inhabitants and protagonists. Myst franchise Games Myst Riven Myst III: Exile Myst IV: Revelation Myst V: End of Ages Uru: Ages Beyond Myst Ages of: Myst Riven Myst III: Exile Myst IV: Revelation Uru Novels Myst: The Book of Atrus   Tiana   Dni Comic Books #0   #1 Miscellaneous Dni Ages   The...

The Riven Descriptive Book appears in Tomahna at the start of Myst III: Exile, but the black Gateway Image suggests Riven has been completely destroyed by that time (about ten years after the events in Riven). The Book is labelled with the D'ni numeral Five, the first time the descriptive book's cover is clearly seen (as opposed to the linking books seen throughout the game of Riven), as Atrus is continually writing in the book during the Myst and Riven games. Note: Fictional details from the Myst franchise follow, and may sometimes be referred to as facts. ... Myst franchise Games Myst Riven Myst III: Exile Myst IV: Revelation Myst V: End of Ages Uru: Ages Beyond Myst Ages of: Myst Riven Myst III: Exile Myst IV: Revelation Uru Novels Myst: The Book of Atrus   Tiana   Dni Comic Books #0   #1 Miscellaneous Dni Ages   The...

Imagery and objects from Riven (most notably the Moiety dagger and the star fissure telescope) reappear in places in realMYST, Uru and Myst V. The various animal symbols used in this game can be found in the floorboards of a room in Myst IV. Myst (or MYST) is a graphic adventure computer game designed and directed by the brothers Robyn and Rand Miller. ... Myst franchise Games Myst Riven Myst III: Exile Myst IV: Revelation Myst V: End of Ages Uru: Ages Beyond Myst Ages of: Myst Riven Myst III: Exile Myst IV: Revelation Uru Novels Myst: The Book of Atrus   Tiana   Dni Comic Books #0   #1 Miscellaneous Dni Ages   The... Myst franchise Games Myst Riven Myst III: Exile Myst IV: Revelation Myst V: End of Ages Uru: Ages Beyond Myst Ages of: Myst Riven Myst III: Exile Myst IV: Revelation Uru Novels Myst: The Book of Atrus   Tiana   Dni Comic Books #0   #1 Miscellaneous Dni Ages   The...

At the end of Myst IV, Atrus reveals that Catherine has taken Yeesha to Tay to unwind after the events of Myst IV's story. Myst franchise Games Myst Riven Myst III: Exile Myst IV: Revelation Myst V: End of Ages Uru: Ages Beyond Myst Ages of: Myst Riven Myst III: Exile Myst IV: Revelation Uru Novels Myst: The Book of Atrus   Tiana   Dni Comic Books #0   #1 Miscellaneous Dni Ages   The...

On August 2, 2006 Robyn Miller announced (via his Tinselman blog^[3]) the online publication of a music video for "Catherine's Freedom" (from the Riven soundtrack) called "Persistent Disparate Interchange". The film consists of old, uncopyrighted documentary footage that was compiled and edited by Justin Norman and Wesley Norman of the Shrieking Tree Web Factory. is the 214th day of the year (215th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Production

Cyan started working on Riven in 1993 right after Myst was released. As Myst soon showed out to be a huge success, they had the possibility of expanding from their previous four people team to a much larger crew of designers, CG artists, programmers, sound designers etc. The whole process took a whopping four years, which was an extremely long production period for a computer game at that time. No doubt, this was due to designers Robyn Miller and Richard Vander Wende, who were not satisfied unless everything was as good as it could possibly be. This resulted in an extremely high level of detail in the graphics, which the game is often noted for.

Reception

As it was a long awaited sequel to a best selling game, Riven sold very well upon release and like its predecessor received mixed reviews. Computer Gaming World claimed that it was the "same game with a new title" and that after the first few minutes of gameplay, the story was "thrown out the window" and interactivity is minimal. On a more positive note, they also said that the graphics were the best they have ever seen in any adventure game until that point.^[4] Computer Gaming World Computer Gaming World (CGW) is the oldest video game publication still in continuous circulation. ...

References

1. ^ Adventure Classic Gaming (1997). Riven: The Sequel to Myst review.
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f} Riven Speech Transcript Reference. The D'ni Desk Reference. Retrieved on 2007-07-21.
3. ^ Robyn Miller announces the online publication of the "Persistent Disparate Interchange" music video (accessed August 8, 2006)
4. ^ "Myst Again", Computer Gaming World January 1998.

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... is the 202nd day of the year (203rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 220th day of the year (221st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Official Riven Website
• Robyn Miller's Official Website
• Robyn Miller's Blog
• Richard Vander Wende's Official Website
• Rand Miller's Blog
• Riven Illuminated, a website showcasing many details that are unknown to most players
• Riven Easter Eggs Revealed, a website dedicated to the Easter eggs in the game and how to explore them
• Laura Miller's Salon review of Riven
• (D)Riven - Wired Magazine's 1997 article about the creation of Riven
• Riven: The Sequel to Myst at MobyGames