GameTap cans Myst Online
Troubled puzzle MMO has 60 days to live.
Digital game distributor and publisher GameTap has announced that it is discontinuing Myst Online: Uru Live, the MMO based on the classic puzzle adventure series. The game has been running for just under a year.
The announcement was made in a post on GameTap's forums by VP of content and creative director Ricardo Sanchez, a.k.a. 'rickzilla'.
"The decision was a very difficult one and was made for business reasons rather than due to any issues regarding the design and vision of the amazing world," said Sanchez, implying that Myst Online simply didn't attract enough players to survive. "Despite the great Myst Online experience coming to a close, Cyan is still a very valued partner of GameTap, we are on excellent terms, and we look forward to continuing our relationship in the future," he added.
He explained the GameTap would continue to operate the game for a further 60 days, allowing fans to have a last hurrah with the title.
Myst Online has a long and troubled history, having started life as a component of 2003's Uru: Ages Beyond Myst. This incarnation never made it beyond the beta stage, when publisher Ubisoft brought it to a close.
GameTap then picked it up for a February 2007 release as part of the distributor's move towards publishing original content, which also resulted in the return of fan-favourite adventure series Sam & Max.
"I know this is not the news Myst Online fans wanted to hear," said Sanchez, before reassuring players that "GameTap is still committed to exploring new genres of gameplay and encouraging bold visions."
But some fans were not to be consoled. "Many would say I should thank you for giving Uru the year it never had. However, like the song says, 'a taste of honey is worse than none at all'," ran one grieving forum post. "For the second time we tasted the potential of this game, we started dreaming it could grow, and for the second time it crashed on us. I really think I would've lived better without it."
Any heartbroken Myst fans out there looking for ways to console themselves and show support for Cyan and Miller may wish to consider purchasing this commemorative dishwasher-safe Myst cutting board.