Does anyone know if Cyan plans to issue an OS X-native version of Riven and Myst? I would think that, with Intel Macs not using Classic anymore, a X version would be a good thing (besides, it runs choppy under Classic on my machine ).

I've heard no mention of this possibility, and odds are it would fall to Ubi to do something like this, though I don't see why pressure from the Mac-friendly Cyan wouldn't hurt.

Methinks I'll take this up elsewhere and get back to you .

Super! I'm sure there are a LOT of us Mac folk who would appreciate it.

Any news, Alahmnat?

None yet.

It would unfortunately appear that we are on our own with regards to any and all existing Myst titles, as Ubi has no plans to support them on any new Intel-based Macs.

To that end, you might want to keep an eye on this project as time goes by.

Thanks for looking into it, Alahmnat. Can't say I'm surprised. I was just reading the thread about EoA not installing on MacTel machines (NEVER jump into a new technology too soon!!! ), and how Ubisoft eat their young, etc. No offense to Cyan, but I wonder if they unwittingly sold their "publishing soul" to Ubi just because they gave them a bid they couldn't refuse. That sounds awful and I know I don't know what I'm talking about, it's just that so many of us, Cyan included, love the Mac, while Ubi has always (seemed) to make it their lowest-priority platform.

Ah well, there's always Riven X

I'm hoping to make it to Mysterium, and if I don't bump into Rand in Uru before then, I plan on asking him if Cyan has any plans to make OS X-native installers and universal binaries available for Myst and Riven. Somehow I don't think the answer will be yes, given the small scale of Cyan's team (especially their programming department, which is made up of about three guys at the most) and the number of things they're trying to juggle just to stay running, but it's worth a shot at asking.

"...and if I don't bump into Rand in Uru before then..."

Say WHAT?

My wife has a PC, and he's been hanging out in UU on Cyan's official shard a lot lately

Yeah, you're probably right about a yes answer, but after seeing the Riven X website, I'm confident that sooner or later SOMEONE will make SOME kind of OS X version or emulator. Ya can't keep us Mac Folks down!!!

The RivenX project looks encouraging, but I hope they eventually come up with an end-user friendly version that us mortals can easily install and use. I'm not even sure what a "card" is.

For the whole story, see Riven X - Live the adventure once again, from the comforts of Mac OS X.

Thanks for the links, Heimdall. OK, I downloaded and unzipped the "Riven X.app" and am wondering what to do with the "debug" "shell" that opens. I have an option, apparently, of using "help," "card," "list," and "load," none of which result in anything intelligible to me. Is there a set of instructions somewhere? I did read the website text, but what next? Nothing about how to use this app!

It's still in development, and as far as I know, there's no way to actually play the game yet.

You'd think with 29 MBytes of download one could do something. Wouldn't it be nice if there were a "readme" file, or something on the website that says, "By the way, no point downloading this 'Riven X.app' unless you are one of our developers." It's not only not ready for prime time yet, it's not ready for daytime soaps.

Not that I don't appreciate what they are doing... I do. I just think that "Riven X.app" should have been named "RivenXdev.app".

I would think the big "THIS IS A DEVELOPER BUILD" text under the download link, as well as the "version 0.0.2" would be a dead giveaway

I have used "0.6" versions of apps that are buggy but at least open. And now I know that "DEVELOPER BUILD" means "IGNORE THIS," but not until now. The text on the website strongly implies that "Riven X.app" is, or will be, an app that is Riven for Mac OS X. Why post that on a public forum for download when it is not that? Quote from the first lines on the website:

"August 16, 2006
A new binary build is now available. Of particular interest, this build should function correctly on Intel Macs, as I was able to test Riven X on shiny new Mac Pros at last week’s WWDC."

Now just how do I get rid of all 29 MBytes when I don't even know what files have been installed? Nothing on the website tells us what has been installed besides Riven X.app. Am I to assume that all those files shown under the "list" command are in fact inside the app? Or what? [Edit: Oops, Riven X.app is more like 74 MB after unzipping. guess all those files are in that app. It's in the Trash now.]

At the moment I consider that file a Trojan Horse.

The program is available for download to enable other people (namely, OS X software developers) to fiddle with it, report bugs, and improve the code, as it's an open source development project.

I should note that I posted a link to this page earlier in the thread, with a note that it was something to keep an eye on, but not use.

There is nothing subversive, malicious, or misleading about the file. It's 100% safe, and unfortunately, the only thing I can find fault with is that you didn't read the page's content before downloading it, as there are numerous notices that the program is not complete or anything even remotely close to that. It's not a trojan horse, it's a terribly early development build and proof of technical concept app.

quote:

To that end, you might want to keep an eye on this project as time goes by.

Al, that is what you wrote above. You didn't write that its use should be avoided.

I quoted from the website in my last post. If "I was able to test Riven X on shiny new Mac Pros..." doesn't mean that the app runs, then what the heck does it mean? Also, Heimdall's link reads:

quote:

Riven X - Live the adventure once again, from the comforts of Mac OS X.

How would you interpret that?

quote:

there are numerous notices that the program is not complete or anything even remotely close to that.

I read the entire page and even followed a couple of the links, and I saw nothing stating that the app is in fact NOT any version of Riven, even 0.0.1!

The file itself may not be "subversive," or "malicious," but its name is certainly "misleading." As I wrote above, it should be titled "Riven Xdev," or some such, not "Riven X." They could easily change the name when it actually will open Riven.

Once past the user confusion of "what the heck is this?" the next question from a normal person would be "OK, how do I use this? Where are the instructions? Like, what is a "card?" Why, when I click on "help," do I get this same screen? How do I "load?" etc. As you wrote, this is clearly ONLY for developers, who think in software and not in English. My stepson is a software Architect, and so I know all about that. I am only saying that since the website is on the Internet for everyone to see, there should be a clear caveat (and there is NOT) that the app is not Riven in any way, and that there are NO instructions as to how to use the app.