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Cyan, the company behind the multimedia masterpieces Myst and Riven, is about to double its current workforce, according to the company's hometown newspaper, the Spokane Journal of Business. With RealMyst, Myst III: Exile and the secret "Mudpie" projects in development, the company is looking to expand beyond its current base of 45 employees. Here's a clip:

Both moves are related to Cyan's drive to "establish more of a presence as a production facility," Oswalt says. "We'll be doing production for entertainment - obviously computer games," he says, declining to elaborate. "Let's just leave it under the umbrella of entertainment production," he says.

In related news, Gamespot has posted another update to their Myst III: Exile Designer Diary. This second edition talks with Daniel Achterman about Mattel, the game's publisher, and the progress they've made so far with this sequel to Riven. Here is an excerpt:

GS: We can imagine a lot of Myst fans getting nervous when you say you're updating gameplay. How exactly are you changing it?

DA: The last thing we would want to do is change the basic gameplay of Myst and Riven. Those games are built on exploration and observation, and we feel it's important to maintain those strengths in Myst III: Exile. Fans of Myst and Riven will find exactly what they are looking for: exotic worlds to explore, a new story to discover, and intriguing puzzles to solve.

However, in addition to building on the previous games' strengths, we're trying to address their weaknesses. Because Myst and Riven are discovery games, you start with nothing, and it can be frustrating to figure out what you're supposed to do. By getting Myst III: Exile's story started quickly and providing feedback throughout the game, we're trying to reduce that frustration without holding players' hands. The key elements of exploration and discovery remain intact, and I think fans will like what we've done.

Spokane Journal's Cyan Article

Myst III: Exile Designer Diary

Presto Studios (add to watch list)

Ubisoft (add to watch list)

Myst III: Exile (add to watch list)

Buy Myst III: Exile

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