Codex Gamicus
Advertisement
Pyst
Developer(s) Peter Bergman
Publisher(s) Parroty Interactive
Designer Designer Missing
Engine Engine Missing
status Status Missing
Release date 1996
Genre Adventure Game, Parody
Mode(s) Single player
Age rating(s) ESRB: T
Platform(s) Mac OS, Windows
Arcade system Arcade System Missing
Media CD-ROM
Input Inputs Missing
Requirements Windows
Windows 3.1/Windows 95/98/4.x compatible; minimum 486/33 processor (Pentium recommended); minimum 8MB Ram (16MB recommended); 6MB free hard disk space; SVGA monitor; 2x CD-ROM drive; 8-bit sound card.
Macintosh
System 7.1 or higher; 68040/25 processor; 8MB Ram; 6MB free hard disk space; CD-ROM drive.
Credits | Soundtrack | Codes | Walkthrough

Pyst is a computer game published in 1996. It was created as a parody of the highly successful adventure game, Myst. The parody features full motion video of John Goodman as "King Mattruss", the ruler of "Pyst Island". Pyst was written by Peter Bergman, a co-founder of the Firesign Theatre, and published by Parroty Interactive.[1] Versions of the game were produced for both the Windows PC and Apple Macintosh operating systems. Parroty Interactive is now defunct, and the game is not currently in publication.

Overview

The basic concept of Pyst was to show what Myst Island (from the best-selling game) would look like after 4 million people (players) had visited and "explored". Pyst Island is full of litter, most of the buildings are ruined, and graffiti reveals secret doors and solutions to puzzles that challenged players in Myst.[2][3]

Pyst utilizes three-dimensional graphics, animated drawings, and pre-recorded video and audio. The game also includes an original song, "I'm Pyst", performed by Goodman.[1] Gameplay is a simplified version of the playing-style used in Myst. The game consists of a series of pre-rendered, interactive visuals of Pyst island locations. Unlike Myst however, there are no real puzzles to solve. The player simply explores a setting, and then moves to adjoining locations at will.[4]

A "sneak-peek" demo module of the planned sequel, "Driven" (an allusion to the Myst sequel Riven), was included on CD-ROMs of later Parroty Interactive games, including the "PYST Special Edition" re-release of the game. Driven was graphically more advanced, and allowed greater movement. The full game was never released however, and work on the project ended with the demise of Parroty Interactive.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Bruce Schwartz (1996-10-10). "Seeing through the 'Myst'-tique 'Pyst' pokes fun at hit CD-ROM". USA Today. 
  2. Paul M. Eng (1996-10-21). "Myst Gets Dissed on CD-ROM". Business Week. 
  3. Myst and Riven Humor. Retrieved on 2008-01-08
  4. Andy Oldfield (November 18, 1996). "On the Pyst; CD-Roms". The Independent (London). 

External links

sv:Myst#Parodier

Advertisement