MYST.

Computers, particularly personal computers were not a common feature in a home when I was a teenager. In fact, my first real contact with a computer was with a PC operated by DOS, when I was studying at the university. And even then, I used it as a sort of a typewriter in the schools computer lab to write and print out a project.

It was first when I started to work at DUKE, that I was lucky enough to receive a computer of my very own. It was a small Macintosh Classic, black and white and I loved it. Ever since then I have been a Mac addict and have never used anything else but products from Apple.

In the nineties, Apple marked shares were low and software or computer games for Macs were hard to find. But there were a few.

I never liked action games with shooting, explosions and death. These kind of violent games did nothing for me. I have always enjoyed interactive games, with beautiful interface and puzzle solving steps, solutions to which would unravel an adventure. Such was the Myst. To this day I recall fondly every single second of playing this fantastic game, so very revolutionary in every way. The player find himself (or herself) as a hero on a mysterious island, in a enigmatic setting with beautiful images. Urged to solve an intriguing story, involving a feud between two brothers, while traveling to lost worlds through the pages of "linking" books.

The second game in the series was Riven. The improvement of computers and software technology, which constantly develops, was clearly visible in this sequel. Playing it felt at times as if being lost in a dream, with images and scenes so stunning, they provided an astonishing escape to the world of imagination and fantasy.

I did purchase the first four games in the series, each better and more developed than the last. However, I was also getting older and slowly my interest in the game playing was fading.

I have forgotten all about this enticing pastime activity, until very recently. I was looking for a book and stumbled upon the old guide books to these exhilarating interactive games of my past. Perhaps, as the days are getting shorter again and the autumn season, with its rainy and dark days is closing in, it might offer a perfect opportunity to become reacquainted with some of the old thrilling adventures.