A Real Myst Linking Book

[Another World]

​

Ever wonder what it would be like to physically interact with the Myst linking book? Well one fan has spent the better part of 6 years bringing this dream to reality. The book not only brings a virtual item to the real world, it also hides a desktop computer that is capable of playing each of the Myst titles. How much would you pay for such a thing? Well the person behind this project is offering up the 1-off build for $15,625. Head on over to the project page for photos and technical information.

Project Page

 

[Foxi4]

Myst... wherever you look, whichever platform you pick up, you always see Myst.

I never even finished that game and I already hate its guts...

 

[Another World]

it is this part of the process that is amazing to me.

The book in question is Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Volume LIV, Issue 312, December 1876 to May 1877 (roughly an equivalent of antique Reader's Digest)... 135 years old & still in this condition. Finding the book's exact edition is difficult - my research revealed what looks like at least 14 different bindings of the same book.

Unlike Cyan's well-worn copy, this one is almost pristine. The cover has been beautifully restored & the cracked hinge has been repaired. Custom embossing dies were made for the individual MYST letters, then the embossing was filled with 24-carat gold paint.

(Yes I essentially destroyed this book to convert it into a Myst linking book, but I like to think that it's cooler now. At least 20% cooler.)

-another world

 

[KingVamp]

I honesty didn't see the appeal...

 

[DaggerV]

I don't either, such a small screen. Don't get me wrong though, it's neato, just not awesome.

 

[KingBlank]

"(Yes I essentially destroyed this book to convert it into a Myst linking book, but I like to think that it's cooler now. At least 20% cooler.)"​

Oki doki loki!​

 

[MelodieOctavia]

What amazes me is this guy not only has the audacity to destroy such a rare book, but puts a PC and a touch screen inside of it and thinks that it's worth anywhere close to 15K.

Myst has it's fans. I'll admit that, but I doubt anyone would be willing to plonk down 15K for what amounts to the guts of a laptop stuffed inside of a butchered book.

 

[cearp]

here he even says that the parts cost around $1500-2000, so... if he is charging $13,000 for labor? and installing some games? lol

 

[The Real Jdbye]

What amazes me is this guy not only has the audacity to destroy such a rare book, but puts a PC and a touch screen inside of it and thinks that it's worth anywhere close to 15K.

Myst has it's fans. I'll admit that, but I doubt anyone would be willing to plonk down 15K for what amounts to the guts of a laptop stuffed inside of a butchered book.

That was my thought too. Even Ben Heck doesn't charge that much.
It's a cool project though.

 

[Arras]

I imagine finding the book and getting it in perfect condition would be pretty tough considering it's 135 years old.

 

[cearp]

also how does this take 6 years? maybe if you do 5 minutes a day? 5 minutes a day for 6 years is like 180 hours..
with console modding, some cut down the chips to make them fit, stuff which seems really tricky etc etc, i was looking at some portable gamecube threads on another forum and wow, it was pretty involved. but this guy, just gets a book, and puts a small computer in it.
are there even speakers in it? and the way you have to turn it on... surely he could have implemented a nice hidden switch without needing to do what he did in the video.
i couldn't see how it is charged, or maybe the battery is not rechargeable? and is he allowed to sell the games with it? i'm not sure, but whatever.
he can sell it for as high as he wants, who doesn't want to make a lot of profit, but if he believes that it is WORTH that much... then he is very dumb

-edit. people are talking about the rarity of the book etc etc... surely you can get a book made just how you want it right? just like you can make a new table look antique and worn, i am sure a book binder would have created something for him for less than $1000

 

[Issac]

How about, getting a touch screen part.. I know there are such to buy. Then, a raspberry-PI... and plug in a 32 GB microSDHC (or normal SD or whatever)... into a book... wouldn't be too hard actually....
-starts looking for touch screens online-

 

[pasc]

overpriced laptop yay

 

[Gahars]

It seems to me a strange thing, Myst-ifying...

 

[MelodieOctavia]

I imagine finding the book and getting it in perfect condition would be pretty tough considering it's 135 years old.

The book lost any and all value when he decided to hollow it out and make this abomination.

 

[Another World]

that is true, but, it still is a 135yr copy of the same kind of book scanned for the original myst game. that will add intrinsic value for some crazy myst series fan, and you know one is probably out there somewhere.

-another world

 

[Veho]

I thought it was neat before I read the details. He could have made a perfect copy of the book for $50 but noooo, let's destroy the original and cram an obsolete computer inside. Nice going, ass.

EDIT: Disregard that, I suck.

 

[Giga_Gaia]

So stupid, why do this? Myst was a terrible game, even with the standards of the time it was released. Thank god they don't make it anymore.

 

[Another World]

Myst was a great game, it culminated years of point-n-click adventure games. perhaps you do not realize that at one point they dominated the PC market.

-another world

 

[MelodieOctavia]

Actually Myst was pretty damn revolutionary for it's time. It hasn't dated well. At all. But there are still iterations of Myst being sold, even now, on current platforms.