Myst III: Exile

File:MystIII-mechage.png

Gameplay in Myst III: Exile is similar to that of its predecessors. The player explores immersive, pre-rendered environments known as "Ages" by using either mouse clicks or the space bar for movement from set nodes across each Age.{{cite book |title=Myst III: Exile – User's Manual |publisher=Ubisoft |author=Presto Studios |year=2001 |edition=PC/Mac |page=4 |series=Playing the Game}} Unlike previous games, which employed a series of still images, Exile uses a "free look" system which gives the player a 360-degree field of view at each node. The game also has an optional "zip" mode to rapidly cross explored terrain by skipping nodes. Clicking allows the player to manipulate objects and pick up items. The on-screen cursor changes to show contextual actions.{{cite book |title=Myst III: Exile – User's Manual |publisher=Ubisoft |author=Presto Studios |year=2001 |edition=PC/Mac |pages=5–6 |series=Manipulating Objects}}

Each of the game's Ages has a distinctive look and theme. Players begin their journey on the Age of J'nanin, which acts as a hub linking to other Ages{{cite web |author=Poole, Stephen |date=April 17, 2001 |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/myst-iii-exile-preview/1100-2708918/ |title=Myst III: Exile Preview |website=GameSpot |access-date=May 5, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704210812/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/myst-iii-exile-preview/1100-2708918/ |archive-date=July 4, 2017 |url-status=live }} and as a "lesson Age" demonstrating important principles for later puzzles.{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/DEMYSTIFYING-MYST-An-ingenious-adventure-2921649.php |author=Yim, Roger |date=May 14, 2001 |title=Demystifying Myst: An ingenious adventure |work=San Francisco Chronicle |page=C1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312170404/http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/DEMYSTIFYING-MYST-An-ingenious-adventure-2921649.php |archive-date=March 12, 2016}} Three of these Ages are Amateria, a mechanical Age in the middle of a vast sea; Edanna, a world of preserved nature, with abundant plant and animal life; and Voltaic, a dusty island riddled with contraption-filled canyons.

By gathering clues and manipulating the environment, the player solves thematically linked puzzles. For example, the book leading to Voltaic is accessed by aligning beams of light across a canyon; the Age itself contains similar energy-based puzzles. Edanna's plant-filled puzzles require manipulation of the Age's ecosystem.{{cite web |author=Cook, Brad |date=April 1, 2001 |url=https://www.apple.com/games/articles/2001/04/myst3/index2.html |title=The Lost Ages: Myst 3 Revealed (page 2) |publisher=Apple, Inc |access-date=June 3, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080320060824/http://www.apple.com/games/articles/2001/04/myst3/index2.html |archive-date=March 20, 2008 |url-status=dead}} Puzzles often involve observing interactions between elements of the environment, then adjusting the links between them. The player can also pick up and view journals or pages written by game characters which reveal back-story and give hints to solving puzzles. Cursor Mode allows the player to select items from a personal inventory at the bottom of the screen.

Exile begins ten years after the events of Riven, when the player arrives at Tomahna, the home of Atrus and his wife Catherine. Atrus is a scientist and explorer who has mastered an ancient practice known as the Art: he can create links to different Ages by writing special books. This ability was developed by an ancient civilization known as the D'ni, whose society crumbled after the D'ni city was devastated by a plague. Atrus calls the player to his home to display his newest Age, Releeshahn, which Atrus has designed as a new home for the D'ni survivors.

As Atrus and the player prepare to leave for Releeshahn, a mysterious man appears in Atrus' study and sets it on fire, stealing the Releeshahn book. Following the thief via the book he left behind, the player arrives at J'nanin, an Age that Atrus had written long before as a way to teach the Art to his sons. Because the fire has caused considerable damage to the J'nanin book, Atrus cannot accompany the player.

The thief is named Saavedro. Twenty years earlier, Atrus' wayward sons Sirrus and Achenar destroyed Saavedro's home Age of Narayan and trapped him on J'nanin. Saavedro believes his family is dead and swears vengeance on Atrus, unaware that Atrus has imprisoned his sons for their crimes and that Saavedro's family is still alive. The game can end several ways depending on the player's actions. In the most ideal scenario, Saavedro returns to Narayan peacefully after giving back the book of Releeshahn. Other endings result in Saavedro destroying Releeshahn or killing the player; another option allows the player to leave Saavedro trapped forever.

File:Myst bluescreen.png

Cyan Worlds and Mattel Interactive (then the owner of the Myst and Riven franchise) sought bids from several development companies for the development of a sequel to Myst and Riven; according to Game Developer, interested parties developed proposals including story concepts, analysis of the first two games, technology discussion, and technology demonstration.{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tQVJEpgoiIwC&q=Presto+Studios%27+Myst+III%3A+Exile+game+developer&pg=PA127 |author=Uhler, Greg |date=October 2001 |title=Presto Studios' Myst III: Exile |magazine=Game Developer |volume=8 |issue=10 |pages=40–47 |isbn=978-1-57820-214-0}} A core team from Presto Studios held discussions which analyzed Myst and Riven, then set out specific goals for the third game. According to Presto founder and producer Greg Uhler, these goals included visual variety in the Ages, a satisfying ending, and a way for players to gauge their progress during the game. The progress goal was very important for Uhler, who stated: "Players who had failed to complete Myst or Riven did so because they were unsure of how much remained of the game and what their goals were." Initially, Presto prepared three possible storylines for the game to follow; a meeting between Cyan, Presto, and Mattel yielded a completely different plot, which explored some of the loose ends hinted at in Myst. Mattel chose Presto for the task because of their talent, experience, and an existing business relationship.{{cite web|author=Staff|date=June 15, 2000|url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/myst3_dd/061200/index.html|title=Myst III Designer Diaries: Mattel Interactive Designer Diary|work=GameSpot|publisher=CBS Interactive|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010208094312/http://www.gamespot.com/features/myst3_dd/061200/index.html|archive-date=February 8, 2001|url-status=dead|pages=1–2}}

Presto spent millions of U.S. dollars developing the game, using the studio's entire staff to complete the project. Development took two and a half years, of which nine months were spent on design and pre-production. Particular attention was devoted to strong visual styles and mechanics, which a critic described as "a collaboration of Jules Verne, Rube Goldberg and Claes Oldenburg". By July 2000, the game's look and feel, story, and puzzles were all complete, and Presto was building the game worlds.{{cite web|author=Staff|date=July 13, 2000|url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/myst3_dd/071300/index.html|title=Myst III Designer Diaries #2|work=GameSpot|publisher=CBS Interactive|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010210225525/http://www.gamespot.com/features/myst3_dd/071300/index.html|archive-date=February 10, 2001|url-status=dead|pages=1–2}} Pre-rendered environments, like those in the earlier Myst games, were used, providing what producer Dan Irish described as the "photorealistic ability to present the world in a convincing way. The 360-degree camera view also allows you to experience it in a way that makes it feel real."{{cite web |author=Cook, Brad |date=April 1, 2001 |url=https://www.apple.com/games/articles/2001/04/myst3/ |title=The Lost Ages: Myst 3 Revealed (page 1) |publisher=Apple, Inc |access-date=June 3, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217035125/https://www.apple.com/games/articles/2001/04/myst3/index.html |archive-date=December 17, 2008 |url-status=dead}} Presto used 3ds Max, Areté's Digital Nature Tools, and additional software to generate the pre-rendered visuals as well as dynamic water, character animations, and lighting.{{cite journal|date=March 7, 2001|volume=3|issue=5|title=Company Profile: Presto Studios, Inc.|publisher=Digimation|journal=Digimation Newsletter|url=http://newsletters.digimation.com/Mar7-01/CompanyProfile.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030214222042/http://newsletters.digimation.com/Mar7-01/CompanyProfile.htm|archive-date=February 14, 2003}}

As in Myst and Riven, the developers used live-action sequences instead of computer-generated actors and props; Irish stated that using computer graphics would have reminded players they were in a game, "which would wreck the immersion that is so critical to the Myst games".{{cite web|author=Staff|date=August 14, 2000|url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/myst3_dd/081400/index.html|title=Myst III Designer Diaries #3|work=GameSpot|publisher=CBS Interactive|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010210005129/http://www.gamespot.com/features/myst3_dd/081400/index.html|archive-date=February 10, 2001|url-status=dead|pages=1–2}} Live actors were filmed on a blue screen and then placed in the digital environments using chroma key technology. Before any shooting could begin, all the sets were constructed and filled with props the actors could use, costumes for all the characters were fashioned, and each scene was plotted out by storyboard. Rand Miller returned to play Atrus, a role he had filled since the first Myst game. Brad Dourif, a professional actor best known for the Child's Play films, agreed to play Saavedro because he was a huge Myst fan.{{cite web |author=Semel, Paul |date=June 1, 2001 |url=http://archive.gamespy.com/interviews/june01/dourif/ |title=Myst-ery Man |publisher=GameSpy |access-date=June 5, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203232320/http://archive.gamespy.com/interviews/june01/dourif/ |archive-date=December 3, 2008 |url-status=dead}} Dourif noted that acting for a game was much more difficult than working on movie sets, as he could not see the player or interact with the game environment. Other actors included Maria Galante as Atrus' wife Catherine, and Greg Uhler's daughter Audrey in a cameo as Atrus' daughter Yeesha. Preparation for the video shoots took four months; filming the scenes took just seven days.{{cite web |author=Leyton, Chris |date=October 12, 2000 |url=http://www.totalvideogames.com/Myst-III-Exile/feature-4924.html |title=TVG: Myst III Exile Feature |work=Total Video Games |access-date=June 17, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210210740/http://www.totalvideogames.com/Myst-III-Exile/feature-4924.html |archive-date=February 10, 2009 |url-status=dead}} Uhler noted that the video was one aspect of Myst that Presto "did wrong"; because high-definition video cameras were not used, the resulting video was not as crisp as developers had hoped.

After Mattel sold off their video gaming assets during their sale of The Learning Company to the Gores Technology Group in 2000,{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/game-company-looking-for-a-name/1100-2651583/ |title=Game Company Looking for a Name |website=GameSpot |date=8 November 2000 |first=Trey |last=Walker}} Exile ended up in the hands of a new subsidiary of The Learning Company titled GAME Studios.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/game-studios-to-publish-myst-iii/1100-2673066/ |title=GAME Studios to Publish Myst III |website=GameSpot |date=28 February 2001|first=Giancarlo |last=Varanini}} After Gores sold GAME Studios and their assets to Ubi Soft in March 2001, the title alongside the Myst franchise as a whole was put in the hands of the company.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/game-studios-sale-confirmed |title=Game Studios Sale Confirmed |website=Gamasutra |date=5 March 2001 |first=Kris |last=Graft}}

The music for Myst and Riven was composed by Robyn Miller; Jack Wall created the score for the third installment. Irish stated that developing the music was one of the hardest aspects of Exile: "We had to match or exceed the surrealistic style of music that Robyn [Miller] had pioneered. It had to be recognizable as Myst, but unique and distinctive."{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-may-17-tt-64538-story.html |author=Pham, Alex |date=May 17, 2001 |title=Game Design; Adding Texture, Detail to Miller Brothers' Legacy |work=Los Angeles Times |page=T4 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130203123338/http://articles.latimes.com/2001/may/17/news/tt-64538 |archive-date=February 3, 2013}} Wall looked at the increasing complexity of games as an opportunity to give players a soundtrack with as much force as a movie score.{{cite web |author=Wall, Jack |date=January 11, 2002 |url=http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20020110/wall_01.htm |title=Music for Myst III: Exile – The Evolution of a Videogame Soundtrack (page 1) |website=Gamasutra |access-date=June 2, 2008 |author-link=Jack Wall (composer) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080603142458/http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20020110/wall_01.htm |archive-date=June 3, 2008}} Wall also echoed Irish's opinion that he wanted to make a very different score from the "wonderful sonic pastiche" of Myst and Riven, yet still recognizable as a sequel to the earlier games; Wall considered copying Miller's style as the "safe" yet unappealing route that was expected of him.

In preparation for his composition, Wall studied Miller's music, noting that he and Miller differed on their use of music theory. Miller, according to Wall, felt that "melody could easily get in the way of the experience of playing the game", but Wall felt that some melody provided something thematic for the player to grasp. Wall wanted the music to have a sense of purpose while still preserving interactivity, so he composed "reward music" for completing puzzles and recorded the score with a real orchestra.

{{track listing

| headline = Myst III: Exile – The Soundtrack track list{{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/myst-iii-exile-original-game/451650352 |title=Myst III – Exile (Original Game Soundtrack) |date=May 7, 2001 |publisher=Apple, Inc |access-date=May 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704210811/https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/myst-iii-exile-original-game/id451650352 |archive-date=July 4, 2017 |url-status=live }}

| total_length = 59:02

| title1 = Main Theme

| length1 = 4:22

| title2 = Opening Titles

| length2 = 1:54

| title3 = Atrus' Study

| length3 = 2:46

| title4 = Saavedro Enters

| length4 = 0:45

| title5 = Saavedro's Theme

| length5 = 2:14

| title6 = A Heartbeat Away

| length6 = 1:47

| title7 = Saavedro's Lair

| length7 = 1:20

| title8 = Theme from Amateria

| length8 = 2:15

| title9 = The Spider Spinner

| length9 = 1:11

| title10 = Libra's Lever

| length10 = 1:13

| title11 = The Wheels of Wonder

| length11 = 1:29

| title12 = Theme from Edanna

| length12 = 3:24

| title13 = Deadwood Ridge

| length13 = 2:14

| title14 = Swing Vines

| length14 = 2:54

| title15 = The Forest and the Swamp

| length15 = 2:00

| title16 = Theme from Voltaic

| length16 = 3:10

| title17 = The Airship Chasm

| length17 = 3:14

| title18 = Energy Island

| length18 = 1:40

| title19 = The Confrontation

| length19 = 2:52

| title20 = He Sees Hope

| length20 = 2:07

| title21 = Let Me Go!

| length21 = 2:14

| title22 = You've Been Followed

| length22 = 0:29

| title23 = Into Oblivion

| length23 = 0:40

| title24 = All Is Lost

| length24 = 0:48

| title25 = Trapped

| length25 = 0:45

| title26 = The Tide Has Turned

| length26 = 1:30

| title27 = The Dilemma

| length27 = 2:02

| title28 = All Is Well, My Friend

| length28 = 1:06

| title29 = Going Home

| length29 = 1:10

| title30 = Exile (Bonus Track)

| length30 = 3:27

}}

{{Video game reviews

| GR = PC: 77%{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/pc/914209-myst-iii-exile/index.html |title=Myst III: Exile for PC |website=GameRankings |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=December 11, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090315101839/http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/914209-myst-iii-exile/index.html |archive-date=March 15, 2009}}
PS2: 62%{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/ps2/914486-myst-iii-exile/index.html |title=Myst III: Exile for PlayStation 2 |website=GameRankings |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=December 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160324223202/http://www.gamerankings.com/ps2/914486-myst-iii-exile/index.html |archive-date=March 24, 2016 |url-status=live }}
XBOX: 62%{{cite web |url=https://www.gamerankings.com/xbox/475754-myst-iii-exile/index.html |title=Myst III: Exile for Xbox |website=GameRankings |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=December 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325043129/http://www.gamerankings.com/xbox/475754-myst-iii-exile/index.html |archive-date=March 25, 2016 |url-status=live }}

| MC = PC: 83/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/myst-iii-exile/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Myst III: Exile for PC Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=July 19, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820025348/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/myst-iii-exile |archive-date=August 20, 2010}}
PS2: 57/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/myst-iii-exile/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2 |title=Myst III: Exile for PlayStation 2 Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=December 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214230430/https://www.metacritic.com/game/playstation-2/myst-iii-exile |archive-date=February 14, 2019 |url-status=live }}
XBOX: 55/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/myst-iii-exile/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox |title=Myst III: Exile for Xbox Reviews |website=Metacritic |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=December 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190206190248/https://www.metacritic.com/game/xbox/myst-iii-exile |archive-date=February 6, 2019 |url-status=live }}

| CGW = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite magazine |last1=Ardai |first1=Charles |date=July 2001 |title=Myst Me? |url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_204/page/n85 |magazine=Computer Gaming World |pages=82–83 |issue=204 |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=May 9, 2019}}

| GI = 7.5/10{{cite magazine|date=July 2001 |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/p/reviewarchive.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026025027/https://www.gameinformer.com/p/reviewarchive.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 26, 2018 |title=Myst III: Exile |magazine=Game Informer |access-date=May 9, 2019}}

| GameRev = B−

| GSpot = 8.7/10

| GSpy = 79%{{cite web |last1=Hansen |first1=Philip |title=Myst III: Exile |url=http://www.gamespy.com/reviews/june01/myst3/index.shtm |website=GameSpy |access-date=May 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010715011339/http://www.gamespy.com/reviews/june01/myst3/index.shtm |archive-date=July 15, 2001 |language=en |date=June 2001}}

| IGN = 8/10

| NGen = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|last=Harker|first=Carla|title=Finals|magazine=Next Generation|volume=4|issue=7|publisher=Imagine Media|date=July 2001|page=89}}

| PCF = 67%{{cite web |title=Myst III |url=https://www.gamesradar.com/reviews/game_review_467.html |website=GamesRadar+ |access-date=May 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011021060848/http://www.gamesradar.com/reviews/game_review_467.html |archive-date=October 21, 2001 |language=en |date=September 24, 2001}}

| PCGUS = 85%{{cite magazine |last1=Wolf |first1=Michael |date=July 2001 |title=Myst III: Exile |url=https://archive.org/stream/UneditedPCGamer_marktrade/PC_Gamer_086u#page/n63/mode/2up |magazine=PC Gamer |pages=62–63 |volume=8 |issue=7 |publisher=Imagine Media |issn=1080-4471 |access-date=May 9, 2019}}

| PCZone = 35/100{{cite magazine |last1=Lyon |first1=James |date=December 2001 |title=Myst III: Exile |url=https://archive.org/details/PC_Zone_Issue_109_2001-12_Dennis_Publishing_GB/page/n79 |magazine=PC Zone |page=80 |issue=109 |publisher=Dennis Publishing |access-date=May 9, 2019}}

}}

Exile was generally received positively upon release; the PC version holds a 77% rating at GameRankings and an 83/100 rating at Metacritic.

Exile{{'s}} graphics and sound received nearly universal praise, and were credited with completing the game's immersion.{{cite web |author=Saltzman, Mark |date=June 13, 2001 |url=http://www.cincinnati.com/freetime/games/reviews/061301_myst3.html |title=Myst III a Stunning sequel |work=The Cincinnati Enquirer |access-date=June 1, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060316102539/http://www.cincinnati.com/freetime/games/reviews/061301_myst3.html |archive-date=March 16, 2006 |url-status=dead}}{{cite web |author=Staff |date=June 1, 2001 |url=http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/myst-3-exile |title=Reviews page: Myst III Exile |publisher=Game Revolution |access-date=May 19, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120426172428/http://www.gamerevolution.com/review/myst-3-exile |archive-date=April 26, 2012}} The puzzles were described as less difficult and more contained, meaning that players did not have to experiment with switches and then click several screens away to see the effect, as in Riven. Macworld{{'}}s Peter Cohen praised Presto for giving out bits of story throughout the game, rather than providing exposition only during opening and closing sequences.{{cite magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020417113810/http://www.macworld.com/2001/08/opinion/gameroom.html |url=http://www.macworld.com/2001/08/opinion/gameroom.html |last=Cohen |first=Peter |date=August 2001 |title=Mystified |magazine=Macworld |archive-date=April 17, 2002 |volume=18 |issue=8 |pages=43–45}} The pacing and rewards system was also appreciated by reviewers.{{cite magazine |author=Staff |date=May 14, 2001 |title=A Myst not to be missed |magazine=Newsweek |volume=137 |issue=20 |page=12}} IGN concluded their review of the game by stating that Presto had done "a pretty good job with a notable addition to the series".{{cite web |author=Staff |date=May 7, 2001 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/05/07/myst-iii-exile-3 |title=Myst III: Exile Review |website=IGN |access-date=May 29, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103164946/http://www.ign.com/articles/2001/05/07/myst-iii-exile-3 |archive-date=November 3, 2012}} The Daily Telegraph offered even stronger praise, saying that Presto had crafted the best Myst game in the series thus far,{{cite news |author=Boxer, Steve |date=July 12, 2001 |title=Seductive kind of Myst |work=The Daily Telegraph |page=6}} a sentiment that was echoed in other publications. The editors of Computer Games Magazine named Exile the best adventure game of 2001, and called it "a breath of fresh air amidst the otherwise barren crop of adventure titles." They also presented the game with their "Best Art Direction" and "Best Acting" awards, the latter for Dourif's performance.{{cite magazine |author=Staff |magazine=Computer Games Magazine |title=11th Annual Computer Games Awards |date=March 2002 |issue=136 |pages=50–56}}

Criticism of the game included complaints about the four-disc format of the game, which required players to swap out the installer disc with one of the other discs every time the player entered a new Age. GameSpot{{'s}} Scott Osborne noted that due to the frame-by-frame nature of gameplay, it was occasionally difficult to discern where players were allowed to venture and what areas were unreachable.{{cite web |author=Osborne, Scott |date=May 4, 2001 |url=http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/myst-iii-exile-review/1900-2715657/ |title=Myst 3: Exile Review |website=GameSpot |access-date=June 2, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150125002734/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/myst-iii-exile-review/1900-2715657/ |archive-date=January 25, 2015}} The Los Angeles Times reported that bugs including a lack of sound, incompatibility with certain graphics cards and system crashes were present in as many as 10 percent of the first shipment of discs. Reviewers who had not enjoyed Myst or Riven stated that there was nothing new or substantially different in the game to warrant interest; The New York Times observed, "Exile has everything you loved or hated about Myst and Riven."{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/15/technology/game-theory-to-play-emperor-or-god-or-grunt-in-a-tennis-skirt.html?pagewanted=all |author=Herold, Charles |date=November 15, 2001 |title=To Play Emperor or God, or Grunt in a Tennis Skirt |work=The New York Times |page=G11 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305081624/http://www.nytimes.com/2001/11/15/technology/game-theory-to-play-emperor-or-god-or-grunt-in-a-tennis-skirt.html?pagewanted=all |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |url-access=limited}}

During the 5th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences nominated Myst III for "Outstanding Achievement in Character or Story Development", "Outstanding Achievement in Original Musical Composition" and "PC Action/Adventure Game of the Year";{{cite press release |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020602183409/http://www.interactive.org/newsandevents.asp?show=138&thetype=1 |url=http://www.interactive.org:80/newsandevents.asp?show=138&thetype=1 |title=Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences Announces Finalists for the 5th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards |date=February 5, 2002 |publisher=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |archive-date=June 2, 2002 |url-status=dead |location=Los Angeles}} these awards ultimately went to Ico, Tropico and Return to Castle Wolfenstein, respectively.{{cite press release |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020306070041/http://www.interactive.org/newsandevents.asp |url=http://www.interactive.org:80/newsandevents.asp |title=Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences Announces Recipients of Fifth Annual Interactive Achievement Awards |date=March 1, 2002 |publisher=Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences |archive-date=March 6, 2002 |url-status=dead |location=Las Vegas}} In 2011, Adventure Gamers named Myst III the 59th-best adventure game ever released.{{cite web |author=AG Staff |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604021011/http://www.adventuregamers.com/articles/view/18643 |url=http://www.adventuregamers.com:80/articles/view/18643 |title=Top 100 All-Time Adventure Games |date=December 30, 2011 |archive-date=June 4, 2012 |work=Adventure Gamers |url-status=live |access-date=June 9, 2018 }}

Exile was highly anticipated; preorders topped 500,000 units by March 2001. The game was the best-selling computer title in the United States within a week of release,{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-may-25-fi-2267-story.html |author=Pham, Alex |date=May 25, 2001 |title='Myst III' Loses Its Magic Amid Glitches |work=Los Angeles Times |page=C3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151204053751/http://articles.latimes.com/2001/may/25/business/fi-2267 |archive-date=December 4, 2015}} with an average retail price of $42. Its Collector's Edition claimed fifth place.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011023073340/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2764668,00.html |url=http://gamespot.com:80/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2764668,00.html |title=Sims games get lost in the Myst |author=Walker, Trey |date=May 23, 2001 |work=GameSpot |archive-date=October 23, 2001 |url-status=dead }} The two SKUs held #1 and #9 the following week,{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010609191207/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2766868,00.html |url=http://gamespot.com:80/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2766868,00.html |title=Myst III holds the lead |author=Walker, Trey |date=May 30, 2001 |archive-date=June 9, 2001 |work=GameSpot |url-status=dead }} by which time Ubisoft reported overall sales of 75,000 units.{{cite web |author=Walker, Trey |date=June 1, 2001 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/myst-iii-off-to-a-strong-start/1100-2767688/ |title=Myst III off to a strong start |website=GameSpot |access-date=June 5, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704210811/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/myst-iii-off-to-a-strong-start/1100-2767688/ |archive-date=July 4, 2017 |url-status=live }} After staying in first place for three weeks,{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010622005231/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2770427,00.html |url=http://gamespot.com:80/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2770427,00.html |title=Myst III hangs tight as Sims games slip |author=Walker, Trey |date=June 6, 2001 |work=GameSpot |archive-date=June 22, 2001 |url-status=dead }} Exile dropped to third during the week ending June 2.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010707104620/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2774877,00.html |url=http://gamespot.com:80/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2774877,00.html |title=The Sims makes a comeback |author=Walker, Trey |archive-date=July 7, 2001 |date=June 13, 2001 |work=GameSpot |url-status=dead }} It was the fourth-best-selling computer game of May in the region; PC Data reported sales of 54,468 retail units for the month. The Collector's Edition secured 12th place and sold 20,104.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010710035412/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2778721,00.html |url=http://gamespot.com:80/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2778721,00.html |title=World War II Online debuts at number three |author=Walker, Trey |date=June 20, 2001 |work=GameSpot |archive-date=July 10, 2001 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030418031216/http://www.justadventure.com/articles/State_of_Adventure_Gaming/01-06/June_01.shtm |url=http://www.justadventure.com:80/articles/State_of_Adventure_Gaming/01-06/June_01.shtm |title=The State of Adventure Gaming |date=June 2001 |archive-date=April 18, 2003 |author=Sluganski, Randy |work=Just Adventure |url-status=dead }} Exile remained on NPD Intelect's weekly computer game sales top 10 from June 3–23,{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010703110700/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2780694,00.html |url=http://gamespot.com:80/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2780694,00.html |title=Train Simulator chugs to number two |date=June 27, 2001 |author=Walker, Trey |work=GameSpot |archive-date=July 3, 2001 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010707024522/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2782618,00.html |url=http://gamespot.com:80/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2782618,00.html |title=The Sims dethroned |date=July 3, 2001 |author=Varanini, Giancarlo |archive-date=July 7, 2001 |work=GameSpot |url-status=dead }} and maintained fourth place for the month of June; PC Data tracked domestic retail sales of 49,287 units during the period.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020203222117/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2791070,00.html |url=http://gamespot.com:80/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2791070,00.html |title=Diablo holds on |work=GameSpot |author=Varanini, Giancarlo |date=July 18, 2001 |archive-date=February 3, 2002 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020215014752/http://justadventure.com/articles/State_of_Adventure_Gaming/01-08/August_01.shtm |url=http://justadventure.com:80/articles/State_of_Adventure_Gaming/01-08/August_01.shtm |title=The State of Adventure Gaming |date=August 2001 |author=Sluganski, Randy |archive-date=February 15, 2002 |work=Just Adventure |url-status=dead }} According to Ubisoft, Exile sold over 400,000 units worldwide by June 30.{{cite press release |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921040558/https://www.ubisoft.com/en-US/company/press/detail.aspx?id=32197 |url=https://www.ubisoft.com/en-US/company/press/detail.aspx?id=32197 |url-status=live |title=Very Strong First-Quarter Growth: Consolidated Sales Up 162% |archive-date=September 21, 2017 |publisher=Ubisoft |date=August 2, 2001}}

Exile remained in NPD Intelect's monthly top 20 from July through August,{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011022032925/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2809110,00.html |url=http://gamespot.com:80/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2809110,00.html |title=Diablo takes July |date=August 29, 2001 |author=Walker, Trey |archive-date=October 22, 2001 |work=GameSpot |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020210224840/http://gamespot.com/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2814102,00.html |url=http://gamespot.com:80/gamespot/stories/news/0,10870,2814102,00.html |title=Diablo II rules August |work=GameSpot |date=September 21, 2001 |archive-date=February 10, 2002 |author=Walker, Trey |url-status=dead }} and sold 173,569 domestic retail units by October, while its Collector's Edition sold 40,051.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020103210905/http://www.justadventure.com/articles/State_of_Adventure_Gaming/Dec-01/sales.shtm |url=http://www.justadventure.com:80/articles/State_of_Adventure_Gaming/Dec-01/sales.shtm |title=State of Adventure Gaming – December 2001 – Oct. Sales Table |date=December 2001 |author=Sluganski, Randy |work=Just Adventure |archive-date=January 3, 2002 |url-status=dead }} Following Exile{{'}}s European release on September 7, it reached second place on the British sales charts, and #1 on those of Germany and France. Ubisoft reported global sales of over 750,000 units by the end of September,{{cite press release |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921043030/https://www.ubisoft.com/en-US/company/press/detail.aspx?id=32195 |url=https://www.ubisoft.com/en-US/company/press/detail.aspx?id=32195 |url-status=live |title=First Half of the 2001/2002 Fiscal Year; Considerable Increase in Sales: +72% |archive-date=September 21, 2017 |publisher=Ubisoft |date=October 30, 2001}} and of nearly 1.2 million units by the end of December.{{cite press release |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921031636/https://www.ubisoft.com/en-US/company/press/detail.aspx?id=32199 |url=https://www.ubisoft.com/en-US/company/press/detail.aspx?id=32199 |url-status=live |title=Ubi Soft Outperforms the Market in the Third Quarter; Sales: 165.1 Million Euros, Up 45%; On a Like for Like Basis Up 34% |archive-date=September 21, 2017 |publisher=Ubisoft |date=January 31, 2002}} Its domestic retail sales for 2001 totaled 284,555 units, for $11.7 million in revenue.{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040619191112/https://cat.nyu.edu/current/news/media/marklesimcity.pdf | url=https://cat.nyu.edu/current/news/media/marklesimcity.pdf | title=Markle Forum on Children and Media | author=Bradshaw, Lucy | author-link=Lucy Bradshaw (game developer) | date=January 31, 2002 | publisher=New York University | archive-date=June 19, 2004 | url-status=live }} Domestic sales continued in 2002, with 80,810 retail units sold from January to June;{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050314010007/http://justadventure.com/articles/State_of_Adventure_Gaming/August2002/SalesJune2002.shtm |url=http://justadventure.com:80/articles/State_of_Adventure_Gaming/August2002/SalesJune2002.shtm |title=State of Adventure Gaming – August 2002 – June 2002 Sales Table |date=August 2002 |author=Sluganski, Randy |archive-date=March 14, 2005 |work=Just Adventure |url-status=dead }} and in 2003, with 43,735 sales for the year.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040411223950/http://www.justadventure.com/articles/State_of_Adventure_Gaming/March2004/Dec03ret_gam.shtm |url=http://www.justadventure.com:80/articles/State_of_Adventure_Gaming/March2004/Dec03ret_gam.shtm |title=Sales December 2003 – The State of Adventure Gaming |date=March 2004 |author=Sluganski, Randy |archive-date=April 11, 2004 |work=Just Adventure |url-status=dead }} By August 2006, Exile{{'}}s computer version had sold 400,000 copies and earned $14 million in the United States alone. Edge ranked it as the country's 37th-best-selling computer game released between January 2000 and August 2006. As of the latter date, it was also the country's highest-selling Myst game released during the 2000s.{{cite magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017165955/http://www.edge-online.com/features/top-100-pc-games-21st-century/ |url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/top-100-pc-games-21st-century/ |title=The Top 100 PC Games of the 21st Century |author=Edge Staff |date=August 25, 2006 |magazine=Edge |archive-date=October 17, 2012 |url-status=dead }} By 2010, Exile{{'}}s total sales had reached 1.5 million copies.{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101130191038/https://venturebeat.com/2010/06/30/oceanhouse-media-shows-how-to-bootstrap-a-sustainable-business-on-the-iphone-and-ipad/ |url=https://venturebeat.com/2010/06/30/oceanhouse-media-shows-how-to-bootstrap-a-sustainable-business-on-the-iphone-and-ipad/ |title=Oceanhouse Media bootstraps a sustainable business on the iPhone and iPad |author=Takahashi, Dean |date=June 30, 2010 |work=VentureBeat |archive-date=November 30, 2010 |url-status=live }}

Despite strong sales, Exile was considered commercially disappointing compared to the phenomenal sales of the first two games, which had sold nearly 10 million units by the time of Exile{{'}}s release. GameSpot editor Greg Kasavin told Time magazine that "Myst is no longer as relevant to gamers as it used to be" and that "it represents an antiquated style of gaming" compared to the 3-D action games being released at the time.{{cite magazine |url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,994827,00.html |author=Hamilton, Anita |date=September 4, 2004 |title=Secrets of the New Myst |magazine=Time |volume=164 |issue=6 |page=84 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160721182454/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C994827%2C00.html |archive-date=July 21, 2016}}{{subscription required}} Soon after Exile{{'}}s release, Presto announced it was discontinuing software development; the Xbox title Whacked! was to be the last title produced by the company.{{cite news |author=Peterson, Kim |date=August 31, 2002 |title=Local video game-maker Presto closes despite being debt- free and rich in talent |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune}} Presto employee Michael Saladino pointed to the maverick style of the studio and its inability to develop more than one title at a time as reasons for its folding.{{cite magazine |last=Saladino |first=Michael |date=December 2002 |title=And presto... it's gone! |magazine=Game Developer |volume=9 |issue=12 |pages=44–49 |url=https://archive.org/details/GDM_December_2002/page/n25/mode/1up}} The next game in the Myst series, entitled Revelation, would be produced and published by Ubisoft.{{cite web |author=Castro, Juan |date=April 5, 2004 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/04/05/myst-iv-announced |title=Myst IV Announced |website=IGN |access-date=June 12, 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026090707/http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/04/05/myst-iv-announced |archive-date=October 26, 2012}}

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• {{MobyGames|id=/myst-iii-exile}}
• {{Metacritic game}}
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Category:2001 video games

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Myst III

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