Making Myst a World with Rand and Robyn Miller

Our guests are Rand and Robyn Miller, founders of Cyan (World) and creators of the smash game Myst. From humble beginnings in Hypercard kids' games, they made the 3D puzzle experience Myst which changed the world of adventure games. We discuss GRR Martin stories, line art to 3D and more - this week!

Episode Highlights

[00:00:00] How Myst Was Made: The Birth of a Gaming Landmark
Robyn and Rand Miller reflect on the early days of Cyan and how they created Myst—a genre-defining game that shaped the future of narrative and puzzle design.

[00:07:00] Making Games on a Mac Plus: Myst’s Surprising Development Setup
The brothers reveal how Myst was developed using off-the-shelf consumer hardware—proving that groundbreaking games can come from minimal setups.

[00:14:00] The Myst Trailer That Changed Everything: A Publisher’s Big Bet
Learn how a 90-second trailer helped convince publishers to take a chance on Myst, setting off a chain of events that would make it the best-selling PC game of the decade.

[00:19:00] Myst’s Visual Style: Why Pre-Rendered Worlds Still Hold Up
Robyn explains the creative reasons behind Myst's iconic static imagery—and why it still resonates with players even in an era of real-time 3D.

[00:26:00] How Riven Raised the Bar: Bigger Worlds, Bolder Vision
Rand discusses the development of Riven, the technical leaps it required, and how it built on Myst to deliver a more expansive, immersive player experience.

[00:40:00] Why the Myst Brothers Left the Game Industry—and What Brought Them Back
After the height of Myst and Riven, Robyn and Rand took separate paths. They share what pulled them away from games—and what inspired their return decades later.

[00:47:00] Remaking Riven in Real-Time 3D: Challenges and Ambitions
Cyan is rebuilding Riven from the ground up. Hear how today’s tools and player expectations are reshaping one of gaming’s most beloved worlds.

[01:04:00] Advice for Indie Game Creators: Start Small, Stay Honest
Robyn and Rand offer hard-won advice to new game developers: why simplicity, focus, and authenticity are the keys to building memorable experiences.

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