the original edition of myst came with a blank journal. a small note on the first page enjoined the would-be player to use the pages as places to record his/her thoughts, note the impact of his/her actions, and reflect on the game.
knowing this, i felt compelled to likewise collect my thoughts in playing the game into a single journal. like a travel diary, i thought it might allow a in-game act of reflection and a space for working-through the game play.
it did just that and much more. in scanning the journal (60 pages) I offer an insight to how I played the game. because this journal is like a critical annotation on the game, following the chronology of my play, sketching the maps and footholds i used to “solve” the game, flowing from a reflective play experience of the game. and unlike commercial guides, which take you through games like tourist literature “highlights” regions, cities, or nations found in travel, this journal is a single individuals living of the game. which makes it far more interesting.
