Tired of lame contests where all you win is a mug or T-shirt? Well, BioWare is holding a writing contest where the prize is a job with the company!

The catch? It has to be done with the Neverwinter Nights software.

From Sci-Fi Wire: Reports of the demise of Myst developer Cyan Worlds have been greatly exaggerated, according to the San Jose Mercury News and the GameSpot Web site. Cyan Founder Rand Miller confirmed separately to both sources that the company is rehiring most of its workforce and will continue to develop new games.

In early September, Richard A. Watson, Cyan’s official historian of the D’ni culture featured in the Myst games, told SCI FI Wire that Cyan was shutting its doors and laying off its staff indefinitely, but said the closure might be temporary.

According to Miller, the company’s doors have now reopened. “We’ve had a reprieve,” Miller told the Mercury News.
“[We’ve] managed to pull a rabbit out of the hat (that I can’t give details about yet), so we rehired almost everybody. Crazy industry. It’s giving me whiplash!” Miller gave a similar confirmation to GameSpot, but provided few details to either source.

Cyan previously stated that its recent release, Myst V: End of Ages, which came out Sept. 22, is the final installment in its signature franchise.

Quake 4, which follows the story from Quake 2 and is built on the Doom 3 engine is due to ship October 18th.

I know we don’t do a lot of game news, but I’m sure a fair number of you are gamers.

I’m not a gamer, but the plague sweeping the World of Warcraft appears to be a first.

And the winner for most obnoxious award show goes to…

Yeah, it’s an exercise in Video Game industry payola, but it’s fodder for discussion.

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The Nintendo DS portable system had its North American launch yesterday. Those of you who picked it up are encouraged to share their thoughts. This may be the first portable system I own, as it looks like it may be home to the only legal English language release of Final Fantasy III.

ArsTechnica has the skinny. Preorders at Amazon.com

Next question: Is your PC ready?

My impressions of the Mega Man Anniversary
Collection will wait until I’ve unlocked the two
Power Battle games. I like what I’ve seen so far,
though.
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Babbster writes, This may seem to be a slightly odd topic for Bureau 42, but the news that Warner Brothers is starting its own video game division could be big in the science fiction and comic book world. After all, Warner controls a lot of properties, such as The Matrix, Terminator, Superman and Batman. Given the video game mistreatment of The Dark Knight and The Man of Steel in the past, could we finally get a great DC superhero video game?

The original has finally been reviewed. Which do you want me to review next?
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