Riven is the sequel to the highly successful computer game Myst. Developed by Cyan Worlds, it was initially published by Brøderbund. Riven was distributed on five compact discs and released on October 29, 1997, in North America; it was later released on a single DVD-ROM, with improved graphics and a fourteen-minute "making-of" video. In addition to the PC versions, Riven was ported to several other platforms, including the PlayStation and Sega Saturn. The story of Riven is set immediately after the events of Myst. Having been rescued from the machinations of his sons, the explorer Atrus enlists the help of the faceless player character in freeing his wife from his power-hungry father, Gehn. Unlike Myst, which took place on several worlds known as Ages and linked together by special books, Riven is set almost entirely on the eponymous Age of Riven, a world slowly falling apart due to Gehn's rule. Development of Riven began soon after Myst became a success, and spanned more than three years. Riven was praised by professional reviewers, with the magazine Salon proclaiming that the game approaches the level of art. The best-selling game of 1997, Riven sold 1.5 million copies in one year.

Read the rest of this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riven

_______________________________ Today's selected anniversaries:

1713:

The main agreements of the Treaty of Utrecht were signed in the Dutch city of Utrecht, helping to end the War of the Spanish Succession. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Utrecht

1814:

The Treaty of Fontainebleau was signed, ending the War of the Sixth Coalition, and forcing Napoleon to abdicate as ruler of France and sending him into exile on Elba. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_of_Fontainebleau_%281814%29

1888:

The Concertgebouw concert hall in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, was inaugurated. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concertgebouw

1965:

Almost 50 confirmed tornadoes struck six states in the Midwestern United States during the Palm Sunday tornado outbreak, killing over 270 people and injuring 1,500 others. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Sunday_tornado_outbreak_of_1965

1979:

Ugandan–Tanzanian War: The Uganda National Liberation Army and Tanzanian forces captured Kampala, forcing Ugandan President Idi Amin to flee. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idi_Amin

2002:

In a coup attempt, members of the Venezuelan military detained President Hugo Chávez and demanded his resignation. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002_Venezuelan_coup_d%27%C3%A9tat_attempt

_____________________________ Wiktionary's word of the day:

ogre (n): 1. A type of brutish giant from folk tales that eats human flesh.

2. A brutish man whose behavior resembles that of the mythical ogre http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/ogre

___________________________ Wikiquote quote of the day:

When we lose the right to be different, we lose the privilege to be free. --Charles Evans Hughes http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Charles_Evans_Hughes