Golden Gate Killer
Encyclopedia
Golden Gate Killer is an interactive police detective simulation developed and produced by Interworks and released in 1995, and published by Grolier Electronic Publishing Inc
. Based mostly on Full Motion Video
and photo graphics, the player takes up the role of a San Francisco Police Department
detective
tasked with clearing up a series of murders.
Marketed as a first-person
true-crime murder mystery video game, the player takes the role of San Francisco's newest homicide detective who has teamed up with a real investigator for a partner and guide. A 50-something white male is found floating in the bay near Pier 91, bound and gagged. Using evidence, clues and procedures from the actual case, the player must explore the victim's life, vices and secret passions. Along the way, the player can interact with more than 40 characters from the victim's life as the case takes the detective from the city's posh nightclubs to its deserted piers.
The player's tasks encompass examining crime scenes and securing evidence as well as interrogating witnesses and suspects to uncover the identity of the serial killer.
It is notable that, like many other FMV games of the era, Golden Gate Killer uses Apple
's QuickTime
technology for its integration of movies and sound, and also comes on a hybrid Windows/Macintosh CD-ROM
(i.e. a single disc containing both the Mac and Windows versions of the game).
The game claims to be based on an actual case of the SFPD; however there is little further information to be found about this. In the U.K., the game is marketed under the title "SFPD Case File: The Body in the Bay" Interworks states in their online company profile that the software is used to train detectives and insurance investigators.
Grolier
Grolier was one of the largest U.S. publishers of general encyclopedias, including The Book of Knowledge , The New Book of Knowledge , The New Book of Popular Science , Encyclopedia Americana , Academic American Encyclopedia , and numerous incarnations of The Electronic Encyclopedia .Grolier was an...
. Based mostly on Full Motion Video
Full motion video
Full motion video based games are video games that rely upon pre-recorded TV-quality movie or animation rather than sprites, vectors, or 3D models to display action in the game. In the early 1990s a diverse set of games utilized this format...
and photo graphics, the player takes up the role of a San Francisco Police Department
San Francisco Police Department
The San Francisco Police Department, also known as the SFPD and San Francisco Department Of Police, is the police department of the City and County of San Francisco, California...
detective
Detective
A detective is an investigator, either a member of a police agency or a private person. The latter may be known as private investigators or "private eyes"...
tasked with clearing up a series of murders.
Marketed as a first-person
First person (video games)
In video games, first person refers to a graphical perspective rendered from the viewpoint of the player character. In many cases, this may be the viewpoint from the cockpit of a vehicle. Many different genres have made use of first-person perspectives, ranging from adventure games to flight...
true-crime murder mystery video game, the player takes the role of San Francisco's newest homicide detective who has teamed up with a real investigator for a partner and guide. A 50-something white male is found floating in the bay near Pier 91, bound and gagged. Using evidence, clues and procedures from the actual case, the player must explore the victim's life, vices and secret passions. Along the way, the player can interact with more than 40 characters from the victim's life as the case takes the detective from the city's posh nightclubs to its deserted piers.
The player's tasks encompass examining crime scenes and securing evidence as well as interrogating witnesses and suspects to uncover the identity of the serial killer.
It is notable that, like many other FMV games of the era, Golden Gate Killer uses Apple
Apple Computer
Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and markets consumer electronics, computer software, and personal computers. The company's best-known hardware products include the Macintosh line of computers, the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad...
's QuickTime
QuickTime
QuickTime is an extensible proprietary multimedia framework developed by Apple Inc., capable of handling various formats of digital video, picture, sound, panoramic images, and interactivity. The classic version of QuickTime is available for Windows XP and later, as well as Mac OS X Leopard and...
technology for its integration of movies and sound, and also comes on a hybrid Windows/Macintosh CD-ROM
CD-ROM
A CD-ROM is a pre-pressed compact disc that contains data accessible to, but not writable by, a computer for data storage and music playback. The 1985 “Yellow Book” standard developed by Sony and Philips adapted the format to hold any form of binary data....
(i.e. a single disc containing both the Mac and Windows versions of the game).
The game claims to be based on an actual case of the SFPD; however there is little further information to be found about this. In the U.K., the game is marketed under the title "SFPD Case File: The Body in the Bay" Interworks states in their online company profile that the software is used to train detectives and insurance investigators.
Awards
- Prize of the Professionals - Milia 1996
- Booksellers Choice: New Media - American Booksellers AssociationAmerican Booksellers AssociationThe American Booksellers Association is a non-profit industryassociation founded in 1900 that promotes independent bookstores in the United States and Canada. The ABA and its members support freedom of speech, literacy, and programs that encourage reading...