Purple Moon
Encyclopedia
Purple Moon was an American software company based in Mountain View
, California
, targeted at young girls between the ages of 8 and 14. The company was founded by Brenda Laurel
and others, and supported by Interval Research. They debuted their first two games, Rockett's New School
and Secret Paths in the Forest
, in 1997. Both games were more or less visual novel
s and encouraged values like friendship and decision making.
The company faced criticism including charges of sexism
(mostly due to their belief that girls would not enjoy the more popular action-oriented games often associated with boys and young men) and ethnic stereotyping.
The company folded in 1999 and merged with Mattel
, creators of Barbie
, one of the most famous and well-known franchises aimed at young girls.
Mountain View, California
-Downtown:Mountain View has a pedestrian-friendly downtown centered on Castro Street. The downtown area consists of the seven blocks of Castro Street from the Downtown Mountain View Station transit center in the north to the intersection with El Camino Real in the south...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, targeted at young girls between the ages of 8 and 14. The company was founded by Brenda Laurel
Brenda Laurel
Brenda Laurel is a pioneering writer, researcher, designer and entrepreneur in the fields of human-computer interaction, interactive narrative and cultural aspects of technology ....
and others, and supported by Interval Research. They debuted their first two games, Rockett's New School
Rockett's New School
Rockett's New School is a visual novel video game that was developed and published by Purple Moon and released in 1997. It is the first game in the Rockett series by release order, which is set approximately one year after the Secret Paths series and one year before The Starfire Soccer Challenge,...
and Secret Paths in the Forest
Secret Paths in the Forest
Secret Paths in the Forest is a puzzle game that was developed and published by Purple Moon and released in 1997. It is the first game in the Secret Paths series by release order, which is set approximately one year before the Rockett series and two years before The Starfire Soccer Challenge, which...
, in 1997. Both games were more or less visual novel
Visual novel
A is an interactive fiction game featuring mostly static graphics, usually with anime-style art, or occasionally live-action stills or video footage...
s and encouraged values like friendship and decision making.
The company faced criticism including charges of sexism
Sexism
Sexism, also known as gender discrimination or sex discrimination, is the application of the belief or attitude that there are characteristics implicit to one's gender that indirectly affect one's abilities in unrelated areas...
(mostly due to their belief that girls would not enjoy the more popular action-oriented games often associated with boys and young men) and ethnic stereotyping.
The company folded in 1999 and merged with Mattel
Mattel
Mattel, Inc. is the world's largest toy company based on revenue. The products it produces include Fisher Price, Barbie dolls, Hot Wheels and Matchbox toys, Masters of the Universe, American Girl dolls, board games, and, in the early 1980s, video game consoles. The company's name is derived from...
, creators of Barbie
Barbie
Barbie is a fashion doll manufactured by the American toy-company Mattel, Inc. and launched in March 1959. American businesswoman Ruth Handler is credited with the creation of the doll using a German doll called Bild Lilli as her inspiration....
, one of the most famous and well-known franchises aimed at young girls.
Selected list of software
- Secret Paths in the ForestSecret Paths in the ForestSecret Paths in the Forest is a puzzle game that was developed and published by Purple Moon and released in 1997. It is the first game in the Secret Paths series by release order, which is set approximately one year before the Rockett series and two years before The Starfire Soccer Challenge, which...
- Rockett's New SchoolRockett's New SchoolRockett's New School is a visual novel video game that was developed and published by Purple Moon and released in 1997. It is the first game in the Rockett series by release order, which is set approximately one year after the Secret Paths series and one year before The Starfire Soccer Challenge,...
- Rockett's Tricky Decision
- Rockett's Secret Invitation
- Rockett's First Dance
- Rockett's Adventure Maker
- Rockett's Camp Adventures
- Starfire Soccer Challenge
- Secret Paths to the Sea
- Secret Paths to your Dreams
External links
- Brenda Laurel lecture on girl game development at the TED conferenceTED (conference)TED is a global set of conferences owned by the private non-profit Sapling Foundation, formed to disseminate "ideas worth spreading"....
, 1998