Tsunami Games
Encyclopedia
Tsunami Games was an American
video game developer
and publisher
founded in 1991 by former employees of Sierra Entertainment
(then known as Sierra On-Line). The company was based in Oakhurst, California
, which at the time was also the home of Sierra. Between 1992 and 1996 Tsunami published several games, most notably adventure game
s and interactive movie
s, before becoming defunct.
of Sierra On-Line. Its early games were point-and-click adventure game
s including Ringworld: Revenge of The Patriarch, which was based on the Ringworld
novels by Larry Niven
. Blue Force
, a police procedural adventure game, was designed by Jim Walls
, the former designer of the Police Quest
series at Sierra. Also notable was Protostar: War on the Frontier
(1993), a space exploration and adventure game in the style of Starflight
.
(1995) are full motion video based games in which the player watches video clips and is asked to choose one of three options approximately every 15 seconds. These choices generally affect the game's story. Silent Steel
was reportedly honored by PC Entertainment Magazine for "Best Use of Live-Action Footage" in a CD-ROM game. The third "interactive movie" is Man Enough, a dating sim
which includes ostensibly "sexy" live-action video sequences.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
video game developer
Video game developer
A video game developer is a software developer that creates video games. A developer may specialize in a certain video game console, such as Nintendo's Wii, Microsoft's Xbox 360, Sony's PlayStation 3, or may develop for a variety of systems, including personal computers.Most developers also...
and publisher
Video game publisher
A video game publisher is a company that publishes video games that they have either developed internally or have had developed by a video game developer....
founded in 1991 by former employees of Sierra Entertainment
Sierra Entertainment
Sierra Entertainment Inc. was an American video-game developer and publisher founded in 1979 as On-Line Systems by Ken and Roberta Williams...
(then known as Sierra On-Line). The company was based in Oakhurst, California
Oakhurst, California
Oakhurst is a census-designated place in Madera County, California, south of the entrance to Yosemite National Park, in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Oakhurst is located on the Fresno River south-southwest of Yosemite Forks, at an elevation of 2274 feet...
, which at the time was also the home of Sierra. Between 1992 and 1996 Tsunami published several games, most notably adventure game
Adventure game
An adventure game is a video game in which the player assumes the role of protagonist in an interactive story driven by exploration and puzzle-solving instead of physical challenge. The genre's focus on story allows it to draw heavily from other narrative-based media such as literature and film,...
s and interactive movie
Interactive movie
An interactive movie is a video game that features highly cinematic presentation and heavy use of scripting, often through the use of full-motion video of either animated or live-action footage.-Philosophy:...
s, before becoming defunct.
History
Tsunami Games was formed in 1991 by Edmond Heinbockel, former chief financial officerChief financial officer
The chief financial officer or Chief financial and operating officer is a corporate officer primarily responsible for managing the financial risks of the corporation. This officer is also responsible for financial planning and record-keeping, as well as financial reporting to higher management...
of Sierra On-Line. Its early games were point-and-click adventure game
Adventure game
An adventure game is a video game in which the player assumes the role of protagonist in an interactive story driven by exploration and puzzle-solving instead of physical challenge. The genre's focus on story allows it to draw heavily from other narrative-based media such as literature and film,...
s including Ringworld: Revenge of The Patriarch, which was based on the Ringworld
Ringworld
Ringworld is a Hugo, Nebula, and Locus award-winning 1970 science fiction novel by Larry Niven, set in his Known Space universe and considered a classic of science fiction literature. It is followed by three sequels, and preceded by four prequels, and ties into numerous other books set in Known Space...
novels by Larry Niven
Larry Niven
Laurence van Cott Niven / ˈlæri ˈnɪvən/ is an American science fiction author. His best-known work is Ringworld , which received Hugo, Locus, Ditmar, and Nebula awards. His work is primarily hard science fiction, using big science concepts and theoretical physics...
. Blue Force
Blue Force
Blue Force is a computer game released in 1993 by former Police Quest designer Jim Walls.-Synopsis:The player is a rookie police officer named Jake Ryan. Jake's father was a police officer, which prompted Jake to join the force. Jake's father was killed in the line of duty and his case has not yet...
, a police procedural adventure game, was designed by Jim Walls
Jim Walls
Jim Walls is a retired police officer, who in 1971 joined the California Highway Patrol. He retired after 15 years on the force after a shooting incident that left him traumatized....
, the former designer of the Police Quest
Police Quest
Police Quest is a series of computer games produced and published by Sierra On-Line between 1987 and 1993. The original series was composed of four adventure games, the first three of which were designed by former policeman Jim Walls, with the fourth title designed by former LAPD Chief Daryl F....
series at Sierra. Also notable was Protostar: War on the Frontier
Protostar: War on the Frontier
Protostar: War on the Frontier is a 1993 science fiction space combat and role-playing game that was produced by Tsunami Media. It is the unofficial sequel to Starflight and Starflight 2: Trade Routes of the Cloud Nebula....
(1993), a space exploration and adventure game in the style of Starflight
Starflight
Starflight is a computer game published by Electronic Arts and developed by Binary Systems in 1986. Originally developed for DOS and Tandy, it was later released for the Amiga, Atari ST, Macintosh and Commodore 64...
.
Interactive movies
Tsunami made three interactive movies. Flash Traffic: City of Angels (1994) and Silent SteelSilent Steel
Silent Steel is an unorthodox submarine simulator computer game by Tsunami Games. It was created during the influx of 'interactive movies' during the 1990s. The game is made entirely in FMV with real actors and surroundings...
(1995) are full motion video based games in which the player watches video clips and is asked to choose one of three options approximately every 15 seconds. These choices generally affect the game's story. Silent Steel
Silent Steel
Silent Steel is an unorthodox submarine simulator computer game by Tsunami Games. It was created during the influx of 'interactive movies' during the 1990s. The game is made entirely in FMV with real actors and surroundings...
was reportedly honored by PC Entertainment Magazine for "Best Use of Live-Action Footage" in a CD-ROM game. The third "interactive movie" is Man Enough, a dating sim
Dating sim
Dating sims are a video game subgenre of simulation games, usually Japanese, with romantic elements. They are also sometimes put under the category of neoromance. The most common objective of dating sims is to date, usually choosing from among several characters, and to achieve a romantic...
which includes ostensibly "sexy" live-action video sequences.
List of games
- Ringworld: Revenge of The Patriarch (1992)
- Wacky Funsters! (1992)
- Geekwad: Games of The Galaxy (1992)
- Blue ForceBlue ForceBlue Force is a computer game released in 1993 by former Police Quest designer Jim Walls.-Synopsis:The player is a rookie police officer named Jake Ryan. Jake's father was a police officer, which prompted Jake to join the force. Jake's father was killed in the line of duty and his case has not yet...
(1993) - Protostar: War on the FrontierProtostar: War on the FrontierProtostar: War on the Frontier is a 1993 science fiction space combat and role-playing game that was produced by Tsunami Media. It is the unofficial sequel to Starflight and Starflight 2: Trade Routes of the Cloud Nebula....
(1993) - Return to Ringworld (1994)
- Flash Traffic: City of Angels (1994)
- Man Enough (1994)
- Silent SteelSilent SteelSilent Steel is an unorthodox submarine simulator computer game by Tsunami Games. It was created during the influx of 'interactive movies' during the 1990s. The game is made entirely in FMV with real actors and surroundings...
(1995) - Free Enterprise (or Free Enterpri$e) (1996)