Piper (video game)

Piper is a 1995 kidware interactive movie video game developed by Splash Studios.[1]

Piper
Developer(s)Splash Studios
Platform(s)Microsoft Windows 
Release1995
Genre(s)Interactive movie

Development

It was announced on June 15, 1995 that Splash Studios had signed Mighty Morphin Power Rangers actor Jason David Frank as the titular role. He began shooting in Redmond on July 1, the day after the premiere of Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie. The 25-member cast also included veteran Jeff Harry Woolf and newcomer Sarah Wayn, and animatronic and computer animated rats were added as the villains.[2] The actors shot their scenes in front of a blue screen.[3]

The game contains 3D computer graphic environments created from Silicon Graphics. The game had a budget in excess of $1 million. It contained an original screenplay and soundtrack.[2] The CD Rom version of the game was underwent testing in August 1995. It was be distributed through Broderbund Software's Affiliated Label Program.[2]

A 45-minute video version of "Piper" was created by Splash Studios for broadcast and home video release, and the game's assets were adapted into an online adventure game called "Midas Valley Gold Rush" for the Splash Kids forum on then-upcoming MSN platform.[2]

In creating this game, Splash Studios intended to create a new genre: " a movie kids can watch in episodes, punctuated by interactive games".[4][5]

Plot

The game takes place in Midas Valley, and in gold mines located underneath the town.

Gameplay

The game merges time-sensitive puzzles with a linear storyline.[6] Each of the four episodes give the player the option to listen to Beavis and Butt-Head-style commentary on the action.[7] The game contains six songs, which were included as a bonus audio disk.[8]

Critical reception

The Seattle Times deemed it a " technically stunning interactive movie ", and noted that their play testers enjoyed replaying scenes to learn lines of songs and sing along.[4][5] The game was highly recommended by Billboard, noting that it pushed the boundaries rather than being another Living Books clone.[9] Popular Electronics thought the game would appeal to children of all ages.[10]

gollark: Riiiiiight.
gollark: https://ark.intel.com/products/84672/Intel-Core-M-5Y71-Processor-4M-Cache-up-to-2_90-GHz
gollark: ... Sorry, m5, right?
gollark: And on 4.5W it won't really work well.
gollark: 2.9GHz is hardly great either.

References
  1. "Splash Studios ships Piper, the first-of-its-kind videoactive CD-ROM title". www.m2.com. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  2. "Jason David Frank To Star As Piper For Splash Studios. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  3. https://www.grnrngr.com/documents/maxmouze/prnl81.txt
  4. "PIPER Splash Studios 1996, Jason David Frank (the Green/White Mighty Morphin | #1789388864". Worthpoint. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  5. "Business & Technology | CD-Rom -- Piper | Seattle Times Newspaper". community.seattletimes.nwsource.com. Retrieved 2017-12-30.
  6. Inc, Nielsen Business Media (1996-03-16). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.
  7. Inc, Nielsen Business Media (1996-03-16). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.
  8. Inc, Nielsen Business Media (1996-03-16). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.
  9. Inc, Nielsen Business Media (1996-03-16). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc.
  10. http://www.americanradiohistory.com/Archive-Poptronics/90s/97/PE-1997-02.pdf
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