Cyberdreams
From Sega Retro
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| Cyberdreams |
|---|
| Founded: 1990[1] |
| Defunct: 1998-09-21[1] |
| Headquarters: |
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Cyberdreams Interactive Entertainment, Inc. was an American video game development studio most known for their popular science-fiction graphic adventure games like I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream.
Company
Cyberdreams was founded in 1990 by Patrick Ketchum and owned by Rolf Klug, and was officially incorporated on March 22, 1991.[3] To differentiate Cyberdreams from more established companies, Ketchum aimed to create high-quality science-fiction/fantasy/horror games for an adult audience, with a budget between $400-600,000. To each title a high profile artist - designer, writer, filmmaker etc. - would be attached, and during its existence Cyberdreams actually succeeded to collaborate with several celebrities, such as H.R. Giger, Syd Mead, and Harlan Ellison.
Before it was named Cyberdreams, the company consisted of nothing more than a president, Patrick Ketchum, and a programmer, John Krause, who were working out of Ketchum’s house. Later on the company relocated to Woodland Hills, California, and then to Calabasas, California. Though the staff had grown of course by the time the company's first game was published (1992's Dark Seed), it would never become a development company with a staff of in house artists that was self sufficient to create games. Cyberdreams often commissioned external artists, and later on development houses were chosen to implement the game designs provided by the company.
In the early years a few games were announced and had began production that were never finished. Evolver, a side-scrolling action game, would have become Cyberdreams' very first game, but it was halted. Hunters of the Ralk also began development and was even announced in game magazines, intended as the first episode in a series designed by Gary Gygax, co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons. The game was in production for over two years, but ultimately halted as well.
1995 was an eventual year in the history of the company. Two games were published: I Have No Mouth and I Must Scream and Dark Seed II. In both cases Cyberdreams had worked with well-known science-fiction writers (Harlan Ellison and Raymond Benson) to create the scripts and game design documents, which were then implemented by contracted external development companies. In 1995, an internal shake-up took place which saw the investors remove management and install a “turnaround management team” that would transition Cyberdreams to a third-party publisher. Paul Licari became the new President/General Manager.
Unfortunately, the refresh of company management wouldn't help. Cyberdreams only managed to publish one more title, (1996's Noir: A Shadowy Thriller) In the meantime a number of new projects - almost all action games - were announced Species, Reverence, The Incredible Shrinking Character, Blue Heat, Ares Rising, and Wes Craven’s Principles of Fear. However, the company was struggling to stay in business, and ultimately only two games (in which Cyberdreams had little involvement) managed to reach store shelves.
Sometime in early 1997, staff began leaving the company, shortly after the official website went offline. It was stated that “the owner wanted to focus on his other businesses instead.” According to contemporary Usenet postings, Cyberdreams was still confirming orders for game sales as late as June 1997.[1] On September 21, 1998, Cyberdreams was officially dissolved.[3]
Softography
External links
- Official website (Wayback Machine)