Synergy (video game company)

Synergy Inc., which went by the trade name Synergy Geometry Co., Ltd., was a Japanese video game developer and publisher headquartered in Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo. The company is best known for its point-and-click adventure games, which employed pre-rendered 3D computer graphics, including Alice: An Interactive Museum (1991) and Gadget: Invention, Travel & Adventure (1993), both of which were designed by Haruhiko Shono.

Synergy Inc.
Native name
株式会社　シナジー幾何学
Kabushiki gaisha Shinajī Ikunangaku
TypeKabushiki gaisha
IndustryVideo games
FoundedJuly 24, 1986 (1986-07-24)[1]
DefunctUnknown
HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
Key people
Haruhiko Shono
Products
Number of employees
30 (as of February 1, 1997)
Websitewww.synergy-j.co.jp (archived)

The company also had an American branch named Synergy Interactive Co., based in San Mateo, California, which focused on video game localization, publishing and marketing for western audiences.[2]

List of games
Year Title Publisher Platform
1991 Alice: An Interactive Museum Toshiba-EMI Macintosh, Microsoft Windows
1992 L-Zone Synergy Inc. (Japan)
Synergy Interactive Co. (USA)		 Apple Pippin, Macintosh, PC-98, Microsoft Windows
1993 Gadget: Invention, Travel & Adventure Toshiba-EMI (Japan)
Synergy Interactive Co. (USA)		 Apple Pippin, FM Towns, Macintosh, Microsoft Windows
1994 Zeddas: Servant of Sheol[lower-alpha 1] Synergy Inc. (Japan)
Synergy Interactive Co. (USA)		 Macintosh, Microsoft Windows
Iron Angel of the Apocalypse 3DO Interactive Multiplayer
1995 Four-Sight[3] Synergy Inc. Macintosh, Microsoft Windows
Iron Angel of the Apocalypse: The Return Synergy Inc. (Japan)
Synergy Interactive Co. (USA)		 3DO Interactive Multiplayer, Microsoft Windows
Yellow Brick Road Synergy Inc. (Japan)
Acclaim Japan Ltd. (PS1, SS)
Synergy Interactive Co. (USA)		 Apple Pippin, Macintosh, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation, Sega Saturn
1996 Yellow Brick Road II: Glinda to Nishi no Majo Synergy Inc. Apple Pippin, Macintosh, Microsoft Windows
1997 Yellow Brick Road: Harapeko Tsuki To Hoshi Atsume Macintosh, Microsoft Windows
Gadget: Past as Future Synergy Inc. (Japan)
Cryo Interactive Entertainment (Europe)		 Macintosh. Microsoft Windows, PlayStation
Preview & Reprise[4] Synergy Inc. Macintosh, Microsoft Windows

Cancelled projects

Underworld: The Sands of Time
"Underworld: The Sands of Time" Key Art (1997).

Underworld: The Sands of Time, originally announced under the tentative title of The Underground,[5] was a point-and-click interactive movie directed by Haruhiko Shono, following the development of Gadget: Past as Future. A roughly 5 minute sneak peek for the game was included in Preview & Reprise, an interactive CD-ROM released on November 27, 1997.[6]

Woodcutters from Fiery Ships

Woodcutters from Fiery Ships was announced in early 1998 as a collaboration between Synergy Inc. and David Lynch's interactive company SubStation, with a tentative release window of Fall 1999. In the press release, Lynch said: "I saw the work that Synergy did on Gadget – the way that the game delivered an immersive experience to the user. By collaborating with Synergy, I look forward to Woodcutters From Fiery Ships expanding existing forms in terms of story, characters and environment. I hope we will give people totally unexpected experiences."[7]

In a November 1999 interview with The Guardian, stated that the project was "blocked from the get-go", as it was going to be "completely boring to game buffs".[8]

Notes
  1. Developed by Caravan Interactive

References
  1. "Synergy Company Profile". Archived from the original on 1997-10-15.
  2. "Synergy Interactive Page". Archived from the original on 1997-10-15.
  3. "IGDB Four-Sight Page".
  4. "Synergy Product Information Page". Archived from the original on 1997-10-15.
  5. "Billboard 1996-10-05 page 80". 5 October 1996.
  6. "Weekend Summary". Archived from the original on 2005-12-17. Retrieved 2022-07-26.
  7. "David Lynch Teams Up With Synergy On Upcoming Game "Woodcutters From Fiery Ships"".
  8. "Mr. Weird plays it Straight". TheGuardian.com. 19 November 1999.
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