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Kether (video game)

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Kether
Developer(s)Infogrames
Publisher(s)Philips
Platform(s)CD-i
Release
Genre(s)Space flight simulation, adventure
Mode(s)Single-player

Kether is a video game developed by Infogrames and published by Philips for the CD-i.

Gameplay

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Kether is a game that mixes elements of both action and graphic adventure.[3]

Development and release

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Kether was developed by French studio Infogrames through its subsidiary International World Productions (IWP). Infogrames sought to provide early support to publisher Philips and its CD-i during the fourth generation of video game consoles due to advances brought on by the system's optical disc technology.[4][5][6] Kether was one of seven projects from IWP, which was specifically established to contribute to a second wave of CD-i software for Philips.[7][8]

Guy Selva, the game's artistic director and one of its writers, desired to create a space opera that would offer the player the opportunity to take advantage of the CD-i's audio and graphical capabilities. Production mirrored that of a feature film with a script written first and foremost and live actors included via full-motion video cutscenes.[9] The 3D computer-generated imagery work was outsourced to Brussels-based Little Big One (LBO), which utilized Silicon Graphics workstations running TDI Explore and Paintbox software.[10] Production was overseen by Infogrames chairman, CEO, and general director Bruno Bonnell. He mentioned that CD-i games during this period would require an estimated three million franc budget with a minimum of seven people working for 15 months. At this cost, at least 50,000 units would have to be sold to make a profit.[4]

First announced in mid-1992 as The Mystery of Kether (Le Mystère de Kether), it was initially scheduled to launch that September.[5][11] However, it was delayed. By mid-1993, the game had been in development for over two years.[4] Philips finally released it in Europe that October.[1] A television special titled La Nuit des Jeux Vidéo (Video Game Night) aired on channel France 3 on November 26, 1993 and was a collaboration between Philips Media France, Tilt, and Consoles +. As part of the special, individuals competed against one another playing Kether in order to win a copy of the game and a Philips CD-i model 210.[12][13] Kether was released in North America in January 1994.[2] The game eventually came bundled with the Maganvox CD-i model 200 in the region.[14]

Reception

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Kether received mostly positive reviews. Next Generation reviewed the game, rating it three stars out of five, and stated that "Challenging puzzles and a mystical atmosphere round out the title into a CD-i adventure that's a cut above many of its peers.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b MAN!AC staff (November 1993). "Messeneuheiten für CD-Systeme" [Trade fair innovations for CD systems]. MAN!AC (in German). No. 1. Cybermedia. p. 14. ISSN 2191-012X.
  2. ^ a b Philips Media (February 1994). "This Should Open a Few Eyes". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 55. Sendai Publishing. p. 17. ISSN 1058-918X.
  3. ^ a b c Next Generation staff (February 1995). "finals: Kether". Next Generation. No. 2. Imagine Media. p. 94. ISSN 1078-9693.
  4. ^ a b c Lord Casque (June 1993). "L'ABC du CDI" [The ABCs of CD-i]. Joystick (in French). No. 39. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. pp. 102–10. ISSN 1145-4806.
  5. ^ a b Bonnell, Bruno (June 1992). "Question à Bruno Bonnell" [Question to Bruno Bonnell]. Science et Vie micro (in French). No. 95. Excelsior Publications. p. 29. ISSN 0760-6516.
  6. ^ Gómez, Domingo (November 1993). "Infogrames: En la Vanguardia del Software" [Infogrames: At the Forefront of Software]. Micromanía (in Spanish). No. 66. Hobby Press. pp. 22–4. ISSN 9955-8726.
  7. ^ Hoffos, Signe (1992). The CD-I Designers Guide. McGraw Hill Education. p. 74. ISBN 0-07-707-580-3.
  8. ^ Harbonn, Jacques (November 1992). "Le CD-I chez Infogrames" [The CD-i at Infogrames]. Tilt (in French). No. 107. Editions Mondiales S.A. pp. 58–60. ISSN 0753-6968.
  9. ^ Joystick staff (October 1992). "En Chantier: Kether" [Under Construction: Kether]. Joystick (in French). No. 31. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. pp. 82–3. ISSN 1145-4806.
  10. ^ Joystick staff (September 1992). "CDi: Infogrames". Joystick (in French). No. 30. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. pp. 136–7. ISSN 1145-4806.
  11. ^ Szameitat, Thorsten (June 1996). "Von der "Pizzeria" zum Softwareprimus: Infogrames" [From "Pizzeria" to Software Leader: Infogrames]. Play Time (in German). No. 13. Computec. p. 22.
  12. ^ Tilt staff (November 1993). "Premiere Nuit des Jeux Vidéo" [First Video Game Night]. Tilt (in French). No. 119. Editions Mondiales S.A. pp. 162–3. ISSN 0753-6968.
  13. ^ Randle, Darren (July 7, 2021). Popular Retro Volume 2. Andrews UK. p. 37. ISBN 978-1-78-982933-4.
  14. ^ Philips Media (August 1995). "Buy the Player and Get the Game Free". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 61. Sendai Publishing. p. 77. ISSN 1058-918X.
  15. ^ CVG staff (June 1994). "Group Test: All-Formats Shoot-'Em-Ups Games". Computer and Video Games. No. 151. Future plc. pp. 109, 111. ISSN 0261-3697.
  16. ^ Edge staff (January 1994). "test screen: Kether". Edge. No. 4. Future plc. p. 79. ISSN 1350-1593.
  17. ^ Semrad, Ed; Carpenter, Danyon; Manuel, Al; Sushi-X. "Review Crew: Kether". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 56. Sendai Publishing. p. 38. ISSN 1058-918X.
  18. ^ Uggs the Bugg (April 1994). "ProReview: Kether". GamePro. No. 57. International Data Group. p. 108. ISSN 1042-8658.
  19. ^ Darnaudet, Jérôme (December 1993). "CD Tests: Kether". Joystick (in French). No. 44. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. pp. 194–5. ISSN 1145-4806.
  20. ^ Feroyd, Morgan (October 1993). "Tests: Kether". Tilt (in French). No. 118. Editions Mondiales S.A. pp. 92–5. ISSN 0753-6968.
  21. ^ Reynaud, Luca (April 1994). "Infogrames: Kether". CD Magazine. No. 2. Xenia Edizioni. pp. 61–3.
  22. ^ Toor, Mat (November 1993). "Review: The Mystery of Kether". CD-i Magazine. No. 2. Haymarket Publishing. pp. 20–1.
  23. ^ Renouard, Yann; Lavoisard, Stéphane (October 1993). "Test CD-i: Kether". Génération 4. No. 59. Pressimage. pp. 172–4. ISSN 1624-1088.
  24. ^ Bruinsma, Bjørn (February 1, 1994). "Power Unlimited Game Database". Power Unlimited (in Dutch). No. 7. VNU Publications. pp. 56–7. ISSN 0929-760X. Archived from the original on October 22, 2003. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
  25. ^ Gore, Chris (April 1994). "Reviews: Kether". VideoGames - The Ultimate Gaming Magazine. No. 64. Larry Flynt Publications. pp. 76–7. ISSN 1059-2938.
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