Mad TV

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mad TV
Studio Rainbow Arts
Publisher Rainbow Arts
Senior Developer Ralph Stock
Erstveröffent-
lichung		 1991
platform MS-DOS, Amiga
genre Economic simulation
Subject Management of a television station
Game mode Single player
control mouse
system advantages
preconditions		 IBM-compatible PC with 3.5 "or 5.25" floppy disk drive
medium 1 floppy disk
language German English

Mad TV is a business simulation , developed and published by Rainbow Arts Software GmbH in 1991. The game was implemented for MS-DOS and Amiga and was well received by the trade press. A version for the Atari ST was in work, but was discarded - however, you can still find references to this in the instructions.

The story

The player assumes the role of program director and is responsible for making a television station a success. He has to assert himself against two computer opponents. Player and opponent share 100 sender image points. The one of the three channels with the best ratings during one hour wins an image point from the worst channel.

There is also a fight for recognition of the pretty Betty Botterbloom, who has an office on the 13th floor of the house. The real main goal of the game is to marry Betty. Betty is demanding and prefers to watch cultural programs, which, however, have low ratings and therefore only generate low advertising revenues. To increase the favor of Betty, gifts can also be bought for her. However, the recognition of Betty can only be fully won if both computer opponents are defeated, as the recognition of Betty can never be higher than the own sender image.

In this business simulation, in addition to managing the broadcast schedule, the player must also conclude advertising contracts and buy news, produce his own series and shows and spy on and sabotage the competition. Statistics on audience ratings and image are available for evaluating one's own work. The broadcaster's boss is constantly watching what is happening and can literally kick the player out of the game if they fail (= broadcaster image below 5 points), which results in the end of the game.

The player and the computer opponents move through the same skyscraper in real time. An elevator must be used to move between floors. However, only one person can use the elevator at a time, which makes it possible either to block the computer opponents yourself or to lose game-critical seconds because the elevator is occupied by the opponents.

In addition, some special events spice up the game. Occasionally there are terrorist attacks on consulates that are also located in the high-rise. Furthermore, a bailiff turns up every now and then for the seizure. These events can be "used" to empty other rooms in the high-rise. These rooms can then be purchased as a studio.

Development history

Shortly after the release, a data disk should appear that should contain more films, series and shows. However, the development was stopped.

successor

In 1994, Ikarion published Mad News, an unofficial successor developed by Mad TV inventor Ralph Stock. The intro tells the story of the main character and explains why he is now in the daily newspaper business.

In 1996, Greenwood Entertainment delivered Mad TV 2, the only official successor. In 2001 both Mad TV and Mad TV 2 were released as freeware .

As part of gamescom , Kalypso Media announced MUD TV, the unofficial successor to Mad TV. The game was released in February 2010.

Empire TV Tycoon from Dreamsite Games from 2015 takes over many elements of the original Mad TV, but adds additional target groups and target group advertising and many options for creating your own films and series. The game is presented in classic pixel graphics.

reviews

Fan remakes

In 2002, the first time the remake appeared tvtower (formerly TVGigant ) of fans. The game is very much based on the original, but it also includes new features such as long-term commercials and an online mode. With the current version v0.6.1 various types of transmitters such as antennas, cable networks and satellites have been added.

You can play the classic online with other players on the website www.madtv-online.com . Over 19,000 players are registered on the site so far.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b Matthias Siegk: Test report from the ASM . In: ASM 11/91 . kultboy.de. November 1, 1991. Retrieved November 24, 2011.
  2. ↑ Panagiotis Kolokythas: Mad TV . PC world . October 11, 2001. Retrieved June 28, 2014: “ Nothing clever is going on on TV? The series are boring, the films are in their fourth repetition and the game shows are getting on your mind? Then just turn on your computer and manage your own TV channel. This is made possible by the classic game "Mad TV" which is now available for download free of charge. "
  3. ↑ Latest news on Mad TV2 from Greenwood Entertainment . Greenwood Entertainment. November 2, 2001. Archived from the original on March 27, 2002. Retrieved on November 24, 2011: “ The classic Mad TV2 has been released for download at www.gamesdesk.net! "
  4. ^ Carsten Borgmeier: Mad TV . In: Amiga Joker . kultboy.de. January 1, 1992. Retrieved November 24, 2011.
  5. ↑ TVTower - Current Version v0.6.1 [Status: 25.06.2018 10:29 pm] / Downloads + Instructions / GamezWorld.de - Forum. Retrieved July 10, 2018 .
  6. ↑ "Mad TV Online" throws us back into the television game paradise of the 90s . In: Oiger . August 24, 2014 ( online [accessed July 10, 2018]).