ICOM Simulations
Encyclopedia
ICOM Simulations was a software company based in Wheeling, Illinois
. It is best known for creating the MacVenture
series of adventure games including Shadowgate
.
Following the foundation in 1983 a number of game titles for the Panasonic JR-200
were produced. Later products for the Apple Macintosh included the debugger
TMON and an application launching utility called OnCue.
series, ICOM pioneered the point-and-click adventure interface and later multiplatform CD-ROM development with Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective
.
In the early-to-mid 1990s, ICOM Simulations was a major third party developer for the TurboGrafx-16
platform in the US. They produced many games for the console, including the TG-16 exclusive Shadowgate sequel, Beyond Shadowgate
.
The company was acquired in 1993 by Viacom New Media
which closed its operations in 1997. Renamed to Rabid Entertainment, VNM/ICOM was dismantled in 1998.
The rights to ICOM's game portfolio is currently held by the company Infinite Ventures.
Wheeling, Illinois
Wheeling is a village in Cook County, Illinois, United States, and a suburb of Chicago. The population was 34,496 at the 2000 census, and 38,555 at the 2006 special village census.-Geography:Wheeling is located at ....
. It is best known for creating the MacVenture
MacVenture
The MacVenture games is a series of four adventure games introducing a characteristic menu-based point-and-click interface. They were originally developed for the Apple Macintosh by ICOM Simulations:*Deja Vu: a Nightmare Comes True...
series of adventure games including Shadowgate
Shadowgate
Shadowgate is a 1987 "point-and-click" adventure video game originally for the Apple Macintosh and is the most popular in the MacVenture series. It was also ported to the Atari ST home computer and was also released in 1989 for the Nintendo Entertainment System, where it garnered mild success. The...
.
Following the foundation in 1983 a number of game titles for the Panasonic JR-200
Panasonic JR-200
The Panasonic JR-200U was a simple, relatively early , 8-bit home computer with a chiclet keyboard somewhat similar to the VTech Laser 200.Made of silver grey plastic it had a black matte area around the keyboard area...
were produced. Later products for the Apple Macintosh included the debugger
Debugger
A debugger or debugging tool is a computer program that is used to test and debug other programs . The code to be examined might alternatively be running on an instruction set simulator , a technique that allows great power in its ability to halt when specific conditions are encountered but which...
TMON and an application launching utility called OnCue.
History
ICOM Simulations was formed as TMQ Software in the early 1980s by Tod Zipnick. With the MacVentureMacVenture
The MacVenture games is a series of four adventure games introducing a characteristic menu-based point-and-click interface. They were originally developed for the Apple Macintosh by ICOM Simulations:*Deja Vu: a Nightmare Comes True...
series, ICOM pioneered the point-and-click adventure interface and later multiplatform CD-ROM development with Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective
Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective
Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective is a full motion video based video game predicated on a book-based game of the same name. It was first developed by ICOM Simulations for the FM Towns computer and later ported to DOS, Apple Macintosh, Commodore CDTV, TurboGrafx-CD and Sega CD with all versions...
.
In the early-to-mid 1990s, ICOM Simulations was a major third party developer for the TurboGrafx-16
TurboGrafx-16
TurboGrafx-16, fully titled as TurboGrafx-16 Entertainment SuperSystem and known in Japan as the , is a video game console developed by Hudson Soft and NEC, released in Japan on October 30, 1987, and in North America on August 29, 1989....
platform in the US. They produced many games for the console, including the TG-16 exclusive Shadowgate sequel, Beyond Shadowgate
Beyond Shadowgate
Beyond Shadowgate is a TurboGrafx CD sequel to the 1987 Mac and MacVenture Shadowgate. Unlike its predecessor, Beyond Shadowgate is a classical point-and-click adventure viewed from a platform perspective. The player controls Prince Erik, the descendant of the hero from the first game, Lord Jair...
.
The company was acquired in 1993 by Viacom New Media
Viacom (1971–2005)
Viacom , stylized as VIACOM in its current logo, was an American media conglomerate. It was the owner of CBS, Nickelodeon & MTV, among others. Effective December 31, 2005, this corporate entity changed its name to CBS Corporation...
which closed its operations in 1997. Renamed to Rabid Entertainment, VNM/ICOM was dismantled in 1998.
The rights to ICOM's game portfolio is currently held by the company Infinite Ventures.