The 11th Hour (computer game)
Encyclopedia
The 11th Hour is a 1995 puzzle computer game with a horror
setting. It is the sequel to the 1992 game The 7th Guest
. It was developed by Trilobyte
and used a later version of the "Groovie" graphic engine
than that used by The 7th Guest. Like its predecessor game, The 11th Hour features the music of George "The Fat Man" Sanger and Team Fat.
The game opens with the games protagonist, Carl Denning, watching the evening news in his small home. The news canon reports that police have called off the investigation of Denning's producer and apparent love-interest, Robin Morales who was last investigating the Stauf Mansion several weeks ago. The reporter also points out clues from of the events from the first game by stating that seven other guests where reported missing or otherwise dead at the Stauf Mansion sixty years ago. Worried, but somewhat annoyed, Carl clicks off the television right when the doorbell rings. Delivered to his doorstep is the Gamebook, where a confused Carl sees Robin frantically begging for his help. The game then shows several scenes of Carl driving on a motorcycle, apparently heading towards Harley-on-Hudson, where the Stauf Mansion is located. Various flashbacks are seen between two's relationship and how quickly it soured.
Robin, after a long drive to Harley-on-Hudson, stops by a diner to try to get a bite to eat before she starts her investigation. She meets a waitress by the name of Eileen who has her right hand missing. Robin is annoyed by Eileen's incompetence as a waitress, but she still attempts to converse with her. Eileen upon realizing that Robin is the producer from "Case Unsolved" is curious why Robin is in Harley of all places. When Robin admits that she is investigating the Stauf Mansion, Eileen is shocked and is silent. When Robin points out that Eileen is the only person who has encountered the mansion who has lived, Eileen suddenly gets defensive and in denial. Robin remarks that the newspaper stated that Eileen was bitten by a guard dog, thus giving Eileen an alibi for her hand. However, Robin is skeptical and presses on, which Eileen refuses to do so and states that she must get back to work.
had become the standard gaming platform for PC
s; however, the first release of the game was made specifically for MS-DOS
, resulting in many customers being unable to play it properly. Early into its development, a port to the 3DO
was planned, but this was ultimately cancelled.
Trilobyte has confirmed that the game will be released on both the iPhone
and iPad
platforms, sold through the iTunes App Store. The release for iOS was scheduled for summer 2011, but Trilobyte has since postponed the release indefinitely due to serious technical challenges.
writing for Computer Gaming World
gave the game 3 stars. In 2010, UGO
included the game in the article The 11 Weirdest Game Endings.
Horror fiction
Horror fiction also Horror fantasy is a philosophy of literature, which is intended to, or has the capacity to frighten its readers, inducing feelings of horror and terror. It creates an eerie atmosphere. Horror can be either supernatural or non-supernatural...
setting. It is the sequel to the 1992 game The 7th Guest
The 7th Guest
The 7th Guest, produced by Trilobyte and released by Virgin Games in 1993, is an FMV-based puzzle video game. It was one of the first computer video games to be released only on CD-ROM. The 7th Guest is a horror story told from the unfolding perspective of the player, as an amnesiac...
. It was developed by Trilobyte
Trilobyte
Trilobyte is a computer game developer founded in December 1990 by Graeme Devine and Rob Landeros. They are well known in the computer game industry for The 7th Guest and The 11th Hour games, and to a lesser extent for Clandestiny and other titles.- Logo :The official company logo consists of a...
and used a later version of the "Groovie" graphic engine
Game engine
A game engine is a system designed for the creation and development of video games. There are many game engines that are designed to work on video game consoles and personal computers...
than that used by The 7th Guest. Like its predecessor game, The 11th Hour features the music of George "The Fat Man" Sanger and Team Fat.
Gameplay
Overall, the game plays exactly like its predecessor with the same puzzle-based game play structure, but with the additional element of a treasure hunt and more graphic scenes.Story
The game takes place 60 years after the events of the first game. It is now 1995 and the player, as Carl Denning Jr., is an investigative reporter for the television series "Case Unsolved." Robin Morales, his producer and lover, has mysteriously vanished while gathering background information surrounding a series of grisly murders and disappearances in the otherwise quiet little town of Harley-on-the-Hudson. Denning's only solid lead is a portable computer called the Game Book which was delivered to him — postmarked Harley, NY. It may have been sent by Robin. Or perhaps it is the evil handiwork of Stauf himself, updating his craft to meet the demands of the '90s.Plot summary
The game starts when Carl steps into the mansion. The guests from the first game make cameo appearances usually to mock Carl and insisting that his search for Robin is "hopeless". Throughout the game, bits and pieces of Robin's investigation and the mystery behind her disappearance are viewed from the gamebook. Most of the videos by themselves are short and vague. However, once the hour has struck, all the videos accumulated in that hour are strung together to form a ten minute movie that clears most of the confusion.The game opens with the games protagonist, Carl Denning, watching the evening news in his small home. The news canon reports that police have called off the investigation of Denning's producer and apparent love-interest, Robin Morales who was last investigating the Stauf Mansion several weeks ago. The reporter also points out clues from of the events from the first game by stating that seven other guests where reported missing or otherwise dead at the Stauf Mansion sixty years ago. Worried, but somewhat annoyed, Carl clicks off the television right when the doorbell rings. Delivered to his doorstep is the Gamebook, where a confused Carl sees Robin frantically begging for his help. The game then shows several scenes of Carl driving on a motorcycle, apparently heading towards Harley-on-Hudson, where the Stauf Mansion is located. Various flashbacks are seen between two's relationship and how quickly it soured.
Robin, after a long drive to Harley-on-Hudson, stops by a diner to try to get a bite to eat before she starts her investigation. She meets a waitress by the name of Eileen who has her right hand missing. Robin is annoyed by Eileen's incompetence as a waitress, but she still attempts to converse with her. Eileen upon realizing that Robin is the producer from "Case Unsolved" is curious why Robin is in Harley of all places. When Robin admits that she is investigating the Stauf Mansion, Eileen is shocked and is silent. When Robin points out that Eileen is the only person who has encountered the mansion who has lived, Eileen suddenly gets defensive and in denial. Robin remarks that the newspaper stated that Eileen was bitten by a guard dog, thus giving Eileen an alibi for her hand. However, Robin is skeptical and presses on, which Eileen refuses to do so and states that she must get back to work.
Release
The 11th Hour was very late to market and failed to meet sales expectations upon its release. Also, at the time, Microsoft WindowsMicrosoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
had become the standard gaming platform for PC
IBM PC compatible
IBM PC compatible computers are those generally similar to the original IBM PC, XT, and AT. Such computers used to be referred to as PC clones, or IBM clones since they almost exactly duplicated all the significant features of the PC architecture, facilitated by various manufacturers' ability to...
s; however, the first release of the game was made specifically for MS-DOS
MS-DOS
MS-DOS is an operating system for x86-based personal computers. It was the most commonly used member of the DOS family of operating systems, and was the main operating system for IBM PC compatible personal computers during the 1980s to the mid 1990s, until it was gradually superseded by operating...
, resulting in many customers being unable to play it properly. Early into its development, a port to the 3DO
3DO Interactive Multiplayer
The 3DO Interactive Multiplayer is a video game console originally produced by Panasonic in 1993. Further renditions of the hardware were released in 1994 by Sanyo and Goldstar. The consoles were manufactured according to specifications created by The 3DO Company, and were originally designed by...
was planned, but this was ultimately cancelled.
Trilobyte has confirmed that the game will be released on both the iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
and iPad
IPad
The iPad is a line of tablet computers designed, developed and marketed by Apple Inc., primarily as a platform for audio-visual media including books, periodicals, movies, music, games, and web content. The iPad was introduced on January 27, 2010 by Apple's then-CEO Steve Jobs. Its size and...
platforms, sold through the iTunes App Store. The release for iOS was scheduled for summer 2011, but Trilobyte has since postponed the release indefinitely due to serious technical challenges.
Reception
Reviews of the game upon initial release were mixed. Arinn DemboArinn Dembo
Arinn Dembo, born , is an American author currently living and writing in British Columbia, Canada. Dembo is best known for her work with Vancouver-based Kerberos Productions, where she is Lead Writer and has worked on the background fiction for the Sword of the Stars series and Fort Zombie...
writing for Computer Gaming World
Computer Gaming World
Computer Gaming World was a computer game magazine founded in 1981 by Russell Sipe as a bimonthly publication. Early issues were typically 40-50 pages in length, written in a newsletter style, including submissions by game designers such as Joel Billings , Dan Bunten , and Chris Crawford...
gave the game 3 stars. In 2010, UGO
UGO
UGO Entertainment, Inc. is a website providing coverage of online media in entertainment targeting males age 18–34. The company is currently based in New York, New York, United States. On July 24, 2007 it was announced that Hearst Corporation would acquire UGO Entertainment...
included the game in the article The 11 Weirdest Game Endings.
Awards
The 11th Hour won the following awards:- 1995 New Media Invision Awards - Gold-Games Strategy/Puzzle
- 1995 New Media Invision Awards - Bronze-Consumer Interactive Movies
- 1995 International Cindy Competition - Honorable Mention - Consumer Games
- 1995 CD-ROM Today "Rommie" Awards - Best Graphic Adventure
Development
The makers of the game originally intended for it to contain more adult content in its cut scenes; the script for the game (published as part of a walk-through guide) included several R-rated sex scenes. Rumors immediately surfaced that an "uncut" version of 11th Hour existed, leading to the game makers announcing that the R-rated sequences, though planned, were never filmed.External links
- The rise and fall of Trilobyte - Detailed article on the company, including the making of The 11th Hour.