DEVO presents Adventures of the Smart Patrol™© 1995 | |
Created By: | Inscape and Gerald V. Casale |
Publisher: | Inscape |
Platforms:[1] [2] |
|
Controls: | Point and Click |
Perspective: | First-Person POV |
Gameplay: | Interactive Movie |
Release Date: | 1996-07-31 |
DEVO Presents: Adventures of the Smart Patrol AKA Adventures of the Smart Patrol is a home computer game announced in 1995[3] and released in 1996.
It contains many images and themes that DEVO had wanted to release in different media,[4] including a movie they developed. A 2018 article indicates that the DEVO musical has a similar basis. [5]
This title can be considered a "movie game" or interactive film which uses full-motion footage of live action video.
This is a Myst-style first person adventure game but it also includes many more characters than Myst as well as lots of music content and humor. The script had the game divided into "hours,"[6] and was pretty hard to solve (here's a walkthrough) and was not well received. [7] Although EW (Entertainment Weekly) notes:
- "You can’t fault Devo’s tech cred: Unlike most rock artists, the band (led by Mark Mothersbaugh and Jerry Casale) was deeply involved in all aspects of the CD-ROM, scripting the story, composing the music, overseeing the graphics".[8]
- ◦ The game was accompanied by the soundtrack release, Devo Presents Music From Adventures of the Smart Patrol.
This CD-ROM game soundtrack includes tracks directly from the game. Other soundtracks of the era used musical adaptations.
- ◦ The game was accompanied by the soundtrack release, Devo Presents Music From Adventures of the Smart Patrol.
- ◦ Inscape was founded by Michael Nash, who likes Devo and "transgressive work." [9]
Creative Team:[]
- Jerry, Mark, and Mutato Muzika are credited with “Music and Sound Design.” Jerry is credited with creating the game with Inscape and as "Writer and Creative Director" and video “Director.”
- Full credits are listed on the "Credits" page.
- Jerry used the Macromedia software "Director" (version 4.0.4 - from 1994) and did work in Mutato Muzika facilities on this project.[10][11]
“Multimedia allows us to articulate the whole Devo world and philosophy. We can create an experience that gets right to the root of it, namely, that we think we know whats going on, but no one actually does.” … “If you survive these obstacles, you get to defeat the clock. Then you go back into the world and discover that what you thought was the story was not the real story at all.” - Jerry (1995)[12]
“...I just did Adventures of the Smart Patrol with [Devo bandmate] Jerry Casale. It has a lot of extraspecial things for hard-core Devo fans--songs that have never been released anywhere else, hidden archives, Devo ranting and philosophy. There are about 500 illustrations, and you can see where we got a lot of the original artwork for Devo album covers.” - Mark (1996)[13]
Promotion:[]
The CD-ROM game was announced and promoted in print and online. This included advertisements, interviews, and an official website. Physical promotional materials were also released.
Print Ads:[]
- • "DEVO PRESENTS ADVENTURES OF THE SMART PATROL"
Promotional Materials:[]
Website:[]
- ◦ The interactive website featured game info [16] and online ordering information, screen shots, a site guide with character and location info [17], game scripts[18] - beginning with “Hour 1”,[19] tour dates, a chat room [20] (which featured the first live online Q&A with DEVO[21]), Macromedia flash video animation and an Inscape weblink.[22] Site visitors could navigate through several images into Smart Patrol headquarters via a password log in.[23]
- ◦ Website optimized for low bandwidth and 640x480 display with minimum 256 colors.
- ◦ Fans could get the info listed in the trading card packs for free on over 20 people, places, things, and recombinant beasts. ClubDEVO would later list the glossary "The Alphabetical Guide To Spudland."
Gameplay:[]
- Reviewer Ty Burr says: “You have 12 game hours to travel to various locations while helping the five Gen-X members of the Smart Patrol capture the renegade lab mutant Turkey Monkey, discover a cure for the bone-dissolving disease Osso Bucco Myelitis, and overcome such bad guys as monopolistic health-care provider Universal Health Systems, right-wing fundamentalist Pilgrims, and Big Media (BM for short). If that's not enough, you have to be clued in to various allied good guys like scientists Sun Wang Pin and Dr. Byrthfood, ethereal prankster Booji Boy, and his father, General Boy.” “To advance to the game's later stages, you have to collect five old Devo videos...”
Rating:[]
- The front and back of the packaging lists a “Mature 17+” ESRB rating. [24]
Press - Announcements and Reviews:[]
- Kim, A. (1995, February) "Digital projects in the works". Entertainment Weekly. [25]
- Mitchell, G. (1995, May) “Inscape Betting It's A Good Day For ‘Bad Day'.” Computer Retail Week.[26]
- Caruso, D. (1995, May 22) "Inside the World of Video Games". Technology: Digital Commerce. Business. New York Times. [27]
- Honeywell, S. (1995, July). “E3 In Review”. Computer Game Review and CD-ROM Entertainment[28]
- Cook, D. (1995, August) “Convention Report”. Dragon Magazine[29]
- Scorpia (1995, August) “Off The Beaten Path”. Computer Gaming World[30]
- Mapes, R. (1996, February) “New High For Devo Devotees” Computer Life[31]
- Filippone, M. (1996, August 19) "D E V O Still Around And Busy". FlipMusic, Music Fandom, Delphi Online[32]
- Burr, T. (1996, September 6) "Devo presents: Adventures of the Smart Patrol". Entertainment Weekly. EW.com.[33]
- Bonzai. (1996, October) “Devo Unzipped”. Computer Life. [34]
- Kois, J. - Publisher. (1996, October) "Devo Presents Adventures of the Smart Patrol". indelibleNews![35]
- Hendrickson, T. (1996, December) "Devo Presents Adventures Of The Smart Patrol". CMJ New Music Monthly.[36]
- Cohen, M. L. (1996, December) “Reviews.” Computer Life [37]
- Burr, T. (1996, December 27) "The Best and Worst 1996/Multimedia". Entertainment Weekly. [38]
- Bickford, C. (1997, January) “Revenge of the turkey-monkey.” [MacUser. [39]
- Lombreglia, R. (1997, June 5). "Devo Presents Adventures of the Smart Patrol". "What happened to MULTI MEDIA?" TheAtlantic.com.[40]
Notes and References:[]
- ◦ In the pursuit of Big Media, Time Warner agreed to merge with Turner Broadcasting System in 1995. TW also consolidated Time Warner Interactive and WarnerActive, which were "rolled into" Inscape.[41]
- ◦ This game was one of the “hands-on selection of interactive CD-ROMs” presented at the Dallas Video Festival.[42]
- ↑ Internet Archive. CD-ROM Software Library - Free Download: "Adventures of the Smart Patrol by Devo". Uploaded by denzquix. CD-ROM image - "A WINDOWS AND MACINTOSH CD-ROM...© 1995"
- ↑ Newspaper advertisement. (1996, September 22) New York Times pg.F32 "WEA Interactive DEVO Smart Patrol - DEVO presents adventures of the Smart Patrol - Surrealistic Blade Runner-on-steroids netherworld, seething with mega-corporate villainy, rabid techno-science and dangerously mutated humor - CD-ROM for Windows/Mac - $29.95"
- ↑ "Devo presents: Adventures of the Smart Patrol - A politically incorrect CD-ROM game. Coming January 1996" - December 1995 print ad. Scanned from RetroAds by Game Mag Print Ads 🤖 on Cohost.(2023, April 10) https://cohost.org/gamemagprintads/post/1314818-devo-presents-adven
- ↑ Marilyn A. Gillen. “We Are Not Roms”, Multimedia Music: CD ROMS Give Users Listeners Opportunity To Play More Than The Music. Billboard, p.63, (1995, November 11).
https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/90s/1995/BB-1995-11-11.pdf
"Devo had a lot of ideas and concepts and humor that we never got to use because we were funneled into being a band on a label putting out pop records and doing videos for MTV...”
- ↑ Ruskin, Zack. (2018, June 28). "What the World Needs Now Is Devo". SF Weekly. sfweekly.com/music/what-the-world-needs-now-is-devo/article_05acea23-a184-563e-8bbf-ededd596388a.html (From archive.org).
- ↑ Internet Archive. enigmacom.com/Inscape/ASP*. "Adventures of the Smart Patrol: The Script: Hour 1. promotional website
- ↑ MobyGames. Devo Presents: Adventures of the Smart Patrol.
- ↑ Entertainment Weekly. (1996-9-6). "Devo Presents: Adventures of the Smart Patrol" - EW.com.
- ↑ archive.org. Coupland, K. (1995-3-1) "Bringing Weirdness to the Massess" WIRED. "There is a huge audience out there for radical alternative subversive perspectives, what I call transgressive work..."
- ↑ Crisafulli, C. (1997, February 04) “DEVO EVOLVED: The band members are going forward into an eclectic stew of mainstream endeavors”. Los Angeles Times. OCF1. “DEVO: Band’s New Multimedia Projects.” "Jerry Casale, though not part of the Mutato staff, is a frequent visitor and recently used the facilities to develop a new Devo CD-ROM interactive game."
- ↑ Wictor, Thomas. “Chapter Eleven: The Pelvis and Positive Thinking.” Jerry Casale, February 18, 1997. In Cold Sweat: Interviews with Really Scary Musicians, p.152, (2001).
https://archive.org/details/incoldsweatinter00wict/page/152/mode/2up?q=%22Adventures+of+the+Smart+Patrol%22“...I'm involved in songs, not scores, and I'm involved in CD ROMs of course, and I put out a CD ROM based on an old Devo idea called Adventures of the Smart Patrol. I wrote, scripted, and directed it. And we did everything at Mutato—produced it there for a company called Inscape.”
- ↑ "Gerald Casale, member of Devo: putting a groove on multimedia”. The Industry Speaks. indelibleNews! Vol 1, #5 (1995, May).
indelibleink.com/iscasale.html (From archive.org).
Reposted at Planet Earth - https://electricdimension.tripod.com/interviews/14.html
- ↑ Pamela Des Barres. "You Say You Want a Devo-lution": "Mark Mothersbaugh whips up a high-tech empire". Features. The Hot Spot, E! Online, (1996).
e3.eonline.com/Hot/Features/Mothersbaugh (From archive.org). [partially archived]
Full article reposted at Planet Earth - https://electricdimension.tripod.com/interviews/7.html (From archive.org).
- ↑ Pilmer, M. "Other paper items." "Adventures of the Smart Patrol - TRADING CARDS - Included with boxed video game 1996." https://www.devo-obsesso.com/html/paper-itempages/other/smartpatrol-cards html Archived images – Cards Obverse. Cards Reverse.
- ↑ lib.utexas.edu. Briscoe Center for American History - The University of Texas at Austin. "Artifacts" - "DEVO Adventures of the Smart Patrol trading card packs". A Guide to the Billy Cain Papers, ca. 1998-2009. ("Forms part of the UT Videogame Archive.")
- ↑ game info. Enigma com/Inscape/ASP/home/index.html
- ↑ site guide. Enigma com/Inscape/ASP/home/nav/tocframe.html
- ↑ game scripts. enigmacom com/Inscape/ASP/home/site/script.html
- ↑ Hour 1. enigmacom com/Inscape/ASP/home/site/script01.html
- ↑ Chat Room. enigmacom com/chat/inscape.chat
- ↑ “Thank you for making our first LIVE chat with DEVO a success! Watch for future chats with the band and members of the Smart Patrol in the weeks to come.“ enigmacom com/Inscape/ASP/home/nav/chat.html
- ↑ iNSCAPE. pathfinder.com/Inscape
- ↑ Welcome page. Enigma com com/Inscape/ASP/home/index.html
- ↑ "Devo Presents: Adventures of the Smart Patrol - Images". LaunchBox. gamesdb.launchbox-app.com/games/images/101756-devo-presents-adventures-of-the-smart-patrol From archive.org.
- ↑ "Digital projects in the works". “A Superhero Unmasked”. By Albert Kim. Entertainment Weekly. 2/24/95 - 3/3/95, Issue 263/264, p126. Section: Multimedia.
Abstract - Announces multimedia products in the works for release in 1995 including CD-ROMs “Behind The Mask” and “Devo Presents Adventures of the Smart Patrol.” Kim writes: “From Devo, the original flowerpot-hatted New Wavers, comes Devo Presents Adventures of the Smart Patrol, a CD-ROM game due in the fall from Inscape. Two of Devo's founders, Gerald V. Casale and Mark Mothersbaugh, will write the interactive sci-fi story, in which players battle a sinister force known as Big Entertainment. We assume that before you try to boot up the software, you'll arm yourself with a whip that you can crack.”
- ↑ “Inscape Betting It's A Good Day For ‘Bad Day'.” By Gabrielle Mitchell. Computer Retail Week; 5/8/95 & 5/15/95, Vol. 5 Issue 99, p36, 1/5p, 1 Color Photograph.
Abstract - “Focuses on the software releases from Inscape which use the cuting-edge approach and attention to graphics. Inscape as joint venture between HBO and Warner Music Group; Titles which include `The Residents' Bad Day on the Midway'; `The Dark Eye'; `Devo Presents Adventures of the Smart Patrol'; `Psychasm'.”
- ↑ Caruso, D. (1995, May 22) "Inside the World of Video Games". "Technology: Digital Commerce; Innovation appears to be a scarce commodity. How will multimedia's new talent emerge from the interactive ooze?" New York Times. pg.D3
- ↑ Steve Honeywell – Editor. “E3 In Review: The Industry Journeys to Los Angeles to Hobnob with the Stars of Gaming…" Computer Game Review and CD-ROM Entertainment, Vol 4, #12, page 94, (1995, July).
https://archive.org/details/computer-game-review-issue-48-july-1995/page/n93/mode/2up?q=Devo"The Spudboys are back, and Inscape's got ‘em! Slated for release in October is Devo Presents Adventures of the Smart Patrol, in which the devo-lutionary good guys are pitted in battle against the forces of corporate evil incarnate."
- ↑ David “Zeb” Cook. “Convention Report”. “Things I Learned at E3”. E3 Con Report. Dragon Magazine. (1995, August) [PDF]
https://annarchive.com/files/Drmg220.pdf“...And last, but hardly least, my complete favorite for lunacy, Adventures of the Smart Patrol by the band Devo (remember them?) and Inscape, producers of the Residents Freak Show. Hey, in what other game do you get to save Spudland from the dreaded Osso- bucco Myelitis (which turns your bones to jelly) and battle the Turkey Monkey all in the same disk?
Oh, the things we can all look forward to.”
- ↑ Scorpia - Contributing Editor. “Off The Beaten Path”. Adventure. Autumn Avalache. Computer Gaming World, #133, page 51, (1995, August).
https://archive.org/details/cgw_museum_pdfs/cgw_133/page/51/mode/1up?q=Devo“If you like games based on other media, you'll have quite a variety this year.” … “Musical groups Devo and Queensryche both have interactive adventures in development. For those who understand the ways of devolution, Inscape has Devo Presents: ADVENTURES OF THE SMART PATROL, а surrealistic adventure mixing full motion video and animation that pits The Smart Patrol, a musical group of counterculturites, against corporate evils. The game is being created by Devo's Gerald Casale and Mark Mothersbaugh.”
- ↑ “New High For Devo Devotees”. By Rob Mapes. Computer Life; Feb. 1996, Vol. 3 Issue 2, p40, 1/2p, 3 Color Photographs.
Abstract - “Presents the computer software 'Devo Presents Adventures of the Smart Patrol,' released by Inscape featuring the music performers Devo. Music and audio track designers; Date of release; Price; Contact information.”
- ↑ Maggie "Flip" Filippone - Forum Manager. "D E V O Still Around And Busy", News, FlipMusic. Music Fandom, Delphi Internet Services Corp. (1996, August 19).
people.delphi.com/flipmusic/news081996.htm
Reposted at Planet Earth - https://electricdimension.tripod.com/interviews/5.html (From archive.org).“The upcoming CD-ROM virtual reality game is called Adventures of the Smart Patrol on Inscape, due out some time this month.”
- ↑ “Hopelessly Devoted.” Game review By Ty Burr. Entertainment Weekly. 9/6/96, Issue 343, p78. 2p. 1 Color Photograph. Section: Multimedia. “Adventures of the Smart Patrol, ‘the seminal new-wave band DEVO brings its arcane future schlock into the interactive age. But is it all just an inside joke?” EW.com. https://ew.com/article/1996/09/06/devo-presents-adventures-smart-patrol/
Burr says “playing the game requires immersing yourself in a near-future universe” and they dislike this “hermetic” quality. Burr says the game has “buggy navigational controls” that “are too small to manage easily: Clicking to bring up the Options menu often sends you to the next screen instead.” Burr dislikes the visual style and “impenetrable gameplay.” Burr doesn’t see satirical intent here but does recognize it in the works of “Firesign Theatre.” Burr says “the designers seem to have used the spectral Japanese CD-ROM adventure Gadget as a reference point.”
- ↑ “Devo Unzipped”. By Bonzai. Computer Life; Oct96, Vol. 3 Issue 10, p44, 2p, 4 Color Photographs.
Abstract - Bonzai interviews musician Mark Mothersbaugh about producing the CD-ROM Adventures of the Smart Patrol. Musical transitions; Experiences on the Internet computer network; Archival material on the CD-ROM.
- ↑ John Kois, Publisher. "Devo Presents Adventures of the Smart Patrol". Adventure & Mystery. indelibleNews!, Vol 2, #10 (1996, October).
indelibleink.com/adm1004.html (From archive.org).
- ↑ Tad Hendrickson. "Devo Presents Adventures Of The Smart Patrol": (Inscape): CD-ROM. Multimedia. CMJ New Music Monthly. [Vol.1,] Number 40. p.56, (1996, December).
https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/CMJ/1996/CMJ-New-Music-1996-12.pdfThe reward, of course, is the hours and hours of frustrating fun you’ll get from this, not mention new Devo material. Like Devo’s groundbreaking videos, Patrol is an eyeful, with weirdness around every corner and satirical takes on consumer culture and corporate America, among a wealth of other things.
(Note that "Osso Bucco Myelitis" translates literally as bone marrow inflammation. This article says it's "swollen tailbone".)
- ↑ Cohen, Mark L. “Tools for Reviews.” Computer Life; Dec96, Vol. 3 Issue 12, p183, 1/3p, 1 Color Photograph.
Abstract - “Features the computer software Devo Presents Adventures of the Smart Patrol from Inscape. Beat-the-clock theme; Scatological jokes; Contact information.”
- ↑ Ty Burr. "The Best and Worst 1996/Multimedia". Entertainment Weekly (12/27/96).
1 SMASHING PUMPKINS ONLINE CONCERT… 2 WEBSTOCK… 3 STEVEN SPIELBERG'S DIRECTOR'S CHAIR - “Exhibit B in multimedia's not-ready-for-prime-time status in Hollywood--the assumption being that if you put enough big names on the CD-ROM box (Jennifer Aniston, Quentin Tarantino), it'll make for a good product. But rearranging segments shot by Spielberg into some semblance of order is an experience more Pavlovian than creative.”… 4 DEVO: ADVENTURES OF THE SMART PATROL - “The flip side of Peter Gabriel's upcoming, majestic Eve, here's a CD-ROM from '80s rockers encrusted with cliches, and not just the toothlessly campy sci-fi ones Devo are still flogging. Smart Patrol ossifies the conventions of in-your-face multimedia experiences (overbearing jargon, annoying complexity, diluted film noir). Whip it!--right out of your disc drive.”
5 ELECTION '96...
- ↑ “Revenge of the turkey-monkey.” by Carolyn Bickford. MacUser. Jan97, Vol. 13 Issue 1, p25, 1/3p, 1 Color Photograph.
Abstract - “Describes three CD-ROM titles for the Macintosh. The Crow: The Complete Interactive Collection; Wishbone; Devo Presents Adventures of the Smart Patrol.”
- ↑ Ralph Lombreglia."Devo Presents Adventures of the Smart Patrol". "What happened to MULTI MEDIA?" Digital Culture. Atlantic Unbound. TheAtlantic.com (1997, June 5).
https://www.theatlantic.com/past/docs/unbound/digicult/dc9706/dc9706.htm (From archive.org)." 'Devo Presents Adventures of the Smart Patrol' (Inscape, 1996) is not only my favorite among these titles, it's one of the best pieces of interactive multimedia I've ever seen, period."
- ↑ "TW to roll interactives into Inscape". News. Digital. Variety. (1995, October, 9).
https://variety.com/1995/digital/news/tw-to-roll-interactives-into-inscape-99128642/
- ↑ Adam Langer, (2000) North American Film Festivals, The Film Festival Guide, Chicago Review Press
“Dallas Video Festival” …“(Late March [annually])...” “Founded by the Video Association of Dallas in 1987, the DVF has provided one of the strongest selections of video screenings nationwide.” “In addition, the festival presents... a hands-on selection of interactive CD-ROMs (e.g., Adventures of the Smart Patrol featuring Devo).”
External Links:[]
- ◦ “Gerald Casale Interview and Presentation, 1995”. (1995, May 20). Uploaded to YouTube via Stagevu.com upload by Reality Monitor.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AY8sB0EFr8
- ◦ "DEVO PRESENTS ADVENTURES OF THE SMART PATROL -- CUTSCENES & AUDIO". INFORMATION SHOULD BE FREE! S.P.U.D.S.
https://spudsinternetarchive.neocities.org/specialties (https://archive.ph/1ZGpm#selection-87.0-87.65)
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