El Tesoro de Isla Alcachofa

Alcachofa Soft by this point had been around for a few years; the developers' first game had been 1996's Dráscula: The Vampire Strikes Back, and despite it having good reviews they were not overly pleased with their creation - they endeavoured to make their following projects more ambitious and innovative.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ctv.es/USERS/alcsoft/page2.html|title=Dráscula|date=December 5, 1998|website=CTV|page=2|language=es|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19981205171334/http://www.ctv.es/USERS/alcsoft/page2.html|archive-date=1998-12-05|access-date=2019-09-07}}

The process of creating the game was "laborious and long".{{Cite web|url=http://www.alcachofasoft.com/web/esp/Web%201.0/Juegos/Isla/Makingof/making.htm|title=Cómo se hizo...|date=November 13, 2004|website=Alcachofa Soft|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041113162230/http://www.alcachofasoft.com/web/esp/Web%201.0/Juegos/Isla/Makingof/making.htm|archive-date=2004-11-13|access-date=2019-08-14}} The game incorporated "interactive humour", and a narrative inspiration from Treasure Island.{{Cite web|url=http://www.alcachofasoft.com/Web%202.0/Web%201.0/Juegos/Isla/Makingof/Design/design.htm|title=El diseño|date=December 26, 2003|website=Alcachofa Soft|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031226031223/http://www.alcachofasoft.com/Web%202.0/Web%201.0/Juegos/Isla/Makingof/Design/design.htm|archive-date=2003-12-26|access-date=2019-08-14}} The team wanted to have a 2D graphic adventure, and to distinguish themselves from the soon to be released Monkey Island 3, they hand drew the characters rather than on a computer.{{Cite web|url=http://www.alcachofasoft.com/Web%202.0/Web%201.0/Juegos/Isla/Makingof/Graficos/graficos.htm|title=Los gráficos|date=December 26, 2003|website=Alcachofa Soft|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031226031305/http://www.alcachofasoft.com/Web%202.0/Web%201.0/Juegos/Isla/Makingof/Graficos/graficos.htm|archive-date=2003-12-26|access-date=2019-08-14}} Alcachofa Soft suggested that their game had "one of the best dubbing, if not the best, in the history of video games in Spanish", including their main character portrayed by regular Will Smith dubber and the voice of Fry in Futurama Iván Muelas.{{Cite web|url=http://www.alcachofasoft.com:80/Web%202.0/Web%201.0/Juegos/Isla/Makingof/Doblaje/doblaje.htm|title=El doblaje|date=February 7, 2004|website=Alcachofa Soft|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040207044239/http://www.alcachofasoft.com/Web%202.0/Web%201.0/Juegos/Isla/Makingof/Doblaje/doblaje.htm|archive-date=2004-02-07|access-date=2019-08-14}} The soundtrack was recorded at Albert Moraleda's studio in Barcelona by a section of musicians from the Vallés Symphony Orchestra.{{Cite web|url=http://www.alcachofasoft.com/Web%202.0/Web%201.0/Juegos/Isla/Makingof/Musica/musica.htm|title=La música|date=December 26, 2003|website=Alcachofa Soft|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031226032559/http://www.alcachofasoft.com/Web%202.0/Web%201.0/Juegos/Isla/Makingof/Musica/musica.htm|archive-date=2003-12-26|access-date=2019-08-14}} Its technology was provided by DirectX, while the design featured hand-painted backgrounds, and 16 bit colour graphics.{{Cite web|url=http://fecot.tripod.com/avgraf/alcachofa/entrevista.htm|title=ENTREVISTA A EMILIO PAZ|last=Romero|first=Eric|date=March 5, 2001|website=Fecot|language=es|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010305221618/http://fecot.tripod.com/avgraf/alcachofa/entrevista.htm|archive-date=2001-03-05}} The game was in development for over two years.{{Cite journal|last=Prada|first=Carolina|date=July 13, 2000|title=Desarrolladores "made in Spain"|url=https://www.elmundo.es/ariadna/2000/A007/A007pag18.html|journal=Ariadna|issue=7}} The soundtrack included the "Canción del Pirata Campeón" composed by Emilio de Paz and performed by the group "Los Inhumanos".{{Cite web|url=http://www.ctv.es/USERS/alcsoft/Products/isla.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010707053959/http://www.ctv.es/USERS/alcsoft/Products/isla.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2001-07-07|title=El Tesoro de Isla Alcachofa|date=2001-07-07|access-date=2019-09-08}}

The game became Alcachofa Soft's first effort entirely independently, without a publisher or external distributor.{{Cite web|url=http://macedoniamagazine.frodrig.com/etapa_2001_2002/aula/aventura/av-articulo4.htm|title=LAS AVENTURAS 3D|website=Macedonia Magazine}} Meristation felt the game had an opportunity to captivate the national adventure market though felt it was possible for global permeation.{{Cite web|url=http://meristation.com/cgi-bin/ref2.exe?aventura/cotillaaalcaisla.htm|title=El Tesoro de la Isla Alcachofa: Nueva aventura española|date=October 22, 2000|website=Meristation|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001022023724/http://meristation.com/cgi-bin/ref2.exe?aventura%2Fcotillaaalcaisla.htm|archive-date=2000-10-22|access-date=2019-09-07}} The developers put out a special message requesting players not to pirate the game.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ctv.es/USERS/alcsoft/Products/Isla/piratas.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010707103832/http://www.ctv.es/USERS/alcsoft/Products/Isla/piratas.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2001-07-07|title=Nota para piratas|date=2001-07-07|access-date=2019-09-08}} As part of its coverage of the game, CTV published a multi-part section entitled How El Tesoro de Isla Alcachofa was made.{{Cite web|url=http://www.ctv.es/USERS/alcsoft/page15.html|title=Preview|date=September 8, 1999|website=CTV|page=15|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19990908023435/http://www.ctv.es/USERS/alcsoft/page15.html|archive-date=1999-09-08|access-date=2019-09-07}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.ctv.es/USERS/alcsoft/page11.html|title=Personajes|date=November 4, 1999|website=CTV|page=11|language=es|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991104061207/http://www.ctv.es/USERS/alcsoft/page11.html|archive-date=1999-11-04|access-date=2019-09-07}} In 2000, Alcachofa Soft distributed more than 100,000 units of both "Isla Alcachofa" and "Mortadelo y Filemón", just within Spanish territories.{{Cite web|url=http://www.alcachofasoft.com/nosotros.htm|title=HISTORIA DE LA COMPAÑÍA|date=2009|website=Alcachofa Soft|access-date=2019-08-14}} The developer aimed to release a second version of the title featuring a 1024x768 resolution and new puzzles.{{Cite web|url=http://www.aventuraycia.com/review.php?id=26|title=¿ Y qué diablos es una alcachofa?|last=Martínez|first=José Antonio|date=June 19, 2003|website=Aventura Y Cia|language=es|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030619175947/http://www.aventuraycia.com/review.php?id=26|archive-date=2003-06-19}}

In 2009, Alcachofa Soft undertook a new distribution strategy by launching an "Alcachofa Essentials" label under which they sold low-cost downloadable version of its best classics, such as "Mortadelo y Filemón: Una aventura de cine" and "El Tesoro de Isla Alcachofa" with improvements such as unpublished "extra" material.{{Cite web|url=https://www.todojuegos.com/noticia-10181/Alcachofa-Soft-inagura-tienda-online|title=ALCACHOFA SOFT INAGURA TIENDA ONLINE|date=August 30, 2009|website=Todo Juegos}}

File:El Tesoro de Isla Alcachofa screenshot.png

The plot revolves around a petty thief named Jim Guinderslifth{{Cite web|url=http://www.alcachofasoft.com/Web%202.0/Web%201.0/Juegos/Isla/Perso/personaj.htm#Jim|title=Los personajes.|date=December 17, 2003|website=Alcachofa Soft|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031217201910/http://www.alcachofasoft.com/Web%202.0/Web%201.0/Juegos/Isla/Perso/personaj.htm#Jim|archive-date=2003-12-17|access-date=2019-08-14}} who has caught wind of an expedition leaving Bristol to discover a new continent. He soon realises that they are on a quest to find the lost treasure of Pirate Frink which is supposedly held at Alcachofa Island.{{Cite web|url=http://www.alcachofasoft.com/Web%202.0/Web%201.0/Juegos/Isla/Introd/introdu.htm|title=Introducción|date=December 17, 2003|website=Alcachofa Soft|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031217200813/http://www.alcachofasoft.com/Web%202.0/Web%201.0/Juegos/Isla/Introd/introdu.htm|archive-date=2003-12-17|access-date=2019-08-14}}

In a contemporary review, Meristation suggested the game would appeal to those who were nostalgic for the gameplay and narrative of The Secret of Monkey Island, adding that the title was coherent, balanced and fun.{{Cite web|url=http://meristation.com/analisis/2000/4Trimestre/ElTesoroDeIslaAlcachofa.htm|title=Análisis: EL TESORO DE ISLA ALCACHOFA|last=El Bárbaro|date=November 2, 2000|website=MeriStation|language=es|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010305231210/http://meristation.com/analisis/2000/4Trimestre/ElTesoroDeIslaAlcachofa.htm|archive-date=2001-03-05}} In a retrospective piece, Meristation deemed it competent, but lacking in the qualities to make it a high value video game.{{Cite web|url=https://as.com/meristation/2000/11/02/analisis/973141560_016163.html|title=Una isla con pocos monos y muchas alcachofas|last=El Bárbaro|date=January 26, 2015|website=MeriStation|language=es|access-date=2019-08-14}} In another article, they mentioned that while many Spanish video game received poor reviews, this is one game that was saved from negative criticism{{Cite web|url=https://as.com/meristation/2007/09/12/avances/1189576800_012075.html|title=The Abbey|date=April 14, 2012|website=MeriStation|language=es|access-date=2019-08-14}} and further deemed it "especially remarkable" within the context of Alcachofa Soft's output.{{Cite web|url=https://as.com/meristation/2003/02/24/analisis/1046070000_013517.html|title=Dos pelos y mucha aventura|last=Fernández|first=José M.|date=March 3, 2012|website=MeriStation|language=es|access-date=2019-09-07}} Vandal deemed it "most ambitious".{{Cite web|url=https://vandal.elespanol.com/reportaje/a-proposito-de-las-aventuras-graficas|title=A Propósito de las Aventuras Gráficas|last=Gomez|first=Julio|date=2018|website=Vandal|language=es-es|access-date=2019-08-14}} Conversational Adventures Newsletter Number 44 commented on the "crazy sense of humor and the hilarious dialogues".{{Cite journal|date=August 2, 2000|title=Boletín sobre Aventuras Conversacionales|url=http://mirrors.ibiblio.org/interactive-fiction/magazines/CAAD/caad44.pdf|journal=Segunda Edad|language=es|publisher=CAAD|volume=1|issue=44}}{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/Issue44|title=Alternate source for Boletín sobre Aventuras Conversacionales}} Historia del software español de entretenimiento felt that considering the game's tiny budget, the quality is "remarkable".{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/HistoriaDelSoftwareEspanolDeEntretenimiento_201611|title=Historia del software español de entretenimiento|last=Martínez|first=Fernando Rodríguez|date=February 21, 2003|pages=[https://archive.org/details/HistoriaDelSoftwareEspanolDeEntretenimiento_201611/page/n42 43]|language=es}} La Mazmorra Abandon assessed the game was a "not very ambitious title" and suggested it was created out of a developer passion project rather than to complete in the adventure gaming market. Gry Online felt it was a less classic, "lighter" example of the pirate video gaming genre.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gry-online.pl/S018.asp?ID=393&STR=9|title=Gry pirackie, cz. 2|last=de Lorche|first=Fulko|date=February 28, 2007|website=Gry Online|language=pl}}

• Gilbert Goodmate and the Mushroom of Phungoria
• Hollywood Monsters
• Runaway: A Road Adventure

{{Reflist}}

• [https://archive.org/stream/MicromanaTerceraEpocaSpanishIssue1/Microman%C3%ADa%20Tercera%20Epoca%20%28Spanish%29%20Issue%2071#page/n133/mode/2up Micromania review]
• https://artemadrid.wordpress.com/2009/12/17/el-tesoro-de-la-isla-alcachofa/

{{Alcachofa Soft}}

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Category:2000 video games

Category:Adventure games

Category:Alcachofa Soft games

Category:Single-player video games

Category:Video games about pirates

Category:Video games developed in Spain

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Category:Windows-only games