Kether (video game)

Kether is a game that mixes elements of both action and graphic adventure.

Kether was developed by French studio Infogrames through its subsidiary International World Productions (IWP). Infogrames sought to provide early support to publisher Philips and its CD-i during the fourth generation of video game consoles due to advances brought on by the system's optical disc technology.{{cite magazine | author=Lord Casque | date=June 1993 | title=L'ABC du CDI | trans-title=The ABCs of CD-i | url=https://archive.org/details/joystick039/page/n101/mode/2up | magazine=Joystick | publisher=Hachette Filipacchi Médias | issue=39 | pages=102–10 | language=fr | issn=1145-4806}}{{cite magazine | author=Bonnell, Bruno | date=June 1992 | title=Question à Bruno Bonnell | trans-title=Question to Bruno Bonnell | url=https://archive.org/details/science-et-vie-micro-095/page/n28/mode/1up | magazine=Science et Vie micro | publisher=Excelsior Publications | language=fr | issue=95 | page=29 | issn=0760-6516}}{{cite magazine | author=Gómez, Domingo | date=November 1993 | title=Infogrames: En la Vanguardia del Software | trans-title=Infogrames: At the Forefront of Software | url=https://archive.org/details/micromania-segunda-epoca-66/page/n21/mode/2up | magazine=Micromanía | publisher=Hobby Press | issue=66 | pages=22–4 | language=es | issn=9955-8726}} Kether was one of seven projects from IWP, which was specifically established to contribute to a second wave of CD-i software for Philips.{{cite book | author=Hoffos, Signe | date=1992 | title=The CD-I Designers Guide | url=https://archive.org/details/mc-graw-hill-cd-i-designers-guide/page/74/mode/1up | publisher=McGraw Hill Education | isbn=0-07-707-580-3 | page=74}}{{cite magazine | author=Harbonn, Jacques | date=November 1992 | title=Le CD-I chez Infogrames | trans-title=The CD-i at Infogrames | url=https://archive.org/details/Tilt107/page/n57/mode/2up | magazine=Tilt | publisher=Editions Mondiales S.A. | language=fr | issue=107 | pages=58–60 | issn=0753-6968}}

Guy Selva, the game's artistic director and one of its writers, desired to create a space opera that would offer the player the opportunity to take advantage of the CD-i's audio and graphical capabilities. Production mirrored that of a feature film with a script written first and foremost and live actors included via full-motion video cutscenes.{{cite magazine | author=Joystick staff | date=October 1992 | title=En Chantier: Kether | trans-title=Under Construction: Kether | url=https://archive.org/details/joystick031/page/n81/mode/2up | magazine=Joystick | publisher=Hachette Filipacchi Médias | issue=31 | pages=82–3 | language=fr | issn=1145-4806}} The 3D computer-generated imagery work was outsourced to Brussels-based Little Big One (LBO), which utilized Silicon Graphics workstations running TDI Explore and Paintbox software.{{cite magazine | author=Joystick staff | date=September 1992 | title=CDi: Infogrames | url=https://archive.org/details/joystick030/page/n135/mode/2up | magazine=Joystick | publisher=Hachette Filipacchi Médias | issue=30 | pages=136–7 | language=fr | issn=1145-4806}} Production was overseen by Infogrames chairman, CEO, and general director Bruno Bonnell. He mentioned that CD-i games during this period would require an estimated three million franc budget with a minimum of seven people working for 15 months. At this cost, at least 50,000 units would have to be sold to make a profit.

First announced in mid-1992 as The Mystery of Kether (Le Mystère de Kether), it was initially scheduled to launch that September.{{cite magazine | author=Szameitat, Thorsten | date=June 1996 | title=Von der "Pizzeria" zum Softwareprimus: Infogrames | trans-title=From "Pizzeria" to Software Leader: Infogrames | url=https://archive.org/details/play-time-1992-06/page/n21/mode/1up | magazine=Play Time | publisher=Computec | language=de | issue=13 | page=22}} However, it was delayed. By mid-1993, the game had been in development for over two years. Philips finally released it in Europe that October. A television special titled La Nuit des Jeux Vidéo (Video Game Night) aired on channel France 3 on November 26, 1993 and was a collaboration between Philips Media France, Tilt, and Consoles +. As part of the special, individuals competed against one another playing Kether in order to win a copy of the game and a Philips CD-i model 210.{{cite magazine | author=Tilt staff | date=November 1993 | title=Premiere Nuit des Jeux Vidéo | trans-title=First Video Game Night | url=https://archive.org/details/Tilt119/page/n161/mode/2up | magazine=Tilt | publisher=Editions Mondiales S.A. | language=fr | issue=119 | pages=162–3 | issn=0753-6968}}{{cite book | author=Randle, Darren | date=July 7, 2021 | title=Popular Retro Volume 2 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KjQyEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA37 | publisher=Andrews UK | page=37 | isbn=978-1-78-982933-4}} Kether was released in North America in January 1994. The game eventually came bundled with the Maganvox CD-i model 200 in the region.{{cite magazine | author=Philips Media | date=August 1995 | title=Buy the Player and Get the Game Free | url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_61/page/n81/mode/1up | magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly | publisher=Sendai Publishing | issue=61 | page=77 | issn=1058-918X}}

{{VG Reviews

| CVG = 84%{{cite magazine | author=CVG staff | date=June 1994 | title=Group Test: All-Formats Shoot-'Em-Ups Games | url=https://archive.org/details/computer-and-video-games-magazine/Computer%20and%20Video%20Games%20151/page/n108/mode/1up | magazine=Computer and Video Games | publisher=Future plc | issue=151 | pages=109, 111 | issn=0261-3697}}

| Edge=6/10{{cite magazine | author=Edge staff | date=January 1994 | title=test screen: Kether | url=https://archive.org/details/edge-004-january-1994/page/79/mode/1up | magazine=Edge | publisher=Future plc | issue=4 | page=79 | issn=1350-1593}}

| EGM = 23/40{{cite magazine | author1=Semrad, Ed | author2=Carpenter, Danyon | author3=Manuel, Al | author4=Sushi-X | title=Review Crew: Kether | url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_56/page/n37/mode/1up | magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly | publisher=Sendai Publishing | issue=56 | page=38 | issn=1058-918X}}

| GamePro = 3.3/5{{cite magazine | author=Uggs the Bugg | date=April 1994 | title=ProReview: Kether | url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_057_April_1994/page/n93/mode/1up | magazine=GamePro | publisher=International Data Group | issue=57 | page=108 | issn=1042-8658}}

| JS = 95%{{cite magazine | author=Darnaudet, Jérôme | date=December 1993 | title=CD Tests: Kether | url=https://archive.org/details/joystick044/page/n193/mode/2up | magazine=Joystick | publisher=Hachette Filipacchi Médias | issue=44 | pages=194–5 | language=fr | issn=1145-4806}}

| NGen = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine | author=Next Generation staff | date=February 1995 | title=finals: Kether | url=https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_02/page/n95/mode/1up | magazine=Next Generation | publisher=Imagine Media | issue=2 | page=94 | issn=1078-9693}}

| TILT = 79%{{cite magazine | author=Feroyd, Morgan | date=October 1993 | title=Tests: Kether | url=https://archive.org/details/Tilt118/page/n91/mode/2up | magazine=Tilt | publisher=Editions Mondiales S.A. | language=fr | issue=118 | pages=92–5 | issn=0753-6968}}

| rev1 = CD Magazine (IT)

| rev1Score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine | author=Reynaud, Luca | date=April 1994 | title=Infogrames: Kether | url=https://archive.org/details/CDMagazine02/page/n59/mode/2up | magazine=CD Magazine | publisher=Xenia Edizioni | issue=2 | pages=61–3}}

| rev2 = CD-i Magazine (UK)

| rev2Score = 95%{{cite magazine | author=Toor, Mat | date=November 1993 | title=Review: The Mystery of Kether | url=https://archive.org/details/CD-i_Magazine_Issue_02_1993_Haymarket_Publishing_GB_a/page/n19/mode/2up | magazine=CD-i Magazine | publisher=Haymarket Publishing | issue=2 | pages=20–1}}

| rev3 = Génération 4

| rev3Score = 90%{{cite magazine | author1=Renouard, Yann | author2=Lavoisard, Stéphane | date=October 1993 | title=Test CD-i: Kether | url=https://archive.org/details/generation4-magazine-059/page/n171/mode/2up | magazine=Génération 4 | publisher=Pressimage | issue=59 | pages=172–4 | issn=1624-1088}}

|rev4 = Power Unlimited

|rev4Score = 92%

|rev5 = VideoGames

|rev5Score = 8/10{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/video-games-april-1994/page/n75/mode/2up|title=Reviews: Kether|magazine=VideoGames - The Ultimate Gaming Magazine|issue=64|publisher=Larry Flynt Publications|date=April 1994|pages=76–7|author=Gore, Chris|issn=1059-2938}}

}}

Kether received mostly positive reviews. Next Generation reviewed the game, rating it three stars out of five, and stated that "Challenging puzzles and a mystical atmosphere round out the title into a CD-i adventure that's a cut above many of its peers. Power Unlimited have a score of 92% summarizing: "If Philips had made more games of Kether's caliber, their CD-I might have become a serious gaming system. The game offers many (easy) puzzles, bundled with the most beautiful 16-bit graphics and sounds."{{cite magazine |author=Bruinsma, Bjørn |date=February 1, 1994 |title=Power Unlimited Game Database |url=http://www.powerweb.nl/database/index.php?page=database&&query%5border%5d=platform&ending=ASC&query%5bstart%5d=40 |magazine=Power Unlimited |publisher=VNU Publications |pages=56–7 |language=nl |issue=7 |issn=0929-760X |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20031022124242/http://www.powerweb.nl:80/database/index.php?page=database&&query%5border%5d=platform&ending=ASC&query%5bstart%5d=40 |archivedate=October 22, 2003 |accessdate=December 7, 2022}}

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{{reflist|2}}

• [https://www.mobygames.com/game/39443/kether/ Kether] at MobyGames
• https://www.gamespot.com/kether/

Category:1993 video games

Category:Adventure games

Category:CD-i games

Category:CD-i-only games

Category:Infogrames games

Category:Space combat simulators

Category:Space opera video games

Category:Video games set in outer space

Category:Video games set on fictional planets

Category:Video games developed in France