Game Description

Imagine making a simple trip to the store, only to find yourself caught in the middle of a terrible crime. Then imagine a parallel universe, set on an island, teeming with inhabitants that want to see you dead. Finally, imagine that you suddenly find yourself on this island after washing up on its shores -- dazed, confused, disoriented and hurt. Imagine no more -- this is exactly what happens to you in the comedy/mystery/adventure A Fork in the Tale.

As the main character in this interactive movie, you control many aspects that determine in which direction the game turns, all the while working toward a specific goal. In order to escape the island Eseveron, you'll need to react quickly, solve puzzles and unravel a centuries old mystery through the simple expedient of clicking on the proper icons that pop up on the screen during your adventures.

The game has three distinct skill levels that allow you to progress at a pre-determined pace depending on which you choose. The easy level (Visitor) contains fewer navigational choices and fewer steps required to solve tasks and lets you progress through the story without solving puzzles correctly. At the Competitor level (default), puzzles are more complex, more navigational choices are required and completion of tasks must occur before the story will proceed to the next scenes. The Hero level allows no progress unless all tasks are completed successfully and playing at this level gives you bonus scenes not available at the lower skill levels.

Only two keys are used in the entire game, one for pausing/resuming and one to access the main menu for administrative functions (saving, loading, etc.). The aforementioned process of clicking on correct icons during action scenes is integral to your success in moving the story along. A Fork in the Tale uses eight action icons and 19 speech icons, each representing a specific reaction to what's happening onscreen.

Although the game deals with some serious subjects, the level of comedy encountered depends a great deal on the player's ongoing choices -- the more speech icons you click on, the more comedy you will hear. The game contains more than 4,000 lines of randomly selected dialog to further the cause of comedy as you work your way through the adventure. Gameplay in A Fork in the Tale is from a first-person perspective and features the voice of comedian Rob Schneider as your onscreen alter ego. ~ Michael L. House, All Game Guide

Roots & Influences

Computer gaming companies have been trying to marry full-motion video films with player interaction in the last two decades of the 20th century. A Fork in the Tale is another such effort but with some unique twists and gameplay differences. All of the industries "interactive movie" titles that have preceded this game have in some small way impacted on how it has been developed. ~ Michael L. House, All Game Guide

Production Credits

Company 1: Advance Reality Interactive

Writer: Rob Lay

Producer: Rob Lay

Director: Rob Lay

Immersion Engine Software Engineering: Ken Carson, Kelby Chan, Chris Samaniego

Original Music Score: Charles Moselle

Sound Effects: Charles Moselle

Special Effects: Karen Anderson

3D Design and Animation: Tim Schaller

Video Editing: Monica Wittig Schauffler, Maury Boswell, Michael Wanger

Comedy Writing: Bill Braudis, Tony Camin, Cary Odes, Vernon Chapman, Michael Bossier, Debi Durst, Matthew Weinhold

Artwork: Dave McMacken

User Interface Consultant: UI Wizards Inc.

Cursors and Hot Spots: skeleton stoodios

Script Management: Eric McGranahan

Production Assistant: Tammy Ross

Post Production Management: Michael Wanger

Story Board: Tim Sunderman

Memory: Tim Sunderman

Key Art: Tim Sunderman

Business Administration: Michael Solomon

Production Director: Debra V. Quayle, Rob Lay

Art Director: Caroleen Green

Assistant Director: Catalina Castillo

Camera: Andy Nedermeyer, Saul Rouda, Steve Balick, Rob Lay

Lighting: Arthur Aravena

Live Sound Recording: Saul Rouda, Steven Balick, Mark Springer

Costumes: D. Madeline Smith, Jeff Elliot

Fight Director: J. R. Beardsley, R. Randall Miller

Legal Assistance: Craig Close

Voice of the Protagonist: Rob Schneider

Role of Naranya: Catherine Goodman

Role of Andre Conlin: Fred Barson

Role of King: Brian Vouglas

Role of Jim Cage: Steve Lee

Role of Mersham: Dale Morris

Role of Arisar: Nathan Smith

Role of Geebo: R. Randall Miller

Role of Talisan: Craig Close

Role of Castle Architect: Dale Morris

Role of Hyphastian: Jeremiah Nelson

Role of Sorena: Nancy Mormann

Role of Seshara: Peggy Mead Boelk

Role of Eleusia: Barbara Van Dermeer

Role of Atum: Fred Smith

Role of Bodyguard: Mark Vanslow

Role of Terrorist: Steve Bakunas, William Bergin, Michael Ford Harris, Ray Pon, R. Randall Miller, Michael Ronin, Damien Vega

Role of Paramedic: Dale Morris, Rich Ancotti, Jeff Sloan

Role of Arisar's Man: William Bell, Steve Bakunas, Eric Carlson, Craig Close, Jon Gaupset, Michael Ronin, Neal Shorstein, Jerome Spinks, Damien Vega, Michael Ford Harris, J. R. Beardsley

Role of Arisar's Son: Eric Newton

Role of Dungeon Guard: Craig Close, Eric Flom, R. Randall Miller, Mark Vanslow

Voice of the "Rules" Dungeon Guard: Joe Louis Hoffman

Voice of Castle Architect: Mark Springer

Role of Scientist: Mike Bertuluci, Benny Buttner, Martin Chow, John Ferreira, Eric Flom

Voice of LumaSeed: Heather Mathiesson

Role of Amalion: Christie J. Belinski, Annie Combs, Kaliopi Eleni, Helene Facon, Robbin Frey, Marimba Gold-Watts, Loretta J. Holland, Robin Huntington, Jett, Myrlia Jung, Joy Noel, Stephanie Potts, Jennifer Ray, Tracy Russell

Role of Daughter: Mary Ashley, Pamela Herron, Jody Mortara, Karen Sabo, Susanna Spies, Marcy Willis

Company 2: AnyRiver Entertainment Inc.

Producer: Stewart Bonn

Comedy Producer: Jim Bloom

Product Manager: Rick Naylor

QA Manager: Michael Gilmartin

Lead Tester: Brian Barton

Tester: Eric Bergerson, Bryce Bonn, Rebecca Colbourn, Tim Moore, Charles Schotborgh

Packaging Cover Art: Julie Bell

Packaging Design: Soo Hoo Design

Packaging Copy: Rick Naylor, Sue Seserman

User Manual Design: Wayne Samdahl

User Manual Copy: Rick Naylor ~ Michael L. House, All Game Guide

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