Operation: Weather Disaster (aka Team Xtreme: Operation Weather Disaster) is a 1995 video game. Its sequel, Operation: Eco-Nightmare (aka Team Xtreme: Operation Eco-Nightmare) was released in 1997.
| Operation: Weather Disaster | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Human Code |
| Publisher(s) | Discovery Channel Multimedia |
| Platform(s) | Macintosh, Windows |
| Release | 1995 |
| Genre(s) | Adventure, Educational |
| Operation: Eco-Nightmare | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Discovery Channel Multimedia, Human Code |
| Publisher(s) | Egmont Interactive |
| Composer(s) | Joel Stearns |
| Platform(s) | Windows |
| Release | 1997 |
| Genre(s) | Adventure, Educational |
Development
editDiscovery Channel approached a video game development company to commission a science-based game revolving around the weather. The prototype Human Code produced was more boring than expected. Discovery Channel let Human Code software director Gary Gattis focus on making the game fun first and educational second. Gattis extensively researched the weather in order to ensure accuracy.[1] Over 30 minutes of 3D animation was created for the game.[2] In March 1996, Discovery signed a deal to distribute a Spanish adaptation of the products in the American market and the Hispanic market.[3] Upon Operation Weather Disaster)'s original release, it was neglected by consumers, according to Newsweek.[4] The game was re-released in a new package in 1997.[4]
Plot
editIn Operation Weather Disaster, a TV weatherman who is bored with the sameness of the weather conditions, reporting 267 consecutive sunny days in Arizona,[5] decides to change the world's climate in a devious plan. An emergency task force called Team Xtreme is put into place to restore the world order and defeat the madman.
In Operation Eco-Nightmare, as a member of Team Xtreme's eco division, the player investigates an environment protection group that is headed by Jonah Rainwater, the antagonist of the previous game.
Gameplay
editIn Operation Weather Disaster, the game is an educational point-and-click adventure that is a clone to Myst. It featured a series of 360 degree screens to navigate through, and FMV cutscenes.
In Operation Eco-Nightmare, the game features a series of 360° screens. Players look for items to add to their inventory, and use them to solve puzzles. FMV sequences brief the player on each new assignment. The game addressed environmental issues such as recycling, energy efficiency and eco-technology.[6]
Critical reception
editOperation Weather Disaster
editRobert Coffey of World Village praised its graphics, puzzles, and ability to balance subtlety infuse educational material into the narrative.[7] In his journal article How’s the Weather: Simulating Weather in Virtual Environments, Matt Barton cited Operation Weather Disaster as an example of a game that incorporates weather in a thought-provoking way.[8] Feibel praised the game for seamlessly incorporating education into the ludic experience.[9] Boys' Life felt the interactive portions of the game made it feel like much more than an encyclopedia.[10] The Austin Chronicle felt the game, along with Nile: Passage to Egypt, appeals to a broad age range, and incorporate both information and action.[1] The Sydney Morning Herald deemed it a "great mix of game-play and learning".[11] The Tennessean also deemed it a prime example of an all-family science adventure.[12] The Courier-Journal felt the game contained hours of exciting, intense and intellectual challenges.[13] While Natural History generally did not review video games, they found themselves drawn to the title due to its promise to cultivate their meteorological skills.[14] The Washington Post felt the title was not difficult.[15]
The game won an EMMA Award.[9] The title also received Gold in the New Media's Invision '96 category of Best Children's Title.[16][17]
Operation Eco-Nightmare
editPC Player felt a sense of adventure game fatigue, noting that the game and its contemporaries were all similar in gameplay and style.[18] The Sydney Morning Herald thought the game, along with Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego 3.0 was the best choice to encourage reluctant readers due to its incorporation of reading into the game.[19]
References
edit- ^ a b "Touring the Technology Factory". Retrieved 2018-03-11.
- ^ "The Age from Melbourne, Victoria on April 2, 1999 · Page 53". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2018-03-11.
- ^ Super PC 33 (in Spanish).
- ^ a b "Calling 'Twister' Fans". Newsweek. 1996-06-16. Retrieved 2018-03-11.
- ^ "SCRAP FOOD". 1996-02-01. Archived from the original on 2018-11-18.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ "The Age from Melbourne, Victoria on April 2, 1999 · Page 53". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2018-03-11.
- ^ "Operation: Weather Disaster". 2003-04-03. Archived from the original on 2003-04-03. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ Barton, Matt (September 2008). "How's the Weather: Simulating Weather in Virtual Environments". Game Studies. 8 (1). ISSN 1604-7982.
- ^ a b "Alle Spiele – Alarmstufe X – Operation Hurricane". feibel.3q.de. Retrieved 2018-03-11.
- ^ Inc, Boy Scouts of America (August 1996). Boys' Life. Boy Scouts of America, Inc.
{{cite book}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales on February 27, 1996 · Page 61". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2018-03-11.
- ^ "The Tennessean from Nashville, Tennessee on March 19, 1997 · Page 28". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2018-03-11.
- ^ "The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky on January 24, 1997 · Page 56". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2018-03-11.
- ^ "Operation: Weather Disaster; Bugs in the System". Natural History. 1996-07-01.[dead link]
- ^ "Keyboarding Fun and Weather Disasters". 1996-08-16.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help)[dead link] - ^ "New Media's Invision Awards 1996". www.cdaccess.com. Retrieved 2018-03-11.
- ^ "Human Code, Inc". 1997-04-17. Archived from the original on 1997-04-17. Retrieved 2018-04-21.
- ^ "Operation: Eco-Nightmare" (in German). PC Player. June 1997. Retrieved 2017-02-04.
- ^ "The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales on March 14, 1998 · Page 196". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2018-03-11.