VISIONARY 2000
"Interactive" CD-ROM Game
by the artist formerly known as Prince
Considerable hours were spent in research prior to purchasing
this inventory of the game to confirm with a high degree of
certainty that this is the last substantial quantity
available.
I realized the publisher was treating this like just another
miscellaneous computer game, so I tried to do a good thing for
fellow fans of The Artist by bringing them to the right audience
at a good price. If you are a fan and do not yet have the game
this is a great (and possibly last) opportunity -
GET YOURS NOW!
Detail hungry browsers read on:
The information presented here is accurate to the best of my
knowledge. I welcome input of additional or corrected
information.
The original dual compatibility release of the disk was published
by Comptons in 1994 and received very high reviews1.
Comptons2 was known for their impressive Interactive
Encyclopedia and Talking Dictionary. Comptons has merged into
The Learning Company3 which took over distribution of
their educational titles only. Production of The Artists game
long ago ceased and all remainders were liquidated. The game was
picked up for distribution in multi-packs with other games by
Sirius Publishing4, from whom this final inventory
came. Sirius has formally stated that no new copies of the game
have been pressed since mid 1995 and that they will make no
more5.
The developer of the game, Grafix Zone6, created other
music titles including Herbie Hancock and Santana. The game was
authored using Apple Computer's QuickTime7 and
rendering tools by Electric Image Inc8. Grafix Zone
went through various struggles9, reorganized several
times10, and as of November 18, 1997 "has no operating
business"11 and will been delisted from NASDAQ. Before
the end Grafix Zone earlier sold the rights to The Artist's game
and others to GT Interactive Software Corp12, NASDAQ:
GTIS13. GTIS started with such well known titles as
Wolfenstein 3D and Doom II and now focuses strictly on newer
titles. As of January GTIS was mired in a lawsuit by
stockholders14. There is no indication that GTIS ever
distributed or licensed The Artist's game or ever will.
A check of 45 major web based CD-ROM sources15, many
of which once carried it, found virtually no copies remaining. In
four cases the game appears on a catalog web page but email
confirmed that none actually remain. Three vendors responded that
they might have a few but would have to check physical inventory.
Of those, two were overseas and higher priced.
In past years copies could be found by chance at conventional
retailers where long ago ordered stock had not yet sold out. A
two day search of software, computer and game stores16 in spring of
1997 found only one copy. It is safe to assume that they are all
but gone now.
Finally, the game is available from collectables vendors or
individual fans if one looks hard, but may be used or expensive.
A search of used CD-ROM and used record stores in Chicago17 in
December of 1996 found two copies. The asking price is both
cases was over $60. Recent calls to some of the same stores
found none remaining.
Conclusion: Visionary 2000 is offering the last
significant, easily available, reasonably priced inventory of the
beautiful CD-ROM game by the artist formerly known as Prince -
GET YOURS NOW!
Return to VISIONARY 2000
O(+> Interactive CD-ROM home page.
ADDITIONAL INFO (received some 10 years later):
From: Glenn Johnson, Executive Vice President, Magic Software Enterprises, Inc.
23046 Avenida de la Carlota, Suite 300, Laguna Hills, CA 92653, 949-250-1718
Sent: Monday, August 13, 2007 9:40PM
Subject: Regarding History of the [Prince] Interactive CD-ROM
I ran across your webpage regarding the history of the Prince Interactive CD-ROM. I thought I would correct some of the information on your page.
The original publisher was Graphix Zone not Compton's. The way you can tell if you have one of the CD-ROMs in the original packaging is by the temporary tattoos that we included in the box. Later versions included in various collections and reprints etc. did not have the tattoo decals which we produced in very psychidellic colors in the shape of the Artist's symbol.
A company description from a later press release before the demise of the company...
Founded in 1989 and based in Irvine, Calif., Graphix Zone publishes interactive multimedia products on CD-ROM, hybrid and Internet platforms and will publish on future platforms such as DVD. Graphix Zone is expanding its music megasite with the recent acquisition of WILMA, an on-line music venue and events database, being the first leg of that site.
Graphix Zone recently released an updated version of its top selling "ExpressNet Suite" which now includes "Netscape Navigator 3.0", "SmartNet Internet Everything" and "SmartNet Power Accessories", "Herbie Hancock Presents Living Jazz", "Willie: The Life and Music of Willie Nelson" and "Under The Covers".
Others among Graphix Zone's acclaimed CD-ROM titles are "Nixon: The CD-ROM", "Bob Dylan: Highway 61 Interactive", "(Prince) Interactive", the chart-toping "Bob Marley: Soul Almighty Enhanced CD See CD Extra", "The Crow: The Complete Interactive Collection" and the Academy Award-nominated "Nixon Enhanced CD" which includes John Williams' "Nixon" film soundtrack.
The Dylan and Prince titles both became the highest selling music titles in the interactive music category. For further information, see the Graphix Zone's Web site.
References:
1 CD-ROM Reviews,
http://www.cdromreviews.com/cdroms/gzprinc1.htm.
2 Comptons,
http://www.comptons.com,
No longer has an independent address. See 3
3 The Learning Company,
http://www.learningco.com,
One Athenaeum Street, Cambridge, MA 02142, 617-494-1200
4 Sirius Publishing,
http://www.siriuspub.com,
7320 East Butheros, Scottsdale AZ, 85260,
800/247-0307, 602/951-3884 fax.
5 Sirius Publishing, public relations contact,
Marie O'Reily,
moreilly@siriuspub.com.
6 Grafix Zone,
http://www.gzone.com,
42 Corporate Park Suite 200, Irvine, CA 92606,
800-795-4325, 714-833-3894 fax
7 Apple Computer, QuickTime,
http://www.apple.com/quicktime,
Apple Computer Inc., 1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA 95014, 408-
996-1010
8 Electric Image Inc.,
http://www.electricimage.com,
117 East Colorado Boulevard, Suite 300, Pasadena, CA 91105,
888/RENDER1
9 Graphix Zone, business news,
http://biz.yahoo.com/news/gzon.html.
10 Graphix Zone, financial statements,
http://www.edgar-online.com/brand/yahoo/search/?sym=gzon.
11 Graphix Zone, end of 1997 report,
http://sec.yahoo.com/e/97/11/19/gzon.html.
12 GT Interactive Software Corp,
http://www.gtinteractive.com,
no address available.
13 GT Interactive Software Corp, stock info,
http://www.nsg-stockguide.com/gtis.htm
14 GT Interactive Software Corp, fraud case info,
http://defrauded.com/gt.shtml,
15 CD-ROM vendors:
http://cdrom.sales.thruthe.net,
http://www.aztech.com,
http://www.cd-rom-online.com,
http://www.cd-romlink.com,
http://www.cd4u.com,
http://www.cddirect.com,
http://www.cdguys.com,
http://www.cdma.com,
http://www.cdmania.com,
http://www.cdnation.com,
http://www.cdrdepot.com,
http://www.cdrom-guide.com,
http://www.cdrom-paradise.com,
http://www.cdromboughtandsold.com,
http://www.cdromshop.com,
http://www.cdromworld.com,
http://www.cdworldwide.com,
http://www.computerenhancements.com,
http://www.consldcdrom.com,
http://www.crazybob.com,
http://www.cyberomics.com,
http://www.discountsoftware.com,
http://www.dragon.com,
http://www.educorp.com,
http://www.etcd.com,
http://www.global-impact.com,
http://www.hotcd.com,
http://www.houseofrom.com,
http://www.hyperdrive.com,
http://www.interactcd.com,
http://www.justcds.co.uk,
http://www.mediamart.com,
http://www.mediawonder.com,
http://www.mrcdrom.com,
http://www.mrdisc.com,
http://www.multimediaplus.com,
http://www.mwcdrom.com,
http://www.national-cdrom.com,
http://www.netcd.com,
http://www.playback.com,
http://www.romcity.com,
http://www.shoplet.com,
http://www.spincd.com,
http://www.starvector.com,
http://www.tring.co.uk.
16 Among others, four Computer City locations,
http://www.computercity.com.
17 Among others, three Dr. Wax locations,
http://www.drwax.com.