Synergy Inc., which went by the trade name Synergy Geometry Co., Ltd., was a Japanese video game developer and publisher headquartered in Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo. The company is best known for its point-and-click adventure games, which employed pre-rendered 3D computer graphics, including Alice: An Interactive Museum (1991) and Gadget: Invention, Travel & Adventure (1993), both of which were designed by Haruhiko Shono.
The company also had an American branch named Synergy Interactive Co., based in San Mateo, California, which focused on video game localization, publishing and marketing for western audiences.
List of games YearTitlePublisherPlatform 1991RefixionSynergy Inc.MacintoshAlice: An Interactive MuseumToshiba-EMIMacintosh, Microsoft Windows 1992L-ZoneSynergy Inc. (Japan)Synergy Interactive Co. (USA)Apple Pippin, Macintosh, PC-98, Microsoft WindowsRefixion II: Museum or HospitalSynergy Inc.MacintoshRefixion III: The Reindeer Story 1993Gadget: Invention, Travel & Adventure Toshiba-EMI (Japan)Synergy Interactive Co. (USA)Apple Pippin, FM Towns, Macintosh, Microsoft Windows 1994Zeddas: Servant of Sheol Synergy Inc. (Japan)Synergy Interactive Co. (USA)Macintosh, Microsoft WindowsIron Angel of the Apocalypse3DO 1995Four-SightSynergy Inc.Macintosh, Microsoft WindowsIron Angel of the Apocalypse: The ReturnSynergy Inc. (Japan)Synergy Interactive Co. (USA)3DO, Microsoft WindowsYellow Brick RoadSynergy Inc. (Japan)Acclaim Japan Ltd. (PS1, SS)Synergy Interactive Co. (USA)Apple Pippin, Macintosh, Microsoft Windows, PlayStation, Sega Saturn 1996Yellow Brick Road II: Glinda to Nishi no Majo Synergy Inc.Apple Pippin, Macintosh, Microsoft Windows 1997Yellow Brick Road: Harapeko Tsuki To Hoshi AtsumeMacintosh, Microsoft WindowsGadget: Past as FutureSynergy Inc. (Japan)Cryo Interactive Entertainment (Europe)Macintosh. Microsoft Windows, PlayStationPreview & RepriseSynergy Inc.Macintosh, Microsoft Windows
Cancelled projects Underworld: The Sands of Time
Underworld: The Sands of Time, originally announced under the tentative title of The Underground, was a point-and-click interactive movie directed by Haruhiko Shono, following the development of Gadget: Past as Future. A roughly 5 minute sneak peek for the game was included in Preview & Reprise, an interactive CD-ROM released on November 27, 1997.
Woodcutters from Fiery Ships Woodcutters from Fiery Ships was announced in early 1998 as a collaboration between Synergy Inc. and David Lynch's interactive company SubStation, with a tentative release window of Fall 1999. In the press release, Lynch said: "I saw the work that Synergy did on Gadget – the way that the game delivered an immersive experience to the user. By collaborating with Synergy, I look forward to Woodcutters From Fiery Ships expanding existing forms in terms of story, characters and environment. I hope we will give people totally unexpected experiences."
In a November 1999 interview with The Guardian, Lynch stated that the project was "blocked from the get-go", as it was going to be "completely boring to game buffs".
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