7th Level was a video game development company based in Dallas, Texas and founded in 1993. Notable game titles by the company include: the three Monty Python games (with the aid of Python member Eric Idle); G-Nome (1997), a MechWarrior-style game; Helicops (1997), an anime-inspired game that featured arcade-style aerial combat; and Tracer, a game where the player hacked computer systems distributed for cash by using a virtual avatar in the design of Neuromancer, Shadowrun, or Snowcrash-styled virtual worlds.
History
On February 24, 1995, 7th Level announced that they have acquired Distant Thunder Entertainment, Inc., a Dallas-based game developer specializing in 3-D games. The same year the company acquired Lanpro Corp. and Lanpro Localization Center Inc., based in San Francisco, Calif., who localize interactive entertainment and educational multimedia software.
On March 1, 1996, 7th Level announced that they have acquired PyroTechnix, a privately held company based in Cincinnati, Ohio. The company grew to nearly 300 employees in Texas, California, Ohio, and Europe by June 1996.
On November 17, 1997, 7th Level announced their intention to merge with Pulse Entertainment, in order to create P7 Solutions. The following day, the distribution rights for the three Monty Python games were acquired by Panasonic Interactive Media, which ended 7th Level's involvement with the game's development and publishing. The merger announced between 7th Level and Pulse Entertainment was cancelled in April 1998.
In February 1999, 7th Level merged with Street Technologies Inc. and formed a website named 7th Street.com, which later became learn.com, tutorials.com, and Taleo, which was acquired by Oracle Corporation in 2012. George Grayson, the co-founder of 7th Level, later founded The Imagination Station.
Before ceasing all game development, 7th Level had begun working on another title, named Dominion: Storm Over Gift 3. The partially-completed game was sold to Ion Storm to finish development.
Titles Game nameRelease yearNotesTuneland series1993–1997Released by a division of 7th LevelLil' Howie's FunHouse series1993-1997Starring the voice of Howie Mandel; Developed by subsidiary Kids' World EntertainmentMonty Python's Complete Waste of Time 1994Battle Beast 1995Timon & Pumbaa's Jungle Games 1995 (PC), 1996 (Mac OS), 1997 (SNES)Developed by 7th Level and published by Disney InteractiveTake Your Best Shot 1995 Ace Ventura 1996Arcade America 1996The Hunchback of Notre Dame: Topsy Turvy Games 1996Developed by 7th Level and published by Disney InteractiveMonty Python & the Quest for the Holy Grail 1996 Tracer 1996The Universe According to Virgil Reality1996G-Nome1997Monty Python's The Meaning of Life1997Tamagotchi1997PC version, created in association with Bandai Digital EntertainmentHelicops1997My Teacher Is an Alien1997Dominion: Storm Over Gift 31998Development finished by Ion StormReturn to Krondor1998Development finished by PyroTechnix
References
External links (archived)