ICOM Simulations, Inc. (later known as Rabid Entertainment) was a software company based in Wheeling, Illinois. It is best known for creating the MacVenture series of adventure games including Shadowgate.
Following the foundation in 1981 a number of game titles for the Panasonic JR-200 were produced. Later products for the Apple Macintosh included the debugger TMON and an application launching utility called OnCue.
History ICOM Simulations was formed as TMQ Software on March 4, 1981, by Tod Zipnick. With the MacVenture series, ICOM pioneered the point-and-click adventure interface and later multiplatform CD-ROM development with Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective. Zipnick died of Hodgkin's disease in 1991 just as the company was beginning to take off.
In 1990, ICOM announced they would be partnering with NEC to bring games to the TurboGrafx-16, including Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective, one of the first console video games to feature full motion video cutscenes. In the early-to-mid 1990s, ICOM Simulations was a major third-party developer for the TurboGrafx-16 and developed a number of games for the console, including the TG-16 exclusive Shadowgate sequel, Beyond Shadowgate.
The company was acquired in 1993 by Viacom New Media which closed its operations in 1997. Renamed to Rabid Entertainment, VNM/ICOM was dismantled in 1998.
The rights to ICOM's game portfolio were held by the company Infinite Ventures, but they are now owned by David Marsh who obtained most of the rights in January 2012. On March 5, 2012, Dave Marsh and Karl Roelofs, both former developers at ICOM Simulations, formed a new game development company called Zojoi, LLC, and have begun releasing upgraded versions of previous ICOM Simulations titles, starting with Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective for iOS Tablets.
Games Title Release date Credited As Published By PlatformDéjà Vu: A Nightmare Comes True ICOM Simulations Mindscape Macintosh, Apple IIGS, Atari ST, Commodore 64, NES, Game BoyUninvited ICOM Simulations Mindscape Macintosh, Apple IIGS, Atari ST, Commodore 64, NESShadowgate ICOM Simulations Mindscape Macintosh, Apple IIGS, Atari ST, Commodore 64, NESDéjà Vu II: Lost in Las Vegas 1988 ICOM Simulations Mindscape Macintosh, Apple IIGS, Atari ST, Game Boy ColorAddams Family, The 1991 ICOM Simulations NEC Technologies TurboGrafx-CDYo' Bro 1991 ICOM Simulations NEC Technologies TurboGrafx-16Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective 1991 ICOM Simulations ICOM Simulations PCSherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective Vol. II 1992 ICOM Simulations ICOM Simulations PCRoad Runner's Death Valley Rally 1992 ICOM Simulations Sunsoft Super NESGhost Manor 1992 ICOM Simulations Turbo Technologies Inc. TurboGrafx-16Shape Shifter ICOM Simulations Turbo Technologies Inc. TurboGrafx-CDSherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective Vol. III 1993 ICOM Simulations ICOM Simulations PCBeyond Shadowgate 1993 ICOM Simulations Turbo Technologies Inc. TurboGrafx-CDCamp California 1993 ICOM Simulations Turbo Technologies Inc. TurboGrafx-CDDaffy Duck: The Marvin Missions 1993 ICOM Simulations Sunsoft Super NESDracula Unleashed ICOM Simulations Viacom New Media PCBugs Bunny Rabbit Rampage 1994 Viacom New Media Sunsoft Super NESNickelodeon GUTS 1994 Viacom New Media Viacom New Media Super NESMTV: Club Dead 1994 Viacom New Media Viacom New Media Macintosh, PCAre You Afraid of the Dark? The Tale of Orpheo's Curse 1994 Viacom New Media Viacom New Media Macintosh, MS-DOSRocko's Modern Life: Spunky's Dangerous Day April 1994 Viacom New Media Viacom New Media Super NESBeavis and Butt-Head November 1994 Viacom New Media Viacom New Media Sega Genesis, Super NES, Game GearCongo: Descent Into Zinj 1995 Viacom New Media Viacom New Media PC, Classic Mac OSPhantom 2040 June 1995 Viacom New Media Viacom New Media Sega Genesis, Super NES, Game GearZoop June 1995 Viacom New Media Viacom New Media Sega Genesis, Super NES, Game Boy, Game Gear, PlayStationAaahh!!! Real Monsters August 15, 1995 Viacom New Media Viacom New Media Sega Genesis, Super NESBeavis and Butt-Head in Virtual Stupidity August 31, 1995 Viacom New Media Viacom New Media PlayStation, PCBeavis and Butt-head in Little Thingies 1996 Viacom New Media Viacom New Media PCBeavis and Butt-head in Wiener Takes All 1996 Viacom New Media Viacom New Media PCBeavis and Butt-head in Calling All Dorks 1996 Viacom New Media Viacom New Media PCMTV: Slamscape 1996 Viacom New Media Viacom New Media PlayStationDeathDrome October 31, 1996 Viacom New Media Viacom New Media PCBeavis and Butt-head in Screen Wreckers 1997 Viacom New Media Viacom New Media Macintosh, PC
See also Zojoi
References
External links ICOM Simulations at MobyGames