McKenzie & Co
Encyclopedia
McKenzie & Co. was an full-motion video CD-ROM
dating sim
game released by Her Interactive
in 1995,
designed to be played by girls. It was available for Windows 3.1/Windows 95
and Mac OS
.
"McKenzie" is the name of the protagonist's Geo Tracker
—an acronym of Marvelous, Cool, Kinetic movement, Ever-lasting friendship, Non-conformist, Zany, Ingenious, and Empowered.
' vice-president of marketing Patricia Flannigan distributed surveys, conducted interviews, and held play study groups in order to design a game that her daughters would play.
The game included a music CD featuring several bands from New Mexico
, such as Poet
, Cool Notes, Tee Green from the UK, and the Strawberry Zots, whose music video
"And You" was also included. Music tracks from composer Jean Rene De Rascon were also included.
Both characters have their own rooms in the game where they can read magazines, read their diaries, listen to voice messages, call people, apply makeup, or put on clothes.
When they are away from their rooms, the rest of the gameplay is through short video clips. The player must choose an option of what to do or say at the given time, and the videos will show the outcome. Some choices will lead to the same eventual path as others, and some choices will give you a game over.
At the end of the game, if all goes well, your date will pick you up and the gameplay will finish with the school yearbook, where you can see a picture of you and your date at prom.
Northridge
Westside
Eastside
Downtown
Aside from these locations, there is a formal wear store where you must go to buy a dress for the prom.
McKenzie & Co. received a lot of press attention for being one of the few girl-oriented games developed in the United States
. Her Interactive was one of the first companies in the United States established to specifically develop games for the female market.
While some think of McKenzie & Co. as an Otome game
, a popular category in Japanese markets, it was called a "social adventure" by its creators and classified as such in the majority of US retail outlets.
While American Laser Games, the company that founded Her Interactive, claimed feminist motivations, aspiring to help lead girls down the path of computers and technology
, the game was not uniformly well-received. Some expressed concerns that it pushed a stereotype
of what teenage girls are like, with its emphasis on makeup, shopping
, and dating.
The Chicago Tribune called the game's objective, getting a prom date, "rather dubious".
Salon characterized the game as "much-reviled" in 1999.
Carly
Bryan
Elizabeth
Sam
McKee
Trish
Brett
Steven
Brandon
Derrick
James
Aaron
There are 11 other students that you meet in the game, aside from the above listed. You also have 5 teachers, all played by the same male actor.
CD-ROM
A CD-ROM is a pre-pressed compact disc that contains data accessible to, but not writable by, a computer for data storage and music playback. The 1985 “Yellow Book” standard developed by Sony and Philips adapted the format to hold any form of binary data....
dating sim
Dating sim
Dating sims are a video game subgenre of simulation games, usually Japanese, with romantic elements. They are also sometimes put under the category of neoromance. The most common objective of dating sims is to date, usually choosing from among several characters, and to achieve a romantic...
game released by Her Interactive
Her Interactive
Her Interactive is the leading mystery-maker and pioneer of fun and inspiring interactive entertainment. The company, with 24 awards to its name, designs, develops and publishes high-quality, mystery adventure games and apps, and is the world leader in the mystery games category. Her Interactive's...
in 1995,
designed to be played by girls. It was available for Windows 3.1/Windows 95
Windows 95
Windows 95 is a consumer-oriented graphical user interface-based operating system. It was released on August 24, 1995 by Microsoft, and was a significant progression from the company's previous Windows products...
and Mac OS
Mac OS
Mac OS is a series of graphical user interface-based operating systems developed by Apple Inc. for their Macintosh line of computer systems. The Macintosh user experience is credited with popularizing the graphical user interface...
.
"McKenzie" is the name of the protagonist's Geo Tracker
Geo Tracker
The Chevrolet Tracker, formerly the Geo Tracker, is a mini SUV produced for Chevrolet and Geo by CAMI Automotive in Ingersoll, Ontario. Although appearing as a compact SUV, the Tracker was actually certified as a Light truck due to its off-road capabilities.-First generation: The Geo Tracker was a...
—an acronym of Marvelous, Cool, Kinetic movement, Ever-lasting friendship, Non-conformist, Zany, Ingenious, and Empowered.
Development
The game was developed with the active involvement of the Albuquerque Independent School District. Through the district, American Laser GamesAmerican Laser Games
American Laser Games was a company based in Albuquerque, New Mexico that created a wide variety of light gun laserdisc video games. The company was founded in the late 1980s by Robert Grebe, who had originally created the system to train police officers under the company name ICAT , and adapted the...
' vice-president of marketing Patricia Flannigan distributed surveys, conducted interviews, and held play study groups in order to design a game that her daughters would play.
The game included a music CD featuring several bands from New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, such as Poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, Cool Notes, Tee Green from the UK, and the Strawberry Zots, whose music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
"And You" was also included. Music tracks from composer Jean Rene De Rascon were also included.
Gameplay
The plot revolves around being a high school junior and trying to find a date for the prom. At the beginning of the game, you get to choose between being one of two playable characters. Kim is a cheerleader and Carly is an actress. The game than transports you to the characters bedroom, where all six members of McKenzie & Co are having a sleepover. They look through the yearbook and then ask you to choose from two guys. For Kim, you get to choose between Brett and Steven. For Carly, the choice is between Derrick and Brandon. The rest of the game is spent trying to get your choice of guy to ask you to the prom.Both characters have their own rooms in the game where they can read magazines, read their diaries, listen to voice messages, call people, apply makeup, or put on clothes.
When they are away from their rooms, the rest of the gameplay is through short video clips. The player must choose an option of what to do or say at the given time, and the videos will show the outcome. Some choices will lead to the same eventual path as others, and some choices will give you a game over.
At the end of the game, if all goes well, your date will pick you up and the gameplay will finish with the school yearbook, where you can see a picture of you and your date at prom.
Locations
There are 16 different locations you can access in this game, all within Bay City. There are four separate areas of town, each with four unique locations. Most locations are only accessible at certain points in the game.Northridge
- Madison High School - All teenage characters in the game attend this school. It is mandatory that you attend class on certain days or you are 'grounded' and it is game over. There are five classes that can be attended in the game: music, art, math, science, and english.
- Home
- Nelsons' - Derrick Nelson's home. This location is closed for the majority of the game, unless there is a party.
- Bartons' - A family that Kim and Carly babysit for.
Westside
- Oyster Bay
- Halsey's Farm - Brett Halsey's family farm. This location is closed unless you play as Kim and are invited to a party there.
- Baseball field
- Oyster Bay Arcade - Howie Hooper works here. All mini-games can be accessed through the arcade.
Eastside
- Mario's Dining
- Community Center
- Hospital
- Chuck's Drive-In
Downtown
- Bay View Mall - There are five stores you can go to in this game: Elsa Ross, Oshman's, Limited Too, Trick Rider, and Sam & Libby's. You pick out clothes in the store and Kim or Carly will try them on in front of a mirror. If you have enough money from your job, you can buy them and add them to your closet at home.
- Under 21 Club
- Work - Kim works at Sam & Libby's at the mall, Carly works at a movie theater.
- TopHit CD's
Aside from these locations, there is a formal wear store where you must go to buy a dress for the prom.
Reaction
Although major publishers declined to distribute the title, because they didn't believe there was a market for girl-oriented games, the 5-CD game was successful, selling over 80,000 units in its lifetime. An expansion pack, McKenzie & Co: More Friends, featuring new male characters James and Aaron.McKenzie & Co. received a lot of press attention for being one of the few girl-oriented games developed in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Her Interactive was one of the first companies in the United States established to specifically develop games for the female market.
While some think of McKenzie & Co. as an Otome game
Otome game
An is a video game that is targeted towards a female market, where one of the main goals, besides the plot goal, is to develop a romantic relationship between the female player character and one of several male characters. This genre is most established in Japan. The label includes both visual...
, a popular category in Japanese markets, it was called a "social adventure" by its creators and classified as such in the majority of US retail outlets.
While American Laser Games, the company that founded Her Interactive, claimed feminist motivations, aspiring to help lead girls down the path of computers and technology
Technology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
, the game was not uniformly well-received. Some expressed concerns that it pushed a stereotype
Stereotype
A stereotype is a popular belief about specific social groups or types of individuals. The concepts of "stereotype" and "prejudice" are often confused with many other different meanings...
of what teenage girls are like, with its emphasis on makeup, shopping
Shopping
Shopping is the examining of goods or services from retailers with the intent to purchase at that time. Shopping is an activity of selection and/or purchase. In some contexts it is considered a leisure activity as well as an economic one....
, and dating.
The Chicago Tribune called the game's objective, getting a prom date, "rather dubious".
Salon characterized the game as "much-reviled" in 1999.
Characters
Kim- A playable character. Gymnast/Cheerleader.
Carly
- The other playable character. Actress.
Bryan
- Kim and Carly's best guy friend.
Elizabeth
- Kim's best friend. Obsessed with shopping and fashion.
Sam
- Carly's best friend. Goes out with Bryan.
McKee
- A member of McKenzie & Co.
Trish
- A member of McKenzie & Co.
Brett
- A potential prom date, cowboy type.
Steven
- A potential prom date, 'preppy' type.
Brandon
- A potential prom date.
Derrick
- A potential prom date.
James
- In the expansion only. A potential prom date and rebellious biker.
Aaron
- In the expansion only. A potential prom date who is an animal rights activist and vegetarian.
There are 11 other students that you meet in the game, aside from the above listed. You also have 5 teachers, all played by the same male actor.
Related links
- http://www.csoon.com/issue14/mckenzie.htm —A review
- http://sherigranerray.com/?p=15 —memoir of Sheri Graner Ray, one of the programmers