Voyeur (video game)
Encyclopedia
Voyeur and Voyeur II were full motion video
games released in 1993 and 1996 respectively. The first game was originally released as the "flagship
" product for the short lived Philips CD-i multimedia system/video game console
. DOS
and Macintosh
computer ports of it were later released and the sequel was only available for those computers.
. You control various hidden cameras located through the Hawke family home in an effort to gather enough evidence to destroy Reed Hawke's career.
The format of the game was similar to that of the Digital Pictures
full motion video games such as Night Trap
and Double Switch, with two important differences. The first major difference was that Voyeurs full motion video included female nudity and simulated sex scenes giving the game a warning label on its box about its mature subject matter. This is in contrast to full motion video games such as Night Trap
where everything was kept within the equivalence of a PG-13 rating.
The second major difference was that the playable character's client was different every game and thus the storyline would change slightly. While Night Trap
and Double Switch did have multiple endings, most of them if you failed, the storyline did not change.
for the level of violence and sexually suggestive themes in video games. The result of these investigations was the creation of the independent Entertainment Software Ratings Board to rate all video and computer games sold in the United States of America. However, Night Trap received more attention than Voyeur during these proceedings. It was also reviewed by the BBFC who attributed an 18 rating.
to Voyeur. This time hidden cameras were placed on an isolated mountain cabin where various people have gathered for the reading of a will that is expected to give Dr. Elizabeth Duran control of a lucrative research institute. All of the cabin guests want control of the institute and the player's goal is to watch the cameras in order to find out which one is a murderer before he or she kills Dr. Duran.
Full motion video
Full motion video based games are video games that rely upon pre-recorded TV-quality movie or animation rather than sprites, vectors, or 3D models to display action in the game. In the early 1990s a diverse set of games utilized this format...
games released in 1993 and 1996 respectively. The first game was originally released as the "flagship
Flagship
A flagship is a vessel used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships, reflecting the custom of its commander, characteristically a flag officer, flying a distinguishing flag...
" product for the short lived Philips CD-i multimedia system/video game console
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
. DOS
DOS
DOS, short for "Disk Operating System", is an acronym for several closely related operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market between 1981 and 1995, or until about 2000 if one includes the partially DOS-based Microsoft Windows versions 95, 98, and Millennium Edition.Related...
and Macintosh
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...
computer ports of it were later released and the sequel was only available for those computers.
Voyeur
In the first game you are a private investigator hired by a member of the wealthy Hawke family in order to gain enough evidence to bring down the corrupt Reed Hawke who is the CEO of Hawke Industries and has gathered the Hawke family together for the weekend to prepare for his announcement that he will be running for President of the United StatesPresident of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
. You control various hidden cameras located through the Hawke family home in an effort to gather enough evidence to destroy Reed Hawke's career.
The format of the game was similar to that of the Digital Pictures
Digital Pictures
Digital Pictures was a worldwide American video game developer, founded in 1991 by Ken Melville and Tom Zito.On the Sega CD versions of certain games, if they are played on the systems "audio CD" mode, there is a short track of a phone ringing with a male voice answering "Good afternoon, Digital...
full motion video games such as Night Trap
Night Trap
Night Trap is a video game that was released in North America on October 15, 1992 originally for the Sega Mega-CD. It was filmed over a three week period in 1987 for an unreleased game entitled "Scene of the Crime"...
and Double Switch, with two important differences. The first major difference was that Voyeurs full motion video included female nudity and simulated sex scenes giving the game a warning label on its box about its mature subject matter. This is in contrast to full motion video games such as Night Trap
Night Trap
Night Trap is a video game that was released in North America on October 15, 1992 originally for the Sega Mega-CD. It was filmed over a three week period in 1987 for an unreleased game entitled "Scene of the Crime"...
where everything was kept within the equivalence of a PG-13 rating.
The second major difference was that the playable character's client was different every game and thus the storyline would change slightly. While Night Trap
Night Trap
Night Trap is a video game that was released in North America on October 15, 1992 originally for the Sega Mega-CD. It was filmed over a three week period in 1987 for an unreleased game entitled "Scene of the Crime"...
and Double Switch did have multiple endings, most of them if you failed, the storyline did not change.
Controversy
Voyeur was released when the American video game industry was under an investigation by the United States CongressUnited States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
for the level of violence and sexually suggestive themes in video games. The result of these investigations was the creation of the independent Entertainment Software Ratings Board to rate all video and computer games sold in the United States of America. However, Night Trap received more attention than Voyeur during these proceedings. It was also reviewed by the BBFC who attributed an 18 rating.
Voyeur II
In 1996 Philips Media (the name had changed) released a sequelSequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
to Voyeur. This time hidden cameras were placed on an isolated mountain cabin where various people have gathered for the reading of a will that is expected to give Dr. Elizabeth Duran control of a lucrative research institute. All of the cabin guests want control of the institute and the player's goal is to watch the cameras in order to find out which one is a murderer before he or she kills Dr. Duran.