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ICOM Simulations

From Alfawiki
ICOM Simulations, Inc.
Company typePrivate
IndustrySoftware, Video games
FoundedMarch 4, 1981; 45 years ago (1981-03-04) in Wheeling, Illinois, United States
FounderTod Zipnick
Defunct1998 (1998)
FateRenamed Rabid Entertainment; dissolved in 1998
Headquarters
Wheeling
,
United States
Key people
Tod Zipnick (President), Rick Maningas (Vice President), Dennis Defensor (President)
ProductsMacVenture series (including Shadowgate), Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective, Beavis and Butt-Head in Virtual Stupidity
Number of employees
25–45
ParentViacom New Media (1993–1997)

ICOM Simulations, Inc.—which was later known as Rabid Entertainment—was a privately held software firm headquartered in Wheeling, Illinois, established in 1981 by Tod Zipnick. The company became well-known for its MacVenture adventure game series, with Shadowgate standing out as a flagship title.

ICOM initially focused on developing software for the Panasonic JR-200 platform. Subsequently, it broadened its reach into the Apple Macintosh ecosystem, releasing utilities such as the debugger TMON and the application launcher OnCue. Leadership roles included Tod Zipnick as President, Rick Maningas serving as Vice President, and Dennis Defensor also holding the title of President. During its most active period, the company’s workforce ranged between 25 and 45 employees. Its catalog also encompassed games like Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective and Beavis and Butt-Head in Virtual Stupidity.

History

Founded on March 4, 1981, by Tod Zipnick under the original name TMQ Software, ICOM Simulations played a pioneering role with its MacVenture series by introducing the point-and-click adventure gameplay style. The company also broke ground in multiplatform CD-ROM game development with titles such as Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective. Tragically, Zipnick passed away from Hodgkin's disease in 1991, shortly after the company began gaining significant traction.

Throughout the early to mid-1990s, ICOM Simulations emerged as a prominent third-party developer for the US market’s TurboGrafx-16 (TG-16) console, producing multiple games including the TG-16 exclusive sequel to Shadowgate, titled Beyond Shadowgate.

In 1993, Viacom New Media acquired ICOM Simulations. However, Viacom New Media ceased operations in 1997. Following this transition, the company was renamed Rabid Entertainment before being dissolved in 1998.

The rights to ICOM’s gaming portfolio were subsequently transferred to Infinite Ventures and later obtained by David Marsh in January 2012. On March 5, 2012, Marsh collaborated with former ICOM developer Karl Roelofs to establish Zojoi, LLC, which has since released enhanced editions of classic ICOM titles such as Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective for iOS tablet devices.

Games

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See also

External links

Title Release Date Credited As Published By Platform
Déjà Vu: A Nightmare Comes True 1985-07-10 ICOM Simulations Mindscape Macintosh, Apple IIGS, Atari ST, Commodore 64, NES, Game Boy
Uninvited 1986-03-01 ICOM Simulations Mindscape Macintosh, Apple IIGS, Atari ST, Commodore 64, NES
Shadowgate 1987-07-30 ICOM Simulations Mindscape Macintosh, Apple IIGS, Atari ST, Commodore 64, NES
Déjà Vu II: Lost in Las Vegas 1988 ICOM Simulations Mindscape Macintosh, Apple IIGS, Atari ST, Game Boy Color
Addams Family, The 1991 ICOM Simulations NEC Technologies TurboGrafx-CD
Yo' Bro 1991 ICOM Simulations NEC Technologies TurboGrafx-16
Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective 1991 ICOM Simulations ICOM Simulations PC
Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective Vol. II 1992 ICOM Simulations ICOM Simulations PC
Road Runner's Death Valley Rally 1992 ICOM Simulations Sunsoft SNES
Ghost Manor 1992 ICOM Simulations Turbo Technologies Inc. TurboGrafx-16
Shape Shifter 1992-10-01 ICOM Simulations Turbo Technologies Inc. TurboGrafx-CD
Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective Vol. III 1993 ICOM Simulations ICOM Simulations PC
Beyond Shadowgate 1993 ICOM Simulations Turbo Technologies Inc. TurboGrafx-CD
Camp California 1993 ICOM Simulations Turbo Technologies Inc. TurboGrafx-CD
Daffy Duck: The Marvin Missions 1993 ICOM Simulations Sunsoft SNES
Dracula Unleashed 1993-10-24 ICOM Simulations Viacom New Media PC
Bugs Bunny Rabbit Rampage 1994 Viacom New Media Sunsoft SNES
Nickelodeon GUTS 1994 Viacom New Media Viacom New Media SNES
MTV: Club Dead 1994 Viacom New Media Viacom New Media Macintosh, PC
Are You Afraid of the Dark? The Tale of Orpheo's Curse 1994 Viacom New Media Viacom New Media Macintosh, DOS
Rocko's Modern Life: Spunky's Dangerous Day April 1994 Viacom New Media Viacom New Media SNES
Beavis and Butt-Head November 1994 Viacom New Media Viacom New Media Genesis, SNES, Game Gear, Game Boy
Congo: Descent Into Zinj 1995 Viacom New Media Viacom New Media PC, Classic Mac OS
Phantom 2040 June 1995 Viacom New Media Viacom New Media SNES
Aaahh!!! Real Monsters August 15, 1995 Viacom New Media Viacom New Media Genesis, SNES
Beavis and Butt-Head in Virtual Stupidity August 31, 1995 Viacom New Media Viacom New Media PlayStation, PC
Beavis and Butt-head in Little Thingies 1996 Viacom New Media Viacom New Media PC
Beavis and Butt-head in Wiener Takes All 1996 Viacom New Media Viacom New Media PC
Beavis and Butt-head in Calling All Dorks 1996 Viacom New Media Viacom New Media PC
MTV: Slamscape 1996 Viacom New Media Viacom New Media PlayStation
DeathDrome October 31, 1996 Viacom New Media Viacom New Media PC
Beavis and Butt-head in Screen Wreckers 1997 Viacom New Media Viacom New Media Macintosh, PC
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