Stay Tooned! (video game)
| Industry | Video game development |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Stay Tooned! |
Stay Tooned! (taglined "Unsweetened Multi-Game Experience!") is an action-adventure title released in 1996, developed by Funnybone Interactive and distributed by Sierra On-Line for both Microsoft Windows and Macintosh platforms. Players explore an apartment building to locate a TV remote control and use it to zap escaped cartoon characters back into their television world.
Gameplay
In Stay Tooned!, players must collect keys scattered throughout a five-level apartment complex, including areas such as the roof, basement, and secret chambers, to gain access to the remote that has been taken by the animated intruders. Players engage in activities like constructing devices reminiscent of a Rube Goldberg machine and undertaking distinctive tasks, for example, shaving a toon named Fiddle. The remote itself is hidden in Apartment 5D, which becomes accessible after acquiring an oven mitt. Successfully using the remote to send the cartoons back into the TV marks the game's completion.
Running the game on modern systems
Since its original release, operating system updates have made running Stay Tooned! on Windows versions from 2000 onwards challenging. The game can be played using Microsoft Virtual PC with older Windows editions. Likewise, current macOS users encounter compatibility problems due to the removal of the Classic mode.
Plot
The narrative begins inside a sizable apartment complex situated in an unnamed urban area, where the player takes on the role of a typical tenant. Initially, the player flips through various TV channels featuring parodies of real television shows and commercials, such as Whinefeld, a humorous take on Seinfeld. One station includes appearances by the game's lead programmer who provides gameplay tips.
Upon pressing the remote’s red button, cartoon characters escape from the television, seize control of the remote, and transform the apartment building into a lively animated environment. The player's objective is to recover the remote by exploring different apartments, completing roughly thirty mini-games, and managing chaos caused by the runaway toons.
At the finale, after all toons—including extras like Überbugs and penguins—are captured, their leader Pixel retaliates by transporting the player into TV Land. There, the player is flattened and converted into a cartoon character.
Characters
The game features five primary cartoon characters who must be apprehended; additional characters act as either allies or background figures.
- Pixel: A pink feline serving as leader of the group, Pixel is intelligent, perfectionistic, mature but often irritable. She is female and has a twin brother named Chisel.
- Chisel: A blue cat who acts as second-in-command; he is destructive and favors explosives. He is Pixel’s twin sibling.
- Fiddle: A tall, slender black-and-white cat characterized by cowardice and minimal destructiveness; he supports the player’s mission.
- Schmooze: An irritable orange bulldog-like figure wearing a bowler hat and red vest; selfish and unpleasant, he dislikes Scoops and secretly adores Pixel.
- Scoops: An energetic and cheerful dog who annoys Schmooze and has an affinity for gravy; he also possesses a notably pleasant singing voice.
- Frank: A tough human toon who may act as either friend or foe.
- Dr. Pickles: A mad scientist known for conducting painful experiments on cartoons and possessing an unusual ability to open his head.
- Mrs. Findley: A grumpy middle-aged woman residing in Apartment 5D with her cats and indolent husband.
- Katrina: A tall white cat fond of Fiddle; remains neutral during conflicts.
- Killtron: Known as the Magic Death Robot; appears occasionally as an adversary in hallways or during Kartoon Kombat!.
- Al Extrabux: A parody of Alex Trebek, hosting Schleopardy!, a spoof on Jeopardy!.
- Purple Glop: A sentient purple slime that obstructs player progress.
- Überbug: A German bug intent on commandeering the player’s refrigerator with an army of insects.
- Mr. Fishy: An irritable herring character.
- Ben: The lead programmer who breaks the fourth wall in secret areas.
- The Penguins: Temperamental secondary characters.
- Cable Guy, Pizza Delivery Guy and Policeman: Identical ordinary men contactable via phone on the first floor; Cable Guy fixes cable after recovering his sock; Policeman assists in clearing obstacles; Pizza Delivery Guy serves as an additional character.
Sources
Further Reading