Tsunami Visual Technologies, Inc.

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Descriptions by
MindsEyeTHPS

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MindsEyeTHPS

Tsunami Visual Technologies, Inc.
Founded:	1997 (27 years ago)
Founder:	Jay Yuan
Defunct:	June 10, 2014
Location:	United States

Background

Tsunami Visual Technologies, Inc. was an American video game and amusement company based in Fremont, CA. Created by Jay C. Yuan in 1997, it specialized in motion simulator-based amusement machines, which started with the Ballista (a motion simulator where the user sits on a seat attached to a motion base, taking on the perspective of a "pinball", and navigating a pinball table, simulating a typical game of pinball; it is unknown whether there existed any actual units), created in association with Hyperion Technologies, Inc., and running off an Intel Pentium II-based PC, in 1999, later evolving into Tsunami Beach (which added a beach theme). In mid-2001, Tsunami came out with its best-known TsuMo (Tsunami Motion) Multi-Game Motion System, a Windows 98 (Second Edition)-based arcade machine that allowed for multiple games, as well as ride simulations based on real-life rollercoaster rides, to be installed on the cabinet on an as-so desired basis (Tsunami later came out with an upright variant, known as MEGA, which stood for Multiple Expandable Game Arcade, where such cabinets can be converted to run the same games as the TsuMo), and powered by the now-named Ballista motion base that would move to the action on-screen. Most of the games that were available for the cabinet were based on existing PC games, such as Beach Head 2000 (2000/2001; also the first game released for the cabinet), Crimson Skies (2000/2002), MechWarrior 4: Vengeance (2000/2002), Star Wars Starfighter (2001/2003), and so on. Tsunami also worked on a traditional arcade game known as Gone Fishing (2006) (co-developed with Toronto's JVL Corporation), and even brought Acclaim Entertainment's Re-Volt (1999) to the arcades on September 24, 2004 (co-developed with Constant Entertainment). Since then, Tsunami licensed its motion technology for use in deluxe variations of third-party games, including Raw Thrills' The Fast and the Furious (2004) and Global VR's Need for Speed Underground (2003/2005) and EA SPORTS NASCAR Racing (2007). Tsunami was ultimately deactivated on June 10, 2014, after seeing no activity since licensing its motion technology for the aforementioned third-party titles.

Logo (September 2000-2006)

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  Crimson Skies variant

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  MechWarrior 4: Vengeance variant (shared with Microsoft Games and WizKids)

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  Desert Doom variant

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  Bootscreen used during startup (LOGO.SYS)

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  "Out of Order!" (shutdown/"safe to turn off") screen (LOGOW.SYS and LOGOS.SYS)

Visuals: There is a navy blue square with a wave shaped like a T, and a dot on the bottom right. Below the icon is the name "TSUNAMI" with "VISUAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC." below it, all written in Copperplate Gothic Bold. This logo has been seen in the form of different variations.

Trivia: On the MechWarrior 4: Vengeance variant, if one looks closely at the left and right edges, a glow from the icon and wordmark can be briefly seen before they slide into place. Additionally, the glow spots below the icon where the wordmark would be could also be seen, before it even slides into place.

Variants:

• On Crimson Skies (2000/2002), the logo is still and takes up the entire middle part of the screen on a black background. It then cuts to the Microsoft Games logo of the time, shared with the Zipper Interactive logo (this cinematic is basically using the 1999 pre-launch trailer of the original PC game). A small version of the logo can also be seen on the bottom right (adjacent to the aforementioned Microsoft Games logo), which is used throughout the cinematic, though rendered by the corresponding EXE rather than being part of the cinematic itself.
• On ExZeus, the logo takes place on a white background (similar to the Crimson Skies and bootscreen variants, minus the 3D and drop shadow effects).
• On MechWarrior 4: Vengeance (2000/2002), the icon (with a white glow behind it) slides in from the right after the Microsoft Games logo of the time (in yellow) slides in from the left first, and the Tsunami wordmark (also with a white glow) slides in from the left afterward (while the former makes room for the WizKids logo of the time, which rapidly fades in; also in yellow). When all 3 logos are present, the Tsunami logo shines twice with a lens flare (once from the top left and once from the bottom right).
  • However, when shown on actual hardware, it is oftentimes slightly slower (along with the cinematic proper). This is likely due to hardware limitations.
• On Beach Head 2000 Special Edition (2000/2001), the Crimson Skies variant is situated on the bottom right, with the black background retained. It is shared with the WizardWorks logo, and the 2000 Infogrames logo (in horizontal form, minus the shield behind the wordmark), both on the bottom right (the former is situated right above the latter). This variant is shown during the real-time gameplay demo.
• On Air Raid: This Is Not A Drill (2003), the logo is placed on the left, with the Made By KIDDIES, Inc. logo placed on the right. The Tsunami logo flashes between the colors of blue, white, red, and white, while the Made By KIDDIES logo flashes red, white, blue, white, and red (these flashing colors are basically referencing the U.S. flag, in which the player takes control of a U.S. army tank). Afterwards, the right logo fades out, followed by the left one shortly after.
• On Star Wars: Starfighter (2001/2003), the logo is smaller and is in the center on a black background.
• On VIVAVR Technology Co. Ltd.'s Desert Doom CGI ride, the logo is rendered in 3D and tilted upward on a black background.
• A variant exists where the logo is set on a white background, is rendered in 3D, has a drop shadow, and lacks "VISUAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC." below. This is used as a bootscreen, which uses LOGO.SYS (dated January 24, 2001) to replace the stock Windows 98 one.
  • This variant is also used on the original full marquee of the TsuMo Multi-Game Motion System, albeit with the full wordmark and without the white background.
  • The shutdown and "safe to turn off" (LOGOW.SYS and LOGOS.SYS) screens (both dated January 9, 2001) were also changed as well, instead now saying "OUT OF ORDER!" in the center, and "Please Restart." at the bottom center, all in Arial Black. This would imply that if a shutdown was caused by any means, it would notify an arcade operator to reset the machine.

Technique: None. CGI for the MechWarrior 4: Vengeance variant. Wiping effects for the Air Raid variant.

Audio: None.

Audio Variants:

• For the startup sound, "CTMELODY.WAV" (Creative Melody, which is normally installed with Creative Labs' Sound Blaster Live! drivers from the time, and replaces the default Windows startup sound, all to test the surround capabilities of one's speaker; dated July 10, 1998) is used, which consists of a car crashing-like sound, followed by a thunderclap. It then gradually dies down as it slowly pans from the left to the right (and other spatial) audio channel(s).
• On the MechWarrior 4: Vengeance variant, a cutdown version of the audio from the aforementioned game's original Microsoft/FASA Corporation logo plays over.
• On Air Raid, the cinematic's opening theme.

Availability: Seen on the TsuMo Multi-Game Motion System (plus game-specific reskins), the MEGA, and Re-Volt arcade cabinets, which are all pretty hard to find today (especially in working condition), due to the fact that these cabinets have long stopped production.

Legacy: This logo is memorable to those who grew up playing on the TsuMo (or its reskins/the MEGA), especially when it was at one's local Chuck E. Cheese.

Final Note: After EA SPORTS NASCAR Racing (2007), Tsunami entered a dormant-like state, ultimately leading to its demise on June 10, 2014, though up to that point, its website had remained in an "under construction" state, and was deactivated as early as January 4, 2014.