Tsunami Visual Technologies, Inc.: Difference between revisions

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===Background===
===Background===
'''Tsunami Visual Technologies, Inc.''' was an American video game and amusement company based in Fremont, CA. Created in 1997, it specialized in motion simulator-based amusement machines. In mid-2001, Tsunami came out with its best-known TsuMo ('''Tsu'''nami '''Mo''tion) Multi-Game Motion System, a [[Microsoft Windows 9x#Windows 98|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, complete with a seat attached to a motion base that moves along with the action on-screen (Tsunami later came out with an upright variant, known as M.E.G.A., which stood for '''M'''ultiple '''E'''xpandable '''G'''ames '''A'''rcade, where such cabinets can be converted to run the same games as the TsuMo). Most of the games that were available for the cabinet were based on existing PC games, such as ''Crimson Skies'' (2000), ''MechWarrior 4: Vengeance'' (2000), ''Star Wars Starfighter'' (2002), 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 helped to bring [[Acclaim Entertainment]]'s ''Re-Volt'' (1999) to the arcades on September 24, 2004. 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|EA SPORTS]] NASCAR Racing'' (2007). Tsunami was ultimately deactivated in the early 2010s, after seeing no activity since licensing its motion technology for the aforementioned third-party titles.
'''Tsunami Visual Technologies, Inc.''' was an American video game and amusement company based in Fremont, CA. Created in 1997, it specialized in motion simulator-based amusement machines. In mid-2001, Tsunami came out with its best-known TsuMo ('''Tsu'''nami '''Mo'''tion) Multi-Game Motion System, a [[Microsoft Windows 9x#Windows 98|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, complete with a seat attached to a motion base that moves along with the action on-screen (Tsunami later came out with an upright variant, known as M.E.G.A., which stood for '''M'''ultiple '''E'''xpandable '''G'''ames '''A'''rcade, where such cabinets can be converted to run the same games as the TsuMo). Most of the games that were available for the cabinet were based on existing PC games, such as ''Crimson Skies'' (2000), ''MechWarrior 4: Vengeance'' (2000), ''Star Wars Starfighter'' (2002), 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 helped to bring [[Acclaim Entertainment]]'s ''Re-Volt'' (1999) to the arcades on September 24, 2004. 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|EA SPORTS]] NASCAR Racing'' (2007). Tsunami was ultimately deactivated in the early 2010s, after seeing no activity since licensing its motion technology for the aforementioned third-party titles.


===Logo (January 2001-September 24, 2004)===
===Logo (January 2001-September 24, 2004)===

Revision as of 19:22, 15 November 2023



Background

Tsunami Visual Technologies, Inc. was an American video game and amusement company based in Fremont, CA. Created in 1997, it specialized in motion simulator-based amusement machines. 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, complete with a seat attached to a motion base that moves along with the action on-screen (Tsunami later came out with an upright variant, known as M.E.G.A., which stood for Multiple Expandable Games Arcade, where such cabinets can be converted to run the same games as the TsuMo). Most of the games that were available for the cabinet were based on existing PC games, such as Crimson Skies (2000), MechWarrior 4: Vengeance (2000), Star Wars Starfighter (2002), 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 helped to bring Acclaim Entertainment's Re-Volt (1999) to the arcades on September 24, 2004. 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 in the early 2010s, after seeing no activity since licensing its motion technology for the aforementioned third-party titles.

Logo (January 2001-September 24, 2004)


Visuals: We see 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.

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 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 MechWarrior 4: Vengeance (2000/2002), the icon 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 slides in from the left afterward, after the icon makes room (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 (once from the top left and once from the bottom right.
  • On the attract mode cinematic for 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, purple, white, red, and white, while the Made By KIDDIES logo flashes red, white, purple, white, and red. Afterwards, the right logo fades out, followed by the left one shortly after.
  • On Star Wars: Starfighter (2002/2003), the logo is smaller and is in the center on a black background.
  • A variant exists where the logo is set on a white background, 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.
    • 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 Helvetica 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. The colors changing for the Air Raid variant.

Audio: None.

Audio Variants:

  • For the startup sound, CTMELODY.WAV (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 audio channel.
  • On the MechWarrior 4: Vengeance variant, a cutdown version of the audio from the aforementioned game's original Microsoft/FASA Corporation logo plays over.
  • Unknown for the Air Raid variant.

Availability: Seen on the Tsunami TsuMo (plus game-specific rebadges), M.E.G.A., Star Wars Starfighter, and Re-Volt arcade cabinets. They are 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, 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 sometime in the early 2010s.

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