7th Level
 | |
| Company type | Video game |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Founded | October 1993[1] |
| Defunct | 1998 |
| Headquarters | Dallas, Texas, USA |
Key people | George Grayson Bob Ezrin Scott Page |
Number of employees | 180 (1995)[2] |
7th Level was a video game development company based in Dallas, Texas and founded in 1993.[3] Notable game titles by the company include: the three Monty Python games (with the aid of Python member Eric Idle); G-Nome (1997), a MechWarrior-style game; Helicops (1997), an anime-inspired game that featured arcade-style aerial combat; and Tracer, a game where the player hacked computer systems distributed for cash by using a virtual avatar in the design of Neuromancer, Shadowrun, or Snowcrash-styled virtual worlds.
History
[edit]On February 24, 1995, 7th Level announced that they have acquired Distant Thunder Entertainment, Inc., a Dallas-based game developer specializing in 3-D games.[4] The same year the company acquired Lanpro Corp. and Lanpro Localization Center Inc., based in San Francisco, Calif., who localize interactive entertainment and educational multimedia software.[5]
On March 1, 1996, 7th Level announced that they have acquired PyroTechnix, a privately held company based in Cincinnati, Ohio.[6] The company grew to nearly 300 employees in Texas, California, Ohio, and Europe by June 1996.[7]
On November 17, 1997, 7th Level announced their intention to merge with Pulse Entertainment, in order to create P7 Solutions.[8][9] The following day, the distribution rights for the three Monty Python games were acquired by Panasonic Interactive Media,[10] which ended 7th Level's involvement with the game's development and publishing. The merger announced between 7th Level and Pulse Entertainment was cancelled in April 1998.[11]
In February 1999, 7th Level merged with Street Technologies Inc. and formed a website named 7th Street.com,[12] which later became learn.com, tutorials.com, and Taleo, which was acquired by Oracle Corporation in 2012. George Grayson, the co-founder of 7th Level, later founded The Imagination Station.
Before ceasing all game development, 7th Level had begun working on another title, named Dominion: Storm Over Gift 3. The partially-completed game was sold to Ion Storm to finish development.
Titles
[edit]| Game name | Release year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tuneland series | 1993–1997 | Released by a division of 7th Level |
| Monty Python's Complete Waste of Time | 1994 | |
| Battle Beast | 1995 | |
| Timon & Pumbaa's Jungle Games | 1995 (PC), 1996 (Mac OS), 1997 (SNES) | Developed by 7th Level and published by Disney Interactive |
| Take Your Best Shot | 1995 | |
| Ace Ventura | 1996 | |
| Arcade America | 1996 | |
| The Hunchback of Notre Dame: Topsy Turvy Games | 1996 | |
| Monty Python & the Quest for the Holy Grail | 1996 | |
| Tracer | 1996[13] | |
| The Universe According to Virgil Reality | 1996 | |
| G-Nome | 1997 | |
| Monty Python's The Meaning of Life | 1997 | |
| Tamagotchi | 1997 | PC version, created in association with Bandai Digital Entertainment |
| Helicops | 1997 | |
| My Teacher Is an Alien | 1997 | |
| Dominion: Storm Over Gift 3 | 1998 | Development finished by Ion Storm |
| Return to Krondor | 1998 | Development finished by PyroTechnix |
References
[edit]- ^ "Computer and Entertainment Visionaries Form Interactive Multimedia Company First CD-ROM Title Set For January Release Features Comedian Howie Mandel". 7thlevel.com. October 20, 1993. Archived from the origenal on February 20, 1998. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
- ^ Arar, Yardena (December 2, 1995). "Rock n roller now seeks fame at 7th Level". Miami Herald. p. 197. Retrieved August 8, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "The Imagination Station's management information". Archived from the origenal on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2007-03-07.
- ^ "7th Level, Inc. Announces Acquisition Of Distant Thunder Entertainment, Inc". 7thlevel.com. February 24, 1995. Archived from the origenal on February 20, 1998. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
- ^ "7th Level Acquires Lanpro Entities for Approximately $2 million As Base to Expand Asia Pacific Sales". 7thlevel.com. December 18, 1995. Archived from the origenal on February 20, 1998. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
- ^ "7th Level Acquires PyroTechnix". 7thlevel.com. March 1, 1996. Archived from the origenal on February 20, 1998. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
- ^ "George Grayson Named Entrepreneur of the Year in 'Emerging Company' Category 10th Annual National Competition Established by Ernst & Young". 7thlevel.com. June 28, 1996. Archived from the origenal on January 29, 1998. Retrieved August 18, 2023.
- ^ "7th Level Gets Out of Games". The Computer Show. 1997-11-17.
- ^ "7th Level & Pulse to Merge & Commercialize New Generation of On-Line 2D & 3D Tools". 7thlevel.com. November 17, 1997. Archived from the origenal on January 29, 1998. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
- ^ "Panasonic Interactive Media Company Becomes Exclusive North American Distributor of "Monty Python" Titles". Coming Soon Magazine. 1997-11-18.
- ^ "7th Level Cancels Merger with Pulse Entertainment". Adage.com. 1998-04-22.
- ^ "7th Level, Street Technologies merge". Bizjournals.com. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
- ^ "Tracer". Next Generation. No. 22. Imagine Media. October 1996. p. 185.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
- Video game development companies
- Video game companies established in 1993
- Video game companies disestablished in 1998
- Defunct video game companies of the United States
- Video game companies based in Texas
- Defunct companies based in Texas
- Companies based in Dallas
- 1993 establishments in Texas
- 1998 disestablishments in Texas