Stonekeep

From Interplay's Website:

"An original title over three years in the making, Stonekeep is a powerful and mesmerizing epic adventure redefining the traditional dungeon experience. Free from cumbersome computer tasks that destroy the reality, Stonekeep immerses the player in an environment which allows the full feeling of using their own hands and feet to do battle with disembodied foes as they rescue their allies from evil and liberate massive dragons from bondage. Players will encounter creatures so unpredictable it will engage their mind and captivate their soul. The player will embark on a journey in discovery of himself after a virtuous goddess steals his soul under the guise of safekeeping. The player's quest is to save the universe from a certainty of doom by horrifying miscreants while searching to regain his own humanity. This game is guaranteed to steal the heart, mind, body and soul of any player brave enough to give in to the experience.

A fantasy role-playing game of paramount proportions, Interplay has committed a total of over 25 staff-years of a dedicated team of producers, designers, programmers and recognized Hollywood professionals to develop an experience that transcends the traditional limits of computer games. Full-screen graphics with 3D-rendered dungeons and creatures, bring the story and scenery to life, allowing the player to experience the full intensity of the adventure. With a distinctive interface that utilizes only the mouse and cursor keys, Stonekeep has no distracting menus or icons, allowing the player to make intuitive game decisions without delay as they span 13 spectacular domains. Heart-pounding sound effects and an original score round out the captivating experience that is Stonekeep."

Source:

Unknown Source

INTERPLAY BRINGS ITS MOST ELECTRIFYING EPIC FROM THE COMPUTER SCREEN INTO YOUR MIND, BODY AND SOUL.

Immerse yourself in an epic experience more powerful and realistic than anything you've imagined. Using innovative new technology, Stonekeep draws you into its dark reaches so completely you'll forget it's just a game. Your feet will walk the ancient corridors. Your hands will wield weapons of metal and magic. You'll battle disembodied foes, rescue your allies from evil, liberate a massive dragon from bondage and discover an experience more realistic than anything you've ever imagined.

Step into the mystery of Stonekeep and begin a quest through dark corridors, treacherous sewers and subterranean realms of faeries, magic and the living dead. You'll discover a world where darkness reigns and where you become part of a detailed story line that unfolds to your commands. Defeat evil, reclaim your immortal soul and experience the adventure that is Stonekeep.

Concentrate on the experience, not the computer ** An epic production, Stonekeep is the result of nearly 30 man-years for a dedicated team of producers, designers, programmers, artists and other professionals.

• Hollywood special effects, state-of-the-art sound effects and music, expert scriptwriting and stunning live action cinematic sequences... Stonekeep is an experience like nothing you have ever seen.

• 3-D rendered dungeons and creatures combine with live actors and amazing special effects to produce a game play environment of unparalleled realism.

• Full-Screen graphics let you truly feel the full intensity of your quest. Without distracting menus and icons, you can concentrate on the experience, not the keyboard.

• An intelligent Diary accompanies you in your travels, automatically mapping where you've been, the characters you've encountered and important clues you may have heard.

• Includes the first chapter in the Stonekeep saga, Thera Awakening, a limited edition hardbound novella from Steve Jackson and David Pulver.*

Source:

From back of box

Interplay Launches Multifaceted Marketing Campaign

For Epic Saga Title Stonekeep

(Stonekeep Set To Hit Retail November 8)

Irvine, California, October 2, 1995 -- Interplay Productions, the international publisher and developer of entertainment software, is paving the way to retail with a thundering marketing campaign for its biggest title to date ... Stonekeep! Set to ship November 8, Interplay will usher the epic saga into retail with all the grandeur they can summon, along with a comprehensive marketing campaign to ensure the success of the most anticipated game yet released by the developer and publisher.

"This is the largest retail event that Interplay has ever put behind one of its games, even larger than Descent," said Jerry Luttrell, marketing director for Interplay. "The fact that the reach of the campaign is so vast and diverse will give retailers an idea as to the breadth and scope of Stonekeep.Simply said, this is the most important launch campaign we have ever put together because it supports the most important game we've ever done."

In late August, Interplay hosted key national retailers at a successful pre-launch event to begin retail planning for the November 8 release of Stonekeep. This event was followed by "Stonekeep Media Day," catering to key consumer press publications. The event comprised of a full day at Interplay with an up-close-and-personal look at Stonekeep and meetings with key development team members.

In a take-no-prisoners approach, Interplay has taken the use of merchandisers at retail to task. Beginning October 1, merchandisers armed with P.O.P. materials, banners, shelf talkers, counter-top displays and armored chest plates will begin a nationwide three-month campaign covering 1,500 store fronts. In addition to the promotional materials, the merchandisers will educate the retail channel of the power and potential of Stonekeep. This unusually long marketing support mechanism demonstrates Interplay's complete commitment to supporting the retail channel. Employees of key retailers are getting in on the fun, too, as they ready themselves for November 8 when they will don Stonekeep t-shirts, buttons and hats.

Interactive and self-running demos of Stonekeep will be available wherever gamers can be found: lurking at retail as a $6 interactive preview, uploaded to Interplay's BBS and its World Wide Web site, and included on all of Interplay's CD-ROM products. Additionally, interactive interviews with the designers of Stonekeepwill be conducted in on-line forums, where they can chat for hours about the game of the century with the creative minds behind the game.

Interplay has also hocked their keys to the kingdom in a commitment to a $1.5 million marketing campaign which includes a massive advertising push. The advertising offensive will consist of four months of two-page print advertising spreads in the core and mass market publications, major computer user books and a nationwide radio promotion in 20 major markets.

In addition, an aggressive advanced reservation program is currently in place at many retailers with a 12-month Stonekeep calendar, one of many incentives to incite the consumer to get their order in early.

"This comprehensive marketing campaign will support our sales efforts to not only sell in, but to also sell through Stonekeep,"said Kim Motika, vice-president of sales for Interplay. "These efforts combine to provide a win/win situation for all of our distributors and retailers."

An interactive preview of Stonekeep goes on sale early October (it's right on target!) and will offer a $5 rebate with the purchase of the full game. The interactive preview is the first level of the game and comprises 6-10 compelling hours of game play, as well as a sneak peak of what the rest of the game holds in store. Stonekeep will average 60 hours of play and offers significant replayability.

Source:

Pre-launch Press Release

### Stonekeep(TM) The Wait is Over. The Experience Begins.

Irvine, California, November 7, 1995-- For those who were betting that Stonekeep(TM) would miss its November 8th street date, it's time to pay up! After over four years in development, a budget of just under five million, and the talents of more than 200 individuals, Stonekeep has arrived.

"What we wanted to do was take the role-playing genre to the next level, to create an experience that was pure. No buttons, no icons, just a pure screen that allowed you to totally immerse yourself," said Brian Fargo, CEO of Interplay.

Using innovative technology, Stonekeep draws the player into its dark reaches so completely the player will forget it's just a game. The player's feet will walk the ancient corridors and his hands will wield weapons of metal and magic. Battle disembodied foes, rescue allies from evil, liberate a massive dragon from bondage and discover an experience more realistic than anything ever imagined.

"It's the hundreds of details, from the graphics and sound to the intuitive interface, which went into making Stonekeep that creates the suspension of disbelief experienced when playing it," explains Michael Quarles, producer of the project. "We had a vision for Stonekeep and we didn't want to miss that mark."

In Stonekeep, the highly advanced interface allows for an environment of unparalleled realism in which 3-D rendered dungeons and creatures combine with live actors and stunning special effects. Detailed scriptwriting creates characters that think, act and react depending on each person's style of play. An intelligent journal accompanies the player in his quest, automatically mapping the player's path, the characters encountered and important clues heard along the way. State-of the-art 3-D sound effects, an original music score and beautiful cinematic sequences integrate into the experience that is Stonekeep.

Stonekeep was produced by Interplay's Michael Quarles. Michael Quarles' other production credits at Interplay include Star Trek: 25th Anniversary(TM) and Clayfighter(TM) for the Super Nintendo (R); Entertainment System. Mr. Quarles began his career at Interplay as the lead programmer on Battlechess(TM) and Wasteland(TM).

Available on CD-ROM, Stonekeep will run on any 486SX 33Mhz or better with DOS 5.0 or newer and at least 8 Mb RAM. A CD-ROM drive, 40Mb free hard-drive space, 256-color VGA card, a Microsoft or compatible mouse and a Sound Blaster or compatible sound card are required.

Interplay has released three back-to-back top-10 titles this year: Descent(TM), Virtual Pool(TM) and Dungeon Master(TM) II: The Legend of Skullkeep. The developer/publisher has added Frankenstein: Through The Eyes Of The Monster(TM) and Stonekeep(TM) to the stream of products this fourth quarter.

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Press Release

Willkommen

zu IHREM

fürchterlichsten

Alptraum

Erhältlich ab November 95

FÜR PC CD-ROM

STONEKEEP

Source:

Print advertisement - PC Player 11/1995

JETZT ERHÄLTLICH!

STONEKEEP

FÜR PC CD-ROM

treten sie ein in eine neue dimension des computerspiels.

Stonekeep ist das phänomenale Ergebnis eines ganzen Teams von Produzenten, Designers, Programmierern und Künstlern, die fast 30 Jahre lang an der Erstellung dieses Spiels gearbeitet haben.

Hollywoodreife Special-Effects, modernste Sound-Effects, digitale Musikbearbeitung und atemberaubende „life-action“ Filmsequenzen machen Stonekeep zu einem unvergleichbaren Ergebnis.

3D-gerenderte Verliese und Kreaturen gepaart mit echten Schauspielern und brandneuen Special-Effects lassen eine neue Dimension des Computerspiels entstehen - realistisch wie nie zuvor.

Source:

Print advertisement - PC Player 01/1996