Glen here…
Just got some information on a new DVD-ROM that’s coming out soon from Aftermath Media. The top part of this post contains snippets of the actual letter that came attached to the press release, the second part of the message is a Press Release about TENDER LOVING CARE, the "first interactive DVD movie".
I'm working on getting a copy soon for review on the site, I’ll let you know when and if that happens, and share my thoughts on this (potentially) very interesting concept.
Here’s the news…
Following is a press release about "Tender Loving Care" (TLC), a new interactive movie starring award-winning British actor John Hurt. TLC is a psychological thriller that was created by Aftermath Media. It has just been released in the U.S. on DVD-ROM and will be released on DVD-Video in September.
TLC was released in Europe in May, where it has already received excellent reviews. Here's what the European press had to say about it:
"In our offices, Tender Loving Care was circling like a joint." PC Games (Germany) - June, 1998
"This is an adult caper with an enticingly voyeuristic style...Verdict: 9 out of 10. Supreme thriller with a twist." The Times (London, UK) - August 1, 1998
"Two beautiful women, sex, a touch of violence, and the depths of your own psyche will fascinate you for endless hours." Gamestar (Germany) - June, 1998
Here’s the Press Release:
INTERACTIVE MOVIE "TENDER LOVING CARE" LAUNCHES NEW GENRE OF HIGH-TECH ENTERTAINMENT
PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER STARS JOHN HURT
Ashland, Oregon; August 10, 1998--"Tender Loving Care," the world's first truly interactive movie designed for home viewing, debuted last week in the U.S. on DVD-ROM and CD-ROM, and will be released on DVD-Video in late September. "Tender Loving Care" (TLC) is a provocative, psychological thriller based on a novel of the same name by Andrew Neiderman ("Devil's Advocate"). Starring two-time Oscar nominee John Hurt, this ground-breaking new release maximizes the incredible advantages of DVD technology while elevating CD-ROM to new heights as well.
Unlike other self-described interactive movies that are actually games with video elements added or feature films with extra scenes and interviews, TLC is a motion picture that offers an enhanced entertainment experience through the use of numerous interactive elements. TLC is unprecedented in that the viewer's psyche is the director of this tale, affecting both character and plot developments.
The viewer is drawn into TLC's plot of deception, power and sexual intrigue through John Hurt's character, a psychiatrist named Dr. Turner. He enlists the viewer's help in analyzing the story's characters - a beautiful, deluded patient, her dangerously unpredictable husband, and the mysterious, seductive psychiatric nurse who has arrived to provide what may, or may not be, Tender Loving Care.
The viewer gets to play the voyeur not only by watching the action, but by exploring the "cozy" little household where the story takes place to find out what each of the characters may be hiding and what their personal motivations are. By the same token, Dr. Turner explores the viewer's secret desires, predilections and aversions through a series of probing psychological questions - and this, more than anything else, is what determines how the story will unfold.
Since the psychological profile of no two viewers is alike, experiencing TLC will be different for everyone. Ultimately, TLC becomes an emotional roller-coaster of plot twists and turns, with trust in short supply. And everyone's sanity - including the viewer's - is open to question.
TLC was created by Aftermath Media's Rob Landeros and David Wheeler - architects of the first big interactive CD-ROM successes, "The 7th Guest" and "The 11th Hour." It was shot on 35mm film and features state-of-the-art audio and video, seamlessly interwoven with extremely realistic 3-D renditions of the story's settings.
TLC will be as fully interactive on DVD-Video as it is on DVD-ROM - the only difference being that the viewer will use a remote control instead of a mouse to answer questions and make selections. Because of TLC's extraordinary level of interactivity on DVD-Video, it is absolutely unprecedented by any other product on the market today - and it will be the perfect complement to HDTV.
Having pushed the envelope of DVD technology, Aftermath now plans to use the Internet to its full potential as a retail channel, selling TLC directly to U.S. consumers via its electronic storefront at www.aftermathmedia.com. TLC was released throughout Europe in May to excellent reviews and outstanding sales - landing on the best-seller charts after just one week on the market.
DVD-ROM and CD-ROM versions of TLC may be purchased now at www.aftermathmedia.com for $45.00 plus shipping. TLC will be available on DVD-Video in late September. A fully interactive DVD-Video demo is available now for $5.00, which can be credited towards the full purchase price of the product when it's released.
