At the beginning of the 2000s, several processes took place that made their contribution to history - increasingly massive computerization and, along with it, the spread of the World Wide Web. At the same time the now buried Flash format gained wide popularity, which had a place ranging from purely technical applications to the areas of games and animation. The combination of these factors, not least of all, contributed to the creation of a specific product, which will be discussed further.
"Batman: The Animated Series" (1992-1994). A cult animated series that set the standard for animation for many years, among other things, once again demonstrating that cartoons can be far from just for children. The dark, noir atmosphere, combined with the raising of many serious topics, was significantly different from what was often offered to the public previously. Guided by the principle of "strike while the iron is hot" Warner Bros. Animation commissioned a studio called Noodle Soup Productions to develop a series consisting of two-minute sketches, with several conditions set:
* The predominantly female half of the animated series roster should have been involved - Harley Quinn, Catwoman, Poison Ivy, Batgirl and Zatanna.
* The series was supposed to be produced in flash animation format.
* Distribute it via the World Wide Web - there were still about 5-6 years left before the beta version of YouTube appeared.
* Each episode had to include certain mini-games, or it was supposed to have some kind of interactivity. So, for example, in the first episode, on the one hand, the viewer / player had to spin a kind of one-armed bandit in order to obtain the same card combination and on the other hand, when Harley began to chew gum, adjust the degree of inflation of the bubble from such in order to subsequently pierce it with a needle and see how the series continues after this event.
In total thirty-one episodes were released, with a total duration of approximately one and a half hours. The third episode, unlike the first two, was limited to only one game and virtually no interactivity, while at the same time all ten episodes were covered by one storyline.
It is difficult to evaluate such a product according to typical criteria for "regular" animation, as well as games. It's most logical to compare it with something similar in spirit and the closest analogues here are either not very well-known interactive books, here you can remember "Treasure Island" (1995), or drawing games in the style of "The Adventures of Batman & Robin Cartoon Maker" (1995), where they offer to make a kind of simple cartoon from existing blanks and then see what the output is. Going even further, you can dig up things like "Dinosaur Safari" (1996), where the well-hidden core of the gameplay was an early version of the Quick Time video player. In this context, "Gotham Girls" subjectively looks quite good and, in terms of diversity, differs favorably from the first two examples. Otherwise, this creation is more likely to be considered as an addition to the original animated series, rather than as a separate work.
Another, not very well-known character in the DC universe, Lobo, was also presented in a similar format. The timing turned out to be the same, but the number of episodes was half as much - fifteen, the series was limited to one season. The average rating and audience demand turned out to be lower, not least due to not the most successful animation.
In the end I'll also add that if someone wants a larger-scale "continuation of the banquet" then, in the context of games similar in style, you can pay attention to "Batman: Vengeance" (2001) (PC), which can be completed in about three hours, as well as "The Adventures of Batman & Robin" (1994) (SNES, Sega Genesis), which will take approximately one and a half to two hours.
"Batman: The Animated Series" (1992-1994). A cult animated series that set the standard for animation for many years, among other things, once again demonstrating that cartoons can be far from just for children. The dark, noir atmosphere, combined with the raising of many serious topics, was significantly different from what was often offered to the public previously. Guided by the principle of "strike while the iron is hot" Warner Bros. Animation commissioned a studio called Noodle Soup Productions to develop a series consisting of two-minute sketches, with several conditions set:
* The predominantly female half of the animated series roster should have been involved - Harley Quinn, Catwoman, Poison Ivy, Batgirl and Zatanna.
* The series was supposed to be produced in flash animation format.
* Distribute it via the World Wide Web - there were still about 5-6 years left before the beta version of YouTube appeared.
* Each episode had to include certain mini-games, or it was supposed to have some kind of interactivity. So, for example, in the first episode, on the one hand, the viewer / player had to spin a kind of one-armed bandit in order to obtain the same card combination and on the other hand, when Harley began to chew gum, adjust the degree of inflation of the bubble from such in order to subsequently pierce it with a needle and see how the series continues after this event.
In total thirty-one episodes were released, with a total duration of approximately one and a half hours. The third episode, unlike the first two, was limited to only one game and virtually no interactivity, while at the same time all ten episodes were covered by one storyline.
It is difficult to evaluate such a product according to typical criteria for "regular" animation, as well as games. It's most logical to compare it with something similar in spirit and the closest analogues here are either not very well-known interactive books, here you can remember "Treasure Island" (1995), or drawing games in the style of "The Adventures of Batman & Robin Cartoon Maker" (1995), where they offer to make a kind of simple cartoon from existing blanks and then see what the output is. Going even further, you can dig up things like "Dinosaur Safari" (1996), where the well-hidden core of the gameplay was an early version of the Quick Time video player. In this context, "Gotham Girls" subjectively looks quite good and, in terms of diversity, differs favorably from the first two examples. Otherwise, this creation is more likely to be considered as an addition to the original animated series, rather than as a separate work.
Another, not very well-known character in the DC universe, Lobo, was also presented in a similar format. The timing turned out to be the same, but the number of episodes was half as much - fifteen, the series was limited to one season. The average rating and audience demand turned out to be lower, not least due to not the most successful animation.
In the end I'll also add that if someone wants a larger-scale "continuation of the banquet" then, in the context of games similar in style, you can pay attention to "Batman: Vengeance" (2001) (PC), which can be completed in about three hours, as well as "The Adventures of Batman & Robin" (1994) (SNES, Sega Genesis), which will take approximately one and a half to two hours.