September 1995
Wirehead is a 1995 full-motion video game released exclusively for the Sega CD in North America. It was developed by the defunct British studio The Code Monkeys, and published by MGM Interactive (as one of its first games) and Sega of America. Originally intended as a Sega CD and a Sega 32X CD title alongside Fahrenheit, the Sega 32X CD release was cancelled for unknown reasons, though a PAL release was also slated for early 1996, but was also cancelled. The game's full-motion video sequences were produced by Stargate Studios, credited as TouchTV, which produced the full-motion video scenes for titles such as Midnight Raiders, Surgical Strike and Tomcat Alley. The filming of the game's full-motion video was throughout 1994 and was shot in parts of Canada.
Storyline
From the game manual.
At one time, there was nothing special about Ned Hubbard. He was a mild-mannered history teacher, an avid stamp collector and a birdwatcher. He was also the husband of the town librarian, Sally, and the proud father of Lisa and Max. Now, there is no such thing as a normal day for Ned Hubbard. Since the accident, Ned has been wired a little differently. Now, with a tiny computer chip in his brain, he's at the mercy of anyone holding his controller. [And Dr. Slitcon, the evil biotech engineer is after it.] But that's nothing compared to what happens when the controller falls into the hands of his family...
Gameplay
Wirehead follows the interactive movie genre, in which players have to guide the hero, Ned Hubbard (played by the actor Steve Witting), with a wired remote control device mounted onto his brain (controlled by the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive control pad), as they go either forward, left or right, but are sometimes prompted to use a vehicle or to fight opponents by punching (button A) or kicking (button B). Lives are represented by charges and continues are represented by batteries. Once they're depleted, it's game over. It's possible to make the game shorter by taking alternate routes (some being incorrect choices).
Sound Effects Used
This game uses sound effects from The General Series 6000 Sound Effects Library, Series 1000 Sound Effects Library, Series 2000 Sound Effects Library, Series 4000 Hollywood Sound Effects Library, Series 5000 Wheels Sound Effects Library, Universal Studios Sound Effects Library, Warner Bros. Sound Effects Library and one sound effect from Lucasfilm Sound Effects Library.
- MGM Roar (Heard once in the MGM Interactive logo, pitched down by 7 semitonnes.)
- Sound Ideas, ALARM, SHIP - GENERAL ALARM ON AIRCRAFT CARRIER (Series 6000) (Used as an alarm for a passenger airliner.)
- Sound Ideas, ANIMAL, CREATURE - LARGE ANIMAL GROWL 02 (Used for a bear.)
- Sound Ideas, ANIMAL, CREATURE - LARGE ANIMAL GROWL 03 (Used for a bear.)
- Sound Ideas, APPLAUSE, CHEERING - INDOOR: HOCKEY ARENA, MEDIUM CROWD CHEERING, SPORTS 02
- Sound Ideas, AUTO, '56 CHEVROLET BELAIR - EXT: DOOR OPEN, PERSON OUTSIDE 01
- Sound Ideas, AUTO, CRASH - CRASH INTO REAR QUARTER PANEL
- Sound Ideas, AUTO, CRASH - HEAD ON COLLISION 01
- Sound Ideas, AUTO, CRASH - HEAD ON COLLISION 02
- Sound Ideas, AUTO, DOOR - DOOR: OPEN AND CLOSE 02
- Sound Ideas, AUTO, DRIVING - COMES IN, LOCK UP BRAKES 01
- Sound Ideas, AUTO, DRIVING - COMES IN, LOCK UP BRAKES 02
- Sound Ideas, AUTO, DRIVING - GET IN, START UP, SQUEAL AWAY (skidding only)
- Sound Ideas, AUTO, DRIVING - REV ENGINE, SQUEAL, DRIVE AWAY 01
- Sound Ideas, AUTO, DRIVING - SQUEALING BACK AND FORTH
- Sound Ideas, AUTO, FORD MUSTANG - EXTERNAL: START, IDLE, DRIVE AT FAST SPEED, STOP, SHUT OFF, SPORTS CAR
- Sound Ideas, AUTO, HORN - MEDIUM: SEVERAL BLASTS
- Sound Ideas, AUTO, HOT ROD - EXTERNAL: START, IDLE, DRIVE AT FAST SPEED, STOP, SHUT OFF, SPORTS CAR
- Sound Ideas, AUTO, SKID - BIG SKID, TIRE 01
- Sound Ideas, AUTO, SKID - BRAKE SKID, TIRE 01
- Sound Ideas, AUTO, SKID - BRAKE SKID, TIRE 02
- Sound Ideas, AUTO, SKID - BRAKE SKID, TIRE 03
- Sound Ideas, AUTO, SKID - BRAKE SKID, TIRE 05
- Sound Ideas, AUTO, STARTER - EXT: CAR ENGINE STARTER, SHORT
- Sound Ideas, AUTO, SWIPE - INTERNAL: SIDE SWIPE OF SECOND CAR, CRASH 02
- Sound Ideas, AUTO, TIRE SQUEAL - REV UP ENGINE AND SQUEAL AWAY, SKID 01
- Sound Ideas, AUTO, TIRE SQUEAL - REV UP ENGINE AND SQUEAL AWAY, SKID 02
- Sound Ideas, BELL, DOOR - ONE RING 01 (Heard twice in the opening scene.)
- Sound Ideas, BELL, SHIP - LARGE BRASS SHIP'S BELL: SINGLE RING
- Sound Ideas, BIRD, SEAGULLS - CHIRPING, ANIMAL
- Sound Ideas, BODYFALL, HUMAN - BODYFALL ON METAL 01
- Sound Ideas, COW - SINGLE MOO, ANIMAL 01 (Heard once in a low pitch.)
- Sound Ideas, COW - SINGLE MOO, ANIMAL 02 (Heard once in a low pitch.)
- Sound Ideas, CRASH, GARBAGE - LARGE GARBAGE CRASH, HUMAN, BODYFALL 02
- Sound Ideas, DOOR, LOCKER - LARGE: OPEN
- Sound Ideas, ELECTRICITY, SPARK - HIGH VOLTAGE SPARK, ELECTRICAL 01
- Sound Ideas, ELECTRICITY, SPARK - HIGH VOLTAGE SPARK, ELECTRICAL 03
- Sound Ideas, ELECTRICITY, SPARK - HIGH VOLTAGE SPARK, ELECTRICAL 04
- Sound Ideas, EXPLOSION - LARGE BLAST 03 (Universal Studios)
- Sound Ideas, FALL, BODY - HEAVY BODY IMPACT, HUMAN, CARTOON 01
- Sound Ideas, FENCING - SABRE SWIPE: SINGLE, SWORD 01
- Sound Ideas, GUN, HAND GUN - .38 REVOLVER: SINGLE SHOT 01
- Sound Ideas, GUN, MACHINE GUN - 9MM UZI: PULL BOLT 01
- Sound Ideas, GUN, MACHINE GUN - THOMPSON SUB MACHINE GUN: LONG BURST 01
- Sound Ideas, CHEERING, CROWD - OUTDOOR: SMALL GROUP, AUDIENCE
- Sound Ideas, MOTORCYCLE, HONDA 125 - STATIONARY REVS; SHORT, LONG, GROUP OF FOUR, SIDE (long revving only)
- Sound Ideas, MOTORCYCLE, YAM. 250CC - START, IDLE, DRIVE AT FAST SPEED, STOP, SHUT OFF, YAMAHA
- Sound Ideas, PIG - SNORTING, ANIMAL
- Sound Ideas, PUNCH, FACE - ARM SWING AND JAW SOCK, HUMAN 02
- Sound Ideas, SIREN - 'WAIL' SIREN, POLICE, AMBULANCE, FIRE TRUCK 01
- Sound Ideas, SIREN - AMBULANCE, PASSES BY, CITY AMBIENCE, POLICE (partially heard)
- Sound Ideas, SPACE, COMPUTER - SPACE SHIP CONSOLE: BEEP, ELECTRONIC, SCI FI 02
- Sound Ideas, SWISH - ARM OR WEAPON SWING THROUGH AIR, SWOOSH 01
- Sound Ideas, TELEPHONE, ELECTRONIC - ELECTRONIC 2: RINGING, OFFICE
- Sound Ideas, WATER, SPLASH - LARGER, BIG THUMP & BIG WAVE (4th splash.)