Oysterhead Maze (found 3D Shockwave game; 2001): Difference between revisions

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{{InfoboxLost
{{InfoboxFound
|title=<center>Oysterhead Maze<\center>
|title=<center>Oysterhead Maze<\center>
|image=Foundhim.jpg
|image=Foundhim.jpg
|imagecaption=One of the few images that exist for ''Oysterhead Maze''.
|imagecaption=A screenshot of Oysterhead Maze.
|status=<span style="color:orange;">'''Partially Found'''</span>
|status=<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''</span>
|datefound=5 Dec 2022
|foundby=[[User:TheCracksOverhead|TheCracksOverhead]]
}}
}}
'''''Oysterhead Maze''''', also titled "o y s t e r h e a d &nbsp;m a z e", is a 3D Shockwave game made by Roger Jones that came out sometime in 2001 and was available online until sometime in 2005. It is themed after the musical supergroup "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oysterhead Oysterhead]".  
'''''Oysterhead Maze''''', also titled "o y s t e r h e a d &nbsp;m a z e", is a 3D Shockwave game made by Roger Jones that came out sometime in 2001 and was available online until sometime in 2005. It is themed after the musical supergroup "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oysterhead Oysterhead]".  


==History==
==History==
The game files were hosted on the now defunct Throbbing Media website<ref name="ThrobSite">[https://web.archive.org/web/20020606133655/http://www.throbbing.com/oysterhead/game.htm Archived version of the original game webpage on the Throbbing website.] Retrieved 27 Jun '20</ref> and possibly on the original Oysterhead.com website from 2001.<ref name="OheadSite">[https://web.archive.org/web/20051028094327/http://www.oysterhead.com:80/maze/maze.html Main page for the game on the 2001 Oysterhead website.] Retrieved 12 Feb '21</ref> Little is known about Throbbing Media, other than it was ran by the game's creator, Roger Jones, who also had other Shockwave games on the site. The game uses the Shockwave Havok Xtra, which was a type of physics engine that could be used for 3D Shockwave games. The Xtra was probably mostly used for the part of the game where you break through a wall to get into the room with Mr. Oysterhead inside. Credit for the game's 3D Art is given to Chris Knoff, according to the 2001 Oysterhead website.<ref name="OheadSite"/>
The game files were hosted on the now-defunct Throbbing Media website<ref name="ThrobSite">[https://web.archive.org/web/20020606133655/http://www.throbbing.com/oysterhead/game.htm Archived version of the original game webpage on the Throbbing website.] Retrieved 27 Jun '20</ref> and possibly on the original Oysterhead.com website from 2001.<ref name="OheadSite">[https://web.archive.org/web/20051028094327/http://www.oysterhead.com:80/maze/maze.html Main page for the game on the 2001 Oysterhead website.] Retrieved 12 Feb '21</ref> Little is known about Throbbing Media, other than it was owned by the game's creator, Roger Jones, who also had other Shockwave games on the site. The game uses the Shockwave Havok Xtra, which was a physics engine that could be used with Shockwave 3D. Credit for the game's 3D Art is given to Chris Knoff, according to the 2001 Oysterhead website.<ref name="OheadSite"/>


A user on the Lost Media Wiki Forum, TheCracksOverhead, recalled playing the game only once when it was still available on the original Throbbing Media website.<ref name="ForumThread">[https://forums.lostmediawiki.com/thread/3887/shockwave-game-oysterhead-maze The original thread for the game on the LMW forum.] Retrieved 27 Jun '20</ref> After managing to find the now dead link to the original webpage, he tracked down a couple of mentions of the game online. The most important mention came from a thread on the DSLReports Forum, where a screenshot of the game was posted.<ref name="DSLReports">[http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r7572119-Mr-Oysterhead A thread about the game on the DSLReports Forum.] Retrieved 27 Jun '20</ref> User tomysshadow was able to find the name of the game's creator, Roger Jones, by looking around in the game's DCR file.
A user on the Lost Media Wiki Forum, TheCracksOverhead, recalled playing the game only once when it was still available on the original Throbbing Media website.<ref name="ForumThread">[https://forums.lostmediawiki.com/thread/3887/shockwave-game-oysterhead-maze The original thread for the game on the LMW forum.] Retrieved 27 Jun '20</ref> After managing to find the now-dead link to the original webpage, he tracked down a couple of mentions of the game online. The most important mention came from a thread on the DSLReports Forum, where a screenshot of the game was posted.<ref name="DSLReports">[http://dslreports.com/forum/r7572119-Mr-Oysterhead A thread about the game on the DSLReports Forum.] Retrieved 27 Jun '20</ref> User TOMYSSHADOW was able to find the name of the game's creator, Roger Jones, by inspecting the Shockwave Movie in Director.


Roger Jones, who used to work for Macromedia, used Director very frequently.<ref>[https://rhizome.org/community/32656/ An article that includes some Q&A's from Roger Jones about Macromedia Director.] Retrieved 27 Jun '20</ref> In an attempt to recover the two missing game files, LMW user captiveofchrist managed to get into contact with Roger on YouTube.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uENqluJpjdo&lc=UgwRhaiQkfqf0cqAKhB4AaABAg YouTube comment section discussion with Roger Jones about the missing game files.] Retrieved 27 Jun '20</ref> Unfortunately, he responded very vaguely with: <blockquote>"That was 18 years ago. Unfortunately none of that software works anymore. So no."</blockquote> Captiveofchrist tried to clarify by asking Roger if he had the files and just couldn't give them out, or if they were deleted, but Roger never responded back.
Roger Jones, who used to work for Macromedia, used Director very frequently.<ref>[https://rhizome.org/community/32656/ An article that includes some Q&A's from Roger Jones about Macromedia Director.] Retrieved 27 Jun '20</ref> In November 2022, TheCracksOverhead managed to get into contact with Roger and was sent a working copy of the game on December 5th, 2022. The game has since been submitted to Bluemaxima's Flashpoint and archived on Archive.org.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/Oysterhead-Maze A working version of the game that's available on the Internet Archive.] Retrieved 05 Dec '22</ref>


==Gameplay==
==Gameplay==
Not much is known about the game itself other than you play as a blue bird pulling a cart around the inside of a maze. There appears to be diamond-like objects that the player could collect, and the goal is to break through one of the walls of the maze to get into the room with Mr. Oysterhead. Based on texture files found within the game, you also have several camera options to choose from. A description of the game found on the Havok Developers Site Archive reads: <blockquote>"Find Mr. Oysterhead, steer the cart with your cursor keys, pick up items and store them in your cart."<ref name="HavokSite">[http://www.deansdirectortutorials.com/3D/HavokDeveloperSite/xdev/users.html Havok Developers Site Archive.] Retrieved 27 Jun '20</ref></blockquote>
In Oysterhead Maze, you play as a bluebird that pulls a wooden cart around the inside of a maze. There are pearls, bricks, a glass bottle, and an Easter egg that the player can interact with by using the mouse to click and drag. Each time you click, the bluebird lets out a chirp. The goal is to find and break through one of the walls of the maze to get into the room with Mr. Oysterhead. The player can choose to play the game in 5 different camera angles, with a 6th angle being unlocked after finding Mr. Oysterhead. The number keys 1-6 can also be used to change camera angles. A description of the game found on the Havok Developers Site Archive reads: <blockquote>"Find Mr. Oysterhead, steer the cart with your cursor keys, pick up items and store them in your cart."<ref name="HavokSite">[http://deansdirectortutorials.com/3D/HavokDeveloperSite/xdev/users.html Havok Developers Site Archive.] Retrieved 27 Jun '20</ref></blockquote>
 
Inside of the game's DCR file there is a texture that explains the rules of the game. These rules can also be found on the original Oysterhead 2001 website where they're a little bit more detailed: <blockquote>"> Find Mr. Oysterhead !<br>> Navigate the Bird & Cart throgh the Maze using the cursor keys to steer.<br>> Mr. Oysterhead is hidden behind one of the walls.<br>> Look for his secret door and break through."<ref name="OheadSite"/></blockquote>
 
==Missing Required Files==
There are only three files that are required for the game to run:
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! File
! Description
! Status
|-
|ohead.dcr||The main Shockwave file. This is the only file for the game that still exists online.<br>When trying to run it without the other two required files, the game will get stuck on the loading screen while the song "Mr. Oysterhead" plays in the background. If running in a Shockwave Projector, a window will open up asking you to point to where the other missing files are.||<span style="color:green;">'''Found'''<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050405052229id_/http://www.throbbing.com/oysterhead/ohead.dcr The game's DCR file, archived on the Wayback Machine.] Retrieved 27 Jun '20</ref></span>
|-
|head_only.W3D||This is the first missing file the game looks for. The contents of the file are unknown, but it's a W3D file, and W3D files in Shockwave are used for 3D worlds/scenes. It most likely contains all the textures, geometry, models, and animations for the 3D world of the game.||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
|-
|walk.W3D||The second missing file. The contents of this one are also unknown, although it probably just contains the bird character's walking animations.||<span style="color:red;">'''Lost'''</span>
|}


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<center><gallery mode="packed">
<center><gallery mode="packed">
ohead_camera_buttons.png|More texture files found within the game. Another option that's not shown here is a button that reads "HEAD CAM".
ohead_camera_buttons.png|More texture files found within the game. Another option that's not shown here is a button that reads "HEAD CAM".
Foundhim.jpg|Screenshot of the game taken by user "Aint Skeered" on the DSLReports Forum back in August 2nd, 2003.<ref name="DSLReports"/>
Foundhim.jpg|Screenshot of the game taken by user "Aint Skeered" on the DSLReports Forum back on August 2nd, 2003.<ref name="DSLReports"/>
Throbbing.gif|Thumbnail image for the game found on the Havok Developer's Site Archive.<ref name="HavokSite"/>
Throbbing.gif|Thumbnail image for the game found on the Havok Developer's Site Archive.<ref name="HavokSite"/>
Oysterhead.jpg|Another thumbnail image for the game that was found on the Wayback Machine.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111121111824if_/http://www.shockwave3d.com/games/shockwave3d/oysterhead.jpg Thumbnail image for the game found on the Wayback Machine.] Retrieved 27 Jun '20</ref>
Oysterhead.jpg|Another thumbnail image for the game that was found on the Wayback Machine.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20111121111824if_/http://www.shockwave3d.com/games/shockwave3d/oysterhead.jpg Thumbnail image for the game found on the Wayback Machine.] Retrieved 27 Jun '20</ref>
Ohead_Loading_Screen.png|The game's loading screen. This is currently the only thing that's "playable" due to missing files.
Ohead_Loading_Screen.png|The game's loading screen.
Rules.png|A texture file found within the game that explains the game's rules.
Rules.png|A texture found within the game that explains the game's rules.
</gallery></center>
</gallery></center>


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{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


[[Category:Lost video games]]
[[Category:Found internet media]]
[[Category:Partially found media‏‎]]
[[Category:Found media‏‎]]
[[Category:Found video games]]

Latest revision as of 20:58, 8 April 2023

Foundhim.jpg

A screenshot of Oysterhead Maze.

Status: Found

Date found: 5 Dec 2022

Found by: TheCracksOverhead


Oysterhead Maze, also titled "o y s t e r h e a d  m a z e", is a 3D Shockwave game made by Roger Jones that came out sometime in 2001 and was available online until sometime in 2005. It is themed after the musical supergroup "Oysterhead".

History

The game files were hosted on the now-defunct Throbbing Media website[1] and possibly on the original Oysterhead.com website from 2001.[2] Little is known about Throbbing Media, other than it was owned by the game's creator, Roger Jones, who also had other Shockwave games on the site. The game uses the Shockwave Havok Xtra, which was a physics engine that could be used with Shockwave 3D. Credit for the game's 3D Art is given to Chris Knoff, according to the 2001 Oysterhead website.[2]

A user on the Lost Media Wiki Forum, TheCracksOverhead, recalled playing the game only once when it was still available on the original Throbbing Media website.[3] After managing to find the now-dead link to the original webpage, he tracked down a couple of mentions of the game online. The most important mention came from a thread on the DSLReports Forum, where a screenshot of the game was posted.[4] User TOMYSSHADOW was able to find the name of the game's creator, Roger Jones, by inspecting the Shockwave Movie in Director.

Roger Jones, who used to work for Macromedia, used Director very frequently.[5] In November 2022, TheCracksOverhead managed to get into contact with Roger and was sent a working copy of the game on December 5th, 2022. The game has since been submitted to Bluemaxima's Flashpoint and archived on Archive.org.[6]

Gameplay

In Oysterhead Maze, you play as a bluebird that pulls a wooden cart around the inside of a maze. There are pearls, bricks, a glass bottle, and an Easter egg that the player can interact with by using the mouse to click and drag. Each time you click, the bluebird lets out a chirp. The goal is to find and break through one of the walls of the maze to get into the room with Mr. Oysterhead. The player can choose to play the game in 5 different camera angles, with a 6th angle being unlocked after finding Mr. Oysterhead. The number keys 1-6 can also be used to change camera angles. A description of the game found on the Havok Developers Site Archive reads:

"Find Mr. Oysterhead, steer the cart with your cursor keys, pick up items and store them in your cart."[7]

Gallery

  • More texture files found within the game. Another option that's not shown here is a button that reads "HEAD CAM".

    More texture files found within the game. Another option that's not shown here is a button that reads "HEAD CAM".

  • Screenshot of the game taken by user "Aint Skeered" on the DSLReports Forum back on August 2nd, 2003.[4]

    Screenshot of the game taken by user "Aint Skeered" on the DSLReports Forum back on August 2nd, 2003.[4]

  • Thumbnail image for the game found on the Havok Developer's Site Archive.[7]

    Thumbnail image for the game found on the Havok Developer's Site Archive.[7]

  • Another thumbnail image for the game that was found on the Wayback Machine.[8]

    Another thumbnail image for the game that was found on the Wayback Machine.[8]

  • The game's loading screen.

    The game's loading screen.

  • A texture found within the game that explains the game's rules.

    A texture found within the game that explains the game's rules.

References

  1. ↑ Archived version of the original game webpage on the Throbbing website. Retrieved 27 Jun '20
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Main page for the game on the 2001 Oysterhead website. Retrieved 12 Feb '21
  3. ↑ The original thread for the game on the LMW forum. Retrieved 27 Jun '20
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 A thread about the game on the DSLReports Forum. Retrieved 27 Jun '20
  5. ↑ An article that includes some Q&A's from Roger Jones about Macromedia Director. Retrieved 27 Jun '20
  6. ↑ A working version of the game that's available on the Internet Archive. Retrieved 05 Dec '22
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Havok Developers Site Archive. Retrieved 27 Jun '20
  8. ↑ Thumbnail image for the game found on the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 27 Jun '20
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