Codename: Iceman

Codename: ICEMAN
Developer(s)	Sierra On-Line
Publisher(s)	Sierra On-Line
Director(s)	Jim Walls
Producer(s)	Guruka Singh Khalsa
Designer(s)	Jim Walls
Writer(s)	Jim Walls
Lead Programmer(s)	Pablo Ghenis, J. Mark Hood, Doug Oldfield
Lead Artist(s)	James Larsen, Cheryl Loyd
Composer(s)	Mark Seibert
Platform(s)	MS-DOS, Amiga, Atari ST, Windows
Release	December 1989
Genre(s)	Text parser adventure, simulation
Mode(s)	Single-player

Codename: ICEMAN (aka Code-Name: ICEMAN)is an EGA adventure game created by Jim Walls, and it was developed and published by Sierra On-Line on December 1989. The game was made using the SCI0 engine. The game features a story of espionage, inventory-based puzzles, secret agent and military procedures, and a sense of humor. They also include pop cultural references. The game is currently owned by Activision.

Codename: PHOENIX was mentioned in Sierra promotional material, suggesting that ICEMAN was meant to be the first part of a Codename series. However, disappointing sales ended the would-be franchise after one game.

Code-Name: ICEMAN can be purchased at Good Old Games.

Description[]

It's the beginning of the 21st century and the world is experiencing a global oil shortage, with Tunisia being one of the few countries that still possesses a large supply of it. Attracting the attention of the United States and the Soviet Union as potential buyers for the oil, Soviets kidnap the US ambassador to provoke an international incident. Returning from his beach vacation after a one-night stand with an mysterious woman, Lt. Commander Johnny Westland, a US Naval Officer, is sent to Tunisia with the order of rescuing the ambassador and preventing further escalation of the conflict.

Gameplay[]

CodeName: ICEMAN plays just like Sierra's other adventure games in which the player can navigate the protagonist in eight different directions from third-person view while typing text commands to interact with characters and the environment. ICEMAN is similar to the Police Quest series in that it relies on realistic procedures outlined in the game's manual. This includes providing first aid, following military instructions, and engaging in bureaucracy. A large portion of the game takes place in a submarine, requiring the player to navigate it.

Reception[]

Computer Gaming World in 1990 liked the simulation sequences, improved parser, art, difficult puzzles, and sound card support, but said that the iceberg sequence became boring. It concluded that fans of Sierra adventures or James Bond would enjoy the game.^[1] In a 2007 review, Dante Kleinberg of Adventure Gamers gave ICEMAN 1.5 stars out of 5, citing dead end situations and frustrating simulator sequences. Kleinberg however praised the game's "classic Sierra look and feel."^[2]

Credits[]

Game Designer: Jim Walls
Executive Producer: Ken Williams
Producer: Guruka Singh Khalsa
Programming: Pablo Ghenis, J. Mark Hood, and Doug Oldfield
Additional Programming: Juan Carlos Escobar, Robert W. Lindsley, Larry Scott, and David Skinner
Development System: Pablo Ghenis, Stuart Goldstein, Robert Eric Heitman, Jeff Stephenson
Atari ST Version: Corey Cole and John Rettig
Artists: James Larsen and Cheryl Loyd
Additional Artwork: Jeff Crowe, Gerald Moore, Kenn Nishiuye, Cindy Walker
Composer and Sound Effects: Mark Seibert
Quality Assurance: Jennifer Cobb and Mike Harian
Special Thanks to: Robert Stewart (U.S.N.)
Documentation Writing: Marti McKenna and Jim Walls
Package Design: John T. Shaw

External links[]

References[]

↑ Chaut, Michael. "The Iceman Computeth! / Sierra's "Code-Name: Iceman"", Computer Gaming World, May 1990, pp. 48. Retrieved on 16 November 2013.
↑ Dante Kleinberg (2007-10-19). Codename: ICEMAN. Adventure Gamers. Retrieved on 2010-01-12.

[chaut199005-1] Chaut, Michael. "The Iceman Computeth! / Sierra's "Code-Name: Iceman"", Computer Gaming World, May 1990, pp. 48. Retrieved on 16 November 2013.

[ag-2] Dante Kleinberg (2007-10-19). Codename: ICEMAN. Adventure Gamers. Retrieved on 2010-01-12.

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