Latex: The Game (Cd-Rom)

From: R N ([email protected])
Newsgroups: rec.arts.movies.erotica
Subject: Review:  Latex: The Game  (CD rom)
Date: Mon, 21 Apr 97 12:06:47
Organization: Netcom

So, Tim has paved the way for CD reviews, and 
I have been thinking about writing this one for 
almost 5 months and how to organize it.  I have 
a few sketchy items on "review" standards which 
will try to submit later, but that's not why I'm 
writing this nor why you are reading this . . . . 

Title:  Latex, The Game
Type of CD:  Interactive Game
From:  VCA Interactive
Referenced Movie:  Latex
Referenced Director: Michael Ninn
Starring:  Sunset Thomas, Barbara Doll, Debi Diamond, 
Emerald Estrada, Juli Ashton, Jeanna Fine(dp), 
Jordan Lee, Lacy Rose, Tasha Blades, Tyffany Million, 
Veronica Hart(voice over), Brick Majors, Cal Jammer, 
Colt Steel, Jon Dough, Jonathan Morgan, Jeffrey Wallach, 
Mike Horner, Richie Razor, Sam Cooper, Tom Byron, 
Vince Voyeur, Zack Thomas, Antonio Passolini (voice over)  
(Thanks to Peter van Aarle and his excellent website 
for compiling this, since the CD package does not list it.)

Year:  1996
The Sex: Oral, vaginal, anal, DP, Lez
Where purchased:  Excalibur Films Website

Computer Nerd Stuff:
This is a 2 CD-rom set.  These are hybrid CDs, so they 
work on both Windows and Mac.  
PC (minimum requirements):  Windows 3.1 or better, 8-bit 
color   graphics, 8 meg mem, 2X CD drive, mouse.  If running 
on Windows95, recommend 16 meg mem.
Mac (minimum requirements):  Mac II with at least 16 bit 
color, min 8 meg mem.
The graphics are QuickTime 2.0.  The QuickTime 2.0 movie 
viewer is bundled with the CD rom, as well as the 
Intel Indeo Decompressor.

For Reference, Computer Used:  Pentium 100MHz, 16 meg mem, 
6x CD drive, Windows95, SoundBlaster quality audio, Windows 
Accelerator 256 color graphics.


Installation Instructions and Problems:  
The installation instructions were poor.  As with many computers 
with CDroms, I have my set up to start running when a CD is put 
in the drive (after all, I want to hear music when I close the 
CD drawer!).  The means that the installation instructions 
basically are worthless (ie, click on "Program Manager", etc.)  
The game fires up when the CD drawer is closed.  The trouble was, 
I had an earlier version of QuickTime installed on my system.  
I was able to navigate around and play the game, but none of the 
movies (and good action) were displayed.  To get around this 
problem (yes, make notes here), quit the game, open the File 
Manager (W3.1) or Windows Explorer (W95), access the CD rom, 
and run the "Install" under the PC directory (folder).  This 
will install the Latex Icon in a VCA group and also install 
the proper QuickTime drivers.

Also, in Windows95, the game captures the full screen, thus 
eliminating the taskbar.  In the early parts of the game 
(ie, plot setup), one can end the game by hitting the ESC key.  
Once the game starts, one can end the game by pressing the 
Quit button on the game screen.  This means even with an ALT+Tab, 
you may not be able to quickly cover the screen if you need to 
hide it, besides, with the sound (you have to have sound!), you 
probably don't want to play this at work with anyone around.  
I also had problems going from disk 1 to disk 2.  To get around 
this, end the game, install disk 2 and start the game again.

When the game starts, there is quite a bit of VCA advertising 
(with a MAC-like mousepointer), just hit Mouse Button 1 (MB1) 
to fall past this stuff.


The Plot, The Game, The Comments:
The plot is basically that of the movie, "Latex" - future world, 
Sunset Thomas,  pyscho-manic, Sunset Thomas, hot and sometimes 
weird action, Sunset Thomas, and futuristic neurology/psychology 
- did I mention Sunset Thomas???  I know that there have been 
several readers who have ragged on Michael Ninn and his weird, 
but elaborate, movies and plots, but let me just say, Ninn's 
plots and movies make GREAT interactive games!  The game utilizes 
much of the footage of the movie.  

At the start of the game, the plot is setup with movie footage - 
futuristic psycho-weirdo named Malcom Stevens, two doctors have 
ventured into his mind and has not been heard from since 
(Drs. Mangrove and Livermore), you (as the third doctor) must 
enter his mind, find/retrieve the other two doctors, and return.  
After the setup clip, you are deposted in Malcom's mind (constructed 
as a dark, weird building) in the Noble Asylum.  (The game came 
with a map (called appropriately, "Blueprint of City").  If this 
map is lost or not in the game, you can easily construct one of 
your own - highly recommended.  A hand appears and moves with mouse 
control, and this is your navigation instrument for the game.

You must find clues, watch some pretty hot action from the movie 
(with Sunset Thomas!!) and pass certain points to gain further 
access.  At certain points of the game, the "Info" button will 
flash and you will get a buzzer noise; hit the info button and 
listen to Dr. Livermore's advice.  Constantly turn and approach 
walls and corners, there will be passwords to find and record.  
If you miss these Greek letters and numbers, you will not be able 
to satisfy the Surayama Robot Girl and reach the MegaSplash room.  
Bare  in mind also, there is a hidden elevator to find to bring 
this satisfaction, and you must visit this often.  Be sure to hold 
down on MB1 when giving mouse satisfaction (a one handed job).

Look everywhere.  Investigate everything.  Watch every video clip.  
Try to open every door and kiosk.  Click on every TV monitor.  
Enjoy Sunset Thomas.  Sometimes you will have to backtrack.  
Hint: For opening doors: Listen carefully to all the tones.  
When you are required to guess the tones, do so 
in an ordered manner so as to quickly guess the combination.
The game follows the movie plot fairly well, except that 
you have to satisfy the Surayama Robot Girl at various times to 
continue access along the way.  You also have to find all the
clues and progress along the "plot" properly.  You cannot get
to Hamshire Hall without completing the Examination Room and 
Malcolm's Liar first, etc.

After you collect all four passwords, the Surayama Robot Girl 
will be satisfied and you will be able to pass.  However, you 
must turn the Rotating Statues to concentrate on the screen.  
By this time, you will have found the controls, backtrack and 
logically adjust - look at the screen for orientation.  Go back 
to the statue room and prepare for more hot sex action.

This will conclude CD disk 1, and you will have experienced a 
really good interactive game with some really hot sex.  Now, 
on to CD disk 2.

CD disk 2 is basically a disappointment.  One my computer, when 
instructed to replace CD disk 1 with disk 2, I got a program 
error.  To get around this, I ended the game, installed disk 2 
and let the CD autostart.  Disk 2 is called "The Complete Dispatch".  
Now, believe it or not, that is what disk 2 really is!!  This 
disk fires up and asks for all 4 of the passwords you have collected.  
You are then quickly transported down the hall into a room and put
 before a computer terminal.  You can then click on disks to play 
on the computer - use MB1 to activate the disks.  Here you will 
find most all the music of the movie, the final screenplay draft 
(use the ring on the bar to move up/down the page), an interview 
with Ninn and Passolini (actually interesting to read), more 
Sunset scenes(!!!) (ever see Sunset crosseyed??) from the movie, 
along with the rest of the sex scenes.  (Hint: the yellow disks 
are all hot sex.)  It even has the scene where Sunset gets the 
dildo shower!

I was disappointed when I got to the second disk.  I was expecting 
more game and action, what I found was the above.  Yes, it is 
interesting and nice to view the script, interview, have a 
compilation of the music and sex, but one whole disk?!?!?!  
More game!!!!!!  With more sex!!!!!!!


In the following (per Tim's suggestion) 1 is the hardest/most 
poorly written/lowest quality/etc. and 5 is the opposite.

Overall rating:   If not a 5, it's pretty darned close.

QuickTime Movie quality:   4.5

Game diffficulty rating:   3.5

Ease of Use/Installation:  1.5

Quality of Instructions:  1

Hardcore:    5

Recommend:  Yes!