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Anachronox

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This page details pre-release information and/or media for Anachronox.

This page is rather stubbly and could use some expansion.
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Notes: There's far more that could be here.

Development Timeline#

1996

  • August - Tom Hall leaves Apogee/3D Realms to join Dream Design.
  • October - In an interview with Gamespot, Tom Hall teases work on an RPG project.

2001

  • June 27th - The game is released in North America.

1996#

On August 12th, Tom Hall would depart his then-employer 3D Realms. Hall had been working on the game Prey but would leave due to creative differences. He would join up with his old id Software compatriot John Romero and help found his new studio, Dream Design (later known as Ion Storm).

In October, Gamespot would publish an interview with Hall. Gamespot would ask Hall about the project he was working on at Dream Design, to which he responded with:

Sure. It'll be sort of a combo between Super Mario RPG and Final Fantasy, with lots of surprises, cool characters, and design innovations. We want to extend the gaming experience, not just put the same junk out with different wrapping paper.1

1999#

Ion Storm Marketing Tape#

A marketing tape showing Daikatana, Deus Ex, and Anachronox footage. Watch on YouTube

Screenshots#

IGN Anachronox Intelligence Report#

Anachronox_prerelease_ign_ir_1.jpg
Anachronox_prerelease_ign_ir_2.jpg
Anachronox_prerelease_ign_ir_3.jpg
Only the base architecture of the map is present, no NPCs or items. Boots is using a non-final texture with a green coat.
Only the base architecture of the map is present, no NPCs or items. Boots is using a non-final texture with a green coat.
Anachronox_prerelease_ign_ir_5.jpg
The Frank's sign is different in the final. Some NPCs shown never appear on that map. The time minder is missing.
The Frank's sign is different in the final. Some NPCs shown never appear on that map. The time minder is missing.

Preview

Final

2

Anachronox_prerelease_ign_6.jpg
The lasers guarding Commiteon Base are not active.
The lasers guarding Commiteon Base are not active.
Fatima has a non-final texture with a green tint. The textures are present among the final's files.
Fatima has a non-final texture with a green tint. The textures are present among the final's files.
In the final, Boots is told to find a single Nox guard's helmet to prove his worth to Grumpos, so it's not clear what he'd "find all three" of. Grumpos uses non-final textures that are present among the resources in the final.
In the final, Boots is told to find a single Nox guard's helmet to prove his worth to Grumpos, so it's not clear what he'd "find all three" of. Grumpos uses non-final textures that are present among the resources in the final.
Anachronox_prerelease_ign_10.jpg
Anachronox_prerelease_ign_11.jpg
Anachronox_prerelease_ign_12.jpg
Anachronox_prerelease_ign_13.jpg
Anachronox_prerelease_ign_14.jpg
Anachronox_prerelease_ign_15.jpg
Anachronox_prerelease_ign_16.jpg
Anachronox_prerelease_ign_17.jpg
Anachronox_prerelease_ign_18.jpg
Anachronox_prerelease_ign_19.jpg
Anachronox_prerelease_ign_20.jpg
Anachronox_prerelease_ign_21.jpg
Anachronox_prerelease_ign_1.jpg
Anachronox_prerelease_ign_2.jpg
Anachronox_prerelease_ign_3.jpg
Anachronox_prerelease_ign_4.jpg
Anachronox_prerelease_ign_5.jpg

Preview

Final

Preview

Final

3

Gamespot Preview#

Boots using the healing capsule at Ghalla's which is non-functional in the final.
Boots using the healing capsule at Ghalla's which is non-functional in the final.
Anachronox_prerelease_gamespot_2.jpg
Anachronox_prerelease_gamespot_3.jpg
Anachronox_prerelease_gamespot_4.jpg
Anachronox_prerelease_gamespot_5.jpg

4

References#

To Incorporate

  1. October 1996 Gamespot interview - gamespot.com, October 1996↩︎
  2. Anachronox Intelligence Report - rpgvault.ign.com, Oct. 29th, 1999↩︎
  3. E3 Gallery: Anachronox - rpgvault.ign.com, May 15th, 2000↩︎
  4. GameSpot's Preview of Anachronox - gamespot.com, Aug. 03, 2000↩︎