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| Steven Spielberg's Director's Chair | |
|---|---|
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| Developer | Knowledge Adventure |
| Publisher | Knowledge Adventure |
| Director | Steven Spielberg (live action) |
| Producers |
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| Designers |
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| Programmer | Roanna Doty |
| Artists |
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| Writers |
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| Platforms | Windows,Macintosh |
| Release |
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| Genre | Simulation |
| Mode | Single-player |
Steven Spielberg's Director's Chair is a 1996simulation video game byKnowledge Adventure forWindows andMacintosh. In the game, the player is guided by film directorSteven Spielberg through the process of moviemaking, including scriptwriting, filming, and editing, using pre-generated film clips featuringJennifer Aniston,Quentin Tarantino,Katherine Helmond, andPenn & Teller, among others. The game features advice from Hollywood professionals such as editorMichael Kahn, special effects supervisorMichael Lantieri, and cinematographerDean Cundey. The game was produced byRoger Holzberg, who directed bluescreen scenes in which Spielberg, Kahn, Lantieri and Cundey themselves appeared.[1] Spielberg served as executive producer and live-action director.
The player begins with a small budget and a personal assistant who provides guidance. Spielberg gives a pep talk to the player before the first feature can be made.Ted andTerry (or Terry and Ted) offer the player useful suggestions on changing the film's script. Delays can occur during the filmmaking process. Ultimately, the player works with actorQuentin Tarantino and actressJennifer Aniston, as well asPenn & Teller. Cinematographer Dean Cundey also works on the player's film to keep it within budget.
The film is then edited by the player, who can choose which angles to use, and can add sound effects and a soundtrack. Spielberg then presents the film at its premiere. The studio sometimes offers the player a chance to make the film again with a larger budget. Script and shot options increase as the player advances in experience.
The short film within the game concerns a prisoner on death row (Tarantino) sentenced to death for the killing of an old lady (Katherine Helmond). His partner (Aniston) sets out to clear his name by investigating a pair of sinister magicians (Penn & Teller).[2] The virtual budget of the game is $40 million.[3]
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| AllGame |   [4] |
| Computer Gaming World |  [5] |
Computer Gaming World rated the game two and a half stars out of five.[5]AllGame rated the game three stars out of five.[4]
In 2020,Molleindustria released a free browser version of the short film within the game, presented as a simplified interactive movie similar toBlack Mirror: Bandersnatch, orMosaic.