Microshaft Winblows 98 is a 1998 interactive comedy video game for Windows and the Classic Mac OS. It parodies the then-upcoming Windows 98 operating system, as well as Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates. Released by Palladium Interactive during the United States v. Microsoft Corp. case and at a time when Microsoft, Windows, and Gates were easy targets for jokes, the game offers a satirical take on this ripe subject matter.
Release Date 1998-01-05
Developer(s)
WayForward Technologies, Inc.Rating / Parents' Guide
System(s)
PC
Despite Microsoft being the target of jokes for a considerable period of its then 23-year history, Microshaft Winblows 98 was released at a specific point in time when Microsoft and Bill Gates were in the news for controversial reasons. In particular, Gates was in legal trouble with the Justice Department in terms of the court case United States v. Microsoft Corp surrounding the company's alleged unfair leveraging of its market dominance. The Buffalo News noted that the CEO had been embroiled in issues with "competitors, the feds and industry pundits". Microshaft Winblows 98 came into existence as a response to this and a way to "mock [Gates'] entire existence" in a humorous and intelligent way, serving as a parody of the "company, the software and the man". Palladium officials noted that the game was influenced by the "public's fascination with this cultural phenomenon", although they claimed that the timing of the game was "dumb luck".
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Game added to Channel 3 library |