Here’s a 25-year-old demo for Big Brother, the 1984 video game sequel they never made

It has been quite some time since I delved into George Orwell’s iconic novel, 1984. This dystopian story of mass surveillance, indoctrination, and repression is often referenced in today’s context, from political events to everyday occurrences like restaurant menu changes. While reminiscing about the game adaptation of Orwell’s world, I must correct myself – I am actually recalling Big Brother, a video game sequel to the book that never made it to the market. I never had the chance to play it, as it never reached store shelves.

Recently, online sleuths unearthed and shared an ancient E3 demo of this elusive game. For those curious but cautious individuals afraid of repercussions, here is some footage without the need to download the files and risk any unwanted attention.

According to the Lost Media Busters, Big Brother was under development at American company MediaX (known for their work on Riven/Quake marketing) in the late 1990s. Despite winning awards at various trade shows and nearing completion by September 1999, the game faced financial challenges and never saw the light of day.

The rights to the game were somehow lost by the developers, leading the rights holder, Newspeak, to seek out other publishers to take on the nearly finished project. Attempts to verify this information with MediaX founder Matt MacLaurin and former art director Mark Gilster have been unsuccessful, leaving many questions unanswered. Perhaps the authorities intervened.

Time Extension experts have provided a summary of Big Brother’s storyline. The game was set to follow a new character named Eric Blair, George Orwell’s real name, instead of the book’s protagonist, Winston Smith. Eric’s mission was to rescue his fiancee by aiding revolutionaries in overthrowing the oppressive regime of the Thought Police, all while solving environmental puzzles. The game was structured into 12 levels, each designed to last five hours.

While the game may seem more game-like compared to the book’s intense themes of psychological manipulation and control, the video’s mission briefing reminds me of G-Police, which had its own Orwellian elements. Despite this, the game appears to be more thoughtful than the typical licensed adaptations of the 1990s, where creativity was often overshadowed by commercial interests.

MediaX was known for their diverse projects, as revealed through various online sources. They were behind Queensrÿche’s Promised Land game, where players reassemble a totem for a progressive rock band, and On the Road With BB King, an interactive biography of the legendary blues guitarist. While reminiscent of fictional character Troy McClure’s eclectic portfolio, MediaX’s range of projects showcased their creativity and versatility.

Since the demise of MediaX’s Big Brother, numerous Orwellian-themed video games have emerged. Titles like Orwell’s Animal Farm by Nerial have garnered praise, and a new adaptation of 1984 by Tom Jubert, known for his work on games like Subnautica and FTL, is in the works. Described as a blend of walking simulator, adventure, and survival game, the adaptation focuses on rebellion and maintaining a facade in a dystopian society, featuring narrative elements drawn from Orwell’s original prose.