Mieko

From 3DO World
Jump to navigation Jump to search

What we know

  • Full Name: Mieko - A Story of Japanese Culture
  • Type: Edutainment
  • Developer: Digital Productions Inc
  • Publisher: Digital Productions Inc
  • Language: English, Japanese, German, French and Spanish
  • Planned Release Date: est 1993
  • Region: NA
  • Notes: Unknown reason for cancellation

Research Overview

The game appeared on the Panasonic Sampler which was bundled with the FZ-1. The trailer doesn't give much insight and is more of bundle of screenshots rather than actual gameplay.

The 26 second trailer comments are the following:

"Mieko, a story of Japanese Culture is based on the book by Caldecott Medal winning author, Leo Politi. Mieko is a young Japanese American girl learning Japanese customs. Interactively explore Japanese culture through photographs and video segments. Expand educational horizons with the parent/teacher guide for use with 5 lanaganues heightens international appeal "

There was a release on the PC, with several different versions:

  • School Edition - $59.95 - "comes with a Teacher's Guide and an individual Mieko CD-ROM, both packaged in a sturdy three-ring binder. The Mieko CD-ROM and Teacher's Guide offers practical ways to explore and extend the story in the classroom, as well as the other activities in the program."
  • Lab Pack - $119.95 - "comes with a Teacher's Guide and 5 Mieko CD-ROMs, packaged in a sturdy three-ring binder. The Lab Pack provides multiple disks to be used in a school lab environment where multiple students along with the teacher can explore and extend the story together as well as participate in group activities described in the program."
  • Site Edition - $499.95 - "The most comprehensive product in our Mieko family line comes with a Teacher's Guide and 30 Mieko CD-ROMs, packaged in a sturdy three-ring binder. The Site Pack offers schools with large computer labs or even school districts to explore the CD-ROM and Teachers Guide, completing activities in the program together and allowing immediate discussion on culture, geography, and other issues."
  • Consumer Edition - $29.95 - "packaged in a sturdy jewel case, comes with installation instructions, registration card, and information on our web site."
  • Teacher Guide - $34.95 - Jan 1 1995 (This date needs to be checked), ISBN-10: 188716202X and ISBN-13: 978-1887162029 - Found additional info on Amazon - "comes packaged in a sturdy three-ring binder and is full of imaginative lesson plans that span all areas of the curriculum. The Teacher's Guide offers practical ways to explore and extend the story, as well as the other activities in the program. The Teacher's Guide contains the following sections:"
  • School Edition Upgrade - $19.95 - "all upgrades, provided at a modest cost, contain the latest release of the Mieko CD-ROM, which is a hybrid disk that can run on both Windows® and Macintosh® platforms. Many school districts contain Macintosh compatible computers, so the upgrade supports these requirements."
  • Lab Pack Upgrade - $39.95 - Picture is on Archive - "all upgrades, provided at a modest cost, contain the latest release of the Mieko CD-ROM, which is a hybrid disk that can run on both Windows® and Macintosh® platforms. Many school districts contain Macintosh compatible computers, so the upgrade supports these requirements."
  • Short Sleeve Polo-style shirt - $34.95 - "A black, short sleeve, polo-style shirt embossed with the colorful Mieko logo on the right pocket area. A tasteful shirt and great gift!"

Even though these were PC releases, there is no information on what version the 3DO was to receive, but presuming this would of been the Consumer Edition.

The program uses Digital Productions Inc own inhouse software, The Multimedia machine, that was also used on another PC release that was penciled for 3DO, The Whole Dog Almac. Interestingly Digital Productions menton on their website right up to its close in 2002 that they are a registered 3DO developer.

The website for Mieko was www.japaneseculture.com and has some captures on archive.org

References

Type Name Date Country Notes
Magazine Article 3DO Magazine Live Issue 4 Nov 94
Page 126 – USA Coming Soon List

Media

Trailer

Screenshots

Print

Other