LucasArts’ iconic adventure game, Full Throttle, recently marked its 30th anniversary, sparking a curious investigation into its actual release date. The inquiry began when Tim Schafer’s studio, Double Fine Productions, realized that the precise date of the game’s launch was shrouded in uncertainty. Enter Peter Silk, the studio’s Customer Support Specialist and part-time detective, who took it upon himself to unravel this mystery.
The Quest for the Truth
Silk’s journey into the past revealed a tangled web of conflicting information. While some sources, including Fandom.com, pointed to April 30, 1995, others suggested April 20, and Wikipedia even claimed May 19 as the date. Google, ever the fickle oracle, seemed to alternate between these dates based on the day’s whim.
Double Fine itself leans towards April 30, 1995, but Silk found no definitive source to back this claim. Compounding the mystery, April 30 fell on a Sunday in 1995—a day when retail outlets were typically closed, making it an unlikely choice for a game release. Further investigation into the original release disc files revealed modifications as late as May 2nd, 1995, indicating that the game could not have graced store shelves before that date.
“Our official anniversary date was simply impossible. So what’s the truth?” Silk mused in his article. His quest for clarity led him to an advertisement in the now-defunct Scottish newspaper, The Daily Record, where a high-street retailer, Dixons, touted Full Throttle for £39.99 on Friday, May 19, 1995.
While this seemed like a promising lead, Silk noted that during the mid-90s, it was common for games to see staggered releases across regions. Retailers often miscommunicated dates, especially in an era before the digital dissemination of information became the norm.
Silk’s meticulous research took him through a myriad of newspaper clippings from various countries, yet none provided the elusive release date. Even a full-page advertisement for Full Throttle in gaming magazines failed to clarify the launch, instead directing readers to call a hotline for availability.
As Silk delved deeper, he discovered that CompUSA had anticipated receiving copies of Full Throttle as early as May 5th, but delays meant that the game didn’t reach their shelves until at least May 18. This led Silk to theorize that Full Throttle may not have had a singular street date; rather, it could have been released incrementally as retailers received their shipments.
Frustrated yet undeterred, Silk devised a novel approach. Instead of searching for the official release date, he turned his attention to the online gaming community. He began tracking when players started seeking hints and tips for Full Throttle. “Before May 19th, 1995, nobody was asking for Full Throttle hints,” Silk noted. “However, after that date, they started to flood in.”
This influx of requests for assistance helped to solidify May 19, 1995, as the day Full Throttle truly entered the public consciousness. Silk poignantly questioned, “Can it really be said that an adventure game truly exists in the hearts and minds of the public until that moment?” A sentiment that resonates deeply within the gaming community.
