- The Shivah
Infobox VG
width=
title= The Shivah
caption= In-game screenshot of The Shivah
developer=Wadjet Eye Games
publisher=
distributor=
designer= Dave Gilbert
series=
engine= Adventure Game Studio
version=
released= 2006
genre= Adventure
modes=Single player
ratings=
platforms= Windows
media= Internet download
requirements=
input= Mouse and keyboard"The Shivah" is a computer game designed and developed by Dave Gilbert with the assistance of others (such as voice actors and artists). The game was originally developed for the Monthly
Adventure Game Studio 5th anniversary competition in June 2006, which it won [ [http://www.adventuregamers.com/underground/newsitem.php?id=1240 "The Shivah" wins MAGS 5th Anniversary contest] (cited 18 December 2006)] . The author, now publishing as Wadjet Eye Games, then improved the game: making it longer, with voice acting, DVD-style commentary and extra puzzles. In September 2006 the game was on sale via theInternet from the Wadjet Eye Games site or fromManifesto Games . The shift from free to pay-to-play met criticism from some members of the AGS community but settled down soon after.Gameplay
A point-and-click
adventure game , in "The Shivah" players assume the role ofRabbi Russell Stone, who is visited by the police and informed that a murdered ex-member of his dilapidatedNew York synagogue has bequeathed him a large sum of money. Puzzled that a man with whom he had fallen out with many years before had given him money, Rabbi Stone sets out to clear his name and investigate the murder. This aspect of the game follows the "cleric as private investigator" theme of theFather Dowling mysteries.Rabbi Stone begins by paying a
Shivah visit to the widow of the murdered man and slowly uncovers a conspiracy and discovers who was behind the now multiple murders. The game also features a scene where two Rabbis fight with words, similar to theinsult swordfighting ofMonkey Island . The Shivah's unique use of a Rabbi as protagonist and exploration of Jewish themes has garnered the game press [ [http://edition.cnn.com/2006/TECH/fun.games/12/13/shivah.rabbi.reut/ CNN coverage of "The Shivah"] (cited 18 December 2006)] [ [http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/religion/talk-to-people-punch-them-be-a-rabbi-221408.php Brief article on "The Shivah" at Kotaku] (cited 18 December 2006)] and reviews. [ [http://www.justadventure.com/reviews/Shivah/Shivah.shtm Shivah Review at justadventure.com] (cited 18 December 2006)] [ [http://www.adventuregamers.com/article/id,696/ Shivah Review at adventuregamers.com] (cited 18 December 2006)] [ [http://faithgames.wordpress.com/2006/11/02/review-of-the-shivah/ Shivah Review at Faith Games] (cited 18 December 2006)] [ [http://www.gametunnel.com/articles.php?id=545 Shivah #2 in gametunnel's Top 10 Indies for November 2006] (cited 18 December 2006)] [ [http://www.adventurelantern.com/Reviews/Shivah/Shivah.htm Shivah Review at adventurelantern.com] (cited 18 December 2006)] [ [http://www.tigsource.com/articles/2006/07/08/the-shivah Shivah Review at tigsource.com] ]Reception
Awards
In the AGS Awards for games from 2006, The Shivah won "Best Dialogue writing" [ [http://www.americangirlscouts.org/AGSAwards/awards.php?year=2006 AGS Awards for 2006 games] (cited 12 February 2007)] and Dave won the Lifetime Achievement Award. "The Shivah" came 2nd in Game Tunnel's Sound award for 2006 [ [http://www.gametunnel.com/articles.php?id=564 Game Tunnel Game of the Year: Sound] (cited 12 February 2007)] and 3rd in their Adventure/Quest Game of the Year awards [ [http://www.gametunnel.com/articles.php?id=562 GameTunnel Game of the Year: Adventure] (cited 12 February 2007)] .
References
External links
* [http://www.wadjeteyegames.com/shivah.html Official website of "The Shivah" at Wadjet Eye Games]
* [http://www.adventuregamers.com/article/id,699/ Interview with Dave Gilbert, the author, about The Shivah and other games]
* [http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20060926/hawkins_01.shtml Gamasutra article on "The Shivah" being a big hit at a New YorkIGDA meeting]
* [http://www.nrg.co.il/online/11/ART1/517/565.html Hebrew Article in Maariv On-Line] , for translation, see [http://new.bigbluecup.com/yabb/index.php?topic=29429.msg376321#msg376321 here]
* [http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/15.01/play.html?pg=4 Wired magazine article on The Shivah]
* [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?apage=1&cid=1167467664967&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull Jerusalem Post article on The Shivah]
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