Interactive Binary Illusions   #43 Games developed: 2 Games published: 0 Period: 1993 - 1995

"Since 1987, Apogee Software, Ltd. has been a multifaceted pioneer and innovator in the PC gaming industry. Apogee's first breakthrough was in shareware marketing. Known in the shareware industry as the "Apogee model," our breakthrough method of releasing a portion of a full game (an "episode") as shareware (years before the Internet became popular) was risky and innovative, and done well before other PC game publishers released demos of their games -- now standard practice. (Visit here for a thorough history of shareware).

Among other innovations popularized by Apogee in our early years include cheat codes (standard practice for our games as far back as in 1987), level warps and the so-called "god" invincibility mode. Apogee's games, and later 3D Realms' games, have always included skill levels and save/load game options, both very rare in PC games in the late 80's and early 90's. (Click here for a more complete list of Apogee/3D Realms milestones and innovations.)

Apogee was an initial inductee into the Shareware Hall of Fame in 1996, and in 1995 Apogee's founder Scott Miller was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Shareware Industry Awards Foundation, for Apogee's leadership and innovations in shareware game marketing. In 1994, Apogee created a new division, 3D Realms Entertainment, with the goal of developing innovative, interactive, immersive and of course fun 3D action games. The Apogee label, for all purposes, was slated to be phased out after having been responsible for nearly 30 PC games, including Beyond the Titanic, Supernova, Kroz, Pharaoh's Tomb, Commander Keen, [and] the original Duke Nukem in 1991."

For Apogee fans, Samuel Stoddard's amazing Apogee FAQ is a must read. There's probably no question about Apogee that isn't answered in there :)

Related companies: 3D Realms, FormGen, Remedy Entertainment, Animation FX