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{{For|the novel|Star Warped (novel)}}
{{Short description|1997 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Star Warped
| image = Star Warped Coverart.png
| developer = [[Parroty Interactive]]
| publisher = Palladium Interactive
| platforms = [[Microsoft Windows]], [[Macintosh]]
| director = Steven Horowitz <br> Ian Deitchman
| producer = Dale Geist <br> Jennifer Abbot Bulka
| writer = Mark Cohen <br> Ian Deitchman <br> [[Brian Posehn]] <br> Kristin Rusk
| released = June 1997<ref>{{cite web|url=http://palladiumnet.com/BehindtheScenes/PressReleases/StarWarpedPR.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19980212065447/http://palladiumnet.com:80/BehindtheScenes/PressReleases/StarWarpedPR.html|title=Parroty Interactive releases Second CD-ROM/Online Comedy|website=palladiumnet.com|archivedate=February 12, 1998|date=June 1997|accessdate=July 16, 2022}}</ref>
| genre = [[Adventure game|Adventure]]
| modes = [[Single-player]]
}}
'''''Star Warped''''' is a 1997 [[First-person (video games)|first-person]] [[Adventure game#Point-and-click adventure games|point-and-click adventure]] video game that parodies the ''[[Star Wars]]'' universe, specifically the [[Star Wars original trilogy|original trilogy]] released between 1977 and 1983: ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'', ''[[The Empire Strikes Back]]'', and ''[[Return of the Jedi]]''. It was created by [[Parroty Interactive]], which was a division of the game's publisher, Palladium Interactive.<ref>{{cite journal | url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-20112728.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008194628/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-20112728.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=October 8, 2016 | title=Company's Spoof of Microsoft: Microshaft Winblows | date=January 5, 1998 | author=Wasserman, Elizabeth | journal=Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1454&dat=19980106&id=SqcsAAAAIBAJ&pg=4850,1767587 | title=Parody zaps Microsoft with games | publisher=Star-News | date=January 6, 1998}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/1998/jan/06/microsoft-spoof-microshaft-winblows-98-bill-gates/ | title=Microsoft Spoof: Microshaft Winblows 98 Bill Gates' Empire Is The Target Of Latest Parody By Cd-Rom Maker Palladium Interactive | publisher=Knight-Ridder Newspapers | date=January 6, 1998}}</ref> ''Star Warped'' was released in the United States and Canada, for both [[Microsoft Windows|Windows PC]] and [[Macintosh operating systems|Macintosh]], in late 1997 as a follow-up to their debut ''[[Myst]]'' parody, ''[[Pyst]]''. The game is no longer in release, as Parroty's parent company folded after being bought by [[The Learning Company]] in 1998.<ref name=":0">{{cite web | url=https://killscreen.com/articles/a-few-things-i-learned-from-the-late-90s-game-about-nerds-star-warped/ | title=A few things I learned from the late-90s game about nerds, Star Warped | publisher=Kill Screen | date=December 16, 2015 | author=Kotzer, Zack}}</ref> The game invited players to "Be seduced by the power of the Dork Side". ''Star Warped'' received mixed reviews from critics: some praised the game's variety, originality, and humor, while others dismissed it as lazy, unfunny, and dull.

== Plot and gameplay ==
The game is set in the Modesto, California, home of two die-hard ''Star Wars'' fans with a "''[[Beavis and Butt-Head]]'' mentality":<ref name="Szadkowski1997">{{cite journal | url=https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-58385325.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008195040/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-58385325.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=October 8, 2016 | title=Advice Etc.; roming the Galaxy | date=July 21, 1997 | author=Szadkowski, Joe | journal=The Washington Times}}</ref> Brian ([[Brian Posehn]]) and Aaron ([[Robbie Rist]]).<ref name=":0" /> They claim to have never left their room since first watching the original [[Star Wars original trilogy|''Star Wars'' trilogy]].<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19970713/2549264/tech-reviews----star-warped-takes-nerd-jokes-to-new-high|title=Business & Technology {{!}} Tech Reviews – Star Warped Takes Nerd Jokes To New High|website=community.seattletimes.nwsource.com|access-date=2016-09-17}}</ref> The two have compiled their "favorite snagged, borrowed and stolen" ''Star Wars'' merchandise, and the player can interact with these items.<ref name=":1" /> Gameplay primarily consists of a series of mini-games, including "Whack! the Ewok" and "Flawed Fighters", a spoof of fighting games such as ''[[Mortal Kombat]]''.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.giantbomb.com/star-warped/3030-3945/ | title=Star Warped | publisher=Giant Bomb | website=www.giantbomb.com}}</ref> Characters include Leia I. Joe (a [[Princess Leia]] and [[G.I. Joe]] spoof), Cool-Handless Luke ([[Luke Skywalker]] with a missing hand and a pun on the film ''[[Cool Hand Luke]]''), and Pizza-Flipping Greedo ([[Greedo]] as a pizza chef). The game also has several humorous items, such as "scrapped scripts", "gene splicer", and "Tell you, I Will". Clicking on items results in animations and minigames.<ref name=":1" /> The minigames also included "U Don't No Jedi", "Death Star Destructo", "X-Schwing", and "Dork Forces".<ref name="Szadkowski1997" />

According to ''[[GameSpot]]''{{'}}s Helen Lee, ''Star Warped'' differs from Parroty's previous game ''Pyst'' in that it is a fully-fledged game instead of just an interactive product, and the parody trampled over all aspects of the ''Star Wars'' trilogy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/palladium-gets-warped/1100-2466757/|title=Palladium Gets Warped|date=April 26, 2000|publisher=GameSpot|author=Lee, Helen}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Palladium Gets Warped |url=http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_06/03_pallad/index.html |date=2000-02-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000226050101/http://headline.gamespot.com/news/97_06/03_pallad/index.html |archive-date=2000-02-26|access-date=2018-04-23}}</ref> As the game was released two years before ''[[Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace]]'', it contains no parodies alluding to the prequel series, but there are some fake references to the then-future films.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.pcmuseum.ca/details.asp?id=38450&type=software|title=The Personal Computer Museum, Brantford, Ontario, CANADA – Recycle, donate, and browse your old computers, electronics, video games, and software|website=www.pcmuseum.ca|access-date=2016-09-17|archive-date=2016-10-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020092038/http://www.pcmuseum.ca/details.asp?id=38450&type=software|url-status=dead}}</ref> While spoofing the first three films in the [[List of Star Wars films and television series|''Star Wars'' film series]], the game also targets the [[Star Wars|extended ''Star Wars'' franchise]], including its merchandise and marketing strategies.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=V-DaAAAAMAAJ&q=%2522Star+Warped%2522|title=The Multimedia and CD-ROM Directory 1998|date=1998-02-01|publisher=Palgrave Macmillan Limited|isbn=9780333711699|language=en}}</ref>

== Development ==
According to Palladium's then-vice president of marketing, Rob Halligan, the success of ''[[Pyst]]'' opened doors for future parody titles by the company, and ''Star Warped'' and ''[[The X-Fools]]'' (the latter a parody of ''[[The X-Files]]'') were the first two they attempted.<ref name="thefreelibrary.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Parroty+Interactive+Launches+PYST+Special+Edition%253B+New+Special...-a019903274|title=Parroty Interactive Launches PYST Special Edition; New Special Edition of PYST Includes a Module of Driven, a Sneak Peak[sic] Parody of the Eagerly Anticipated Riven – Sequel to MYST. – Free Online Library|website=www.thefreelibrary.com|access-date=2016-09-12|archive-date=2018-03-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317035818/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Parroty+Interactive+Launches+PYST+Special+Edition%3B+New+Special...-a019903274|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Once Palladium ironed out "legal entanglements", the company hoped to release the game in May 1997.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CuQzAQAAIAAJ | title=Computer Gaming World | publisher=Golden Empire Publications | date=January 1, 1997 | language=en}}</ref> Writers for the project included comedy veterans from ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', ''[[The Simpsons]]'', ''[[Comedy Central]]'', and ''[[The Jon Stewart Show]]''. After the jokes were approved and the writing completed, the developers had the voice actors record dialogue and, afterwards, put the game information onto CDs made available for retail purchase by customers.<ref name=":1" />
 
The game features notable voice-acting talent in minor roles, including [[Tom Kenny]], [[Carlos Alazraqui]], [[Jodi Benson]], [[Maurice LaMarche]], and [[Kath Soucie]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://ezcinemax.com/movies/10922-star-warped | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190201120030/https://ezcinemax.com/movies/10922-star-warped | url-status=dead | archive-date=2019-02-01 | title=Star Warped (1997) | publisher=Ez Cinemax | website=The EndZone Group}}</ref> It was also released in Germany with dubbed German voice acting.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/star-warped/mobyrank | title=Power Play review | date=February 1998 | accessdate=18 September 2016}}</ref>

== Release and promotion ==
''Star Warped'' was featured in a segment on the magazine-style program ''Splat!'' about cartoons in video games, which aired on animation specialty channel [[Teletoon]].<ref name=":0" /> Following in the footsteps of ''Pyst'', ''Star Warped'' had its own website players could access.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.starwarped.com/ |title=Star Warped |date=December 12, 1998 |access-date=2016-09-12 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19981212033030/http://www.starwarped.com/ |archivedate=December 12, 1998}}</ref> After buying the game and registering, players were able to enter a member's-only section of the site, where new content was added until 1998. ''[[All Media Network|AllGame]]'' writer Christopher Michael Baker notes that even unregistered visitors to the website are still able to "check out and laugh at" some activities, minigames, and other content.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=6716&tab=review |title=Star Warped |publisher=All Game |date=2014 |author=Baker, Christopher Michael |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117062459/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=6716&tab=review |archivedate=2014-11-17}}</ref> An online-only quiz-themed minigame entitled "You Don't NoJedi" (a parody of ''[[You Don't Know Jack (franchise)|You Don't Know Jack]]'') was featured on the site, as a teaser for ''Star Warped''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.starwarped.com/StarWarped/Nav/udontknowjedi.html |title=Parroty Interactive Presents Star Warped |date=May 30, 1998 |access-date=2016-09-12 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19980530150435/http://www.starwarped.com/StarWarped/Nav/udontknowjedi.html |archivedate=May 30, 1998}}</ref> Bonus modules from ''Star Warped'' were featured on the CD for "''Pyst'' Special Edition".<ref name="thefreelibrary.com"/> In 1998, after Parroty's acquisition by The Learning Company, Palladium founder and chief executive officer Ed Bernstein said that "it was a fun business, but not terribly lucrative".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Learning-Company-Acquires-Again-Palladium-makes-2975919.php|title=Learning Company Acquires Again / Palladium makes genealogy software|date=December 1998|access-date=2016-09-12}}</ref>

== Critical reception ==
''Star Warped'' received mixed reviews and polarized critics. Positive reviews highlighted the game's humor, originality, and gameplay, with some favorably comparing it to [[Parroty Interactive]]'s previous title ''Pyst'', which they viewed more as an interactive slideshow than a game. Negative reviews derided the game's humor, comparing it to cartoons like the ''[[Star Wars Holiday Special]]''.

''Electric Games'' recommended the game for its "very, very funny" humor, "cartoony" graphics, "hammy" acting, "fun" gameplay, and "impressive . . . highly original" mini-games (praising the "Scrapped Scripts").<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.electric-games.com/reviews/starwarp.html |title=Electric Games Review: Star Warped by Palladium Interactive/Parroty Interactive |date=May 16, 2005 |access-date=2016-09-12 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050516050544/http://www.electric-games.com/reviews/starwarp.html |archivedate=May 16, 2005}}</ref> Doug Radcliffe of ''CD Mag'' praised one mini-game's "''Pulp Fiction''-style" script, but thought players would get bored after a few hours due to its lacking replay value.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cdmag.com/articles/018/149/starwarped_review.html |title=Star Warped Review |date=November 6, 2003 |access-date=2016-09-12 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20031106083518/http://www.cdmag.com/articles/018/149/starwarped_review.html |archivedate=November 6, 2003}}</ref> Christopher Michael Baker from ''All Game Guide'' deemed ''Star Warped'' the most "entertaining" of all ''Star Wars'' parody video games due to its variety of "fun", "great", and "hilarious" mini-games; the site also found the opportunity to delve into the personal belongings of the ''Star Wars'' super fans fascinating, deeming their collection "interesting" and "creative", and ultimately recommending the game for ''Star Wars'' fans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=6716&tab=review |title=Star Warped – Review – allgame |date=17 November 2014 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117062459/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=6716&tab=review |archivedate=17 November 2014}}</ref> Additionally, ''America Online''{{'}}s ''Huge Electronic Brain'' named the game the "Funniest CD-ROM of the Century".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Parroty+Interactive+Releases+CD-ROM+Spoof+of+%2522The+X-Files%2522%253B+Newest...-a019805244|title=Parroty Interactive Releases CD-ROM Spoof of "The X-Files"; Newest Parody – The X-Fools – Takes Comical Look At Little Green Men And Government Cover-ups. – Free Online Library|website=www.thefreelibrary.com|access-date=2016-09-12|archive-date=2015-12-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151207135512/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Parroty+Interactive+Releases+CD-ROM+Spoof+of+%22The+X-Files%22%3b+Newest...-a019805244|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Parroty+Interactive+Ships+%2522Microshaft+Winblows+98%2522%253B+CD-ROM+Parodies...-a020108385|title=Parroty Interactive Ships "Microshaft Winblows 98"; CD-ROM Parodies Microsoft, Bill Gates and Windows. – Free Online Library|website=www.thefreelibrary.com|access-date=2016-09-12|archive-date=2016-03-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160315161052/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Parroty+Interactive+Ships+%22Microshaft+Winblows+98%22%3b+CD-ROM+Parodies...-a020108385|url-status=dead}}</ref> Joe Szadkowski of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' thought the game was "well worth" the $20 price tag, and reminded readers that the game was a parody, not to be taken seriously.<ref name="Szadkowski1997" /> ''Star Warped'' was the video game that ''[[Kill Screen]]'' writer Zach Koster credited the game for his decision to become a video game journalist.<ref name=":0" /> Emil Pagliarulo of ''The Adrenaline Vault'' saw ''Star Warped'' as an example of how Parroty Interactive made games that were "completely original simply by capitalizing on unoriginality", and said it "pokes fun at just about every ''Star Wars'' game ever made".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.avault.com/reviews/review_temp.asp?game=warped&page=1 |title=Star Warped |date=August 4, 1997 |publisher=The Adrenaline Vault |author=Pagliarulo, Emil |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041231134640/http://www.avault.com/reviews/review_temp.asp?game=warped&page=1 |archivedate=December 31, 2004}}</ref> A writer from ''CD Access'' described the game as "hilarious", offering hours of entertaining gameplay.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cdaccess.com/html/pc/starwarp.htm|title=Star Warped – from CD-ROM Access|website=www.cdaccess.com|access-date=2016-09-17|archive-date=2016-02-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160226213426/http://www.cdaccess.com/html/pc/starwarp.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Interpreting the game as a tribute to nerd culture, Steven L. Kent of ''The Seattle Times'' described Brian and Aaron as "charming" and noted the "eerie sense of reality" surrounding their collection of memorabilia, but felt that the mini-games were a "quick diversion", lacking depth. He thought that "Space Zap" and "Death Star Destructo" were the most enjoyable mini-games.<ref name="auto"/> ''Computer Gaming Magazine'' described ''Star Warped'' as a collection of mini-games, while ''Pyst'' was simply a "slideshow".<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CuQzAQAAIAAJ&q=%2522Star+Warped%2522|title=Computer Gaming World|date=1997-01-01|publisher=Golden Empire Publications|language=en}}</ref>

Richard Cobblet of ''[[PC Gamer]]'' thought the game was "pretty bloody awful", "agonizing", "painful", "uninspired", and "lazy", and compared it unfavorably with the ''Star Wars Holiday Special'', while accusing Parroty Interactive of producing a series of "comedy plague-pits".<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/saturday-crapshoot-star-warped/|title=Saturday Crapshoot: Star Warped|website=[[PC Gamer]]|date=3 May 2014|access-date=2016-09-12}}</ref> A writer from ''Entertainment Weekly'' gave the game a D, deeming it a "catastrophe" of lowbrow humor, low-rent mini-games, and criticizing the "irritating...obnoxious" protagonists' commentary.<ref>{{cite magazine | url=http://www.ew.com/article/1997/06/27/star-warped | title=Star Warped | magazine=Entertainment Weekly | date=June 27, 1997 | author=Walk, Gary Eng}}</ref> A reviewer from ''The Collection Chamber'' thought the video game was "unlicensed, unofficial and woefully unfunny".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://collectionchamber.blogspot.com.au/2015/05/star-warped.html|title=The Collection Chamber: Star Warped|date=May 5, 2015|website=The Collection Chamber|access-date=2016-09-12}}</ref> German review site ''PC Games'' gave the game 23 out of 100, commenting on the game's lack of a funny bone and "non-starter" gags; it recommended that ''PC Games'' readers save their money, and, instead, buy the [[Changes in Star Wars re-releases|Special Edition versions of ''Star Wars'']].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/star-warped/mobyrank|title=PC Games review|last=|first=|date=November 1997|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref> Another German review site, ''{{interlanguage link|PC Action|de}}'', compared ''Star Warped'' to ''Pyst'', saying it offered more variety than the ''Myst'' parody, but noted that players would likely get bored after an hour of gameplay. It concluded with saying that the "modest" cost of the game was not worth the "cheap concoction", and that players were better off spending their money on the original ''Star Wars'' sextet.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/windows/star-warped/mobyrank|title=PC Action review|last=|first=|date=November 1997|website=|publisher=|access-date=}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/star-warped ''Star Warped''] at [[MobyGames]]
* {{IMDb title|tt5528614}}

{{Star Wars}}
{{Star Wars games}}
{{Unofficial Star Wars media}}

[[Category:1997 video games]]
[[Category:Classic Mac OS games]]
[[Category:Minigame compilations]]
[[Category:Parody video games]]
[[Category:Parroty Interactive games]]
[[Category:Point-and-click adventure games]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:Star Wars fandom]]
[[Category:Star Wars parodies]]
[[Category:Star Wars video games]]
[[Category:Unofficial Star Wars media]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:Video games set in California]]
[[Category:Windows games]]