In the 1st Degree

Not to be confused with First degree (disambiguation).

Short description: 1995 video game

In the 1st Degree

Publisher(s)| Broderbund
Designer(s)| Peter Adair
Haney Armstrong
Dexter Chow
Platform(s)| Windows 3.x, Mac
Release|

* EU: 1995
* NA: August 31, 1995

Genre(s)| Adventure
Mode(s)| Single-player

In the 1st Degree is a legal drama adventure game released in 1995 by Broderbund. The player takes the role of a prosecutor attempting to convict an artist of grand theft and the first-degree murder of his business partner. This involves examining evidence, interviewing witnesses, and finally going to trial to secure a conviction. The program was developed by Peter Adair and Haney Armstrong of Adair and Armstrong.

The promotional tagline was "Someone's dead. Someone's lying. Can you prove Murder One?"

## Contents

* 1 Plot
* 2 Gameplay
* 3 Development
* 4 Reception
* 5 Legacy
* 6 References
* 7 External links
* 8 Features
* 9 History
* 10 See also
* 11 References
* 12 External links

## Plot

James Tobin is a struggling artist in San Francisco who owns an art gallery with his business partner, Zachary Barnes. For some time, the gallery has been a lucrative business. However, after a new series of Tobin's paintings failed to sell, the gallery struggles financially. Tensions rise further when a burglary occurs at the gallery and Tobin's new series of paintings are stolen. During this time, unrelatedly, Barnes has a one-night stand with Tobin's girlfriend, Ruby Garcia. One morning a few weeks later, an incident occurs between Tobin and Barnes at the gallery and Tobin shoots Barnes dead.

Tobin claims that he killed Barnes in self-defense following an argument and a struggle. The police do not accept this claim and believe the killing to be an act of premeditation. They believe that the burglary several weeks before Barnes' death was carried out by Tobin himself, that he stole his own paintings to gain the insurance money to save the struggling gallery. Saying that Tobin killed Barnes not only to cover up his crime but also as an act of revenge for Barnes' affair with his girlfriend, the police arrest Tobin and charge him with grand theft and murder in the first degree.

Three months later, District Attorney Sterling Granger is summoned by Inspector Looper who provides him with substantial evidence with which he has to establish concrete proof that Tobin is guilty of the charges and present them in court, while trying to withstand doubts cast by Tobin's expert Defense Attorney Cynthia Charleston.

## Gameplay

The game is played through the eyes of San Francisco District Attorney Sterling Granger. The game begins with a video clip in which the homicide is announced on the news. After that, police detective Inspector Looper briefs the player on some of the facts of the case that have been discovered in her investigation. (Like all character interactions in this game, the briefing by Looper is full motion video, with the player having a first-person view.)

The player is then taken to Granger's office, where the player can choose to examine various evidence documents and photographs; view videos from Looper's interrogations of Tobin, Ruby, Barnes' wife Yvonne, or gallery employee Simon Lee; interview each of them (except Tobin) directly; or go to trial.

The main gameplay is the pre-trial interviewing and the direct or cross-examination of witnesses at trial. During interviews (and during the trial), the player is given a choice of questions to ask, each of which elicits a different response from the witness. Based on these questions and their responses, new questions become available. Only if the player asks the proper questions (and, sometimes, in the proper order) will the necessary information come out during the trial to secure a conviction against Tobin. (For example, if the player fails to make Ruby comfortable about discussing her affair with Barnes during the initial interview, she may deny ever having the affair when asked about it at trial.) In asking questions, the player also has to deal with the witnesses' different personality types and their relationships with Barnes, with Tobin, and with each other. (For example, Barnes' widow Yvonne, who works as the press secretary for San Francisco's mayor, speaks in a relatively calm and dignified manner, whereas Tobin's girlfriend Ruby is quick-tempered and can become very hostile.)

During the trial portion of the game, a video clip of a local newscast follows each witness' testimony. In those clips, reporters analyze the prosecutor's performance (and, thus, the player's performance) in the examination of that particular witness. The player's examination of a witness also can have an effect on the kinds of questions asked by Tobin's attorney and the witness' response to them.

Based on the player's overall performance, there are several possible outcomes to the game. The worst possible outcome is that the case is simply dismissed. The game may also end in Tobin's acquittal or with Tobin being convicted of lesser crimes (i.e. manslaughter or second-degree murder), with or without a grand theft conviction. The best possible outcome is a conviction for both grand theft and first-degree murder.

## Development

This game served as a departure from what Broderbund usually published, and was the first in their catalogue to tackle human drama and film-making in this way.[1]Cite error: Closing `</ref>` missing for `<ref>` tag

San Francisco Assistant District AAl Giannini was a legal consultant during the script writing and filming.[2]

## Reception

Reception

| Review scores

Publication| Score
CGW| [4]
GameSpot| 7.6/10[5]
PC Gamer (US)| 82%[3]
Macworld| [6]
NewMedia| "Awesome"[7]
Computer Game Review| 91/88/82[8]
PC Games| B[9]
| Awards

Publication| Award
Codie award| Best Use of Live Actors in Multimedia 1996[10]
ComputerLife Magazine| Best of Everything [11]

GameSpot praised its " originality and accessibility".[12] CD-Rom Today wrote " The interface is blessedly simple, the writing is snappy and realistic, and the acting is generally believable and only occasionally hammy. And the graphics are well-designed and rendered."[13]

From Barbie to Mortal Kombat: Gender and Computer Games wrote that the game is less about solving the mystery about more about making a strong case. Often one may know the truth, but the witness hasn't yet been convinced to tell the truth on the stand. Therefore, the game is more about emotions and relationships, rather than facts.[14]

In the 1st Degree was nominated for the Codie awards' 1996 "Best Adventure/Role Playing Software" prize, which ultimately went to Oregon Trail II.[15] It was the second-place finalist for Computer Game Review's 1995 "Best FMV of the Year" award, which went to Phantasmagoria. The editors wrote, "In the 1st Degree was able to captivate the player with FMV sequences that looked as good as anything from a highly publicized murder trial of several months ago."[16]

## Legacy

In 1995, In the 1st Degree was adapted into a novel of the same name by screenwriter Domenic Stansberry (under the pen name "Dominic Stone"), who had worked on the screenwriting for the game.[17]

## References

1. ↑ In the 1st Degree - making of. 19 April 2016. Archived from the original on 2021-12-19 - via YouTube.
2. ↑ "Macintosh Players Are Surrounded By Suspicion And Intrigue As They Play The Lead Role In Broderbund's In The 1st Degree; First Entertainment Title from Broderbund Since Myst Allows Anyone to Assume the Role of Prosecutor in a Challenging Courtroom Drama with Amazingly-Realistic Cinematography.". http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Macintosh+Players+Are+Surrounded+By+Suspicion+And+Intrigue+As+They+...-a017724322.
3. ↑ Howie, Lisa M. (December 1995). "In the First Degree". PC Gamer US. http://www.pcgamer.com/reviews/558.html.
4. ↑ Ardai, Charles (December 1995). In the 1st Degree - Computer Gaming World. Computer Gaming World. p. 266. https://archive.org/stream/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_137#page/n269. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
5. ↑ Jeffrey Adam (May 1, 1996). "In the 1st Degree Review - GameSpot". GameSpot. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/in-the-first-degree-review/1900-2535527/.
6. ↑ "In the 1st Degree". Macworld. April 1996. http://www.macworld.com/pages/april.96/Reviews.1973.html.
7. ↑ Young, Jeffrey Adam (January 2, 1996). "In the 1st Degree". NewMedia. http://www.newmedia.com:80/NewMedia/96/01/screens/Inthe1stDegree.html. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
8. ↑ "J.D. Not Required". Computer Game Review. December 1995. http://www.nuke.com:80/cgr/reviews/1295/inthe1st/inthe1st.htm.
9. ↑ Paul, Fredric (August 1995). "In the 1st Degree". PC Games. http://www.pcgamesmag.com:80/games/Aug95/1st895.html. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
10. ↑ "1996 Winners". https://www.siia.net/codie/About-the-Awards/Past-Winners/1996-Winners.
11. ↑ "Broderbund - Awards Showcase". Broderbund. February 1996. http://www.broder.com/store/awards.html.
12. ↑ "In the 1st Degree Review - GameSpot". GameSpot. http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/in-the-first-degree-review/1900-2535527/.
13. ↑ "In the First Degree - from CD-ROM Access". http://www.cdaccess.com/html/shared/1stdegr.htm.
14. ↑ Cassell, Justine; Jenkins, Henry (2000). From Barbie to Mortal Kombat. MIT Press. ISBN 9780262531689. https://books.google.com/books?id=Y5_cbfm3YfYC&dq="+In+the+1st+Degree"+"broderbund"OR"Adair+&+Armstrong"&pg=PA85.
15. ↑ "Winners in the 1996 SPA Codie Awards - Consumer Category". http://www.spa.org/codies/1996/cybercast/consumer.htm.
16. ↑ Staff (April 1996). "CGR's Year in Review". Computer Game Review. http://www.nuke.com:80/cgr/features/9604/yir1995.htm.'s+Year+in+Review&rft.atitle=Computer+Game+Review&rft.aulast=Staff&rft.au=Staff&rft.date=April+1996&rft_id=http://www.nuke.com:80/cgr/features/9604/yir1995.htm&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikibooks.org:Software:In_the_1st_Degree">
17. ↑ "In the 1st Degree Novel". http://www.broderbund.com/studio/atoz/itfdnov.html.

## External links

* MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

## Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

## History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

On February 13, 2025, Freyholtz stepped down as the site lead to move onto new projects, leaving operations to Tracy Poff, a veteran coder on the site, and Atari staff.[18]

## See also

* IGDB - game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/.
2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/.
3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1.
4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521.
8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media.
9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned.
10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner.
11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames.
12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games.
13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/.
14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/.
15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/.
16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/.
17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames.
18. ↑ "An update on MobyGames leadership". 2025-02-13. https://www.mobygames.com/forum/3/thread/269628/an-update-on-mobygames-leadership/#post-269628.

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* In the 1st Degree reviews at CDAccess.com
* Official Strategy Guide
* [1]
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* [3]
* [4]
* [5]
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