Berlin Connection
An interactive documentary thriller about the Berlin Wall.
Berlin Connection is a 1998 German educational adventure game by eku interactive, released for Mac and Windows. It combines historical documentary elements with a fictional thriller narrative centered on the Berlin Wall.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- eku interactive
- Director
- Eku Wand
- Designer
- Andreas Kraft
- Eku Wand
- Bettina Westerheide
- Programmer
- MacConsult, Eku Wand
- Writer
- Peter Friedrich Stephan, Eku Wand
- Composer
- Jens Kuphal
- Engine
- In-house development
- Platforms
- Mac OS 7; Microsoft Windows
Facts from the source article.
Plot and game-play
The player controls Roger Penrose, a journalist investigating the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. He time travels to visit the wall at three points in its history. During his travels, he falls in love with East Berlin resident Katja. After they spend the night together, she is kidnapped; the kidnappers demand incriminating photos he took, prompting Roger to begin his own investigation. The game uses a first-person perspective, allowing navigation through photographs and clicking on hot-spots. Players can use a camera to photograph key objects and apply historical information to locate items of interest. An integrated interactive newspaper provides documentary background, serving as an interface to authentic reports, interviews, historical photos, original film clips, and radio broadcasts. The sequel, Berlin Connection (part 2), combines a fictitious Berlin investigation committee, a diary of Roger Penrose (both published only on the Internet), and a printed crime novel titled “Dangerous Game.” In the tenth year after the wall's fall, Roger returns to Germany, where ghosts of the past prevent his testimony, spy on him, and haunt him; he escapes assassination attempts through invisible helpers. The novel is self-contained and does not require knowledge of the game.
Production
The game's creator, Eku Wand, first gained recognition in the interactive field by founding the Berlin-based multimedia company Pixelpark (now Digitas Pixelpark) in 1991. The initial idea for Berlin Connection was a simple good-versus-evil chess game, but it changed after the 1993 film The Innocent inspired a view of secret agents as mysterious figures. The developers termed it an "interactive documentary thriller." Wand likened the difficulties of interactive storytelling to the rules of chess. The game's official site aids players with character biographies and phone call transcripts. It features 3,000 photos and many authentic documents from modern German history, with a five-year production span. Berlin Connection appeared at transmediale 1997, World Expo 2000, and the ISEA2000 Village convention in Paris.
Critical reception
Berlin Connection was described in an early preview as more than an interactive photo-documentary, instead called a fascinating crime story where fiction and documentary blend. Another outlet saw it as both a multimedia Berlin travel guide and a thriller. One review noted the game did not push technological boundaries, which was expected given its budget. An education portal wrote that it showed how interactive media could bring contemporary history to life in classrooms. One reviewer found it an interesting way to weave historical events into an adventure game, while another said it would work well for both gamers and teachers. The puzzles were praised as varied and well-integrated into the story. A media scientist wrote in 2003 that the game’s quality came not just from its set and screen design or excellent sound design, but from the specificity of its narrative approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
What platforms is Berlin Connection available on?
Berlin Connection was released for Mac OS 7 and Microsoft Windows.
Who designed Berlin Connection?
Berlin Connection was designed by Andreas Kraft, Eku Wand and Bettina Westerheide.
Who composed the music for Berlin Connection?
The music for Berlin Connection was composed by Jens Kuphal.
What engine does Berlin Connection use?
Berlin Connection runs on In-house development.
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