WildTangent (partially found PC/online games; 1999-2018)

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Wildtangentsquarelogo.jpg

Current WildTangent logo (possibly from 2010).

Status: Partially Found

WildTangent was a PC/web game company founded in 1998 by Alex St. John and Jeremy Kenyon. The company is well known for its PC web/online games that were pre-installed for PC users who own HP, Dell, Toshiba, Gateway, Samsung, Acer, and Sony VAIO, like Polar Bowler, Final Drive Nitro, Blasterball series, and the Fate series.

WildTangent used to develop their own original games, sometimes to advertise various companies, TV, and movies. Most of the WildTangent titles were discontinued and have become lost or missing. The reason they discontinued their games is unknown. However, they were criticized because their games contain spyware, the company no longer distributes or develops Web Driver.

Somewhere in 2005, WildTangent has been since distributing other games from other companies and other developers.

Most of WildTangent games were all stored in GIT-type system/source safe so no one needed personal copies, according to a former WildTangent employee. But no information have been confirmed.

Technology

In order to play WildTangent games, the user would have to install WildTangent Web Driver and Microsoft Java Virtual Machine. Java would need to be uninstalled or disabled in case it blocked these games from running. The antivirus software would have to be disabled in case it blocked them from running as well.

The games had online and offline versions, but the online versions no longer function.

WildTangent visualizers, screensavers, SDK, other demos, and other tools used to be available from the site. It has been since discontinued.

WildTangent owns the Genesis3D game engine, but the company do not handle responsibilities for Genesis3D games. In 1999, WildTangent and Eclipse Entertainment negotiated a deal where WildTangent purchased most of the Genesis3D assets to create their Web Driver.[1]WildTangent then acquired Eclipse Entertainment in January 2002.[2]

History

WildTangent was founded in July 1998 by former Microsoft Evangelist and DirectX creator Alex St. John and his partner Cambridge mathematician, Jeremy Kenyon. Originally established as a service organization to assist Microsoft in promoting Chromeffects. However, it quickly turned into something much more.

The same year, Alex St. John left Microsoft to found WildTangent, a consulting organization, in order to assist Microsoft in developing Chromeffects, a multimedia project originally prototyped by St. John. After persuading Kenyon to join him, they hired several programmers to work on the project. In November 1998, despite the team's success, Microsoft cancelled the Chromeffects project.

Chromeffects was an incredibly powerful idea. Disappointed that multimedia technology was not advancing rapidly enough to meet the demands of the internet, the WildTangent team decided to architect a more powerful solution for bringing interactive content to the web. Two months later, the team had put together a prototype and a business plan and began the search for investors.

By the end of May 1999, the company released its first beta version of the Web Driver to developers. On September 22, 1999, WildTangent released its version 1.0 Web Driver to the market.[3]

In August 2001, WildTangent released version 2.1 of the Web Driver.

Starting in September 2001, WildTangent began creating a digital entertainment network with major OEM's and entertainment portals, allowing them to bring major titles like Dark Orbit and SabreWing 2 to their end-users. Consumers can now experience retail-quality entertainment through distribution partners that include Hewlett-Packard, GameSpy Arcade, GamePro and Shockwave.com.

WildTangent has secured strategic alliances with major websites, computing and entertainment companies, including GameSpy, Gamepro, Microsoft, Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment, Universal Studios, DNA Studios, Shockwave.com, AOL/TimeWarner, TBS SuperStation, News Corp/Fox Sports, Sierra Studios, ATI, AMD, Compaq Computer Corp., Visa, Pioneer and 3DMaxMedia. Overall, tens of millions of end-users have downloaded WildTangent's Web Driver.[4]

In October 2001, WildTangent, Screenblast, and Distant Corners Entertainment Group announced the launch of Evilution: The Legend of Helnaar on Screenblast. The game featured in the movie premiere of "How to Make a Monster," which is part of the Creature Features series on Cinemax. The game itself was lost.[5]

WildTangent developed a multimedia accessory/utility called Xbox Music Mixer and published by Microsoft Game Studios for the Xbox console. It was released on December 1st, 2003, and the first Xbox game to be made by WildTangent. It received unfavorable reviews.[6]

In 2004, WildTangent and Sarbakan join forces of its first 3D action online game FireChild on the America Online RED service, designed to be the first 3D streaming game.[7]The game was nowhere to be found.

WildTangent released Fate for PC on May 20, 2005, which positively received by critics.[8]It was later released sequels. Fate: Undiscovered Realms released in 2008, Fate: The Traitor Soul released in 2009, and Fate: The Cursed King released in 2011.

WildTangent released Mojo Master on June 20, 2005, and the first online game from AXE Unlimited and WildTangent.[9]The multiplayer version of that game was also released in October 2005.[10]The game was later subject to protests due to controversy regarding about that game.[11]

From 2006, the company offer anybody to buy WildCoins for any games, until 2020 when WildCoins have been discontinued, as the company are focused on adding new features and improving the overall experience.[12][13]

WildTangent released Sea Life Safari for PC and Xbox Live Arcade, the Xbox Live Arcade version of the game received mostly mixed reviews.[14]

WildTangent announced the PC launch of Q Entertainment’s award-winning puzzle game Lumines on the WildTangent site, which was released on November 28, 2007. It received average reviews.[15][16]

Somewhere in 2008, WildTangent released WildTangent Orb console, a new PC service aimed to give a game console experience. Orb will act as a portal for "console games," defined here as games designed for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, and let you download and play games in its entirety or in play sessions, which will cost you via tokens or free through watching advertisements.[17][18]WildTangent Orb have been since discontinued.

In February 2013, WildTangent have launched its mobile service.[19]The company used to developed their own original mobile games and used to be available on App Store (for iOS) and Google Play (for Android), but has been since removed and no longer available to purchase.

In 2019, the company was acquired by Gamigo AG.[20]No new original games have been made since.

Availability of Games

Most discontinued WildTangent games are no longer available for purchase, but some can still be downloaded from other distributors or somewhere else, CD that has some games, or anybody who has the game backed up. The list of games that are lost and found can be viewed below. And the list of games and other demos as separate list can be viewed below as well.[21]A MEGA folder of the currently found old WildTangent games and other stuff is available here for download.

As of present day, 23 of their original games currently available to purchase and 12 original web games still available to play on WildTangent website. Bringing the total of only 35 WildTangent original games still supported, as of now.

Sea Life Safari (Xbox 360/Xbox Live Arcade version) still available to purchase on Xbox website.

The only retail WildTangent games available to purchase somewhere else was Fate, Fate: Undiscovered Realms, Fate: The Traitor Soul, Fate: The Cursed King, Penguins!, Polar Bowler (PC version), Polar Bowler (Nintendo DS version), Polar Golfer, Polar Golfer: Pineapple Cup, Polar Pool, Polar Tubing, Tornado Jockey, Lilo & Stitch Pinball, and Xbox Music Mixer (for Xbox), but were rare to find. The rest of some WildTangent games available on CD from various distributors but not all of it, they were very rare to find nowadays.

WildTangent occasionally discontinue games if older games that simply won't work on newer operating systems in order to provide the best gaming experience possible. If some of former current supported games were no longer available to download and purchase anymore, then they be listed as discontinued list.[22]

Original

Game Title Status Notes
Apache Striker Lost
Atomic Pop Found
Betty Bad Found There was the sequel of Betty Bad game from WildTangent Web Driver video on YouTube, but no information have been confirmed. It is unknown whether WildTangent made the sequel of that game or not.
Billiards Lost
Blackhawk Striker Found
Blasterball Wild (Also known as Blasterball) Found
BMX Pro Found
Cannonballs Found Guest Login mode of that game is unavailable because it requires multiplayer server which was discontinued. Single Player mode is still playable.
Checkers Found
Dark Orbit Found
Debate 2000 Lost
Dice Jam (WildTangent version) Found
Excavation Found
Fill Up Partially Found Full version is inaccessible.
Final Drive: Fury Partially Found Chaos vehicle is missing from that game. The game can't connect online because WildTangent discontinued that game. It is unknown whether the game is free or not.
Five Card Frenzy (WildTangent version) Partially Found Full version is inaccessible.
Front 9 Found
Gem Master Found
Gem Master 2 Found
Gem Master 3: Mystic Found
Gin Found
Glow Glow Firefly Found Full version for WildTangent installer of that game is inaccessible, but the full version for Shockwave.com installer of that game is accessible.
Golf Challenge Found
Gothello Lost
Groove-o-Matic Partially Found Full version is inaccessible. The multiplayer of that game requires AIM program which the multiplayer server was discontinued.
Hearts (PC version) Found
Honeycombs Found
Invasion: The Last Stand Found
Invincible BMX Lost
Island Heads Found
Jewel Thief Found
Kublox Partially Found Full version is inaccessible.
Lexibox Deluxe Partially Found Full version is inaccessible. The multiplayer of that game requires AIM program which the multiplayer server was discontinued.
Mars Rover Found
MindBender Lost
Orbital Found
Pig Pen Found
Reversi Found
Ring Master Found
RoboDome Lost
Run 'n Gun Football Found
SabreWing Lost
SabreWing 2 Found
Sea Life Safari (PC version) Found
Shooting Stars Pool Found Full version for previous WildTangent installer of that game is inaccessible, but the full version for latest WildTangent installer of that game is accessible.
Slyder Found
Snowboard Extreme Found
Snowboard Mountain Found
Space Rocks Found
Spades (PC version) Found
Speedway (Download version) Partially Found Lost online version for more tracks.
STX: The Sentinel Conspiracy Found
Super Speedway Lost
Totally Live Boxing Found
Track Meet Found
Track Racer Lost
Wildcards Partially Found Full version is inaccessible.
Xbox Music Mixer (Xbox game) Found
You Know What Arts Partially Found Full version is inaccessible.
You Know What History Partially Found Full version is inaccessible.
You Know What Potpourri Partially Found Full version is inaccessible.
You Know What Science Partially Found Full version is inaccessible.
You Know What Sports Partially Found Full version is inaccessible.
Polar Bowler Strike! (Facebook game) Lost
Monster Park Madness Found
Polar Bowler (Nintendo DS version) Found
Overball Found
Tornado Jockey Found
Fantasy Baseball Lost
Super Granny Found
Crystal Maze Found
Bounce Symphony (Also known as Bounce) Found

Advergames

Game Title Status Notes
AXE Unlimited: Mojo Master (Download version) Partially Found The download version is inaccessible because it requires multiplayer server which was discontinued and single player online version is lost.
BellSouth FastAccess DSL Racing Lost
Chrysler Club Championship Challenge Found
Chrysler Golf Classic Lost
Chrysler: Road Ready Streetwise Found
Chrysler: Road Ready Streetwise v2.0 (WildTangent version) Lost
Chrysler Stow 'n Go Shopper Shuffle Lost
Chrysler West Coast Rally Found
Coca-Cola: Live the Madness Lost
Coca-Cola: Live the Madness 2005 Lost
Coca-Cola: NCAA Championship Run 2005 Lost
Coca-Cola: NCAA Championship Run 2006 Partially Found Lost unlock codes for unlockable features.
Coca-Cola: Run n' Gun Football Lost
Dial Corporation: Coast BMX Full Grind Lost As of now, Dave Evans who formerly worked at GSD&M has not found the copy of that game yet.
Dodge Charger Urban Racing Found
Dodge: Race the Pros Lost
Dodge Racing: Hemi Edition Found
Dodge Stow N' Go Challenge Lost
Ford Supercar Challenge (Download version) Partially Found Lost online full version.
Gateway Superset Tennis Lost
Hyundai Rally Challenge Lost
Jeep 4x4 Adventure Found
Honda Monster Park Madness Found
MSN Zone.com: Dodge Speedway Lost
MSN Zone.com/Radio Shack: RC Riot Lost
MSN Zone.com/Radio Shack: RC Riot 2 Lost
MSN Zone.com: Toyota Tundra Madness or Toyota Tundra Madness 2.0 Lost
Nike Ole Lost That game used to be available on CD from Digerati magazine, but nowhere to be found.
Nike Football Scorpion Knock Out Found
Nike Gridiron Lost
Nike Gridiron: The Michael Vick Experience Lost There was an arcade version of that game which was lost.
Nike Magia Found
Nike's Shox Dunk Lost
Nike Speed (Cycling, Running, and Tennis) Lost
Pepsi Shootout Found Arcade Mode of that game is unavailable because it requires a discontinued online account service. Practice Mode is still playable.
Pioneer Drive Evaluation Program Lost
Sony: Skatepark Sessions Lost
Toyota: Corolla Joy Ride Found
Visa Championships Torino 2006 Lost
Visa Diamond Night Sluggers! Lost
Zone.com: Toyota Tacoma Adrenaline Lost
Toyota Camry Speedway Lost
Bud Light: Snowboard Mountain Lost

TV/Movies

Game Title Status Notes
Disney: Lilo & Stitch Pinball Found
Fox: 24 Countdown Lost
Fox Sports: Hit the Pros Lost
Fox Sports: Hit the Pros 2002 Lost
Fox Sports: Hit the Pros 2003 Partially Found Game is inaccessible, possibly requires multiplayer server which was discontinued.
Fox Sports: Hit the Pros 2004 Lost
Fox: The O.C. Skate the O.C. Lost
Fox: The X-Files Pathogen Unknown Lost
FX: Buffy the Vampire Slayer Slayer X Lost
FX: Lucky's Run Lost
FX: Nip/Tuck Cut to the Beat Lost
Sony: A Knights Tale Tournament Lost
Sony: Men in Black 2 Crossfire Found
Sony: Men in Black 2 CROSSFIRE Extreme Found
TBS: Invincible Lost
TBS: War Games Virtual Warfare Found
TNT: Witchblade The Game Lost
Universal: Jurassic Park III 3D Adventure Lost

Others

Game Title Status
Activision: Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 (Web version) Lost
EA/AOL: Need For Speed Top Speed (Web version) Lost
EA: Meteor Madness (Web version) Lost
EA: SSX SnowDreams (Web version) Lost
MSN Zone.com: Driveway Road Rally Lost
MSN Zone.com: Zone Track and Field Lost
Sierra: SWAT 3 (internet game) Lost
Screenblast: Evilution The Legend of Helnar Lost
YAYA.com: Big Air Snowboard Lost
Qwest: Turbo Racing Lost
AOL RED: FireChild Lost
Indigo Moon: Grand Prix Racing Lost

Android Games

Game Title Status
Polar Bowler 1st Frame (Android version) Found
Spades (Android version) Found
Polar Bowler (Android version) Found
WildTangent Casino: FREE Slots (Android version) Found
Blackjack+ (Also known as Blackjack Plus) (Android version) Found
Gin Rummy Found
Hearts (Android version) Found
Gem Match Found
Euchre Found
Solitaire with Themes (Android version) Found
Swipe 3 (Android version) Found
Happy Matchy Bird (Android version) Found
Word Science (Android version) Found
Spider Solitaire with Themes (Android version) Found
Pyramid Solitaire with Themes (Android version) Found
TriPeaks Solitaire with Themes (Android version) Found
Poker PLAY! (Android version) Found
FreeCell Solitaire with Themes (Android version) Found
Swipe the Gold (Android version) Found
Blackjack Found
Giant Panda Slots Found
Slots Ahoy! Found
7s Slots Found
Pharaoh's Throne Slots Found
Video Poker (Android version) Found
Video Poker: Royal Flush (Android version) Found
Tropical Tiki Slots Found
Big Barn Slots Found
Candy Smash Slots Found
Polar Bowler Slots (Android version) Found
Solitaire FREE Found
Jungle Book Slots (Android version) Found
Wild West Slots Found
Shoes Wine & Chocolate Slots Found
Tropical Solitaire Found
Atlantis Slots Found
WildTangent Slots Found
Solitaire Found
Vampire's Passion Slots Existence unconfirmed

iOS Games

Game Title Status
Penguins! Escape Lost
Polar Bowler 1st Frame (iOS version) Found
Polar Bowler (iOS version) Lost
Poker PLAY! (iOS version) Lost
Swipe 3 (iOS version) Lost
WildTangent Casino: FREE Slots (iOS version) Lost
Word Science (iOS version) Lost
Happy Matchy Bird (iOS version) Lost
Swipe the Gold (iOS version) Lost
Solitaire with Themes (iOS version) Lost
Blackjack+ (Also known as Blackjack Plus) (iOS version) Lost
Video Poker (iOS version) Lost
Video Poker: Royal Flush (iOS version) Lost

Current Games Available (Supported)

Game Title Status Notes
Blackhawk Striker 2 Found
Blasterball 2: Holidays Found
Blasterball 2: Remix Found
Blasterball 2: Revolution (Also known as Blasterball 2: Deluxe) Found
Blasterball 3 Found
Fate Found
Fate: Undiscovered Realms Found
Fate: The Traitor Soul Found
Fate: The Cursed King Found
Final Drive: Nitro Partially Found It is unknown whether some vehicles from that game missing or not.
Otto's Magic Blocks Found
Penguins! Found
Phoenix Assault Found
Polar Bowler 1st Frame (PC version) Found
Polar Bowler (PC version) Found
Polar Golfer Found
Polar Golfer: Pineapple Cup Found
Polar Pool Found
Polar Tubing Found
Shrek 2: Ogre Bowler Found
Snowboard SuperJam Found
Tradewinds (WildTangent version) Found
Word Symphony Found
Sea Life Safari (Xbox 360/Xbox Live Arcade version) Found Though WildTangent already discontinue the PC version of the game. It is unknown whether the game still sold or not.

Current Web Games Available (Supported)

Game Title Status
Solitaire with Themes (Web version) Found
TriPeaks Solitaire with Themes (Web version) Found
Spider Solitaire with Themes (Web version) Found
Pyramid Solitaire with Themes (Web version) Found
Bubble Shooter Found
Garfield Solitaire Found
FreeCell Solitaire with Themes (Web version) Found
BlackJack Plus (Web version) Found
Video Poker: Royal Flush (Web version) Found
Jungle Book Slots (Web version) Found
Polar Bowler Slots (Web version) Found
Garfield Mahjong Found

Gallery

Videos

Promo for WildTangent (1/2).

Another promo for WildTangent (2/2).

Promo for WildTangent "Web Driver."

External Links

Reference

  1. ↑ WildTangent purchased Genesis3D. Retrieved 19 Apr '22
  2. ↑ WildTangent acquires Eclipse Entertainment. Retrieved 19 Apr '22
  3. ↑ WildTangent company history. Retrieved 19 Apr '22
  4. ↑ WildTangent company history, updated. Retrieved 19 Apr '22
  5. ↑ WildTangent, Screenblast, and Distant Corners Entertainment Group announced the launch of Evilution: The Legend of Helnaar. Retrieved 16 Jan '23
  6. ↑ Xbox Music Mixer for Xbox reviews. Retrieved 19 Apr '22
  7. ↑ Sarbakan and WildTangent join forces on FireChild. 19 Apr '22
  8. ↑ Fate for PC reviews. 19 Apr '22
  9. ↑ Article about Mojo Master game. Retrieved 19 Apr '22
  10. ↑ Mojo Master multiplayer released. Retrieved 19 Apr '22
  11. ↑ Mojo Master protests. 19 Apr '22
  12. ↑ WildTangent opens WildCoin accounts for gamers. Retrieved 19 Apr '22
  13. ↑ Discontinuation of WildCoins. Retrieved 19 Apr '22
  14. ↑ Sea Life Safari for Xbox 360 reviews. Retrieved 19 Apr '22
  15. ↑ Lumines makes its PC debut on WildTangent. Retrieved 19 Apr '22
  16. ↑ Lumines for PC reviews. Retrieved 19 Apr '22
  17. ↑ Article about WildTangent Orb. Retrieved 19 Apr '22
  18. ↑ Another article about WildTangent Orb. Retrieved 19 Apr '22
  19. ↑ WildTangent launched its mobile service. Retrieved 19 Apr '22
  20. ↑ Gamingo AG acquired WildTangent. Retrieved 19 Apr '22
  21. ↑ The list of WildTangent shareware games, distributed web games, and other demos as separate list. Retrieved 08 Mar '22
  22. ↑ Where Did My Favorite Game Go? Retrieved 14 May '22