So Media Station created in 1995 "Haunted House", a CD-i title you might remember. It was published by Reed Interactive in 1997. Again, a delayed project. The CD-i platform is known for its many "delayed projects". Some of them never saw the light of day (Tom & Tim, Discworld), some of them did at the very last moment (The Lost Ride, Creature Shock). We might be lucky that Reed took charge of publishing the title, otherwise Haunted House could easily have been a cancelled project as well.
It seems that Philips Media was only used for the distribution of the title to its channels.
We found an interesting press release:
"May 11, 1995--Reaffirming the company's commitment to providing outstanding interactive family entertainment, Media Station Thursday announced that the company is producing "Haunted House," an interactive adventure based on Jan Piekowski's world renowned pop-up book, for Reed Children's Books.
Philips Media will distribute "Haunted House" this fall on CD-ROM for the Windows platform and on the CD-i platform in Spring '96. The title will be demonstrated at Media Station's booth, West Hall No. 3524, and Philips Media booth, South Hall No. 1801 at the Electronic Entertainment Expo.
"We worked closely with Jan Piekowski to capture the ghoulish surprises featured in the bewitching, interactive world of `Haunted House,'" said David Gregory, chairman and chief creative officer of Media Station. "Media Station has brought to life the full creative vision of Jan Piekowski through lavish music and stunning animation, resulting in a fun-filled interactive experience."
"Jan has been in the forefront of creating involving products for children, long before the computer was a household word," said Sarina Simon, president of Philips Media Home and Family Entertainment. "We are very excited to be associated with Jan as he brings his unique talents to multimedia."
Players wander through the house and they encounter strange and unexpected creatures, fun-filled games and spooky challenges. Children will be captivated as they seek to unlock the dreaded cellar.
In the making of "Haunted House," Media Station integrates the value of classic entertainment elements -- charming and lively character development, comprehensive sound design, full musical scores and engaging wit and humor -- with the replayability of innovative interactive treatments and gaming elements.
Jan Piekowski is one of the world's most famous children's authors and illustrators. Internationally known for his unique and clever children's books, he has written more than 60 books and, with the publishing of "Haunted House," led the resurgence of the pop-up book genre."
