The game was developed by Julie Marsh and Paul Drexler, who consulted with Detective Falzon to receive fictionalised details on a real crime. Interworks began in 1991 out of Marsh and Drexler's cottage home and in March 1995 they relocated to an artists' warehouse. They filmed the game at 20 locations throughout San Francisco. The game design incporated both Full Motion Video and photo graphics meanwhile a nrrative was crafted that saw the player takes up the role of a San Francisco Police Departmentdetective tasked with clearing up a series of murders. Interworks states in their online company profile that the software is used to train detectives and insurance investigators. The Body in the Bay was intended to the first title in a series called SFPD Homicide.
Gameplay and plot
Marketed as a first-person true-crime murder mysteryvideo game, the player takes the role of San Francisco's newest homicide detective who has teamed up with a real investigator for a partner and guide. A 50-something white male is found floating in the bay near Pier 91, bound and gagged. Using evidence, clues and procedures from the actual case, the player must explore the victim's life, vices and secret passions. Along the way, the player can interact with more than 40 characters from the victim's life as the case takes the detective from the city's posh nightclubs to its deserted piers. The player's tasks encompass examining crime scenes and securing evidence as well as interrogating witnesses and suspects to uncover the identity of the serial killer. It is notable that, like many other FMV games of the era, Golden Gate Killer uses Apple's QuickTime technology for its integration of movies and sound, and also comes on a hybrid Windows/Macintosh CD-ROM. SFPD Homicide is equipped with an interface which enables the player to cross-reference clues, statements, and rest results. The game requires interviewing, research, inductive and deductive reasoning, thoroughness, and following a set of steps with defined parameters.
Critical reception
Next Generation reviewed the PC version of the game, rating it four stars out of five, and stated that "Finding a suspect, building a case, and then collaborating with the D.A. to make the case is a hearty request in the time allotted and is likely to have you reworking the case a few times before justice is served." PC Joker gave the game a rating of 60% while PC Player offered 4 stars and Generation 4 gave it 3 stars. Coming Soon Magazine said it was exciting, well done and mind-challenging. PC Me recommended the game for the "intellectually inclined". The game won the popular vote award Prize of the Professionals at the Intermedia World 96 award ceremony.
