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The Jellyvision Lab, Inc. is an American software company based in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1989, and as a video game development company by Harry Gottlieb in 1995, Jellyvision has since transitioned to creating benefits guidance software.
History[]
Learn Television[]
Jellyvision was founded in 1989 under the name Learn Television to create children’s educational films. In 1991, Learn Television released the award winning film “The Mind's Treasure Chest™,” a comedic feature-length educational film that teaches students to think for themselves. The film was in distribution to schools in five countries and took the highest honor for grades seven through 12 at the National Educational Film and Video Festival. Our roots in film have shaped our approach to writing, character development, pacing and staging.
That's a Fact, Jack[]
Despite the film’s success, Learn Television sought to move beyond the passive experience offered by the medium of film. New multimedia technologies presented an opportunity to create a more active learning experience. Using the lead character of “The Mind's Treasure Chest”, Jack Patterson, as host, Learn Television partnered with the Follett Software Company and developed That's a Fact, Jack®!, a reading motivation CD-ROM game show series covering young adult fiction. TFJ is, at its core, an educational interactive game show targeting 3rd through 10th graders.
You Don't Know Jack[]
With TFJ in development, Jellyvision decided to test the waters of mainstream interactive entertainment by beginning a partnership with Berkeley Systems and developing the game You Don't Know Jack. Released in the fall of 1995, YDKJ became an instant best seller and redefined the trivia game market for adults with its direct-response interactivity and comedic fusion of high culture and pop culture. In 1996, the company’s name was changed to Jellyvision in response to the expansion of product lines beyond education.
You Don't Know Jack® franchise includes over a dozen products, including 10 CD-ROMs, two PlayStation titles, a tabletop version and two books. And YDKJ has spawned a TV show, starring Paul Reubens that aired on ABC in the autumn of 2001. With over 3.5 million units sold, more than $65 million in revenue, distribution in five countries and over 50 major industry awards, YDKJ is one of the most successful gaming franchises ever.
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, Outsmart, SMASH[]
In 1999, Jellyvision brought a virtual Regis Philbin to life by designing and developing the original Who Wants To Be A Millionaire CD-ROM for Disney Interactive. An instant smash, it remains the fastest-selling CD-ROM of all time. They later developed WWTBAM Second Edition, which launched in the spring of 2000, also to record sales.
In 2001, Jellyvision is partnering with Microsoft to develop Outsmart®, the flagship game show for the soon-to-relaunch www.zone.com. Outsmart pits players in head-to-head action against their favorite celebrities. They are also collaborated with Michael Davies, the executive producer who imported and developed the TV show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, to simultaneously launch a new television show, CD-ROM, and online franchise based on Jellyvision’s latest game invention, SMUSH. SMUSH was launched in early 2002.
Jellyvision Lab[]
In 2001, Gottlieb launched a new company called the Jellyvision Lab, with a focus on developing business software inspired by You Don’t Know Jack's voice-driven interface. In 2009, Jellyvision developed the first version of ALEX, an interactive conversation that helps employees choose their benefits. The success of ALEX spurred Jellyvision's growth, and as of 2019 is the company's primary business focus, expanding to offer an interactive HSA product and year-round financial guidance.
In 2008, the original Jellyvision Games was relaunched as a subsidiary of the Jellyvision Lab. It spun off into its own company in 2011, and rebranded as Jackbox Games in 2013.
Developments[]
You Don't Know Jack[]
Who Wants To Be A Millionaire[]
Jellyvision hooked up with Disney to develop the first Who Wants To Be A Millionaire CD-ROM in 1999. A sequel, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire Second Edition, was launched in spring of 2000.
iCi[]
iCi (Interactive Conversation Interface) is an innovative creation by Jellyvision, a renowned company known for its exceptional contributions in the realm of interactive games. The iCi can be used for anything from providing investment advice, to telling you the news, to selling your computer.
Smush[]
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On the Jellyvision website it is written as follows:
Take one word and SMUSH it together with another word and what do you get? A development deal with Michael Davies and a show on the USA Network. Woo-hoo!
OutSmart[]
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Jellyvision has partnered with Microsoft to develop OutSmart, the flagship game show for www.zone.com. You can read more here. On the Jellyvision website it is written as follows:
Go head-to-head with your favorite celebrities in this fast-paced, online game show. Who will you play against this week? J-Lo? Justin? Under Secretary for Economic, Business, and Agricultural Affairs, Alan P. Larson? You never know!
Seaman[]
Seaman is about the most unusual gaming experience you'll find. He's a man/fish for whom you must care by feeding him, making sure his tank conditions are optimal and most important, by talking to him. Yes, you actually use a little microphone on your game controller to talk to Seaman, and he talks back. Not only that, he'll remember what you've told him before. Sound cool? Lots of Japanese Sega Dreamcast owners thought so. The original Seaman was a huge hit in Japan. So in late 1999 when Sega of America started planning Seaman's American debut they called Jellyvision to help out. After all, the little Sea-punk has lots of smarts and attitude, and YOU DON'T KNOW JACK® demonstrates that we aren't exactly unfamiliar with those concepts 'round here.
Jellyvision worked with Seaman to correct his English and to familiarize him with American culture. The result: If you didn't know better, you'd swear he grew up right here in the U.S. of A. -- probably out east somewhere, where the rude people live. The U.S. version of "Seaman" hit the stores in August 2000. For more info, or to purchase your very own bundle of fishy love, swim on over here.
Tips on Caring for Seaman that aren't in the Manual:
- Rub Seaman's underbelly with an array of exotic cooking oils.
- When Seaman turns 18, pay a loose mermaid $50 to "entertain" him.
- Create the über-Seaman by building up his tolerance to frigid temperatures, dark lighting and a lack of food.
- When talking to Seaman, speak very quickly and use an amusing accent. If necessary, drink to excess to achieve slurred speech.
- Occasionally use the virtual straw to blow bubbles into Seaman's tank.
OneDemocracy.com[]
On the Jellyvision website it is written as follows:
- When One Democracy, an organization dedicated to bringing people together to discuss and learn about politics via the Internet, asked us if we could create an engaging interactive promo for their site, we replied, "Was Ben Franklin a great president?" After being told Ben Franklin was not a president at all, we changed our response to a simple "yes."
- We then went immediately to work creating a Flash experience that incorporated Jellyvision's keen knowledge of interactivity with the core ideas behind One Democracy.
- Deciding that we first needed to do some research, we immediately headed for the Library of Congress. We got lost on the way, however, and ended up at Big Al's Bowling Emporium instead. And then it hit us: This experience would have to have bowling in it. Politics, sure, but also bowling. Why bowling? "Well," we said to ourselves, "if we can't help people learn about democracy through bowling, then what kind of patriotic Americans are we?"
Voice Genie[]
Canadian-based VoiceGenie Technologies uses voice-recognition technology to provide the information you want, hands-free. And they asked Jellyvision to help write the scripts, write the logo theme music and provide voice-over talent. Jellyvision specializes in products that simulate human conversation. Strength is anticipating the questions that the user might ask and providing dialogue that responds to those questions.
Primetime Pitch[]
On the Jellyvision website it is written as follows:
Primetime Pitch is Jellyvision's hilarious internet card game that satirizes the crazy world of broadcast television. You play a network executive trying to put together sitcoms, dramas and action shows out of spare parts and factory seconds. But look out: your rivals at the network are doing the same thing! Who will rule the all-important Sweeps month?
Well, no one knows, because Primetime Pitch is no longer available at pogo.com. But, if we play our cards right, perhaps someday you'll be able to pitch your shows somewhere else online. And perhaps that somewhere else will rhyme with "flubble-you, flubble-you, flubble-you, dot smellyfission, dot bomb." We'll keep you posted.