Back in the late ’90s, MediaX—a studio that’s now sadly a part of gaming history—was trying its hand at creating a video game sequel to George Orwell’s iconic novel, “1984.” The game, intriguingly named “Big Brother” after the oppressive figurehead from the book, hit a dead end in 1999 and slipped into the shadows as lost media. But, in an unexpected twist, a demo version surfaced online this past weekend.
This alpha build of “Big Brother,” dated January 4, 1999, made its way to the Internet Archive on March 1. An account, seemingly sprung into existence for this very task, ensured the game could be played on today’s computers by providing detailed instructions. What they uploaded is essentially a taste—a limited demo—but according to the description, this package also includes levels and logic that hint at the full game’s potential.
If downloading mysterious files from the internet gives you pause, fear not. The diligent folks over at the Lost Media Wiki have gathered gameplay footage, screenshots, and the known developmental history, all neatly compiled for your viewing.
In “Big Brother,” players would step into the shoes of Eric Blair—Orwell’s real name by the way—navigating a quest to save his fiancée from the clutches of the Thought Police after the events of “1984.” Nancy Poertner, the president of MediaX, in a 1999 chat with GameWeek, described it as an adventure game with a role-playing twist, blending the intricate detail of Riven with the real-time action vibes of Quake. Back then, the game was about 70% done and was eyeing a fall 1998 release.
The game had its moment in the spotlight at E3 in 1998 and even snagged a Satellite Award for Best Interactive Product/CD-ROM Educational Game the following year. Its final sighting was in a preview found in the December 1999 issue of Next Generation, which suggested a release in the early days of 1999. Ultimately, “Big Brother” was shelved later that year when MediaX lost the rights to “1984,” and Newspeak, who held the original license, couldn’t find a new home for the project.
Throughout the 2020s, there were efforts to reach out to former MediaX developers to unearth more insights into the game, but all attempts drew a blank. Its sudden reappearance feels like a surprise gift, arriving at a time when its themes resonate so powerfully with the current climate in the United States.
