The classic adventure game Full Throttle recently marked its 30th anniversary. However, Double Fine Productions, led by Tim Schafer, realized they did not know the exact release date of the game. This sparked an investigation by Peter Silk, Double Fine’s Customer Support Specialist, who set out to find the true release date.
Silk explained that online sources list several different dates for Full Throttle’s release. Some sites say April 20 or April 30, 1995, while Wikipedia claims May 19, 1995. Even Google shows different answers depending on the search.
Double Fine had been using April 30, 1995, as the official release date. But Silk found no solid evidence for this date. He also noted that April 30 was a Sunday, a day when stores were usually closed in the 1990s. This made it unlikely the game was released then.
Looking deeper, Silk examined the original game disc files. They showed changes being made as late as May 2, 1995, meaning the game could not have been in stores before that date. This disproved the April 30 release date.
Silk then found a May 19, 1995, advertisement in a Scottish newspaper promoting Full Throttle’s release by retailer Dixons. Although this seemed like a clear answer, Silk pointed out that games often came out in Europe after the US. Store dates were also sometimes incorrect due to limited communication before the digital era.
Further research found no definitive release date in newspapers or magazines of the time. Ads for Full Throttle usually listed phone numbers for availability, rather than specific dates.
Silk discovered that the US retailer CompUSA expected the game on May 5, but deliveries were delayed until around May 18. This suggested the game did not have a single street date. Instead, stores likely sold the game when their shipments arrived.
To solve the mystery, Silk checked when players began asking for Full Throttle tips and hints online. He found no queries before May 19, 1995, but a flood of questions after that date. This indicated players started playing the game around May 19.
Silk concluded that May 19, 1995, is likely the true release date of Full Throttle. He wrote, “Can it really be said that an adventure game truly exists in the hearts and minds of the public until that moment?”
This investigation provided Full Throttle with a “real birthday,” making its 30th anniversary celebration even more meaningful.
