Mad TV

Mad TV (1991)

by Rainbow Arts
Genres:Role-playing (RPG), Strategy, Simulator
Themes:Comedy, Sandbox, Business
Game modes:Single player
Story:Mad TV is a television station management simulation computer game produced in 1991 by Rainbow Arts. It is loosely based on Mad Magazine, and the game's introduction animation features the magazine's mascot, Alfred E. Neuman, smiling on a television. The game puts the player in the role of a new program director for a TV station. The player is in charge of selecting programming and earning advertising for the station, while simultaneously trying to marry Betty, an attractive woman working in the building.Show more
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Stories about this game (6)
What’s your memory of Mad TV?Share your favorite moments and see what others remember about this game.
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user avatar@mdqpuser avatar@mdqp
January 30, 2025
A very cool management game. While the theme itself is very charming (running a TV channel is something everyone can daydream about, in my opinion) it remains a fairly underused one, with only a handful of games attempting it. Mad TV is also one of the best (if not the best), in the field, despite its age. There is just something so satisfying in figuring out the right spot for a movie or TV series, and see the viewcount skyrocket, and it's something that its future competitors didn't quite get right, perhaps by overcomplicating things.
user avatar@PaterAlfuser avatar@PaterAlf
January 10, 2025
It was one of the first games I owned on my first PC (which had a 20MB HD). Back then the cartoony style was great for a management game and it was the first one that I've played that was more of a point and click than a number of endless statistics and spreadsheets. Also it was funny, but at the same time a quiet hard management game, a combination that you don't find that often. So in my eyes it's a real classic and I'd love to see it on GOG!
I remember it being bundled with a "Thunderbird" 386 DX 40 and 486 SX 25 in an advertisment in a german computer magazine back in the day. There was also Monkey Island 2 included. I spent endless ours reading through these magazines and it stimulated my imagination in a way that I daydreamed about a lot of the games. I remember the cool looking "gaming" PCs, IBM compatibles with a black monitor for around 2000 DM and it still sticks with me to this day. Later I went on playing endless hours of Mad TV and at first did not understand how to correctly expand my broadcasting, so I was stuck after a while. I came back to the game and beat it lateron. The coherence and magic of the presentation has never been quite met by any other management game and the repertoire of differente movies greated a depth and resemblence to the adult world which enchanted me as a kid and still charmed me when I grew older. An absolutely original and unique game, a true gem, with a totally funny take on the movie industry, with the competitors running around in the same building and the quest for beckys love. A well rounded satire with a lot of charm and quite some depth through the mid game. Reasonably challenging and a well rounded mix of time, money and tv program management. I suppose this game has its issues regarding the copyright of its content, what is a shame, but I'm glad they included the real names and did not care for the potentially endless amount of negotiation to be able to use the names of the shows and movies "legally". I love this game. It would be a great addition to GOGs library. I would love to see it here. It would make GOG more complete. A great memory on par with a lot of the big gems of the 90s.
user avatar@Priam304user avatar@Priam304
February 06, 2025
Who hasn't ever dreamd of being a (responsible) tv-channel manager (and alongside winnig the affection of your biggest crush)! Starting with mere 200000 bucks to make a downridden (local) TV-channel great again. Transmit news, bring classic movies and tv-series on again, place commercial advertising and even produce your very own productions in your own studio! Don't forget to sabotage your competitors, as they will not spare you either. Don't fall for the simple presemtation this is one of the best business enterprise simulations of all time!
user avatar@Torque_liveuser avatar@Torque_live
February 01, 2025
Very cool game! I loved it to play on an Amiga. And i let's played it sometimes on YouTube too. Very good TV manager simulation. Please add it to your cool shop. I would pay much for it. I want this game on GOG !!!
Do I really have to tell anybody how awesome this Masterpiece is? I just wanna add that it was really deep. You can actively influence the backoffice and the market. ...and with this game I also learned how to use glitches and cheat engines to expand the fun possibilities even more. ;)
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