Gex is a platformer video game series, developed by Crystal Dynamics, that details the adventures of an anthropomorphic gecko named Gex. Gex has a passion for television, which makes him a target for the cybernetic being, Rez, who is determined to overthrow The Media Dimension, the "world" of television. He has also served as the mascot of Crystal Dynamics, appearing on their company logo for several years. In the North American version, Gex is voiced by comedian Dana Gould throughout the entire series; the United Kingdom version features Dana Gould, Leslie Phillips and Danny John-Jules as Gex's voice throughout the series.
The games are largely inspired by American TV-culture. Gex also contributes to the games with wise-cracking remarks laced with media and pop-culture references, reminiscent to the catchphrases of Duke Nukem and most notably those of Ash Williams, the protagonist from The Evil Dead films.
The concept of the Gex games (especially the main villain wanting to take control of the world through TV) was also reinstated into Ape Escape 3 (although in this case it was part of a master plan to split the Earth in two).
Gex also appears as an unlockable character in the North American and European versions of Hot Shots Golf 2.
The Gex series has sold a combined total of over 15 million copies for all platforms. Gex 3 is the best selling of the series, shipping over 6 million copies and also became the best-selling PlayStation adventure game of 1999 with 3 million copies in that year alone.
Contents |
| Game | Year | Platforms | Developer | Publisher(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gex | 1994 1995 1996 |
3DO PlayStation Sega Saturn Microsoft Windows |
Crystal Dynamics Beam Software |
BMG Interactive Crystal Dynamics Eidos Interactive |
| Gex: Enter the Gecko | 1998 1999 |
PlayStation Nintendo 64 Game Boy Color Microsoft Windows |
Crystal Dynamics Realtime Associates David A. Palmer Productions |
Midway Games Crave Entertainment Eidos Interactive |
| Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko | 1999 2000 |
PlayStation Nintendo 64 Game Boy Color |
Crystal Dynamics Gratuitous Games David A. Palmer Productions |
Eidos Interactive Crave Entertainment |
A fourth Gex game was in development by Crystal Dynamics for the PlayStation 2, but was cancelled and never officially announced for unknown reasons. Several pieces of concept art from the project were leaked.[1]
In 2009 Crystal Dynamics announced, that they are looking for a Senior Art Director to lead the development of "one of the most prestigious" game series. Due to the fact that they called the series "AAA franchise" many people believed, that a new Gex game is meant. Later, however, Crystal Dynamics announced that the referenced franchise is Tomb Raider.[2]
A few days before E3 2011 IGN's editor Greg Miller mentioned a game in development featuring a lizard, most likely as central character, in IGN's Game Scoop Podcast: "Lets just say, if you're a fan of Lizards… Oh, doctor.". Via Twitter he later responded to a tweet from a Gex fan about this rumor and responded: "I like that rumor. Try to spread it.". Eventually, it came out that Miller was not talking about a Gex sequel, but of Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time.[3]
on the PEGI website a new Gex game has recently been rated for PS3. This however was for PSN re-releases of the trilogy.
| Title | Author | Publisher | Illustrator | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gex: Official Game Secrets | Bill Kunkel | Prima | 1995 | |
| The Official Gex: Enter the Gecko Strategy Guide | Crystal Dynamics | 1996 | ||
| The Unauthorized Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko Strategy Guide | Prima | 1999 | ||
| How to Draw Gex and the Gang | Michael Teitelbaum | Troll | Ron Zalme | 1999 |
| Gex 3: Deep Cover Gecko Novelization | Michael Teitelbaum | Troll | 2000 |
Gex and his family lived in Maui, Hawaii. His mother raised him and his three siblings while his father worked at NASA. One day, Gex's mother got a phone call saying that Gex's father and his co-workers had died in a rocket explosion. Rather than grieving, Gex bottled up his emotions, and sat in front of the TV.
Gex's mother decided that it was time for a change, she told the whole family that they were moving to California. Week after week of Gex watching TV, his mother decided to take action, and sell the TV. This infuriated Gex so much that he decided to leave his home, and never return. For the next few months Gex slept in his friend's garage, and made money by doing odd jobs.
One day, Gex's mother found him and had fantastic news. Gex and his family had inherited over twenty-billion dollars from his late Uncle Charlie. With the money, Gex bought a mansion back in Hawaii and the largest screen TV in the world.
As seen in the game's opening, Gex was watching his enormous TV one day, when a fly buzzed by his head. Gex flicked out his tongue and swallowed it. Unknown to Gex, the "fly" was actually a metallic transmitter. Suddenly, Gex's remote jammed and the TV went blank. A huge hand shot out of the screen and grabbed Gex by his neck, and pulled him into the Media Dimension. The cold claw belonged to Rez, the overlord of the Media Dimension, who had intended to make Gex his new mascot and conquer the world.
Gex managed to find the hidden remotes in the strange, television worlds. Gex made it through a disturbing cemetery, an odd cartoon land, an enormous jungle, an ancient Chinese village, the mysterious Planet X, and Rezopolis, the capital of the Media Dimension. Gex made it into Rez's inner sanctum and battled him head-to-head. Using one of his own mechanical bugs, Gex defeated Rez, and made it back home in time for his shows. Rez transformed into a ball of energy and escaped.
Two years later, Gex is still living in Maui and still greatly enjoys watching TV. Eventually, every day began to seem like the same one over and over again. Gex was on the verge of insanity. One day, the TV goes blank for a few seconds, then flashes Rez's image over and over again.
Two government agents show up at Gex's house, requesting Gex's help. Gex denies, saying he's already saved the universe once. One of the agents then beats Gex over the head with a crowbar, knocking him unconscious.
When he wakes up, he realizes he is in an interrogation room. The two agents ask Gex what he knows about Rez, Gex tells them everything. Once again they ask for his help, one of the agents reaches under the table and pulls out a briefcase full of cash, as well as a secret agent suit. Gex finally agrees to help them. The two agents give him a map, and say they want Rez to "disappear", instructing him to hide the body between Jimmy Hoffa's and Spuds Mackenzie's.
As Gex leaves the building, a beautiful female agent walks up to him, and introduces herself as "Agent Xtra", she wishes him good luck and leaves. Gex then leaves to the Media Dimension.
Once Gex is in the Media Dimension, he navigates through several channels. Toon TV; Scream TV; Rocket Channel; Circuit Central; Kung Fu Theatre; The Pre-history Channel; Rezopolis; and Channel Z. Once Gex navigates through Rezopolis and Channel Z, he fights the overlord again. By dropping a large TV on top of him, Gex defeats Rez. Rez once again transforms into a ball of energy, and is then trapped in the same TV Gex dropped on him. Rez begs him to let him out of the TV, he even bribes him, but Gex shuts off the TV.
Gex is last seen in a hotel room with Nikki, from the Pandemonium video games.
After defeating Rez a second time, Gex retreats back to his mansion in Maui, which was looked after by his newly hired butler, a tortoise named Alfred. Gex is watching the news one day, when Agent Xtra contacts him through his TV. She says that Rez has kidnapped her, and she is trapped in Rezopolis. Gex uses a secret entrance to the Media Dimension, that he calls the "GexCave".
Gex navigates through all new channels. Holiday; Mystery; Ancient Egyptian; Army; Western; Pirate; Greek Mythology; Fairytale; Anime; Mafia; Superhero; and Channel Z. Once Gex collects all the remotes, he travels to an enormous Space Station above Earth, and battles Rez. Unlike the previous two times, Rez did not transform into a ball of energy, instead he exploded into several pieces, possibly meaning that he is truly dead.
Gex is last seen in a hotel room with Agent Xtra, who is telling him about her time in the Media Dimension. Alfred contacts Gex, saying there is an emergency, however Gex disconnects the computer and ignores him.
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