Post by Ersier on Oct 8, 2023 19:14:50 GMT
Back in 2014 when I was around 7 or 8 years old, my family bought a 48" Sony Bravia Smart TV. The TV came with apps that you might already expect to have like YouTube or Netflix but it also had html5 games from an included app called "Opera TV Store". These games weren't downloaded to TV, you could only add them to your home menu. Most of these games were generic clones from existing games, board games and there were even some educational games about math and geography. I remember spending so much time with these web games with my brother and some family members when they came to visit, even though I had access to an Xbox One at the time but I wasn't allowed to play it on weekdays. Unfortunately, the opera TV store games were slowly starting to disappear or stop working without any warning around 2018 until the only remaining apps were YouTube, Netflix and other streaming services.
It wasn't until earlier this year that I started searching about this. I was able to find some screenshots of the games and the store from two Chinese review pages about a similar TV model and another review page that can't be accessed. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3 (unavailable)
For some reason, the pictures in the reviews don't seem to load in the forums but this single picture should give you the idea of what the opera TV store looks like.
I was also able to find a document about Opera TV store including information about an SDK and Emulator
The last thing I could find about its existence is a github archive about a voice control program for the TV. In the source code there is a sample text that has metadata about each app including icons. There are around 250+ apps listed but I'll try to describe the apps that I managed to find the most information.
Egg Escape
This is the only game I was able to find most information about and probably the most original on the list, there's even a game play video on YouTube. The description says "Guide egg through dangerous labyrinth". It's an isometric puzzle game where you control an egg with the goal of getting to the finish line.
Math Knight
It's an educational game that mixes math with turn based RPGs with a medieval theme.The player must solve the math problems with the "control pad" to attack the enemy in order to win. If the player gets the question wrong or time runs out, the enemy will attack. Both sources cover this game.
Winter Olympics Game Quiz
As the name suggests, it's a quiz game about trivia of the winter Olympics. You answer questions through the number pad on the remote.
Snake
It's a snake clone, I was only able to find the title screen.
Speed Maniac
The title and description is written in Russian. It's a simple high-score based game where you dodge cars with a Game & Watch aesthetic.
Banana Monkey
This is a clone of another Game & Watch game. You collect bananas with the number pad. the banner is self-explanatory
This is all of the information I could find about the Opera TV store. There are still so many I remember playing. If anyone remembers playing these games on their TVs or streaming box please let me know.
It wasn't until earlier this year that I started searching about this. I was able to find some screenshots of the games and the store from two Chinese review pages about a similar TV model and another review page that can't be accessed. Source 1 Source 2 Source 3 (unavailable)
For some reason, the pictures in the reviews don't seem to load in the forums but this single picture should give you the idea of what the opera TV store looks like.
I was also able to find a document about Opera TV store including information about an SDK and Emulator
The last thing I could find about its existence is a github archive about a voice control program for the TV. In the source code there is a sample text that has metadata about each app including icons. There are around 250+ apps listed but I'll try to describe the apps that I managed to find the most information.
Egg Escape
This is the only game I was able to find most information about and probably the most original on the list, there's even a game play video on YouTube. The description says "Guide egg through dangerous labyrinth". It's an isometric puzzle game where you control an egg with the goal of getting to the finish line.
Math Knight
It's an educational game that mixes math with turn based RPGs with a medieval theme.The player must solve the math problems with the "control pad" to attack the enemy in order to win. If the player gets the question wrong or time runs out, the enemy will attack. Both sources cover this game.
Winter Olympics Game Quiz
As the name suggests, it's a quiz game about trivia of the winter Olympics. You answer questions through the number pad on the remote.
Snake
It's a snake clone, I was only able to find the title screen.
Speed Maniac
The title and description is written in Russian. It's a simple high-score based game where you dodge cars with a Game & Watch aesthetic.
Banana Monkey
This is a clone of another Game & Watch game. You collect bananas with the number pad. the banner is self-explanatory
This is all of the information I could find about the Opera TV store. There are still so many I remember playing. If anyone remembers playing these games on their TVs or streaming box please let me know.
