is an

action Action may refer to: * Action (philosophy), something which is done by a person * Action principles the heart of fundamental physics * Action (narrative), a literary mode * Action fiction, a type of genre fiction * Action game, a genre of video gam ...

photography Photography is the visual arts, art, application, and practice of creating images by recording light, either electronically by means of an image sensor, or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film. It is empl ...

video game A video game or computer game is an electronic game that involves interaction with a user interface or input device (such as a joystick, game controller, controller, computer keyboard, keyboard, or motion sensing device) to generate visual fe ...

developed by Tomcat System and published by

Irem is a Japanese video game developer and Video game publisher, publisher and manufacturer of pachinkos. The company has its headquarters in Chiyoda, Tokyo, Chiyoda, Tokyo. The full name of the company that uses the brand is Irem Software Enginee ...

for the

PC Engine The TurboGrafx-16, known in Japan as the , is a home video game console developed by Hudson Soft and manufactured by NEC. It was released in Japan in 1987 and in North America in 1989. The first console of the fourth generation, it launched ...

. The game is centered on taking

photograph A photograph (also known as a photo, or more generically referred to as an ''image'' or ''picture'') is an image created by light falling on a photosensitivity, photosensitive surface, usually photographic film or an electronic image sensor. Th ...

s of the interactive environments through which the player progresses.

Story

David Goldman is an amateur photographer studying at Los Angeles Photography School so he can achieve his dream of becoming a great photographer. David's parents suddenly die in a plane crash, leaving him orphaned and alone. David loses his confidence and is about to leave the academy to live a lonely and sad life. The principal of the academy sees him and says that if David completes eight tests by taking eight special photograph shots in eight different locations, then he can graduate from the academy. Unsure about this offer, David accepts the test.

Gameplay

Players must guide David through the given

level Level or levels may refer to: Engineering *Level (optical instrument), a device used to measure true horizontal or relative heights * Spirit level or bubble level, an instrument designed to indicate whether a surface is horizontal or vertical *C ...

attempting to photograph rare or exceptional occurrences which transpire around him while evading obstacles that may injure him. As he take a successful shot of an unexpected situation, he is rewarded with extra film, increased speed and bigger camera lenses. The player can only advance to the next stage if the required score is met.

Re-release and sequel

In 2002, the Japanese version of ''Gekibo'' was re-released on the

PlayStation is a video gaming brand owned and produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), a division of Japanese conglomerate Sony. Its flagship products consists of a series of home video game consoles produced under the brand; it also consists ...

as Volume 94 of the ''Simple 1500 Series'' under the title ''The Cameraman: Gekisha Boy Omakefu''. This version features an added stage and an unlockable cooperative gameplay with a second player as the Gekisha Girl. A sequel for the

PlayStation 2 The PlayStation 2 (PS2) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Sony Interactive Entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on 4 March 2000, in North America on 26 October, in Europe on 24 Novembe ...

, ''Gekisha Boy 2'', was released in Japan in 2001. A European release (re-titled ''Polaroid Pete'') was announced in the same year, but there were no further announcements and the publisher suddenly disappeared. A competition was held in the UK "Official Playstation Magazine", but it is unknown if they announced any winners after the cancellation.

Notes

References

External links

Screenshots from VG Museum

Review
{{Irem 1992 video games Action games D3 Publisher games Irem games Japan-exclusive video games Photography games PlayStation (console) games Single-player video games Tomcat System games TurboGrafx-16 games Video games developed in Japan