Monty Python's Complete Waste of Time

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Monty Python's Complete Waste of Time
Mony-Python-Complete-Waste-of-time.jpg
Developer 7th Level
Publisher 7th Level
Designer Monty Python
Platforms Macintosh, Windows (95/3.x)
Release4 October 1994 [1]
1995 (Mac) [2]
Genre Software toy
Mode Single player

Monty Python's Complete Waste of Time is a collection of minigames, screensavers, desktop wallpaper and icons for Mac OS System 7 and Windows released in 1994 by 7th Level, Inc. It was brought on board the Mir Space Station by astronaut Andy Thomas. [3]

Contents

Gameplay

Monty Python's Complete Waste of Time is a point-and-click experience in absurdity and irreverence, emulating the anarchic spirit of the original British comedy series. Created with input from Terry Gilliam, the game is a digital playground filled with references to TV sketches, bizarre animations, and unpredictable interactions. Players explore surreal environments like the Exploratorium, Exploding TV Room, and Portrait Gallery, where clicking on anything might trigger a classic skit like the "Dead Parrot," a strange animation, or even land the player in a penalty box with cheesy music and no clear escape. The game parodies multimedia seriousness, offering a mess of nonsense instead. It also offers a few structured elements, including: the Desktop Pythonizer which lets users decorate their screen with squiggly icons and themed screen savers; arcade-style mini-games which involve dodging flying pigs and their deadly droppings; and a hidden puzzle called the "Secret to Intergalactic Success," which players must uncover and solve on their own, with the promise of prizes like a multimedia PC or $5,000. Even the help button is a joke, offering gags instead of guidance—like a voice explaining that "Help!" was a Beatles song. Overall, the game is a satirical, interactive tribute to Monty Python's legacy, designed more for laughs than logic. [4]

Development

The Mac version of the game was released in October 1995. [5]

Reception

MacUser named Complete Waste of Time one of 1996's top 50 CD-ROMs, and gave it a score of 4.5 out of 5. [6]

Games Domain said "All in all, if you are just looking to kill some time and have some fun, this product fits the bill". [7]

In 1995, it won the Codie award for "Best Strategy Program" from the Software Publishers Association. [8]

Sales

The game shipped more than 50,000 units worldwide by December 1994 [1] and generated over $7 million in revenue. [9]

References

  1. 1 2 "7th Level, Inc. announces strong performance and prominent awards for new Monty Python CD-ROM; Multimedia World, Computer Life, PC Computing, New Media also give Monty Python's Complete Waste of Time highest ratings". Business Wire . 8 December 1994. Archived from the original on 3 December 2008. Retrieved 13 August 2021– via The Free Dictionary.
  2. ↑ "7th Level and Morgan Creek to develop "ACE VENTURA"; CD-ROMS action adventure and educational titles to be developed". Business Wire . 13 September 1995. Archived from the original on 7 October 2008. Retrieved 11 August 2021– via The Free Dictionary.
  3. ↑ "Last American bound for Mir dreads isolation, not breakdowns". The Item . 19 January 1998. Archived from the original on 30 October 2025. Retrieved 30 October 2025– via Newspapers.com.
  4. 1 2 Burr, Ty (16 September 1994). "SPOON ME WITH A GAG". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on 25 April 2009. Retrieved 31 August 2021.
  5. ↑ "Monty Python's Complete Waste of Time Announced for Mac". 7th Level . 23 August 1995. Archived from the original on 20 February 1998. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  6. 1 2 "MacUser's 1996 Top 50 CD-ROMs". December 1996. Entertainment and Leisure. Archived from the original on 5 June 2000. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  7. ↑ Rapp, Debbi. "Monty Python's Complete Waste of Time". Games Domain . Archived from the original on 29 November 1996. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  8. ↑ "1995 Codie Awards Winners". SIIA.net. Software & Information Industry Association. Archived from the original on 26 October 2007. Retrieved 10 February 2010.
  9. ↑ "New Developments in 7th Level Shift To Integrated Solutions, Tools & Technology". 7th Level . 14 November 1997. Archived from the original on 29 January 1998. Retrieved 8 August 2023.


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