11 min read

Stay Tooned!

Last updated: January 18, 2026

Overview

Stay Tooned! is a 1996 point-and-click cartoon adventure game developed by Funnybone Interactive and published by Sierra On-Line for Microsoft Windows and Macintosh platforms12. Subtitled “Unsweetened Multi-Game Experience!”, the game places players in a wild apartment complex that has been overtaken by mischievous cartoon characters who have stolen the player’s TV remote control23. The title stands out as a unique blend of comedy, puzzles, and cartoon-inspired chaos, offering an imaginative world with randomized elements and absurd humor rarely seen in adventure games of its era1.

The game is particularly notable for its randomness, featuring many cutscenes and approximately thirty mini-games scattered throughout the apartments24. Players explore 22 different locations including 20 apartments, a cellar, and a rooftop, with puzzles and item placements shifting between playthroughs to enhance replayability1. The game shipped with two pairs of 3D glasses for use with certain mini-games, adding an innovative interactive element to the experience34.

Stay Tooned! was developed using Macromedia Director, with backgrounds and characters created using Director’s animation tools23. Originally designed on Macintosh, the game contains references to Mac-specific controls like Ctrl-Click and includes a Mac system error dialog box parody3. The development company, Funnybone Interactive, changed its name from The Cute Company in 1996, the same year the game was released3.

Story Summary

The game opens with the player settling down for a relaxing evening of television watching in their apartment. However, their peaceful night is shattered when a group of cartoon characters suddenly burst out of the TV screen and invade the apartment complex14. The cartoon troublemakers steal the player’s TV remote control and scatter throughout the building, taking up residence in various apartments and causing mayhem wherever they go1.

Among the cartoon antagonists are characters like Frank, who threatens the player with the warning “Watch out, ‘cause us toons are gonna make your life miserable!”4 The main antagonist appears to be Chisel, who along with a character named Pixel orchestrates the invasion. When capturing the player’s remote, Chisel declares “That’s right, buddy, you’re coming with us,” while Pixel exclaims “Pixel Chisel, we can’t let them get away with this!”4

The player’s mission is to explore the apartment building, navigate through the chaos the cartoon characters have created, and ultimately recover their stolen TV remote to restore order1. Along the way, players encounter various obstacles, mini-games, and puzzle challenges that the cartoons have set up throughout the building. The game embraces classic cartoon slapstick humor throughout its narrative, creating an interactive Saturday morning cartoon experience13.

Gameplay

Interface and Controls

Stay Tooned! employs a first-person perspective with a fixed flip-screen navigation system5. The game is controlled entirely with a mouse, allowing players to interact with objects and navigate through the apartment complex by clicking on hotspots3. The interface is designed to be intuitive and accessible, reflecting the game’s family-friendly nature and its inspiration from Saturday morning cartoons3.

Structure and Progression

The game features a non-linear exploration structure across 22 distinct locations within the apartment building1. Players are free to explore at their own pace, discovering mini-games and solving puzzles in various orders:

  • 20 Apartments: Each apartment contains unique cartoon-themed challenges, parodies, and mini-games12
  • Cellar: Underground area with additional puzzles and secrets1
  • Rooftop: Upper area accessible during exploration1

The game contains nearly 30 unique mini-games spread throughout these locations1. One of the key design features is the randomization of puzzle solutions and item placements between playthroughs, meaning each time a player starts a new game, the experience will differ14. Typical completion time for the game ranges from 2 to 4 hours1.

Puzzles and Mechanics

The game incorporates a variety of puzzle types and mini-games inspired by television culture and classic cartoons2. Notable examples include parodies of popular TV shows such as “Whinefeld,” a comedic take on the sitcom Seinfeld, and “Schleopardy!,” a parody of the game show Jeopardy!2. These parodies serve as both entertainment and puzzle challenges that players must complete to progress.

Certain mini-games utilize 3D technology, requiring players to wear the included 3D glasses that shipped with the game34. This innovative feature added a unique interactive dimension to the gameplay experience that was uncommon for adventure games of the era. The puzzle mechanics combine inventory-based problem solving with action-oriented mini-games, creating a varied gameplay experience1.

Reception

Contemporary Reviews

Stay Tooned! received generally positive reviews upon its release in 1996. Bonnie James of The Electric Playground gave the game a score of 7.5 out of 10 in a review dated December 5, 19962. James noted that “If you find yourself getting up Saturday mornings to watch cartoons in your pajamas and eat sugar cereal on the couch, then I think you’ll like Stay Tooned”2. This review captured the game’s appeal to players who enjoyed the humor and aesthetic of classic animated programming.

Modern Assessment

The game has maintained a positive reputation among players who experienced it during their childhood, with many expressing nostalgic appreciation for its unique humor and gameplay5. User reviews on abandonware sites frequently mention the game’s memorable comedy and animation as standout features5.

Aggregate Scores:

  • MobyGames Critics: 76%36
  • MyAbandonware Users: 4.47/5 (38 votes)5
  • The Electric Playground: 7.5/102

Player reviews on MobyGames describe the game as “the type of game that most people would go back and play, due to its randomness”3. One reviewer characterized it as “This interactive Saturday morning cartoon show will tickle your funny bone”3. The game’s replayability due to randomized elements has been consistently praised in retrospective assessments13.

Development

Origins

Stay Tooned! was developed by Funnybone Interactive, a company that had previously operated under the name The Cute Company before rebranding in 19963. The game was designed with a blend of classic cartoon slapstick and interactive gameplay, aiming to create an experience that captured the spirit of Saturday morning animated programming1. Sierra On-Line published the title as part of their diverse catalog of adventure and entertainment software12.

Production

The development team was led by designers Susan Swanson-Decker (also credited as Susan Decker), Ben Howard, Kevin O’Neill, and Christopher Lewis (also credited as Chris Lewis)23. The game was originally designed on Macintosh computers, which is reflected in certain in-game elements that reference Mac-specific functionality such as Ctrl-Click commands and a Mac system error dialog box3.

Development Credits:23

  • Lead Designer: Susan Swanson-Decker
  • Designer: Ben Howard
  • Designer: Kevin O’Neill
  • Designer: Christopher Lewis

The development team at Funnybone Interactive would later become known for their work under the Fisher-Price brand, indicating their continued focus on family-friendly entertainment software1.

Technical Achievements

Stay Tooned! was built using Macromedia Director, a multimedia authoring tool that was commonly used for interactive CD-ROM titles during the mid-1990s23. The backgrounds and character animations were created entirely within Director’s animation environment3. This choice of development platform allowed for the creation of smooth cartoon-style animations that effectively captured the aesthetic of traditional animated programming.

One innovative technical feature was the inclusion of 3D stereoscopic effects in certain mini-games34. The game shipped with two pairs of red-blue 3D glasses, allowing players to experience these segments with depth perception4. This represented an early attempt at integrating 3D visual technology into home computer gaming.

Technical Specifications

CD-ROM Version:35

  • Media: CD-ROM
  • Input: Mouse
  • Players: 1 Player
  • Business Model: Commercial
  • File Size (Windows): 330 MB5
  • File Size (Macintosh): 302 MB5

Technical Issues

Running Stay Tooned! on modern operating systems presents significant challenges. On Windows 2000 and later versions, running the game is nearly impossible due to the highly different operating system structures compared to Windows 3.x and Windows 952. Users have reported that the game will run successfully on Microsoft Virtual PCs configured with earlier Windows versions2.

Macintosh users face similar problems on recent macOS versions due to Apple’s discontinuation of the Classic function, which was required to run software designed for older Mac operating systems2. Some versions of the game contain an audio bug where audio from earlier video clips would not play initially, though this issue tends to correct itself during gameplay3.

Easter Eggs and Trivia

Stay Tooned! contains several creator cameos and self-referential elements that break the fourth wall:

  • Ben Howard Appearances: The game’s chief programmer, Ben Howard, makes various appearances throughout the game as a character who breaks the fourth wall and directly addresses the player24
  • Joel Fried Cameos: Funnybone Interactive’s president Joel Fried voices the character Chisel and also appears as himself in both the diner and carnival room environments4
  • Funnybone Dog Mascot: The company’s dog mascot character is present in the diner room, serving as another reference to the development team4

Additional trivia:

  • The game is subtitled “Unsweetened Multi-Game Experience!”2
  • The TV show parodies include “Whinefeld” (parodying Seinfeld) and “Schleopardy!” (parodying Jeopardy!)2
  • The game contains approximately thirty individual mini-games across all apartments2

Voice Cast

CharacterVoice Actor
ChiselJoel Fried4

Joel Fried, who voiced the character Chisel, was also the president of Funnybone Interactive during the game’s development4.

Legacy

Sales and Commercial Impact

Specific sales figures for Stay Tooned! are not publicly documented. The game was published by Sierra On-Line as a commercial CD-ROM release in October 1996 for both Windows and Macintosh platforms23. Funnybone Interactive continued operating after the game’s release and became known for their work on Fisher-Price branded titles1.

Collections

Stay Tooned! was released as a standalone title and does not appear to have been included in any major compilation releases. The game is now available through various abandonware preservation sites1578.

Fan Projects

Due to the game’s obscurity and the technical challenges of running it on modern systems, there are no known major fan remake or modding projects. The primary form of fan preservation has been through abandonware distribution and emulation efforts15.

No official hint books, strategy guides, or novelizations are documented for Stay Tooned!. The game’s randomized puzzle elements would have made traditional walkthrough guides less practical1.

Critical Perspective

Stay Tooned! represents an interesting footnote in Sierra On-Line’s publishing history during the mid-1990s, when the company was expanding its catalog beyond traditional adventure games to include more family-friendly entertainment software.910 The game’s design philosophy—combining randomized elements with cartoon humor and mini-games—predated similar approaches that would later become common in casual gaming1311.

The title has developed a cult following among players who experienced it during childhood, with many expressing strong nostalgic attachments to its unique style5. User comments frequently describe it as “one of the greatest memories of any game from my childhood”5 and express joy at being able to share the experience with new generations5. While not a landmark release in adventure gaming history, Stay Tooned! succeeded in creating a memorable and distinctive interactive experience that stands out for its commitment to cartoon-style humor and replayable design1.

Downloads

Purchase / Digital Stores

  • Not currently available on modern digital storefronts

Download / Preservation

Manuals & Extras

  • Physical copies included two pairs of 3D glasses for stereoscopic mini-games4

Series Continuity

Stay Tooned! was developed as a standalone title by Funnybone Interactive and is not part of a larger game series. The game represents the studio’s primary contribution to the adventure game genre before their focus shifted to educational software under the Fisher-Price brand112. While published by Sierra On-Line, the game has no narrative or gameplay connections to Sierra’s other adventure game franchises.910

References

Footnotes

  1. ClassicReload – Stay Tooned! – release date, developer, publisher, gameplay description, locations, mini-game count, randomization, trivia ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15 ↩16 ↩17 ↩18 ↩19 ↩20 ↩21 ↩22 ↩23 ↩24 ↩25 ↩26 ↩27 ↩28 ↩29

  2. Wikipedia – Stay Tooned! (video game) – release date, platforms, designers, engine, Electric Playground review, subtitle, parodies, technical issues, Ben Howard cameo ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15 ↩16 ↩17 ↩18 ↩19 ↩20 ↩21 ↩22 ↩23 ↩24 ↩25 ↩26

  3. MobyGames – Stay Tooned! – designer credits, Director engine, 3D glasses, Macintosh development, company name change, audio bug, critic score, user reviews ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15 ↩16 ↩17 ↩18 ↩19 ↩20 ↩21 ↩22 ↩23 ↩24 ↩25 ↩26 ↩27

  4. TV Tropes – Stay Tooned! – voice cast, Joel Fried roles, 3D glasses, Ben Howard appearances, character dialogue, Funnybone mascot ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13 ↩14 ↩15

  5. MyAbandonware – Stay Tooned! – user rating, file sizes, user comments, genre classification, perspective ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10 ↩11 ↩12 ↩13

  6. GameFAQs – Stay Tooned! – game database entry ↩

  7. Old Games Download – Stay Tooned! – platform availability, download information ↩ ↩2

  8. Internet Archive – Stay Tooned! (USA) – disc preservation, original media ↩ ↩2

  9. SierraVault Game List – comprehensive Sierra games catalog ↩ ↩2

  10. Sierra Gamers – Sierra Games – Sierra fan community game list ↩ ↩2

  11. Wikidata – Stay Tooned! – structured data, identifiers ↩

  12. Giant Bomb – Stay Tooned! – game database, screenshots ↩

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