The Forgotten is a great name for this game because once immersed, you will literally forget where you are as you explore the game's depths (you'll also forget where the time went while playing the game!!). "The Forgotten-It Begins" Netscape launch is planned for unveiling at the end of September and will be playable via Netscape. This will be a web-based interactive game and will be a Mac-only release. It will be free as well. You will need Netscape 3.0 or later, the QuickTime plug-in 1.1 or later, and QuickTime 2.5, and the mpire plug-in (all of these are available at The Forgotten web site. I recommend a fast connection and lots of RAM allocated to Netscape due to large scene loading...but it will be well worth your time to try it out.
For those not able to try the game out on the Internet, never fear. The Forgotten-It Begins Standalone (which will be a free standalone version for download or minimal payment on CD ROM) is due out by the end of November. This will be an original Mac release, then it will be ported to Windows sometime later (I love to hear that). Also planned for a Christmas release (or early in 1998) is The Forgotten-It Begins Expanded Edition. This will be a retail version that we will probably sell for about $10-15. It is similar to the downloadable version EXCEPT all of the graphics/ animations and sounds/music will be reworked to high definition standards and there will be a secret level that is not included in the standalone product. It will be Mac first, then Windows (yea!). There are plans in the works for future installments of The Forgotten that will likely be targeted for DVD-ROM, containing a no-holds- barred graphic and sound blockbuster which will advantage of the best technology possible. If you are looking for a pro-Mac game developer, Ransom Interactive is certainly one of the most loyal!
Master of Orion Now Shipping
In another stealth release, MacSoft has confirmed to Tikkabik that the rumors are true: "Master of Orion II" has been released. This is latest in MacSoft's series of blockbuster titles since its acquisition by GT Interactive. It is also the second release born of MacSoft's porting/publishing agreement with Microprose.
This intergalactic strategy game has proven to be a genuine hit on the PC side and should do quite well for the Mac. The epic game sports the following features:
• EXPLORE AND COLONIZE uncharted planets. Form a colony or take
over one of your enemies'.
• MANAGE RESOURCES - run your colonies the way you see fit. Assign
careers, maintain population morale and construct buildings.
• COMBAT CHOICE - strategic or tactical.
• RESEARCH more than 200 technologies, or trade with other races for theirs.
• RANDOM EVENTS AND DISASTERS can threaten or benefit different stars and
whole empires.
• MULTIPLE GAME SETTINGS let you select such factors as your adversaries'
intelligence, the size and age of the galaxy, and the level of civilization.
• MULTIPLAYER OPTIONS for up to eight players. Play via modem, network,
hot seat or TCP/IP.
• 13 PREDESIGNED RACES each with its own special abilities, or use the
Custom Race Option to create your own.
The demo for this game has not yet been released.
http://www.tikkabik.com
http://www.wizworks.com/macsoft
http://www.microprose.com
http://www.gtinteractive.com
Stick Man Releases Boogaloopers
Stick Man Games has just announced that their newest shareware title, Boogaloopers has just hit the streets...err highways...of the Internet.
The premise of the game is as follows:
There exists a nether region, between the matter and anti-matter universes, known as the Void. This Void protects both universes from colliding and wiping everything out of existence. The constant shifting of the Void produces balls of energy called Boogas. If too many Boogas collect in a sector, they will create a rift in the Void and collapse it. You have been chosen to become the "boogalooper," a cross between protector of the universe and a cosmic janitor. Your mission is to eliminate the destructive Boogas. It won't be easy, because the dastardly Spaztix and the crazy Rat Bassards are standing in your way!
Although the game requires at least a PowerPC, the rest of the requirements are relatively modest:
• PowerPC
• 4MB Free
• 3MB free space on ard disk
• 640/480 w/256 Colors
• MacOS 7.5.3 or later with QuickTime 2.5 or later.
Based on our preliminary testing of the game, the coding seems to be very clean, and the frame rate rather high-Stick Man claims a 20 fps rate, although it seemed to run higher on the PowerMac 6500/300 we tested it on. What really propels the game forward, however, is the music and sound. They're crisp, clean, and rather catchy and compliments the gameplay well.
If you've got a PowerMac, we suggest you stop by the Stick Man Games Website and give the game a try.
Main Page: http://www.smgames.com
Boogaloopers Main Page: http://www.smgames.com/products/booga/booga.html
Mac Game Planet recently posted an exclusive interview with Scott Hansen of DigiFX, creators of "Mission to Nexus Prime" and "Kaiju."
Stop by Mac Game Planet to see the full text.
http://macplanet.homez.net/
http://macplanet.homez.net/interviews/digifx.html
http://www.digifx.net/
Knight's Chase Coming After All?
It has come to our attention that a massive demo of an assumed-dead title from MacPlay has appeared on a recent CD from MacAddict. "Knight's Chase" was announced for the Mac a while ago, but no one (including MacPlay's "Coming Soon" page) have said word one about it in a while.
Now it seems that the game is due in late October or early November. This has, however, not been confirmed with MacPlay, although the demo has a MacPlay pre-ordering code and a call to MacPlay sales yielded an unexpected affirmative inquiry.
As this piece came to us after close of business Monday, no comment is expected from MacPlay until mid day today.
Knight's Chase is a new 3D adventure game from the creators of the "Alone in the Dark" series.
We will update this report once we get a comment from MacPlay. Even though the game is in final development (or seems to be at least), it doesn't necessarily mean that it will be released. Thanks to Paul Natsch for the tip.
Listen to what the world's most famous Mac port-er has to say in Tikkabik's interview with Maverick Software's Mark Adams. Mark is the man responsible for the ports of "System Shock," "Duke Nukem 3D" and the upcoming "Shadow Warrior" and "Unreal."
http://www.tikkabik.com
http://www.tikkabik.com/interview.html
A Quake Level A Day...
Stop by for a daily dose of new Mac Quake mayhem to the "3D Daily Levels Page." In addition to scenarios and utilities for Doom, Duke Nukem 3D, and Damage Incorporated, you can now download maps and various useful tools for Mac Quake too. Stop by every day.
http://w3.ime.net/~elf66/
Network Entertainment Game System
According to MAX, you may be finding Macintosh computers inside the coin-op cabinets at your local arcade soon. A small company called Network Entertainment Game System (NEGS) will be introducing their new Mac-based PlayPak system before the end of the year.
The PlayPak consists of a Macintosh motherboard encased in a stand-up arcade cabinet with arcade-quality controls and a 27" display. Every PlayPak unit has network capability built-in allowing for local network or Internet play.
NEGS will supply an Application Programming Interface to interested developers, allowing them to convert existing MacOS games to their co-op format.
Although the system is still under development, NEGS has posted some System Specs (see below). It is likely that these will change to include faster processors and a Techworks 3Dfx accelerator, according to their Web site.
For more information, visit the NEGS Web site, or go the MAX for their extensive interview with NEGS boss Dan Stein.
SYSTEM SPECS:
• PowerPC 603e 180 MHz Processor (upgradeable to 480 MHz)
• 32 MB RAM
• 1.2G EIDE HD
• 8xCD
• 3D H/W AccUI
• 3D RAGE II, a high performance 64-bit graphics accelerator with
superior support for 2D, motion video and 3D; includes integrated
Compete against up to six other alien races for Total World Dominance! According to Tikkabik, Accolade will be releasing the Mac version of "Deadlock" this Friday.
Deadlock is a sci-fi strategy game that has seen quite a bit of popularity on the PC platform. In it, you explore new planets, develop their resources to the fullest, and fully manage the growth of a space colony. It features turn-based gameplay with optional real-time mode.
The game supports multiplayer gaming over the Internet, LAN, or modem. You can choose human or one of six alien species, each with unique strengths and weaknesses. In Deadlock, you can see and hear representatives from each species in high resolution, 3D rendered, lip synched animations. To help get started, it contains an on-line tutorial and in-game help for fastest entry into the game.
Catfish Software has released Preview 6 of their space exploration game, Starbound II. It will feature, six distinct races to play (each with their own history, ships, and troops), hundreds of QuickTime movies, advanced AI opponents, and network play with up to five other players.
You can download the Preview Release from the Catfish Web site.
Gamers looking for a strategy fix should take note of SSI's recent release of "Imperialism," touted as "a highly addictive and challenging multi-player strategy game for those who crave absolute power."
The setting is a fictional 19th century Earth-like world and the challenge is to attain world dominance through economic planning, military conquest and diplomatic maneuvering. Some of the features of this intriguing new game include:
• A dynamic economic model allowing for market manipulation of over
a dozen different commodities
• Modem support for head-to-head play.
• Network support for up to seven players.
• Random map and resource generators for unlimited replayability.
• Seven major powers and sixteen minor powers
• Sophisticated artificial intelligence with different strategic personalities.
• Technological advances spanning the Industrial Revolution to the first tanks.
As much as we at IMG enjoy bludgeoning our opponents into submission with brute military force, it's refreshing to see a game where diplomacy plays an equally important role. For more info, screenshots, and a 54 MB demo surf on over to SSI's Imperialism site.
http://www.imperialism.com/demo.html
http://www.imperialism.com/
EA/Maxis Merger Causes One Mac Game Casualty
Maxis just told us that some of Maxis titles in development before the EA/Maxis merger have been reevaluated and canceled. These include three PC games (Crucible, Nightfall and Remnants) as well as one Mac game-SimCopter for Macintosh. Maxis is planning to release a Mac version of SimCity 3000 as well as upcoming kids titles. When is SimCity 3000 coming for Mac? Most likely 2nd quarter, 1998 or later.
http://www.activision.com
http://www.ea.com
Dynamic Lighting in Quiver
Scott Kevill has posted a new screenshot on the Quiver news page showing off an innovative new feature: light-sourced previews.
This means you will be able to perfect all the lighting and shadows from within Quiver instead of having to repeatedly quit the editor, compile the maps, and run Quake until you get it right. However, since the light-sourcing calculations are pretty slow, it will just do snapshots rather than an interactive, viewing/editing mode as with the other types (wireframe, solid, and texture-mapped).
Visit Scott's MacQuake Utilities page for more info.
According to Next Generation, one-thousand players will be chosen at random to beta test Blizzard's highly anticipated real-time strategy game, StarCraft.
The company will announce the test on their Web site and will then accept 1,000 applicants at random. The beta test will involve only multiplayer aspects over Blizzard's Battle.net gaming site. Blizzard used a similar strategy to find testers for their top-selling Diablo title last year. They will post information on the Battle.net and the Blizzard Web sites detailing the sign-up procedure. We will, of course, let you know what is going on and when.
Blizzard has a dedicated Mac development team working closely with the main StarCraft team. Their plan is to release the Mac version of StarCraft as close to the Win95 version as they can.
http://www.next-generation.com/
http://www.blizzard.com/
http://www.blizzard.com/star/star.htm
http://www.battle.net/
Updates from Maverick
Maverick Software has updated their news page with information on the current status of "Shadow Warrior" and "Unreal" for the Mac:
"Shadow Warrior is about to go to beta 3, several bugs have been fixed and the game is looking solid. Date for it to be on the shelves is currently Oct 15."
As for Unreal, "Ken has a bunch of the game up and running now, you can actually run around levels and see all the cool lighting effects. We're still waiting on 3dfx cards from TechWorks. For more Unreal info and screenshots, check out unreal.org."
Thursday's LA Times indicated that, due to all of the gaming industry's criticism aimed at the recent E3 location of Atlanta, it was announced that E3 will be returning to LA in 1999 after its contract with Atlanta has ended. E3 will continue to be held in the LA Convention Center (where the show first originated in 1995) from 1999 until 2003.
Although 1999 is still a few years away, E3 in LA will make it easier for the gaming industry to get to E3, but for us East coast folks in the press, we better start saving up for the trip now!
SSI to bring Dark Colony to the Mac
Back in April, we indicated that SSI and Gametek created an alliance to bring "Dark Colony," a real-time strategy game, to multiple platforms. Dark Colony is about exploration of Mars and finding out that that Mars is actually inhabited by an aggressive race of aliens armed with weaponry. SSI recently brought both Creatures (life sim) and Imperialism (strategic game) to the Mac. Visit the Dark Colony Web site for many screenshots, feature info and more.
