NEWS / RUMORS

It's been a while since we dipped into the rumors and news pond for a dose of what's going on and what's coming up in the games business. Here's a few tidbits that you might find interesting about our favorite industry.

3DO is levying a 'tax' on its licensees this winter season to enhance their market development fund and get their platform on T.V. a LOT more often. The tax is basically a doubling of the current license fees for the express purposes of advertisement and promotion. Many of the licensees are grumbling about it, but realize that in order for 3DO to survive as a long-term platform, this Christmas season is a make-or-break proposition. There are a number of terrific looking titles waiting in the wings for the 3DO: Samurai Shodown and Gexx from Crystal Dynamics; Super Street Fighter 2 Turbo from Panasonic; Rise of the Robots from Absolute and the FIFA Soccer game from Electronic Arts. Rumors are hot and heavy that EA is also doing an NHL Hockey and John Madden Football 2 games for 3DO next year. Need for Speed is truly stunning, in the 'Daytona' category, and puts 3DO right up there with Saturn.

Now that Under a Killing Moon has shipped, the full development efforts at Access are firmly planted on Links Pentium, due out next spring/summer. Expect resolutions as high as 1024x768 supported and color densities as high as 16.7Million colors. Microsoft Golf 2.0 is the Windows version of Links 386 Pro.

Windows games are de rigeur with Chicago on the horizon and Accolade is preparing their new golf game, Jack Nicklaus Golden Bear Edition for the Windows world too. It will have the signature feature of all Jack Nicklaus golf games - the course designer/editor. Due in early spring, '95.

With the demise of the MediaVision software group (Critical Path, Quantum Gate), there was some concern of where the new titles (The Daedalus Encounter, Hodj and Podj, Quantum Gate 2) would end up. We're happy to report that Virgin Games is the saving grace for these works in progress and will be marketing and distributing them in early to mid '95.

Sega is now shipping the 32X peripheral add-on to the Genesis and with it, the 6 debut games. Doom is the main question mark on the 32X and after having spent my quality time with it at Sega's 'Gamers Day' at their HQ a few weeks ago, I'm happy to report that no compromises were made and for the most part, it plays faithful to the PC version. My personal favorite, however, still remains a tie between Star Wars Arcade and 36 Great Holes of Golf with my main man, Freddie Couples. At the event, Sega announced that Acclaim was indeed going to make a 32X version of Mortal Kombat 2.

Did anybody else watch the Cybermania awards show? If that wasn't the LAMEST show in the history of television, I guess episode 13 of the Partridge Family just slighly beats it out. Best COMEDY!!!!???

Empire Software is preparing a new innovative military sim title called 'Red Ghost' for next year. Not much news on it yet, though it follows a similar vehicle theme as seen in an old game - MidWinter. Keep you posted as time goes by on this one. Their American Civil War game is also coming along fine for a 1Q95 release.

Watch for an exciting new title next year from Interplay called Water World. More news later, but this one could be a KILLER looking game. Gameplay comments we reserve for later.

Now that The Software Toolworks has turned itself into Mindscape (an '80's era icon for computer gaming), the repositioned company is also retooling itself for a renewed push into the PC game marketplace. We'll get to play very visual new titles like Dragon Lore, Metal Marines, Aliens and Legions in the coming months. Mindscape is making a big push to be up there with the big boys of the industry.

Finally, look for some amazing new graphical talent to be on display through two new Virgin games next year. Ectosphere and Alien Alliance should show off the ever climbing and never-cease-to-amaze-me class of graphical productions that are on tap for '95.

Stay tuned for more news...

Ross Erickson, Editor/Publisher Game Bytes Magazine